Pension: Rowell Colby, (Lydia, widow) 1838, Rev War, Enfield, Grafton, NH

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Submitted by: rickman@worldpath.net
Date: September 30, 2000
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COLBY, ROWELL (Lydia, Widow) 
W.F. 22824
Cont., Mass., & New Hampshire Service

Aug. 25, 1838, Lydia Colby, of Enfield, N.H., aged 76 years deposed:

that she is the widow of Rowell Colby, a private in the Revolution, who
enlisted in the summer of 1777 with others, under Capt. Ebenezer Webster;
marched to Vermont; was in the battle of Bennington, and was absent two
months. She has heard him tell of taking an Indian prisoner while on this
tour, and now has a powder horn which he said he took from said Indian. She
also has a copper teakettle, which he said he took from a Hessian on this
same tour;

that she has also heard her husband tell of serving in New York for a year
in 1776, and that he was living in Salisbury, N.H., when he enlisted;

that she was married to him Nov. 9, 1780; and that her husband died Jan.
27, 1832.

Sept. 5, 1838, JOHN ELLIOTT, of Concord, N.H., "now a little rising
eighty-two years of age", testified that he served eight months in 1775;
was in the battle of Bunker Hill; also the entire year of 1776, and three
months in 1777, under Capt. Sherman; and that during 1776 and 7 Rowell
Colby served in the same regiment with him - Col. Loammi Baldwin - 
frequently saw and conversed with him, as they came from the same section
of the state.

Jan. 1, 1839, JONATHAN FOSTER, of Tunbridge, Vt., testified that he and
Rowell Colby lived in Salisbury, N.H., during the Revolution; enlisted
together in June, 1777, under Capt. Ebenezer Webster; went from Salisbury
to Manchester, Vt.; staid there two weeks, then went to Bennington and
staid until after the battle occurred; went in the battle, and afterwards
marched to Stillwater, N.Y., and from there to Bemis Heights; were
discharged together, having served our term out - two months; that Colby
married Lydia Pettengill, old Capt. David Pettengill's daughter, of
Salisbury, N.H.

in presence of Gustavus Rolfe and Charles M. Lamb. 

Thomas Merrill, clerk of the town of Enfield, N.H., certified to the
marriage of Rowell Colby, of Enfield, and Lydia Pettengill, of Salisbury,
as stated, being recorded on the books of the town.

July 29, 1839, Peter Whittier, of Enfield, N.H., testified that he had known
the Colbys since 1812, and often heard him speak of the injustice of
according pensions to men who had served a much shorter time than he,
simply because, through misfortune or shiftlessness, they had not
accumulated any property; that he told him he served in 1777, the year
declarant was born, and also under Capt. Webster, and was always considered
to have been a Revolutionary soldier, who was barred from receiving a
pension simply on account of the property clause. 

July 29, 1839, Jonathan C. Pettengill, of Enfield, N.H., aged 72 years,
testified that Rowell Colby came to live with his father while young, and
lived with him until he was twenty-one years of age, excepting the time he
was in the army; that he moved from Salisbury to Enfield and lived within
half a mile of declarant for thirty years before his death, &c.

July 29, 1839, Joseph Merrill, of Enfield, aged 65 years, testified that he
had lived in Enfield about forty-five years, within two and a half miles of
Colby, and that it was always considered that the only reason Colby did not
apply for a pension was on account of property. 
                                                                                                                            Joseph Merrill. 
Claim allowed Aug. 27, 1839, as were also her claims under later Acts made
March 27, 1843, and Aug. 5, 1848, the last being when she was 86 years of
age, and her signature was witnessed by Malinda A. Colby. Certificate 3157,
Concord, N.H. Agency, was issued Jan. 19, 1849,  Act of Feb. 2, 1848.