Content: Pension request letter written by John Payne
Archive: In the possession of Karen ?
Date Transcribed: 2016 Aug 05  By: David@ColeCanada.com

    JOHN PAYNE, resident at ???? in Massechusetts, aged 68 years, on oath declares:
                That in January, 1776 he enlisted as a Sergeant in Capt. Abner Sealy's Company in Col. ??? Warner's Regiment in the Continental service: soon after ???????? to Montreal and Quebec, was in the retreat from Quebec, and was taken sick: on the 20th Oct. 1776 I was appointed a second Lieutenant and served as such in the same Company till the latter part of the summer of 1775:- the winter of 1777 I was employed in recruiting near Hanover N.H: in March joined the Regiment at Mount Independence opposite Ticonderofa - remained there and at Ticonderoga till the retreat of our Army in July when Burgoyne was approaching: our Regiment was in the battle of Bennington, but two days before the battle I had been orderd as an express to Dartmouth College, Havershite and Newburg N.H. to order in the Militia: I rejoined our Regiment and served at Saratoga till Burgoyne surrendered: our Regiment was then ordered back to Bennington where we wintered, in May marched to Albany; in June or July were again ordered to Bennington, afterward the Regiment was ordered to Saratoga, but on account of my ill health I was permitted by Col. Warner to return to my house & home and there wait till further orders: the Regiment was very reduced, the terms of enlistment of most of the men having expired, and I was not again called to join the Regiment.  My home was then at Hanover N.H.
          I am now in indigent circumstances and stand in need of assistance from my country for support.  I have been residing for several years past at Cape Breton and the Magdalen Isles, and have now come up here having heard a short time since of the Pension Law.

                                   John Payne
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