Military

French & Indian War

Barnstead citizens who fought in the old French War were John Aiken, Col. Joseph Sinclair, and Joseph Bunker.

Revolutionary War Veterans

(Barnstead) Ebenezer Nutter, John Clark, Maj John Nutter, Jeremiah Jewett, Anthony Nutter, Joseph Place, Valentine Chapman, Joseph Taker, William Nutter, Thomas Welch, Peletiah Penny, J P Dame, James Davis, Samuel Davis, E Adams, Davis Jacobs, J Young, E Tebbetts, H Nutter, Capt Jonathan Chesley, Capt John Drew, Thomas Brown, William Lord, Joseph Sanborn, Capt Joseph Kalme, Samuel Eastman, Col Nathaniel Pease, Robert Tebbetts, Samuel Jenness, Ralph Hall, Joseph uckins, John Welch, Richard Sinclair, Nathan Nutter, Eli Ham, John Pitman, Perry Hixon, W Ayres, John Aiken, --- Avery, William Hill, Thomas Ayers, James Marden, John Emerson, Samuel Pitman.

(Gilmanton) Nathaniel Willson, Robert Willson, Nehemiah Eastman, Jonathan Row, Ezekiel Gilman, Thomas Currier, Moses Niles, Joses Moulton, John Taylor, John Dow, Benjamin Cotton, William Willey, Ambrose Thurston, Sargent Currier, Nathaniel Dow, John Clough, Jonathan Fullerton, Thomas Piper, David Mudgett, Thomas Bail, Pearson Huntriss, David Clifford Jr, Jonathan Haseltine, Samuel Smith, James Hern, London Daily (or Dayly), Micaiah Kelley, Aaron Clough, Daniel Dudley, Benjamin Dow, Joseph Kent, Joseph Fellows, Jeremiah TIiton, Nathaniel Dowe, Samuel Tilton, Elisha Hutchinson, George Montgomery, Nehemiah Leavitt, Henry Danford, Ammie Choat, John Cotton, Peter Gilman, Samuel Sibley, John Chase, James Allen, Edward Bean, Joseph Crosby, John Somes, Col Joseph Badger.

Source: The Town Register: Meredith, Tilton, Gilmanton, Sanbornton, Gilford, Belmont NH, 1908.

Revolutionary War Pensions

Stevens Burley (Burleigh) (Abigail, wid.) Pension application

W. F. 21736
N. H. Service
April 20, 1818, Stevens Burley, of Gilmanton, New Hampshire, aged 63 years, deposed:
that he enlisted May 1, 1777 from Sanbornton, N. H., under Capt. James Gray, Col. Alexander Scammel, and served from May 1, 1777 to Jan. 31, 1778, when he was discharged at Valley Forge, Penna., but has lost the document; that he was out on several other enlistments though not entitling him to pension under Act of March 18, 1818; that he was in the Battle of Bennington, Vt., both battles at Saratoga, N. Y., or Stillwater, and at the surrender of Burgoyne.

June 26, 1819, at Epsom, N. H., James Gray testified that Stevens (or Stephens) Burley, of Gilmanton, served under his command in the first company, third regiment, N. H. line from May 1, 1777 to Jan. 31, 1778, when he was discharged by Col. Scammel at "Correl (?) ferry, delaware River."

Claim allowed Sept. 29, 1819.

Memorandum: not on roll; admitted on Capt. Gray's testimony.

July 18, 1820, Stevens Burleigh, of Gilmanton, aged 63 years, testified that he was a farmer, by occupation, and that his wife, Abigail, aged 50 years; and children, Deborah, aged 14 years; Melinda, aged 9 years, and Clilinda, aged 7 years, live with him.

Pension continued.

Aug. 8, 1838, Abigail Burley, of Gilmanton, N. H., aged 68 years, deposed: that she is the widow of Stevens Burley, Revolutionary pensioner, who died Dec. 31, 1829; and that she was married to him Sept. 3, 1789.
Signed by mark.

Certificate from town clerk of Sanbornton shows that the marriage of Stevens Burly, of Sanbornton, and Abigail Taylor, of Gilmanton, Sept. 3, 1789, is recorded on the books of the town.

Aug. 13, 1838, Nathaniel Gale, of Gilmanton, N. H., testified to acquaintance with Stevens and Abigail Burley for more than fifty years, living near them; that Abigail has never been remarried, & c.
Nathl Gale.

Certificate from N. H. shows that the name of Stephens Bailey is found on a muster and pay roll of men raised for Canada out of Col. Evans' and Col. Badger's regiments, mustered and paid by Otis Baker, Esquire, who testified Aug. 29, 1776, as muster master appointed by the state, that the entire company, John Drew, Captain, were "good, able-bodied, effective men and well acouted." .

Claim allowed for 19 months and 26 days' service and certificate 282 was issued July 13, 1839, N. H. Agency, Act of July 7, 1838.

Letter on file from Mrs. E. S. Boyer, of Exeter, N. H., 1917, asking for record of Abigail Burley, of Gilmanton, N. H., whose name is on Pension List of 1840.

William Burley (Burleigh) Sarah, Widow Pension Application

W. F. 18683
N. H. Service
August 17, 1838, Sarah Burley of Sandbornton, N. H. aged 85 years, deposed: that she is the widow of William Burley who enlisted in 1777 under Capt. Gray of Epsom, N. H. Col., Scammel, and served in the N. H. Line, as will more fully appear by the annexed proof; that she was married to William Burley at Newmarket, N. H. June 13, 1784 by Rev. Mr. Ewer; and that her husband died at Sandbornton, N. H. Dec. 28, 1796.
Signed by mark in presence of William West.

The same day John Durgin of Sandbornton, aged 82 years, Revolutionary pensioner, testified that he enlisted April 20, 1777 under Capt. J. Gray and served three years and that Burley enlisted at the same time that he did, and was discharged the same time he was, and returned home with him.
John Durgin

A certificate from the town clerk of Newmarket, N. H. shows that the marriage of William Burleigh and Sarah Ames on June 13, 1784, by the Rev. Nathaniel Ewer, is recorded on the books of the town.

October 13, 1838, Daniel Burleigh of Sandbornton, N. H. testified to the death of William Burleigh and that Sarah has remained his widow.

Claim allowed and Certificate 1463, Portsmouth, N. H. Agency, was issued December 22, 1838 under Act of July 4, 1838.

Letter on file from George William Burleigh of New York City, dated 1915.

JOSIAH SANBORN Pension Application

S45139
New Hampshire Service
November 26, 1818 Josiah Sanborn of Sanbornton, Strafford County, New Hampshire, fifty-six years of age deposed: that he enlisted in Epping in August 1776 under Capt. Mark Wiggin, Col. Peirce Long, New Hampshire troops for one year; served until September 1, 1777 when he was verbally discharged at Stillwater, N.Y.; and that he was in no battles.

November 26, 1818 DUDLEY GILMAN of Gilmanton, testified to service in the same regiment with Josiah Sanborn and knows that he served as stated.
Dudley Gilman.

November 26, 1818 GORDON BURLEY of Dorchester, N.H., testified that he enlisted with Josiah Sanborn at Epping; served with him and was discharged with him.
Gordon Burley.

July 31, 1819 ROBERT CLARK of Newmarket, N.H., who was "Ensign in Capt. Timothy Clement's Company,"
Col. Long, certified that Josiah Sanborn served, as stated.
Robert Clark.

Claim allowed.

July 18, 1820 Josiah Sanborn second, of Sanbornton, N.H., fifty-seven years of age, testified that he has, in his family, a wife, Hannah, fifty-three years of age; and one sone, thirteen years of age (no name.)
Pension continued.

From memorandum in the case it appears that the Administrator of Josiah Sanborn deceased, was paid to January 24, 1841, presumable date of death.
According to the Census of 1840 Josiah Sanborn, second, eighty years of age, was, at that time, living in Sanborton, N.H.
(These two are the only Revolutionary Pensioners named Josiah Sanborn from any state. BMD.)

JOSIAH SANBORN, JR. & Dolly or Dorothy, widow

April 8, 1818 Josiah Sanborn Junr. of Sanborton, Strafford County, New Hampshire, fifty-two years of age, deposed: that he enlisted in Sanbornton in July 1782 for three years, under Capt. Samuel Cherry, Col. George Reid, Second New Hampshire Regiment, and served until June 30, 1784, when he was discharged at West Point, New York; that he was in no battles.
Josiah Sanborn Junr.

(The discharge certificate of Josiah Sanborn of the "American" Regiment, dated June 30, 1784, in New York State, and signed by H. Jackson, B. Gen. is on file in the Department. BMD.)

April 8, 1818 HENRY SMITH of Sanbornton, N.H., testified that he belonged to the second company commanded by Capt. Farwell, First New Hampshire Regiment under Col. Henry Dearborn, and that in December 1782 the Regiment arrived at Newburgh, N.Y., where the Second New Hampshire Regiment commanded by Col. George Reid, was stationed and he there became acquainted with Josiah Sanborn Junr., of the Second New Hampshire Regiment.
Henry Smith.

July 10, 1818 JEREMIAH SMITH of Sanbornton, testified that he was a fellow townsmen of Josiah Sanborn before going into the Revolutionary war, and served with him during "the latter part of 1782 and the fore part of 1783."

April 14, 1818 the Selectmen of Sanbornton, certified to Josiah Sanborn Jr.'s need of a pension.
Selectmen of Sanbornton - Stephen Gale, Chr. S. Sanborn, Noah Eastman

Claim allowed.

July 18, 1820 Josiah Sanborn Jr., testified to the ownership of fifty acres of land and buildings, and that his family consists of: a wife, (no name stated) fifty-six years of age; Ruth Sanborn, twenty-three years of age (no relationship stated); Josiah T. Sanborn, twenty years of age (no relationship stated); Chase Sanborn, fifteen years of age (no relationship stated).

Name dropped from the rolls in 1820 on account of property, and decision of Department unchanged, notwithstanding his application August 6, 1823, when, still living at Sanbornton, fifty-seven years of age, he had in his family: a wife, Dorothy, fifty-nine years of age, and son, Chase Sanborn, eighteen years of age.

July 23, 1832 Josiah Sanborn of Sanbornton, applied under Act of June 7, 1832.
Josiah Sanborn.
The undersigned Selectmen and Ministers of the Gospel of Sanbornton, N.H., and Justices of the Peace certified to the reputation for veracity of Josiah Sanborn the Second of Sanbornton.
Selectmen of Sanbornton - Samuel Clark, Saml. Dusten, Joseph Woodman
Ministers of the gospel in Sanbornton - John Crockette, Abraham Bodwell
Justices of the Peace - Nathan Taylor, James Clark, John Taylor

Claims allowed, as was his subsequent claim for increase dated December 22, 1832, when he testified that he enlisted in the New Hampshire Militia in 1781 under Capt. Jacob Smith and served three months, prior to his enlistment for three years.
Josiah Sanborn.

December 22, 1832 NATHANIEL CAVERLY of Sanbornton, testified to service with "Deacon" Josiah Sanborn under Capt. Smith, New Hampshire Militia for three months in 1781.
Nathaniel Caverly. .

December 22, 1832 WILLIAM WEEKS of Sanbornton, testified to acquaintance with "Deacon" Josiah Sanborn for more than sixty years last past, and to having enlisted and served with him under Capt. Smith in 1781.
Wm. Weeks. .

August 17, 1838 Dolly Sanborn of Sanbornton, N.H., seventy-four years of age deposed: that she is the widow of Josiah Sanborn, Revolutionary Pensioner, to whom she was married at Sanbornton, March 21, 1790, by the Rev. Mr. Woodman of Sanbornton; and that her husband died at Sanbornton, May 15, 1838.
Signed by mark.

August 17, 1838 Moses Gage of Sanbornton, fifty-five years of age, certified to the death, as stated, of Josiah Sanborn, husband of Dolly Sanborn, with whom he had been acquainted for more than forty years past, and "saw him after death."
Moses Gage.

August 17, 1838 the Town Clerk of Sanbornton, N.H., certified that the marriage of Josiah Samborn, 4th and Dorothy Tomson, March 21, 1790, is recorded on the books of the town.
Henry P. Lane, Town Clerk.

October 13, 1838 Daniel Burleigh of Sanbornton, certified to the identity of Dolly Sanborn and to her continued widowhood.
Daniel Burleigh.

Claim allowed, as were her subsequent claims, dated March 8, 1843, "seventy-seven years of age,"when her mark is witnessed by Wm. West, and her identity was certified to by Alvin C. Leavett of Sanbornton; April 25, 1843; and June 27, 1848, still of Sanbornton, eighty-four years of age, when Certificate No. 715, Portsmouth, New Hampshire Agency, for $53.99, beginning March 4, 1848, was issued July 15, 1848, under Act of February 2, 1848.

Source: New Hampshire Revolutionary Pension Papers, abstracted & prepared by Mrs. Amos G. Draper 1917-1922; Found at the New Hampshire Historical Society; Call #973.34 N532pe

Contributed by Herbert L. Girtman

Soldiers in the War of 1812

(From Barnstead) Capt John Peavey, J Davis, F Chesley, D Bunker, P G Holt, Joseph Foye, John Rand, John Kaime, C Peavey, Silas Bunker, T Bunker, James Davis, G T Barker, John Place, W Rand and T Conner.

Mexican War

(From Barnstead) Nicholas Kenison (who was killed in battle) and Alfred T Munsey.

Civil War

There were many in the War of the Rebellion including William B Aiken, Frank Sleeper, G H Bridges, --- Dudley, William Brimage, E G Hodgen (killed), Capt and Maj H H Huse, Lt J H Greenwood (killed), Lt S J Smart (died), D D Hanscom, L W Jackson (mortally wounded), Rufus Clark, J E Bunker, Smith Davis, T M Huse, J S Hill, Daniel Lewis, J E Moores, B B Munsey (died), J T G Smart (died), S G Shacklford, C H Williams, Albert Davis, W B Aiken, D A Littlefield, J M Smart (died), Col Thomas E Barker, B F Chesley, Calvin Pirman, John McNeal, W P Huntress (killed), J W Hill (mortally wounded), Assistant Surgeon A C Newell, Thomas Moore, J L Garland (killed), C Chesley, G W Pitman, J L Piper, G W Aiken (died), J N Bunker (killed), T J Pierce (mortally wounded), J Pendergast (died), A D Hall, S W Young, W T Knight (killed), Moses Bickford, J M Tasker, Lt David Sackett, h H Emerson, M Jenkins, J H Edgerly, H M Parshley, A L Bickford, George Jones, Solomon Clark, J C Russell, W H Berry (mortally wounded), G T Munsey (mortally wounded), Noble Sackett, C H Pickering, C H P Young, W U Shaw, Lt H Edgerly, Horace Munsey (died), L Place, W A Frye, George W Blake, J E Emerson, G H Emerson, H H Young, J M Jones, J F Chesley, John Hill (died), D L Huse (died), Charles W Adams, O F Chesley, J F Parker, Royal Boynton, A S Buzzell, Timothy Blake Jr, W A Chesley, Jacob Lord, J C Mason (died), H D Nutter (died), H G Shackford, Samuel H Clark, G W Blake, Eli H Foss, A O Adams, W F Hanscomb, C Kaime, Horace Cough, J C Kaime, N Sackett, N Baisdell, J C Ham, J S Hayes (mortally wounded), Charles Hill (navy), Surgeons John Wheeler, T H Wheeler and L M Sanders.

World War I

WWI Draft Registration: John Merrill Brewster, born Sept 16, 1893, Barnstead. Lives Barnstead. Farmer. Employed by his father. Responsible for father, mother, invalid sister. Single. Tall, medium build, grey eyes, light brown hair.

Clinton Joshua Hillsgrove, born Aug 28, 1895, Barnstead NH. Living Barnstead. Employed by George E Hillsgrove. Farmer. Single. Medium height and build, gray eyes, dark brown hair.

John Chesley Varney, born Oct 17, 1894, Barnstead NH. Lives Barnstead. Farmer. Employed by father. Responsible for father and mother. Single. Medium height and build, blue eyes, light brown hair.