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Zenos Bissell’s
Deposition 1845
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About this document
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• A deposition of Zenos Bissell in support of Sally Webster pension efforts, dated Jan 3, 1845 Repository: No. W18329, Webster, Asa/Sally, cover Page Continental NH/VT, National Archives, Washington, D.C. |
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• Transcribed by D. Esarey/S. Santure, Feb. 2000 |
| • Comments: The name Zenos Bissell previously appeared in Asa and Sally’s affairs in 1839, when he signed as a witness of Asa's will. Zenos was apparently a close family friend, "well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Asa Webster deceased." Apparently he had also accompanied Sally to St. Larence County to make her August 1844 declaration, since at one point in that declaration the name "Zenos" was written instead of Asa and then crossed out. Zenos' deposition shows the continuing effort by Sally to document the fact and date of her marriage to Asa, which, according to the pension act provisions, apparently was required to have taken place before the first of January 1794. This explains the added emphasis placed herein on the records found in Asa’s handwriting and the documentation of the three infant deaths prior to Ephraim’s birth in September 1794. |
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• Items in the document which are presentd in square brackets, e.g., [Ehpraim], are editorial insertions for clarity and are not found in the original. |
State of New York
St. Lawerence County
Zenos Bissell of the township of Augusta in the county of Grenville in the province of Canada West being duly sworn doth depose & say that he was personally well acquainted with the late Asa Webster of Augusta aforesaid, who died in that township leaving Sally Webster his widow, who still survives him & resides in Augusta aforesaid. Deponent further says that on the second day of December last--Deponent made inquiry & search at the dwelling occupied by the said Asa in his life time for papers & documents which might show the date of the marriage of the said Asa and Sally. That the only papers or record which he found relative to the said matter was the memorandum hereto annexed and from which the following is an extract.
"January 16, 1791 Asa Webster & Sally Baldwin was married and our first child was born August the 11 on Thursday a daughter - Died the third day.
July the 28, 1792 Then was born my second daughter on Saturday & died the same day.
August the 10, 1793 -- then was born my third daughter on Saturday - stillborn.
September the 24th, 1794 then was born my son Ephraim on Wednesday.
August the 28, 1796 then was born my daughter Polly on Sunday.
January the 16, 1799 then was born my son Baldwin on Wednesday.
November 19, 1800 Then was born my son Asa on Wednesday."
Deponent further says that he was well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Asa Webster deceased, & that the said memorandum hereto annexed, & whereof the above is an extract, is in the handwriting of the said Asa Webster deceased.
Deponent also found a memorandum among the papers of said Asa Webster deceased showing the dates of the births of each of his children but which is not in the handwriting of the said Asa Webster, & which has the appearance of having been made at a much later date than the memorandum hereto annexed, but corresponds exactly therewith in dates.
And deponent found no other papers, record or document, showing the date of said marriage, or of the births of the children of said Asa & Sally Webster.
Subscribed & sworn this 3rd day of January 1845 before me.
A. C. Brown Zenos
Bissell
Judge St. Law
[3 or 4 illegible words or abbreviations]
I certify that the above named Zenos Bissell is a man of good character & a credible witness.
A. C. Brown Judge,
St. Law Cy.
[3 or 4 illegible words or abbreviations]
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