Certificate of Nicholas Bayard

Describes the authenticity of a series of powers of attorney and certificates for compensation of Revolutionary War soldiers, which appear to be frauds.

1796

11

11

New York

Enclosed in multiple, 99/99/1796.

Nicholas Bayard

alderman

justice of peace

Thomas Matthews

British

Emanuel Adams

David Mitchelson

William Simmons

Pennsylvania Line

New York

Pennsylvania

War Office

certificate

power of attorney

compensation

late war

right hip

seal

compensation

invalid

pensioner

forgery

power of attorney

1796111190001

23

I Nicholas Bayard one of the Aldermen and one of the Justices of the Peace of the City of New York Do Certify that a Certificate written on the back of a Power of Attorney signed Thomas + hismark Matthews and which said Certificate is marked A and Dated the first day of August 1796 Purporting to be a Certificate that the said Thomas Matthews was a Soldier who served during the late war in the Pensyla. line that I then lived in Pensylvania wile the British were in Possession of New York That the [undecipherable] named Soldier was very lame in his Right Hip and that he informs me that he put it out of Joint when he was in the Service and say, he has not Received any Compensation for the same" as far as it Relates to the name of Nicholas Bayard Aldn. to gether with the Seal is of my Proper hand writing and seal but that the body of the said Certificate is not of my hand writing And I do further Certify that the Certificate marked B. written on the Back of a Power of Attorney signed Emanuel his+mark Adams Purporting to be a Certificate that I am well acquainted with Daivd Mitchelson a Subscribing witness to the said Power. That he lives in my neighborhood and that I know him for near Ten years as far as Relates to the name of Nicholas Bayard aldn. to gether with the Seal is of my proper hand writing and Seal but that the bodies of the said Certificates are not of my hand writing nor Do I know any thing of the cats therein stated and I am well Convinced that I never Signed the Said Certificates as now Exhibited to me which said Powers of Attorney are now in the hands of William Simmons accountant for the war Office

Nicholas Bayard

New York Novr. 11. 1796.