Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 19776, Jeremiah Hildreth, Mass.
Page 1

(9-1776)

Service 
Mass.

Hildreth, Jeremiah
Abigail


Number
W19776

CONTENTS
Page 2

Depons. in

Abigail Hildreth's case
Page 3

I Abel Jewett of Harvard in the county of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, having conscientious scruples about deposing on oath, do solemnly affirm as follows -,

I am the son of Capt. Aaron Jewett formerly of Littleton, (an adjoining town to Westford), in the county of Middlesex & commonwealth aforesaid, and afterwards of said Harvard; he died in the year A.D. 1816 and left certain papers in my care & keeping before he died, charging me to keep them safely & preserve them.

Among them I find the following- 
1 - "A Pay Role of Capt. Aaron Jewetts Company 
In Col. Saml. Bullards Regt. of Massachusetts Bay Militia"

"Names 
1777
Jeremiah 
Hildreth

Ranks
Private

Establisht. per month
(pound sterling symbol) s.  d.
2                                      0   0

Date of Engaget.
1777
Aug. 29

Date of Discharge
1777
Nov. 29

Distance fr. home
miles
330

Days allowed to return home 
     at 20 miles per day
days
11"

1777
Page 4

Time of service including the time allowed to return home -
months   days
3               12
(three)      (twelve)

Whole amounts.
(pound sterling symbol) 6. 16.  0  X

Said payroll contains the names of about ninety five other persons, is headed by the name of my said father & ______signed and dated by him as follows. "Scarsdel Nov. (illegible) 30th 1777 Aaron Jewett Capt." & on the back it is filed "Continental Pay Roll".

2d - "Littleton March (illegible) 10th 1778 Rec. of Capt. Aaron Jewett the State Bounty due to us the Subscribers on his Pay Roll in Col. Samuel Bullards Regiment of militia who served at Saratoga in the year 1777 when General Burgoyne & his army was taken". - to the foregoing receipt is signed the name of Jeremiah Hildreth among about fifty eight others.

3d - "Littleton March (Illegible) 11th 1778 Rec. of Capt. Aaron Jewett the travailing expense Due to us for returning from Scarsdel
Page 5

In the State of New York and other places we returned from to our several places of abode while in his company in Col Bullards Regt" - to the foregoing receipt is signed the name of Jeremiah Hildreth, among about thirty five others.

It is filed on the back "Traveling Receipt" 4th - "Littleton March of 11th 1778
Rec of Capt Aaron Jewett the [illegible] of our Back allowance of Lance money 
[illegible] Which Become Due to us while we served in his company in Col Bullards Regiment" - to the foregoing receipts is signed the name of Jeremiah Hildreth among about thirty five others. It is filed on the back "Lance money Receipt"

All the before named papers appear to be originals - the whole of the payroll appears to be in my father's handwriting and the body of each of the other three papers; but the signatures are various, indicating that they were put there
Page 6

by the persons whose names they are.
The paper on which the said roll &
and receipts are written is old & coarse
Abel Jewett
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex [illegible] March 1st 1839 Personally appeared the abovenamed Abel Jewett & solemnly affirmed under the pains and penalties   of perjury, that the foregoing deposition is true - before me John W. P. Abbot (Justice of the Peace)
Page 7

I, Mary Davis of Lowell in the county of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Widow, aged seventy three years Decr. 25. 1838, on oath depose and say as follows. My maiden name was Mary Hildreth. I lived in Westford in said county at the commencement of the revolutionary war and till its close; my brother, Jeremiah Hildreth late of said Westford, who is now dead, was in the war twice; he enlisted in the fore part of the war & went to the Cambridge & Boston, where he served as I believe three months, but I cannot say positively as to the time, though I think it was a three months tour. I don't know as he was at Cambridge or Boston, but I know he was said to be there - I didn't see him there. Afterwards he enlisted and went to the state of New York - I very well remember hearing him speak of being present
Page 8

at the taking of Genl Burgoyne, and
of seeing him-- and I remember hearing him tell of having "the camp distemper "
a sort of dysentery I believe, and of
being cured by using & eating honey freely. I think he was at New York in the fall
of the year from the fact of the manner
in which the soldiers got the honey which
they used. How long he was away
this second time I dont remember. 
My said brother has been dead more than twenty years. 
I knew my said brother's wife before he was married; her name was Abigail Parker - she belonged to Westford; she is now his widow; she has never been married since his death. I was not present at the wedding, being about one hundred miles away from Westford at
the time it took place.
Mary Davis
Middlesex ss. Feby. 14. 1839
Sworn to & subscribed before me
John A. Knowles
Jus Peace
Page 9

I Betsy Heldreth of Westford in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, single woman, on oath depose and say as follows - 

I am the daughter of Jeremiah Heldreth late of said Westford, deceased, and Abigail Hildreth his present widow.

My said father died at Westford April 17. 1817, aged about fifty six years.  My said mother has never been married since his death & is now his widow.  She lives in Westford, & her maiden name was Parker.

During my said father's lifetime I used to hear him speak of his having served in the war of the revolution.  I have heard him speak of being a fifer in the army when quite young and after that a private soldier, also of going to the state of New York & of being present at the taking of Genl. Burgoyne at Saratoga -
Page 10

I have also heard him speak of West Point, of Ticonderoga in connection with his New York service, but whether he was stationed at either of those places I do not remember to have heard him say.  
Betsey P Hildreth

Middlesex ss.  Feby. 14.1839
Sworn to & subscribed before me
John A. Knowles   Justice of the Peace.

I certify that Mary Davis, and Betsey P Hildreth afore mentioned are intelligent and credible witnesses
John a. Knowles   J. Peace
Page 11

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss

I Albert Locke, Clerk of the Police Court of Lowell in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, hereby certify that Jno. A. Knowles & Jno. W. P. Abbott Esquires are justices of the peace within & for said County of Middlesex, duly commissioned & qualified, & that said Knowles's signature twice above and said Abbot's once above written are genuine.  In witness whereof I have unto put my name and the seal of said Court this fourth day of March in the year eighteen hundred & thirty nine.  Albert Locke Clerk PCL
Page 12

2226

Massachusetts

Abigail Hildreth
widow of Jeremiah Hildreth
Mss
who was a Private
in the Revolution

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
20 Dollars _____
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.

Certificate of Pension issued the
21st day of Dec. 1843
and set to 
Hon W. Parmenter
Head of Regt

[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 1.   Page 44.

Reported

Date of death
not on AB
Page 13

Abigail Hildreth's
Declaration

m 88. d 17 -


(check mark)  5553

Abigail Hildreth
widow of Jeremiah - 
Mass.
Act 7. July 38.

m 88. d 17.

          L82 on                          3m
vol 21. 36 - Minot - Jany 76 - X
roles Jewett - Aug 77.  3-pri

6
mo
Page 14

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex ss. Police Court of Lowell.

On this fourteenth day of February in the year eighteen hundred and thirty nine, personally appeared before the police court of Lowell in the county of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Abigail Hildreth, a resident of Westford in the county of Middlesex aforesaid, aged more than Seventy four years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her
oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7th 1838, entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows"; that she is the widow of Jeremiah Hildreth late of Westford aforesaid, who was a private in the army of the revolution, and served therein as follows: to wit: He entered
Page 15

the service in December 1775, and served three months in the years 1775 & 1776, in the company of Captain Minott, and was discharged in March 1776; the service was performed in and about Boston in Massachusetts; She does not know the name of the Colonel commanding the regiment in which he served. ---

2d.  He again entered the service in the month of August 1777, & served between three & four months, in the company commanded by Capt. Aaron Jewett, and the Regt. (as she believes) of Col. Bullard.  He was discharged in Nov. or Dec. 1777.  He marched to New York State & was at the taking of Gen. Burgoyne.

In both cases he enlisted as she believes, and was not drafted or a substitute, and when he enlisted in both cases he resided in Westford in said County.

She has not any documentary evidence to substantiate her claim. ---

3d. She is informed that he again entered the
Page 16

service & performed duty three months in New York, but she does not know the beginning or end of his engagement or the officers.

She further declares that she was married to the said Jeremiah Hildreth on the sixth day of March in the year Seventeen hundred and eighty eight, by Rev. Matthew Scribner: that her husband the aforesaid Jeremiah Hildreth died on the seventeenth day of April - in the year eighteen hundred and seventeen: that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred & ninety four; to wit, at the time above stated.

The statement of the service performed by him as above set down, is made by her according to her best knowledge & beliefs, & is founded on facts derived from his own statements when alive & from the information given her by others.

She refers to the rolls on file at Washington as a part of her declaration.

Abigail Hildreth
Page 17

I, Albert Locke, Clerk of the police Court of Lowell in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby certify that Joseph Locke Esq. abovenamed is a justice of a court of record and that his signature above written is genuine.

In testimony whereof I hereto put my name and the seal of said Court this fourteenth day of February in the year eighteen hundred and thirty nine.

Alb. Locke Clerk PCL
Page 18

Police Court of Lowell. June 4, 1839

I, Joseph Locke one of the justices of the police court of Lowell hereby certify that said court is a court of record for the following reasons - 

1.  It is a new tribunal, having both civil & criminal jurisdiction, in the exercise of which it proceeds according to the course of the common law, keeping by law a record of its proceedings.

2.  A writ of error lies to it from the Sup. Ind. Court, in all ordinary cases, and not a certiorari.

3.  It has the power to fine & imprison.

4.  It has by law a seal and clerk.

J. Locke, Jus. P.C.L.


I, Albert Locke, clerk of said court hereby certify that Joseph Locke Esq. abovenamed is a justice of said court, and that the signature above is his genuine signature.
In witness whereof I hereto put my hand and seal this fourth day of June 1939
Albert Locke Ck. P.C.L.
Page 19

Record of Marriage
of Abigail Heldreth
Page 20

Commonwealth of Massachusetts}
Middlesex ss}
Office of the Town Clerk of Westford this fourth day of January eighteen hundred and thirty nine

I John W P abbot in the town County and Commonwealth aforesaid make the following extract from the record of marriages in said town now in my possession

"Jeremiah Hildreth to Abigail Parker both of Westford (illegible) sixth the day of March seventeen hundred and eighty eight.

Married by Rev Mathew Scribner.  Recorded by Jonathan Keep Town Clerk"

I certify that the above is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows "6th of March 1788"

John W P Abbot Town Clerk


I John W P Abbot above named do depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the town County and Commonwealth aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Town with the exception above named as certified by me

John W P Abbot Clerk of the town of Westford
Page 21

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss.  January 4th 1839

Then personally appeared the before named John W P Abbot and made oath to the truth of the foregoing certificate before me  
John Abbot Justice of the Peace


Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss

I, Albert Locke, Clerk of the Police Court of Lowell in said County of Middlesex hereby certify that Jno. Abbott Esquire is a justice of the peace within & foresaid County & that his signature once above is his genuine signature.

In witness whereof I hereto put my hand and set the seal of said Court this seventh day of January in the year 1839

Albert Locke, Clerk P.C.L.
Page 22

July 29, 1933

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BA-J/FIEL
Jeremiah Hildreth-W.19776

Christine S. Griffiths
150 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Jeremiah Hildreth,(W.19776), a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of Jeremiah Hildreth are not shown in the papers in the pension claim.

While residing at Westford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, he enlisted in December, 1775, and served three months in Captain Minott's Massachusetts Company; he enlisted August 29, 1777, served in Captain Aaron Jewett's Company, Colonel Samuel Bullard's Massachusetts Regiment, was at the taking of Burgoyne and was discharged November 29, 1777.

He died April 17, 1817, at Westford, Massachusetts, aged fifty-six years.

The soldier married March 6, 1788, Abigail Parker.  Both were then of Westford, Massachusetts, and their marriage was recorded on the town record of said Westford.

Soldier's widow, Abigail, was allowed pension on her application executed February 14, 1839, at which time she was aged over seventy-four years and resided in Westford, Massachusetts.

The only name of a child that is given is Betsy P. Hildreth, who, in 1839, was unmarried and living in Westford, Massachusetts.

Soldier's sister, Mary Davis, was aged seventy-three years in 1839 and lived in Lowell, Massachusetts.
There are no further family data.
Page 23

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Abigail Hildreth, widow of Jeremiah Hildreth (w. 19776), you should apply to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, citing the following data:

Abigail Hildreth, Certificate No. 2226, issued December 21, 1943, rate $20 per annum, commenced March 4, 1843, Act of March 3, 1843, Massachusetts Agency. 

Very truly yours 

A. D. Hiller 
Assistant to Administrator.
Page 24

6046
Massachusetts

Abigail Hildreth
widow of Jeremial Hildreth, dec.
who was a pensioner under the Act of ______
and who died on the 17th April 1817
of Middlesex in the State of Mass.
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Minott of the Regt commanded
by Col Bullard in the Mass.
line for 6 months

Inscribed on the Roll of   . Mass.
at the rate of 20 Dollars ______Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of Feby
1841, & sent to Hon Wm Parmenter
                           House of Rep.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1841      $100.00
(Semi-annual allowance ending crossed out)

{Act July 7,
   1838.}

Recorded by D. McCurdy, Clerk,
Book c 4.    Vol 1.  Page 96.
Page 25

[crossed out:] Washington David 
1843        11829
[crossed out:] Paid in Aug 
[crossed out:] Mr. Parmenter [?]

Abigail Hildreth
$20
Page 26

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 3d of March, 1843 granting pensions for one year to certain soldiers who received pensions under the act of July 7, 1838.

State of Massachusetts
County of Middlesex} Ss. On this thirtieth day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty three personally appeared before Luther Prescott, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, Abigail Hildreth, a resident of Westford in the County aforesaid, aged seventy eight years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the third of March 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War.
That she is the widow of Jeremiah Hildreth, who was a private in the war of the Revolution, and died on the seventeenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and seventeen. that she received a pension of twenty dollars per annum under the act of July 7, 1838. She further declares that she is still a widow not having been married since the decease of her late husband the said Jeremiah Hildreth. She also declares that her pension certificate under the act of July 7, 1838, was numbered 6046.
Abigail Hildreth
Westford October 30th 1843
Then personally appeared the above named Abigail Hildreth and made oath that the above declaration by her subscribed is true before me
Luther Prescott, Justice of the Peace
Page 27

I hereby certify that the within named Abigail Hildreth is personally known to me and that she is a credible witness
    Luther Prescott, justice of the Peace
Page 28

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Secretary's Office, Boston November 8th 1843

I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation, Luther Prescott was Justice of the Peace for the County Middlesex in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.

 Jno. A. Bolles 

Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Page 29



Depon [Deposition] of Jeremiah Fletcher in
Abigail Hildreth's case

[first name?] Wilton
May 24 1834

J.W.P. Abbot Esq.
Post Master
Westford [?] Mass [Massacusetts]
Page 30

I Jeremiah Fletcher of Wilton County of Franklin and State of Maine [illegible] Lawfully do testify and say - that I was well acquainted with Jeremiah Hildreth of Westford Mass. That in the year 1777 I was in the army of the Revolution - That said Jeremiah Hildreth and myself both belonged to Capt. Aaron Jewett's Company - I cannot now say the precise term of time said Hildreth served but from the best of my recollection he served three or fewer months, I cannot say more.
Jeremiah Fletcher

Franklin
On this 16th Day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and thirty nine personally appeared the above named Jeremiah Fletcher and made solemn oath to the truth of the above Deposition by him subscribed - Taken at the request of the Widow of said Jeremiah Hildreth to be used in the war Department of the United States as evidence of the services of said Jeremiah Hildreth in the army of the Revolution.
Before me, Jesse Huse, Justice of the Peace

Franklin
Farmington May 17 - 1834
I hereby certify that the above named Jesse Huse is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Franklin duly commissioned and qualified.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of our Court - this seventeenth day of May A.D. 1839
Francis A. Butler Clerk of all the Judicial Courts for the County of Franklin

I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Jeremiah Fletcher the above Deponant, and that his [can't read word] for truth and veracity is good.
Jesse Huse Justice of the Peace
Page 31

J. W. P. Abbott Esq
Dear sir
annexed is the Deposition of Jeremiah Fletcher to the service of Jeremiah Hildreth, I am unacquainted with the proper form for such an instrument but hope this will answer your purpose; If it should not please write me wherein it is deficient and I will make one right without any additional change to you. Having to go to the Deponents house and to the Clerks Officer to accomplish this I shall charge $3 ~ which you will pleas to enclose & forward me by mail ~
Yours
Jesse Huse
May 17, 1839
Page 32

Elnathan Read
Depon, in
Abigail Hildreth Case
Page 33

Elnathan Reed
Depon, in
Abigail Hildreth Case

I Elnathan Reed of Cavendish in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont aged Eighty Three years - do testify and say That in the year 1775 in the latter part of December Jeremiah Hildreth of Westford in the County of Middlesex State of Massachusetts - served in the same company with me under the command of Captain Miner. Said Company was stationed in Boston in the month of December 1775 and remained there. Three months during all which time the said Hildreth served as a Soldier in said Company with me and were both discharged in the fore part of March, 1776. There was no other person by the name of Jannah Hildreth to my knowledge, in said Company ~ said Hildreth and myself, were in the same mess during the three months and I further testify and say that I saw the said Jeremiah Hildreth in Westford several times after the close of the War-
Elnathan Reed
and I further say not 
Cavendish, December 26, 1838 State of Vermont Windsor County
Then personally appeared Elnathan Reed and personally known to me, and who signed the above Affidavit in my presence and made Oath to the truth of the matter therein set forth ~
Before me Moody S. Procter, Justice of the Peace
I certify that Elnathan Reed is a credible witness and fully competent to testify understandingly to the above facts
Moody S. Procter, Justice of the Peace
Page 34

State of Vermont }
Windsor County Ss }
    I Benjamin Swan clerk of Windsor County court Do hereby Certify that Moody S. Proctor is a Justice of the Peace in & for said county, duly commisioned and qualified, and that his signature within written is genuine____
             Give under my hand, and the Seal of said 
              County Court this twenty eighth day of 
              December 1838
                                Benj.  Swan Clerk


#   The Deponant undoubtedly meant Minott;
    (Minott is underlined) it is the custom in Massachusetts among the unlearned to pronounce  the name of Minot as Minott, and if written Minor or Miner.
Page 35

Lowell, June 5 1839
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Dear Sir,
We send the application of Mrs Abigail Hildreth for a pension.
We believe that we have furnished proof of six mos. certainly— perhaps the 11 days mentioned in the roll kept by Capt. Aaron Jewett (Abel Jewetts Depon.) will be allowed.
Please [crossed out] forward to us the certificate if granted.
Respectfully Your obet. Srvts.
Knowles & Locke
Page 36

                              Washington Nov 30, 1839

Sir,
    I enclose a communication from B. P. Hildreth n relation to the application of Abigail Hildreth.  Will you favor me with any information  that may exist & be useful in the case?
                      I am very respectfully
                            Your Obt Sevt
                             Wm. Parmenter
Page 37

  Case of Abigail Hildreth for a pension 
    under the act of July 7, 1838

     Jeremoah Hildreth her husband served a little more than 6 mos. in the whole.

 Hist.         In and about Boston _ 3 mos._ in 
3 mos.      Dec. 1775. & Jany. Feby. & March
                 Proved by Elnathan Reed, who 
                 served with him, and by Mary Davis.
 (Second    In the state of New York, at the           3 mos. & over.   taking of Gen'l Burgoyne,
                from  Aug. 29 to Nov. 29 1777 & 
                11 days  after Nov. 29
                 Proved by Jeremiah Fletcher, who 
                 served with him, by Abel Jewett,
                 who proves his father's roll &c, & by 
                 Mary Davis & B.P. Hildreth, who 
                 have heard him speak of his 
                  service.  
Marriage   Record proofs.
Widowhood    Proved by Mary Davis & Betsy 
                        P. Hildreth
Page 38

Jas Whitney        A   1800
    Susanna          M.  1780

76_  3 Mo.   King
80  3.
Page 39

                     Westford
Abigail Hildreth   M. 1788
Jeremiah  -   A. 1817

75 3 - Minot     Oh Vol 21 / 82
Aug 77 3 to 4'  A Jewett
Page 40

  Abigail Hildreth 
   Wid of Jeremiah
    Mass.
  Act July 7 1838
  Married  1788
 Allow 6 mo pri $20
  per ann  (illegigle)
  Col.  Bullard Mass
  Militia
Page 41

V    5553_
Sec Maps  Knowles & Lock Lowell Mass
Augt 8th '39  (illegible)  W. Parmenter
3 Dec 1839 -
Page 42

July 24, 1933

Miss Finch,

Room 1143, 
Dept. of the Interior., 
Washington, D.C.

Dear Madam: 
Will you kindly send me the military record for Jeremiah Hildreth, Westford, Massachusetts. Number W. 19776. [ Hildreth handwritten underline]
I wrote on May 21st., to the Department of the Interior, who referred the matter to the Adjutant General's Office. That office has written me that they have not a complete record, and as I saw the records in your office, April 17, 1933, I write to you for the information. 

Very truly yours,
Christine S. Griffiths [ handwritten]
150 Lexington Ave. 
New York,
New York
Page 43

1933 July 29 _ Hist to 
Christine S. Griffiths
                                     WIDOW,  &c.
                                   ________________
File No.          19776
     Abigail Hildreth
        widow of 
   Jeremiah Hildreth
      Pri   Rev  War
   Act:  March 3rd, 43
Index: _ Vol.  VA,  Page  33

       Arrangement of 1870
Page 44

1933 -July 29- Hist to
Christine S. Griffitts
WIDOW, &c.
19776
Abigail Hildreth
Widow of
Jeremiah Hildreth
Pri Rev War
Act: March 3rd 43
Index:-Vol. 2A. Page 336
[Arrangement of 1870.]