Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5194, for Ebenezer Preble, Massachusetts
Page 1

Service:
Mass.

Preble, Ebenezer Number: 5194
Hood, Martha
[former widow]

Contents:
Widow's 2nd husband, Robert Hood was also a soldier in the Revolution
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DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, of the 4[7]th July, 1838[6], entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
STATE OF MAINE.
Lincoln County, ss.

On this 3rd day of September A. D., 1838,
personally appeared before the Hon. Nathan Weston Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of said State
Martha Hood

a resident of Lisbon in the County of Lincoln and State of Maine, aged eighty five 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 7[4]th, 1838[6], That she is the
widow of

Ebenezer Preble late of Woolwich in said County, deceased, who she has reason to believe & does believe was a Revolutionary soldier of the United States, about eight months, she believes at least six months, in the year 1775 under either Capt Bailey or Capt Mathenwell, she does not recollect which & she believes that he served in Massachusetts at Lexington & at Cambridge. 
She further states her belief that he said late husband afterwards served as a soldier for two years from sometime in 1776, in the  Coast of Maine under she thinks Capt. Mathewell, but she is not able to state the particulars of either service, & as his last service was in various places on the coast of Maine, she refers to the rolls.

She further declares, that she was married to the said Ebenezer Preble on the fifteenth
day of August in the year seventeen
hundred and seventy six;
that her husband, the aforesaid Ebenezer Preble died on the not collected day
of June 1791, at said Woolwich

That her maiden name was Martha Smith & she was married at said Woolwich by the Rev. Josiah [Muship]
That in about eight years after the death of her  said husband she married Robert Hood [her] last husband at said Woolwich, & that  the said Robert Hood died on the twelfth day of January 1826, & that on the 4th of July 1836 she was a widow & unmarried, & has remained a widow ever since that period.

Her X Mark
Martha Flood

Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before
me, the applicant being, from age and infirmity, unable to appear in open Court.
Nathan Weston C.J.
S.J. C.
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State of Maine
On the third day of September, 1838, Martha Hood, the applicant within named, was examined and sworn, as within stated. I am satisfied that she was married to Ebenezer Preble, [wit] a revolutionary soldier of the United States, on the fifteenth of on the fifteenth of August 1776, that the said Ebenezer Preble deceased in June 1791, that the applicant was a widow on and before the fourth of July 1836, and has so remained
since.
Nathan Weston C.J. 
S.J.C.

STATE OF MAINE.
Kennebec SS.
I the subscriber Clerk of the judicial Court for sd County hereby CERTIFY,
That the Hon Nathan Weston before whom the proceedings were had, is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of
I also CERTIFY, That the foregones & annexed contains the original proceedings of
the said Chief Justice in the matter of the application of Martha Hood
for a pension.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court, this thirtieth day of October A. D., 1838.

Thomas Swan
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It appears on the records of the Congregational Church, in the Town of Woolwich, County of Lincoln & State of Maine that Ebenezer Preble was married to Martha Smith August fifteenth
seventeen hundred seventy six; by the Rev Josiah Winship Pastor of said Church.
Thereby certify that the above is a true coppy of the record, with the exception of the date, which is [illegible] on the records in fair legible figures
August fifteenth seventeen hundred seventy six
August 15th, 1776
Woolwich October 12 1838
Attest John Stinson Church Clerk
I John Stinson above named, depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk of the Congregational Church in the Town of Woolwich, county & state aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Church, with the exception above named as certified by me
John Stinson, Clerk of Cong. Church [illegible stamp or seal]
[faint handwriting] Lincoln October 16 AD 1838 Personally affirms the above named John Stinson and made oath to the truth of the above statement by him subscribed before me
John [illegible]
John [illegible] Esq. is a Justice of the peace for the county of Lincoln. Nathan Weston
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[page 1 of 2 of typed letter]
Ethel P. Crawford
185 Main Street
Fairfield, Maine

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
AWF: MLB

Dear Madam:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 5194 [underscored], that Ebenezer Preble [underscored] was a native of Woolwich, District of Maine, date of birth not stated.

He married August 15, 1776, in Woolwich, Martha Smith, who was born January 29, 1753. They were married by the Reverend Josiah Winship, pastor of the Congregational Church in said Woolwich.
Ebenezer Preble died in June, 1790, 1791 or 1792, in Woolwich, District of Maine.
His widow Martha, about eight years after his death, married Robert Hood, who, it is stated, was also a soldier of the Revolution. Robert Hood died January 12, 1826.
The widow, Martha applied for pension on account of the services of Ebenezer Preble, September 3, 1838. At that time she was a resident of Lisbon, Maine. It is alleged in the claim that Ebenezer Preble enlisted in 1775, and served two or three years as private and sergeant in Captains John Bailey's and Mutherwell's or Metherwell's and Smith's companies, Colonel Sprout's Massachusetts regiment, and was at the taking of Burgoyne.
The claim was not allowed as she did not establish proof of six months service as required by the pension law.
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[page 2 of typewritten letter]
In 1840 the widow, Martha, was living in Webster, Maine, and in 1841 was residing in Wales, Maine.
Heirs were referred to in 1852. A daughter, Martha Preble, was sixty-seven years old in 1854.
Emerson Preble of Lisbon, Maine in 1838; Zebulon Preble of Webster, Maine, in 1840, aged sixty-three years; and Richard Preble of Richmond, Maine, aged fifty-six years, in 1841, all testified in the case, no relationship shown.

Very truly yours
E.W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner
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I Seth Toothaker of Brunswick in the County of Cumberland of Lawful age to testify and swear Do upon oath Depose and say that I was acquainted with a man by the Name of Ebenezer Preble and to the best of my Recollection he belonged to the town of Woolwich then in the province of Maine, and now in the State of Maine, the said Ebenezer Preble was appointed by the officers and Selectmen of that town to be a minute man which they considered to be one of the [most] permanent acts of the then existing Congress, 
In AD 1775 in the month of February of the same year of 1775 & in the month of April or May of the same year He the said Ebenezer Preble went to Cambridge in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Line until after the Battle of Bunker Hill in June AD 1776 & there the said Preble returned home in the month of July or August for the Purpose as he told me of being married - He the said Preble then went to Ticonterroga in the year AD 1779 when He received an Honorable Discharge on the fourth of January of the same year. The said Preble served under Capt. Bailey in Col. Sprouts Regiment for the space of one year or more
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I Seth Toothaker of Brunswick in the State of
Maine, a soldier of the Revolution, aged 82 years the 10th day of January last past, upon oath do depose & say that
my affidavit taken by Rodney Forsaith Esqr February 21st, 1840 (the said having this day been read over to me) contains the truth & is true; & I further state that I now distinctly recollect that said Ebenezer Preble, named in
said affidavit, was of & belonged to the town of Woolwich in the then province but now State of Maine- said Preble served with me in the same army & and in the same encampment with me for three years.
Said Preble not his discharge the same day that I obtained mine - & we came home together from West Point New York-
We were together through the whole seige from the time we left Ticonteroga to the taking of Burgoyne.
I often saw him & conversed with him, during the whole of the three years, say once a week or fortnight- He served in [&] and different regiments-- I do not recollect now any thing more distinctly in what company & regiments said Preble served, than I did at the taking of my affidavit above referred to. 
I positively know that and Preble Served as a soldier in the army of the Revolution for the space of three full years, if not more-
Seth Toothaker

State of Maine County of Lincoln ss. On this third day of June A.D. 1841. personally appeared the above named Seth Toothaker & made oath to the above affidavit by him signed & I further certify that he is a person of truth & veracity & that his statements under oath one entitled to full credit. 
Marshall S. Hagar
Justice of the Peace
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Richmond Maine
March 31. 1853

Sir,
Yours of 23 Feb. was duly received enclosing a Copy of Letter to Hon Benj Randall dated June 29. 1841 in relation to a pension Claim of Mrs Martha Hood widow of Ebenezer Preble decd by which it appears the papers in the case allege performance of service in the Mass line, sugesting also that this was a probable error, and that the services must have been performed in the Militia of that State
I have ascertained that the services were performed in the Militia and under Captains Methewell, Bailey, & Smith severally and perhaps others
He then lived, and went into the service from the town of Woolwich, Lincoln County (then) District of Maine,
If there is any more proof wanted than is already on file- please inform me what 
And oblige
Yours Respectfully
H. B. Cox
Comr of Pensions
Washington DC
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Secretary's Office, Boston
February 14 1854

I Hereby Certify. That from an examination of the
Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that
the name of Ebenezer Preble on Roll of Capt. Abel Moulton's Comp. for [ their bounty ] at one pound per month for their  time in [Camp.] Service 2 mos. 14 days, R. Island service no data, Enclosed "allowed in Council July 22. 1777" as private.
Also on roll of Travel of Capt. Jedediah Goodwin's Comp. Col. Edward Wigglesworths Regt. discharged at Albany, Nov 30th 1776 280 miles from home, wages Pound 2.2. as private from York.
Also on Pay Roll of Capt. Esaias Preble's Comp Col. Jacob Gerrish Regt. stationed at Winter Hill, detached to serve from April 2nd to July 3rd 1778. Service from March 31. 3 mos. 7 days, distance from home 80 miles, as private.

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

[side note un-transcribed]
Page 36

1 - 
Declaration of 
Martha Hood
Martha Hood - 
No 5390
4 July 36
Me

Hn. Benj. Randall
HR
Page 39

State of Maine
County of Lincoln
be it Known that on this 5th day of September A.D. 1840 Personally appeared before me the Subscribe Judge of the Court of Probate for said County the same being Court of Record Martha Hood otherwise called Martha Preble widow who being too aged & infirm to leave her house to attend in open Court - made & caused the foregoing declaration to be reduce to [illegible] and the same being read over to her due being first sworn  to testify the truth - and being introduced by her, she made her mark to her name there written - being unable to sign her name and made oath that said declaration was True I further certify that her statement, under oath are entitled to full credit and that she is the evidence of the Call Ebenezer Preble named by her as appeared by full proof and. 
I testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court the day & year above written
Nathl Groton
Judge of said Court
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House of Representatives, June 23. 1841 - 
I hereby certify that Nathaniel Groton, within named is Judge of Probate within and for the County of Lincoln, State of Maine, and that said Court is a Court of Record
Benja. Randall

Declaration of 
Martha Hood
Martha Hood -
no 5390
4 July 36
Me

Hn. Benj. randall 
HR
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35 -
Affidavit of 
John Wright &als
Service &c
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I John Wright of Woolwich in the State of Maine, aged eighty-three years, upon oath do depose & say, that I was very well acquainted from my boyhood to his death, with Ebenezer Preble of said Woolwich, a Soldier of the Revolution- He, said Preble, was appointed a minute man by the officers & Selectmen of the Said town in the early part of the year A.D. 1775 in the Spring of the Same year viz, 1775, 
he said Preble, was called out into the Service, to go to Cambridge Massachusetts, to join the army there- I think it was in April of 1775. I made for him a pair of shoes the day before he went- He was away from Woolwich a year or more at that time- he then returned to Woolwich & was married - 
He afterwards went into the army & served quite a long time & then returned to Woolwich- His last service was in the New York division of the army at Ticontaroga & at the taking of Burgoyne.
I know of his absence from Woolwich for a long time in the War of the Revolution- I should think three years or more and it was always said that he was in the army- I never heard a rumor to the contrary, but I cannot specify his service, for I was not in the same service with him. 
I was well acquainted with Martha Smith of said Woolwich, to whom said Preble was married about the year 1776. I should think - they lived together as husband & wife until he died of the measles about fifty years ago- she remained his widow a few years & then married a [Man] - Hood, another soldier of the Revolution, said Hood died about twenty years ago- said Martha Preble or Martha Hood has remained a widow ever since & is now a widow. She now resides & lives at Wales in this State.
John [Wright]
Page 44

to join the army at Cambridge on Bunker Hill in Massachusetts - He remained some time in the service what time I can not say - I entered the service in 1779 in the summer season - He had left the service a short time before I entered it - He was married to Martha Smith, I  think in the time of the War - He died fifty years ago I should think - Said Martha Preble his widow afterwards married a Man - Hood, and the solider of the Revolution - Said Hood died a great number of years ago & said Martha Preble or Martha Hood has remained a widow ever since & is now a widow - She now lives in Wales in this State 
Joseph Wright

State of Maine
County of Lincoln } ss. On this sixteenth day of June A. D. 1841 - Personally appeared John Wright Mary Preble & Joseph Wright above named & made 

State of Maine.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
LINCOLN, SS - I Wales Hubbard, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that Marshall S Hagar Esq. whose name is affixed to the annexed paper, as a JUSTICE OF THE PEACE is legally commissioned and duly qualified to act as such, and that the name so affixed is his own proper signature, to me well known.
IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the District Court of Common Pleas this Sixteenth day of June A. D. 1841
Wales Hubbard CLERK.
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to join the army at Cambridge on Bunker Hill in Massachusetts - He remained some time in the service what time I can not say - I entered the service in 1779 in the summer season - He had left the service a short time before I entered it - He was married to Martha Smith, I  think in the time of the War - He died fifty years ago I should think - Said Martha Preble his widow afterwards married a Man - Hood, and the solider of the Revolution - Said Hood died a great number of years ago & said Martha Preble or Martha Hood has remained a widow ever since & is now a widow - She now lives in Wales in this State 
Joseph Wright

State of Maine
County of Lincoln } ss. On this sixteenth day of June A. D. 1841 - Personally appeared John Wright Mary Preble & Joseph Wright above named & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by them signed - I further certify that they are persons of truth & veracity & that their Statements under oath are entitled to full credit -
Marshall S Hagar Justice of the Peace
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4 n
Affidavit of 
John Stinson &al
Marriage &
Widowhood &c
Page 47

it appears from the records of the Congregational Church in the town of Woolwich, County of Lincoln & State of Maine under the head of Marriages that Ebenezer Preble was married to Martha Smith on the fifteenth day of August in the year of out Lord Seventeen Hundred & Seventy-Six by Rev Josiah Winshif Pastor of Said Church - I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the Record of said Church, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures, as follows, viz
"August 15, 1776"
Attest Jn Stinson { Church Clerk

I John Stinson above named, deposed say that I hold the office of Clerk of the Congregational Church in the town, County & State aforesaid & that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Church with the exception above named, as certified by me
Jn Stinson {Clerk of the Congregational Church aforesaid
Lincoln SS. June 16, 1841 - Subscribed & Sworn Before me Marshall S Hagar Jus. Peace
Page 48

I Richard Preble of Richmond in the County of Lincoln & State of Maine, aged fifty-six years, upon oath do depose & say, that I have acquainted with the widow Martha Preble or Martha Hood for nearly forty years - very wall acquainted with her - When I was first acquainted with her, she was the widow of Ebenezer Preble of Woolwich in this State, who was reputed to have been a solider of the War of the Revolution - I have always heard it said that he was in the army three years or more - said Widow Preble after my first acquaintance with her married a Mr Robert Hood - who lived but a few years - said Hood died twenty years ago ore thereabout & from that time, the said Martha Preble was a widow on the 4th day of July 1836 & is now a widow - I have seen her very often for the last twenty years - She has often been at my home on [illegible] - She now lives in Wales in this State
Richard Preble
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State of Maine - County of Lincoln. ss. On this sixteenth day of June A.D. 1841. Personally appeared John Stinson & Richard Preble above named & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavits by them signed - I further certify that they are persons of truth & veracity and that their statements under oath are entitled to full credit - 
Marshall S Hagar - Justice of the Peace
State of Maine.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
LINCOLN, SS -- I Wales Hubbard, JACOB SMITH Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, to hereby certify that Marshall S Hagar Esq. whose name is affixed the annexed paper, as a JUSTICE OF THE PEACE is legally commissioned and duly qualified to act as such, and that the name so affixed is his own proper signature to me well known.
IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the District Court of Common Pleas this Sixteenth day of June A. D. 1841
Wales Hubbard CLERK.
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5390. V 4038
Martha Hood
widow of Ebenezer Preble
Claim under act of 
Juny 4 1836
Mc
in 76 at 91 -
[illegible]
regt -
open court - proof of
identity
Geo Morton 
Augusta 
Maine
Page 51

I Emerson Preble of Lisbon, Lincoln County, Maine on oath state that I well know the within named Martha Hood, & having read the foregoing declaration do express my full belief in the statements she has therein made. I fully believe that she was the wife & afterwards the widow of the within named Ebenezer Preble; that the afterwards named Robert Hood who I well know died at said Lisbon twelve or thirteen years ago. I think the said Martha Hood has ever since remained unmarried, the being a widow & unmarried on the 4th day of July 1836, & having unmarried a widow ever since that period. 
Emerson Preble
State of Maine
Lincoln SS:
Subscribed & sworn AD this 3rd day of September [illegible] the deponent being a credible witness. 
[illegible] Nathan Weston
C.J. S.J.C.
Page 52

6th 
Affidavit of
Zebulon Preble for
Widowhood &c
Page 53

I Zebulon Preble of [illegible] in the County of Lincoln & state of Maine aged sixty three years - on oath declare that I knew Ebenezer Preble of Woolwich, who was the husband of the widow Martha Preble, now called Martha Hood who has applied for a pension as his widow. He died about forty eight years ago at Woolwich, and left his widow Martha, who is now living and is now about eighty eight years old
Zebulon Preble
I Martha Preble wife of Zebulon Preble on oath declare that I distinctly recollect Ebenezer Preble the late husband of the widow Martha Preble otherwise called Martha Hood, who has applied for a pension - that he died about forty eight years ago - that his widow is now living at Webster in the County of Lincoln at the age of about eighty eight years 
Martha Preble
State of Maine
County of Lincoln On this 5ht day of September AD 1840 Personally appeared Zebulon Preble and Martha Preble above named and made oath to the truth of the above affidavits by the [illegible] I further certify that they are persons of truth & veracity and their statements under oath are entitled to full credit
Nathan Groton [illegible] of Probate
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Lincoln ss. Probate Office Wiscasset June 16 1841
I John C Dodge do certify that Nathaniel Groton is Judge of Probate for the County of Lincoln and that he within signature is the genuine signature of said Groton well known to me
I John C Dodge Regr of said Court
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Probate Court
John C Dodge Regr