Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15514, William Adams, Mass.
Page 1

(3-1776) [printed]

SERVICE [printed]                      
Mass.   

Adams, William
Mary (or Molly)

NUMBER [printed]
 W. 15514.

CONTENTS
b. Apr. 15, 1762 in Chelmsford, Middlesex Co. Mass & res.
there at enl. & in 1832
W. Dec. 25, 1843
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No. 4 discharge by 
Col. Micheel Jackson
Dec 6, 1780

Wm. Adams 
Mass W. 15374-
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William Adams a Six month's Man 8th Regt.
Masstts. is this day discharged the Service. 
Given under my Hand at West Point this
6th Day Dec. 1780

The Commissaries are desired to furnish him
with Provisions on his way Home. 
M Jackson Col
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(left side)
72 Middlesex

(right side)
15938
Massachusetts
William Adams of Middlesex in the state of Mass who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Laurence of the rgt commanded by Colonel Poor in the Masstts. line for 14 months

Priv

Inscribed on the roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 46 dollars 67 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of pension issued the 9th of Aug 1833 and sent Saml Dana Esq Groton Mass.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $93.34
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 23.33
(total) $116.67

Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by D D Addison Clerk
Book E Vol. 2d Page 2
Page 6

No. 1
Declaration of William Adams 
This case contains five papers.
Papers No. from 1 to 5 inclusive
10775
Please to send a Certe(certificate) to Saml Dana Esq Groton Ms. who is my agent.
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No. 1
Declaration of 
William Adams
This case contains five papers.
Papers No. from 1 to 5 inclusive

10775

Please to send a certr. (certificate to Saml Dana Esq Groton Ms. ho is my agent.
Page 10

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex, to wit,
At the Court of Probate
begun and holden at Concord within and for the County of Middlesex
on the seventeenth day of August A.D. 1832
On the application of William Adams claiming to be a Soldier of the Revolution, the following Interrogatories were propounded to him to wit:
1. Where, and in what year, were you born?
Answer, In Chelmsford MA, April 15th A.D. 1762
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it?
Answer, I have a family record of my age in my possession.
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer, In Chelmsford, where I have since, and now do live.
4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute for whom?
Answer, I was always a volunteer and went into service of my own motion.
5. State the names of some of the regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served, such Continental, and Militia Regiments, as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service?
Answer, I saw Gen Washington at the Jersey. Baron Steuben at the same place & Gen Green.
6. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution?
Answer, Rev. Hezekiah Packard D.D. Capt. Pierce, Capt. Josiah Fletcher, Mr. Samuel Packhurst, & Simeon Blodget.
7. Did you ever receive any discharge from services?
Answer, from the first service I did not receive any discharge, from the second service I recd a discharge which is herewith exhibited.
William Adams
 Sworn to 
T. P. (illegible)
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William Adams
16,775
Private 14 months
14 & 16 OC
March 11, 1833
p-291

Saml. Dana Esq
Groton Mass
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Brief in the case of William Adams of Chelmsford in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? 
In open  court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he?  Seventy years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. 
In 1778 
Duration of Service. 
Years, 8 Months, Days
1780  Years, 6 Months, Days
Rank As a private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Gen.
Col. Poor & Capt. Laurence
Col. Jackson
5. In what battles was he engaged?  None named
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? In Chelmsford
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Three living witnesses, documentary and traditionary evidence
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? not properly authenticated Declaration authentication Affidavit not
Certifiy that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Examining Clerk.
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No. 2.
Record of Marriage
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State of New Hampshire
Town Clerks Office
Hillsboro County SS:
Nashua Feb. 3. 1844
"William Adams of Chelmsford and Molly Roby of Dunstable were joyners in
marriage on the Fourth day of November
Seventeen hundred Eighty five by the Revd
Joseph Kidder."
I certify that the foregoing is a true extract from the records of said town of Nashua with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the records in fair legible letters and figures as follows "on the 4th day of Novr. 1785"
J.A. Wheat
Clerk of the Town of Nashua
I Josiah A. Wheet above named, depose
and say that I hold the office of Town
Clerk in the County Town & State aforesaid,
and that the above is a true extract
from the records of said Nashua. With
the exception above named, as certified by me, J.A. Wheat Clerk of the Town of Nashua
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough Country ss.
February 3, 1844 Sworn to before me Aaron F. Sawyer, Justice of the peace
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10529   No. 1
Declaration
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th July 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex County
ss.
On this fifth day of February in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty four, personally appeared before Joseph Locke, Esquire, Justice of the Police Court of the District of Lowell for and within said County of Middlesex, Mary Adams a resident of
Chelmsford in said County of Middlesex 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
benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7. 1838, entitled "An Act
granting half pay and pensions to certain widows; That she is the widow of William Adams, late of said Chelmsford, who was a private in the Army of the Revolution; that she has often heard from the lips of her deceased husband an account of his services, and thinks at one time he was stationed at West Point and she believes at some other place or places, but
she does not now remember the particulars of his service, nor the day, month or year when
he entered or left the service, but for all the particulars of his service, and the proof thereof, she refers to the evidence and documents on file in the Pension Department in the case of her said husband, who was a pensioner under the Act of Congress passed the seventh day of June Eighteen hundred and thirty two entitled "An Act supplementary to the act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution."
She further declares that she was married to the said William Adams on the fourth day of November in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and eighty five, and
that her husband, the aforesaid William Adams died on the twenty fifth day of December
in the year eighteen hundred and forty three; 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 and ninety four, viz; at the time above stated.
Mary Adams
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written at the residence of the said Mary Adams; and I certify that said Mary cannot 
from bodily infirmity, attend in open Court. Before me
Joseph Locke J.P. Court.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Middlesex I Ithamer W. Beard, Clerk pro tem of the Police Court within and for the District of Lowell and County
of Middlesex hereby certify that Joseph Locke Esquire is the Justice of said Court, and that the above signature purporting to be his, is genuine, and the above certificate is in his hand writing. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and the seal of said Court this Sixth day of February in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Forty four.
Ithamer W. Beard Clerk Pro tem of the Police Court of Lowell
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(left side)
1867
Massachusetts 
Mary Adams widow of William Adams who served Mass in the Revolutionary war as a private 

Inscribed on the roll at the rate of 46 dollars 67 cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.

Certificate of Pension issued the 7 day of Sept. 1848 and sent to D. L. Richardson Lowell Mass

Recorded on Roll of Pensions under act February 2, 1848, Page 1 Vol. 2.

(right side)
Reported
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Mary widow of Wm. Adams died 25 Dec 43. Married Nov. 4, 1785.

Rejected under act 1838 & to mark it.

$46.67 per ann. act [illegible] 1843. 

Commencing 25 Dec 1843.

Send cert. to D.S. Richardson, Esq.

Lowell, Mass.
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Application for Pensions
Mary Adams, widow

Schedule of papers enclosed.

1. Declarations

2. Copy of record of marriage, by town clerk

3. Affidavit of Hannah Taylor, a witness present at the marriage.

4. Affidavit of B. Adams, concerning death of husband & other matters.

5. Affidavit of T. J. Adams concerning same facts

All of which papers are authenticated.

I notice that the Pension certificate of Wm. Adams, her husband, now deceased, is recorded in the Pension Office Book E. Vol 2 - Page 2.

Please return the certificate, if one is granted, to me, & oblige

Lowell Mass Feb. 6, 1844.

Daniel S. Richardson Lowell Mass.
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West Point December 6th 1780
This may certify that Wm. Adams a soldier for the 8th [illegible] has [illegible] his ammo and accoutraments.
Peter Hunt [illegible]
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Jt Resa 136
9.202.
Massachusetts.
Mary Adams
widow of William Adams who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832 and who died on the 25 Decr 1843. of Middlesex in the State of Massachusetts who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Lawrence
of the Reg commanded by Col Poor in the [illegible] line for 14 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 46 Dollars 67 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of
April 1845 and sent to Dave S. Richardson Leretto Map
Total amount,  $
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by F. S. Evans Clerk, 
Book D. Vol. 1. Page
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[page] 2
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service: yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? no
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service" yes

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulationsdirect? [struck through text illegible] no

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes

Explanatory Notes
*Quere V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he werved, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peaces, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For ____ year ____ moths, and _____ days, I served as a ______ For ______ months and ______ days, I served as a ______; and for such service I claim a pension.
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[page] 3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
Quere XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the Records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
Quere XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
[pointing finger icon] In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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No. 4.

Affidavit of B. Adams.
Page 32

No. 3

Affidavit of Hannah Taylor
Page 33

I, Hannah Taylor, of Dunstable in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy six years, being first duly sworn according to law, on this third day of February in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty four, do on my oath depose and say, that I know Mary Adams, now a resident of Chelmsford in said county and that I have always known her as far back as I can remember. I further depose that I was present at the marriage of said Mary with William Adams, that I will remember that said Mary and William were married by Reverend Joseph Kidder at Dunstable in the county of Hillsborough in the state of New Hampshire which last named town of Dunstable is now called Nashua and that this marriage took place on the fourth day of November in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and eighty five: that the name of the said Mary Adams before her marriage aforesaid was Molly Adams and that of Roby and that she was sometimes called Mary Roby and since her marriage of late years she has called herself and has been called Mary Adams instead of Molly Adams and that the said Mary Adams is the same identical person who was married at the time aforesaid by said Kidder to said William Adams and that since the said marriage said Mary and William have always lived together in said Chelmsford where I have frequently seen them and that I have heard and believe that said William Adams, husband of the said Mary, hath lately deceased

Witness four words being erased above (Adams and that of crossed out above - see image) Thomas J. Adams Augusta Taylor

(signed by) Hannah Taylor


Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex County ss
On the day and year above mentioned - named - to writ on the third day of February in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty four personally appeared before the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for said county of Middlesex, Hannah Taylor above named and made oath that the above deposition by her subscribed is true. And I, the said magistrate, certify that I know the said Hannah Taylor and that she is a competent and credible witness. And I further certify that four words in the thirteenth line of said deposition were erased before the administering of said oaths and before the signing of said Hannah Taylor in my journal

Before me, Daniel S. Richardson, Justice of the Peace
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No. 5

Affidavit of T. J. Adams
Page 41

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex County s.s. Ithamar W. Beard, clerk pro. tem of the Police Court of Lowell for and within said county of Middlesex certify that Joseph Locke Esquire is the Justice of said court and that the written signature purporting to be his is genuine and that the certificate by him signed is also his handwriting - in testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said court - and subscribed my name this fifth day of February in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Fortyfour

Ithamar W. Beard Clerk
Pro tem of the Police Court of Lowell
Page 46

I certify that the written named Peter hunt and Oliver Perham, who have subscribed and made oath to the truth of the written affidavit before me are disinterested and creditable witnesses.
John R. Adams
Jus Peace and Notary Publick adopted
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5932
Wid. Mary Adams application for pension under Act 3 March 1843

Her application under act of 1838 is on file in the Department and not yet acted upon.