Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33665, for Samuel Sheldon, Massachusetts
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(3-1776)

SERVICE 
Continental 
Mass. 

Sheldon, Samuel 

NUMBER 
S 33665

CONTENTS (blank)
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10, 991 
Massachusetts 
Samuel Sheldon 
of Hadley in the State of Massachusetts who was a Lieutenant in the regiment commanded by Colonel Ward of the Massachusetts line, for the term of 2 years 

Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on the 11 of April 1818.

Certificate of Pension issued the 24 of May 1819 and sent to Hon Elijah H Mills Northampton, Mass. 

Arrears to 4th of March 1819. 10 mos 20/30& 4/31 $215.99 
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sep: 1819 120 -
========
$335.99 
========
Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.

Notification sent July 26th 1826 Joseph A Dougherty 

[illegible]
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Honble J.C. Calhoun Secretary at War Washington

application of Samuel Sheldon to be placed on the Pension List of the United States 
Taken & sealed up before me . 
J. Hinckley Justice Pe
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Referred to
Commissioner

Ad'd

Lt Samuel Sheldon
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I Samuel Sheldon of Hadley in the County of Hampshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Testify and say that I entered the service of the United States the first year of the war in the year of our Lord 1775 soon after the Lexinton Battle in the Company of Capt Eliakim Smith in the Regiment of Col. Jonathan Ward and I entered the service again in the second year of the Revolutionary War  in January 1776 in the Company of Capt Miller in the Regiment of said Ward in the Brigade of Genl Spencer and I served that year as second Lieutenant in said Company, and the next year I entered the service again in the Company of Capt Joshua Benson in the Regiment of Col Rufus Putnam in Nixon's Brigade and I served that year in said Company in the Capacity of First Lieutenant and in January 1778 I left the service in consequence of Ill health, having served the United States in said Revolutionary War in the Capacity of Lieutenant for two years in the Continental Establishment 

And I further certify and say that I have been for many years in Indigent circumstances and by reason of old age and indisposition I am unable to support myself without the aid and Charity of my friends of the Town of Hadley aforesaid where I have always since my arriving to age lived, and that I have never been placed on any pension list in the United States or ever received any Pension whatever, and that I am in need of assistance from my Country for support. 
April 11th 1818 
Samuel Sheldon 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampshire ss 
Personally appeared before me the subscriber Judge of the Court of Probate being a Court of Record in and for the County aforesaid, Samuel Sheldon, and being carefully examined & cautioned to testify the whole truth made solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed contains the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. and I further certify that I have for many years personally known said Sheldon and have doubt but what he has above testified is and as to what he testifies of his being in next of assistance from his country for his support, is there and that he is a resident of said Town of Hadley and I have hereunto affixed the seal of the office of the Court aforesaid, this Eleventh day of April 1818. 
Samuel Hinckley Judge the Court aforesaid
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I Asahel Pomeroy of Northampton in the County of Hampshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts testify and say I have for many years known Lieut. Samuel Sheldon of Hadley in said County signer of the within Deposition, and that I was in service of the United States in the year of our Lord 1777 at the taking of Burgoin and I saw said Sheldon in the same service acting in the capacity of an officer of the army of the United States and have no doubt but the declaration of said Sheldon as set with on the other side is true and that what he has said respecting his circumstances is true. 
April 11th 1818 
Asahel Pomeroy

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampshire Personally appeared Asahel Pomeroy Esq. signer of the above deposition and being cautioned to certify the truth made solemn oath that the foregoing Deposition of him the said Asahel is the truth the whole truth & nothing but the truth

Before me Samuel Hinckley Judge of the Court of Probate, being a Court of Record of wills in and for said County of Hampshire
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No. 7
Samuel Sheldon
Con 
Hadley
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COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. HAMPSHIRE ss. 
At a Special Session of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Western Circuit, begun and holden at Northampton, within and for the County of Hampshire, on Wednesday, the fifth day of July, and de die in diem to the sixth day of said month A. D. 1820: 
PERSONALLY APPEARED, in open Court, being a Court of Record, within and for said County, created such by the Laws of the Commonwealth, Samuel Sheldon aged seventy eight years, resident in Hadley in said County, who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows: 

engaged as a Lieutenant in January 1776 in Capt Willing's company in Col Wards Regt in the Massachusetts line from year and at the day of the year he was discharged at Peeks Kill in the state of New York, and he obtained his certificate for his pension in an application made therefore in the eleventh day of April 1818 which certificate is numbered 1991, his Commission is filed in the War Office for his said service 

And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled, "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war,” passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the following schedule by me subscribed. 

One horse $50.00 Chest $2.00 Total $52.00 

I am a man seventy eight years of age and very infirm have and have been formerly assisted by the town of Hadley before I received pension for my support 
Samuel Sheldon
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 the following schedule by me subscribed. One house $50.00 Chest $2.00 
Total $56.00
I am a man seventy eight years of age and very infirm have no have been formerly assisted by the town of Hadley before I received pension for my support 
Samuel Sheldon

Sworn to, and declared the fifth day of July 1820 before the said Court. 
Attest Josiah Dwight Clerk 

I, JOSIAH DWIGHT, Clerk of said Court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule which follows it, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is fifty two dollars, and --- cents. 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this Sixth day of July 1820. 
Josiah Dwight
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33665 
Revy INVALID. 
File No. 33665 
Samuel Sheldon Lieut Rev War 
Act: 18 March 18 

Index: -- Vol. 2, Page 872 
{Arrangement of 1870.}
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Sheldon, Samuel
Continental Massachusetts
533665
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33665
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IN CONGRESS 
The DELEGATES of the UNITED COLONIES of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut , New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South-Carolina, to Samuel Sheldon

We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, do by these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be second Lieutenant in the Army of the United Colonies, raised for the Defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile Invasion thereof. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of by doing and performing all Manner of Things thereunto belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your Command, to be obedient to your Orders as And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from Time to Time, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United Colonies, or Committee of Congress, for that purpose appointed, or Commander in Chief for the Time being of the Army of the United Colonies, or any other your superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in Force until revoked by this or a future Congress. 

Attest Charles Thomson 
By Order of the Congress, John Hancock PRESIDENT
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[illegible]
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I Samuel Sheldon of Hadley in the County of Hampshire Commonwealth Massachusetts late Lieutenant in the revolutionary continental army testify and declare that in December 1777, while Col. Putnam’s regiment in which I was a First  Lieutenant was stationed at Albany, I obtained from General Gates a furlough for the purpose of taking the small pox innoculation at Great Barrington in the County of Berkshire in this Commonwealth. Having lost said furlough, I cannot now with certainty recollect the length of time for which it was granted. 
I proceededto Great Barrington and took the small pox [illegible]  and was with a Daniel Whiting, who is now dead. But was left by it in so debilitated a state so to be unable to rejoin my regiment. Indeed I well remember that my furlough had expired before I left the pest  house. Having relations in Sheffield, a town adjoining Great Barrington, as soon as I was able, I went thither and placed myself under the care of [illegible]  [illegible] [illegible] by his widow.
I soon afterwards forwarded my resignation with my commission for it to [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] Boston [illegible] I now forgot which.  [illegible] Kellogg then living in [illegible] whose Christian name I do not remember. Said [illegible] was [illegible] and rejoined was [illegible] my regiment was [illegible].
I continued at Sheffield until my regiment was partially [illegible] and then continued to Hadley, where I have ever since resided. I solemnly declare that until the [illegible] General Washington of my resignation to its [illegible] [illegible], I never had even an intimation that I was ever [illegible] or that I deserted from my errand; but on the contrary was under said Kellogg, [illegible] from serving as [illegible]  to indicated. I supposed that my reason  
for not returning to the army was perfectly satisfactory to my superior officers and I never had a doubt that the course which I pursued was strictly compatible with my duty as a soldier and a patriot .
I do not know whether Kellogg is now living. He removed from Sheffield into New York or Portsmouth almost forty years ago. Of course, for me, who am now in my seventy seventh year, encountering the horrors of poverty to obtain his testimony is probably impraticable. I believe that this may be considered as a supplement to my aforementioned deposition and that my application for a pension may be reconsidered by the pension Secretary 
for the War Department..
Samuel Sheldon
November 30th, 1818

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampshire ss November 30, 1818   Personally appeared Samuel Sheldon and made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit statement by him subscribed is the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  Before me Samuel Hinckley Judge of probate and a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid.
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I Samuel Sheldon of Hadley in the County of Hampshire Commonwealth Massachusetts late
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES 12-5-41 
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD* Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

NAME Sheldon, Thomas GRADE Private LINE Virginia 
WARRANT 12553 ACREAGE 100 December 13, 1791 to Francis Graves assignee 

The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of ""Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800"" which are quent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives. registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.