Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19158, Abraham Wheelwright, Continental (Mass) Privateer
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Wheelwright, Abraham

Service Continental (Mass)
Privateer

Number S. 19158

carded
Contents
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(Left side)

27457
(torn) ssachusetts
——————————
(torn) ham Wheelwright
(torn) ourg po. in the State of Mass.
was a pri artly. in Compy. commanded by Captain Tucker of the Regt. commanded
by Colo. Huchinson in the Mass
line for 
13 1/2 pri of Artilery
Continental and Privateer
——————————————-
Inscribed on the Roll of (blank) at the rate
of 56 Dollars 25 Cents per annum, to commence
on the 4th day of March, 1831
———————————
Certificate of Pension issued the 3d day of June 1834 and sent to William Woart Esq. of 
Newburyport, Mass.
—————————————
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1834  $168.75
Semi-anl. allowance ending 11 Sep  '34  28.12
$196.87

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by George Taylor, Clerk
Book E. Vol. 2 page 94  

(Left side)

1891 Feby.14 gave history through
agnt. chief N. E. Robinson

77 Essex
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.

State of Massachusetts: County of Essex, ss.

On this eleventh day of September A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Honorable Daniel Appleton White, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, now sitting at Newburyport Abraham Wheelwright, a resident of Newburyport, in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, aged 75 years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on his oath, made the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:
He first enlisted at Gloucester, Cape Ann, in the month of December, 1775 under Ensign John Tucker, and immediately afterwards joined the company commanded by Captain Putnam in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Hutchinson, Massachusetts line and did duty therein at Winter hill near Charleston in the Brigade under General Sullivan and was afterwards stationed at Dorchester; from thence marched to Norwich in the State of Connecticut and there embarked for New York through the sound and was stationed at Fort Washington, was at the building of that Fort, continued to serve in said company until after the British landed at Long Island, when volunteers were called for to join General Knox's regiment of Artillery, where as a volunteer he joined Captain Fostors company and proceeded to Long Island; that after the battle of Long Island he returned to the City of New York; and was there stationed until the British landed at York Island-was present at the battle of Harlem-White Plains-Trenton and Princeton, was in 
General Putnams division when he attacked the British at Harlem heights-marched with general Lees division from Fort Washington to White Plains and from thence crossed the North river at King's Ferry, marched through the Jerseys, when General Lee was made prisoner by a British party from their lines; continued with the army to the Delaware which they crossed at Easton, and joined a part of the Northern Army at that place and then proceeded on the west side of the river and joined General Washington at Trenton where 1100 Hessians were captured. That he continued in said service until the time for which he enlisted being one year had expired and then by particular and urgent request of General Knox, he continued to serve a further term of six weeks until recruits arrived, when he received a regular discharge and returned home in company of Capt. Winthrop Sargent of Gloucester and Captain Brown of Cambridge of the Artillery-having served in this Campaign thirteen months and an half. He is now unable to say whether his discharge was in writing or not, if it was in writing it is now lost.

That he afterward, engaged and entered as First Officer on board the Brig De La Fayette, a private armed Brig commissioned by the Government of the United States, as Letter of Marque, commissioned by Captain Seth Thomas,, mounting six carriage guns and manned with about fifteen men, sailed in her in the year 1780 in company with an armed ship belonging to the same owners and commanded by Captain Nicholas Johnson also commissioned by the Government and in their cruise had a small engagement with a British armed ship but did not capture her-on this cruise he was employed Three months and an half-also entered onboard the same Brig, as first officer and under the same commander and was on board on duty another cruise in the same year about Three months.

That he was first officer and served in different years-one board the private armed vessel Letters of Marque commissioned by the Government as such as follows viz Brig Cormorant commanded by Captain Perkins, mounting four carriage guns-Brig Stork commanded by Captain Johnson, mounting four carriage guns-on (illegible) cruises, on the last of which was captured by the enemy and carried prisoner to Bermuda-Brig Swan commanded by Captain Gaadhus mounting four carriage guns and as first officer on board several other private armed vessels and particularly on board an armed (illegible) commanded by Captain Holmes as early as the year 1779, on board all which he was employed and also on board the Brig Spy commanded by Captain Lunt mounting six carriage guns and
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was born at Gloucester in the year 1757. record on the Town books in Gloucester, live in Gloucester when he voluntarily enlisted-William Bartler, Ebeneser Wheelwright & John Coombs Esq can testify as respects his veracity & their belief in his revolutionary service.
That he was born in Gloucester in the year 1757 resided there until the year 1775. He now resides in Newburyport and has resided there more than fifty years.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Abrm. Wheelwright (signature)

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
D. A. White, Judge of Probate

We, Daniel Dana D. D. a clergyman residing in Newburyport aforesaid, and William B. Banister Esquire, a magistrate residing in Newburyport aforesaid, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abraham Wheelwright who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 75 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a  soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Daniel Dana
W. B. Banister

Subscribed and sworn to before 
W. Woart, justic of the Peace
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I Abraham Wheelwright, of Newburyport in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in addition to the declaration which I made before the Honorable Daniel Appleton White, on my application to the Government of the United States for the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832, and which was subscribed and sworn to by me on September 11, 1832, and in explanation thereof, do now further on oath declare-That when I first enlisted in the service of the United States at Gloucester as stated in said declaration, it was in the month of December 1775, and I then enlisted for Twelve months under the ensign John Tucker, who has since deceased, the precise day of the month I do not now remember, but think it may have been about the last day of that month; said Tuckers certificate made at my request, I now annex to this declaration. I am not now able from loss of memory to state more particularly my services than I have already stated, nor the date of the transfer from Captain Putnams company to the company commanded by Capt. Foster; I can only state that i did faithfully serve according to the terms of said enlistment, the full term of Twelve months from the close of the year 1775 to the close of the year 1776, and that at the expiration of that time, I did afterwards without leaving the army and at the particular request of General Knox, voluntarily continue in the same regiment and served as a private therein the further term of six weeks making my whole service the full term of Thirteen months and an half, to wit from December 1775 to some time in the month of February 1777 in the infantry and the regular regiment of Artillery and as near as I can now remember six months of that time in the Artillery under General Knox my service on board the several vessels mentioned in said declaration was in Letters of Marque in the merchants service. my other 6 mo. only in the Artillery.

Abram. Wheelwright (signature)

Essex ss. Newburyport May 16th 1834 
Then personally came Abraham Wheelwright above named and made oath in the form of law to the truth of the above written declaration by him made, before me
W. Woart,, Justice of the Peace
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Gloucester 26th Decr. 1829

I the subscriber hereby certify that Abraham Wheelwright now of Newburyport & State of Massachusetts did enlist as a private soldier with me in the Revolutionary War in 1775 in the Company of Capt. Enoch Putnam of which I was Ensign and in the Regiment of Israel Hutchinson & I believe served six weeks after and was discharged at Morristown in New Jersey-and was a Brave, Worthy good soldier an exemplary man and deserved well of his country.
John Tucker (signature)

John Rogers
Elias W. Hayes
Mina Hodgkins
Lucy E. Hayes

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I John Rogers, now of Newburyport in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Merchant, on oath do testify and declare that I was present and saw John Tucker sign the above written paper and put my name to the same as witness at the time it was signed by him. I was well acquainted with said John Tucker who has since deceased and was present when he made the said statement and when it was reduced to writing and have full confidence to believe the same to be true.
Newburyport June 30 1832
John Rogers

I do further on oath declare, that I have been well acquainted with Abraham Wheelwright, and have always understood that he was a soldier in the service of the United States in the war of the Revolution, also that the above written declaration was at said Tuckers request, reducd to writing by me at the time it purports to have been dated.
John Rogers

Essex SS, Newburyport May 16th 1834. Then the above named John Rogers personally came and made oath to the truth of the above written declaration by him subscribed in my presence. I do also certify that that the said John Rogers is believed by me to be a credible witness.
W. Woath, Justice
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I Nathaniel Tucker of Gonaster, in the County of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged nearly seventy four years, on oath do testify and declare, that Captain Abraham Wheelwright, who now resides in Newburyport, in said county, is personally [illegible] known to me, I [determine?] that, the said Abraham Wheelwright enlisted, under my brother  John Tucker, within named, who has since deceased, in the month of December 1775 [illegible] he joined the Company commanded by Captain Putnam Colonel Hutchinsons Regiment and served therein and in General Knox’s regiment of Artillery, into Foster Company, Tucker [illegible], on his regular enlistment, and afterwards Six weeks by particular request.-

My brother, whose name is signed to the within written Certificate, is now dead, the within written I know to be his signature - and take  him in the facts I have stated above from my own knowledge, having been in the same service with said Wheelwright 
Nathaniel Tucker 

Essex Ss  May 14th 1834. 
Then Nathaniel Tucker above named personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above written deposition by him subscribed - and I do Certify that the said Nathaniel Tucker is believed by me to be a credible witness 
W Woart. Justice of the Peace
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I John Coombs of Newbury in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged Eighty six you and upwards, on oath do testify and declare, that I am well acquainted with Captain Abraham Wheelwright, and do well know that he was a soldier in the army of the United States but how long he [served?] I am unable to say - I know  also there he was officer of several private armed [vessels?] commissioned  by the Government of the United States as letters of Marque, and in secret cruises during the war of the Revolution 

He was officer on board the Brig Stark, commanded by Captain Eleazer Johnson, mounting four carriage -  and was aboard in her in the year 1781 about Ten weeks -  and the same year on another [illegible] in the same [illegible] in which she was captured -and was absent about Three months - 
Also as first officer of the private armed Brig Susan commanded by Captain Horatius  Gunther, armed with four carriage guns and was  aboard in her and cruised about Three months early in the year 1782 - and in the same vessel 
a further term of about Two months and a half in the same year,  - also in the same year as first officer of the Brig Spy commanded by Captain Benjamin Lunt, mounting also four carriage guns and was about in her Three months and a half - 
John Coombs  (signature)
Newburyport August 30th 1832. - 

Commonwealth Massachusetts 
Essex Ss Newburyport  August 30 1832 
Then John Coombs above named, who is personally known to me personally came and made oath to the truth of the above written declaration by him subscribed in my presence  
I do Certify that said John Coombs is believed by me to be a credible witness 
WW Woart   Justice of  the peace
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And the said Court hereby declares its opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that  Rev. Daniel Dana DD who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman resident in Newburyport and that the said William B Bannister Esq who has also signed the same is a Magistrate resident at Newburyport aforsaid and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit
D A White. Judge of Probate 


I, Nathaniel Lord Junior, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Abraham Wheelwright for a pension, also that William Woart is a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Essex, and that his signature to each of the affidavits annexed is genuine 

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this eleventh day 
of September A. D. 1832. Nathl. Lord jr

Signed and sealed anew, this sixteenth day
of May, A.D. 1834. 
Nathl Lord jr
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In reply to your request of _____received____ for a statement of the military history of Abraham Wheelwright soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired formation as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. S. File 19,158 

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. Dec. 31. 75  
————-
______1779
______1780 
_________
_________
_________

LENGTH OF SERVICE. 
13 1/2 mos 
_____
______
6 1/2 mos
_______
_______
_______

RANK. 
Pri. 
___
1st Officer
 “
 “
 “
 “
 “ 

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. 
CAPTAIN. 
Enoch Putnam ,Foster 
_____
Holmes, Letter of Marque
Seth Thomas
Eleazer Johnson
Hezekiah Goodhue
Benjamin Lunt
Perkins

COLONEL. 
Israel Hutchinson, Gen. Knox 
_________
_________
“De Lafayette”
“Stork”
“Susan”
“Spy” 
 “Cormorant” 

STATE. 
27 Continental, Continental Arty
_________ 
Privateer
 “
 “
 “
 “

Battles engaged in, 
Harlem Height. White Plains, Trenton & Princeton 

Residence of soldier at enlistment,
Gloucester, Mass 

Date of application for pension, 
Sept 11, 1832     Allowed 

Residence at date of application, 
Newburyport, Mass

Age at date of application, 
born in 1757 at Gloucester, Mass

Remarks: He stated that he made several cruises in the “Stork” - was captured
in the last one & carried prisoner to Bermuda; served as 1st officer for three years - 

Only Abraham Wheelwright
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Boston 30th Nov. 1782

Received of Mr. Jabez Farley,  Jon Bass a British prisoner  of War captured  in the privateer Dreadnought & carried into Newbury -  who is to be exchanged for Abraham Wheelwright, late mate of the of Brig Cormorant 
In behalf of the Intend’t of ‘Pris’es
Jno Will Wair Godbold,
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( 3 -- 469.) 
————-
Bureau of Pensions 
——————

Application No.__________ 
Certificate No. _____________
NAME OF SOLDIER, 
Jeremiah Wheelwright
Co___,___Reg’t  Mass. 

INFORMATION DESIRED. 
Served in Arnold’s 
Corp on the [route?] 
through Maine to Quebec as 
Commissary
 Died from the exposures of 
the trip in 1818

(Office date stamp)
Bureau of Pensions
Feb-9 1891
Office of Chief Clerk
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(3 - 469.) 
—————-
Bureau of Pensions 
————————
Application No._______ 
Certificate No._________ 

NAME OF SOLDIER. 
Abraham Wheelwright
Co.___ Reg’t Mass.

INFORMATION DESIRED
_____________
_____________

(Office Date stamp)

Bureau of Pensions
Feb.-9. 1891
Office of the Chief Clerk
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3 -- 871. 
————
RECORD DIVISION. 
Department of the Interior, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS. . 
—————
Briefed by W. Rice
Claim No. S.F. 19158 
Certificate No.________ 
Claimant Abraham Wheelwright 
Soldier Rev War 
Service.________ 
Additional Service.________ 
No____claim, State records___,190_ 
No claim, combination records__, 190_ 

REMARKS: 
No O.W. Rej or Surv 
other than above 
________
June 4 1910. 
_________
Chief of Division
o-s
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3 - 871. 
——————
RECORD DIVISION. 
Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF PENSIONS. r
———————-
Briefed by Aos June 11, 1910 
Claim No._________ 
Certificate No.________ 
Claimant_________ 
Soldier Abraham Wheelwright 
Service Mass .
Additional Service Rev. 
No___claim, State records___,190_. 
No claim, combination records____ ,190_ 

REMARKS: 
OW  In File 19158
No OW widow 
—————-
——————
Chief Division 
os
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(Date stamp)
JUN 8 1916 

Portsmouth, Ohio, 
June 6, 1910 

Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C. 

Dear Sir:- 

Am looking up my family history, so would ask what the records say of my ancestor Abraham Wheelwright, a revolutionary soldier of Mass. Have been hold that he was distinguished for at patriotism and bravery. Is this the same Col.Wheelwright who once lived at Wells N.H. or Me? If different persons would like his record, for, and oblige -
Yours respectfully,
Mrs. Agnes B. Roe

26 East Third St.
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(Office date stamp)
OW & N. DIV
MAR 29 1893
Chief’s Desk

March 28, 1893

1222 Madison Avenue

Chas [Egles?] Esq

Dear Sir

Will you please send me the record of service of Abraham Wheelwright of Newburyport a pensioner on the 1840 list of pensioners.
Yours truly
Juliet Wheelwright

Address
Miss Wheelwright
1222 Madison Ave
Baltimore Md





Death Clea Suches Madison Avenue fee all ┃ Neal and record of one Abraham Lee New on the oath of pensioners.full  W 22 dos Baltimore
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19158 
INVALID. 
——————-

File No. 19,158
Abraham Wheelwright
Pri Rev War
————————-


Act: June 7  32

Index: --Vol. 1, Page 419 

[Arrangement of 1870]
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1893. May 10 Hist 
to Miss Julia W. Wheelwright
Baltimore Md
————————
Nov 17. 96 to
Edmund  N Wheelwright
Boston Mass
SW

1910 June 18. Hist to Mrs. Agnes B. Roe pc
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13576 
Abraham Wheelwright 
of Newburyport Mass


Adm’d. 13 1/2 pri Artillary

Cap Tucker 
Colo Hutchinson 

Wm Woart Esq
Newburyport 
Mass
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Abraham Wheelwright which require  further proof or explanation.

I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  
Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  
Yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? 

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? 

V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to whaat amount of pension he is entitled?
No (crossed out)

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
Yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
Yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? 
Yes 

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 
Yes

X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? 
Yes
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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? 
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? 
Yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 

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? 
No 

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? 
Yes 

XVII. Are the seven interrrogatories  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 served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: 
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &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 _____months 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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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. 
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 

(Handwritten note)
Since performence on board of private armed Vessels not provided for, claiment should apply to the [Secy?] of the State of Mass for evidence of his service to Col Hutchinsons Rgt