Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33158, for Joshua Nichols, Massachusetts
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Service.Name.Number

Mass.
Nichols, Joshua or Nicholls
or Mickols
S33158
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Massachusetts Rolls.
1,572
Joshua Nicholls, 
Capt Wadsworth
Private, 4
Massachusetts, time 1779 9 months
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
[illegible] on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence 
the 2nd of May 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 of June 1818, and sent to the Pension, North Hampton, Hampshire, Co Massa
Appears to the 4th of Sept.1818.
[illegible] (hand struck)
3 months 30/31
4/30.
$32.80
Revolutionary claim
Act 18th March, 1818.
[illegible] Continued
Easthampton, Hampshire Co
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Testification sent July 28th 1820 to 
Joshuah Dwight, North Hampshire Mass
Letters to A.W. Thayer Mar 18, 1854.
He died Feb 5 1830
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Northampton Ma
May 5

Free

Hon. J.C. Calhoun
[illegible] floor the War Department
Washington

Application of Joshua Nichols for a 
pension - [illegible][illegible]
By one L. [illegible] Judge

Correct
Page 5

I Joshua Nichols of Easthampton in the County of  Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being fifty six year of age testify and say I enlisted on the tenth day of July in the year of our Lord 1779 into the company of Capt. Wadsworth in the [illegible] commanded by Col. Bradford being the 14th Regt in Continental Establishment in the Massachusetts line and I marched with others under a Continental Officers from Springfield to the state of New York where I continued to serve as a private soldier until the 17th day of April 1780 when my enlistment had expired I was then honorably discharged, but my discharge I have [illegible] of my pension, and I also served during the Revolutionary War and against the common enemy nine months more and was also then discharged.  I am in reduced circumstances and stand in need of assistance from my country for support.  I have never need any pension form the United States or from my state.

May 2nd 1818.

Joshua his X mark Nichols

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshires [illegible].  May 2nd 1818.  Joshua Nichols came before me the [illegible] judge of the Court of Probate of Wills being a Court of Records, within aforesaid county and be carefully examined and cautious to testify the whole truth made solemn oath that the above deposition by him [illegible] is the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  It appears to my satisfaction that he served in the Revolutionary war against the common enemy as he has stated above and my personal knowledge of him, I hereby certify he is a man of veracity and is a very poor man.  Taken and sworn to before me. In testimony whereas I have hereunto set my hand affixed the seal of said court this year and day of [illegible].  

Samuel Hinckley
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I the [illegible] of Southhampton in the county of Hampshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts testify and say that I was in the service as a soldier at the time [illegible] mentioned by Joshua Nichols in his deposition on the other side in the state of New York, but was not in the same regiment with him, but I saw him in the army acting as a soldier and I have no doubts but his statement is honest.  He is a very poor man.  

May 2nd 1818

Roswell Strong

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire May 2nd, 1818.  Roswell Strong, a respectable man came before me and made solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true.

Before me L. Hinckley, Judge
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No 32

Joshua Nichols
E Hampton 1572

June 1818


Sep 1818
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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 Cout 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, Joshua Nicols aged fifty eight years, resident in Easthampton 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:  He enlisted July 5 1779 into the Company of Capt Wadsworth in Col Bradford, Regt for nine months and [illegible] out the time and was regularly discharged at that point in New York State and he instantly enlisted again for nine months were into the same was discharged from the seventh Massachusetts Regiment at West Point aforesaid I made my application for a pension for said services on the second day of May 1818 and [illegible] my certificate  [illegible] No 1372.

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 provision of an act of Congress, entitled, " An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land an 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 dets, due to me; nor have I any income other than that what is contained in the following schedule by me subscribed. 

1 old horse $5.00, 1 little waggon  4.00, one pot; tea kettle dish kettle and [illegible] 2.00, Old crockery 1.25, Gold chains 1.00, one old table 67, one [illegible] 76, 1 old hoe 17, 1 Old sleigh and champ 1.20, 2 old [illegible] [illegible], old clock 2.00, [illegible] Slop pail and hay [illegible] 54, old [illegible] 2., Pewter and tin ware 65 - $21.15.  My wife is aged 58 years and is most of the time sick.  I am miserably poor. I am a peddler by occupation as I am not able to labor on account of nervous affection which has [illegible] me for several year.

Joshua his X mark Nichols
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Sworn to, and declared on 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 is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is twenty one dollars, and fifteen 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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State of Massachusetts
County of Hampshire
ss.

I, Miriam May, heir at law of Joshua Nichols, a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States, late of Northampton, Hampshire County, State of Massachusetts, deceased, do upon oath, testify and declare, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that said Nichols did enter the service about the year 1775 as I have remembrance of hearing said Nichols (my father) say that he had served eight years in the war , that said Nichols enlisted for the time of the whole war, and served until regularly discharge.  The evidence of which I suppose is more in the archives of the government and to that evidence I refer. 

I further declare that I have never received a warrant for the Bounty Land promised to my father, the said Joshua Nichols, on the part of the United States; nor do I believe that he ever received it, or transferred his claim to it in any manner whatsoever; therefore,

Know all men by these present, that I Miriam May, aforesaid, do hereby constitute and appoint Abijah W. Thaer to be my true and careful attorney for me and in my name to demand and receive from the Secretary of War of the United States a warrant for the quantity of land due to me as aforesaid and my said attorney is hereby fully authorized and empowered to constitute and [illegible] or more substitutes or at -
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torneys under him, for the special purposes above expressed.

Miriam her X mark May

Att Samuel Wells

On this eleventh day of March , A.D. 1854, personally appeared the above named Miriam May, subscribed to the foregoing declaration and made oath to the same and in my presence acknowledged the Power of Attorney hereto subjoined to be her free act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned.

Before me,

Samuel Wells Justice of the Peace


Commonweath of Massachusetts.

Hampshire SS.

I, Samuel Wells, Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth for the County of Hampshire, do certify, that Samuel Wells Esquire, whose signature is affixed to the certificate on the paper hereto annexed, was, at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned, and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth; and the full faith and credit is, and ought to be given, to his acts and attestations, done in that capacity; and that I am acquainted with the hand-writing of the said Samuel Wells and believe this signature is genuine.

Witness where of, I have hereunto set my hand, and [illegible][illegible] this seal of the Supreme Judicial Court, for said [illegible] this eleventh day, March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty four

Samuel Wells, Clerk
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Rev.&1812 Wars Section

MMHF

December 4, 1926

W. D. Hall
137 Chestnut St.
Takoma Park, Md.

Sir:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 33158 it appears that Joshua Nickols (also spelled Nichols and Nicholls) enlisted in Springfield, Massachusetts July 5 or 7, 1779 served as a private in Captain Wadsworth Company, Colonel Bradford's Fourth Massachusetts Regiment, was discharged April 17, 1780, then immediately re-enlisted in the same regiment, served until the fall of 1781 when he was discharged from the Seventh Massachusetts Regiment.

He was pension on his application executed May 2, 1818 while a resident of Easthampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts aged fifty-six years.  Date and place of birth are not stated.

In 1820 he referred to his wife aged fifty-eight years, but did not give her name, and the date and place of marriage are not stated.  He died February 5, 1830 in Northampton, Hampshire
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County, Massachusetts.

In 1854, a daughter Miriam May (signed mark) [handwritten note above "so frequently a given name hence"] and another daughter whose name is not given, were living.

Respectfully,

Winfield Scott
Commissioner.
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Washington, D.C.
8 October 1926.

The Commissioner of Pensions,
Department of Interior,
Washington, D.C. 

Sir:

John J. Nichols of Southwest, Mo.  a friend of mine, is trying to trace one Josuah Nichols, who from information secured from the War Department served in the Revolutionary War in the 12th. ass. Regiment commanded by Colonel Gamaliel Bradford.  His wife's name is given as Margaret Porter.

Will you kindly have your pension records searched and if possible furnish me date and place of birth of Josua Nichols, date and place of enlistment and name and address of next of kin, and if possible, the date and place of marriage.

Very truly,

W. D. Hall
137 Chesnut Ave.,
Takoma Park, Md.

Pension U. Oct 8 1926 Office.
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33158
[illegible] INVALID

File No. 33158

Joshua Nichols
In Rev War

Act: 18th March 1818

Index: - Vol. 2, Page 298

[Arrangement of 1870]

1926 - Dec 4 Hish, to W.D. Hall for John J. Nichols.  MMTF
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AW Thayer
[illegible] 18/32
Page 17

Pension Office
March 18, 1854

Sir

The application of Miriam May for means of pension of Joshua Nichols, who was pensioner under the act of 1818 from Mass; and for County land supposed to have been due for serving to the close of the revolutionary war, has been examined.

If Joshua Nichols left a widow who survived until the year 1836, its possible there may be arrears due her children; but not otherwise.  Nichols did not serve to the close of the war, but only to the end of active hostilities, in 1781 which he, no doubt, honestly, confounded with the close of the war.  No bounty land is due his children.

A. W. Thayer Esq
Northampton
Mass
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Northampton, March 11th 1854

L.P. Waldo Esq

Sir:

I send the accompanying application presuming upon the accuracy of the applicant's memory.  I am led to suppose her statement may be true, because her sister says that she too, heard her father say he had served eight years and more over once told them together, that he was entitled to Land, and that sometimes it might do them good, though he should need live to get it.  Another circumstance that favors the story is that he received (as these daughters say) $96 a year pension indicating of course, a long time of service.  If there is any Land due on this service, I shall for their sakes rejoice, as the very poor and needy.

Respectfully and truly,

A. W. Thayer 
Attorney of the applicant

I was not quite sure whether I should direct this to yourself or the Secy of War.  If the latter is the proper direction, will you [illegible] the favor to help in [illegible] to that department. 

A.W. Thayer.