Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B. L. Wt. 54268-160-55, William Ellison, Mass
Page 1

(3—1776). 

SERVICE
Mass  

Ellison, William
Rachel

NUMBER
B.L. Wt54268-160-55



CONTENTS
Page 2

Lt. J Q Hawkins July 5/55,
same June 24/56
End P

Vol. E. 78.

March 3/55
18.400 28/55
Rachel Ellison W of William Ellison, Decd Prvt
Captain Knapp
Revl Claim

Mass line

No papers
Boynton
(1)

Williams Jany 124/57
Boynton

C.W. Bennett
Present
[crossed out]
[crossed out]
[crossed out]

54268 Jany 28/52
Page 3

18.400
Rachel Ellison
claim for Bounty Land under act March 3 1855 widow of William Ellison deceased

Josiah Q. Hawkins attorney

Felchville 
Vermont

Revolutionary claim
Massachusetts proofs

Copied
Page 4

FORM OF WIDOW'S DECLARATION FOR BOUNTY LAND.
State of Vermont
County of Windsor}ss. On this 19 day of March A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty five, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace, within and for the County and State aforesaid. Rachel Ellison, aged Seventy nine, years a resident of Springfield in the State of Vermont, who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of William Ellison, deceased, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and that he enlisted at Northbridge, Massachusetts, and continued in actual service in said war about forty days. She cannot speak particularly as to her said husbands military services, and only from what her said husband has told her in his lifetime; she further states that her said husband was in the battle of Bunker hill as she has heard him say, the names of his officers she cannot give — She further states and believes that her said husband the aforesaid William Ellison was in the service of the Revolutionary war as above stated, and in the Massachusetts troops — I have heard him say that he received a written certificate of discharge which has been lost, 
She further states that she was married to the said William Ellison in Springfield Vermont, on the fourth day of July A. D., 1793 by one Aaron Lealand Minister of the Gospel, and that her name before her said marriage was Rachel Redfield, that her said husband died at Springfield on the 22d day of May, A. D. 1846 and that she is now a widow.

She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act approved March 3d, 1855.
She also declares that she has not received a warrant for bounty land, under this, or any other act of Congress, nor made any other application therefor.
She requests this certificate when issued forwarded to Josiah Q. Hawkins of Felchville Windsor County Vermont
her X mark
Rachel Ellison

We Sylvester Ellison and Bathsheba B. Ellison residents of Springfield in the State of Vermont upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Rachel Ellison in our presence, and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be
Sylvester Ellison
Bathsheba B Ellison

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written; and I certify, that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interst in this claim.
Wm Felch Justice Peace.
Page 5

I Sylvester Ellison of Springfield in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont testify and say, that I am acquainted with Rachel Ellison now a resident of Springfield in the State of Vermont, and widow of William Ellison deceased, I further say that the said William Ellison died at Springfield in the State of Vermont on the twenty second day of may Ad.. 1846 I was present at the time of his death and attended his funeral
I have frequently heard the said William Ellison in his lifetime say that he was in the service of the Revolutionary war forty days and that he enlisted at Northbridge Massachusetts. and was in the Massachusetts Troops. I verily believe that the said William Ellison was in the Revolutionary war as I have heard him state—
Sylvester Ellison

State of Vermont
Windsor County ss} At Springfield this 19. day of March A.D. 1855. personally appeared Sylvester Ellison and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed. I further certify that he is a credible witness
Before me Wm Felch Justice Peace
Page 6

State of Vermont.
Windsor County. ss.} Be it remembered that at Chester, in the County afsd on the fourteenth day of July one thousand seven hundred and ninety three, William Ellison of said Chester and Rachel Redfield of Springfield in the County afsd were duly joined in marriage, by me,
Aaron Leland Minister.

I certify the above to be a true copy of the record with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record, in fair legible figures as follows: "on the 14th day of July 1793." 
Prescott Heald Town Clerk.

I Prescott Heald, above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of Town Clerk, in the Town, County and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy extract from the records of said Chester, with the exceptions above named, as certified by me. 
Prescott Heald Town Clerk of Chester.

Sworn before me. at Chester in said County this 20th day of March A.D. 1855.

Before me Wm Felch Justice Peace
Page 7

STATE OF VERMONT,
WINDSOR COUNTY, ss.} I NORMAN WILLIAMS, Clerk of the County Court, of the County of Windsor, in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that William Felch was, at the date of the paper writing to which this is attached, and still is, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly qualified to administer oaths and take the acknowledgment of deeds, and that his signatures (three in number, on the papers attached) are [crossed out] genuine. 
In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court, at Woodstock, in said County of Windsor, this 25. day of march A. D. 1855.
Norman Williams Clerk.
Page 8

Additional Evidence.
Free

Rachel Ellison
[illegible] 

B
Boynton

Commissioner of Pensions.
Pension Office.
Washington.
D.C.
Page 9

Certificate from Secty State July 9.. 1856—
Page 10

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
Boston, July 9th 185 [illegible]

Sir:

To the Hon Thomas Ivers Esq. Treasurer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Sir. Please to pay to Capt. Job Knap of Douglas the sum due to each of us respectively for serving a campaign to R. Island in the month of March las 1781 and ins os doing this shall be your discharge from each of us
Douglas Feb.y 28th. 1783. 
Nathan Keith Lieut.
Elijah Moore Lieut.
Ebenezer Gould
Richard Howal   
Ebenezer Winter 
Jacob Hill   
David Chilson   
Jesse Rutter   
David Phillips  
John Brown
Peter Harrendun
Joseph Hayward
Hobed Morse
Eli Stockwell
Solomon Stockwell
Levi Morse
Roland White
Page 11

Aaron Stearns
Ezekiel Hunt
Elijah Stearns
David Dalrymple
William Ellison
Wheelock Wood
Nathan White
John Carter
Abel Cummings
John Whiting
Jonathan Hill
David Batchellor
Daniel Goldthwait
Abraham Mason
James Lee

I certify the above to be a true copy.
Attest 
Francis De Witt
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 12

Certificate from Secty State July 9.. 1856—
Page 13

J. Q. HAWKINS,
Attorney and Counsellor at Law,
FELCHVILLE, VT.

June 30. 1856

To the Secretary of State of Massachusetts.
Sir
Will you please send me a certificate of the military services of William Ellison in the Revolutionary war. and the names of all others who were in the same company with him in an expedition to Rhode Island, in Capt. Job Knaps Co. I have a certificate of Wm. Ellisons services, but the Department require one with the whole names. if the $1.00 inclosed is insufficient for your fees please write & I will remit —
I am sir respectfully
Your obt. servt
J.Q. Hawkins
Felchville Vermont
Page 14

Rachel Ellison
(Revy service)

Suspended No.
Act 3 March 1855.

Additional Evidence, & authority to C.W. Bennett. Atty.
Present.

Josiah Q. Hawkins Atty for claimant
Page 15

Pension Office.
June 24. 1856.

Sir
The additional evidence in support of tha claim of Rachel Ellison for bounty land under the act of March 3d, 1855, has been examined.
It would seem from the certificate of the Secretary of State of July 21st, 1855, that those who went to Rhode Island under Captain "Job Knap of Douglas" were from Douglas or its vicinity, in the southern part of the State, while the claimant declared that her husband went from Northfield and served under Captain Batchellor. She and Sylvester Ellison state that several other persons whom they name were in the same company with William Ellison. If the Secretary of State will certify that the names of these persons are found as members of the same company the evidence of identity will be satisfactory. 
I am, Very respectfully,
Your Obt Servt.
C.H. Rhett.
Josiah Q. Hawkins, Esq.
Felchville,
Vermont

Dodge
Page 16

Felchville Dec. 29. 1856—
C.W> Bennett Esq
Washington D.C.
Sir
I wish you to attend to the case of Rachel Ellison and receive the Warrant when issued.
Josiah Q. Hawkins
Atty for claimant


Rachel Ellison
(Revy service)
Suspended No.
Act 3 march 1855.

Additional Evidence, & authority to C.W. Bennett Atty
PResent.
Page 17

54.268.

160 acres.
Page 18

Act March 3, 1855.
18.400 march 28, 1855.

Rachel Ellison, widow of William Ellison, deced, private.

Revolutionary War. Mass. Mil.
Original brief enclosed.

No. 54.268. [illegible] Jan 28/57.

C.W. Bennett,
Present.
Page 19

Official Business
Free
FREE 

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.

18400
Rachel Ellison
Mr. William Boynton
Page 20

Felchville V.t.
March 26

Official Business
free

18.400

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington city
D.C.
Page 21

Additional proof

Rachel Ellison for Bounty Land 
Act March 3, 1855
No. 18.400

Josiah Q. Hawkins
Attorney

Felchville
Vermont
Page 22

Commonwealth of Mssachusetts.

Secretary's Office, Boston,
July 21st 1855.

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 upon the records in this office is the following order, viz.
"To the Hon, Thomas Ivers Esq Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
"Sir, Please to pay to Capt. Job Knap of Douglas the sum due to Each of us respectively for serving a Campaign to R. Island in the Month of March 1781. and in so doing this shall be your discharge from each of us." Dated "Douglas July. 28. 1783.
Signed by "William Ellison" & others wages for each soldier "£2.5.1.3."

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written. 
E.M. Wright
Secretary of the Commonwealth
'A'
Page 23

Application for certificate of Revolutionary services made by the evidence of the party who made the service
State of Vermont County of Windsor and town of Springfield. The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his office of the services of William Ellison in the war of the Revolution. It is supposed he was a native of the town Northbridge and that he enlisted at Northfield Massachusetts, and that he was a soldier in Capt. David Batchelders Co. of the Massachusetts line — and that he was at the Battle of Bunkers hill —
Witness my hand at Springfield Vermont this 10th day of July A.D. 1855
Josiah Q. Hawkins
Attorney for Rachel Ellison

(Post office address Felchville Vermont)
Page 24

I Roswell D. Ellison of Springfield Vermont aged fifty three years, Testify and Say, I was well acquainted with William Ellison deceased and also am well acquainted with Rachel Ellison now of Springfield Vermont named in the foregoing affadavit; I further say that I verily believe that the said Rachel Ellison is the widow of the identical William Ellison named in the foregoing Certificate of Secretary of the state of Massachusetts marked A; I distinctly recollect of having heard the said William Ellison tell in his lifetime of having served in a Campaign to R. Island in the war of the Revolution, and that he was in Captain Knaps company— I further say that I fully agree with the said Rachel Ellison, and Sylvester Ellison in their foregoing affadavits as to their statements set set forth in the same—
his X mark
Roswell D. Ellison
Attest} Oliver Cook
Wm Felch

State of Vermont
Windsor County ss} At Springfield Vermont this 6th day of May 1856 personally appeared Roswell D. Ellison and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affadavit by him subscribed — I certify that he is a credible witness
Wm Felch Justice Peace
Page 25

I Rachel Ellison of Springfield Vermont aged eighty years (80) testify and say that I have made a declaration for Bounty Land under Act. March 3d 1855 No.18.400. I further say that I frequently heard my husband William Ellison say in his lifetime of having served in a Campaign to R. Island in the war of the Revolution and that he went in the same company with several soldiers from Douglas Massachusetts. have heard him give the name of his Captain, and think the Captain's name was Knap. his Drummer's name was Seargeant Caleb Lealand. was also a private in the same Company with him, I further say that Simeon Keith was in the same Company with him, I also say that my said husband was about fifteen years of age when he went into said service and that he was Eighty one years old when he died and if he had lived till the Seventeenth of July following he would have been 82 years old. and that he was in said Service forty days. I further say that I believe the William Ellison named in the foregoing Certificate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to be my said husband,
her X mark
Rachel Ellison
Attest} Sylvester Ellison
Wm Felch

State of Vermont
Windsor County ss} At Springfield May 6th 1856 personally appeared Rachel Ellison and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affadavit by her subscribed. I certify that she is a credible witness—
Wm Felch Justice of Peace
Page 26

I Sylvester Ellison of Springfield Vermont testify and say that was well acquainted with William Ellison late of Springfield Vermont deceased, and that I am also well acquainted with Rachel Ellison named in the foregoing affadavit and that she is widow of the identical William Ellison who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, I further say that I have heard the said William Ellison frequently in his lifetime tell of having served in the Revolutionary war in a Campaign to R. Island, and that he was in Captain Knaps Company, and also heard him say that several soldiers went from the town of Douglas Massachusetts with him I have heard him give the names of Caleb Lealand, Simeon Keith, & Samuel Keith, as of being in the same Company with him — also Wm Seagrams was Drum Major, I further say that I believe the said Rachel Ellison  to be the widow of the identical William Ellison named in the foregoing Certificate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Marked 'A' I further say that the said William Ellison died at Springfield Vermont May 22. 1846. aged - 82 - years. I think I have the said William Ellison tell of having been about fifteen years of age when he went with said service — 
Sylvester Ellison

State of Vermont
Windsor County ss} At Springfield this 6th day of May 1856 personally appeared Sylvester Ellison & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affadavit by him subscribed — I certify him to be a credible witness
Wm Felch Justice of Peace
Page 27

STATE OF VERMONT,
WINDSOR COUNTY, ss.} I, Norman Williams, Clerk of the County Court, of the County of Windsor, in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that William Felch was, at the date of the paper writing to which this is attached, and still is, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly qualified to administer oaths and take acknowledgment of deeds, and that his signatures foregoing, three in number are  [crossed out] genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court, at Woodstock, in said County of Windsor, this 6 day of May A. D. 1856.
Norman Williams, Clerk.