Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30523, for Mathew Kidwell, Maryland
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Md.

Kidwell, Mathew
NUMBER
S.30523 

CONTENTS
Page 2

State of Kentucky
Monroe County ⎬ SS

On this 2nd day of October 1832 personally 
appear, in open court before me Benjamin Monroe Judge of the Circuit Court for Monroe County now sitting Mathew Kidwell aged 70 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his Oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832
that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers [?]
he entered the service some time in the month of April in the year 1777 in the State of Maryland in Charles County under the command of Col Saml Henson and Capt
Ben Kaywood and Lieutenant Ben Bivin and
[page ripped] one month in the militia as a volunteer
he also served two months under the same office in the month of June and July same year
he served four months commencing in September 1778 under the same officers as a volunteer he states that he does not recollect the number of the [?] [?] he states that he served the greater part of his time on the Potomac River in the State of Maryland and that he was not in any engagement whilst he was in the service he has no documentary evidence that he knows of no person
whos testimony he can procure in this country who can testify to his service, he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Mathew Kidwell
[?]
Page 3

We Lemuel Jones William Bland & Isham F Gerald 
residing in Monroe County State of Kentucky do certify 
that we are well acquainted with Matthew Kidwell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration 
that we believe him to be 70 yrs 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 
Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 2nd day of October 1832 
Lemuel Jones 
Isham F Gerald 
Wm Bland

and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting 
the interrogatories prescribed by the war department 
that the above named applicant was a revolutionary 
soldier and served as he states and the Court 
further certifies that it appears to them that L
Jones Isham Gerald & W M Bland who has signed the preceding certificate are residents in the County of Monroe and are credible persons and that 
their statement is entitled to credit 

I William Butler Clerk of the Monroe Circuit
Court do hereby certify that the foregoing cont the original proceedings of the said court 
the matter of the application of Matthew 
Kidwell for a pension In testimony whereof 
I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office 
this 2nd day 1 of October 1832 
Will Butler Clk 
[?] Jno S. Butler [?]
Page 4

State of Kentucky Monroe County ⎬ SS 
the amened Declaration of Mathew Kidwell who is an applicant 
for a pension under the act of Congress passed 7th June
1832 on this 3rd day of June 1833 personally appeared 
In open court in the County Court for Monroe now sitting Mathew Kidwell
who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath 
make the following declaration 
he states that he was born in the State of Maryland Charles 
County on the 8th day of June 1752 agreable to the 
information which he received from his father, he states that he 
has no record of his age, he further states that at the time he 
entered the service of the United States he lived in Charles County 
State of Maryland he lived in said State and County until he 
was about 30 years of age he then moved to the State of Virginia 
Frederick County and lived there two years he then moved to 
Pendleton County Virginia where he remained fifteen years he 
then moved to White County Tennessee and remained there about 
two months he then moved to Kentucky Cumberland County 
[which] has been since formed into a county which is called Monroe 
where he now resides he states that the regiment to which he belonged 
was commanded by Col Samuel Henson who quared [guarded?] port tobacco and 
a place called Sandy Point on the Potomac River in order to prevent the British from 
laning at those points, he states that the regiment to which he belonged 
was not at any time whilst he was in the service attached to any 
other regiment either Militia or regulars, he therefore cannot state 
the name of any other officers except those by whom he was comman[ded]
he states that General Morgan was some times over on the Maryland 
side of Potomac where Hensons regiment was but never had any 
command over said regiment that he knew of, for he commanded 
on the Virginia side, he states that he does not recollect of 
ever having received a written discharge but was regularly 
dismised by the captain who commaned him whose name was 
Benjamin Kaywood
he offers to the court in addition to the 7th Dr [?] William Maxy who reside
in the same neighberhood in which this 
declarant reside who can 
testify as to his character for veracity and 
their belief of his services 
as a solder in the revolution he states there was no Clergyman 
residing in the vicinity where he lives he therefore could not procure 
a Clergyman who resided in his county to certify in his declaration 
sworn to by him in the Circuit Court for said County on 
the 2nd day of October 1832 Sworn to and subscribed the day 
and year aforesaid 
Mathew Kidwell his [handwritten] + mark
Page 5

I Philip Emmert Justice of the peace for 
Monroe County Kentucky do hereby certify that Lemuel 
Jones, Wm M Bland & Isham F Gerald & 
Wm Maxey 
who have signed the foregoing certificates are persons 
of credit and their evidence entitled to credit in any 
Court of Justice or in any way they may be called 
upon given under my hand this 3rd day of June 
Philip Emmert 

I William Butler Clerk of the Monroe County Court 
do hereby certify that who has 
signed the foregoing certificate is and was at the time of signing 
the same one of the acting Justices of the peace in and 
for Monroe County and that full faith and credit 
should be given to all his official acts as such in 
testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal 
of office this 3rd day of June 1833 



19245 
Mathew Kidwell 
To  {Declaration 
Pension 
Filed 2nd Oct 
1832 
Will Butler Clk
Page 6

We William Dewhit a clergyman residing in Monroe County 
and Wm Maxey residing in the neighborhood of Mathew 
Kidwell hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
Mathew Kidwell who has subscribed and sworn to the above 
declaration that we believe him to be 71 years of age 
that he is reputed and believed in the neighberhood where he 
resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and 
that we concur in that opinion 
Wm Maxey 
and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after 
the investigation of the matter and after puting the 
Interrogatories Xprescribed by the war department that 
the above named applicant was a revolutionary 
Soldier and served as he states And the Court 
further certifies that it appears to them that William Dewhit 
who has signed the preceding certificate is a 
Clergyman resident in Monroe County and that 
William Maxey who has also signed the same is a 
resident in said county and neighborhood of Mathew 
Kidwell and is a credible person and their statement is entitled to credit 
Philip Emmet J.P.
Rice Maxey J.P.

I William Butler Clerk of the Monroe County Court 
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the 
application of Mathew Kidwell for a pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and 
seal of office this 3rd day of [Dece?] 1833 
Will Butler Clerk
Page 7

19245
Mathew Kidwell
Kentucky
from 1777 private
7 months
$23.33/100

1.11.12
I.1.2.3.5.67

Wm. Butler Clk
Tompkinsville
Kentucky
Page 8

BRIEF in the case of Mathew Kidwell County of Monroe in the State of Kentucky (Act 7th June, 1829.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court of a Judge? Court
2. 
3. How old is he? 70
4. State his service, as directed in teh form annexed.
Period.  Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
in 1777 1 month as a Private, Col Hansen, Capt Kaywood
in 1777 2 months "," "
Vol 1778 4 months "," "
5. In what battles was he engaged? None
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Charles Co Md
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form ot authentication? and if so, in what respect? no clergyman
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
Chs W. Torrest
Examining Clerk.
Page 9

Kentucky 19240
Mathew Kidwell
of Monro Co in the State of Lumpu[cut off]
who was a pr in the ca commanded
by Captain Kaywood of the rgt commanded by Col Hanson in the Md time for 7 mos

Inscribed on the Roll of Kent. at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum. commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issed the 17 day of Aust
1833 and William Butler Joseph Kinsville
arrears to teh 4th of March 4666
Some-ant, allowance ending Agt 1166
$58.32
Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk,
Book E Vol. 7 Page 16
Page 10

July 7, 1938

The Quartermaster General
Memorial Branch
War Department
Washington, D. C.

BA-[?]/AWF
Mathew Kidwell
S. 30523

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your request for information in regard to Mathew Kidwell, private with the Virginia troops, in the Revolutionary War, died about 1843 in Kentucky.

The record of Matthew Kidwell which follows
was obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S. 30523, based on his military service in the War of the Revolution. This is the record of the only Mathew (Matthew) Kidwell found on file in the Revolutionary War records of this office.

Mathew Kidwell was born June 8, 1752 in Charles County, Maryland. The names of his parents were not stated.

While a resident of said Charles County, Mathew Kidwell served in 1777, three months as a private in Captain Benjamin Kaywood's company, Colonel Samuel Hanson's Maryland regiment. He served from sometime in September, 1778, four months as private in Capttain Benjamin Kaywood's company, Colonel Samuel Hanson's regiment. During his service he was stationed at Port Tobacco and Sandy Point to guard the Potomac River.

Mathew Kidwell lived in the State of Maryland
Page 11

until he was about thirty years of age, then moved to Frederick County, Virginia, lived two years, then to Pendleton County, Virginia, lived fifteen years, then to White County, Tennessee, there two months, and moved to Kentucky.

The soldier, Mathew Kidwell, was allowed
pension on his application executed October 2,
1832, then living in Monroe County, Kentucky.

The papers on file in this claim contain no
discernible data in regard to the family of the
soldier.

The application for headstone [?] Kidwell is returned herewith. There was no correspondence enclosed.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 12

Tompkinsville KY
June 7
[?] Free

To The Secretary of War Pension Bureau} Washington City
Page 13

Left Side Page

30523
Revy INVALID

File No 30523
Mathew Kidwell
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th '32

Index Vol 2 Page 222
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Right Side Page

19xx Jan 10 - Hist to Katherine S Stockley
see letter in S.F. 31392 John Stephens
192x Feb 19 - Hist to Mrs Erna K Chadwick
192x Mch 5 - Hist to W K Stratman
1929 Jan 31 - Pierre He Haynes and cost of photos
19xx July 26 - Photos to Pierre E Haynes & Fin Div notify
19xx July 7 - Hist to [illegible]
Page 14

Form 1-631
Phone Branc 476
All inquiries regarding this job should refer to Requisition No. 33721
Requisition for Duplicating, Addressograph, Photostat, and Blue Print Work
Department of the Interior
Washington
Chief, Division of Publications
Room G 137
July 13, 1929
Please furnish work specified below

Bureau ordering - Pension
Deliver to Room No 5033

(All copy for duplicating work should be plain and written in elite type, exactly line for line as it is to appear on finished job)

Title and description of job - photostatic copies of 6 pages from revolutionary war pension claim of Mathew Kidwell, S.30523, Md. Troops

No of Copies - 1 of each
For further information see - Mrs. M.M.H. Finch Room No 5033, Phone No 541

Signature of A D Wilkinson - Chief Clerk of Bureau

Signature of Maragaret M H Finch - Chief of Branch

Note: No order made "ASPECIAL" unless statement showing necessity is written below and approved by Chief Clerk of Bureau ordering.

STAMP - Division of Publications Received - Dept of Interior Jul 13, 1929

Photostat Size actual Repay - yes $.90
Page 15

Blank form of Photostat Section of Dept of interior with no discerning pensioner information - blank
Page 16

Pierre E Haynes
East Aurora, N.Y.

July - 5 - 1929

M.O # 180205 - $3.75
STAMP - Finance Division
Book Keepers Desk
Jul 9, 1929
Bureau of Pensions

Winfield Scott, Commissioner
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Rev & 1812 Wars Section
MMHF/eel

Dear Sir:

Please find enclosed postal order for $3.75 for which please send me photostatic copies of original papers on file in revolutionary war claims of 

William Gipson S.17437 - 19 pages
Mathew Kidwell S.30523 - 6 pages

Certification is unnecessary.

Yours very truly,

Pierre E Haynes

STAMP US PENSION OFFICE - Jul 8, 1929
Page 17

January 31, 1929

Pierre E. Haynes
East Aurora
New York

Sir:

I advise you that if you desire photostatic copies of original papers on file in Revolutionary war pension claims of William Gipson S.174337, Indiana pensioner and Mathew Kidwell, S.30523, Kentucky pensioner, the name will be furnished you upon request at the rate of fifteen cents a page, with twenty-five cents extra for certification in each claim if that is desired.

The number of pages to be copied in claim of William Gipson is nineteen, and the number in claim of Mathew Kidwell is six.

The proper amount should be forwarded to this bureau by money order drawn to the order of the Secretary of the Interior.

The Revolutionary war records of this bureau fail to afford any information in regard to Peter Jennison and the Mexican war records fail to show that a warrant for land

(Handwritten - Mr. Blackman's slip had a record been found I should have referred the letter to the prospect)
Page 18

was ever issued or a claim for pension made on account of the services of Captain William Nicholson.

Respectfully,

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
Page 19

Dept of Interior Bureau of Pensions

Briefed By  JFB
Soldier - William Nicholson
Service - Captain
War with Mexico

Mex or O.W. Jan 30, 1929
JFB Clerk

Remarks:
M. Blackman also searched the county land books & found no warrant for Capt. Wm Nicholson
Mex War
D. C. Cook - Chief Division
Page 20

Pierre E Haynes
East Aurora, N.Y.

Jan 21st, 1929

The U.S. Pension Bureau
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:

Will you kindly give me the cost of photostatic records of the files on the following persons:

Peter Jennison, Capt. John Crowes Co. Lexington Alarm. (Handwritten notation - Rev War no record)

Capt. William Nicholson, Mexican War, lived in Clinton County Indiana.

Matthew Kidwell, Rev Soldier from Prince George County, MD lived in Monroe Couty, Ky and mentioned in Senate documents about 1833. (Handwritten notation - Found Rev)

Yours very truly

Pierre E Haynes

Deputy Commissioner STAMP Man 22, 1929
Page 21

[?]

Commissioner of Pensions,
Dept. Interior,
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir:  Please send me a statement of the service rendered in the Revolution by Matthew Kidwell, a pensioner of Monroe Co. Ky and by Hegakiah Kidwell of Fairfax Co. Va.  As I want the records for D.A.R. papers will you kindly include all family data given

Yours very truly
[Mrs.] Erna Kidwell Chadwick

Montgomery City, Mo.
Jan 23-1923

[Postmark}
U.S. Pension Office.
Jan 28 1923
Page 22

THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
MADISON

DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY

May 17, 1927.

The Pension Department
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:


I am most anxious to receive any information you might have concerning Matthew Kidwell who was a pensioner of the government
and who was living in Monroe County, Kentucky in 1840. I believe he was a soldier in the Revolution. Several Kidwells from South Carolina were in the American Revolution and if it is possible I would like to have their military records, the names of the persons to whom their pension was paid after their death and any other information you may have about them together with any records
you may have concerning Matthew Kidwell.
Thanking you for your kind consideration, I am

Respectfully yours,
W.K. Stratman-Thomas
Dr. W. K. Stratman-Thomas.
Page 23

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section

October 5, 1927

Dr. W.K. Stratman-Thomas
The University of Wisconsin
601 Science Hall
Madison, Wisc.

Sir:

I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War Pension claim S.30523 it appears that Mathew Kidwell was born June 8, 1752, in Charles County, Maryland.

While residing in said Charles County, he enlisted and served as a private with the Maryland Troops, as follows - 

From in April 1777 one month in Captain Benjamin Kaywood's company, Colonel Samuel Henson's Regiment; from in June 1777 two months in same officers; and from in September 1778, four months under same officers.

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 2, 1832, while a resident of Monroe County, Kentucky.

He stated that when he was thirty years old
Page 24

he moved to Frederick County, Virginia, there two years, and moved to Pendleton County, Virginia, there fifteen years, and moved to White County, Tennessee, there two months and moved to Cumberland County, Kentucky, which was afterwards Monroe County, Kentucky.

There are no data as to family.

In order to make a proper search of the revolutionary war records of this bureau for other soldiers named Kidwell, the full name is essential, with as much as possible of the following data-

Approximate dates of birth and death, and places of residence at enlistment and after service.

Owing to a lack of clerical force available for the purpose, only two histories are furnished each inquirer.

Respectfully

Winfield Scott
Commissioner.

Date of Death no on AB
Page 25

Revolutionary war records Section

3-525
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
SF. 30523

Washington D.C.

In reply to your request of blank received blank for a statement of the military history of Mathew Kidwell a soldier of the Revolutionary War you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

Dates of Enlistment of Appointment 
1. Apr 1777
2. June 1777
3. Sept 1778

Length of Service
1. 1 mo.
2. 2 mos.
3. 4 mos.

Rank
Private all 3 times

Officers under whom service was rendered
Captain - Benjamin Kaywood
Colonel - Samuel Henson
(Same for all 3 enlistments)

State
MD

Battles engaged in - None stated
Residence of Soldier at enlistment -Charles County, MD
Date of application for pension - Oct 2, 1832 - His claim was allowed
Residence at date of application - Monroe Co. Ky
Age at date of application - Born June 8, 1752 in Charles County, MD
Remarks - When thirty years old, he moved to Frederick County, VA there 2 years, then moved to Pendleton Co VA there 15 years, then to White Co Tenn there 2 mos. then to Cumberland Co Ky which was afterwards Monroe Co Ky

There is no data on file as to his family.

Respectfully

Commissioner.
Page 26

Mathew T. Kidwell

William Butler Clk
[illegible]
Page 27

Brief objections to the admission of pension claim of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Mathew Kidwell which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? - NO

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

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? - BLANK

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

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 what amount of pension he is entitled? - YES

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
Page 28

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? - NO

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reasons assigned for not obtaining it? - NO

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? - YES

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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?

BLANK

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? - BLANK

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? - YES

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And if not, which of them s not so answered? - 1,2,3,5,6,7

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, etc. 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 blank year, blank months and blank days, I served as a blank for blank months and blank days I served as a blank; and for such service I claim a pension."
Page 29

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, etc. 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 shown 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 matter 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 form 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.