Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 178, Philip Ammidon, Mass
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SERVICE [heading]
Mass  
Ammidon, Philip
Rhoda
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DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Contress, of the 7th July, 1838, entitled "An Act grant half pay and pensions to certain widows,"
State of Massachusetts
County of Wrcster [Worcester] [state and county bracketed together, marked SS]
On this nineteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty [seven? illegible] Rhoda Ammidon personally appeared before the Court of Probate of the [illegible] County a resident of Hardwick in the county of Wrcester aged seventy one years, who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows;" That she is the widow of Phillip Ammidon who was a* private soldier in the wars [?] of the Revolution and went into service from said town of Hardwick as she verily believes in the year 1777 ...She has heard him speak of his revolutionary services, and she verily believes that he was in said service at least six months, but she is unable to state the service ?, as it was done before she was acquainted with her said husband and she has no documentary evidence of the  service.  To support her claim the ? refers to the ?annexes and to the rolls. She further declared that she was married to the said Philip Ammidon on the twenty? day of November in the year seventeen hundred and eighty eight; that he husband, the aforesaid Philip Ammidon died on the eleventh day of August in the year 1795 that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz.: at the time above stated. Sworn to, and subcribed on the day and year above written, before me, Rhoda Ammidon  ? ? Judge of the Court of Probate for said County of Wrcester  *Here insert the rank the husband held in the army, navy, or militia, as the case may be, and specify the service performed, as directed in rule numbered one of these regulations.
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Extract from the Records of the Town of Hardwick, taken from the Record of "Marriages" on Book 2d page 82 of said Records. "Philip Ammidown to Rhoda Goodspeed Both of Hardwick" 'November twenty-seventh, seventeen hundred and eighty eight.' State of Massachusetts County of Worcester Hardwick Town Clerks office, Oct 19th 1837. I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the Record from the record of Marriages in said Office, now in my custody as Town Clear of said Hardwick, with the exception of the date, which is expressed in the record in four legible figures as follows "1788 Novr 27th"  Attest Joseph Stone, Town Clerk of Hardwick for the year 1839. I, Joseph Stone, above named, testify and said That I hold the Office of Clerk of the Town of Hardwick in the County Town & State aforesaid, and that the above is a true Extract from the Records of Marriages in said Hardwick with the exception abovementioned as certified by me. Joseph Stone, Town Clerk of Said Hardwick. 
Worcester ? Subscribed and sworn to the day and year above written.
Before me, Gardner Ruggles, Just. Peace. I further certify that the deponent above names is reputable for trust. Gardner Ruggles Jus. Peace
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Ex'r. INVALID [crossed out:Acte of July 14, 1802 and March 3, 1873] REJECTED Rhoda Ammidon P.O. Service: Enlisted:  ,18  Discharged  , 18 Application filed:  , 18 Alleges:  Re-enlisted: Attorney:
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178
874
Mass--
Rejected
? to CG Prentiss
Feby 12, 1840
V Let. to Joseph Stone
?? 1840
? July 7
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I, Sally Hedge, of lawful age, testify and say that I resided in the House of Philip Amidon of Hardwick in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts at the time of the decease of said Amidon, and I well recollect that event. Said Amidon died on the tenth or eleventh [inserted above the line] day of August 1796.  I also testify and say that I have ever since that time been well acquainted with the Widow and family of said Philip Amidon having resident in their immediate neighbourhood, and many times, in their House, and I am confident, from my acquaintance with said Widow, that she has not intermarried since the decease of said Amidon, but is still his Widow, and still resides in the house in which he died. And further this deponent sayeth not.
The words "or eleventh" inter? before signing.
Sally Hedge
?, Subscribed, and Sworn this  fourth day of Jany ? 1840-- Before me, Joseph Stone Justice of the Peace
I certify that Sally Hedge above names is a credible Witness Joseph Stone Jus. of the Peace
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874
Rhoda Ammidon
Rhoda Ammidon
Philip
Mass.
Act 7 July 38
M88d95
Vot 21.153-- from 10 July 1777 3 Jany 78-- 5 mos. 24 d
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester, ?
[paper seal with ribbon]
I, Charles G. Prentiss, Register of the Courts of Probate for the County of Worcester, do certify that Ira M. Banton is the Judge of said Courts, duly commissioned and qualified -- and that his signature to the paper hereto annexed is genuine.
I further certify that Joseph Stone and Gardner Ruggles are, and ? at the dates of the several certificates hereto annexed, Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and that their signatures to said certificates are genuine. 
In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and office the seal of said county this eleventh day of January one thousand eight hundred and forth. 
Chas. G Prentiss, Register
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874
Jan 16 1840
[round stamp Jan 12]
Mass.
July 7, 1838
Rhoda Ammadon
mo = of Philip

[address written at right angle across her name]
Hon. James L. Edwards
Coom.r of Pensons
War Department
Washington City
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Hon. James L Edwards
Comm.r of Pensions
Washington City
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Worcester Jany 11, 1840
Sir,
I send the application of Rhoda Ammison for 
a Pension.
Please to send her Certificate 
when granted
to me.
I have
just received yours in relation
to the application of Patty Moore. I will
send more evidence. 
I am respectfully
your obedient Servant
Chas G. Prentiss

Hon. J. L. Edwards
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21.13H 153 - 10 July 77 to 3 Jany 78
I, Samuel Hinkley of Hardwick in the
County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, aged 82 years,
testify and say, that in the month of June, as I believe,
in the year 1777, I enlisted into a company of Infantry
raised by the State of Massachusetts, which company was under the
command of Captain Ebenezer Newell of Brookfield in
said County in which Company Samuel Dexter of said
Hardwick was Lieutenant. I enlisted for the term of six
months, as did the other men belonging to said Company.
Philip Amidon of said Hardwick enlisted into said
company at the same time that I did, and he marched
with the company to Rhode Island. Said Company was
annexed to a Regiment commanded by Colonel
Danforth Keyes of Western (now Warren) in said County of
Worcester, and said Amidon remained with me in said
Company, doing duty as a private soldier, till the men
composing it were discharged at the expiration of the
period for which they were enlisted. I was well acquainted with
said Amidon both before and after the above described
period of service as we were near neighbours, and I
recollect his marriage with Rhoda Goodspeed, and his
living with her in a married state till the time of his death.
And further this deponent saith not
Hardwick Mass
Dec. 27th 1839.
Saml Hinkley
Worcester Jr. Dec 21st 1839. Personally appeared
Samuel Hinkley above named and made oath to the truth of
the above affidavit by him subscribed 
before me, Joseph Stone 
Justice of the Peace
 
I certify that Samuel Hinkley above named is a credible Witness, Joseph Stone Jus. of the Peace
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Hardwick Mass.
March 26, 1840

Hon J. L. Edwards,
Sir,
A letter under your signature, dated Feby. 12th 1840, addressed to C. G. Prentiss Esq. of Worcester, has been forwarded to me informing that the "Claim of Mrs. Rhodes Amidon" in this town, to a pension, "has been examined and disallowed, It is arrested for one term of service [illegible] Capt. Ebenezer Newell in 1777 which is shown by the rolls to have commenced July 10, 1777 and ended Jany 3rd, 1778, making but 5 months and 24 days."
I am told by some of our surviving Revolutionary Soldiers that the troops were raised for the above specified term of service by a draft or requisition, and the town of Hardwick was called on for a Lieut. and a certain number of privates, while a Captain, and a certain number of privates were called for from Brookfield, the residence of Capt. Newell.
Samuel Dexton was designated as the Lieutenant from Hardwick, and he enlisted the required number from this town. The men these enlisted marched under his orders to Providence, R. I. a distance, as then travelled of 75 or 80 miles, and the route to Providence from Brookfield being {illegible] of the most direct route from this place, they did not join Capt. Newell's command till after they had reached that place.

In Mrs. Amidon's case, the deposition of Samuel Hinkley Esq. is offered to prove the service of Philip Amidon. Mr. Hinkley seems confident that in
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The march from Hardwick to Providence from one station to another, a week or ten days dependent.
It's by no means my desire to offer the testimony of living witnesses to disprove the record evidence now in the Department. But, as I believe that the commencement of the period of service would be reckoned from the time, when the men were embodied and marched from home under the orders of their Lieutenant. I would respectfully ask that the rolls may be re-examined, and , should it be ascertained as such examination that the rolls contain no account of any service previous to the arrival and embodying of the company under Capt. Newell at Providence, I would then ask that I may be permitted to prove, if I can, that as much time was spent in the  march from this place to Providence as would be required to make up the period of six months service.
With sentiments of sincere respect.
Your obedient servant
Joseph Stone

Hon. J. L. Edwards