Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30322, Abram Childs, Mass.
Page 1

SERVICE
Mass

Childs, Abram.
or
Child

NUMBER
S. 30322
Page 2

352

Massachusetts
Abram Child

of Groton in the State of Mass
who was a Captain in the    commanded
by Captain   of the Regiment commanded
by Colonel Wesson in the Mass
line, for the term of 2 years
from Year 1776 to   17

Inscribed on the Roll of Mass
at the rate of 480 Dollars per annum to
commence on the 4th day of August 1831
and

Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd of August
1832 and sent to Abram
Child Groton Mass

          the Roll on    day of
 182  and notification sent to
   at
    Pension commencing on the
of    182

Amount due on the 4th of Mar 1832  $ 480
Semi annual abv   4 Sept "                    240
                                                             ______
                                                             $ 720
7 June 1832

Recorded Book D
Vol 2 Page 43
Page 3

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Be it remembered that on the thirtieth day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand, Eight hundred and Eighteen, before me Samuel Dana Chief justice of the Circuit Court of Common pleas for the middle Circuit, comprehending the Counties of Essex and Middlesex within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being a Court of Record duly instituted and by law established. ~ Comes Abraham Childs of Groton in said County of Middlesex Esquire -- and on Oath declares, that he served in the war of the Revolution for the space of four years & five months
That he first entered as a Lieut. in the service of Massachusetts Bay & received a Commission Dated the 19th May A.D. 1775. signed Jas Warren Pres.t that he was annexed to the Company of Capt. John Ward in the Regiment whereof Samuel Gerrish Srg.t was [illegible] in which he served eight months. - 
That on the first day of January AD 1776, he entered upon the Continental establishment where he received a Commission of the date last aforesaid signed by order of the Congress. John Hancock President, by which he was appointed first Lieut. of Capt. John Woods Company in the 26th Regiment of foot commanded by Colo Leammi Baldwin, in which  capacity he served one year ~ That on the first day of January Anno Domini 1777 he receivd another Commission from Congress signed by John Hancock President by which he was appointed a Captain in the Regiment of foot whereof James Wesson Srgt. was Colonel in which situation he served untill the twenty sixth day of September AD 1779.  He joined the Army at Cambridge Mass.a in April, from thence he marched to Albany, & from thence he joined the Army of Gen.l Gates, on Bemis heights from thence he returned to Albany, & proceeded to Valley forge and joined the Army under Gen.l Washington, He next, was at the battle of Monmouth ~ then next encamped at West point, was in the battle of stoney point, & again returned to west point, where on the Said 26th. day of September, his wages had so depreciated, & having a wife and five children to support he was compelled to leave the service & seek some other means for their and his own support, and he waited upon Genl Washington, stated to him his situation & resigned his Commission and
Page 4

received a discharged signed by Rob H. Marrison Serg & returned from the army.  
He is now seventy seven years of age, was by trade a Blacksmith to which business he returned, and has labored in it ever since, but has never been able to save from his earnings, any thing beyond the support of himself, & Family having exhausted his former earnings, before he left the service - and now by reason of his advanced age and his reduced circumstances, he stands in need of assistance, from his Country for support. -
[signed on right] Abram Child

taken, made, subscribed, and sworn to at Groton in said County of Middlesex, the day and year aforesaid
[signed on right] Sam.l Dana

[vertically on right, bottom of page} Capt. Abraham Childs
Page 5

Abraham Childs
1609

Residence
June 1818
Page 6

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
MIDDLESEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Concord, within and for the County of Middlesex, on the second Monday of June A.D. 1820
before the Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Esquire, Chief Justice,
and
WILLIAM WETMORE, and
STEPHEN MINOT, Esquires,
Associate Justices of said Court.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, whith a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Abram Childs resident Groton - in said county circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 1. 608 now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,

"WAR DEPARTMENT.....
"I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the "18th March, 1818, Abram Childs late a Captain in the army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the "Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of Twenty "dollars per month, to commence on the thirtieth day of March - one thousand eight hundred and eighteen "Given at the War Office of the United States, this thirtienth "day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War,"

appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,

SCHEDULE,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
"Real estate - none
Personal estate

3 old tables of the value of.........$5.00
6 do. chairs..........................................1.00
1 wood clock.......................................5.00
1 pot & two kettles...........................2.00
Crockery & glass ware......................1.00
Shovel tongs & andirous.................1.00
1 pig.........................................................1.00
1 Smith's bellows (old)......................4.00
1 anvil    do............................................2.00
Vice............................................................1.00
Hammers & tong..................................1.50
1 desk (old)..............................................1.00
                                                    ________
                                      Total       $25.00
                                                    _________
                                         Abram. Childs.

And the said Abram Childs having been duly sworn
Page 7

according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary was as a Lieutenant & as a Captain from April 1775 to September 1779 in the 9th Regiment in the Massachusetts line commanded by Sols. Gerrish, Baldwin & Weston in succession was in the battles of Bunker hill, Trenton, Princeton, Still water, Monmouth and the storming of Story point.  All which is more particulary set forth in his original declaration on file in the war office dated March 30, 1818 _ that he is seventy eight years of age, a blacksmith by occupation but unable to labor by reason of a hernia and advanced age - that his family consists of his wife Rebecca aged seventy four years, lame; and Nancy Landworth a grandchild aged ten years.
Sworn & declared to before me
[signed] S. Dana Judge."
Page 8

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon.Samuel Dana a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
"I, Abram Childs do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in hte revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereunto annexed and by me subscribed. So help me GOD.
[signed on right] Abram. Child.

Middlesex ss. C.C.C.P. June term,A.D. 1820

Then the abovenamed Abram
took and subscribed the aforewritten Oath before me,
[signed] Saml dana, Judge of said Court."

I, ABRAHAM BIGLOW, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is twenty six dollars

[seal affixed on left]

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Cambridge, in said County of Middlesex, on this 20th day of July 1820.

Attr. [signed] Abraham Biglow
Page 9

[in print] CHILDS, ABRAM
S. 30322

I hereby certify that Captain Abram [paper missing]
Colo Wessons Regiment is di[paper missing}
pose for the service iss[paper missing]
the United States at his o[paper missing]
[next line illegible as paper missing and faded]
G[illegible] is His [illegible as faded]
at H [illegible] Word points [illegible] 6 day
1779.
[signed] Rob H Hamilton
Page 10

IN CONGRESS.

The DELEGATES of the UNITED STATES of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of New-Castle, Kent and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, TO
Abraham Childs [illegible]

We, reputing espescial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO [letters worn off]y these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be a Captain of Company in the Regiment of [illegible] James Wesson Esqr is Colonel

in the Army of the United States, raised for the Defense of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile invitation [illegible as word off]  You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty [words word off] Captain by doing and performing all manner of Things thereunto belonging.  And ye do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your Command, to be obedient to our Orders as Captain  And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions [illegible, beginning of word cut off]  time to Time, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress, for that Purpose appointed, or Commander in Chief for the Time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your Superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the [illegible, paper missing]  

[stamped seal middle right of page]

This Commission to continue in Force until revoked by this or a future Congress
The first Day of January Anno Domini 1777

By Order of the Congress,
[signed] John Hancock  PRESI[paper missing]

[printing added] CHILDS, ABRAM (MASS)
S.30322
Page 11

30322
Recy  INVALID.

File No. 30.322

File No.  30.322
Abram, Child
Capt Rev War

Act Congress 7th 32"
Index: - Vol. 2 , Page 70

Arrangement of 1870.
Page 12

Payable on the 4. March
& 4. Sept.r of each year at
the U. States Branch Bank,
Boston, Mass.

Recorded


[on bottom of right side of folded page upside down] Capt. Abram Childs.
Page 13

WAR DEPARTMENT

I CERTIFY, That in conformity with the Law of the UNITED STATES, of the 18. March 1818, Abram Childs,
late a Captain in the Army of the Revolution,
is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of twenty dollars per month, to commence on the thirtieth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.

GIVEN at the WAR OFFICE of the UNITED STATES, this thirtieth day of June
one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.

J. C. Calhoun
Sec.r of War.

[seal affixed on bottom left]
Page 14

Massachusetts Rolls.
1,608

Abram Childs [illegible word written in between lines]
Captain, 
Mass. Line _ 3 years
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.

Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 30.th of March 1818.

Certificate of Pension issued the 30. of June 1818,
and sent to the Hon Saml Dana,
Boston, Massa.

arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818.
5 months 2/31
4/30. _   $ 103.95

Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818

Sept 1818.

[right side of fold, written vertically]
No cefication sent.  October 26 1820
Abraham Bigelow, Cambridge, Massus.
Page 15

Aug 11
Pention
Offer

$480 per annum

[written vertically, middle of tri-fold]
Hon. Lewis Cass
Secry of War.
Page 16

Groton (Ms.) Aug 3. 1832.

To the Hon. Lewis Cass
Secretary of War, Ss.
Sir,

In order to avail myself of the benefits of an Act of Congress passed June 7th A.D. 1832. entitled "an Act supplementary to the Act for the relief of certain surviving, officers and soldiers of the Revolution".  I make the following statement viz
That in conformity to the Law of the United States of March 18th 1812 I have received a pension of twenty Dollars per month from March 30th 1818 to March 4th 1832; That I hereby relinquish all claim to said pension & herewith transmit my original certificate; that I served in the Army of the Revolution as a Lieutenant in Capt. John Wood's Company and Col. Loammi Balwind Regiment in the Massachusetts line in the years 1775 & 1776.  and in the year 1777 I was commissioned as Captain of the same company, and the Regiment came then under the command of Col. James Wesson, in which station Icontinued till Sept. 1779. when I was honorably discharged; all which will more fully apppear by reference to my original application for a pension, & papers on file in the War office; and that I now reside in Groton, County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged nearly 91 years.  Wherefore, I respectfully request, that my name may be inserted on the pension roll under the Act of June 7. 1832 and my pension made up from the fourth day of March 1832. at the rate of forty dollars per month being a Captain's pay, according to the provision of said Act,
I am, Sir, very respectfully, your humble sservent
[signed on right] Abram Child
Page 17

Cap.t Abram Childs


Correct
Page 18

To the Honorable JOHN C. CALHOUN, Secretary of the Dapartment of War of the United States.

I, the undersigned Samuel Dana, Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Middle Circuit, (comprehending the Counties of Essex and Middlesex) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being a Court of Record, duly established by Law, Do hereby certify, That on the thirteenth day of March in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen  Personally appeared Capt Abraham Childs and made and subscribed the declaration which is hereunto annexed, and at the same time he exhibited to me one of the Commissions therein descrbed -
[seal affixed on upper left of page]

 from which it appears to me, that the said abraham Childs did serve in the War of the REVOLUTION, against the common Enemy, upwards of  nine months. upon the continental establishment - -

Wherefore, in pursuance of the directions of an Act of Congress, made and passed the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War,"  I have transmitted the Declaration to ou the said Secretary, that such further proceedings may be had in the premises, as the Act may require.

In testimony of all which, I have caused the Seal of said Court to be hereunto affixed.

Given under my hand within the said Circuit, the first day of March . - in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen - - -
[signed on right] Saml Dana