Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31162, Ebenezer Twiss, Mass.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE     NUMBER
Mass.   Twiss, Ebenezer
S. 31162
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[first page]
letter to George
[Illegible] Sept. 6th 1833

[second page]
10.199
Massachusetts
Ebenezer Twiss
of Worcester in the State of Mass
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Healy of the regt commanded
by Col Larned in the Mass
[illegible] for 12 May 17 days Certificate
issued in favor of Rufus Twiss
Widow of the deceased

Inscribed on the Roll of Mass
at the rate of 41 Dollars 88 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 23d day of March
1833 and sent Abijah
Bigelow Worcester Mass

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $[illegible amt]
Semin-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept " 20.74
amt due up to 23 Augt 32 the day of his death
$59.09.
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J H Mc Blair Clerk,
Book E.
Vol. 2 Page 83.
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10.025 Twiss
Ebenezer Twiss [illegible]
Twiss

Private 12 mo 17 days
issue the Capital
in the name of the
deceasd: Son Rufus Twiss - 
died 2 Augt 1832
$41.88
Abijah Bigelow E
Worcester
Mass
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10.023
BRIEF in the case of Ebenezer Twiss
County of Worcester in the State of Massachusetts
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Justice of the Peace

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  yes

3.  How old is he?  81

4:  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period.     Duration of service.    Rank.   Names of General and Field officers under whom he served.
                 Years, Months, Days   As a     Gen.
Vol. In 1775 19th April     --    --    17    private  Capt. Curtiss

Enlisted  1775      May      --    8    --      private
Capt. Samuel Curtiss, Capt. Nathaniel Healy; Col Ebenezer Larned

Enlisted   1776                  --    2   --       private
Capt. Abijah Lamb, Major Holman

Enlisted   1776                  --     2   --      private
Capt. Abijah Lamb, Col. Converse

                                                12   17      
Gen'l Washington

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  none

6.  Where did he reside before he entered the service?  Worcester Cty, Massa.

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Traditionary and witnesses

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?   It appears that the applicant died after making his declaration without signing or swearing to it; and his son has applied as his only heir at law, for the pension due his father.

X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

F Waugh
Examining Clerk
Feb. 9, 1833
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a declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the
Act of Congress, passed June 7th AD 1832
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worcester ss. Augt. 1832
on this seventh day of August 1832
personally appeared before me the subscribed
Judge of [the probate?] Court [many crossed out illegible words] : Ebenezer Twiss, resident
in Charlton in the County of Worcester in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts; being Eighty one
years of Age, 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 June 7th AD 1832 - " I Ebenezer
Twiss upon the alarms, being given on the 19th
of April 1775, marched to Roxbury near Boston,
and remained there in the service of the United States, seventeen days as the Roll of Captain [illegible]
company, appended to the declaration of
John Edwards, an Applicant for a Pension
by the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
will more fully prove After I returned home
I think in may following I enlisted into Captain Samuel Curtiss Company, for eight months
which time I served out at Roxbury. After my
Enlistment into said Company, while at
Roxbury some misunderstanding taking place
between me and captain Samuel Curtiss -
He permitted me to join or enlist into Captain Nathaniel Healy's Company, at Roxbury
General Salem Town, late of Charlton deceased
was Lieutenant, of said Healy's Company
In 1776 I enlisted into the service of the United States for two months; into Captain Abijah
Lambs Company of Charlton, who is now dead.
I marched in said Lambs Company into the
State of New York the company was stationed
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on the west side of the Hudson River.
I served out the two months I enlisted for
and returned Home, with said company -
In the month of August I think in 1776 an
alarm [underlined] came into Charlton that the British
had come to Newport Rhode Island, I enlisted
again into Captain Abijah Lambs Company
and marched to Providence Rhode Island
The company was stationed in the College
in that town. I served two months the time
enlisted for, in Providence & at Roxbury
I belonged to Col Ebenezer Larned Regiment
of Oxford in the County of Worcester In the
State of New York; I belonged to Col Converse Regiment, who belonged to Brookfield
in the County of Worcester In the whole
I served in the Army of the Revolution, one
year and seventeen days. The officers under
whom I served are all dead -- I have no
documentary evidence to prove my service.
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a
Pension or annuity except the present, and
declare that my name is not on the pension
Roll of the Agency of any state whatever.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
We John Wilder a Clergyman residing in Charlton in the county of Worcester and Ebenezer H. Phillips residing in the same town
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
Ebenezer Twiss who has subscribed and sworn to
the above declaration; that we believe him to be Eighty
one years of age; that he is reputed and believed in
the neighborhood where he resides to have been a
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Soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
John Wilder Jr
Eben H. Phillips

Commonwealth of Massachusetts [indecipherable] Sept 4, 1832
Then John Wilder Jr and Ebenezer H. Phillips
who signed the above certificate in
my presence, personally appeared and
made solemn oath that the same is
truth before me
Frederic W Bottom [illegible]
Page 8

The following are interrogatories propounded
to Ebenezer Twiss an Applicant for a Pension
for services, in the Army of the Revolution
by me the subscribed a Judge of a Court of Record.
1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Ans. I was born November 25th AD 1751, in the Town of Oxford before Charlton was incorporated  Charlton being formerly Oxford

2. Have you any record of your age; and if
so where is it?
Ans. I was recorded upon the Town Records in Oxford
I was born in what is now Charlton within
two miles; where I now reside.

3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Ans. I lived in Charlton when I entered into the
Army of the Revolution - I first enlisted
into the company of Samuel Curtiss to
whose company I belonged before the Revolution.
during the Eight months service of Roxbury
I had difficulty with Captain Curtiss, and
I joined Captain Nathaniel Healys company;
who was a captain in same regiment - 

4. How were you called into service; were you drafted  did you volunteer or were you a substitute, and if a substitute for whom?
Ans. When the alarms came April 19, 1775, I
volunteered and went to Roxbury and
remained the seventeen days. Afterwards
I enlisted every tour of duty as I have stated
in my declaration.

5. State the names of some of the regular officers who, were with the troops where you served
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such continental and Militia Regiments
as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.
Ans. At Roxbury I belonged to Col Ebenezer
Larned Regiment - A M Holmon
of Sutton was Major. At State of New York
I belonged to Col Converse Regiment
General Washington commanded the
Troops in person at Roxbury At
Providence I do not remember the
names of the General officers -

6. Did you ever receive a discharge from
the service; and if so, by whom was it
[crossed out word] signed, and what has become of it.
Ans. I never had a discharge to my recollection

7. State the Names of persons to whom you
are known, in your present Neighborhood,
and who can testify as to your character
for veracity, and their belief of your
services as a soldier of the Revolution
Ans. Doct Lamb. John Whipple, Edmond
Eddy and John Edwards -
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I Edmond Eddy of Charlton in the County
of Worcester and commonwealth of 
Massachusetts, being now in my Eighty fourth
year of age do declare that Mr Ebenezer
Twiss of Charlton did duty and served Eight
months in the Army of the Revolution
He served Eight months to my knowledge
in the year of 1775 - He belonged to
the Regiment of Col Ebenezer Larned of
Oxford in this County. I served
Eight Months at Roxbury at the same
time and belonged to the same
Regiment that Mr Twiss did
Edmund Eddy [signature]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worcester ss July 24th 1832
Then Edmond Eddy who signed the above affadavit
in my presence, personally appeared
and made solemn oath that the same
is true before me.
Frederic W. Bottom {illegible]

I hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Deacon Edmond Eddy thirty years and know that he now been
reported to be a man of truth by his
Neighbors Frederic W. Bottom [illegible]

N.B. The deposition of Edmund Eddy, was taken to prove the services of Ebenezer Twiss, who is an applicant for a pension. It was taken
on the same sheet with deposition of Nathan
Fletcher, and the mistake was not discovered until after the death of Fletcher, so the the mistake will not be [illegible]
Frederic W Bottom
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I Nathan Fletcher of Charlton in the County of Worester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being now in my Seventy ninth year of age do declare that I positively know that Deacon Edmund Eddy of Charlton served Eight Months as a soldier in the army of the Revolution in 1775 the first year of the war. He belonged to Captain
Nathaniel Healy's Company of Dudley in this
County. General Salem Town late of
Charton deceased was the Lieutenant
of the same company - I belonged
to the same company myself and served
Eight months at Roxbury near Boston
The company belonged to the Regiment
of Col Ebenezer Learned of Oxford, who is 
now dead and Nathaniel Healy the Captain
is also dead further deponant saith not-
Nathan his X mark Fletcher
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Worcester July 24. 1832
Thos Nathan Fletcher who signed the above Affidavit in my presence by making his mark, personally appeared and made solemn oath that the same is true before me Frederic W Bottom [illegible]
I hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Mr Nathan Fletcher who signed the above affidavit more than twenty years and he is
reputed by his neighbors as a man of truth
Frederic W. Bottom [illegible]
Page 12

I John Edwards of Charlton in the County of
Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Gentleman being Seventy nine years of age
do declare that I enlisted into the Company
of Captain Samuel Curtiss [crossed out word][illegible]
Charlton in May 1775 for eight months
Ebenezer Twiss of Charlton enlisted into said
company at the same time for
Eight months and we both marched together
to Roxbury near Boston where we were
stationed. He served Eight months and
when our time of enlistment was out
we both returned home to Charlton together.

The next year 1776 he enlisted for two
Months into Captain Abijah Lamb's company of Charlton and we marched
together in the same company together
into the State of New York, and he served
two months [illegible] of [illegible] - Captain Samuel
Curtiss company belonged to Col Ebenezer
Larned's Regiment of Oxford. At New York
Captain Abijah Lambs Company belonged to Col Converse Regiment, who
belonged to Brookfield I also declare
that Ebenezer Twiss served two months
at Providence in Rhode Island in
Captain Abijah Lambs Company for
the deponant saith not.
John Edwards
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Worcester 15 July 26. 1832
Then John Edwards who subscribed the within affidavit in my presence personally appeared and swore solemn Oath that the same is true before me
Frederic W Bottom  Jus [illegible, Justice of the Peace?]

I hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Lt John Edwards Thirty years and know that he has ever been reputed to be a man of truth by his Neighbors
Frederic W. Bottom Jus [illegible, Justice of the Peace?]
Page 14

I John Whipple of Charlton, in the County
of Worcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts
being sixty six years of age - do declare and
testify that I have been acquainted with
Mr Ebenezer Twiss, late of Charlton deceased
a soldier of the Revolution, more than
thirty years. I saw him expire on the
second day of August [illegible] 1832 -
He was reputed to be a man of honesty
and also reputed to have served the
United States in the Army of the Revolution
Mr Ebenezer Twiss, left one child only
Mr Rufus Twiss who is his only ????
at Land to his Estate - He left no widow
his wife died thirteen years ago. further
the Deponant saith not
John Whipple

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worester May 25 1832
Then personally appeared John Whipple, who
signed the above Deposition in my presence,
and made solemn oath, that the same
is true before me
Frederic W. Botton Jus [illegible, Justice of the Peace?]

I hereby certify that I have been acquainted with
[illegible] John Whipple who signed the
above Deposition and know him to be
a man of veracity-
Frederic W. Bottom
Page 15

I Frederic W. Bottom of Southbridge, in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Esquire - do hereby declare and testify that on the twenty fourth day of July 1832, I was called upon to take the deposition of her Ebenezer Twiss of Charlton, then alive but
now deceased - said Twiss then requested
me to make out for him his application
and declaration for a pension for service
in the Army of the Revolution - on
that day I found him very sick and
unable to help himself off and onto his
Bed. I then addressed a letter to Solomon
Strong a Judge of a Court of Record in
Massachusetts desiring him to come
to Charlton at the dwelling House of said
Twiss, to administer to him the necessary
Oath, to entitle him to a Pension by
virtue of the Act of Congress passed June
7. 1832. Judge Strong at my request came
to Charlton to administer the oath to said
Twiss August 7 1832 - but found him
dead and buried. Mr Twiss I found
to be very deaf - I put to him the seven
Interrogatories required by the Secretary
at War, in the following Manner his
son, wrote with cholk [chalk] on a smooth
Board, the Interrogatories word for word
which said Ebenezer Twiss when he
read them answered in the presence
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words I have put down in writing
which accompanies his Declaration which
is also in my Hand writting -- I did not
administer to him the oath required.
Because I expected he would live untill
Judge Strong should come and administer the requisite oath himself, and I
did not have him sign his declaration and Answers to the Interrogatories
for the same reason having this to be
done in the presence of Judge Strong -
I further declare that Mr Twiss appeared
at that time, to have a perfect memory
of the facts stated in his Declaration.
Sworn & subscribed Before Nath Paine 
Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester
Frederic W. Bottom

I Rufus Travis of Charlton in the County of Worcester
and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being
forty five years of Age, testify that my Father
Ebenezer Twiss of Charlton died August 2nd 1832
after his pension papers were made out
I am his only child and heir at Law
he left no widow. I hereby pray that the
Sum due him at his decease from the United States
for services performed by him in the
War of the Revolution, according to the Act of
Congress passed June 7th 1832 - may be paid
to me the subscriber
Sworn to and subscribed Before Nathan Paine Judge of Probate for the  County of Worcester in open court on the sixth day of September AD  1832
Page 17

And the said Court hereby declare their opinion
after an investigation of the matter it appears
to the Court, That Ebenezer Twiss the Person
named in this application who is now decd was a
revolutionary soldier, and served as stated
and that the said Ebenezer Twiss died testate
leaving no widow - & that Rufus Twiss [the person crossed out] the Person named in the aforegoing Declaration is the
only heir & sole Devise of the said Ebenezer
Twiss
That the will of the said Ebenezer
has been duly proved, approved, & allowed
in the Probate Court for the County of Worcester
Nath Paine Judge of Probate for the County
of Worcester
I Theophilus Wheeler Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester in Massachusetts
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said Court in the
matter of a claim for a pension in behalf of
Rufus Twiss heir at law of Ebenezer Twiss
deceased, and that Frederic W. Bottom before
whom the annexed affidavits were made
are Justices of the Peace in aforsaid County
in full credit, and that the said affidavits
was signed by them -- and that the
said Solomon Strong is a Judge of the
Court of Common Pleas in the County of
Worcester for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Probate Court this 7th day of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & thirty two
Theophl Wheeler Reg of said Probate Court
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I Solomon Strong the resident in the town of
Leominster County of Worcester and
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and one of the
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for
said Commonwealth the same being a
Court of Record having a Clerk and [illegible]
testify and say that on the first day of August 1832. I received a letter from Frederic W.
Bottom Esquire a Counsellor at law residing in
Southbridge in said County of Worcester an
Attorney and Agent for Ebenezer Twiss
of Charlton in said County dated July
24. 1832. requesting me to go to the dwelling
house of said Twiss in Charlton and take his
examination for a pension. I appointed the
7th August 1832, to do this business it
being the earliest day when I could attend
to it. On said 7th day of August 1832
I, accompanied by said Bottom, proceeded to
the house of said Twiss to take his examination
as aforsaid. When we arrived then the family informed us that the said Twiss died the Friday preceeding.
Solomon Strong
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester County ss. August 10, 1832. The above named Solomon Strong
personally appeared & made oath that
above affidavit by him subscribed is true.-
Before me Wm Perry Justice of [illegible - Peace?]
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester Ss. I Abijah Bigelow, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas
of said Commonwealth, for the County of Worcester,
do hereby certify, that the Hon. Solomon Strong is a
Justice of said Court as is by him within stated, and that
his signature thereto is in his own hand writing and
that William Perry Esquire, before whom said Strong
made oath to the within certificate is a Justice of the
Peace within and for said County, and that his
signature thereto appears to me to be in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand, and affixed the County Seal
of said Court of Common Pleas this
fifth day of September in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and thirty two.
Abijah Bigelow, [illegible]
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[stamp] Worcester Mass AUGT 24
[illegible - scribbles, the letter H?]
James L Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington City.
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Worcester, Aug 24. 1833.
James L. Edwards, Esq
hi
I am requested to apprise
you that the name of Rufus Twist, a Pensioner
in right of his father, Ebenezer Twiss, deceased
of Charlton, in this County, has not been forwarded to the paying Office at Boston.
Very Respectfully
I have the honor to be
Your Obedt Sert
George Folsom
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31162
Revy INVALID
File No. 31,162
Ebenezer Twiss
in Rev. War
Act: June 7" 32"
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 426
(Arrangement of 1870.)