Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 42,457, for Stephen Taylor, Massachusetts
Page 1

Mass.
Taylor, Stephen
S 42.457
B. L. Wt. 18010-160-55
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135,200-Act Mar 3 /58
                      May 16/55
Stephen Taylor pri

Capt, Cushing
Col. Vorce
Revolutionary Pensioner
Private
Col. Voce
Mass Line
Mass Mar 43-7994
Ad. 160 acs Mar 6/56
Dodge

Lemuel Jenkins
Albany N.Y.

No. 18010 iss. Mar 10/56
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3306
New York Roll
Stephen Taylor,
Capt. Williams
Private Massachusetts Line 
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of
Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 16th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 30th of September and sent Stephen Phelps Esqr. Judge
Canandaigua New York
Arrears to 4th of Dept. 1818  37.6
Semi-anl all'ce ending 4th Mar 1819    48.--
$85.6
Mtts. Col. Vose Mass
4x19/30
{Revolutionary Claim}
{Act 18th March, 1818}
2 years 1781

Senica, Ontario Co

Oct 17, 1856-Voucher claim of arrears to Pension Agy., Albany N.Y.
Letter to Thomas C. Bennett
Page 4

State of New York,
Allegany County, SS
On this fourteenth day of February, 1821 personally appeared in open Court, being a Cour of Common Pleas in and for said county, and constituted a Court of Record by proceeding according to the course of the Common Law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, and keeping a record of its proceedings, and recognized as such Court by the laws and judicial decisions of said State, Stephen Taylor aged fifty four years, resident of the town of Alfred in said county, who being, first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows:
He enlisted in the year seventeen hundred and eighty one into the first Massachusetts Regiment commanded by Col. Joseph Vorse and in the company commanded by Captain John Williams and afterwards by Leiutent. Thos. Cushing and served in the same Company and Regiment untill he was discharged in December seventeen hundred and eighty three at West Point.
And that he made application for a Pension on the sixteenth day of April 1818 and that he received a Pension Certificate, No. 3306. And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United State 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, 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 the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818, 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 hereto annexed and by me subscribed, viz.
5 old chairs $2.50-
1 old table $l.00 
1 looking glass $1.50-
2 old Trunks $.75        $5.75
1 old (illegible) $.62-
1 broken spider $.25
1 broken (illegible) $1.00      $1.87  
2 smaall kettles $.62
1 Frying pan $1.00
4 old pails $.37                     $3.75
2 (illegible) basins $.50
1 bake pan $1.25
1 old table $.37
4 old barrells $.31                 $3.50
Shovel & tongs $1.25
1 old chest $.25                  $l.87
11 old plates $l.00 
1 Soup dish $.25
1 pitcher $.37
Teapot $.25                        $1.87
1 ceramic cup $.12
5 glasses $.44
3 glass bottles $.12           $ .94
2 decanters $.25
1 pepper mill $1.00
1 ax $1.00
3 old baskets #1.00         $3.25
4 old books $.37
1 saw $1.50
1 old wheel head $.50       $3.50
1 churn $.50
5 old knives & forks $.50
1 coffee pot $.37               $1.37
1 cow $16.00
2 pigs $2.00
8 fowl $.50                         $20.50
$51.89
Stephen Taylor

That he is by occupation a Farmer but in consequence of a wound received by a rifle ball through the body and the loss of my right eye and the weakness of the other I am  rendered unfit to perform much labour. My family consists of my wife Abbigail, who is in very ill health and unable to work and has been much confined to her bed for three or four years past. My son William aged sixteen years-my daughter Caroline aged thirteen rather weakly and subject to fits-my daughter Emeline aged ten years my son Edward aged ten years-twins-my stepson Bradford aged five years.
(signed) Stephen Taylor
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Stephen Taylor

Sworn to and declared in open Court 
before me this 14th day of February 1821
Amos Peabody, Clerk

At a court of Common Pleas held at the Court house in Angelica in and for the county of Allegany before the Judges of said court on the 14th day of February of the Term of February in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty one Present Philip Church}
Moses Vaubamfield}
Thomas Dole}  Judges

ExParte
In the matter of Stephen Tylor for a Pension, residing in the Town of Alfred in said County
the said Stephen Taylor and person placed on the Pension list of the United States having exhibited a schedule subscribed by him containing his whole estate (illegible)  (necessary clothing and bedding excluded) in pursuance of an Act of Congress of the United States ^entitled An act in addition to an act entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and navel service of the United States in the Revolutionary War passed on the eighteenth day of March 1818 passed May 1st 1820 and having taken subscribed and produced to this court the oath or affirmation by the said act required and the said court having received evidence of the nature and value of the property mentioned in the said schedule and duly considered the premises are of the opinion that the property contained in the said schedule is of the value of fifty one dollars and eighty nine cents and they hereby order their clerk to certify the same in dew form.

(missing text) gany County SS
I Amos Peabody Clerk of said county do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the Record of the said Court; and I 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 fifty one dollars and eighty nine cents. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this 14th day of February 1821.
Amos Peabody
Clerk of the Court aforesaid, in and for said County.
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135,200
Application of
Stephen Taylor, a Revolutionary soldier
for Bounty Land under the Act of 3d March 1855
Claim 160 acres

Lemuel Jenkins of
Albany N. Y. Agent
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Territory of Minnesota
County of Winona 

On this fifth day of May A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty five personally appeared before me a justice of the peace within and for the county and Territory aforesaid Stephen Taylor aged ninety seven years, a resident of Monoy Creek Valley in the county of Winona and Territory of Minnesota who being duly sworn according to law declares that he is the identical Stephen Taylor who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Cushing in the first Regiment of______________commanded by Col. Joseph Vorce in the war of the Revolution. that is is now a pensioner on the roll of the Albany pension agency at the rate of eight dollars per month under the act of the eighteenth day of March A.D. 1818, and his pension certificate bears the date 30th day of September A.D. 1818 and is numbered 3306 that he served as such private as aforesaid for the term of three years and continued in actual service in the said war for fourteen days and was honorably discharged as set forth in his declaration and proofs now on file in the pension Office at Washington, upon which his said pension was granted, and to which he respectfully refers. He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he may be entitled under the act approved March 3, 1855. He also declares that he has not received a warrant for bounty land under this or any other act of Congress nor under any other applications therefore, and I hereby request the Commissioner of pensions to forward my warrant to Lemuel Jenk
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he respectfully refers. He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he may be entitled under the act approved March 3, 1855. he also declares that he has not received a warrant for bounty land under this or any other act of Congress nor under any other application therefore, and I hereby request the Commissioner of pensions to forward my warrant to Lemuel Jenkins Albany New York.
Stephen Taylor

We C. F. Buck and F, W Curtis residents of Winona County in the Territory of Minnesota upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Stephen Taylor in our presence and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that he is the identical person he represents himself to be.
C. F. Buck
F. W. Curtis

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 (illegible) is the person he represents himself to be and that I have no interest in this claim.
William E. Hewitt
Justice of the Peace

Territory of Minnesota
County of Winona
I, M. Wheeler Sargeant Clerk of the said County do hereby certify that William E. Hewitt was on the day of the date of the above certificate a duly qualified Justice of the Peace within and for the said county, duly elected and qualified and that the signature above purporting to be his is genuine,
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this fifth day of May A.D. 1855
M. Wheeler Sargeant
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State of New York
Ontario County SS

I Stephen Taylor of the town of Seneca in the County of Ontario and State of New York and formerly of Sheffield in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being duly  cautioned and sworn doth on oath solemnly depose say and declare that his is a natural citizen of the United States and that he served this county in the revolutionary was against the common enemy and that he the deponent enlisted in the month of March 1781 in the 1st Massachusetts Regiment Colonel Joseph Vose^(illegible) in Captain William's company for term of during the war and that he received an honorable discharge December 17th 1783 from General Hunt at West Point in the Regiment aforesaid and that his discharge was burnt in his father's house and that he is 52 years old and is in indigent circumstances and needs the assistance of his country for support and he therefore prays that his name may be placed on the pension list pursuant to an act of Congress passed the 18th day of March 1818 entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval services of the United States in the Revolutionary war and further the deponent saith not.
Stephen Taylor
Sworn to declared & subscribed this sixteenth day of April 1818 before me
Stephen Phelps
A Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Ontario
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The foregoing declaration sworn to declared and subscribed this 16th day of April 1818 before me 
a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Ontario and State of New York

Ontario County SS
I Stephen Phelps a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Ontario do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Stephen Taylor did serve in the Revolutionary War as Stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy and I now trust the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me to the secretary for the department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned Act of Congress
Stephen Phelps
Canandaigua
April 16th 1818

Ontario County SS
I certify that Stephen Taylor the aforesaid applicant is in reduced circumstances and in need of the assistance of his country for support
August 24th 1818     
Stephen Phelps
Judge of Ontario Common Pleas
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(hand written notation; "not rev")

August 8, 1933
BA-J/ILL
Stephen Taylor
S. 42457

Orrin H. Smith
175 West 4th Street
Winona, Minnesota

Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Stephen Taylor, who served in the New York troops in the Revolutionary War, who is reported as the only soldier of that war who is buried in the State of Minnesota.
A search of the Revolutionary War records of this office fails to show a claim for a pension or bounty land on file based upon service of a Stephen Taylor who served in the Dutchess County, New York, militia. The record has been found of a Stephen Taylor who resided in New York State and moved to the State of Minnesota. It is furnished herein in hope that it may be the record of the soldier in whom you are interested.
Stephen Taylor, while a resident of Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, enlisted sometime during the month of March 1781, served as a private in Captains John Williams and Thomas Cushing's company, Colonel Joseph Vose's 1st Massachusetts regiment and was discharged December 27, 1783.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 16, 1818 at which time he resided in Seneca, Ontario County, New York. He gave his age then as fifty-two years, the date and place of his birth and names of his parents not shown.
In 1821, the soldier resided in Alfred, Allegany County, New York. He stated then that his family consisted of his wife, Abbigail, his son, William, aged sixteen years, his daughter, Caroline, aged thirteen years, his son and daughter, Edward and Emeline, twins, aged ten years, and his
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stepson, Bradford, aged five years. The maiden name and age of the wife of Stephen Taylor are not shown, and there are no further data regarding his family in the papers in this pension claim.
On May 5, 1855, at which time he resided in Monoy Creek Valley, Winona County, Territory of Minnesota, the soldier applied for bounty land which was due on account of his services in the Revolutionary War. He stated then that he was aged ninety-seven years, no explanation of the discrepancy in his age shown. Warrant No. 18010 for one hundred and sixty acres of bounty land was issued March 10, 1856.
In order to ascertain the location of this land, you should apply to The Commissioner of The General Land Office, Interior Building this city, furnishing that official the number of the warrant, acreage, and date of issuance.
Very truly yours,
A. D Hiller,
Assistant to Administrator
Page 13

State of New York
Ontario County SS
On the twenty second day of August 1818 William Owen being duly sworn doth on his oath depose & say that he the deponent is personally acquainted with Stephen Taylor of the Town of Seneca in the County of Ontario who formerly resided in the Twon of Sheffield in the State of Massachusetts and that he the deponent was acquainted with the said S. Taylor in the said Town of Sheffield before the said Taylor enlisted into the service of the United States. And that he the deponent in the years 1781, 1782 & 1783 was in the Continental service in the 7th Massachusetts Regiment commanded by Colonel Brooks and that he knows the said Stephen Taylor was at that time in the service of the United States in the first Massachusetts Regiment commanded by Colonel Vose and that he knew him the said Taylor to serve in said first Regiment for two or three years previous to the close of the war and that he continued in the said service at the close of the war in December 1783 when the said corps were generally discharge at which time he the deponent was discharged and that he the deponent saw the said Taylor in the aforesaid Town of Sheffield immediately after his return from service
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which was a few days after the return of him the deponent as has no doubt of his receiving an honorable discharge and further saith not.
William Owen

Sworn to and subscribed this twenty second Day of August 1818 before me
Stephen Phelps
a Judge of Ontario Common Pleas
I further certify that I am acquainted with the above named Deponent Wm Owen & know him to be a credable witness.
Stephen Phelps, a Judge CP
Page 15

State of New York
Ontario County SS 
On the twenty second day of August 1818 before me Stephen Phelps a Judge of Ontario Common Pleas came Benjamin Wills who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he the deponent is acquainted with Stephen Taylor of the Town of Seneca in the County aforesaid and that he knew the said Stephen Taylor in the years 1781, 1782 and 1783 and that he was then a soldier in the first Massachusetts Regiment commanded by Colonel Joseph Vose and that he the deponant held a Lieutenants commission and served the same time in the same Regiment with the said Stephen Taylor and he recollects that he the said Taylor continued in said service to the close of the war and has not any doubt of his receiving an honorable discharge and further saith not.
Benjm. Wills

Ont. County SS  On the 22d day of August 1818 came Benjamin Wills the aforesaid Deponant and made oath to & subscribed the above deposition before me
Stephen Phelps
A Judge of Ont. Com. pleas
Page 16

State of New York
Ontario County SS
Clerks Office

(seal)

In testimony that Stephen Phelps whose name is subscribed to the foregoing affidavits was on the day of the date of the same a Judge of Ontario Common Pleas and that the same is his signature. I hereunto subscribe my and affix the seal of said County at Canandaigua this 27th day of August 1818.
Her. McNair clerk
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Claim of 
Stephen Taylor
April 16th 1818

admitted




The Honorable
Secy. of War
Page 18

State of New York
Ontario County SS
Clerks Office

(seal)

In testimony that Stephen Phelps whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate dated August 24th 1818 was on the day of the date of the date of the same a Judge of Ontario Common Pleas and that the same is his signature. I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said County at Canandaigua this 27th day of August 1818.
Her. McNair clerk

The honorable the secretary of the war department will please forward my certificate (if allowed) to Stephen Philps Esq. Canandaigua who is my agent.
Stephen Taylor
April 18th 1818
Page 19

State of New York
Ontario County SS
Clerks Office

(seal)

In testimony that Stephen Phelps whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate was on the day of the date of the same one of the Judges of the court of Common pleas in and for the county of Ontario and that the same is his signature. I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the County seal at Canandaigua this 24th day of April A.D. 1818
Her. McNair Clerk
Page 20

N.Y.
Albany May 14, 1855

L. P. Waldo Esquire
Commr. of Pensions

Sir,
I enclose the declaration of Stephen Taylor a soldier of the Revolution who claims 160 acres of Bounty Land under the act of 3 March 1855.
I am Sir,
Very respectfully your obt. svt
Lemuel Jenkins
Agent for claimant
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42457
Revy. INVALID

File No. 42,457
Stephen Taylor
Pri Rev. War

Act 18th March '18
Index:  Vol. 3, page 501

[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 22

188  Mnn8
July 23 H. B. Taylor history -Priv
(Letter in Jonathan (Jr) F  21521)
July 11, 1905 History to
Mrs. E. J. Whitney, Crookston, Minn.
1926-June 15 Hist. to N. C. Varney Mnnst.
1933 Aug. 8 Hist to 
Orrin E. Smith, ILL


Second  attempt about a widow
of Ontario Co N.Y.--Sheffield Mass.
Capt. William--Col. Vose (1781)
wounded tow body, leg -R eye  was discharged
1820 Allegany County
Page 23

1888
July 23 H. B. Taylor history  Priv
(Letter in Johathan (Jr) F  21521)

July 11, 1905 History to 
Mrs. E. J. Whiteny, Crookston, Minn.
1926 June 15 Hist. to N. C. Varney Mnnst
1933 Aug. 8 Hist to 
Orrin E. Smith ILL


Second attempt about a widow
of Ontario NY 1818--Sheffield Mass
Capt. William-Col. Vose (1781)
wounded to  body, leg-R eye  was discharged
1820 Allegany County
Page 24

(oval stamp-Finance Division Jun 21 1905
                     Bureau of Pensions

Brookston June 16, 1905

Commissioner of Pensions

Sir I am trying to get a certificate of the company & regimental organization to which Stephen Taylor of Alleghany Co. N. Y. belonged.
He drew a pension from late 1833 till his death in 1857 said pension was paid at Willsvall Alleghany Co N. Y.
I have written to Albany N. Y & to the Commonwealth of Boston Mass. they both refered me to you his service was in the Mass line am willing to pay for the record
Mrs. E. J. Whitney
Crookston
201 Ash Street Minn.
(stamp- U.S. Pension Office Jun 19 1905)
Page 25

Rect. stamp
Old War & Navy
June 23 1905
Files
Page 26

Orrin Fruit Smith
Winona, Minnesota

August 15th 1933

Mr. A. D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator
Washington D. C. 
(stamped-Received Aug. 17, 1933)

My Dear Sir:
I beg to thank you gratefully and appreciatively for your letter of the 8th inst. and the information contained therein.
Stephen Taylor was a farmer down in Money Creek Valley, about twenty miles from Winnona, when he died on June 2nd 1857. His funeral was held in the Congregational church here and interment was made on the Wabasha prairie. In 1865 the remains were removed to Woodlawn Cemetery, across East Winona. Please accept thanks of
Orrin F. Smith
Page 27

Orrin Fruit Smith
Winona, Minnesota
July 31st, 1933

United States Pension Office
Washington, District of Columbia

Gentlemen,
Woodlawn Cemetery Association of this city is about to place the remains of Mr. Stephen Taylor, said to be the only Revolutionary soldier buried in the State of Minnesota, in a more desirable spot in the cemetery and to pay honor and tribute to the memory of Mr. Taylor by erecting a very suitable stone on the lot. 
In hope of learning something of Mr. Taylor's record this letter is being addressed to the Department of Pensions.
Mr. Taylor's name appears in the Dutchess County N.Y. militia 2nd regiment, under Colonel Abraham Brinkerhoff. Reference, New York in the Revolution, so I have been told.
It has been suggested that Mr. Taylor must  have drawn a pension and that a letter to the Department might bring to light something of Mr. Taylor's record, even though small. 
Being the oldest native citizen and the second white male child born here I was asked to tell something about Mr. Taylor but as I was only three years old when Mr. Taylor died I couldn't "come up with the information".
Unfamiliar with methods used in getting information from the "Seat of Government" I am respectfully asking to be told how to go about it,
With apologies, Yours truly
Orrin F. Smith

ATER 5 DAYS RETURN TO
Orrin F Smith
75 West 4th St.
Winona, Minnesota

United
Page 28

(Seal-State of Minnestoa)
Garfield W. Brown
Public Examiner
Office of the Public Examiner
Saint Paul
Dec. 1, 1925

Bureau of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Will you kindly send me a copy of the revolutionary service of Stephen Taylor persumably of New York who died in Winona Minn. in 1853, the only revolutionary soldier as far as known who is buried in Minnestoa.
Respectfully,
N.C. Varney
State Registrar
Minn. soc. D. A. R.

732 Iglehart Ave
St. Paul, Minn.

(stamped- U. S. Pension Office Dec 3 1925)
Page 29

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

January 15, 1926

H. C. Varney
743 Iglehart Ave.
St. Paul, Minn.

Sir:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 42457 it appears that Stephen Taylor while a resident of Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts enlisted in March 1781, served as a private in Captain John Williams and Thomas Cushing's company, Colonel Joseph Vose's First Massachusetts Regiment and was discharged December 27, 1783.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 16, 1818 while a resident of Seneca, Ontario County, New York aged fifty-two years.
In 1820 he was living in Alfred, Allegany County, New York and referred to his wife Abbigail, his sone William aged sixteen, daughter Caroline aged thirteen years, son and daughter Edward and Emeline, twins, aged ten years and step-son Bradford aged five years. There is no further data on file as to his family.
In May 1855 he was living in Money Creek Valley, Winona County, Minnesota and stated he was aged ninety-seven.
Respectfully,
Winfield Scott
Page 30

Angelica May 30th

Free
F. W. Wright P.M.

J. L. Edwards Esq.
War Department
Washington D. C.


Rec'd 8 June 1821
Page 31

Angelica May 29th 1821

Sir
In February last I sent to the war department an application of Stephen Taylor to be continued on the pension roll. Will you please to inform me whether the papers were received? From the length of time which has elapsed I am apprehensive the papers were not received not having heard from them.
Yours very Respectfully
Fletcher M. Haight

Allegany Co. N. Y.

P.S. Direitto Angelica
Page 32

S
18010

160 Acres
Page 33

Bounty Land claim
135,200
(postmark Albany N.Y. May 14)

L. P. Waldo Esquire
Comm. of Pensions
Washington
D.C.
Page 34

Pension Office
Oct. 17, 1856

Sir,
The voucher of Stephen Taylor (pension Act 18 March 1818) received with your favour of the 30 (illegible). for the semi-annual payment due to 4 Septr. 1856, have been transmitted by me to the Pension Agt. at Albany N. Y. where the pension is payable. We do not pay the pension at this office, and they become payable at the (illegible) only where they have been due & payable over 14 months at the local agency, and have remained unclaimed at such agency. If Mr. Taylor desires it, he may be transferred to the Milwaukee agency from that of Albany, upon transmitting to this office his application for transfer in accordance with the enclosed regulations.
Your obt. svt.
John Connors

Thomas E. Bennett Esq.
Winona
Minesota Territory