Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 1263, James Gamwell, Mass.
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(S-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
Mass. Gamwell, James W. 1263
Polly RL. Wt. 175_60_55
CONTENTS
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Re[illegible] Massachusetts
Polly Samwell
widow of James Gamwell who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Seargeant Massachusetts line Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 120 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 day of Jany. 49 and sent to Hon. A, Hale
Hrj of Nofy

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under ac[cut off]
29 July, 1848, Page 59 Vol. 1
bork @!
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133.275/ast Mar. 3/55
May 14/55
Polly Gamwell Mid
James Gamwell
Sergt
Sergeant Col Putnam
Mass Line
M 175 is hef 29/56
Rev. War
Mass July 48-41
W. 60 aes Feb 25/56
Drze
[illegible]
Horatio Woodsman
Boston
Mass
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8,570 4
Massachusetts
James Gamwell of Hinsdale in the state of Massachusetts who was a private in the regiments commanded by Colonels Bigelow, Patnain of the Massachusetts line, for the term of seven years. 
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 23 of April 1818. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 of March 1814 and Sent to John Hooker Esq Springfield Massachusetts. 
Arrears to the 4th of March 1819, 10 mo 8/50 6/37 83.16
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Feb 1819 6 mo 48
$131.16
{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.}
Continued 
[illegible] Mar 16th. 1820 [illegible] 
Parker L. Hall
[illegible]
Copies of papers sent to Hon G.N Briggs, HR. Feb 14. 1835
Page 5

James Gamwell
private Bigelows
Mass Regt. 7 years
'76 - 23 April 1818
A
[written upside down] James Gamwell
Page 6

I James Gamwell a citizen of the United States states I now reside in Hinsdale in the County of Berkshire, State of Mass,  do depose & say that in April 1776 I enlisted at Northborough in the County of Worcester [illegible] I state with [illegible] [illegible] to serve during the war & joined the regiment  comanded by Col. Timothy Bigelow.[illegible] the [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] & the company commanded by Captain Barnes. That in Bigelow's regiment two or three years after, was broken up & I was put into the fifth [illegible] regiment commanded by Col. Rufus Putnam & Captain Bowman's company, and that I continued in said service in the Revolutionary War in the Continental Establishment [illegible] have 1783, when I was discharged.  The discharge I used a few years ago, was given to some of my children [illegible] considered as of no use & was destroyed and I further depose & say that I am nearly fifty seven years of age.  That I am in reduced in circumstances in life [illegible] in need of assistance [illegible] [illegible][illegible] [illegible]
James Gamwell

I Lewis Taylor of Middlefield in the County of Hampshire, State of Massachusetts, do depose & say that I was acquainted with the James Gamwell for several years while in the service in belonging (?) to Mr. [illegible] [illegible].  I became acquainted with him at Peekskill when I went out on a [illegible[ party with him in the Quaker Ridge as called in the North  River below 
Fishkill that I [illegible] [illegible] him in the service from that time till the peace in 1783.  I state that he was discharged about the same time with me which was the 13th day of June as appears by my discharge.
Lewis Taylor

I Erastus Ingram of said Middlefield [illegible] do depose and say that I [illegible] been many years acquainted with those above named Gamwell & Taylor & that they both have & do sustain unquestionable reputations for truth & integrity & have no doubt [illegible] [ illegible]  it as greatly due to [illegible] affidavits aforesaid.
Erastus Ingham

[illegible] Berkshire County SS April 23, 1810 Then personally appeared the above named Lewis Taylor & Erastus Ingham [illegible] & being duly [illegible] examined [illegible] made oath favorably to the above affidavits by them [illegible] subscribed before me.
John Hooker [illegible] Justice
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13
James Gamwell
Property $48.30
8570 Hinsdale
on
[illegible]
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District of Massachusetts, ss: 
On this 25th day of October 1820 ; Personally appeared in open Court before the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, begun and holden at Lenox, within and for the County of Berkshire, in the Western Circuit, on the 4th Monday of October 1820, the same Court, being a Court of records for said Circuit ; proceeding according to the course of the common Law, with a jurisdiction, unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, James Gamwell aged sixty two years, resident in Hinsdale in the County of Berkshire aforesaid, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows; that he enlisted in the company commanded by Captain Barnes in the regiment commanded by Colonel Timothy Bigelow in the line of the State of Massachusetts on the Continental establishment. That his original declaration is dated April 25 1818 and that his pension certificate is numbered 8,570
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident Citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818, 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--schedule of property, necessary clothing and bedding excepted--to wit: 
One Swine worth 6.00
One Rount Table 1.50
One chest 1.00
One Trunk 1.00
Six old Kitchen chairs 2.00
Two old sheets 1.50
Trow Ware 2.00
Crockery Ware 1.00
a few old Carpenter tools 1.50
Hay terain worth 30.00
and afi 1.00
$59.50
11
$48.50
That I am by occupation a Carpenter that I am now afflicted with the rhewmatism & have been for a number of years bad so that I am unable to labour but a little part of my time that the number of my family residing with me is seven that their names and ages are as follow: Mary Gamwell, my wife aged fifty nine years, who is of a very feeble constitution, Lydia Gamwell my daughter aged nineteen years, Eunice aged seventeen years, Morgan my son aged fourteen years, Matthew, y son aged twelve years, Sophronia my daughter aged ten years, & Sawyer my son aged six years. 
James Gamwell
Sworn to, and declared on the 26th day of October 1820, before the said Court Parker L Hall ik pro tew
I Parker L. Hall Clerk of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Berkshire do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of 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 forty eight dollars and & fifty cents. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court on this second day of November 1820. 
Parker L. Hall } CLERK OF THE COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF BERKSHIRE.
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M 55
Polly Gamwell
hw of James
map
ad 29 July 1849
Mamed 1798
died. 1830
aonio, 2 years siet
$120.00 prior
M 4 March 1848

Enlistment 1777
Se
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(S-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
Mass. Gamwell, James W. 1263
Polly RL. Wt. 175_60_55
CONTENTS
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133.275
Application of 
Widow of James Gamewell
Revolutionary War
for a 160 soro warrant, 
Act of March 3d, 1855. 

WAR(illegible) TO BE SENT TO 
HORATIO WOODMAN, BOSTON, Mass.
AS WITHIN REQUESTED.
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1803
State of Massachusetts (crossed out underneath: Connecticut)  County of Hampshire
On this second day of May, A.D., 1855,
personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County, Mrs. Polly Gamwell aged eighty three years, a resident of Middlefield in Massachusetts who being duly sworn according to law, declared that she is the widow of James Gamwell deceased, who was a Sergeant in the Company Commanded by Captain___________ in the _________________ commanded by _______________ in the Revolutionary (in the crossed out) war with Great Britain, (crossed out: declared by the United States, on the 18th day of June 1812,) -- that he said husband was enlisted (crossed out: drafted) at ______________ on or about the ____________ day of A.D. 18____ for the term of _____________ and continued in actual service in the said war for the term of _________________ and was honorably discharged at ______________________ on or about the _______ day of _________ A.D. 18____ as will appear by reference to the rolls, that he received no printed or written discharge (inserted:) to her knowledge and that neither he nor she ever received or applied for, or is entitled to bounty land for any other service, except that she receives(written over: received) for the same service, under the act of (crossed out: September 1850, a 40 acre warrant No. _________, which she has legally sold and cannot return.) a pension of $120 per year payable at Boston, the certificate of which is dated January 19th, 1849 and recorded in Vol. 1, Page 59
She further states that she was married to the said James Gamwell in ________________ on the ______day of 18____, by _____________a __________________and that her name before her said marriage was __________________________that her husband died at Hinsdale on the 2 day of Apr 1830, proof of which will be found on file with her pension (crossed out: previous) application, that she is still a widow, - that she makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act of Congress passed March 3, 1855, and that she prays that the certificate may be sent for her to Horatio Woodman, Boston, Mass. 

(signed) Polly Gamwell

Subscribed and duly sworn to, the duty and year first above written. I certify that she is the identical person above described. I have no interest in the case. 

(signed) John L. Bell {Justice of the Peace.
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State of Massachusetts (crossed out: Connecticut) County of Hampshire
We Solomon Root and James Alderman having been duly sworn, depose and say, that we well knew James Gamwell who was a Revolutionary soldier and we have always understood and verily believe whose widow now applies for bounty land, -- that we knew him for more than twenty five years before his death occurred at Hinsdale Massachusetts about twenty five years ago, -- that we know that he died about that time because* that we know her to be the identical person who draws a pension of $120 per year for his sole survivor - 
that we are residents of Middlefield, in Massachusetts, that we have known his said widow from his death to this time, that she has remained unmarried, -- that her declaration was signed, and acknowledged by her in our presence, -- that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, -- and that we are disinterested. 
(signed) Solomon Root
(signed) Daniel Alderman
Subscribed, and duly sworn to before me this second day of May A.D. 1855
John L. Bell } Justice of the Peace. 

It is hereby certified that satisfactory proof has been exhibited before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, by the affidavit of Solomon Root and Daniel Alderman of the said county and state, who are personally known to me, who are entitled to credit, and who swear that they have no pecuniary interest in the result of the above application; that Polly Gamwell is the widow, remaining unmarried of the late James Gamwell who was a Revolutionary soldier and that the said James Gamwell died at Hinsdale, Massachusetts on or about the second day of April A.D. 1830

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of May 1855  I have no interest in this case. 

(signed) John L. Bell   Justice of the Peace
*"We attended his funeral," or "were in the neighborhood at the time," or some equally good reason.
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Recorded Middlefield office 30" 1798 on the twenty sixth of June one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven
James Gamwell to Polly Kingston both of this town were married" 
Jonathan Nash
Fair copy of return letter Solomon Ingham { Jr Clerk 

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. 
HAMPSHIRE 88
I, SAMUAL WELLS, Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth, for the County of Hampshire, do certify that John Smith, Esquire, whose signature is affixed to the certificate on the paper hereto annexed, was, at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned, and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth; and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to his acts and attestations done in that capacity; and that I am acquainted with the hand-writing of the said John Smith and believe his signature to said certificate is genuine. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the (illegible) Middlefield Court for said Commonwealth, this (illegible) day of (illegible, maybe August) in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and (illegible) 
Clerk.
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Recorded Middlefield office 30" 1798
"On the twenty sixth of June one thousand seven hundred and ninty seven James Gamwell to Polly Kingston both of this town were married"
Jonathan Nash 
True copy of return letter Solomon Ingham { Jr. Clerk

Middlefield Nov 2d 1848
I solemnly swear that the above is a true copy of the Record except the date which is expressed in destimal figures this 26th of June 1797
230" Geo Lymon { Sr. Clerk of Middlefield Mass

Sworn to and subscribed this fourth day of November eighteen hundred and forty eight before me John Smith, Justice of the Peace
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES                       Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
Form VAM-51                   BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
12-5-41

NAME Gamwell, James GRADE Sergeant LINE Massachusetts

WARRANT NUMBER 4240 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED April 1, 1790
and 175-60-55              to ---not shown---

____
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. 
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in the National Archives.
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W. 1263

This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services. 
Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States. 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS, 
WASHINGTON, D.C., 
March 17, 1897

O.W.  N. Div. 
Revolutionary 

Madam: - 
Replying to your request for information concerning the military record of James Gamwell, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you are advised that he made an application for pension on April 23, 1818, at which time he was 60 years of age and residing at Hinsdale, Mass., and his pension was allowed for seven years' actual service as a private in the Mass. troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. Barnes and Col. Putnam; he enlisted at Northborough, Mass. 
His widow, Polly, made application and received a pension for the service of her husband as above set forth. 
Very respectfully, 
Commissioner. 
Miss. Augusta J. Boone, 
94 Wilcox Ave., Meriden, Conn.
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W. /263
O.W. & N. Div.
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington D.C. February 9, 1897
Respectfully returned to the writer, who is requested to furnish, for purposes of identification, as much as possible of the information called for below
D. J. Murphy, Commisioner

Full name of soldier:
James Gamwell
Place of residence before service:
(Town, county, state if possible.)
Middlefield, Hampshire
Hinsdale, Berkshire
Mass.
Place of residence after service:
(Town, county, state, if possible.)
Hinsdale, Berkshire, Mass
Date of death (as near as possible):
April 2, 1830
Christian name of widow
Mary (Polly)
Did either he or his widow receive a pension?
He received a pension also the Widow received a pension until 1857 when she died.
Remarks:
I would like any information about him, especially the position he held, as I understand the pension was not that of a private.
Your name and address:
(Miss) Augusta J. Boone
94 Wilcox Ave.
Meriden, Conn

(form#?) 2838b2m
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March 17-1897 History to
Miss Augusta J Boone
94 Wilcox Ave
Meriden, Conn.

Rev.
Widow, &c.
File No. 1263
Polly Gamwell, Widow, 
James Gamwell,
Sergt. Rev. War

Act: July 29, 1853
Index:-Vol. H, Page 263

{Arrangement of 1870}
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175

60 acres
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Secretary's Office, Boston, May 10th 1855

I hereby certify, That at the date of the attestations herunto annexed, John L. Bell was a Justice of the Peace fore the County of Hampshire
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court.

In testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.

E(phraim) M Wright
Secretary of the Commonwealth
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Washington D C. Dec 18. 1848
Sir
Herewith I enclose you the
declaration & accompanying papers
in the case of Polly Gamwell for
a Pension & Am
Yours Respy
Artemas Hale
J. L. Edwards Esq
Com Promons
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Jas Gamwell Lt Putnam's Regt Mass Line
4240-100 himself Apl 1, 1790-
Page 24

Berkshire Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SS. BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty third
day of April A. D. 1818, came before me, JOHN HOOKER, Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Western Circuit in said
State, and including the said county of Berkshire 
the above named James Gamwell & made application for the benefit of the province of
late law of Congress entitled "An act to provide certain person engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary
& made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit, by him subscribed, and hereto annexed. I do thereupon hereby declare, that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said James Gamwell - the applicant did serve in the revolutionary war, against the common enemy, for more than nine months, on the continental establishment, as set forth in his affidavit aforesaid, and that he is yet a resident citizen of the United States, is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of assistance from his country for support. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the said Circuit Court for the said county of Berkshire to be affixed hereto, this 27th day of April A.D. 1840 and I do transmit the above & annexed as the testimony of proceedings had before me and application to the Secretary
of the Department of War of the United States
John Hooker
[vertical text on left of page]
Jos. Woodbridge