Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 25340, John Akeley, Continental
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Continental
Mass.

Akeley, John
or
Ackley
             Miriam

NUMBER
W. 25340

CONTENTS (blank)
Page 2

(left side)
7854
New York

John Akeley of Norwich New York who was a private (? written over a different word) in the regiment commanded by Colonel Stark of the Massachusetts line, for the term of one year

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 8 dollars per month, to commence the 25 of May 1818.

Certificate of Pension issued 18 of March 1819 and sent to Nathan Chamberlain Norwich, Chenango Co. New York

Arrears to 4th of March 1819. 9 mos 11/31   74.83
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sep 1819    48.00
(total) $122.83

 Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.

Deced
Dec roll

(Left side)
Died Apr 1, 1819

816/15

9 mos 2(illegible)

72 
  7.48
79.48 (total)
Page 3

(written along left side vertically)
before me the day & year first above written
Seth Terry Judge

(left side)
4553
Miriam Akeley - widow of John 
Connecticut
Act 7 July 38
m. 81 - d 22
aomd
2 yrs Drum Majr.
108

No deduction

John Kimball
Barton 
Orleans Co.
Vt

(right side)
4553
Declaration of Miriam Akeley
& evidence 
of Polly Flint
& Marie W. Werner
on roll - Drum Majr
3 years to 1 Apl '80
M 81.

(right side written vertically)
Regiment of the (illegible covered by paper)
Page 4

State of New York Chenango County ss:
On the 25th day of May 1818 before me the subscriber one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county personally appeared John Akeley aged sixty years last September a resident in the town of Norwich in said county who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the late 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. That he the said John Akeley about the month of January seventeen hundred seventy six enlisted in the town of Longmeadow Massachusetts in the company commanded by Capt. Sylvenas Walker of the town of Brookfield in said state in Col. Starkes regiment of the Massachusetts line as a drummer for the term of twelve months that he continued to serve in said Corps untill about the month of January seventeen hundred seventy seven completing the years service for which he enlisted when he was discharged from service in the town of Newton in the state of Pennsylvania that he was in the battle at Trenton at the taking of the Hesians (Hessians?), that on the first day of February Seventeen hundred seventy seven he enlisted for the term of three years in the town of Longmeadow aforesaid in the company commanded now by Capt. Asa Cobern of the town of Sturbridge in the state of Massachusetts in Colol. Ichabod Aldens regiment of the Massachusetts line as a drummer
Page 5

that he was immediately appointed drum major that he continued to serve in that capacity in said corps untill the first of February 1780 when he was discharged from service at West Point in the state of New York. That he was in the Battle of the taking of Burgoin, and at Cherry Valley in the state of New York where his Col. was killed and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support, that he has no further evidence now in his power of his said service except what follows by Moses Doty

John Akeley

Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid

John Noyes Judge of Chenango Common Pleas

I John Noyes judge of the Court of Common Pleas aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said John Akeley did service in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceeding declaration against the common enemy and I now transmit the proceedings & testimony taken and has before me to the secretary for the Department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress

John Noyes

I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with John Akley above named and have been for many years past and know him to be reduced to verry low and indigent circumstances and requires the aid of his country for support

John Noyes Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & for Chenango Conty.
Page 6

State of Connecticut Hartford county ss:

At a Probate Court holden at Hartford within and for the District of Hartford on this ninth day of January A.D. 1839 present the Hon. Seth Terry Judge personally appeared before said court Miriam Akeley a resident of Weathersfield in said county of Hartford aged seventy five 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 provisions made by the act of Congress passed 7th July 1838, entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows. That she is the widow of John Akeley who was a drummer in the War of the Revolution and as she has been informed by her husband he served nearly the whole of the war and was at Ticonderoga - and at Westpoint and at many other places which she cannot now recollect - and she has heard it said that some part of his services were under Col. Brooks and that when he came home from the army he had a drum major ' warrant which was lost or destroyed before the death of her said husband.

She further declares that she was married to the said John Akeley on the twenty ninth day of October in the year seventeen hundred and eighty one - that her husband the aforesaid John Akeley died at Oxford in the state of New York as she has been informed in the month of June 1820. That she was married to him prior to his leaving the service - and the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four was at the time above stated - she further declares that at the time of her marriage her husband the said John Akeley (or Ackley as the name is sometimes spelt) was at home on furlo and could not remain at home a sufficient time to be published according to the laws of Massachusetts - and that they went from West Springfield to Suffield in Connecticut and was there married (without being published) on the day above written by Rev. Wm. Gay minister of said Suffield, immediately after which her said husband the
Page 7

said John Akeley returned to the army and in the winter of 1782 he returned home and did not again return to the army - & that she has never since been married. She further states that previous to her marriage her name was Miriam Ward and that she resided in West Springfield Mass. and that her said husband belonged to Long Meadow.

She further states that although the said John Akeley her said husband served in the war after marriage she is desirous to obtain a pension agreeably to the act of Congress passed 7th July 1838 unless evidence shall be obtained at the War Department or from some other source showing service after marriage. Should such evidence be obtained she will expect to be placed on the pension book agreeably to the act of Congress passed July 4th 1936.

The words near the top of the first page "said county" erased, & the words "The district of Hartford" interlined by this judge before signing - Subscribed & subscribed before me the day & year first above written.
Seth Terry Judge
Miriam Akeley

(written from right lower corner to left lower corner)
4553Miriam Akeley
widow of John
Connecticut
act 7 July, 38
M. 81-d 22
aomd
2 yrs drum major
108

No deduction

John Kimball
Barton 
Orleans Co.
Vt.
Page 8

State of Connecticut County of Hartford ss:

County clerk's office. I Philo A. Goodwin clerk of the county court for county of Hartford do hereby certify that Thomas H Seymour Esq whose name is subscribed to the written certificate is an acting Justice of the Peace in the county of Hartford regularly commissioned & qualified as appears of record in this office - that I am acquainted with his handwriting & that the written signature purporting to be his is genuine & that full faith & credit are due to his official acts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said county court this third day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty eight
Philo A Goodwin Clk

(lower right corner)
John Flint
Page 9

State of Connecticut Hartford County 
May 2d 1838

Personally appeared John Flint of Wethersfield in the county of Hartford and state of Connecticut aged sixty years a credible person who being first duly sworn made the following affidavit - That he was well acquainted with John Akeley of said Wethersfield, that we worked together for many years, and that he was supposed to have served in the army of the Revolution for many years.  He frequently showed me a drum major warrant which appeared to have been given him, while he was in the Army. I am knowing to the fact, that this warrant was destroyed, among other papers, left at my house by said Akeley, during his absence from Wethersfield; about eighteen or twenty years since; I am also acquainted with his widow Miriam Akeley, and first became acquainted with her in 1803; and have so continued to be untill the present time; I married the eldest daughter of the said Akeleys and the said widow Akeley has lived with me for most of the time for thirty years. I can also state that the said Akeley died sometime in June 1820 and that Miriam Akeley has ever since remained his widow.

John Flint

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me.

Thos. H. Seymour Justice of Peace
Page 10

(top right hand side)
Certificate of marriage
John Akeley
&
Miriam Ward


(bottom right hand side)
Certificate of Marriage
Page 15

December 11, 1934
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Nancy W. Sornberger Ba-J/EEL
Rowley John Akeley-W.25340
Massachusetts
Dear Madam:
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, W.25340, based upon the military service of John Akeley in that war. 
John Akeley was born in September, about the year 1757. The place of his birth and the names of his parents are not shown.
John Akeley enlisted about January 1, 1776, at Long Meadow, Massachusetts, served as a drummer in Captain Walker's Company, Colonel Stark's Regiment, was in the battle of Trenton and was discharged January 1, 1777: he enlisted about February 1, 1777, served as a drum major in Captain Asa Coburn's Company, Colonels Ichabod Alden's and Brooks' Massachusetts Regiments, was at the taking of Burgoyne and in the battle of Cherry Valley, where Colonel Alden was killed; length of service, three years. It was stated that he served also during 1781 and 1782 but no details are given.
He was allowed pension in his application executed May 25, 1818, while residing in Norwich, Chenango County, New York.
John Akeley died April 1, 1819, at Oxford, New York. At one time after the Revolution, he resided in Wethersfield, Connecticut. The date of his residence in said Wethersfield was not stated.
John Akeley married October 29, 1781, at Suffield, Connecticut, Miriam Ward. He was then of Long Meadow, Massachusetts, and she of East Springfield, Massachusetts. 
Soldier's widow, Miriam, was allowed pension on her application executed January 9, 1839, while residing in Wethersfield, Connecticut, where she had resided since the death of her husband. She was aged seventy-five years in above year. In 1848, she was residing in Rockyhill, Hartford County, Connecticut.
Page 16

The oldest daughter of John Akeley and his wife, Miriam, was named Polly.  She married John Flint and in 1839 she and her husband were residing in Wethersfield, Connecticut.  Polly's age was not shown; her husband was aged sixty years in 1838.  No other names of children are shown.
In 1839, Maria W. Warner, a granddaughter of the soldier and his wife, Miriam, resided in Wethersfield, Connecticut.  The name of her parents are not designated and there are no further family data.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and addressof person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Miriam Akeley, widow of John Akeley (W.25340), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
Miriam Akeley, widow of John Akeley, Certificate No.682, issued July 14, 1848, rate $106 per annum, commenced March 4, 1848, Act of February 2, 1848, Connecticut Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
Page 41

Coppy of a part of a letter written by Mrs Lucy B.Griswold, Jan. 24, [struckout/] 0I0I. [/end struckout] 1898. -----My mothers father was in the Revolutionary War, he served as Drum Major. Hi[handwritten]s[end handwritten] name was John Akeley. Grandmas name begore her marriage was Miriam Ward.My fathers name was John Flint, his fathers name was John Flint.His great, great grandfathers was from England. I have heard them say that three brothers came and settled in different parts of the country.Thatthe coat of arms was in the family, ******, but now somany join the Daughters of the REvolution and the sons of the Revolution ,that we wish we know more about them. I think if we were in Brattleboro Vermont we could find out all we want to know.I have been invited to join one of the Chapters here in Meridian Conn, but have not done so, but know I am eligible as grand pa was in the war and there can be no mistake as grand ma had a pension,**.

From
H.W. Thomas
Oberon, Benson Co. N. D,
Page 42

Oberon, N.D. March, 16, 1916.

Miss Anna Wilson,
Department of the Interior,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Madam;-
Having read a short account of your work in the Womans World for April,by Marie Matingly Meloney,and being desireous of obtaining some information on my ancesters,I am taking the liberty of writing to you for that information. I thot prehaps it was not necessary to take the matterup thru out congressman,George M. Young, but would appeal to you direct. I am enclosing a copy of an old letter written by an old aunt of mine that I think will give you the connecting links.The other branch of the family,are the Thomas' Uphams'and I shall be duly grateful for any information.
Yours very truly,
[signature] H.U. Thomas
H.U. Thomas,
Oberon,
Benson Co.
N.D.
Page 44

December 8, 1934.
BA-J/ILL
John Akeley-W.25340
Nancy W. Sornborger Jacob Allen-R.24697
Rowley, Massachusetts.

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of John Akeley and Jacob Allen, both pensioners of Chenango County, New York.
The records of these two soldiers are furnished herewith from pension claims, based upon service in the Revolutionary War. 
Very truly yours,

A.D. Hiller,
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
Page 45

March 15, 1934
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
BA-J/EEL
Mr. Charles A, Rice
R. #1
Eagle, Idaho

Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the records of Joshua Dunbar, of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, John Akeley, of Long Meadow, Massachusetts,and James Thomas, of Haddam, Connecticut, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
The Revolutionary War records have been searched in your behalf and the only record of a Joshua Dunbar that has been found is that of a negro.  The records of John Akeley and James Thomas are furnished herewith, the data for which were obtained from the papers on file in the[blacked out two letters] respective claims for pension W.25340 and S.18245, based upon their services in the Revolutionary War.
Very truly yours

A. D. Hiller 
Assistant to Administrator.
Page 47

Polly's age was not shown; her husband was aged sixty years in 1838. No other names of children are shown.
In 1839, Maria W. Warner, a granddaughter of the soldier and his wife, Miriam, resided in Wethersfield, Connecticut. The name of her parents are not designated and there are no further family data.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Miriam Akeley, widow of John Akeley (W.25340), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
Miriam Akeley, widow of John Akeley, Certificate No.682, issued July 14, 1848, rate $106 per annum, commenced March 4, 1848, Act of February 2, 1848, Connecticut Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.