Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16478, Henry Winchester, Mass.
Page 1

Winchester, Henry
Lois
Service Mass.
Number W.16478

Contents
Page 2

13232
New York
Henry Winchester
of Franklin Co., in the state of New York who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Whitcomb 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 on the 13, April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued 21 July 1819 and sent to Asa Hascall Esqr. Malone, Franklin Co., N. York

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1819 
10 mos. 4/30    85.83
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept 1819  48.00
$133.83

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act 18th march, 1818}
continued

Notification sent to Asa Wheeler at Malone 
N. Yk on the 17th March 1821
Page 3

Albany 3776
Lois Winchester
widow of Henry Winchester
who was a pensioner under the Act of March 1818 and who died on the 23d March 1834 of Franklin co. in the State of N. York who was a Private in the ........commanded by Capt. Mass. of the regt. commanded by Col. Whitcomb in the Mass. line for 20 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 
66 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1836
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of August 1838 and sent to Asa Hascall Malone, N. Y.
Arrears to the 4th of March '39  199.98
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep. 33.33
$233.31
{Act July 7, 1838}
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk
Book A. Vol. 2 page 109
Page 4

Malone N.Y.
4 Feb. 1821

Free
Hon. J.C. Calhoun Esqr.
Secretary of War
Washington City

rec. 14 Feb. 1821
Page 5

Malone Franklin County N. Y. 
February 3, 1820

To the Honorable J. C. Calhoun Esqr.
Secretary of War

We the Judges and other members of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the said County being now here present in Court and being importuned by Henry Winchester of the Town of Malone in this County to address your Honour in his behalf would beg leave to assure your Honour that the said Henry Winchester was a soldier in the war of the revolution and has obtained a certificate from the War department under the act of Congress of the 18th March 1818 entitling him to a pension of eight Dollars per month. That at the last June Term of this Court the said Henry Winchester exhibited here under oath administered in open Court a schedule of his property in conformity with the act of Congress of the past May, 1820, a copy of which was certified to the War Department by the Clerk of this Court and that no decision in his case has been notified. 
That some of us from our own personal knowledge of the said Henry Winchester and others from satisfactory information obtained respecting him and his circumstances are fully convinced that the said
Page 6

Henry Winchester is in needy and indigent circumstances and unless he is relieved by the munificence of the Government he must depend upon public or private charity for the support of himself and family.
That he is an aged and infirm man that he has not family excepting his wife nor relative who can relieve his necessities. that since the exhibition of his schedule his aged wife owing to a fracture of one of her lower limbs has become completely helpless and has for several months past been unable to support her weight or to render him any assistance but has become a heavy charge upon him. And it is believed she will never be able to render him any aid or assistance towards supporting himself or family hereafter. We therefore solicit your Honour to take his case into immediate consideration and that if consistent his pension may be continued.
We are Respectfully,
Hiram Horton}    
Alrie Man}
Cone Andrus}
Gates Hoit} Judges
James Campbell
Asa Wheeler, Clerk
John Hood Sherriff
A. Hascall Atty.
Page 7

Almon Wheeler Atty
Page 8

Application & proof of Henry Winchester
for a pension

Col. Whitcomb's Massach. Regt.
1775
13 April 1818

The testimony of his disinterested & credible witness to prove the services of the applicant, for 9 months on the continental establishment duly taken & authenticated is required.
Page 9

State of New York
Franklin County Ss.
Be it known that on the thirteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen before me Cone Andrus Esquire one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Franklin in the State of New York, personally appeared Henry Winchester of the Town of Malone in the said County and then and there before me took and subscribed the following oath or affidavit to wit.
Henry Winchester being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is a native of Brooklyn in the state of Massachusetts now aged sixty three years and this deponent further saith that he is now a resident Citizen of the United States residing in the Town of Malone in the County of Franklin and State of New York, and that by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he stands in need of assistance from his country for support. And this deponent further saith that in the month of April in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy five he this deponent at Cambridge near Boston regularly enlisted into the army of the United States to serve against the common enemy into a company commanded by Capt. David Wilder in the Regiment commanded by Col. Asa Whitcomb in the Massachusetts line for the term of eight months and that he this deponent did continue to serve as a private  soldier in the company & regiment aforesaid for and during the said term of eight months at the expiration of which term of eight months he this deponent without obtaining any written discharge regularly entered into a Company of U. S. Troops commanded by Capt. Gould in the said regiment commanded by the same Col. A. Whitcomb ^ of the Massachusetts line^ for the term of one year which last enlistment took place at Cambridge in the latter part of December in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy five. and this deponent further saith that immediately after the enlistment last mentioned the company commanded by Captain Gould was detached to attend Maj. or General Lee as is life guard and this deponent further saith that he marched in the said last mentioned company with Maj. or Gen. Lee to 
little
Page 10

Little York in the State of Pennsylvania at which place the deponent with several others were halted by order of Gen. Lee who directed that he this deponent and other should be innoculated for the small pox that this deponent remained at little york until he had recovered from the small pox and again joined Maj. or Gen. Lee on his return from South Carolina in the month of June one thousand seven hundred seventy six and marched with Gen. Lee under the said Capt. Gould to New York.
And this Deponent further saith that on his arrival at New York Maj. or Gen. Lee dismissed his guard and ordered the men to join their respective regiments of to enlist into the Artillery that Col. Whitcomb's regiment being then in Canada he this deponent thereupon in the month of June in the same year at New York entered as a private into the company of Artillery commanded by Capt. Morton in the Department of Artillery commanded by Genl. Knox to serve out the said term of one year for which he last enlisted as aforesaid. And that he did service as a private in the said company & department of artillery till the sixteenth day of November in the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy six when he this deponent was taken prisoner at Fort Washington, that this deponent remained a prisoner at New York till the first Day of January in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven when he was released on parol and as his term of service had expired he did not again join the army and this Deponent further saith that he never obtained any written discharge whatever and this deponent further saith that there is no person in this vicinity by whom he can prove any of the above facts relative to his service and that the above is the best and only evidence now in his power.
Henry Winchester

Sworn and subscribed before me on this thirteenth day of April 1818. The words in the Massachusetts line was being first interlined.
Cone Andrus Judge
Page 11

And I the said Cone Andrus Esquire do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named henry Winchester that the above is the only testimony which has been exhibited to me in the case that it appears to my satisfaction that the above named Henry Winchester served in the revolutionary war as is set forth in the above affidavit against the common enemy and further that it appears to my satisfaction that the above affidavit is in all respect true.
Cone Andrus Judge

State of New York
Franklin County ss.
I Asa Wheeler Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that Cone Andrus Esquire before whom the above affidavit was made & who made the foregoing certificate at the time the same were made was one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County duly commissioned & sworn and acts in that capacity and that his signatures above are his own proper hand writing.
(seal)

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my name and the public Seal of the said Court this 2d day of May 1818 at Malone in said County.
Asa Wheeler, Clerk
Page 12

Application & proof of Henry Winchester of
Malone, Franklin County, N. Y.

Admitted
on roll 8 months in 1775
12 mo 1776
18/30  4 80
4/31    1.3
10 mos. 80.--
81.83
Page 13

State of Vermont Rutland SS.
We Nathaniel Harris & David Meriam of Brandon, Rutland County & state Vermont of lawful age depose and say that we did live in the same town and have been acquainted with Henry Winchester now of Malone State N. York more than forty years. That we were knowing to sd. Winchester's serving 8 months 1775 at the end of which he came home on ^ furlow. We understood that he had enlisted for one year. He left us in a few weeks and did not return till the end of 14 months or more. And we have no doubt but that he served his country during that time. We further say that he has ever sustained a fair and worthy character.
And further the deponents sayth not.
Nathaniel Harris
David Meriam

Sworn and subscribed in due form before me at Pittsford in the County of Rutland state of Vermont this 1st day of June 1819. 
Thos. Hammond Judge of Rutland County Court

I the subscribing authority hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Nathaniel Harris and David Meriam the subscribing witnesses & know them to be creditable & respectable witnesses.
Certified by me, Thos. Hammond Judge R. C. Court
Page 14

Copy of Schedule & oath of Henry Winchester
No. 16
13232  

Sent to this office by A. Wheeler Esq. Clerk 
N. York
Sept. 1819
Page 15

At a Court of Common Pleas being a Court of Record holden at the Court House in Malone in and for the County of Franklin State of New-York, on the fourteenth day of June 1820 Present: Albon Man, Cone Andrus & Gates Hoit Esquires, Judges of the said Court.
County of Franklin ss. On this fourteenth day of June 1820 personally appeared in open Court, it being a Court of Record proceeding according to the virtue of the common law, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, and keeping record of their proceedings in and for the County of Franklin, Henry Winchester aged sixty seven years resident in the town of Malone in the said County of Franklin, wo being first sworn according to law; doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary was as follows:
The he enlisted in the month of December in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy five for the term of one year as a private in the Company commanded by Captain Morton in the Regiment of Artillery then commanded by Col. Knox in the Massachusetts line of Continental Troops and that he served in the said company & regiment till November 16th 1776 when he was captured at Fort Washington and was kept a prisoner at New York till the first of January 1777 when he was released on parol.
That his original declaration to obtain a pension under the Act of Congress of the 18th of March 1818 was made the thirteenth day of April 1818. that he has received a pension certificate Numbered 13232 and dated the twenty first day of July 1819. 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 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, securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor do I have any income other that what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
Real Estate-I have none in law or equity -----
Person estate-two mares & 
one sucking colt....................$50.00
one pair steers 3 years old..........30.00
three cows............................50.00
Two yearling heifers....................14.00
three young calves $6.00 three
swine $2.500 4 (illegible) 25..........................14.50
5 sucking pigs
2 poor ploughs $3.00 one 
chain 1.507 drag teeth $2..........................6.80
1 hoe one axe 1.00 1 shovel
1.00 1 ox yoke 1.50..............................3.50
o old saddle $2 1 horse collar
1.50 1 bridle 1.00        ......................4.50
in the house I have 1/2 dozen
tea cups & saucers..............................25
a few knives & forks .50 one
table $1.00 4 chairs $1.00..............2.50
2 iron kettles $4.00 one tea
kettle .75.....................................4.75
and a few other trifling articles
of furniture say..........................4.00
one old side saddle 1 pitch
forks  2.50...............................1.50

$187.30
Page 16

that I am a farmer and am dependent upon my daily labor that my constitution & health are much impaired by time & hard labor and that at this time by reason of infirmity I am unable to perform any laborious business. My familyn consists of myself & my wife Lois aged sixty eight years who has become infirm and unable to perform the labor which devolves upon her in my family.
Henry Winchester
That I ow to several persons in this vicinity ^ in Vermont about two hundred & ten dollars the whole of which is now due and payable but that I have not the means of paying those debts.
(signed) Henry Winchester

Sworn to and declared on the fourteenth day of June 1820 before the Court
Asa Wheeler, Clerk

I Asa Wheeler, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas held in and for the County of Franklin do certify that the foregoing & declaration and the 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
one hundred & eighty seven dollars & thirty cents exclusive of what is due by the applicant to different persons which debts have not been deducted from the above sum.
(seal)
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court on this 19th day of June, 1820.
Asa Wheeler
Clerk of the Court for the County of Franklin
Page 17

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Town of Lancaster, Worcester County

Extract found in the Town Records
"Marriage Consummated by Revd. Timothy Harrington, one thousand seven hundred and eighty, April twenty third, Henry Winchester of Ashburnham and Lois Philps of Lancaster"
I hereby certify that, the above is a true copy of the Record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures as follows, "1780 April 23d"
John G. Thurston

I John G. Thurston, above named depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk in the county, Town and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Town with the exception above named as certified by me.
John G. Thurston, Clerk
of the Town of Lancaster
Page 18

Worcester SS September 5, 1838.
Then the within named John G. Thurston, to me well known as a person of veracity, personally appeared and made oath that the foregoing certificates, by him signed. 
Before me, William Jennison
Justice peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester SS.
I, Joseph G. Kendall, Clerk of the Court of Common pleas for said County of Worcester, do certify that William Jennison, Esq. above named, is a Justice of the peace within and for said County, and that his signature as appears on the preceding certificate is in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof, I hereto set my name and affix the Seal of said Court at Worcester, this fifth day of September 1838
Jos. G. Kendall, Clerk
Page 19

2489
Lois Winchester
Declaration under the 
act of 7 July 1838

3776

Married 23d Apl. 1780
Husband died 23 March 1834

Admitted
Private 20 months

Asa Hascall Esq.
Malone N. Y.
Page 20

Declaration of Lolis Winchester
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of 7 July 1838

State of New York
Franklin County Ss.
On this twenty ninth day of September in the year 1838 personally appeared before the undersigned Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said county of Franklin being a Court of record Lois Winchester a resident of the Town of Bangor in the county of Franklin aforesaid aged eighty six years and seven months who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7, 1838 entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows".
That she is the widow of Henry Winchester deceased who was a private in Captain Morton's company of Artillery in Colonel Knox's Regiment in the Massachusetts line of Continental troops in the war of the revolution.
that the said henry Winchester enlisted as a private in the American army in the said war in the month of April or May in the year one thousand seventy hundred seventy five and continued in the said army till he was taken prisoner by the enemy at Fort Washington near New York in the autumn of the year 1776 as she believes. That the said Henry Winchester was then put and kept a prisoner on board of one of the British prison ships^ or a guard house, lying near New York where he was detained in confinement about six weeks or two months and until
Page 21

his health was materially impaired when he was discharged and permitted to return home to Ashburnham in the State of Massachusetts. that at the time of his death and for several previous years the said Henry Winchester was a pensioner of the United States under the act of Congress of the 18th March 1818 on the Roll of the New York Agency. That his pension certificate bears date the 21st day of July 1819 and is numbered 13232.
She further declares that she was married to the said Hery Winchester on the twenty third day of April in the year seventeen hundred and eighty by Rev. Timothy Harrington of Lancaster in the State of Massachusetts. That her husband the said Henry Winchester died on the twenty third day of March in the year 1834 at Madrid in the State of New York. That she was not married to him prior to the time of his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety four viz. at the time above stated.
Lois Winchester
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me, the words "or a guard house" being interlined
Horatio Powell Judge of Franklin Com. Pleas

State of New York
Franklin County Ss. 
I Horatio Powell one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the said County in the State of New York do certify that the above named Lois Winchester whom I know to be the widow of Henry Winchester deceased residing now at Bangor in said county appeared before me at Bangor aforesaid on the day and year above written and subscribed and made  oath to the foregoing declaration.
Page 22

that I have examined the said Lois Winchester and am satisfied that she cannot from bodily infirmity attend the court to make her declaration.
Horatio Powell

State of New York
Franklin County SS
Be it known that on this first day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight Before the undersigned Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Franklin personally appeared Barnabas Barnum of the Town of Bangor in the said county who being duly sworn by me deposes and says that he was well acquainted with Henry Winchester deceased in his lifetime who is referred to in the foregoing declaration of Lois Winchester and also with the said Lois Winchester then his wife and that he has been well acquainted with the said Lois Winchester from the time of the death of the said Henry Winchester hitherto and knows that the said Lois Winchester who is named in the foregoing declaration and who has signed and made oath to the same, is the identical person who was the wife of the said Henry Winchester in his lifetime and that she has not been married since the death of the said Henry Winchester but still remains his widow,
Barnabas Bar-num
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year first above written before me
Horatio Powell
I further certify that I am well acquainted with the above named Barnabas Barnum and that he is a credible person.
Horatio Powell
Page 23

State of New York
Franklin County ss
I Uriah D. Mukin clerk of the County of Franklin and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify that Horatio Powell Esq. whose name is subscribed to the within jurats and certificates as Judge is a Judge of the said Court duly commissioned and sworn and a resident of said County. that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Judge and that I verily believe his signature subscribed to the said jurats and certificates is genuine.
Given under my hand and the Seal of said Court and County Oct. 1, 1838
U. D. Mukin, Clerk
Page 24

Rev. WIDOW &c.

File No. 1647(?)
Lois Winchester
Wid. of Henry Winchester
Priv Rev War
Act: July 4th /38
Index: Vol. M, Page 343

[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 25

Albany
Henry Winchester Act 1818 to what time paid
VL.
paid to 4th March 1834
S. H. H.
Page 26

2489 Oct. 15
N.Y.
7 July 1838

J. L. Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D. C.
Page 27

Malone Franklin County  Octr. 8, 1838

J. L. Edwards Esqr.
Sir,
herewith I send you the declaration of Lois Winchester of Bangor in this County to obtain for her the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th July 1838 and have to request as early a decision in the case as your convenience will present and that you will please to communicate to me the result of the application or should further proof be necessary advise me of it although from the length of time which has lapsed since the close of the service of Henry Winchester it probably will not be in the power of his widow to furnish other evidence of his service than that on which his pension was granted in July 1819 now at the department.
Respectfully your
Obedient  servant
Asa Hascall