Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23866, Sherebiah Corthell, Mass.
Page 1

Service Mass
Corthell, Sherebiah
Lydia
Number W. 23866
Page 2

15297
Massachusetts
Sherebiah Corthell
of Plymouth in the State of Mass
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain ----of the Regt commanded 
by Col Whitney in the Mass 
line for 20 M
[illegible signature]

Inscribed on the Roll of Mass
at the rate of 66 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of June
1833 and sent to the
said Plymouth

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833  $133.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. $33.33
$166.65
Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by J H [ ] Blair Clerk,
Book [ ] Vol. 2, Page 11
Page 3

Massachusetts, 784
Lydia Corthell decd
widow of Sherebiah Corthell
who was pensioner under the Acct of 1832
and who died on the 22 Nov: 1836
of Plymouth in the State of Mass
who was a Private in the Company 
commanded by Captain -----of the 
Regt commanded by Whitney in
the Mass: line for 20 ms.

Inscribed on the Roll of Mass:
at the rate of 66 Dollars 67 
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day
of March, 1836, ending 22 Nov. 1836

Certificate of Pension issued the 17: day of 
Jany: 1843 and sent to E. 
Clarke, Brighton. Mass,

Arrears to the 4th of 
Semi-annual allowance ending
[Act July 7, 1838]
Recorded by Theo L Moody Clerk,
Book A   Vol. 1   Page 79
Payable to, 
(over)
John Corthell, Hosea Corthell, Sherebiah Corthell and Merrill Whitmarsh only surviving children of Lydia Corthell deceased is Reported. 
A new certificate was issued in this case under the opinion of the [AM. Gent.] of 2 Sep. 1842 
& Resolution of 16 August 1842
Page 4

Sherebiah Corthell
19444
Page 5

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth ss.  On the 22nd day of August, 1832 - personally appeared in open court, being a Probate Court for said County now sitting in Hanover Sherebiah Corthell a resident in Abington in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy two years - who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 -
In the first part of March 1776 I went to Dorchester as a volunteer upon an alarm (as it was then called) and labored in erecting the Fort upon Dorchester heights - I remained there about four days - on my return to Hingham I enlisted under Capt Seth Stowers of Hingham Col Whitney's Regiment and went to Nantucket now Hull - and served eight months - in the month of July same year an English ship of about 10 guns and a scow of about 10 guns - used as transport ships with troops to reinforce Gen Gages - and with provisions - came into the Harbour and anchored within reach of our guns - an armed Brig from Connecticut attacked them and with the assistance of our guns drove the Scow on the Rocks - and the ship finding her situation hopeless - learning that the British had evacuated Boston -  surrendered - the whole crew including the troops were made prisoners and taken up to Boston to the Prison Ships
The next year 1777 the tenth of August I enlisted under Capt. Theophilus Wilder of Hingham - in Col [Gills] Regiment for three months - and went to the [destinations] thus -Springfield - to Benington where we made our headquarters for time of three weeks - then we  passed to Stillwater, now Saratoga - and lay there until Burgoine was taken - at that Battle our Regiment lay upon the left and was not called into action during the Battle - Gen Gates had the chief command and Gen Lincoln commanded the division in which I was. After the Battle we remained in that vicinity until our term expired having served three months.
In the year 1779 - in the month of September I again enlisted under Capt Samuel Ward - Col John Lothrops Regiment and was stationed in Boston to guard the Continental Stores - we built a fort on the Neck near the old fortifi-
Page 6

cation - where I remained performing service until the first of January 1780 - a term of three months. 
In 1780 - July - I again enlisted under Capt Theophilus Wilder of Hingham Lieut Vinson -in Col Thayer's Regiment and marched for the State of New York as far as Sudbury in Mass but then receiving counter orders we turned our course and went to Rhode Island, and joined the Army under the French Gen. Rochambeau - we were stationed on Rhode Island, near Newport a part of the time - and then removed to the North part of the Island - not far from where the Bridge was afterwards erected - and built a fort there - the French Fleet lay at Newport a short time while we were there - at this time I served three months and received my discharge on the first of November.
In August 1781 - I again enlisted in Capt John Lincoln's Company of Hingham - the name of the Col. I do not recollect, he was from Boston and marched thru the westerly part of Mass - crossed Connecticut River at Springfield and went to West Point - and was in Camp about three weeks before the Col arrived - about that time an order came to detail a certain number to go to Windsor - I think the plan was called - to guard a clothing store - among which number I was one - the Clothes Master (as he was called) was named Brooks - while stationed here I was requested by Maj Brooks to take the command of a [pier and fire] - at an entertainment there made upon the news of the surrender of Cornwallis, there I remained until discharge in December of the same year - 
I had several written discharges but they are all lost - I was born in  Abington in the County of Plymouth April 24, 1760 - and I was seventy two years old last April - I know of no record of my birth - I resided in [ss] Abington until about ten years of age - there removed to Hingham in said County - and resided there until 1790 - when I removed to Halifax also in Plymouth County and lived there until [1810] when I removed to said Abington where I have ever since and do now reside - and I hereby relinquish every claim to a pension or annuity except the present
Page 7

and declare that my name is not in the pension roll of the agency of any State. 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Sherebiah Corthell
Attest Jacob H. Loud
Register

[Also] the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states. 
By the Court, Attest
Jacob H. Loud Register

I Jacob H Loud Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Sherebiah Corthell for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have unto set my hand & the seal of said Court this twenty second day of August in the Year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty two
Jacob H. Loud
Page 8

Lydia Corthell
Mass
Act 7. July 38
$66.67 from
4 March. 36 to 22  Nov.
36 to John - Hosea - 
& Sherebiah Corthell
and Merrill Whitmarch
only surviving 
children of Lydia 
Corthell died.

Elijah Clarke
Brighton
Mass
Page 9

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Plymouth ss.
On this twenty seventh day of December eighteen hundred and forty two, personally appeared before me Jared Whitman a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Plymouth. John Corthell, a resident of Abington in said county, fifty seven years of age, who being sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain arrears of pension allowed to his deceased mother Lydia Corthell. That he is the lawful child of the said Lydia Corthell who died in the aforesaid town on the sixth day of March A.D. 1842 and left the following named children who now survive her viz: John Corthell himself, Hosea Corthell, Mrs. Merril Whitmarsh, and Sherebiah Corthell, that his mother the said Lydia Corthell was pensioned under the act of the seventh of July 1838, and her pension of November eighteen hundred and thirty six, and he now claims in behalf of himself, and the above named lawful children of the said Lydia Corthell, arrears of pension from the fourth of March 1836 to the twenty second day of November eighteen hundred and thirty six. at the rate of sixty six dollars and sixty seven cents per annum and further the saith not, 
John Corthell
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year above written before me 
Jared Whitman Justice of Peace
Page 10

I Christopher Dyer [son] of Abington in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged fifty six years do testify and say that I have been acquainted with the late Sherebiah Corthell and his family for thirty years or more. He died about [ ] on or near November 1836 - leaving a widow - who died during the spring of 1842 - that the surviving children of said Sherebiah are - John Corthell, Hosea Corthell - Merrill Whitmarsh & Sherebiah Corthell all of whom are now living and were the only heirs of Sherebiah and Lydia Corthell at the time of her decease and further saith not
Christopher Dyer [Jr]

Plymouth ss: December 27, 1842
Personally appeared the above named Christopher Dyer [Jr] and made oath that the above statement by him subscribed is just and true: and I certify that the deponent is a person whose statements are entitled to full credit.
Before,
Jared Whitman Justice Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office January 2, 1843
I hereby certify that at the date of the above attestation Jared Whitman was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Plymouth.
Witness the seal of the State
John P. Bigelow
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 11

I Zadock Thomson of Halifax in the County of Plymouth Clerk of said Town, do hereby certify that the records of said Town were in my possession and now before me, and in the said records I find the following entry, "October third one thousand seven hundred and eighty four Sherebiah Corthell of Hingham and Lydia Whitton of Halifax were joined in marriage by Rev. Ephraim Briggs" which is a true copy of the records with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows, "October 3rd 1784"
Zadock Thomson Town Clerk

I Zadock Thomson above named depose and say that I hold the Office of Clerk of the Town of Halifax aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Town with the exception above named as certified by me
Zadock Thomson
Clerk of the Town of Halifax

Plymouth ss. August 20th 1838
Then personally appeared the above named Zadock Thomson and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed before
Obadiah Lyon Justice Peace
Page 12

Sherebiah Corthell
Mass

Private 20 months

$66.66

19444

J.H. Loud
Plymouth
Mass
Page 13

Brief in the case of Sherebiah Corthell
of Plymouth in the State of Mass
(Act 7th June, 1832)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Open Court
2.  If before a Jude, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3.  How old is he?  72
4.  State his service as directed in the form annexed.
_1st March in 1776 volunteer for 4 days as a private under Cap -------
_July 1776 for 8 months as a private under Cap Stowers  Col Whitney
_August 1777 for 3 months as a private under Cap Wilden  Col Gill
_Sep 1779 for 3 months as a private under Cap Ward  Col Lathop
_July 1780  for 3 months as a private under Cap Wilden  Col Thayer
_Aug 1781 for about 3 months as a private under Cap Lincoln
5.  In what battles was he engaged?  Battle with a transport off Dor' heights
6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Plymouth Mass
7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  five living witnesses
8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
the last tour of service is not exactly specified
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Taylor
Examining Clerk
Page 14

1076
Lydia Corthell
Mass
Admitted:
Pension $66.66

J.H. Loud
Plymouth
Page 15

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth ss.

On this twenty eighth day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before the Probate Court for the County of Plymouth Lydia Corthell a resident of Abington in the County of Plymouth aged eighty one years - who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress entitled "An Act passed July 7 1838 entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows"  That she is the widow of Sherebiah Corthell late of said
Abington deceased, who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution and a Pensioner under the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. Said Sherebiah Corthell she believes served in several short tours in the vicinity of Boston, but
she is not able to state with any precision any particular facts relating to said service.

She further declares that she was
married to said Sherebiah Corthell at Halifax in the County of Plymouth on the third day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four that her husband the aforesaid Sherebiah Corthell died at said Abington on the twenty
Page 16

second day of November in the year eighteen hundred and thirty six That she was not married to him prior to 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. - She further declares that she has not since inter married, but still continues the widow of said Sherebiah Corthell.
Lydia Corthel's 
X mark
Sworn to and and subscribed the day and year first above written
Before me Wilkes Wood J. Probate

Plymouth S. I Jacob H Loud Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Hon. Wilkes Wood Judge of Probate for said County & that the above is his true & genuine signature.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand & the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this thirtieth day of August 1838.
Jacob H. Loud
Page 17

I Robert Corthell of Hingham in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts do testify and say that Sherebiah Corthell of Abington in said County of Plymouth served as a soldier in Capt John Lincoln's Company of Hingham in the year 1781 for the term of three months and that we were in service at the time of the defeat of Cornwallis.
Robert Corthall
His X Mark
Witness Caleb Gill Jr.

Plymouth ss. August 2. 1832
Then personally appeared Robert Corthell subscribed the above affidavit and made oath to the truth of the same before me
Caleb Gill Jr. Just. peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth ss. I Jacob H Loud Register of the Court of  Probate for said County being a Court of Record do hereby certify that Caleb Gill Jr. & Solomon Lincoln Esquire are Justices of the Peace for said County & that I believe their names subscribed to the annexed certificates are true & genuine signatures.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this twenty second day of September in the Year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
Jacob H. Loud
Page 18

Plymouth ss. Dec. 8. 1832 I certify that the within named Robert Corthell is well known to me as a credible person and entitled to belief as a witness.
Jacob H Loud Reg. of Probate & Jus. of Peace
Page 19

I Peter Hersey of Hingham, in the County of
Plymouth Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do testify and say, that Sherebiah Corthell of Abington in the said County of Plymouth, formerly a resident of Hingham, enlisted as a soldier in the company under Capt. Theophilus Wilder of Hingham, in Col Gills Regiment in the last of August one thousand seven hundred & seventy seven, for three months and went to
the westward - there to Springfield then to
Bennington where we made our Head Quarters for two or three weeks - thence we
marched to Stillwater (now Saratoga,) and
lay there until Burgoyne was taken. Said
Sherebiah Corthell served the three month I
was with him, a drummer in said Company
Peter Hersey
-
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth ss. August 2. 1832. Then personally
appeared the above named Peter Hersey &
made oath that the above affidavit by
him subscribed is true, before me
Solomon Lincoln Jus. Peace
----
I further certify that the above named Peter
Hersey is well known to me as a man
of good reputation for truth
Solomon Lincoln Jus Peace
Plymouth ss. Dec. 8, 1832
Page 20

I Ezekiel Hersey of Hingham, in the
County of Plymouth & Commonwealth,
of Massachusetts, do testify and say that
Sherebiah Corthell of Abington in said County of Plymouth served eight months in the
War of the Revolution at Nantasket, now
Hull in Massachusetts, as a private soldier in Capt Seth Stowers Company & Colonel Whitney's Regiment
Ezekiel Hersey

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth ss. August 20, 1832. Then personally
appeared the above named Ezekiel Hersey and made oath to the truth of the above statement by him subscribed before me
Solomon Lincoln Jus. Peace

Plymouth, Dec 8th 1832. I further certify
that the above named Ezekiel Hersey
is personally known to me as a person
of good reputation of truth.
Solomon Lincoln, Jus Peace
Page 21

I Sherebiah Corthell of Abington in the County
of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the fifty eighth year of my age depose set forth and declare that I was a soldier in the revolutionary war with Great Britain on the continental establishment and that I enlisted in April 1776 into Capt. Stowers Company and Col. Marshalls regiment and Massachusetts line and served six months at Hull or Nantasket on Massachusetts bay and my time for which I enlisted having expired I returned home.  I enlisted the summer of 1777 into Capt Theophilus Wilders Company and Col. Gills Regiment and Massachusetts line and served three months at Saratoga and Peekskill and was at the taking of Burgoyne and the time for which I enlisted having expired I enlisted again under the same Captain, but a new Company and in Col. Thayer's Regiment and the Massachusetts line in 1779, and served from July to November, three months, (being the time for which I enlisted), on Rhode Island - I enlisted again the next year into Capt Webb's company and Col. Lothrops Regiment and Massachusetts line and served three months in Boston at Fort hill and Wheeler's point guarding continental stores, and my time of enlistment expiring, I enlisted again in July 1781 into Capt Lincoln's company, and Massachusetts line, the Col. was a Boston man but I have forgotten his name, he was not there when we first arrived in camp at Fishkill, and  I was draughted out upon guard at New Windsor 14 miles from West point to protect the Falling mill and die House where they were colouring the
Page 22

english coats, which had been taken and fitting them for our troops. I served three months at this time being the term for which I had engaged. My time having expired and Earl Cornwallis' army being reduced I returned home and entered the service no more. In every case I was honorably discharged and received written discharges in most cases, but not considering them of so much value as I ought to have done, I have suffered them to be scattered and lost, and have therefore no written evidence to produce, and I do not know any of my officers living whose testimony I can obtain. There are many soldiers who can testify to my services.
Sherebiah Corthell
Page 23

I Sherebiah Corthell of Abington in the County
of Plymouth aged thirty six years do testify and say that my Father Sherebiah Corthell who was a Pensioner of the United States died at said Abington on the twenty second day of November in the year eighteen hundred and thirty six and that my mother Lydia Corthell never since intermarried but still continues
his widow,
Sherebiah Corthell

Plymouth ss. On this eighteenth day of August
eighteen hundred and thirty eight the above named Sherebiah Corthell personally appeared and made oath according to Law to the Deposition aforesaid by him subscribed, and
I hereby certify that he is a Person of truth and veracity.
Before me
Jared Whitman Just Peace
Page 24

Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Loud Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Obadiah Lyon & Jared Whitman Esquires are Justices of the Peace in & for said County & that the signatures to the annexed papers purporting to be signed by them are their true & genuine signatures as I believe.

In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand & the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this thirtieth day of August 1838.
Jacob H. Loud
Page 25

WIDOW, &c.
File No. 23866
Lydia Corthell
wid of
Sherebiah Corthell
Pri Mass Line
Act: July 7th 38

Index: -- Vol. -- Page--
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 26

784
Massachusetts
------------------
Lydia Corthell
widow of Sherebiah Corthell decd.
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832
and who died on the 22 November 1836
of Plymouth in the State of MS
who was a private in the Company commanded 
by Captain -- of the Regt. commanded
by Col Whitney in the Mass
line for 20 months
-----------
Inscribed on the Roll of MS
at the rate of 55 Dollars 67 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 22nd November 1836
------------
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Octo.
1838 and sent J.H. 
Loud Plymouth MS.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1838  $166.67
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar. 39.  $33.33
-------
$200.00
---------
{Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by [illegible] Clerk
Book A  Vol. 1st  Page 79
Page 27

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
---
County of Plymouth ss. December 30th 1842.
This certifies that it has been fully shown
to me that Lydia Corthell, the widow of
Sherebiah Corthell late of Abington in said County of Plymouth deceased, died in the spring season of the present year eighteen hundred & forty two leaving John Corthell, Hosea Corthell Merrill Whitmarch and Sherebiah Corthell, her children and Heirs at Law and her only Heirs living at the time of her decease.

Witness my hand & seal of office the day and
year first above written.
Wilkes Wood Judge of Probate
for the County of Plymouth
Page 28

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk ss.
I James Ware Clerk of the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Norfolk hereby certify that Samuel Bayley Esquire within named and before whom the deposition written purports
to have been taken is a Justice of peace in and
for said County duly appointed commissioned
and qualified to discharge the duties of said Office and that his signature is genuine and true.
In witness whereof I have hereunto inscribed my name and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of said Commonwealth hereunto at Dedham this fifth of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
James Ware
Page 29

Weymouth July 27 1832
This certifies that Mr. Sherebiah Corthel of Abington aged 72 years, enlisted in Hingham as a Soldier in a detachment of the Militia to reinforce the continental Army for three months in a Company commanded by Capt. Theophilus Wilder, and in the Reg. Commanded by Eben. Thayer Esq. - and marched for the State of New York as far Sudbury, but by counter orders took out for the State of Rhode Island where we joined the French Army under Gen. Rochambeau - he [enlists] about the 20th of July 1780 and march from home July 26th and was with the Company when discharged Nov. first 1780.
Thomas Vinson
1st Lt. of Said Company

Norfolk ss. Oct. 6, 1832
Then personally appeared Thomas Vinson and made oath to the truth of the above certification before me & I certify that he is a credible person.
Saml Bayley Justice Peace
Page 30

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk ss.

I James Ware Clerk of the Judicial Court within and for the County of Norfolk hereby certify that Samuel Bayley Esquire before whom the depositions written purport to have been taken, was at the time of the taking thereof, and now is a Justice of Peace in said County, duly appointed   commissioned and qualified to discharge the duties of said office, and that his signature within is genuine & true....In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of said Commonwealth at Dedham this fifth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
James Ware Esq
Page 31

I Ezra Reed of Weymouth in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do testify and say that Sherebiah Corthell of Abington County of Plymouth served as a soldier in Capt. Sam Ward Company in Boston in the year 1779 in Colo John Lathrop Regt three months from Sept 1779 to 1780 the 1st Jan
Ezra Reed

Norfolk ss. August 1. 1832 then personally appeared Ezra Reed subscribed to the above affidavit and made oath to the truth of the same before me 
Sam Bayley Justice Peace
I certify that the above named Ezra Reed is a credible person & entitled to be believed.
Sam Bayley
Page 32

Brighton January 2d 1843
Dear Sir, 
I herewith enclose to you the claims of the heirs of Mrs. Selah Wright of Plympton and of the heirs of Mrs Patience Wright of Plympton and of the heirs of Mrs Lydia Corthell of Abington for arrears of Pension.
[illegible salutation]
Elijah Clark

Hon JL [illegible]
Commissioner of Pensions
at Washington
Page 33

Sherebiah Corthell Massachusetts 
Act of June 1832
to what time paid?
Pen: Office
Oct. 25. 1838

Died 22 Nov 1836
[bF. that paid]
JH