Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13,094, Christopher French, Mass.
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Mass    French, Christopher  S13094
carded
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W 829
Massachusetts
Christopher French
Berkshire in the State of Masstes
was a private in the Comp. commanded by
Capt Richardson of the Rgt
commanded by
Col. Carey in the Masstes
for 12 months and 21 days

Inscribed on the Roll of Masstes
the rate of 42 Dollars 32 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 4 day of Nov. 1833
and sent H. W. Bishop Lenox
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 33
$105.80
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4.34
21.16
$26.96
-
Revolutionary Claim,
by June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Geo C Stiles Clerk
Book C Vol. 2. Page 26

A.J.
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Christopher French
Provincetown of Mass
law of '32
from 
Arad Joy
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STATE OF New York
County of Columbia
Almira Belding- being duly
sworn according to law, deposes and says that she is a child of Christopher French deceased, to
whom a pension was probably due more than he rec. that this deponent is directly interested in said claim.
Chester Belding, Justice of the Peace
Know all Men by these Presents, That I, Almira Belden a child of Christopher French, deceased to whom a pension was probably due, do hereby constitute and appoint Arad Joy, of Ovid, N.Y., my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name as one directly and personally interested in the claim or application for a pension. Witness my hand and seal, this 5th day January 1856 
Sealed and delivered in the presence of Almira Belding
Chester Billing Justice of the Peace
State of New York
County of Columbia
Be it known that on the 5 day of January 1856 before the subscriber
n Justice of the Peace in and for said County and State, duly authorized by law to administer the oaths and take acknowledgements, personally appeared Almira Belden, above named, and duly acknowledged the above power of attorney and affidvit to be her act and deed.  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand the day and date above mentioned.
Chester Belding, Justice of the Peace
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 Zephaniah Bishop of Attleborough County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusett aged eighty eight years do testify and say that Christopher French was a soldier in the Revolution war with about me he enlisted July 1st in the year of our Lord 1777 and served five months marched to New Haven for there to New York and was in the battle at White Plains from there to Cortlands Manor near Cortland Bridge (so called) in Captain Caleb Richardson Company of Infantry in Colonel Cory’s Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Richardson, and was discharged December 10 the above named year at Cortland manor (so called also was with the said Christopher French at Warwick Rhode Island three months commencing in the winter of the year 1778 in Captain Moses Willmath Company of Infantry in Colonel John Daggett, Regiment further more the defendant sayeth not his Attested by Zephaniah Bishop Zephaniah Bishop mark X [signature mark]
Arrival from Attleborough September 24th 1833 Personal appeared the above named Zephaniah Bishop and made oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is according to his best recollection just and true before me Justice of Elkanah Briggs Justice of the peace I certify that I am personally acquainted with the foregoing deponanth Mr. Thomas French Jonathan Willmarth and Zephaniah Bishop and do consider them to be men of truth and vicinity and that they may be relied on to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth in all cases according to their best recollection Attleborough September 24 A.D. 1833 Elkanah Briggs Justice of the Peace
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I Thomas French of Attleborough in the County of Bristol
and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged Seventy three years
do testify and say that Christopher French a Brother of mine and lived in the family together with me till twenty five years old that I was knowing to his inlisting as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, some time in the fall or winter after the war broke out, and have no doubt of his serving at Roxbury of the vicinity of Boston and served their about two months under the command of Capt Stephen Richardson further the deponant sayeth not 
Thos French Bristol ss. Attleborough September 24th 1833
personal appeared the above named Thomas French and made oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed according to his best knowledge is just and true before me
Ethanah Briggs Justice of the Peace
I Jonathan Willmarth (?) of Attleborough in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy one years do testify and say that I was knowing that Christopher French served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was ordered to Providence some time in April in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven but before arriving to Providence, was ordered to Howland ferry from their to Fogland Ferry, and there served twenty one days in Capt Stephen Richardson Company of Infantry in Col Hathaway's regiment enlisted again May the fourth the above named year, for two months and served that period in Capt [Jevel] Trowe's Company of Infantry in Col Whitney's Regiment, marched from Fogland Ferry to Providence Rhode Island their served five weeks, marched from their
to point Judith and then laid out
the demand of the two months further
more than sayeth not
John Wilmarth 
Bristol of Attleborough September 24th 1833 personal appeared the above named Jonathan Wilmlarth and made oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is just and true before me
Ethanah Briggs Justice of the Peace
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Personally appeared before me the 
 undersigned a Justice of the peace within and for the County of [Milikin] and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Christopher French Esquire who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent lapse of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his services, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following spans 
For two months I served as a soldier in the Militia of Massachusetts at the campaign in the vicinity of Roxbury in Massachusetts in the year 1776 as stated in my Declaration 
For five months I served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, in the Massachusetts line in the year 1777 in the vicinity of New York and White Plains as stated in my Declaration 
For twenty one days I served as a soldier in the Army of the Revolution in the Militia of Massachusetts in the year 1777, at Howland Ferry, and at Foglands Ferry in the State of Rhod Island which was not recollected by me at the time of making my Declaration and therefore omitted but is proved by the Deposition of Jonathan Willmarth hereto annexed 
For two months I served in the Militia of Massachusetts as a soldier in the year 1777 at Providence and at Narraganset in the State of Rhode Island as also stated in my Declaration For three months I enlisted and served as a soldier in the Massachusetts Line, at Warrich in the State of Rhode Island in the year 1778 as also stated in my Declaration making in the whole in months exclusive of said twenty one days, for which service I claim a pension. 
Berkshire P. subscribed and sworn by the said Christopher French this 9th day of October AD 1833 before me Robbin’s Kellogg Justice of the Peace
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that about the month of January or February AD 1776, he enlisted in the Company commanded by Capt Stephen Richardson for the term of two months and marched from Attleborough in the County of Bristol when he enlisted to Roxbury when he did duty in said Richardson Company for two months the full term of his enlistment that in the forepart of August in the year 1776 he again enlisted at Attleborough aforesaid in the Company commanded by Captain Caleb Richardson for the term of five months and joined the Regiment commanded by Colonel Carey and Lieutenant Col Stephen Richardson and Major Payne at [Parturnet] and marched from there to New Haven in Connecticut and then sailed to New York where he did duty till New York was evacuated and was in the battle at White Plains in the State of New York and continued to do duty in that vicinity until the full term of his enlistment had expired and until he was discharged at Cortlands Manor near Croton Ridge in the State of New York on the 10th day of December 1776
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That in the spring of 1777 he was drafted at
Attlebury aforesaid for two months and placed in the company commanded by Capt [Trows]
Lt. White and marched with said Company to Providence in the State of Rhode island 
 and continued to do duty in said Company for the full term of his enlistment, that about half of said time he was stationed at Providence aforesaid & the other half at Narraganset, he recollects no field offices but one company that were stationed near said Trows Company
 That in January or February in the year 1778
he engaged for the term of three months at Attleborough aforesaid in Capt Moses Willmarth's Company & marched with said Company from Attleborough aforesaid to Warwick in the State of Rhode Island & was joined to the Regiment commanded by Col. John Daggett that he continued to do duty in said Company & Regiment for the full term of my engagement aforesaid, to wit for
the term of the months when he was
discharged at Warwick aforesaid
That in the spring or summer of 1779, he was
again drafted at Attleborough aforesaid for two months, and hired and paid Thomas French to perform
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts. County of Berkshire, ss. On this 27th day of September A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable WILLIAM P. WALKER, Judge of the Court of Probate, within and for said County of Berkshire, now sitting, Christopher French Esq a resident of the town of West Stockbridge in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7. 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers , and served as herein stated. said Town as my substitute That at West Stockbridge aforesaid in the year 1777 he was closed with Six others who hired Nathan Baker for the term of three years who performed duty for said term of time and he with said six other paid said Baker for his services aforesaid the said Christopher French in answer to the interrogatory prescribed by the War Department states as follows [vis] in answer to the first he says that he was born in Attleborough aforesaid in the year 1752 as he has always been informed and verily believes the Family Record, being a Book kept for that purpose in which the day of my birth is entered which Record is at my residence at West Stockbridge aforesaid In answer to the third he said says he was was residing at Attlebury aforesaid when he entered into all the engagements aforesaid, where he resided till the age of twenty five years and then removed to West Stockbridge aforesaid where he has since resided In and to the fourth he says
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That in the two engagements first mentioned he enlisted in the third he was drafted as before stated, in the last he is not certain whether he volunteered or was drafted, and was at no time a substitute- In annex to the fifth he says that the  general circumstances of his serving he has before stated In answer to the sixth he says he has no recollection of ever receiving any written discharge In answer to the seventh he says he can name the [Rev] Nathan Share and Joseph Herring the said Christopher French further states that he has no documentary evidence, that having soon after said service was performed, moved seven times at a considerable distance from the place of his nativity and when he made the [unreadable] in aforesaid and when his companions in arms generally resided, he knows of no person living whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services aforesaid unless it be the testimony of [tal] Cobb [annex]
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He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the
present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
Christopher French
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker I. Probate
we Nathan Shaw a Clergyman, residing in the town of West Stockbridge and Capt Joseph
residing in West Stockbridge hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Christopher French Esq. who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty years of age; that he is reputed
and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the
revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Nathan Shaw
Joseph Hewing
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid

W. P. Walker I. Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department
that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states
And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Nathan Shaw who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, resident
in the town of West Stockbridge in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth
of Massachusetts and that Joseph Hewins
who has also signed the same, is a resident
in the town of West Stockbridge in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
W. P. Walker I. Probate
I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Berkshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Christopher French for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office of said Court of Probate, this twenty ninth day of September 
in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Henry P. Bishop Register & Probate
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In reply to your request of _________ , received _________ for  a statement of the military history of Christopher French, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau. S. F. 13,094
[There follows a form with the headings Dates of Enlistment or Appointment, Length of Service, Rank, Officers under whom Service was Rendered, State.]

From Jan to Feb 1776, he served 2 months as a private under Captain Stephen Richardson in Massachusetts. 
In August 1776, he served 5 months as a private under Captain Caleb Richardson and Colonel Leary. 
In April of 1777, he served 2 days as a private under Captain Stephen Richardson and Colonel Hathaway.  
In Spring 1777, he served 2 months as a private under Captain Israel Trow and Colonel Whitney. 
In January & February 1778, he served 3 months as a private under Captain Moses Willnarth and Colonel John Daggett. 

Battles engaged in, White Plains
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Attleborough, Bristol Co. Mass. 
Date of application for pension, Sept 27, 1832. His cl. was al. [claim was allowed]
Residence at date of application, West Stockbridge - Berkshire Co, Mass.
Age at date of application, B[orn] in 1752, Attleborough, Mass. Remarks: There is no date on file relative to wife or children.
Respectfully, 
Mather Thomas Commissioner.
d-285C
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Christr- French Esqr - 
27462

Private 12 Mos 21 Day
Capt Richardson, Col Carey's Regt Mass

Forward Certificate to Henry W. Bishop Lenox Mass
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We, Joseph Hewins, Ephraim Forket Jonathan Benton all of West Stockbridge in the County of Berkshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts being duly sworn do formally depose & say that since the close of the Revolutionary War Christopher French Esquire hag resided in West Stockbridge aforesaid that he is considered a Man of strait integrity & verity & that in the neighborhood where he resides he is generally believed to have been a soldier in the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion 
Jonathan Benton
Joseph Hewins
Ephraim Forket

Berkshire ss. September 27th 1832 the above named Jonathan Benton, Joseph Hewins & Jonathan Benton (sic) appeared & formally Made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by them respectively subscribed
Before me Robbins Kellogg Justice of the peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Berkshire ss. I Henry W. Bishop Register of the Courts of Probate in and for the County of Berkshire afore'd do hereby certify that Robbins Kellogg Esquire before whom the annexed Depositions of James Cobb & of Jonathan Benton, Joseph Hewins & Ephraim Jorket - & additional Declarations or affidavits of Christopher French were executed, was on the respective days which they [illegible] date & now is one of the Justices of the peace within & for said county & regularly appointed and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing & have no doubt that the Signatures affixed to said Depositions and affidavit an genuine.
In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this sixteenth Day of October in the year of our Lord 1833 -
Henry H Bishop Register of Probate
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James Cobb of West- Stockbridge in the County of Berkshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy years being duly sworn deposeth and Saith that during the Revolutionary War he resided at Attleborough in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts that Christopher French Esqr- of West-Stockbridge resided in the County of Berekshire aforesaid, at same time resided at Attleborough aforesaid, a Near Neighbor with [illegible] Deponents who was then on terms of intimacy with him & that he has been well acquainted with him ever Since, that he could recollect that said French enlisted for the term of five months & was absent absent (sic) from the neighborhood when he & this deponent served for five months & was during his absence on the Tour 
of duty as a Soldier & Served in Capt Caleb Richardsons Company in the vicinity of New York as was then understood & generally believed at Attleborough aforesd, & he never heard it questioned or doubted but that he performed his tour of five months but on the contrary he verily believes it was so - he well recollects the time of this going & his return - he has a good reason for remembering it, which is, that the Father of this Deponent enlisted in the same Company at the same time for five months also & marched with said Company but never returned but died in the service on the 8th day of Nov - AD 1776 near New-York on the New Jersey shore as this deponent then & ever since has understood & verily believes, from this fact he is confident it was in the year 1776 that he performed said five months duty - 
The said Cobb further states that it was then understood & generally believed at Attleborough
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aforesaid that said French performed other Tours of duty as a Soldier in the revolutionary war but not having so good a reason for remembering them, as he had of remembering the five Months Tour aforesaid, he cannot state  the same particularly but that he performed other tours he has no doubt 
That he has no doubt but that said French is ten years older that this deponent, (that is) eighty years of age, that he has so understood from his youth - that said French is a man of good character & of undoubted truth & veracity
James Cobb (signed)

Berkshire ss. September 24th 1832 then the above named James Cobb personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed before me
Robbins Kellogg Justice of the peace
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Lee Massachusetts
June 18 - 1920
Bureau of Pensions - 
Gentlemen  - 
Will you kindly mail me all the information you have in regard to Private Christopher French who served in the Revolutionary war from Mass at White Plains -  He was born in Attleborough Mass 1752, died West Stockbridge Mass. 1845.
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Wife Margaret Perry 
received a pension

Also did Corporal Henry Morse Jr. receive a pension? He was born Stoughton Mass. sept 5th 1754 - not known when or where he died, but he married [crossed out] - 1780 at Stoughton, Lois Crane, their son Elijah was b. 1783.
Would be very grateful for any information.
Sincerely yours 
Mrs. Albert B Clark  Lillian A. Clark
83 Franklin St. 
Lee Mass.
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Payment to be made at Boston by pres. U.S.Br.Nh. (arrow) I never could make out just what this stood for. 
Agent for paying Pensioners in the Agency of Massachusetts

Recorded in the Pension Office in Book E. Vol. 2 Page 26 by 
Go. C. Stiles Clerk.

Personal Inquiry 
May 12, 1919

Letter to C Hermon French 
33 So. Loring St
Lowell, Mass.
Page 22

Copy of Pension Certificate 
Christopher French.

War Department 
Revolutionary Claim,
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Christopher French of the state of Massachusetts who was a private in the Revolutionary army is entitled to receive Forty Two dollars and Thirty-two cents per annum, during his natural life commencing on the 4th of March 1831, and payable semiannually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States this 4- day of November one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three.
Lew Cass, Secretary of War. 

[Diamond shape with the word "Seal." in the center]

Examined and countersigned}

J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions

    (over)
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Payment to be made at Boston by pres. U.S.Br.Nh. (arrow) I never could make out just what this stood for.
Agent for paying Pensioners in the Agency of Massachusetts

Recorded in the Pension Office in Book E. Vol. 2 Page 26 by
Go. C. Stiles Clerk.

Personal Inquiry
May 12, 1919

Letter to C Hermon French
33 So. Loring St
Lowell, Mass.
Page 24

May 28, 1919. History to C. Hermon French. Esr.
1920 July 21 Hist. letters. Albert B. Clark (Lillian A.)

Reohan


13,094
INVALID

File No. 13,094
Christopher French
Pri. Rev. War

Act: June 7th 1832
Index: _ Vol. ____ Page: ____
[Arrangement of 1870.}