Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21194, John Goss, Mass. N.H.
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Mass.     Goss, John              W.31194
N.H.                Catherine
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Vermont  1268
Heirs of Catherine Goss dec'd widow of John Goss Deceased who died in the year 1821, and the widow who died on the 21st of April 1837,  in the State of Vermont he was Lieut and Capt in the --- commanded by Captain    of the regt. commanded by Col. Prescott in Massachusetts for 8 mos Lieut and 2 mos, nine days Capt.
Subscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 152 Dollars 66 Cents per annum commence on the 4th day of March 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2nd day of August 1837 and sent to Elnathan Strokng Hardwick, Vermont
Arrears to the 21st of April 1837 = $937:1
Revolutionary Claim Act July 4, 1836 Section the 3rd
Recorded by S. A. Elliot, Clerk, Book A Vol. 2 Page 36
Order to pay 29 Dec 1837 certificate issued in the name of Samuael Goss, Catherine Shedd, Anna E. Tuttle, Eliza French, Mark Goss children of Catherine Goss dec'd
Paid at the treasury under the Act of the April 1838 from 4 March 1831 to the 21st April 1831 the day of her death - Agent notified 14 July 1838
Paid as above to Marlo Goss one of the children from 4 March 1831 to 21 April 1837 agt. notified 20 Sept 1839
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1615
Catherine Goss
widow of John Vt
Mass. voles - 75
vo 14 76 8 mo Lt
July 77 2 . 9days Capt
$152.66 per annum
claimant died 21 Apr 1837
Certificate to Saml Goss, Catherine Shedd, Anna E.  Tuttle, Eliza French, Mark Goss & Luke Goss children of Catherine Goss dec'd
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I Catherine Goss now of Hardwick in the County of Caledonia & State of Vermont aged 83 years depose and say that I was married to John Goss in Hollis N.H. in the 10 Feb 1774 - that from Hollis we removed to this place in 1806 - that my husband John Goss died in 1821 & that I have since remained unmarried.
I further state that in the spring of 1775 on the news of the Concord & Lexington battle, my husband then left Hollis as vounteer & soon after enlisted on an eight months service as Lieutenant in which capacity he acted until the Battle of Bunker Hill when his Captain Don being wounded he, my husband acted as Captain thro' the term okf enlistment  - I have an impression that he also served  another short enlistment.  I well remember his absence of two months or more as Captain at the Battle of Bennington with Sen. Stark & that for many months previous, most of his time was engaged in procuring recruits, or other objects connected with the defence of the country.
Dated at Hardwick this 11th day of March 1837
Catherine Goss

Cal County
Hardwick  March 11 1837
The above named Catherine Goss personally appeared before me & made sworn oath that what is contained in the above deposition is the truth
Elnathan Strong  Jus of 

State of Vermont
Caledonia County
I, Samuel B Mattocks, Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Elnathan Strong Esq is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified; - that his commission was dated on the 15th day of November, A.D. 1836, and will expire on the last day of November, 1837, and that his signature above written is genuine.
Given under my hand and Seal of said County Court, this 14th day of March A. D. 1837
Saml B. Mattocks, Clerk
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I, Abel Conant of Hardwick in Caledonia County in Vermont, aged 81 years, testify & say that in the year 1774 I resided in Hollis, N.H. & was knowing to the marriage in that year of John Goss to my sister Catherine by the Rev.  Emerson, the settled minister of the town, I residing at that time in the same family.  I well remember that on the receipt of the news of the Lexington & Concord battles that Goff with other volunteers marched for Boston or its neighborhood & enlisted to the close of that year, the said Goss being a Lieutenent of a company of which Reuben Don was Captain.  That at the Battle of Bunker Hill this Don was wounded, & that from that time the said Goss acted in the capacity of Captain.  I served for the whole term, but being mayself taken out of the company as a mechanic and carpenter, I have not certain knowledge.  I was a mechanic in the army in 1777 & remember serving said Goss at Stillwater who was the Captain of a Company, but know not the length of his service.
     About 1806 the said Goss removed to Hardwick Vermont where he died about thirteen years since.  His widow Catherine still lives in Hardwick & is the same individual married as above.
Dated at Hardwick Vt March 11 1837
Abel Conant
I further state that the said Catherine Goss has never remarried from the death of said John Goss.
Abel Conant

State of Vermont
Caledonia Cty  Hardwick  March 11, 1837
The abokve named Abel Conant personally appeared & made solemn affirmation that what is contained in the above deposition is the truth.
Before me Elnathan Strong  Jus. Peace
I certify furthermore that the above named Abel Conant is a man of strict veracity.
Elnathan Strong, Justice of the Peace
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State of Vermont
Caledonia District Ct
I Theron Howard Register of the Court of Probate for said district do hereby certify that, at the Probate Court holden at Danville in said district on the 7th day of July AD 1837 by the Hon Samuel B, Mattock, Judge of said Court, It was proved by testimony satiscactory to said Court that Catherine Goss, late of Hardwick in the said district & widow of John Goss deceased, died atsaid Hardwick on the 21st day of April AD 1837, aged 83 years & that the followinng named persons are the only living children of the said Catherine Goss, to wit, Samuel Goss of Montpelier, Catherine Shedd wife of Abijah Shedd of Hardwick, Elija French wife of Justus W French Geneva, N.Y.  Mark Goss late of the city of New York & now of Brooklyn & Luke Goss of said Hardwick.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at said Danville the day and year first above written.
Theron Howard  Register
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John Goss and Catherine Conant both of Hollis were married Feb 10, 1774 By Rev Dan'l Emerson
William P. Hale  Town Clerk

I Wm P Hale of Hollis in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, do testify and say that I am Town Clerk of said Hollis, that I have examined the Town Records of said Hollis, and have found the above Record.  I further testify that the above record is a true copy of record as certified by me.
                                    Wm P Hale

                    State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough  July 15 1837 - There personally appeared the above named William P. Hale and made oath according to Law that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before me - Benjamin M. Farley Jus. Peace
I Benjamin M. Farley a justice of the Peace for the County of Hillsborough, hereby certiy that the above named William P. Hollis is Town Clerk of Hollis, & that he is a credible witness,
Benjamin M. Farley
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I, Andrew Wallace, Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire, do hereby certify that Benjamin M. Farley within mentioned is a Justice of the Peace for said County of Hillsborough as within mentioned, and that the goregoing signatures, purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have herunto affixed the seal of said Court and subscribed my name, this fifteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven.
A. Wallace    Clerk
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State of Vermont
Caledonia County
On this 7th day of July 1837 personally appeared before the Court of Probate be the district  & State aforesaid
Luke Goss a resident of Hardwick in the County of Caledonia & State of Vermont who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath assert - that he is the son of Catherine Goss who on the 11th March past made her declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the Act of Congress of July 7th 1836 - that he is 45 years of age & had the care and maintenance of his mother from 1821 to the 21st day of April last when she was removed by death - that relying on her said declaration with the accompanying proofs he hereby makes application for the pension to which she was entitled in behalf of himself & of her living children in number & byname as follows, viz:
Samuel Goff of Montpeleir Vt
Catherine Shedd wife of Abijah Shedd of said Hardwick
Anna E. Tuttle wife of David Tuttle    Do   Do
Eliza French wife of Justus W. French Geena N.Y.
Mark Goss City of New York or Brooklyn N.Y.
Luke Goss the applicant
Sworn to & suscribed before me on the day and year above written.
Saml B. Mattocks
Judge of Probate
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I certify that Luke Goss who has subscribed the foregoing declaration is a man of truth and veracity
Saml B Mattock   Judge

I Theron Howard Register of the Court of Probate for the district of Caledonia aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Luke Goss & others the heirs of Catherine Goss, deceased, for the arrears of pensions due her.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of said Court this 7th day of July AD 1837.
Theron Howard  Register
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[typewritten letter]
Rev. and 1812 War Section. [initials: awf]

September 29, 1926

Frank C. Goss, Probate Judge 
Wabasha Minn

Sir: 

I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 21194, it appears that John Goss, soon after the battle of Lexington, marched from Hollis, New Hampshire to
Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was commissioned, May 19, 1775, Lieutenant in Captain Reuben Dow's Company, Colonel William Prescott's Massachusetts Regiment, was at the battle of Bunker Hill, and served eight months.
He was commissioned, December 20, 1776, Captain of the Ninth Company, Fifth Regiment of New Hampshire Militia, and in 1777 was in Colonel Moses Nichols' New Hampshire Regiment, and was at the battle of Bennington.
He died in 1821 at Hardwick, Caledonia County,
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[typewritten letter]
Vermont.
Soldier married February 10, 1774, Catharine Conant or Connant, in Hollis, New Hampshire, they were both then of said Hollis.
She died April 21, 1837, at Hardwick, Vermont, aged eighty-three years, leaving the following children, who were allowed the pension due their mother - 
Samuel, living in Montpelier, Vermont; Catharine, wife of Abijah Shedd, living in Hardwick, Vermont; Anna E., wife of David Tuttle, living in Hardwick, Vermont; Eliza, wife of Justus W. French, living in Geneva, New York; Mark, living in Brooklyn, New York; and Luke, living in Hardwick, Vermont, and aged forty-five years.

Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner.
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STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE,
[state seal affixed]
The Government and People of said State. TO John Goss Esq'r GREETING.
We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Fidelity, Courage and good Conduct, Do by these Presents constitute and appoint you the said John Goss Captain of the Ninth Company in the fifth Regiment of Militia within the Said State of New Hampshire
You are therefore carefully, and diligently to discharge the Duty of a Captain in leading, ordering and exercising said Company in Arms, both inferior Officers and Soldiers, and to keep them in good Order and Discipline; hereby commanding them to obey you as their Captain and Yourself to observe and follow such Orders and Instructions, as you shall from Time to Time receive from the Council and Assembly of said State for the Time being, and in our Recess from their Committee of Safety, or any your Superiour Officers for the Service of said State, according to Military Rules and Discipline, pursuant to the Trust reposed in you. In Testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of said State to be hereunto affixed; Witness Meshech Weare Esq; the President of our Council at EXETER, the twentieth Day of December Anno Domini 1776
/s/M Weare
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THE CONGRESS OF THE COLONY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS-BAY.
John Goss, Gentleman, GREETING.
We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Fidelity, Courage and good Conduct, Do by these Presents constitute and appoint you the said John Goss to be Lieutenant of the Company in the Regiment of Foot commanded by William Prescott Esq Col. raised by the Congress aforesaid, for the Defence of said Colony. 
You are therefore carefully, and diligently to discharge the Duty of a Lieutenant in leading, ordering and exercising said Company in Arms, both inferior Officers and Soldiers, and to keep them in good Order and Discipline; and they are hereby commanded to obey as their Lieutenant, and you are yourself to observe and follow such Orders and Instructions, as you shall from Time to Time receive from the General and Commander in Chief of the Forces raised in the Colony aforesaid, for the Defence of the same, or any other your Superior Officers, according to military Rules and Discipline in War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you.
By Order of the Congress,
/s/Jos Warren President P. T. Watertown, the 19 of May A.D. 1775.
/s/Sam Freeman Secretary P.T.
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[illegible] ss. Jan'y [illegible] 1775 - 
Lieut. John Goss within named appeared & repeated the Oath required by Congress to be taken by the officers of the [illegible] army
Before me /s/Jonas Dix Justice of Peace 
John Goss W. 21,194 Mass.
[receipt stamp: THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES]
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John Goss.
W.F. 21194. Mass. and N.H.

An order to Col. Moses Nichols, signed Nath'l Folsom, Major General, dated Exeter, N.H. Mar. 1777, - which also containing instructions to Capt. Goss, signed Moses Nichols, Col., dated Amherst, Mar. 26, 1777, has been removed from this case to be forwarded to the War Department. 
Sent to War Dept Jany 16, 1913,
J.M.H. Apr. 19, 1911.
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Brighton, March 2. Free
N Worcester P.O.
Elnathan Strong Esq.
Hardwick Vermont
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Noah Worcester now of Brighton, Massachusetts - aware of the infirmities of advanced years, deposes and affirms that the things now to be stated by him are true to the extent that he can rely on his own understanding, recollection and judgment, that in his youthful days he lived in Hollis, New Hampshire, and there became acquainted with John Goss who at different periods was called Lieutenant Goss, Captain Goss and Major Goss, and who became the husband of Catherine Conant, that at the time of the alarm occassioned by what was called the Lexington or Concord fight, April 19th 1775 a company of volunteers was raised in Hollis of which the deponent was one, and of which Reuben Dow was chosen Captain and the said John Goss Lieutenant, that on the same evening the company marched from Hollis on the way leading to Boston, and continued that course until they arrived at Cambridge, - that which at Cambridge many of the volunteers enlisted to serve to the end of that year under the said Captain Dow and Lieutenant Goss, - that the Hollis company then enlisted became a part of the regiment commanded by Colonel Prescott of Massachusetts; - that during the battle of Bunker Hill June 17th, Captain Dow was so wounded that he no more resumed the command of the company, and of cause, from that time to the end of the campaign the company was commanded by Lieutenant Goss; - that at the close of the year it became important that many who wanted not enlist for the whole of the next year & have to enlist for six or eight weeks - of this number the deponent was one, and still was commanded by Lieutenant Goss, who also enlisted for the short term that in the year 1777 a Brigade was enlisted for a short campaign - I think two months only, to be commanded by General Stark, in what was afterward called the Bennington campaign -  in this campaign the said John Goss was the Captain of a company in which the deponent served, the company belonging to the regiment commanded by Col. Major Nichols.
In regard to the two short enlistments the deponent has no documents at hand which states precisely their length.  The war office will doubtless contain the necessary documents.  The deponent well recollects the marriage of John Goss with Catherine Conant and believes that occurred between the campaign of 1775 and the time of the Bennington campaign when he served as Captain.  To the foregoing statement the deponent gives his signature.
Noah Worcester

Sarah E.W. Field
Edw. Sparhawk
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Middlesex Ct.
Brighton  Feb. 24th 1837
The written named Noah Worcester personally appeared and made solemn affirmation that what is contained in the written deposition is the truth according to his best recollection understanding and judgement, before me

Edw. Sparhawk, Justice of the Peace 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex Ct.  I Elias Phinney, Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in said County of Middlesex do certify that Edward Sparhawk Esquire is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County of Middlesex, and that I believe his name suscribed to the above certificate to be his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court the 27th day of February 1837.  
Elias Phinney, Clk
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[verso]
1926-Sept. 29. Hist to Frank C. Goss awf.

[recto]
Rvy WIDOW, &c. 
File No. 21,194
Catharine Goss Widow of John Goss Capt. Rev. War
Act July 4" 1836
Index: Vol. A, Page 281
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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[typewritten letter]
FRANK C. GOSS
JUDGE OF PROBATE 
WABASHA COUNTY
WABASHA, MINNESOTA
Aug 11, 1926.

Record & Pension Office,
War Department,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sirs:
I would like to secure the military record of Lieutenant John Goss who served in the Revolutionary War, and whom I think was a resident of Vermont.
If you cannot give me this information can you advise me as to where it can be secured. Will gladly pay necessary expense.
A self addressed, stamped envelope enclosed for reply.
Yours very truly,
/s/Frank C. Goss,
Frank C. Goss,
Probate Judge,
Wabasha, Minnesota.
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[handwritten letter]
Bank of Windsor,
Windsor Vt. Dec'r 10, 1837.

Sir;
The enclosed voucher an executed by the heirs of Widow Catharine Goss and presented for payment of amount specified in the Original Cert. entered is also enclosed. It has appeared to me that the vouchers were wanting the oath of identity from each heir. Shall that  be required, where the certificate is surrendered; or shall it be waived as indicated the 7th Section of Chapt. 1st giving instructions relative to payment of Pensioners? You would not be troubled with this enquiry were there not some difficulty in sending to the heirs, who reside in the counties some distance north of this. 
I am Sir very respectfully Your obt. Servt. 
/s/Thomas Emerson Agent by R. Emerson Cash'r

Hon. J. L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT, 
Second Comptroller's Office,
September 11th, 1839. 

Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Mark Goss, one of 6 child'n of Catharine Goss a Pensioner on the Roll of the Vermont Agency, at the rate of one hundred & fifty two Dollars and sixty six Cents per annum, under the law of the 4th July 1836, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March, 1831, to the 21st April 1837
Respectfully yours, 
/s/Albion K. Parris 
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.
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Treasury Department, 
Second Comptroller's Office,
July 12 - 1838. 

Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," The children of Catharine Goss deceas'd, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Windsor, Vermont Agency, at the rate of $.152 Dollars and sixty six Cents per annum, under the law of the 4th July 1836 has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1831 to the 21. of April 1837, the day of her death - 
Respectfully yours,
/s/Albion K. Parris
Comptroller
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.
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[addressed envelope]
Hardwick Vt
July 22, 1857 Free
[margin notes: July 27 Vt. Vets Case 4 July '36]
Hon'ble J. L. Edwards
Com. Pensions
Washington City
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[handwritten letter]
Hardwick Vt July 21 1837

Sir
Information having been rec'd that in view of the death of Catharine Goss, the declaration she made before me in her life time, would be admitted it is now again forwarded, with the corrected voucher of the Town Clerk & the other papers relied on - with the addition of Luke Goss's application in behalf of himself & all the surviving children of s'd Widow Goss
Respectfully Sir Your &c
/s/Elnathan Strong
J. L. Edwards