Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 41,159, for Bela Shaw, Massachusetts
Page 1

(8-1776)
Service
Number
Mass.
Shaw, Bela
S. 41,159
---
Contents
Page 2

4,123
Vermont
---
Bela Shaw
Smith's private Regt.
Massachusetts Line
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
--
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 6th of Apr.l 1818.
--
Certificate of Pension issued the 16th of Sept. 1818
and sent to Josiah Fisk Esq
Lyndon, Vermont.
--
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818, 4 most 29/30 39.73
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4th Mar 1819 48.00
--
$87.73
--
{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818}
2 years-1782
Lyndon Caledonia co

-------------
died May 18-1826
" From AB
Page 3

Bela Shaw's
Declaration
Copy #14
Lyndon
# 4,123
issued 16 Sept: 1818.

Continued
Page 4

STATE OF VERMONT.
Caledonia County SS.} At a County Court, began and holden
Danville, within and for said County on the
first Monday of June A. D. 1820.
Present in Court, the Hon. Isaiah Fisk Chief Judge. William Cahoon & John W. Dana }
} Assistant 
 Judges.
On this 19 day of June 1820, personally appeared
in open Court (being a Court of Record, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount,
and having the power of fine and imprisonment)  Bela Shaw
aged fifty six years, resident in Lyndon in said County,
who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: -In the 6 Regt commanded by Col. Smith
 in Capt Matthew Chambers Company in 3rd Brigade of
the Massachusetts line and in Col. Tuppers Regt. Col Sprouts & Col Halls Regts from July 1782 to June 1784 when I was
honorably discharged in the State of New York by Henry Jackson Brigadier Genl. my former
Declaration was dated April 6th 1818. and my pension certificate not being numbered my discharge being transmitted to the War department
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 thereby 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 have
any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
Bela Shaw
Farming tools 1 plough 10.00 2 Shovels 1.00 pitchfork .50 2 hoes, .25--$11.75
 4 harrowteeth & harrow 3.50 1 ox Sled 2.00 1 axe 1.50 --7.00
Carpenter tools 1 Broad axe 3.00 1 adze 2.00 coopers adze 1.00 saws 2.00--7.00
22 Augers 2.00 4 plains 2.00 2 Bittlstocks & Bitts 2.00--6.64
Chissels & Gouges 1.50 file .25 Rasp .20-- 1.95
Household furniture (except bedding & clothing -- 31.50
Page 5

1 yearling heifer -- 6.00
6 Sheep, one Note against John Beckwith of about 4.00-- 13.00
and several small claims probably in the whole-- 10.00
94.84
Bela Shaw
I am by occupation a Labourer in usual health for my years. My family consists of my wife Laurana Shaw aged 56 years in feeble health--
I am justly indebted to Jedediah Briggs in
the sum of about Ninety Dollars-- $90.00
Bela Shaw
Sworn to and declared on the 19th day of June A.D. 1820 Before Wm Cahoon Judge

STATE OF VERMONT, Caledonia County, ss.} I Benj F Deming Clerk 
of the County Court for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath 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 Ninety four - Dollars and 84 cents. --In testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this 24th day of June 1820. Benj F Deming} Clerk of the County Court 
for Caledonia County. 
Inventory $19.84
debt own Briggs 90.--
$4.84
Page 6

The Declaration of
Bela Shaw

Lyndon, VT.
Page 7

I Bela Shaw of Lyndon in the County of Caledonia & State
of Vermont Aged fifty four years - Declare and say- That at
Dighton in the County of Bristol and commonwealth of Massachusetts
some time in the forepart of July in the year of our Lord 1782
I enlisted as a Soldier in the continental army for the term of three
years, and in the same month at Boston in said commonwealth
I was regularly mustered by Col. Popkins, and in August in the
same year I joined the army at a place called Nelsons point on
the Hudson river opposite to West Point and entered into the sixth
Company commanded by Capt. Matthew Chambers in the Sixth Regt
commanded by Col. Smith in the 3d Brigade in the Massachusetts
line of Continental troops. In which Regt I continued until some
time in the winter following- When on Col. Smith's retiring from the
Army, Col. Tupper took the command of said sixth Regt - In which
I continued until June 1783- When on the discharge of those enlisted to serve during the war I was transfered to a Regiment commanded by Col. Ebenezer Sprout in whose Regt I continued until the
month of January 1784 when by some arrangement the troops
were all disbanded except one Regt. which was called the American Regiment of which Col. Hull took the command, in which Regiment I continued until the 30th day of June AD 1784 when
I was honourably discharged from the service of the United States at
West Point in the State of New York- Which original discharge is herewith transmitted, and I further declare and say that from my reduced
circumstances in life I need the assistance of my country for my
support and I further declare and say that I have from the date
of my discharge to this time been a resident and Citizen of the
United States
Bela Shaw
Page 8

State o fVermont Caledonia Count  Lyndon April 6 1818

Personally appeared Ibela (?) Shaw signer of the forgoing declaration after having been duly cautioned and carefully examined made solemn oath that the same contains the whole truth and nothing but the truth 

Before (signature) Chief Judge of Caledonia County Court

State of Vermont (illegible0 Fisk Chief Judge of the County Caledonia County Caveat within and for the County of Caledonia I do hereby certify that what appears to my satisfaction that the  - (illegible) bleow show did serve in the Revolutionary War and states in the within declaration against the currency earning and I now transmit the foregoing (illegible) testimony (illegible) has had before me to the Secretary of the department of or Cabinet of (illegible) Revolutionary War which said dist(?) money in order to obtain the financia(?) made by (illegible) not in testimony whereof I have heresoto set my affixed (illegible) of (illegible) Court this 6th day of April - AD 1818 Isaiah Fisk
Attest /Cyrus Hawley
Clerck of Cal C(?)
Page 9

(Illegible)  August 7, 1818 Called.. (illegible) I hereby certify that below (illegible) declaration in (illegible) circumstances and readily (?) (illegible) farm supplement.

Jeremiah Fisk Chief Justice of (lllegible)
Page 10

September 2, 1926

Mrs. R. R. Peters
1412 Forty-first St., 
Des. Moines, Iowa

Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 41159 it appears that Bela Shaw, while a resident of Dighton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, enlisted in July 1782 and served as a private in Captain Matthew Chambers' Company, Colonels Smith and Tupper's Massachusetts Regiment until June 1783, and was then transferred to Colonel Ebenezer Sprout's Massachusetts Regiment, and in January 1784 was transferred to Colonel Hull's "American" Regiment and was discharged June 30, 1784. It is not stated that he was in any battles.

He was allowed pension on his application executed April 6, 1818, while residing in Lyndon, Caledonia County, Vermont aged fifty-four years. The names of his parents not stated. He died May 18, 1826.

In 1830 his wife Laurana was aged fifty-sex years. No reference to children. Date and place of marriage not given. 

Respectfully, 
K.W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner
Page 11

[left side of page]
1925 June 24 Hist of
F A. Bayliss.  MD.Y
1926 Paph 23 hist, is Mrs. R.R. Peters
[right side of page]
Revy
41.159
INVALID.
Revy ---
File No. 41.159
Bela Shaw
Pri Rev War
---
Act: 18 March 18
Index: -- Vol. 3, Page 457
[ Arrangement of 1870. ]
Page 12

Bela Shaw Private in the American Regiment, being inlifted for Three Years, is hereby honourably discharged from the Service of the United States.

Given in the State of New York, the 30th Day of June 1784

By the General's command, [illegible]

Registered in the Books of the Regiment, 
[illegible]
Page 13

1412 - 41 St
Des Moines, Iowa -
Aug. 2, 1926 -
Department of the Interior -
Survivors' File of Revolutionary War-
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen -
The name of my ancestor was
Bela Shaw who enlisted in July
1782, "while residing in Dighton,
Bristol County, Mass.," according to 
report of Pension office. Family
record gives the date of his birth as
Feb. 19, 1764 and his death as will
May 19, 1825. He died in Lyndon, Calidonia County, Vermont. His wife was
Lurena (Smith) Shaw, born June 27,
Page 14

1764 - died April 2, 1821.
Please give me the war record -
services, battles and all data you
may possess in regard to
the above Bela Shaw. also,
any information you can, as
to parentage, date of marriage
and place of marriage.
Thanking you, the
great-grand-daughter of Bela Shaw.
Mary H. Peters-
(Mrs. R.R. Peters.)
Page 15

Evanston Wyoming June 17/25 -
U. S. Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir,
I should like to inquire if you have any record of a pension to furnished [handwritten] Bela Shaw,
Elijah Shaw and and Bela Jacob all of Mass. and all served in the revolutionary war. also of John Bringolf and Jacob Jugler both of Pennsylvania & both served in the revolution. I wrote form some two months ago regarding the final - three named but have not received a reply --
Very truly yours
F. A. Bayleis
Evanston Wyoming
Page 16

Des Moines Iowa April 22/[illegible] Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir,
I wish to know if you have any record of
Bela Shaw  - who was a private in Capt. Chambers Co,, Lieut. Col. Calvin Smiths 6" regt. Mass. His residence is not given, think probably it was Dighton Mass as we had an ancester
named Bella Shaw who lived in Dighton and
was Eighteen years of age in 1782 at the time
the above record.
Should also like to know if you have any
record of a Bela Jacobs of Berkeley Mass who was Sergt, in Capt James Nichols, Col. Edward Pope's/ Bristo Col regt. 1776
And Elijah Shaw of Dighton, Mass. I think he
served several times, a few days at a time.
[handwritten on the side] 2d Mass. & neither of Dighton
Surg [?] record that you may have of the above
I should be very glad to receive as it will
help complete my family genealogy of record.
Ver truly yours
(Mrs) F A Bayliss
Victoria Hotel
Des Moines
Iowa
[upside down seal]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
L
APR
24
1925
Page 17

June 24, 1925

Mrs. F. A. Bayliss
Victoria Hotel,
Des Monies, Iowa.
Madam:
I have to advise you, that from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim S-41159, it appears that Dela Shaw, while residing in Dighton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, enlisted in July 1782 and served as a private in Captain Matthew Chamber's' Company, Colonels Smith and 6 Regt. Tupper's Massachusetts Regiment until June 1783 when he was transferred to Colonel Ebenezer Sprout's Massachusetts
Regiment, and in January 1784 he was transferred to Colonel Hull's "American" Regiment and was discharged June 30, 1784.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 6, 1818 while residing in Lyndon, Caledonia County, Vermont, aged fifty-four years.
His wife Laurana was fifty-six years old in 1820.
It is not stated whether they had children.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.