Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15049, Artemas Willard, Mass.
Page 1


Willard, Artemas
Lynn, Ruth
Former Widow
Service Mass.
Number W.15049

Contents
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7797
Massachusetts
Ruth Lynn, dec. 
form. widow of Artemas Willard
who was a Private
in the Revolutionary 
Mass
husband died 16th Sept 1803.

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 
33 dollars 77 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843, and ending 16th July 1843, the day of her death
Certificate of Pension issues the 15th day of May, 1846 and sent to Hon. C. Hudson
House of Reps.
[Act of March 3, 1843]

Recorded in Book A 
Vol. 2 Page 33

Paybl. to Ruth Artemas
Nahum & David Willard
Lucinda Arnold, Phebe 
White & Nancy Chatman
only surviving children
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester, SS. 

I, Charles G. Prentiss, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester, do hereby certify, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to said Court, that Ruth Lynn, formerly the widow of Artemas Willard, and recently the widow of Joseph Lynn, was a resident of the County of Worcester in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and died in Sterling, in said County, in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-three on or near the sixteenth day of July; 
that she left seven children only to with, Ruth Willard, Lucinda Arnold, Phebe White, Artemas Willard, Nahum Willard, and David Willard, her children by her first husband, Artemas Willard, and Nancy Chatham, her daughter by her second husband, the said Joseph Lynn, all believed to be now living.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Worcester, this fifth day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty-six. 

Charles G. Prentiss, Register
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office, Boston May 4th 1846

I hereby Certify that at the date of the annexed attestation Samuel Houghton and Cyrus Holbrook were Justices of the Peace of the County of Worcester in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted and that to their acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
(Seal)
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Palfrey
Secretary of the Commonwealth
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Extracts from the Records of the First Church & Society in Sterling in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Marriages - September Seventeenth one thousands seven hundred and eighty three.
Artemas Willard and Ruth Houghton Sterling

I hereby certify that the above is a true & exact copy from the church records aforesaid, with the exception of the date which in the record is expressed in fair legible figures as follows - "Sept.er 17. 1783."
Parish or Society in Sterling

I, Wm. D. Peck depose & say that I hold the Office of Clerk in the First Congregational Parish or Society in Sterling, County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts have in my care & keeping the records of the said society & also the Records of the Church connected with said society, which last records are in my charge as Clerk of the Society in consequence of there being no settled minister over said Society at the present time & in said Church Records is found the following "Deaths -1803 Sept. 16 Died very suddenly Artemas Willard." 

Attest- Wm. D. Peck - Clerk of the First Congregational Parish or Society in Sterling

I further certify that in a more recent volume of said church records is found the following---
over
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"Deaths - 1843  July 16th Mrs. Ruth Lynn (widow)"
Attest Wm. D. Peck - Clerk of the First Congregational Parish or Society in Sterling
Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
Worcester SS: ---Sterling April 29th 1846
Then personally appeared Wm. D. Peck Clerk of the First Congregational Church or Society in said Sterling & made oath to the truth of the foregoing certificates by him subscribed before me 

Saml. Houghton Justice of Peace
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Extracts from the Records of the Town of Sterling
in the county of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts as follows viz: Marriages-March Twenty seventh one thousand eight hundred and eleven-Joseph Lynn with Ruth Willard, both of Sterling
Israel Allen, J. P.
"Deaths Recorded-Joseph Lynn-Deceased February 22d 1813 by Luther Allen Town Clerk"

I Wm. D. Peck depose & say that I hold the office Clerk of the Town of Sterling in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts  & that I have the records of said town in my care & keeping & that the above are true & exact extracts & copies from said Town Records with the exception of the date of the first which is expressed in the Records in fair legible figures as follows, viz. "March 27, 1811"
Attest  Wm. D. Peck

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester SS. Sterling April 29th 1846
The personally appeared Wm. D. Peck, Town Clerk of Sterling aforesaid & made oath to the truth of the foregoing certificates by him subscribed before me
Saml. Houghton, Justice of the Peace
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I Samuel Sawyer of Sterling County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the seventy six year of my age-Do testify & say I have always resided in the town which was formerly named Parish in Lancester & was incorporated as the town of Sterling in or near the year 1780. That I was acquainted with Artemus Willard of this town and that he was in the service of the Revolution. I well recollect that he was hired to do a tour of service at West Point which service he rendered as was always stated. Ephrm. Houghton, Jonas Gerry & Ephrm. Pike was in the service with said Artemus Willard. I have no recollection of there being any other Artemus Willard in Sterling or Lancester. I recollect that he was married to Ruth Houghton of the town & that after the decease of the said Artemus Willard his widow the said Ruth again married to one Joseph Lynn of this town & that after the decease of the said Joseph Lynn she remained a widow up to the time of her decease in the year 1843 at which time she had seven or eight children living.
Saml. Sawyer
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester, SS. Sterling April 30th 1846
Then personally appeared Samuel Sawyer Esq. and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed and I certify that he is gentleman of veracity. Before me 
Cyrus Holbrook Jus. Peace
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I Rhoda Willard of Sterling in the county of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, eighty seven years of age-Do testify & say that I was well acquainted with Artemus Willard deceased, of said Sterling. That he was a brother of my late Husband David Willard. I well recollect that the said Artemus Willard was in the service of the revolution near five months a Providence in the State of Rhode Island and that he may have been in other services which I do not distinctly recollect. And that after his decease his widow Ruth Willard married again to Joseph Lynn of this town and after the Decease of the said Joseph Lynn she remained as widow up to the time of her death which was in July 1843, and that she has seven children now living and I do not recollect of there being any other Artemus Willard at that time in Sterling or Lancester.
Rhoda   X   Willard
her mark

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester SS Sterling April 30 1846
Then personally appeared Rhoda Willard and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by her subscribed by making her mark and I certify that she is a person of sound mind and a creditable witness.
Before me, Cyrus Holbrook, Jus. Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office Boston
Feb.16, 1845

I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Artemas Willard of Lancaster, is borne upon a Pay Roll of Captain Thomas Fisk's Company in Col. Nathan Tyler's regt. for service at Rhode Island, as a private from July 18,1779 to January 1, 1780 inclusive 5 months.
Upon a Pay Roll of Captain David Moore's Company in Lt. Col. Enoch Hallets regt. for service at Rhode Island as a private from August 1 to October 31,1780 including allowance of 4 days for travel, 3 months 4 days. Upon an Order of Treasurer for pay for service in said Capt. Moore's Company & Col. Hallets regt. at Rhode Island dated Sterling January 10, 1782. Upon a Pay Roll of Capt. Nathaniel Wright's company in Col. Luke Drury's regt. for service at West Point as a private of Sterling from October 11 to November 20, 1781 including allowance for 400 miles travel. 

1.  5-0
2. 3-4
    2 --
_______
10.4
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2 months. Not upon Rolls of any of the Officers named in the annexed application. The preceding is all the evidence of service of any one of the name shown by the Military Records in this office.

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Palfrey,
Secretary of the Commonwealth
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I Ruth Willard of Sterling in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being sixty one years of age depose and say that I have good reason to believe that my mother Ruth Lynn was at the time of her Decease entitled to a pension for the services of her first husband, my father, Artemas Willard a native of Sterling which was originally the West precinct of Lancaster, and I for myself and in behalf of my brothers & sisters request the secretary of the Commonwealth to examine the rolls and documents in his office for proof of the service of the said Artemas Willard and according to the best of my recollections he was in the service at several different times, once in the three months service and once in the nine months service, and that he may have been in other services which I am not able to describe. I think he was in the service at Rhode Island one tour, also on a tour of service at West Point on the north River and I think he may have been in the service at Roxbury and Dorchester. I think he may have been in the service under Capt. Eager, Capt. M. Sawyer & Capt. Learner.
Ruth Willard
Worcester SS. Sterling Dec 16th 1845
The above affidavit was subscribed to before me by the above named Ruth Willard.
David Houghton, Justice of the Peace
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12,747  act 43 8625
Ruth Lynn dec'd.
Mass.
Act 7 July '38
m. 83 d. 03
admd.
10 mo. 4 d pri
33.77
Also Act 3 March '43
33.77 (illegible)
July '43
to Ruth-Artemas-Nahum & David Willard-Lucinda Arnold, Phebe White & Nancy Chatman only surviving children

Hon. C. Hudson
H.R.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Worcester Ss.
On this fifth day of May eighteen hundred and forty six, personally appeared in open Court at a Court of Probate holden in Worcester in said county of Worcester, Ruth Willard a resident of Sterling in said County of Worcester sixty two years of age, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration for herself as well as for Lucinda Arnold, Phebe White, Artemas Willard, Nahum Willard, David Willard and Nancy Chatman in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7 1838 and the 23d of August granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War, Also the act of March third 1843.
That her mother deceased , Ruth Lynn who was formerly the widow of Artemas Willard of Sterling aforesaid formerly the second parish in Lancaster being entitled at the time of her decease to a pension from the United States for the services rendered in the War of the Revolution by her first husband, the aforesaid Artemas Willard and by reason of her reduced circumstances and a want of knowledge and assistance did not make a claim. She the said Ruth Willard now appears and claims the Pension for herself as well as for her brothers & sisters to which was due at the date of the death of the said Ruth Lynn and declares that the said
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Artemas Willard was in the service at Rhode Island five monthes from July 1779 in Capt. Fisk Company Col. Taylor's Regiment and in the summer of 1780 he was in the service on Butts Hill in the State of Rhode Island three monthes in Captain Moore's company in the regiment of Col. Hallet and in the autumn of 1781 he again engaged & rendered near three monthes service at West Point in the continental army in Capt. Wrights Company Col. Drury's Regiment which services he rendered from Lancaster & Sterling aforesaid.
She also declared that the said Ruth was married to the aforesaid Artemas Willard on the (seventh-crossed out) seventeenth day of September one thousand seven hundred and eighty three. That the aforesaid Artemas Willard died in Sterling on the sixteenth day of September eighteen hundred and and three. That the said Ruth 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 also declared that after the death of the aforesaid Artemas Willard the said Ruth again married to Joseph Lynn in the year one thousand eight hundred and eleven and that the aforesaid Joseph Lynn died in Sterling on the twenty second day of February eighteen hundred and thirteen and that her mother the aforesaid Ruth died in Sterling on or near the sixteenth day of July in the year eighteen hundred and forty three and that her maiden name was Ruth Houghton.
Ruth Willard
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Sworn to and subscribed by the said Ruth Willard  on the day and year written on the first page. the work "seventh" in the twelfth line from the top on the second page was erased and the word "seventeenth" interlined before signing and making oath.
Before me Benj. F. Thomas Judge of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester SS.
I Charles G. Prentiss, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester do certify that Benjamin F. Thomas is the Judge of said Court duly commissioned and qualified and that his signature to the above certificate is genuine.
In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this fifth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty six.
Chas. J. Prentiss, Register
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Payment to be made at Boston by F. Haven Esq.
Agent for paying Pensioners in the Agency of Mass.
Payable on [the 4th March, and 4th September in each year--crossed out] Presation 
[presentation?]

Recorded in the Pension Office in Book D. Vol. 1 Page 63 by Tho. Lumpkin, Clerk
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War Department
Widow's Pension

I certify that in conformity with the act of July 7, 1838 Ruth Lynn dec., formerly widow of Artemas Willard who was a Private and died on the 16th day of Sept, 1803, is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of Thirty three dollars and 88 cents per annum, commencing on the 4th March 1836 and terminating on the 4th of March, 1841, [sentence crossed out & replaced with] the amt. due is payable to Ruth, Artemas, Nahum & David Willard, Lucinda Arnold, Phebe White & Nancy Chatman only children surviving.
Given at the War Office of the United States this 13th day of May, one thousand eight hundred and forty six

Secretary of War
Examined and Countersigned
Commissioner of Pensions
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Payment to be made at Boston by F. Haven Esq. Agent for paying Pensioners in the Agency of Mass.
Payable on the 4th September and 4th March

Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book D
Vol. 2 Page 33
Tho. Lumpkin, Clerk
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War Department
Widow's Pension

I certify that in conformity with the act of March 3, 1843, Ruth Lynn dec. for'y. widow of Artemas Willard who was a Private and died on the 16th day of Sept. 1803 is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of Thirty Three dollars and seventy seven (77) cents per annum commencing on the 4th March 1843 and terminating on the (sentences crossed out) 16th July 1843 when she died. the amt. due is payable to Ruth, Artemas, Nahum & David Willard, Lucinda Arnold, Phebe White & Nancy Chatman only surviving children.
Given at the War Office of the United States this 15th day of May, one thousand eight hundred and forty six.
Secretary of War
Examined and countersigned
Commissioner of Pensions.
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House of Reps. May 8 1845

Sir,
I enclose you the papers in the case of Ruth Lynn, which you will examine and report to me.
Respectfully yours
Charles Hudson

Jaems L. Edwards Esq.
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10018
Massachusetts
Ruth Lynn deceased form. Widow of Artemas Willard who was a pensioner under the act of -------and who died on the 16th Sept. 1803, of Worcester Co. in the State of Mass. who was a Private in the Compy. commanded by Captain....of Regt. commanded by ........in the Revolution line for 10 mo. 4 days

Inscribed on the Roll of Boston at the rate of 
33 Dollars 77 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1836

Certificate of Pension issued the 15th day of May '46 and sent to Hon. Charles Hudson 
Hos. of Reps.

Total amount $168.83
[Act July 7, 1838]
Recorded by Tho. Lumpkin, Clerk
Book D Vol. 1 page 63
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Reported
Paybl. Ruth, Artemas, Nahum & David Willard, Lucinda Arnold, Phebe white & Nancy Chatman only children surviving
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Rev. WIDOW &c.

File No. 15044
Ruth Lynn
former Widow of
Artemas Willard
Pri. Rev. War
Act: March 3d '43
Index: Vol. A Page 449

[Arrangement of 1870]