Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6039, for Malachi Knowlton, Massachusetts
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(3-1776)

SERVICE  |  -  |  NUMBER
Mass.  |  Knowlton, Malachi  |  R. 6039
-  |  Abigail  |  -

CONTENTS
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I Malachi Knowlton was born on
January 10th 1759 [?]
my wife Abigail Knowlton was born on Monday
of 6th day of September 1769
Michael Knowlton born on friday
[illegible] of May 1782
[illegible] Knowlton born Monday
15th Day of March 1784
Lavinia Knowlton born on friday
the 26th Day of August 1785
Ivers Knowlton born on Monday
the 15th Day of February 1790
Mercy Knotton Born on Wednesday
the 12th of November 1800
Anna Knowlton Born on Wednesday
the 3d of February 1802

[vertical text to right of horizontal text]
Malachi Knowlton and Abigail Patch were
Maried June [illegible] 14. 1731
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I hereby certify that "Malachi Knowlton & Abigail Patch both of Ipswich entered their intention of Marriage May 19th 1791". as appears by the record of Publishments in the town of Ipswich.
Ebenezer Burnham Town Clerk of Ipswich
Ipswich August 14. 1839.
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Petition of
Abigail Knowlton
5971
Abigail Knowlton
Malachi
Mass -
Act 7 July 38
m 81 d 30
Vol. 18, 151 - on 40 ds -
fifer

6059
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State of Massachusetts
County of Essex - ss.

On this Twentieth day of July A.D. 1839
personally appeared before the Judge of Probate for said County of Essex, Abigail Knowton, a resident of Hamilton in the County of Essex, aged Seventy Seven years, who, being first duly sworn, according to Law doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act
of Congress, passed July 7th 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" That she is the widow of Malachi Knowlton late of Hamilton aforesaid, who died on the Thirteenth day of September A.D. 1830 -
During the Revolutionary War said Malachi
Knowlton was a Fifer in the company of
Militia commanded by Capt. Robert Dodge, of
Ipswich in the said County of Essex, he marched
with said Company to Providence, Rhode
Island, where said company was detached to
Warren & served two months from the last of
April to the last of June 1777.
In the latter part of the year 1777, he again served as fifer in Capt Robert Dodge's company in Col. Gerrish's Regiment of the Massachusetts Infantry, in the Northern Army which captured General Burgoyne for the term four months and a half & was then discharged.
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The claimant relies upon the affidavit of
Moses Lufkin to prove her husband's service, having no documentary evidence in her possession in support of the claim, except the family record as to her marriage -
The Record of Marriages of the Town of Wenham
being lost, and the Town Clerk or Clergyman not being able to give a certificate of the time of her marriage, she further declares that she was married to said Malachi Knowlton on the 14th
day of June in the year Seventeen Hundred and Eighty one, and it so appears by the family record; the claimant's husband the aforesaid Malachi Knowlton died on the Thirteenth day of September A.D. 1830 - that she was not married
to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January Seventeen Hundred and Ninety Four viz: at the time above stated.
Abigail Knowlton
her X mark
witness Aaron Dodge Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written. The said Abigail being sick & unable to attend in open Court - before D A White Judge of Probate
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I hereby certify the following to be a true copy
of the baptisms of the children of Malichi Knowlton and Abigail Knowlton as taken from the Record of Baptisms kept by Rev. Dr Cutler the regular pastor of the Congregational Church of Hamilton and State of Mass -
George W. Kelly present pastor
of said church
Hamilton Aug 13. 1839.

"Baptisms
Michal, son of Malichi Knowlton July 7th 1782.
Azor son of Malichi Knowlton March 28. 1784
Lavinia daughter of Malachi Knowlton Aug. 28. 1785.
Ivers, son of Malichi Knowlton (Mr Barnard) March 1790
Marcy, daughter of Malichi Knowlton Nov. 30. 1800. 
Anna daugh. of Malichi Knowlton Nov. 7. 1802."

[illegible] ss. August 18th 1829 Personally appeared to above [illegible] George W. Kelly and made oath to the above to be a copy before
me
Oliver S. Cressy Justice Peace
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March 29, 1937

Malachi Knowlton
R. 6039
BAJ/AWF

The Quartermaster General
Memorial Branch
War Department
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your request for information relative to Malachi Knowlton, who served in the Revolutionary War as fifer in Captain Joseph Rea's company, and died September 13, 1830 in Essex County, Massachusetts.

The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, R. 6039, based upon the service of Malachi Knowlton in the War of the Revolution.

Malachi Knowlton was born January 10, 1759, place not shown, nor were the names of his parents stated.

He married June 14, 1781 in Wenham, Essex County, Massachusetts, Abigail Patch. She was born September , 1762, place not given, nor were the names of her parents shown. When they were married they were both of Ipswich, Massachusetts.

Malachi Knowlton died September 13, 1830 in Hamilton, Essex County, Massachusetts.

His widow, Abigail Knowlton, applied for pension July 20, 1839, then a resident of Hamilton, Massachusetts.

It was stated that Malachi Knowlton of Ipswich,
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Massachusetts, enlisted the latter part of April,
1777, served as fifer two months in Captain Robert Dodge's company, that he enlisted the latter part of the year, 1777 and served as fifer in Captain Robert Dodge's company, Colonel Gerrish's Massachusetts regiment.
The claim for pension was not allowed as proof
of six months' service was not established. Six
months' service was the shortest period of service for which a pension was allowed.
The children of Malachi Knowlton and his wife,
Abigail -
Michael born May 24, 1782, baptized July 7, 1782
Azor (son) " March 15, 1784, baptized March 28, 1784
Lavinia " August 26, 1785, baptized August 28, 1785
Ivers (son) " February 15, 1790, baptized March --, 1790
Mercy or Marcy " November 12, 1800, baptized November 30, 1800
Anna " February 3, 1802, baptized November
7, 1802.

The above named children were all baptized by
Reverend Dr. Cutler, pastor of the Congregational Church of Hamilton, Massachusetts.
The application for headstone for Malachi Knowlton is returned herewith. There was no correspondence enclosed.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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5971
Let Davis Roberts, 30 [crossed out]
Sept '39 [crossed out]
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[vertical text]
5971
Mass.  Aug 22
July 7 1838

[horizontal text]
James L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
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Salem August 17th 1839
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Sir,
Enclosed is a Petition of Abigail Knowlton for a Pension as the widow of Malachi Knowlton
By the Certificate or affidavit Moses Lufkin it appears that Malachi Knowlton served more than six months -
Our former Representative (Mr Phillips)
looked at your Records March 1st 1858 or
thereabouts -- but found nothing satisfactory -
Moses Lufkin (also a musician) was with
Knowlton & transfered to different
Company's with him - He is therefore as good a witness as the widow (now very feeble from
age) can possibly procure -
I hope the transmitted affidavit will satisfy the Department as to service -
Then as to marriage, the widow has had still greater difficulty. She was married in Wenham, the Minister of Hamilton
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(or Ipswich Hamlet as it was called in 1781)
being absent at the time -
Hamilton was set off from Ipswich in
1793 - accordingly the publishment is among
the Ipswich Records -
19
The Records of Wenham are not to be 
found and of course there is no public 
record of the marriage to be obtained -
I therefore enclose the original family
Record which was found in the old soldier's
desk by his family -
also a certificate of the Pastor of Wenham
of the loss of Marriage Records from 1762 to 1793.
also - the certificate of the Town Clerk of
Ipswich that M. Knowlton was published to
Abigail Patch (the widow) May 19th 1781 -
and finally the certificate (under oath)
of Mr. Kelly (now Pastor of Hamilton) of the
Babtism's of the Children -
This is all the evidence in relation
to the marriage which is now procurable -
superadded to this is the widow's oath before
the Judge of Probate; and I hope the
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Evidence of service & marrige herewith
transmitted will be satisfactory -
The original Family Record is enclosed
as the best evidence - I could
have got evidence that it is
the hand writing of the applicant's
husband but witnesses [illegible]
fluous if I transmitted the
original -
I have the honour to be
Very Respectfully
Yr Obt Servt
David Roberts
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I Moses Lufkin of Gloucester in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, aged 21 years, on oath testify, That in the Revolutionary war
my residence was in Ipswich; and I enlisted as Drummer at said Ipswich in Capt. Robert Dodge's Company of militia; was marched to Providence, R.I. and then said company was detached to Warren, where I served from the last of April to the last of June in the year 1777, according to the best of my memory, when my term of enlistment expired and I was discharged.
That I was well acquainted with Malachi Knowlton of said Ipswich who enlisted as a Fifer in said Dodges company with this deponent
and to my knowledge said Knowlton served therein two full months and was discharged at the end of said service.
I further testify, That I enlisted as Drummer at said Ipswich in Capt Robert Dodge's Company in Colo. Gerrish's Regiment in the Massachusetts Infantry in the Northern army which captured Gen. Burgoyne in 1777; and served therein four an half months, and was then discharged. During all which service I was well acquainted with Malachi Knowlton aforesaid of the same Ipswich, who was a Fifer in said company and to my knowledge he served in said company four & half months with me in the latter part of the said year 1777, when he was discharged. 
Moses Lufkin

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss
February 20th, 1839. Then Moses Lufkin above
named, who is well known to me as a credible witness personally came, subscribed and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notarial seal on the day
and year above written
William Ferson, Not Public
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Wenham July 20 1839
I hereby certify that no record of any marriages solemnised in this town between the year 1762 & the year 1793 has ever come into my possession.
I may also and that all the records which I have ever had of the church during that period have come to me in a very imperfect state
Danl Mansfield { Pastor of
{ Cong. Ch in
{ Wenham
(N.B. interlined before signed)
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1937 March 29 list to
memorial Branch act
Act of July 14, 1862, and March 8, 1873. [crossed out]
REJECTED
6039
P. O.
Abigail Knowlton
Service:
Enlisted:         , 18  .
Discharged:         , 18  .
Application filed:         , 18  .
The printed list of
1852 shows reasons
Alleges:
for suspension
Re-enlisted: "He did not serve
six months"
Attorney:
P. O.
Recognized.                  Contract.
Cert. of Dis.  Searched for         , 18  .
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War Dep
Pen. Off
Sep 30 39
Sir
The claim of Mrs Abigail Knowlton widow of Malachi Knowlton died under the act of 7 July 38 is asserted for 2 mo fifer under Capt Robert
Dodge in Summer of 77- & 4½ mo under him in the fall of 77- The witness is found on the rolls but he is mistaken in supposing that claimants [?]
late husband served in the same company with him - while the Witnesses served 4 mo as
Drummer in Robert Dodges Company from Sept 77, claimants late husband was a fifer in Capt Richard Dodges company which entered the service on 30 Sept 77 and was discharged at Winter to which they escorted the captured
army of Burgoyne, on 7 Nov - This reduces his service below the minimum provision of the
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act even if the alleged [crossed out] other term of 2 mo was confirmed by the rolls
Her claim is therefore disallowed
& her papers placed on file
David Roberts esq
Salem
Mass

[vertical text]
David Roberts
Sept 30, '37
O.G.