Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 9883, Abraham Westfall, Va.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Va.

Westfall, Abraham
Massey

NUMBER
W. 9883

CONTENTS
[blank]
Page 2

158.
Indiana Madison
Massey Westfall
widow of Abraham Westfall
who was a private
in the Virginia line
for One year

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 40 Dollars
--- Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.

Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of May 1843 and sent to
Hon John Erring
Vincennes
Indiana

{Act of March 3, 1843.}
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 1 Page 182
Page 3

State of Indiana
County of Knox SS
On this Eleventh day of February one thousand Eight hundred & forty personally appeared in open court, before the Hon. G. R. Gibson Judge of Probate, in and for said county, the undersigned Massey Westfall, an aged and respectable resident of said County of Knox, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following amendments to her declaration reported to be on file in the Pension office at Washington City to obtain a widows pension: that she has no record proof in her possession of the services of her deceased husband Abraham Westfall, or of the officers names under whose command they were rendered nor of the marriage ceremony under which she lived with him upwards of half a century, nor of the exact period of his death, which event left her desolate-- that the evidence now on file as aforesaid, duly authenticated, of Michl. Thorn, Sarah Harness and Wm H. Thorn, all well known residents of said County of Knox affords as precise statements in relation to his services marriage, and death, as she can possibly furnish and she believes them to be indisputably true - she further declares that she has no record of the births of seven children four of whom are dead, and only one the  youngest son Abraham H. was living with her at the death of his father, her husband, and he left her soon after that event this son she believes will be thirty nine years of age in March
Massey Westfall
X
her mark
Sworn to and subscribed in open court, the day 
and year above written before me
Geo R Gibson
J. P. C. K. C.
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1840
Feby 7 Term Probate Court Knox County,
Indiana - It being represented to the undersigned presiding Judge of said court
now in session, that a declaration of the within named Massey Westfall, and the evidence of Michl. Thorn, Sarah and William H. Thorn all duly qualified witnesses before him, that the credibility of said applicant and witnesses, should be made to appear Now I do certify to the well known credibility of said persons; they are all old and well known citizens of said County.
Given under my hand this 11th day of Feb Eighteen hundred and forty
Geo R Gibson
J. P. C. K. C.

State of Indiana
Knox County
I William R McCord Clerk of the Knox County Probate Court in the said State of Indiana do hereby certify that said Court is a Court of Record that the above and foregoing affidavit was made in open Court and that George R Gibson is Judge thereof and that the Signature purporting to be his is genuine
In testimony whereof I have here unto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of Said Court at Vincennes this 6th day of February A D. 1840
Wm R. McCord Clk
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The main facts required by Mr Edwards in his letter of Jany 23 are embraced in the papers already forwarded Mr. Crump in the absence of Mr E. (I presume) had examined Mr. Westfalls case, and required proof of her continued  widowhood, and of the period of her husbands death. Her widowhood had been sworn to, and the date of his death as near as is possible the widow is a very infirm and weak old woman. The testimony of W. H, Thorn is not an "amended affidavit" he only testified once, and that was after Mr C's letter respy J Ewing
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an Act passed 7th July 1838, entitled "an act granting half pay pension to Widows."

State of Indiana
Knox County Ss
On this twelfth day of November one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine, personally appeared before the Hon. Geo. R. Gibson Judge of the Court of Probate in and for said County of Knox, in open Court, Massey Westfall, relict of Abm. Westfall Decd late a resident of said county and State, aged sixty nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the
following declaration to obtain the benefit of the act above mentioned granting half pay pensions to certain Widows: that she is the widow of Abraham Westfall was a Sergeant in the army of the United States, and as far as is now within her reach of proof, his services are specified in the evidence hereunto annexed.
She further declares, that she was married to the said Abraham Westfall in the Town of Vincennes, now in the State of Indiana then N.W. Terry. [territory] by Esqr Walton on the 11th day of October 1789; that she was not married to him before he quit the service of the U. States, but it occurred previous to the 1st of Jany seventeen hundred and ninety four at the time and place
above stated.
Massey Westfall
X
her mark

Sworn to and subscribed in open court on
the day and year above written before me
George R.  Gibson
Probate Judge of sd. County

Also appeared at same time in open court as aforesaid, Michael Thorn, an ancient resident of said county and state, now aged seventy six years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath
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declare, that during the revolutionary war, a short time before the battle of Monmouth the year before he thinks, he was sent from the then called frontier in Pennsylvania into Virginia for salt, and on the South Branch of Potomac river he became acquainted with Abel, Cornelius and Abraham Westfall,  brothers. Abel, was a captain, and Cornelius, his Lieut then recruiting for the American Army, and Abraham, was a soldier under them or belonging to some other corps that Abraham went as a soldier with his brothers he knows, and that he served in the army he believes certain; that this deponent has heard sd. Abraham say and heard the same from other soldiers now Decd  and he verily believes, that said Abraham Westfall, late husband of Massey, now applying for a pension served
a term of two years in the Army; that this deponent with many others heard the late
Captain Abel Westfall (an older brother) say so frequently, and in presence of deponent the late Cornelius Westfall, aforesaid, told his brother Abraham husband as aforesaid, that he was entitled to a pension, and if an application were made he (Corns.) would readily establish the service and said Abraham declined saying "he would not beg of the U. States, he could live without." or words of like import that Deponent was present and witnessed the Marriage of said Abraham Westfall to Massey Harbin, the present applicant, in her fathers house in Vincennes, in October of the year one
thousand seven hundred and eighty nine the ceremony was performed by Thomas Dalton Esq Decd and said Abraham and Massey
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have resided and lived together in the neighborhood of this deponent in Knox County, untill [sic] the death of said Abraham
Michael Thorn
x
his mark

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year
before written, in open court
George R Gibson
Probate Judge of sd. County

Also, appeared at same time in open court foresaid, Sarah Harness, born in and a resident
of what was Hampshire County, Virginia, now and during the last forty years a resident of Knox County Indiana, approaching eighty one years of age, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, declare, that she was acquainted with and distinctly remembers Abraham Westfall now decd the husband of Massy Westfall now present, in her youthful days in Virginia, as they then lived on the South branch of Potomac not very distant from each other- that she remembers when Abel Westfall an elder brother of sd. Abm. enlisted a company of men in that neighbourhood [sic] to join Genl Washington, and was in the town of  Moorefield (now) on the day they marched from that ground to join the army, which by reason of the birth of a cousin on same day she believes to have been the 28th day of Feby 1776, and Abraham Westfall marched away in said company, with many others of her acquaintances and friends, and did not return untill [sic] after the expiration of two years, when with a portion of the others, as many had died he came home with Captain Abel Westfall, all in good credit that she this deponent always heard and beleived [sic], that said Abraham served two years, and never  heard it questioned or doubted; and living in
the vicinity in Virginia, and in this
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state, of the three brothers, and hearing from
this, acquiantances [sic] who served with them,
her convictions are certain and possitive [sic]. She has resided in this neighborhood, not very far from the late Abm. aforesaid and Massy his wife, since coming from Virginia [illegible] cannot doubt their marriage no more than his services.
Sarah Harness
X
her mark
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year
before written, in open court, before me
George R. Gibson
Probate Judge of sd. County

State of Indiana
Knox County Ss
I William R. McCord Clerk of the Probate Court of the County of Knox in the State of Indiana do hereby certify that the above and foregoing proceedings were held in open Court that said Court is a Court of Record and that George R Gibson Esq is Judge thereof
In testimony whereof I have hereunto Subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of Said Court at Vincennes is this 12th day of November A D 1839
Wm R McCord

6362
Massey Westfall
of Abraham
Inda.

[illegible]/ age 32
L 20.10.8
Page 10

June 4, 1936
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Abraham Westfall, W. 9883
BA-J/MCS
our

Mr. Oscar E. Westfall
Chief Deputy Sheriff
Vincennes
Knox County, Indiana

Dear Sir:

At the request of Mrs. Emmett A. Steece of 900 Nineteenth Street, N. W., Washington, D.C., you are furnished herein, the Revolutionary War record of Abraham Westfall. These data were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, W. 9883, based upon the military service of
this soldier.
Abraham Westfall enlisted while living in Hampshire County, Virginia, on the South Branch of the Potomac River, and he marched
from what was later Moorefield, Virginia, on February 28, 1776, and served two years as private or sergeant in a Virginia company commanded by his "older brother", Captain Abel Westfall. It was stated that another brother, Cornelius Westfall, served as the
lieutenant.
Abraham Westfall married October 11, 1789, Massey Harbin who was born in July, 1770. The marriage took place at the home of her father (whose name was not given) in Vincennes, Indiana.
Abraham Westfall died in December, 1832, or January, 1833, in Knox County, Indiana.
On account of his Revolutionary War service, Abraham Westfall's widow, Massey, was allowed pension on her application executed November 12, 1839, at which time she was living in Knox County, Indiana.
Page 11

Abraham and Massey Westfall had seven children, four of whom were dead in 1840. The only name given was that of the youngest son,
Abraham H. Westfall who, the widow stated, would be thirty-nine years of age in March,  1840, and that he was living with her at the
time of death of his father but left her soon afterward.
Abel and Cornelius Westfall, brothers of the Revolutionary War soldier, Abraham Westfall, were dead in 1839.
In 1839 one Michael Thorn, aged seventy-six years and a resident of Knox County, Indiana, stated that the year before the battle of Monmouth he was sent from the frontier of Pennsylvania to the South Branch of the Potomac in Virginia to obtain salt and there met the Westfall brothers, Abel, Cornelius and Abraham, relationship between Michael Thorn and Westfall brothers not shown. In 1939 one
William H. Thorn, resident of Knox County, Indiana, stated that he had lived in the neighborhood of Abraham and Massey Westfall for the last thirty-four years and was present at the death and funeral of Abraham Westfall, no relationship shown.
Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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In the case of Mrs Massry Westfall, Widow
of Abraham Westfall, Decd

State of Indiana
County of Knox SS

On this seventh day of December one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine personally appeared before the undersigned
Probate Judge of said County, William H. Thorn
a resident citizen thereof, who being duly Sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he has lived in the neighbourhood [sic] of the late Abraham Westfall and Massy his wife, for and during the last thirty four years that he said affiant, was present in the room where the said Abraham lay when he breathed
his last breath, and afterwards helped to place his mortal remains in the coffin and attended the funeral, and cannot state the precise month or day, but from circumstances fresh in his recollection he is firmly impressed with the belief and conviction, that said Abraham
died, and was buried, in the months of Decr 1832 or January 1833 and
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this belief and conviction of the time is strengthened by a conversation had on yesterday with Mrs Westfall the widow who is now unwell and unable to come to town to depose to the same fact as stated -  that affiant has a constant and intimate knowledge with the concerns of the said Widow, and knows she has not married since the death of said
Abraham, and remains a widow to the present time.-
William H Thorn

Sworn to and subscribed
on the day and year before
written before me
Geo R. Gibson P. Judge K.C.
Page 14

State of Indiana
Knox County
I William R McCord Clk of Circuit Court in and for Said County and ex officio Clerk of the probate Court of Said County do hereby Certify that George R Gibson Esq before whom the within and foregoing affidavit appears to have been made is the acting Judge of Probate in and for Said County duly commissioned and qualified that full faith and credit is due all his official acts as Such and that said probate Court is a Court of Record
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
Subscribed my name and affixed the
Seal of said Court at Vincennes
this Seventh day of December AD
1839
Wm. R. McCord Clk
Page 15

Massey Westfall
widow of Abraham
Westfall private, of
Capt. Abel Westfalls Co Va line
Act 7 July 1838
$40 per ann

Madison Indiana Roll
Hand cert:  to the
Hon. John Ewing
Present
Page 16

Revolution Virginia
WIDOW, & c.
File No. 9883
Massey Westfall
Wid of
Abraham Westfall
Pvt, Va. line

Act: Mch, 3743
Index:--Vol. M, Page 320

{Arrangement of 1870.]

Apl. 7, 1905 - His to F. M. Mills, Springfield
Ill. June. 
1936 June 4 Hist to Mr.
Oscar E. Westfall through
Mrs. E. A. Steece, MCS
Page 17

Vincennes Nov 12 '39

Sir

Mrs Westfalls application is enclosed. I believe her to be a deserving applicant. The old Virga. lists if I be not in error, contain the name of the 
three brothers Westfall for one of them (Cornl, now decd) I well remember obtaining a pension
many years ago.
Respty
Your pbtst [obedient servant]
Jno. Ewing

J L Edwards, Esq.
Com of Pensions
Page 18

6092
Indiana
Massey Westfall
widow of Abraham Westfall,
who was a pensioner under the Act of [blank]
and who died on the [blank]
of Knox Co in the State of Indiana,
who was a private in the Compy commanded
by Captain Abel Westfall of the --- commanded
by ------- in the Virginia line for one year.

Inscribed on the Roll of Madison
at the rate of 40 Dollars ---
Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of March 1841 and handed to Hon. Jno. Ewing
Present.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1840            $180.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar '41 20:00
[total]                                                      $200.00

{Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by Wm. C. Lantzinger Clerk,
Book A Vol. 2 Page 222

Reported.
Page 19

J. L. Edwards Esq
Pension Agt
Washington

June 18 1840
[illegible]
Westfall

[postmark]
Washington [illegible]

Hon. O. H. Smith
Senate U. S,
Hon. O Smith
Page 20

Washington City
17 June 1840

Sir,

I rec'd a letter to day from the Hon. John Ewing of Vincennes Ind recently written in
which he says, "I wish you to inquire of Mr Edwards Pension Agent, in relation to a pension case, on behalf of Mrs Massey Westfall, in relation to which all his requirements have been complied with, and he has failed to acknowledge the last affidavit of the widow, or give me the decision." Will you give the required information,
Respectfully
O H Smith

J L Edwards Esq
Pension Agent
Page 21

640
Jno. ab. Apl 29 1843
Inda. [Indiana]
Mar 3rd 1843

[postmark]
[illegible]

FREE

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Comr of Pensions
War Dept
Washington City
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Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of the 3d March one thousand eight hundred and forty three, granting pensions for one year to certain widows who have received pensions under the act of July 1838 
State of Indiana, Knox County SS. 
On this twentieth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and forty three, personally appeared before me the undersigned Justice of the Peace of said County, and State, Mrs Massey Westfall, personally known to the undersigned for many years, and aged seventy three years in July next, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of congress of the 3d of March 184  granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war: that she is the widow of Abraham Westfall a revolutionary soldier, who was mustered into the service of the United States in a company of Virginia Militia then under the control of his brother Abel Westfall on the South branch of the Potomac, and believes he served as a sergeant of said company- that in 1839 she applied for a pension under the act of the 7th of July 1838, which after some time was approved to allow to her Forty Dollars a Year in all $200 - she the said Massey, further declares, that she is still a widow-
Massey Westfall
X
her mark

Sworn to and subscribed
on the day and year above
written-Before me
Martin Robinson
J. P.
Page 23

State of Indiana
Know County Ss 
 I William R McCord Clerk of the Knox Circuit Court do hereby Certify that Martin Robinson Esq before whom the within and foregoing affidavit or declaration appears to have been made is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly Commissioned and qualified and that full faith and credit is due
all his official acts as Such
In testimony whereof I have here
unto Subscribed my name and affixed
the Seal of Said Court at Vincennes
this 20th day of April Anno
Domini 1843
Wm R McCord Clk
Page 24

Vincennes Ind. Apl 22d 1843
Dr Sir
I transmit the annexed declaration for Mr Westfall, and hope it satisfies the requirements of the case-
I forwarded a declaration for a Mr Silcer (relict of a late pensioner of Green Co in this State) last Decemr. and received your decision when at Indianapolis in January last I think which by some casualty has been lost or mislaid If you will be good enough to order a duplicate that I may instruct the old woman to remove the objections
You will oblige me.
Respy - Yr Obt. Svt.
Jno Ewing

J. L. Edwards Esq

Copy sent Apl 29. 1843
Page 25

June 1, 1936
Send abstract of pension claim of Abraham Westfall W. 9883
To Mr Oscar E. Westfall
Chief Deputy
c/o Sheriff Knox County
Vincennes Indiana

By order of
Mrs Emmet A. Steece
900 - 19th St. N.W., Wash. D.C.