Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21,658, Matthew Bell, New York
Page 1

New York   Bell, Matthew   W. 21,658
----------------- Esther
Page 2

8936
New. York. Albany
__________________
Esther Bell, decd
widow of Matthew
who was a Private
in the Revolution
___________________
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate 
of 21 Dollars 8 1/2[???]
Cents per annum, to commence
on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Endg June 27 1845.
_____________________
Certificate of Pension issued
the 17th day of Feby 1851[unclear]
and sent to 
Alexr Ray
Present
______________________
Acts of March 3, 1843, & June 17, 1844.

Recorded in Book A
Vol. 2     Page 261
Page 3

2       13731
Esther Bell widow
of Matthew N Bell
under act of 7th July
1838 -- Declaration
for a pension.


G. F. Yates
Atty
Page 4

State of New York}
County of Fulton } ss.
On this seventh day of October 1844, personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County now sitting, Esther Bell, a resident of the town of Ephratah is said County, aged eighty-four years; and she 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 passed 7th July 1838. That she is the widow of Matthew Bell who served in manner and for the terms & under the officers herein after set forth, and as detailed in the documents to accompany this Declaration.
She further declares that she was married to said Matthew Bell in the spring of the year one thousand seven Hundred and Eighty-four, (1784.).
That she was married at the time aforesaid, at Cambridge in the County of Washington in said State by the Reverend Thomas L. Beveridge of the Presbyterian Church who resided in said town of Cambridge- & that her maiden name was "Clyde." The said Matthew Bell died on the thirteenth day of September in the year one thousand Eight hundred & thirteen. And since his decease, she this Declarant has remained single and unmarried and is still his widow.
This Declarant further saith, that she resided with her said husband Matthew Bell in said town of Cambridge from the year 1784, or from the day of her marriage
Page 5

as aforesaid until the year 1792, or thereabouts, when she moved to Johnstown in said County of Fulton. She continued to reside in Said town of Johnstown until about two years ago, when she took up her residence in said town of Ephratah, where she now resides.
This Declarant has no personal knowledge of the revolutionary service of said Matthew Bell. She has heard him give an account of his services in the war of the revolution, but she cannot remember all the particulars of said account.
She remembers that he stated a service of six & nine months in two single tours that he was a prisoner for several months together with his father and oldest brother. She thinks the following were the names of some of his officers -- David Allen Ensign. Col. Harper. Lieut. Sherwood & others. Note "1792" written on razure.
-------------------------- her
------------------  Esther  X  Bell
-------------------------- mark
Subscribed and sworn }
the day & year first aforesaid}
before me Oct 7th, 44 }
S. Wait Clerk

And the said County hereby declare their opinion after an investigation of the matter, that the said Matthew Bell was a revolutionary soldier & served as stated -That said Esther Bell was married at the time in the foregoing declaration stated _ That said Matthew Bell died at the time stated in the said Declaration _ and that said Esther Bell since his death has remained & still is his widow. I certify that the foregoing contains the  original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of said Esther Bell for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 7th day of October 1844. S. Wait Clerk.
Page 6

State of New York}
County of Fulton } ss.
Joseph Cuyler and Lucius I. Smith of the town of Johnstown in said County, being respectively duly sworn do depose & say that they were well acquainted with Matthew Bell, the same person referred to & described in the preceding declaration, also with his former wife now widow the aforesaid Esther Bell.
That he the said Joseph Cuyler knew the Said Matthew Bell as early as the year 1800, and continued to cultivate his acquaintance with said Matthew Bell until the day of his death _ That the said Matthew Bell died about thirty years ago in said town of Johnstown, & that since his death she the said Esther Bell has remained single and unmarried & is still his widow _ and the said Lucius D. Smith, deposeth that he became acquainted with said Matthew Bell in the year 1810, and that since the death of Said Matthew Bell the said Esther Bell has remained unmarried & is still the widow of said Matthew Bell
J L Cuyler [signature--  L is my best guess]
L I Smith [signature]
Subscribed and Sworn this Seventh day of October 1844, before me, and I certify that said Deponents Joseph Cuyler & Lucius I. Smith are to me well known, and that their statements are entitled to full credit.
Aaron Haring a Judge of Fulton County Court N. Y. State
State of New York _ County of}
Fulton -- Clerk's office ______} ss. I, Stephen Wait Clerk of said County, do hereby certify, that Aaron Haring Esqr before whom the preceding deposition purports to have been sworn, was at the time thereof, one of the Judges of the County Courts in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified as such, & that the signature purporting to be his, to the jural & certificate subjoined to said Deposition, is genuine.
Witness my hand & official seal. Oct 7th 1844, S Wait clk
Page 7

State of New York}
Fulton County  } Ss
I John Wells, County Judge of Fulton County do certify that at a surrogates Court held before me in & for said county at my office the most[I think] satisfactory evidence was adduced to said Court to prove that Matthew Bell departed this life on the 13th day of September in the year 1813 - that he left a widow, him surviving whose name was Esther Bell. That said Esther made application in her life time for a pension under the act of July 1838 - for the services rendered by her said husband as a soldier in the Revolutionary War - and also that the said Esther Bell died on the 27th day of June 1845 leaving her surviving the following named children viz. this deponent named John Bell. residing in Johnstown Fulton County - Esther wife of John Bronk living in Ephrata Fulton County & Mary Bell living at Buffalo Erie County - all of full age and that the said Esther Bell at the time of her death was an applicant for a pension from the United States
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of the Surrogates Court of said County of Fulton this 31st day of January 1849
John Wells, County Judge of Fulton County
Page 8

Esther Bell
Widow of 
Matthew Bell,
afft. of Saml Bell
dc[??] marriage
(7th)
Page 9

I Samuel Bell of Hartford in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont of the age of seventy five years testify and say that I was born in the town of Cambridge in  the State of New York, and resided there with my parents till my seventeenth year. When I was about eleven years of age my brother Matthew Bell married Esther Clyde. I was present at the marriage ceremony which took place at Jonathan French's in said Cambridge where said Esther was then living and had been there living for several months. They were married by the Rev. Thomas Beveridge the minister of the Parish. My said brother Matthew died, as I have been informed and believe to be true, about twenty years ago - his widow the said Esther I saw about fifteen years since at Johnstown in the State of New York, where she and her husband, my said brother, had resided, and I have understood she died some few years since. I have heard my brother Matthew relate his being out as a soldier during the revolutionary war, and his being taken prisoner by the British & Indians - the length of time he was out I do not recollect. The said Matthew and Esther after their marriage lived at my father's about five years - I recollect they had two children during the time.
Samuel Bell [signature]
State of Vermont}
Windsor County Ss} At Woodstock in said County this 16th day of May A.D. 1848 Personally appeared the above named Samuel Bell, and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed contains the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Before me
Job Lyman Justice of Peace
Fees-
Witness travel 8 miles   40
attendance ------------- 34
Justice's fee ------------- 34
--------------------------1.08
Page 10

[Most of the document in this image is printed. I will transcribe only the handwritten parts:]

Job Lyman
30 " day of November
Seven
to the foregoing certificate
16[??] May 1848

Norman Williams
Page 11

Matthew Bell
---5 --- to
Lieu. Jonathan French.
(5th)
Page 12

Cambridge 8th March 1783
Sir
Please to pay F Jonathon French or his Order the whole of my wages due to me for Service Done to the United States [illegible] Regiment of Lewis[Levies?] Raised in the year 1780 Commanded by Coln John Harper as borne on the Pay Rolls of Capt Graber[?] Company[?] & this Shall be your discharge - from
In your Humble Servis
Matthew Bell
To the Paymaster of}
Col. Harper's Regt or}
any other Gentleman}
appointed to pay }
Said Regt ________}

I hereby Certify that the above named Matthew Bell Joined the above mentioned Regt the 15th day of May 1780 & discharged the 30th day of Novr _____ 1780[?]

Seth Sherwood} Lieutn Capt Drake[??]
Compy in D Regt
Page 13

WIDOW, &c.

File No. 21,658
Esther Bell
Widow of
Matthew Bell
Pri Rev War

Act March 3d. 43 & June 17th 44
Vol. A, Page 54

Arrangement of 1870.
Page 14

11,039
New York. Albany
Esther Bell, decd
Matthew Bell
13 Sept 1813"
Cambridge  N. Y.
pri --  Company 
Drake
Regt -- Col Harper
New York -- 6 Mos 17 days

Albany
21.--  87/'c


17th 
Febry 1831  -- sent to
Alexr Ray Esq
Presend[don't know what that means]

H. R. Weightman Clerk
Book A. Vol. 1. Page 531
Page 15

W[could be and h or an N] 13731
Esther Bell
NY --  14039
Let. to G. F. Yates
Nov 30th 1848

Act 7 July 1838
Page 16

New York,
Albany Agency,
____
Esther Bell, decd
widow of Matthew
who was a private
New York Trops[Troops?]
_____
Ad.[?] Act July 7, 1838,
March 30 1843. & June 17/'44
for 6 mo 17 days as private, Commence
March 4, 1836, and
end June 27, 1845, when 
she died.
______
$21.87 [illegible] per Ann[maybe]
______
Pay all to John Bell
Esther Bronk, &
Mary Bell, only
surviving children,
~
To Alexander Ray
Berat.[maybe]
Page 17

Pension Office.
February 12, 1851

Sir, 
We have in Rolls in NY[or Mrs, or Mar??]
Page 18

[b]ridge March the 21 -- 1785

VanVorts plege to pay unto George Gillmore order at 
wages for Serves Down in your Regment in the beha
[th]e united States it bein for Value Receved By me
Matthew Bell --------------------Matthew Bell
[S]ilas Clark
Page 19

S
In[??] the Contents of the within order in full to me
[illegible couple of letters--probably a month] 23. 1765
George Gillmore
 
[upside down on the far right is the address:]
Matthew Bell.
W.21658
N. Y. 

[At 90 degrees from the other texts:]
(6#2

[there are some other words beyond the right margin of the page, which I will not attempt to decipher.]
Page 20

Matthew Bell
in-Sted
John Hambleton

[on the lower right is the following:]
Matthew Bell 
W. 21,658
New York

[and below that, upside down is the following:]
Matthew Bell
Page 21

By Peter B. Lears Esqr--
The Barer Mathew Bell a Privet [sic] in the New York State Battallion [sic] is Discharged Agreeable to Orders Received from his Excellency Governor Clinton _ _ _ _
Given at Schenetady the 6 January 1784
Regested [sic] in the Book of the Battallion _ _ _}
P. Moor Adj't.}
~
Peter B Learse Capt
Command [with flourish]
Page 22

Matthew Bell
in N.Y. State Line
No 1.
Page 23

State of New York}
Secretary's Office } I certify that it appears by the Military Register in this office that on the 1st day of January 1777 Matthew Bell Enlisted as a Soldier in the 2d. New York Regiment Capt Grahams Company -- Deserted July 18. 1777 Joined August 1st 1778 and was mustered to January 1782. 
Archd. Campbell
Dep Sec of State

Albany, Dec. 31. 1844
Page 24

[Top right]
Matthew Bell's 
widow Esther Bell
Afft. of N. Stoner
~
No. 3.

[On the left side]
State of New York}
County of Fulton}ss. I, Stephen Wait Clerk of said county, do hereby certify that Peter McKie[or McRie] Esq before whom the preceding or annexed deposition purports to have been sworn, was at the time thereof a Justice of the Peace in & for said County, duly appointed & qualified as such; & that the signature purporting to be his, to the jurat subjoined to said Deposition, is genuine. Witness my hand & official seal, this 11th day of October 1844. 
Stephen Wait, Clerk
Page 25

[Top Left, oriented so that it reads from bottom toward the top]
Matthew Bell's 
Widow Esther Bell
____________________
Afft. of N. Stoner
~
No. 3.

[main section of text on the image]
State of New York}
County of Fulton} ss. I, Stephen Wait Clerk of said county, do hereby certify that Peter McKie[or McRie] Esq before whom the preceding or annexed deposition purports to have been sworn, was at the time thereof a Justice of the Peace in & for said County, duly appointed & qualified as such; & that the signature purporting to be his, to the jurat subjoined to said Deposition, is genuine. Witness my hand & official seal, this 11th day of October 1844.
Stephen Wait, Clerk
Page 26

Albany Nov 18 1850
Alexander Ray Esq
Washington City D.C.
Among other Cases pending in the pension office I have one of Esther Bell, in which I declined receiving a report at the time it was ready to be sent to me, for the reason that I then supposed I would be able soon to present new documentary evidence which would authorize the Department to award a larger stipend than I thought they would consent to do with the proof on file.
As the case now stands therefore I take it for granted that I shall receive no report in the regular order of business in the Pension office, without a new application. I wish a report on the case, so that I may know what, if any, additional proof is required to establish the case. The heirs are urging me to  attend to the claim, about which I have done nothing for more than a year past.
I authorize you to act as my substitute in the case, to do all that may be needful in the premises. If any additional or more specific authority is required.
Page 27

from me, let me know what it is.
I am very respectfully 
your obt Servt
G. F. Yates
~
Page 28

Esther Bell
widow of Matthew Bell
__________________________
Act of 7. July, '38
[illegible]
Letter of G. F. Yates
her solr
July 24th 1848
with Decn & proofs

To
Col: J. L. Edwards
Commr of Pensions
Page 29

Albany N. Y., July 24th 1848.
Sir,
I send herewith papers in Support of the claim of Esther Bell widow of Matthew Bell under the acts of 7th July 1838, et seqr.[??]
(1st) Declaration of widow - paper marked No 2_ married in the spring of 1784. He died 13th Sepr 1813. He hailed from Cambridge Washington Co: N. Y., & served in militia and levies.
I can only prove by Documents nearly seven months service under Col. Harper. There was another Matthew Bell, who belonged to the N. Y. line and served almost continuously from 1777 till 1783, as per certificate No. 1.
(2nd) Affidavits of identity made by Jos: Cuyler Esqr & L. J. Smith Esq of Johnstown N. Y. attached to the Declaration, with court's certificate &c
(3rd) Afft of Nichs -Stoner, showing that Mr & Mrs B. had a child before 1794, and identifying her as the widow of Matthew Bell, a revolutionary soldier from Cambridge Washington Co: N.Y.
(4th) Comptroller's certificate of Bell's service under Col: Harper in 1780 L18:10/2[or wf2 or iof2 or w/2]
(5th) Original doct showing that the Matthew Bell who served under Harper, was the husband of my applicant from Washington Co: N. Y., &
Page 30

that he served from 15th May to 30th Novr 1780 under Col. Harper as alleged.
(6th) Two original Docts, showing that Matthew Bell of Washington Co: N.Y., served in  the Militia but I cannot by tradition or documentary proof ascertain how long or when he served thus in the militia. Also in the State troops in 1783 at last q.
(7th) Afft of Samuel Bell brother of Matthew Bell, who was present at the marriage ceremony in 1784, & who Swears to his identity as the husband of Esther, and a revolutionary soldier, &c.
I am very respectfully
Your Obt Servt
G. F. Yates.
~
[illegible] for appt
~
Col. J. L. Edwards
Commr of Pensions
Page 31

Washington
Jany 22. 1851
Jas. E. Heath Esq
Comr of Pensions
Sir
In the case of Esther Bell I have just received your letter of Nov 30. 1848. requiring evidence of the time of her death, the names of the children that survived her, and that there is no record evidence of her marriage.
The enclosed affidavit and certificate is presented in compliance with your letter, and furnishes the necessary evidence.
I remain very
respectfully your
Ob Ser
Alex Ray
note
I write [??] letter to the 
Dep. in this case on the 21Nov. last}
Page 32

Washington
Nov 21. 1850.
Jas. l Edwards Esq
Comr of Pensions
Sir
You will receive herewith a letter from Giles. F. Yates Esq of New York. in the case of Esther Bell. This letter explains the object, and the request that a repair[not sure about this] may be made to me
May I respectfully ask your early attention as Mr Yates informs me, the repeated application of agents for the prosecution of the claim has created dissatisfaction , with the party, and begs an early decision. 
I remain your 
most respectfully Alex. Ray

I presume the application 
was made from New York ).
Page 33

Ester Bell

G. F. Yates
Page 34

State of New York,}
Erie County,} ss:
Be it known, that before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid Personally appeared Latecia Rampson and made oath in due form of law. That this deponant [sic] had a Brother who is now desseased [sic] by the name of Mathew Bell and who lived in the town of Cambridge County of Washington State of New York and that the above named Mathew Bell her Brother was married to a person by the name of Ester Clyde by Reverant [sic] Doctor Proudfoot who resided at that time in the town of Salem in the County and State last aforesaid and this deponant further Says that she was at the wedding and Saw her Brother above mentioned married to the Said Ester Clyde above named by the above mentioned minster [sic] on or about the year one thousand Seven hundred and Eigty [sic] seven. and that the Said Ester was the only wife my Brother ever had to my knowledge and beliefe [sic]. in presence of D. Ball_
----------------------------- her
--------------------- Latecia  X  Rampson
----------------------------- mark
Sworn and Subscribed}
this 27th day of May 1848 before}

[The rest of this image is a printed document with blanks filled in by hand. I will transcribe the handwritten parts:]
David Ball
Affidavit
taking
Justice of the Peace -- elected
David Ball
29 June[I think] 1848
W[or M] Bristol
Page 35

State of New York,}
Erie County,} ss:
Be it known, that before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid Personally appeared Latecia Rampson and made oath in due form of law. That this deponant [sic] had a Brother who is now desseased [sic] by the name of Mathew Bell and who lived in the town of Cambridge County of Washington State of New York and that the above named Mathew Bell her Brother was married to a person by the name of Ester Clyde by Reverant [sic] Doctor Proudfoot who resided at that time in the town of Salem in the County and State last aforesaid and this deponant further Says that she was at the wedding and Saw her Brother above mentioned married to the Said Ester Clyde above named by the above mentioned minster [sic] on or about the year one thousand Seven hundred and Eigty [sic] seven. and that the Said Ester was the only wife my Brother ever had to my knowledge and beliefe [sic]. in presence of D. Ball_
----------------------------- her
--------------------- Latecia  X  Rampson
----------------------------- mark
Sworn and Subscribed}
this 27th day of May 1848 before}
me. the words describing the time}
of the marage [sic] as above interlined}
was done before Signing}

David Ball. Justice of the peace
Page 36

State of New York }
County of Fulton } ss.
Nicholas Stoner of the town of Caroga, aged seventy-nine years, and a pensioner of the United States under the Act of 18th March 1818, being duly sworn saith, that he this Deponent was well acquainted with Matthew Bell whose widow Esther as Deponent has been informed is now an applicant for a pension. That he this Deponent knew said Matthew Bell when he said Bell resided in the town of Cambridge in the County of Washington in said State. He this Deponent about fifty-one or two years ago assisted the said Matthew Bell to move with his wife & family to Johnstown in said County of Fulton then County  of Montgomery, and accompanied him the said Matthew Bell wife & family when they thus moved from Cambridge aforesaid to Johnstown aforesaid. The said Matthew Bell & his wife the said Esther had then two children with  them, the oldest of whom appeared to be at least five or six years of age. This Deponent cultivated the acquaintance of said Matthew Bell & his said wife Esther until the day of the death of said Matthew Bell. The said Matthew Bell died about thirty years ago and since his decease his widow the said Ester Bell has remained single and unmarried, & is still unmarried. That they said Matthew & Esther during the lifetime of said Matthew lived together as husband & wife & were universally reputed & esteemed as such, & not the least doubt was ever entertained so far as Deponent knows or was informed, certainly no doubt was ever expressed of their having been lawfully
Page 37

married.
This Deponent does not remember ever to have met with said Matthew during the war of the revolution. The said Matthew hailed from said town of Cambridge aforesaid, and in that place was enrolled & entered the service of the United States of America as a soldier in the war of the revolution, as Deponent oftimes during the life time of said Matthew Bell heard him say -- Deponent also heard said Bell give an account of his services, but Deponent cannot remember the names of the officers under whom said Bell served, nor yet the places he served at, nor the different terms he served for. He only recollects that he served if he remembers right at the Bennington battle, and that he served several tours in the New York State levies and in the militia, & that he was a prisoner. And this Deponent further saith, that said Matthew Bell & his wife resided in said town of Johnstown about twenty years or more previous to his death. The time said Bell & his wife moved from Cambridge to Johnstown aforesaid, must therefore have been in the year 1792 or 1793. Note -- the words "fifty-one or two" were written on razure, and further Deponent cannot say:
N Stoner [signature]
Subscribed & Sworn this 9th}
day of October 1844, }
before me: and I certify }
that said Deponent Nicho-}
las Stoner is to me well }
known and that he is a }
witness of credibility, and }
that full faith & credit }
ought to be given to his rep-}
resentations, & statements }
P McRie Justices of the Peace
[of] the Town of Johnstown County of Fulton
Page 38

Bell
Page 39

State of New York
Fulton County s.s. - Joshua Burton being duly sworn Says that He has been the Sexton of the Presbyterian Church of the Village of Johntown [sic] in Fulton County for more than twenty Years past and up to within the last four months -- And that the widow Esther Bell of the town of Johntown aforesaid was buried by the deponent in the burying ground of said Church in said Village on the twenty eighth day of June in the year 1845
-------------------------- his
------------------ Joshua  X  Burton
-------------------------- mark
Subscribed & sworn to the 
5 day of February 1849
before me John Frothingham
Justice of the Peace

State of New York }
Fulton County Clerk's office Ss}
I Stephen Wait Clerk of said County do hereby certify that John Frothingham Esqr before whom the foregoing affidavit of Joshua Burton purports to have been taken was at the date and time of taking the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said County dwelling in said County, duly and legally authorised [sic] to take the same, and further. that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice of the Peace and verily believe that his name subscribed to the jurat of the foregoing affidavit is his genuine Signature. __ Per Testimony whereof I have hereto set my name and affixed the seal of said County this 10th day of February A D 1849
S. Wait Clerk
Page 40

Mathw Bell

Comptrollers Certificate
[square bracket]$21 88/100[square bracket]
(4th)
Page 41

[much of this image is printed matter, and I will transcribe only the handwritten parts:]
31th July 1780.  Mattw Bell [illegible] |L6 |16 |10
30th Nov Do    Do  ------------Do --- |10 |13|  4
----------------------------------------$|43|75|-
-----------------------------------------|21|87|2-[??]
----------------------------------------6m  $20
---------------------------------------17 dy 1.872
---------------------------------------____________
------------------------------------------$21.872

Dec 30th _________1844
Book No, 4. __________

Capt. Joshua Drake in Col. John Harper Regt.

Philip Phelps [is my guess]
[illegible]
Page 42

Esther Bell
Page 43

State of New York}
County of Washington} Ss
I Alexander Bulliens officiating as Pastor of the Associate Pryesbyterian [sic] Congregation of Cambridge of which the late Rev Thomas Bevenridge was Pastor In and after the Revolutionary war In the Year of our Lord one one thousand Seven hundred & Eighty four. I further Certify that all the Records of the said Congregation from Its commencement down to the year 1798 have Been Lost 
Alexr. Bulliens

On this 18th day of October 1849 personally appeared before me the undersigned the Reverend Alexander Bulliens & who has Signed the Above certifficate [sic] to me well-known to be the officiating pastor of Said Church. & the Said Reved Alexander Bulliens made oath that the facts Set forth in Said certificate are true & Correct
Wm. S. Warner} Justice of the Peace

State of New York}
Washington County Ss} I Henry Shipherd Clerk of said County do hereby certify that on the 18th day of Oct. 1849 Wm S Warner Esq. was a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly elected and sworn & that his signature above subscribed is genuine
Witness my hand and official seal this 19th day of October 1849
H. Shipherd Clerk