Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 14815, Thomas Grifen, Mass. N.H.
Page 1

(3-1776)
Service             Number
Mass        Grifen, Thomas  W14815
NH        or  Griffin
Anne
Page 2

2330
Concord N Hampshire
Anne Griffin
widow of Thomas Griffin decd [deceased]
so died on the 26th January 1819
Merrimack County in the State of NH
who was a Private in the [blank] commanded by
Captain [blank] of the Regt. commanded
by Col Wesson in the Mass
for 2 years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Concord NH
at the rate of 80 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25th day of Sept.
1838 and sent to Hon. Franklin Pierce Hillsboro N.H.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1838  $600.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 March $40.00
[total] $640.00
{ Revolutionary claim,
Act July 4, 1836,}
Section the 3.
Recorded by D. D. Addison
Book A. Vol. 2? Page 2
Page 3

Let to Asa Fowler, Oct 6,
1838.
Page 4

9353
R
New Hampshire
Thomas Griffin
of [blank] in the state of [blank]
who was a Private the regiment commanded by
Colonel Wesson of the Mass
line, for the term of 9 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of NHampshire
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 13 of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 of April
and sent to Judge Bergin
Concord N Hamp
Arrears to 4th of Mar 19 85”83

Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept 1848
[handwritten numbers]
18 4
10 30 31

$133.83
{ Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.}
Dead
See roll
Page 5

Asa Fowler July 16
1838
Page 6

Thomas Griffin
Claim for a pension
1818
Private
July 1778. Mass Cont line
9 months.
April 13, 1818
on Roll
Wesson Reg.
no Regt mentioned
Page 7

I Thomas Griffin of Pembroke in the County of
Rockingham and State of New Hampshire testify
and declare that I enlisted for the term of one year
into the Continental Army in May 1775 in the Company
commanded by Capt Thomas Coggswell of Haverhill
and in the Regiment Commanded by Col Gerrish
of Newbury Newtown on the Massachusetts line in the
Army of the United States in the Revolutionary war
against the Common enemy and faithfully served
the time of my enlistment and was honorably discharged
by the Officer of the day. I further testify and
declare that in the last of May or first of June 1776
I enlisted again in the Continental Army in Captain
Shepherds Company of Canterbury NHampshire in the New
Hampshire line to go to Ticonderoga to which I
marched faithfully served five Months the time of my
enlistment, and was honorably discharged. In July
1777 I again enlisted for two Months under Captain
Runnals of Londonderry NHampshire, Col Nichol’s
Regiment in the New Hampshire line and faithfully
Page 8

served the time of my enlistment, and was honorably
discharged. In July 12th, 1778 I again
enlisted into Capt Blanchards Company in the
Massachusetts line in the United States service for
the term of Nine Months, for which [inserted text: time] I faithfully
served, and was honorably discharged which I lost.

I am in reduced circumstances in life am
in need of assistance from my Country for
support. Chichester April 13th, 1818
Thomas Griffin

On the 13th day of April 1818, the above
declaration was made & sworn to before
me Hall Burgin
One of the Judges of the County of Common
Pleas for the
County of Rockingham
in the State of
Newhampshire

[illegible seal lower left side]
By order of Hon Judge
Attest P. Chadwick Clerk
of said Court

State of Newhampshire – Rockikngham SS
I hereby certify that it appears to my satisfaction
that the said Thomas Griffin did did serve
the foregoing declaration and subscribed &
I now transmit the testimony in the case to the Secty
of the department of war.
Hall Burgin Judge &c as above
Page 9

State of Newhampshire.
Rockingham SS } Chichester April 13th, 1818
We the subscribers hereby certify that we have
for many years been acquainted with Mr. Thomas
Griffin who has signed the foregoing affidavit,
and that he has always sustained a fair character
for truth and veracity [inserted text: [crossed out & that [end crossed out] he is very poor according to the best of our knowledge.

[list of signatures]
Obadiah Carrigan
Benjamin Emery
John Marten
John T. Leavitt
James Blake
Ebenezer Hall
John [illegible]
Jonathan Shaw
Jacob Sanborn

I hereby certify that from my own knowledge
& the above certificate which was sworn
to before me, that said Griffin is in reduced
circumstances & does need the assistance of
his Country for Support
Hall Burgin
Judge of the Court
of Com Pleas for the
County of Rockingham
in said State of
Newhampshire
Page 10

3703
Ann Griffin
Wid of Thomas
NH
Act 4 July 1836
Married 1775
Died 1819
$80 per ann
[illegible]
pn: Mass Cont Line
Col Wesson
Hon Franklin Pierce
Hillsboro
NH
Page 11

[illegible seal in upper left corner]
State of Newhampshire
Secretary of States Office
I hereby certify that Aaron Whittemore
is a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas
for the County of Merrimack and Benjamin
Emery is a Justice of the Peace for the County
of Merrimack [inserted text: & were so at the time of them signing the within certificates]
and Josiah Chase was a
Justice of the Peace for the County of Rockingham
at the time of his signing the annexed certificates; duly qualified; and
their signatures are genuine.

In testimony whereof I have this 10th
day of Sept Anno Domini 1838
caused the seal of the State to be
hereunto affixed.
Jno [John] Whipple Dep Secy
Page 12

State of Newhampshire
Merrimack SS.
On this fourth day of August in the
year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty eight personally
appeared before me Aaron Whittemore one of the Justices of
the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County of Merrimack
Anne Griffin a resident of Chichester in said County
of Merrimack and State of Newhampshire aged eighty one
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 4th 1836
That she is the widow of Thomas Griffin late of said
Chichester, deceased, who was a Private in the Massachusetts
Continental line in the army of the revolution and for his
services as such, was placed on the Pension List roll of
the Newhampshire Agency April 16 1819 by virtue of a
Certificate from J. C. Calhoun then Secretary of war of the
United States numbered 9353 reference being had for a more
particular description of his services to his declaration
which was the foundation of that certificate
She further declares that she was married to the said
Thomas Griffin on or about the fifteenth day of April
in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five by the
Rev Mr Josiah Cotten of Sandown in the County of Rockingham
at said Sandown and that she has no written record of her
Marriage that her husband the said Thomas Griffin died
on the twenty sixth day of January in the year of our
Lord eighteen hundred and nineteen and that she has
remained a widow ever since that period as will more
fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed
Witness
Benjamin Emery
Anne [her mark X] Griffin
Page 13

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written
before me Aaron Whittemore
Justice of the Court of
Common Pleas in and 
for Merrimack County, N. H.

State of Newhampshire
Merrimack SS.
August 4th 1838 I do hereby certify that
the within married Anne Griffin is a credible witness
and that by reason of bodily infirmity she is
unable to attend court.
Aaron Whittemore
Justice of the Court
of Common Pleas in 
and for Merrimack County N. Hampshire
Page 14

I Josiah Hoit do certify that I am the town
Clerk of Sandown and from examination of
the records of said town I find that the
Revr Josiah Cotton was minister of said Sandown
from the year 1760 to 1779 and from strict,
examination I cannot find but few marriages
on the Books of said town and no record of the
marriage of Thomas Griffin and Anna Beck wife
of said Griffin formerly of Sandown and late of Chichester as the
records appear to have been only imperfectly kept.
Sandown August 2 1838
Josiah Hoit

State of New Hampshire
Rockingham County
Chester August 2, 1838
Personally appeared Josiah Hoit town Clerk of
Sandown before me and made oath that the 
above certificate by him subscribed is just and true
in his belief before me.
Josiah Chase
Justice Peace
Page 15

I Mary Bailey of Boscawen in the
County of Merrimack and State of
New Hampshire, seventy nine years of age,
formerly of Sandown in said State do
testify and say that I was present when
Thomas Griffin and Anne Beck
were married by the Revd Josiah Cotton
then Minister of Sandown what time
I cannot recollect weather [whether] 1775 or 177 [illegible]
but do think that the said Griffin
served in the army after they were
married as Mrs Griffin lived in
our house when he was gone [illegible]
They lived together and had children, then
they removed to Chichester in said State.
Boscawen August 2 1838 Mary Bailey

State of New Hampshire Merrimack County
Boscawen August 2d 1838
then personally appeared Mary Bailey and
made oath that the above affidavit by
her subscribed is true.
Benjamin Emery
Justice of Peace
Page 16

State of New Hampshire
Merrimack County August 2d 1838
I do hereby certify that the within Mary Bailey is a credible witness.
Benjamin Emery
Justice of Peace
Page 17

I William Edmunds of Chichester in
the County of Merrimack and State of
New Hampshire (Aged Seventy Seven) doth
testify and say that I was present when
Thomas Griffin and Anne Beck of
Sandown were Married by the Rev.
Josiah Cotton of Sd Sandown, in the
spring of the year of seventeen Hundred
and seventy five. I further testify to
say that I have lived within seven miles
of the said Thomas Griffin and Anne his wife
for the last forty years previous to his death
and with the said Anne Griffin the widow
of the said Thomas Giffin ever since his death
and that she is now his widdow and has 
remained so to this day.
Chichester August 6, 1838
Witness
William Edmunds
State of New Hampshire
Merrimack County, Chichester August 6th 1838
then personally appeared William Edmunds
and made oath that the above Affidavit by
him subscribed is just and true.
Before me
Benjamin Emery
Justice
of Peace
Page 18

State of New Hampshire
Merrimack County
August 6th 1838
I do hereby certify that the within
named William Edmunds is a credible
witness.
Benjamin Emery
Justice of Peace
Page 19

I Betsy Edmunds of Chichester in the
County of Merrimack and State of New
Hampshire (wife of William Edmunds)
doth testify and say that I lived within
seven miles of Thomas Griffin and
Anne his wife formerly of Sandown
said State for the last forty years, 
and that the said Thomas Griffin died
in Chichester about Ninteen years since
and that the said Anne Griffin is now
a Widow and has remained so ever since
his death.
Betsey Edmunds
Chichester August 5th 1838
Witness
State of
New Hampshire
Merrimack County, Chichester August 6th 1838,
then personally appeared Betsy Edmunds
and made oath that the above Affidavit
by her subscribed is just and true.
Before me
Benjamin Emery
Justice of
Peace
Page 20

State of New Hampshire
[Illegible] August 6th 1838

I do hereby certify that the within named Betsey Edmunds is a credible witness and [crossed out]

Benjamin Justice of [Illegible}
Page 21

Act 4 July
3703
Declaration of
Anne Griffin, widow
of Thomas Griffin.
New Hampshire.
Page 22

State of New Hampshire
Merrimack
August 6, 1838
I do hereby certify that the within named
Betsey Edmunds is a credible witness.
Benjamin Emery
Justice of Peace
Page 23

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section
October 18, 1924
Oliver H. Griffin
2724 Westerville Road
Columbus, Ohio.
Sir:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim W. 14815 it appears
that Thomas Grifen or Griffin enlisted in May 1775
and served one year as a private in Captain Thomas
Coggswell's Company, Colonel Gerrish's Massachusetts Regiment.
He enlisted in May or June 1776 and served five
months as a private in Captain Shepherd's New Hampshire Company.
He enlisted in July 1777 and served two months as a
private in Captain Runnals' Company, Colonel Nichols' New Hampshire Regiment.
He enlisted July 12, 1778 and served nine months
as a private in Captain Blanchard's Massachusetts Company.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
April 13, 1818 while living in Pembroke, Rockingham
Page 24

County, New Hampshire. He died January 26, 1819
in Chichester, Merrimack County, New Hampshire.
Soldier married April 15, 1775 in Sandown,
Rockingham County, New Hampshire, Anne or Anna
Peck of said Sandown. She was allowed pension on
her application executed August 4, 1838 while living
at Chichester, New Hampshire aged eighty-one
years. They had children, but their names are not
given.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 25

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
3-525
W14815
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS. 
Washington, D. C., 19__
In reply to your request of [blank] received for a statement of the military history of [handwritten] Thomas Grifen or Griffin [handwritten] a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. 
[table below with column headings]
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT | LENGTH OF SERVICE | RANK | OFFICE UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED | CAPTAIN | COLONEL | STATE

May 1775 | 1 yr | Pvt | Thos Coggswell | Gerrish | Mass
May or June 1776 | 5 mos | Pvt | Shepherd | Gerrish | N. H.
July 1777 | 2 mos | Pvt | Runnals | Nichols | N. H.
July 12 1778 | 9 mos | Pvt | Blanchard | Nichols | Mass

Battles engaged in, [checkmark]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, [checkmark]
Date of application for pension, [handwritten] April 13, 1818. His cl was al. 
Residence at date of application, [handwritten] Pembroke, Rockingham Co. N.H. 
Age at date of application, [handwritten] not stated 
Remarks: [handwritten] Soldier mar[ried] in Sandown N.H. Apr. 15, 1775 Anne or Anna Beck of that place. He died at Chichester, Merrimack Co. N.H. June 26, 1819. She was al pension on her ap. ex. Aug. 4,1838 while living at Chichester N.H. [illegible] There is no further data on file as to their family and her res. in 1840 is not on record. 
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 26

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14815
Anne Griffin
Widow of
Thomas Griffin
Pri. Rev. War
Act: July 4th [illegible] 36 [illegible]
Index: Vol. A, Page 289
{Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 27

1920 Aug. 31 Hist. to Mary Stenger and
1922 Feby 4 Hist. to Oliver H. Griffin
Page 28

Aurora Ill
Aug 18, 1920
Mr. F. D. Byington
Washington D. C.
Dear Sir:
Replying to your letter
rec'd this morning will
say--the Census of
Pensions of 1840 gives
my g. grand mother Anna Griffin 
as a
pensioner living in
Concord-Merrimack
Co. N. H. with my g mother
Nancy Morrell.
We do not know Anna's
husbands name unless
Page 29

it was Nathaniel, and
thought by getting a
copy of Anna's pension
it would give her
husbands name. The
1840 Census states Anna
was 84 yrs old. My mother
when a small child used
to go with her g. mother
Anna Griffin to get her
pension at Concord.
Anna lived with her
daughter Nancy. The
husband of Nancy (Thomas
Morrell) died about
1735 and the 1840
Census gives Nancy as
Head of Family.
Please look again
for the record
as it 
is very important
for us to get it.
Thanking you, I am
Respectfully yours
Mary Stenger
310 N. Y. St.
Aurora, Ill
Page 30

Jan. 11, 1922
Pension Office
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Will you please give
me the names of any children
and the name of the wife of
Thomas Griffin Mass. Cont Line
Living in Rockingham Co. N.H.
Died Jan 26, 1819. 65 yrs old put
on pension roll Apr. 16, 1819
Very truly yours
Oliver H. Griffin
Barracks #3
National Sanitarium
Marion, Indiana
[stamp on lower right]
U.S. Pension Office
D Jan 14 1922
Page 31

Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 27, 1924.
Dept. of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Will you please send me a copy of the
Pension Certificate of Mrs. Anna Griffin widow
of Thomas Griffin.
She was allowed pension on her application
executed Aug. 4, 1838 while living at
Chichester, N. H. aged 81 years.
I need this in making application for
membership in the Sons of the American Revolution
Thanking you I remain,
Very truly yours,
Oliver H. Griffin
2724 Westerville Road.
Page 32

Thomas Griffin—name
found Capt Blanchard  Co NH
Col Jackson due March
1779 Mass
Also found on Capt Runnels

Shepherd Co roll 1776 – 1777
N.H. 7 mos

See Thos Coggswell roll [illegible]
Roll Vol. 14 p 65

9 mo
7
8
-----
24 mos
Page 33

Chichester
Sept. 6
Nancy Griffin
[crossed out] 25 [end crossed out]
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Abt ? Sept 22, 1838
Page 34

Chichester N.H. Sept 3, 1838
Dear Sir
The undersigned Selectmen of Chichester
would respectfully represent that Nancy Griffin
of this town who is now an applicant for
a Pension under the recent act of Congress is
now & has for some years past been supported
by this town as a pauper--she is now old
& infirm & is easily persuaded to execute
any papers which may be offered her.
For this reason it is feared that an
effort is now being made to have her
Pension placed into hands where it
may not be applied for her benefit
Page 35

it is probable that a Guardian may
soon be appointed by the proper authority
to take charge of her affairs--we wish
therefore that if proper you should send
her certificate when granted either to His
Excellency Gov. Hill or to us that the amount
which may become due her may be
secured to her future support.
Respectfully
Your Obedt Servants,
Hon J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Wm Swain
G. S. Mason
D. K. Foster
Selectmen
of 
Chichester
Page 36

P.S.
We would respectfully suggest that
if the certificate should have been granted & sent
on before the receipt of this--whether under existing
circumstances you might not direct His Excellency
Governor Hill to withhold for a time at least the
payment of said pension.
W. S.
G. S. M.
D. K. F.
Selectmen
of
Chichester
Page 37

October
Amos Fowler
Free
J. L. Edwards, Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D. C.
Page 38

Concord, N.H. Oct. 1, 1898
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Dear Sir
Mrs. Anna Griffin, widow
of Thomas Griffin, whose application for a pension is now
before you, having understood that the Selectmen of Chichester
have written you in relation to the subject, wishes me to
request you to forward her, through me, a copy of the letter of the Selectmen of Chichester, with a copy of your 
reply thereto, if the rules of your office permit you to furnish them. Mrs. Griffin is aware that she has received
assistance from the town of Chichester towards her main
tenance, but she is unwilling to continue under the surveillance of the overseers of the poor, if she can obtain a sufficient
annuity from the national government to enable her to support
herself. As to expenses already incurred by the town in
her behalf, a decision of the highest judicial tribunal in this
State last July settled the question, that [underline] a town has no claim
upon a man's pension, for expenses incurred for his support
previous to his obtaining the bounty of the government [end underline]. The matter
was decided in Cheshire County, in an action 
brought by the
town of [underline] Charlestown [end underline] against [underline] Hubbard, [end underline] administrator of a
deceased pensioner, who had been a pauper for many years and
died almost immediately upon receiving some fourteen hundred
dollar pension money.
If her papers, as returned to you a short time since properly
authenticated by Hon. Franklin Pierce, United States Senator from
this State, prove satisfactory and sufficient to authorize your granting
her a certificate, Mrs. Griffin wishes it forwarded to me.
Your obt. servant, Asa Fowler
Page 39

Concord N.H. Sept 17, 1838
Sir,
The papers herewith enclosed were 
returned some time since because they [the pages] 
were not properly authenticated, and it was
also suggested, that the evidence of the marriage
was hardly satisfactory. I take it the prior 
objection is now removed, and it strikes
me, that the widow of the marriage must
on a further examination be satisfactory. The
widow swears that she was married [underline] "on or about
the fifteenth of April seventeen hundred seventy
five" [end underline] William Edmunds swears that he was
present at the marriage and that it took
place [underline] in the spring of the year 1775 [end underline]
Mary Bailey swears that she was present at
Page 40

the marriage and that it took place in the Spring
of 1775 or 1776 Nov. I believe the records
at Washington will show, that Thomas Griffin
served of after 1776-
There can be no
doubt, that Thomas Griffin
served a long time after
his marriage-
If it is necessary I suppose it can 
be proved that one or more of his children
were born while he was in the service -- but this
will be attended with a good deal of trouble
and seems to me to be requiring more 
than usual-
Your obt servant
Franklin Pierce
J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 41

I Nathaniel Edmunds of Chichester of the
County of Rockingham and State of New
Hampshire of lawfull age do testify and
say that I was well knowing to the 
enlistment of Thomas Griffin of Pembroke
in the County and State aforesaid in the
latter part of April 1775 or the fore part of
May 1775, into Capt Thomas Coggswells
Company in Col Gerrishes Regiment
on the Continental establishment for
the term of one year, and that he the
said Griffin immediately joined the
American Army at Winter Hill and
its vicinity and continued therein,
and served faithfully one year being
the full term of his enlistment and I
Page 42

further testify and say that I know that
the
within named Thomas Griffin served
as a soldier in the American Army on
the Continental establishment more than
one half of the time during the continuance
of the War of the Revolution so called --
Chichester NH
Nath Edmunds
Decemr 4th 1818
State of New Hampshire
Rockingham Chichester N Hampshire
Decemr 4, 1818
then the above named Nathaniel Edmunds personally
appearing made solemn oath, that the above affidavit by
him subscribed is just and true
before me
Moses Seavey Justice of the
peace
I hereby certify that the above named Nathaniel
Edmunds who has signed the above affidavit is a
resident in the town of Chichester in the County
of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire
Page 43

aforesaid, that he is a man of strict truth and
veracity, and that to his oath or affirmation as
such full faith and credit is and ought to be given
in and without this State-
Given under my
hand at said Chichester, this fourth day of
December in the year of our Lord one thousand and
eight hundred and eighteen.
Moses Seavey
Justice of the
peace
Page 44

I William Edmunds of Chichester in the
County of Rockingham and State of New
Hampshire of lawfull age do testify and say
that I knew Thomas Griffin of Pembroke,
in the County and State aforesaid in the
latter part of the month of April or fore
part of May 1775 inlist [enlist] into Captain
Thomas Coggswells Company in Col Gerrisher
Regiment in the Continental establishment
in the Revolutionary War for the term
of one year, that he immediately joined
the American Army at Winter Hill
and its vicinity and he faithfully served
as a soldier the full term of his said
enlistment, and I further testify and
say that the said Griffin served as a soldier
in the continental Army more than half
the time of the Revolutionary War.
Page 45

And I also further testify and say
that the within named Thomas Griffin
now resides in Pembroke in the County
and State aforesaid, and that he is in
indigent and necessitous circumstances
and in my opinion really stands in need
of assistance from his Country.
Wm Edmunds

State of New Hampshire
Rockingham ss ⎬ Chichester December
14th 1818-
Then the above named William Edmunds
personally appearing made solemn oath
that the above deposition by him subscribed
is just and true before me
Moses Seavey
Justice of the peace
I hereby certify that the above named
William Edmunds who has signed the
above deposition now resides in the town
Page 46

of Chichester in the County and State aforesaid,
that the said William Edmunds is a man
of truth and veracity, and to his oath and
affidavit, full faith and credit is and ought
to be given within and without this State.
Given under my hand at said Chichester this
fourteenth day of December in the year of
our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and
eighteen.
Moses Seavey 
Justice of
Peace
State of New Hampshire
Secretary Office
Decemr 14. 1818
I hereby certify that Moses Leavey
Esqr was on the 15th of Novemr last
and still is a Justice of the peace
for the County of Rockingham
in said State duly appointed and
commissioned, and that to his acts and
attestation, as such faith & credit are due.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed the public seal of said
State on the day of the date hereof
Saml Sparhawk Luy