Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18818, William Fairbanks, Continental Mass.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Continental
Mass

Fairbanks William
or
Fairbank
NUMBER
S. 18818
carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

FAIR BANKS, WILLAM
(ConT, MASS.)
5 -18818
Page 3

Let F Hall Dec 18/55
10.176
Massachusetts
William Fairbank
folk in the State of Mass
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain [illeg] of the regt commanded by
Col Greaton in the Mass
line for one year & Continental
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass
at the rate of 80 Dollars -- Cents per annum
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd day of Mar 1833 and year and sent
Wm Ellis Dedham Mass
---
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $160
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept "
40
-
$200-
⎨ Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J. H. McBlain, Clerk
Book E Vol. 2nd Page 24
Page 4

Let F Hall Dec 18/55
10.176
Massachusetts
William Fairbank
folk in the State of Mass
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain [illeg] of the regt commanded by
Col Greaton in the Mass
line for one year & Continental
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass
at the rate of 80 Dollars -- Cents per annum
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd day of Mar 1833 and year and sent
Wm Ellis Dedham Mass
---
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $160
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept "
40
-
$200-
⎨ Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J. H. McBlain, Clerk
Book E Vol. 2nd Page 24
Page 5

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK ss.
I, JAIRUS WARE, Clerk of the Judicial Courts, being Courts of
Record, within and for the County of Norfolk, hereby certify that
William Ellis
Esquire, before whom
the annexed declaration was made
is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Norfolk aforesaid, duly
appointed, commissioned and qualified to discharge the duties of said office, and that his signature three times written
thereon are
genuine and true.
In Witness Whereof, I have subscribed my name and affixed the
Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid at Dedham, this
twenty fifth day of August A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Jairus Ware
Page 6

State of
Massachusetts
Norfolk SS. August 24th 1832. Then the within
named William Fairbanks personally appeared, and made
Oath, that the within declaration by him subscribed is true
Justice of
Before  Wm Ellis⎬ Justice of the Peace
To whom it may Concern.
I George Ellis of Dedham in the State of Massachusetts hereby certify
that I have been acquainted with William Fairbanks of said Dedham
for nearly sixty years past, that by information, both from him &
the People in the Neighborhood, & my own recollection I believe that
said Fairbanks has served as as a soldier in the Revolutionary war
as set forth in the within declaration by him subscribed, and that
he appears to be of the age he states. I well recollect that several young
men on lad with myself 
from Curiosity we visited the Army encamped near Boston
in August or Septr 1775 and after enquiry we found Capt I Guilds. Company
I think stationed at Roxbury, where I saw the said Fairbanks and
several other of said Dedham, acting as soldiers at the Camp, and during our stay 
had conversation with him and others of said Company
An I further Certify that said Fairbanks has resided said Dedham Since
my first acquitantance with him and that he is a man of Industrious and
Temperate habits, and upright in his dealings, and that I know of no
reason to justify a belief that he would knowing by make or Testify
to any false statements to favor himself 
George Ellis
Dedham August 23d 1832

To whom it may concern
I John White of Dedham West Parish, State of Massachusetts, hereby
certify, that during the last eighteen years I have been acquainted with
William Fairbanks of said town, who has applied for a pension
under a law of the U.S. passed June 7th 1832. I believe his statement to
be correct that he was for a considerable time during the Revolutionary
was a soldier in the service of the United States, as I consider him a
man of integrity & veracity, & deserving of credit. He sustains a fair character as a member of society & a supporter of religious institutions, industrious & regular in his habits. I further certify that I believe him to be of the
age stated in his declaration
John White Clerk-
Dedham August 24th 1832.
Page 7

Application of William Fairbanks to the US War department, for a Pension
for Revolutionary services under the Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832-
Before the said Applicant proceeds to his declaration, he would barely state that he
has from his youth been a laboring man, and not in the way of Much information other than
that to be derived from memory, of what he has seen and heard, that not having in his
possession any records of the particular transactions of life, nor any documents to send forward in support of his claim, other than what is herewith communicated and those sent to the war department
on his former applications; he can not now relate from memory the precise day and date of the transactions in the War of Independence which occured more than fifty years ago, as he could wish
but will make a statement of his services with the circumstances under which they were rendered
according to his best knowledge and belief as follows -
Viz-
I William Fairbanks of Dedham in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts
declare, that I have no authenticated record of my age, that from information long since
received of my father, I was born in said Dedham twelve miles from Boston, on the fourth
day of
June - 1753 and was seventy nine-- years of age June 4th 1832-and
since my remembrance, I have never had any home but within the same town of Dedham
where I now live-
In the latter part of the month of April in the year 1775,  (the day of the
month I am not able to insert) I enlisted at said Dedham as a soldier or private into
what was then called the Eight months service in Cap Joseph Guild's Company and
Col. John Greatons Regiment and performed this tour of service in the Town of Roxbury
Cambridge-- Charlestown and Dorchester near Boston, the then head quarters of the British
Army - I remained in this service till near the middle of March 1776 - at this time, or I think
several weeks previous to this time, I engaged or enlisted to go into what was called the years
Service in said Cap Joseph Guild's Company Col. John Greaton's Regiment & Second Colonel Joseph Vose with this Regiment I left Cambridge about the middle of March 1776. and
marched by way of Pomfret and New London in the State of Connecticut to the City of
New York where we remained two or three weeks, thence proceeded up the Hudson River to
Albany, thence through the woods to Skeinsborough on Lake Champlain, thence down the Lake by the Solanoux to St John's in Canada, thence down the rapids to Sorell on the
St Lawrence, thence in Batteaux down the River St Lawrence a considerable distance, but
how far I am not able to State, but it was till we met a body of Gen Arnold, Troops
retreating from Quebec, they joined us, and both returned to Sorell and shortly after
the forces proceeded up to Montreal where they remained about one month - thence we
proceeded back to St John's at the out let of Lake Champlain, where our Regiment
remained several weeks here, with many others, I had the small pox & had the good fortune
to recover from that disease, thence to the Gileanaux, thence our Regiment left Canada, to proceed up Lake Champlain and landed at Crown point in the State of New York and soon advanced to the Post of Ticonderoga, time our arrival here was in the month of August 1776 where we remained till November, building and repairing fortifications, at this Post. Gen. Gates
visited our forces-- our Regiment then left this post and went to Albany, then down the Hudson
River by water and landed at a place called Chaverick, thence on Regiment marched into
the State of New Jersey and moved about to a great number of places in that State, I can
not name them in detail, I recollect some of the Town, viz, Elisabeth Town, Newark
Princeton, Trenton &c-- I think our Regiment did not go out the limits of New Jersey
while I remained with it. I was in two or three sharp conflicts with the enemy's avanced [advanced] parties, while in the State of New Jersey, a part of the force we met were Hessians, but was not
present at the surrender of the Hessians at Trenton-- at these conflicts I have witnessed the loss of lives and bloodshed on both sides at the request of my officers I remained in service nine weeks
after my year had expired-- so in the eight months service-- is when I left this service, our Regiment was in that part of New Jersey near Philadelphia, I left this service in march and arrived home in April, I think before the middle of that month 1777- having been under the same Captain and
Colonel Viz Cap Joseph Guild and Col. John Greaton both in the eight months and years Service, I cannot
determine the precise time when the years service commenced, but I will remember that I was constantly
in the service, from the time I engaged, a few days after the commencement of Hostilities at Lexington in
the month of April 1775. till I arrived home from the State of New Jersey in the month of April ┃
1777- a term, but few days short of two years-
The next service rendered by me was as
follows-
Page 8

viz-In the summer of 1777 the particular time I cannot recollect. I think towards the latter
part, there was a call for men at the westward, and Cap. Nathaniel Dean of said Dedham a leader
in what was called the class men for raising recruits, call'd on the young men here to turn out for
the service, myself and several others volunteered as soldiers and immediately set out for the Hudson River
where we were to report our selves & we engaged to remain in the service three months if wanted,
I recollect that we appointed a Captain among our selves for the moment, and proceeded to the Hudson
river a distance of two hundred miles, where we arrived and reported as ordered, at or near All [Albany]
the party with me did but little service except a few days of guard duty, troops having collected 
at and about Albany from other parts of the Country were dismissed and returned back to said Dedham after a tour of fatiege for five weeks, this was a short time before Gen Burgoyne was
taken at Saratoga - I can find no man to testify to this service, I well remember the names of
few of this party, who then belonged to my own neighborhood viz-- Samuel Farrington-- Moses Fisher
William Everitt & Jacob Smith and Cap. Dean, who enjoyed us all of whom have long since deceased
Except Jacob Smith & within the last six years I heard that Smith was alive, and residing in the County of
Hancock or Penobscot in the State of Maine, but whether said Smith is yet living is unknown to me
In the Autumn of 1777, I think in the forepart of October, I enlisted as a Soldier for two months, under Captain
Abel Richards of said Dedham, and this tour of Duty was performed on  Castle Withorn in Boston harbour
by fatigue service, building a Bomb proof at the Fort during the day, and guard duty
by night-- I am not able to offer any personal proof of this two months service, by witnesses who
served at the same time with me, Cap. Abel Richards under whom I performed this service, died
at said Dedham in January last 1832, there may be other, yet living who know of this service
but if so, I know not where to find them-- Thus it will be seen, that I have in the capacity of
a Soldier, rendered services to the Continent in the war of Independence, amounting in all, to the
term of two years, and of only three months, beside the waggon [wagon] service afterwards-
Having served as a soldier during the several terms
as aforesaid in the three first years of the war, and had the misfortune to lose most of my
wages by the depreciation of the currency of the Country, I was inclined to engage in another kind of service
and in the early part of the year 1778 I engaged in the waggon [wagon] service under one William Gay and
continued in it most of the time till the close of the war, it may not be amis to mention one
occurrence-- altho this service seems not to be regarded in the pension acts. In the course of the season I think
of 1778, I had occasion to go from Boston to Westfield with a heavy baggage team, a distance of a hundred
miles and when I had accomplished my journey thither, and about to return home, a number of Cannon and morters arrived in
that vicinity on their way to the Hudson River, whether the teams which brought them were exhausted
or whether their engagement had been fulfilled on their arrival at this point, I do not recollect, but I was first solicited
to assist in the transportation of this heavy artillery to the Hudson, but declined; my duty to my imployer [employer] call'd
me in the opposite direction, immediately after, Colonel Crane. I think from Stoughton or Milton in
Massachusetts, came to me and demanded or commanded the assistance of myself and team in this
transportation, this [thus] pressed, I conveyed a heavy load of this continental property a distance of
eighty miles or more, to Fishkill in the State of New York-- very laborious service-
And I further declare, that I made application to the war department for a Pension under the
Act of Congress of March 18. 1818 for revolutionary services, and received a Pension for somewhat over one
year, when my name was stricken from the Pension Roll on account of property as will appear by
the documents herewith transmitted, my whole property being then estimated at near one thousand dollars,
Again I made application to the war department to be restored to the Pension list under the
regulations of the department, of December 26, 1828-- but my claim was rejected on account of the construction of some of the previous pension laws which I can not explain. The pension received
for a short period as aforesaid, is all the pension money I have ever received of the United States or of any
State for Revolutionary services- And I further declare, that my name is not on the pension Roll of
of the Agency of any State, and I hereby relinquish every claim or annuity for revolutionary services
except the present which I now ask for.  I do not recollect of receiving a written discharge from the several
terms of service rendered as aforesaid, but if I did receive them, I have not where they can be found, I have none in my
possession, and Also that I was not drafted into any of the terms of service aforesaid, and accept the case of compulsion by Col. Crane,
I always entered the service of the Continent as a volunteer-
Wm Fairbank
Dedham August 25-- 1832-

Signed in presence of
Luther J Cheniey
Page 9

State of
Massachusetts
Norfolk SS. August 24th 1832. Then George Ellis and John White personally appeared and respectively swore
to the truth of
the foregoing certificates respectively by them made and subscribed
Before Wm Ellis
Justice of the Peace
From personal knowledge, I further certify that the Rev John White now the clergyman of the [illeg] and
George Ellis Esq. who made and subscribed the foregoing certificates are esteemed to be men of the first character and standing, of the place
they reside
Wm Ellis
Application of Wm Fairbanks
Page 10

Copy
Schedule &c. of
the property of
William Fairbank
13044
July 1849
not Encd
Sep. 19
Page 11

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
NORFOLKE, SS. -- CIRCUIT COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, SPECIAL
SESSION, JULY 17, 1830:
On this seventeenth day of July 1820 personally appeared in manner as stated below by order of court, being a Court of Record for said County,
proceeding according to the course of the Common Law, with a jurisdiction unlimited
in point of amount, keeping a Record of its proceedings, and having the
power of fine and imprisonment, William Fairbanks aged sixty seven years, resident in Dedham in said County,
who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath
declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows: After the
Eight months service I enlisted in the years service
in Capt. Guild's Company in Col. Greaton's Regiment
& faithfully served my country during the
whole of that year to wit from about the first
of January 1776 to the first day of January 1777-
or thereabouts when I was honorably discharged for
which service a pension was granted me and a
certificate duly issued dated July 19, 1819.
and numbered 13,044.
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States,
on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift,
sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent
thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of
Congress, entitled ""An Act to provide for certain persons, engaged in the Land
and Naval Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War,” passed on
the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust
for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I
any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by
me subscribed.
William Fairbanks
Sworn to and declared, on the Seventeenth day of July
A.D.1820 before George Ellis, one of the Justices of the peace
within the
for the County of Norfolk granted by the Court
for the purpose of administering the oaths in this case it
having been made satisfactorily to appear to the Court that the
said William Fairbanks is sickly & unable to appear & take the said oath,
in open Court Jairus Ware Judge of C.C.C. Pleas for sd Circuit
Horatio Townsend Clerk of the said Court
do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule hereto annexed, are truly copied from
the record of said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the
total amount in value, of the property exhibited in the aforesaid shall
the aforesaid schedule, is
six hundred and twenty two dollars and twenty 
cents. The debts are not considered
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said
Court on this twenty fourth day of July 1820
Horatio Townsend Clerk
Page 12

A Schedule of the property of William Fairbanks
of Dedham in the County of Norfolk & Commonwealth
of Massachusetts an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of May 1st 1820 necessary wearing apparel bed & bedding excepted
Real Estate
a small House Barn & about 30 acres of land
principally poor 500.00
Personal Estate
One old chaise & waggon [wagon]  23.00
one plow  4.00
one Iron bar  1.50
Draugh Chain  1.20
old hoes & shovels 1.00
old axes, old iron &c.  1.00
Old Flax Brake, & harrow  2.00
1 Bureau. 2.00
4 Fran back Chairs. 1.50
1 Doz kitchen chairs old. 2.00
1 Pembroke Table. 1.50
2 old Tables. .50
1 light stand. .50
3 old Cloaths Chests  1.25
2 old small looking glasses  .50
1 Trunk. 1.00
Brass ware  2.50
Crockery & Tin ware  2.50
Iron ware  1.50
old Books  .75
old lumber  1.50
Live stock 3.00
old & horse  30.00
2 Cows old. 30.00
2 Young Cows  32.00
1 swine. 4.00
$622.20 ┃
I am owing on Interest in notes
500.00
-
122.20
William Fairbanks
Page 13

my family are as follows viz
1st a wife 58 years old very feeble &
unable to support herself
2nd
a grandchild 12 years old
I am a farmer by occupation but unable to
do the least work on account of the infirmities
of age & sickness
Page 14

State of Massachusetts
Suffolk County Ss
On this nineteenth day of November A.D. 1855 personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace within & for said County Moses Fairbanks a resident of Dedham in the County of Norfolk but now commorant of Boston aged seventy two years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the increase of pension due him and the other surviving child of William Fairbanks deceased.
That he is one of the children
of said William Fairbanks decd who was a
private soldier & Wagon Conductor in
the war of the Revolution and was a pensioner under the act of June 7, 1832 at
the rate of $80 per annum
& for proof thereof he refers to the
papers on file in the Pension Office with
his application under said Law
He further declares that his said
father served upwards of two years
Page 15

in said war, as a private, and two
years as a wagoner and that he
died on the twenty first day
of December, 1842, and left himself and
one other surviving child only
viz
Olive Clark widow of Naham Clark
Now the object of this declaration
is to obtain an increase of pension
which the declarant believes to be
due him and the other surviving child
of the said William Fairbanks on account of the service of the said William
as Wagoner on the ground that when
his pension was adjusted he was not
allowed for two years full service as
Wagoner as aforesaid
Moses Fairbanks
In presence of
John C. Dodge
Sworn to & subscribed before me & I certify
that I have no interest in the claim
of declarant & am not concerned in
its prosecution. 
John C. Dodge
Jus. Peace
I have appointed Franklin Hale of
Boston to present the above claim
Moses Fairbanks
Page 16

1818
INVALID.
18. 818
William Fairbank
Pri Rev War
-
Act: June 7" 32
Vol. 1, Page 122
{Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 17

William Fairbank
Private
2 years
$80-

J. L. Edwards Esq
Secretary of the Pension Office
Washington City
Wm Ellis Esq
Dedham
Mass
Page 18

Dedham Aug. 25th 1832
Sir
I take the liberty to remark that the application of William Fairbanks and Josiah Hall for a Pension are supposed by them
and their friends to be sufficient (with the documents accompanying and
the evidence believed to be on file in the war office) to establish these claims, without going through with the process before a Court of record and agreeable to the modes of reviewing evidence of services, as understood here fy a fair construction of the rules prescribed by the war department and if there is any deficiency in the application of either of the aforesaid
claimants be pleased to inform me of it, as soon
as convenient after the [illeg] is
made by the Hond [honored]Secretary
And sir should you wish to inquire at any time, in relation to particular points of the subjects Pensions within the County of Norfolk any
information in my possession will be fully communicated
Your respectfully
Wm Ellis
Page 19

Dedham Mass
[illeg]
Free
Honorable Secretary of War of the U.S.
Washington City
Pens Office
23 March 1829
Wm Fairbanks
1 March 1823
Mass
(Sept 1819)
Pension office
Pension
Page 20

Dedham Mass
[illeg]
Free
Honorable Secretary of War of the U.S.
Washington City
Pens Office
23 March 1829
Wm Fairbanks
1 March 1823
Mass
(Sept 1819)
Pension office
Pension
Page 21

Dedham March 11th 1829
Sir
Enclosed is a document lately received from the pension office at Washington, which has been filled up & authenticated by Wm Fairbanks
the applicant therein named, and whatever further communication may be necessary on the subject the Honorable Secretary of War
is requested to direct it to West Dedham Post Office Mass
your humble Servant
Wm Ellis
Page 22

To accompany Wm Fairbanks application for Pension
Page 23

War Department,
PENSION OFFICE
Sept 25 1820
Sir
You are hereby informed that the
Secretary of War does not, on account of the amount of your property, consider you entitled to a Pension under the Acts of
the 18th March, 1818, and 1st May, 1820; and has, therefore, directed your name to be stricken from the Pension List.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J.L. Edwards
To Mr. William Fairbank
Care of Jairus Ware Esqr
Wrentham, Mass
Page 24

Payable semi-annually. The first payment on this certificate will be made on the 4th of Sept next in Boston the US Branch Bank
Recorded
Page 25

War Department
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I CERTIFY that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th of March, 1818,
William Fairbank late a Private in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of Eight dollars per month, to commence
on the first day of May one thousand
eight hundred and eighteen
GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this 19th day of July - one thousand eight
hundred and nineteen
J C Calhoun
Secretary of War.
Page 26

To the Hon Secretary at War
Washington City-
Page 27

DECLARATION.
In order to be restored to the Pension List under the Act of March 1, 1823, drawn
up in conformity with the regulations of the War Department of the 26th December, 1828.
County of Norfolk SS State of Massachusetts
On this Eleventh day of March 1829, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace for the County of said Norfolk the
undersigned William Fairbanks, a resident of said county, who being duly sworn according to law, doth depose and say, that he is the same person
who served in the Revolutionary war in the Company commanded by Captain Joseph Guild of the regiment commanded by Colonel John Greaton of the line of the State of Massachusetts that he received a pension
under the act of March, 18, 1818, but his name was dropt from the Pension Roll
on account of the amount of his property, which was valued at less than $960, and
he now applies to be restored in consequence of the regulations of the War Department
of the 26th December, 1828, having at this time the following named property,
being worth no more than the sums below mentioned. He also swears that he has
before applied to be restored, but his claim has been rejected, on account of the
amount of his property.
Schedule.
---
Small Houses & Barn and one acre of land about same-  Dollars 350.00
24 acres of Pasture land & bush swamp -
 168.00
4 Acres of Fillage load - 96.00
31/2 acres of law Meadow 35.00
4 laws & one Horse - 80.00
Furniture & tools -- 60.00
Amt $789.00

And the said William Fairbanks doth further depose & say that the produce derived from the lands valued in the above Schedule is insufficient for keeping the laws & Horse
above valued and that for several years he  has been obliged to purchase elsewhere one third of the hay & pasturage necessary for keeping
said stocks -
Wm Fairbanks
Sworn to before me, this Eleventh day of March in the year of our Lord
Eighteen hundred and twenty nine 
Wm Ellis
Justice of Peace
The official character and signature of the Magistrate must be certified by the proper
officer, under his seal of office.
Page 28

State of Massachusetts
Norfolk SS. on this Eleventh day of March 1829 personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace for said County the undersigned George Ellis & Paul Ellis of Dedham in said
County of Norfolk, of lawful age & doth depose & say that they are acquainted with the William Fairbanks the within named applicant, to be restored to his pension and for several years have known the property he possesses that according to their best judgment & belief the value & amount of property by said Fairbanks exhibited in the shedule [schedule] within, is a
fair & just representation of said property, and that the same would not command an annual rent of more than forty dollars. And they further depose & say that said William Fairbanks is an industrious man
and needs the bounty of his country-
George Ellis
Paul Ellis
Norfolk SS. March 11. 1829 then the above named George Ellis & Paul Ellis swore to the truth of the above affidavit
by them subscribed before me
-
Wm Ellis Justice of Peace
Page 29

Commonwealth
of Mafsachusetts [Massachusetts]
Norfolk ss
I Jairus Ware Clerk of the Judicial Court
in & for the County of Norfolk aforesaid hereby certify that William Ellis Esquire before named is a Justice Peace for said County, duly commissioned and qualified to
administer oaths and perform all other duty incident to the
said office and that his several signatures on the other sides thereof, are genuine and true
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand & affixed the seal of the Supreme Jud. [Judicial] Court of said Commonwealth this seventeenth day of March
AD 1829
Jairus Ware
Page 30

13.044
Massachusetts
William Fairbank
of Norfolk Co in the State of Mafsachuts [Massachusetts] who was a private
in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Greaton of
the Massachusetts  & Continental line, for the term of one year
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 1 of May 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 of July
and sent to Judge Jairus Ware
Wrentham, Norfolk Co
Massachusetts
Arrears to 4th of Mar 110 mos 4/31 81.3
Semi-anl. all'ce ending Sep 4, 1819
48 -
$ 129.3
{ Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.}
Not entitled
Page 31

See Letter 18 April 1829
Wm Ellis Dedham
Notification sent September 25th 1820
Jairus Ware Judge CCC Pleas Norfolk Cty
Wrentham, Mafs [Mass]
Page 32

Notification sent September 25th 1820
Jairus Ware Judge CCC Pleas Norfolk Cty
Wrentham, Mafs [Mass]

See Letter 18 April 1829
Wm Ellis Dedham
Page 33

William Fairbank
Private
Col Gratons Regiment
Massachusetts Line
1776- 1 year

additional
proof of
Service wanted the
Judgement certifies
to the credibility of the
witnesses proving claimants service
Admitted
Page 34

William Fairbank
Private
Col Gratons Regiment
Massachusetts Line
1776- 1 year

additional
proof of
Service wanted the
Judgement certifies
to the credibility of the
witnesses proving claimants service
Admitted
Page 35

I William Fairbanks a Citizen of the United States residing in the Town of Dedham in the County of Norfolk & Commonwealth of Massachusetts on oath declare that in
the month of Jany 7 1776  I enlisted in to the army of the Revolutionary War on the continental establishment
under the command of Capt Joseph Guild of sd Dedham to fill up the Regiments then raised that I enlisted for the
term of one year & Mustered at Cambridge in said Commonwealth in the Regiment commanded by Col John Graton of the Massachusetts line & marched
to New York & from thence to Canada & back to Ticonderoga & from thence to the State of New Jersey where, I was discharged in Jany 1777 but received no written
discharge, & have no further evidence of my service except the affidavit below
I further state that by my advanced age and low
Circumstances in life I stand in need of assistance
Page 36

from my country for my support Wm Fairbanks
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk May 1. 1818. Before me one of the Judges of the Circuit
Court of Common Pleas for the same circuit personally appeared the above named
Wm Fairbanks resident in said Circuit, who being duly cautioned on his
Oath made the foregoing declaration by him signed in order to obtain the
provision made by the late act of Congrefs [Congress] entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war And I certify that it appears from the application that Fairbank did serve in the revolutionary war for the on the continental establishment. And I now under seal to [illeg] the
proceedings & testimony taken & had before me to the Secretary for the Dept
ment of War pursuant to directions of sd [said] act. I further certify from said [illeg]
that the applicant [is] in necessitous circumstances & as he has stated
in his declaration
Jairus Ware
Judge of the
Circuit Court of Common
Pleas for the [illeg] Circuit

May 1.-
Page 37

I Nathaniel Gay
of Dedham
in the County
of Norfolk & Commonwealth of Massachusetts
on oath declare, that I am acquainted with
Wm Fairbanks of the same Dedham
and that he enlisted in Jany 1776 in the Army
of the U States and served in the sd Army more than nine months from that time. having been
in the army with him
Nathaniel Gay
Norfolk ss. April 30
1818 Then the above named
Nathaniel Gay made oath to the truth of the
above affidavit
Jarius Ware
I believe the sd
Nathaniel Gay the Deponent
entitled to full credit
J Ware
Page 38

We the Subscribers do certify & say that we are
acquainted with with the within named Wm
Fairbank and that he enlisted and served as
therein stated & that he needs and is entitled to the assistance of his country for his support
Wm Leon
George Ellis
Benjamin Fairbanks
Nathaniel Whiting
Richard Ellis
Page 39

Norfolk Ss on the 24th day of May 1819 Simpson Jones
of Midway in the County of Norfolk & Commonwealth of Massachusetts was sworn as follows at the
Request of William Fairbanks of Dedham in the
County aforesaid
that the said William Fairbanks Enlisted in Capt Guilds Company in Col John Gratons Regt on Jany 1st, 1776
& continued in said Regt untill November 1st the same year all which I know as I was present
myself on the same duty & I have no doubt but
he continued to the End of the year
Simpson Jones
May 24 1819
the above named Simpson Jones Personally appeared and made oath to the above statement
Before me
Amos Turner Justice of Peace
this may certify that the above named
Simpson Jones in my opinion is a man of
Truth & good moral character & of Lawfull age
Amos Turner Justice of Peace
Norfolk ss. June 11. 1819. I am well acquainted with Amos Turner Esqr. He is a Justice of the peace for sd County of Norfolk duly Commissioned and his signature above is his handwriting
Simpson Jones
the Deponent is also well known to me as a man 
of veracity
Jairus Ware Judge [illeg].
Page 40

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk ss. May 27, 1819
I John Ruggles of Cambridge
in the County of Middlesex on oath declare that in Jany 1776 I enlisted as a Soldier in the late Revolutionary war 
for the term of one year. I served in Capt Joseph Guild's Company in Col Graton's Regt Mass line and continued in service during the whole of that time -
I am personally acquainted with William Fairbank of Dedham an applicant for a Pension he served in the same company with me during the whole term of our year, and at the expiration thereof we were dismissed but both of us remained a short time longer on a
nine engagement
John Ruggles
-
Suffolk ss. May 27, 1819 The above named John Ruggles made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribing and I certify that he is a witness entitled
to credit
Benj. Russell Justice of Peace
June 11. 1819. I am personally acquainted with Benj Russell Esq above named he is duly commissioned as a Justice of the 
Peace for the County of Suffolk and his signature above is his
hand writing
Jairus Ware Judge &c
Page 41

39 State St Boston Nov 30th 1855
Sir
Enclosed herewith I send the application
of Moses Fairbanks
for arrears of pension due his deceased
father William Fairbanks, who was
of the U. States under the
Act of June 7, 1832
I am, Sir, most respectfully,
Your
Obt Servt
Franklin Hall

Hon J. Minot
Commr of Pensions,
Washington
D.C.
Page 42

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
Boston June 26th 1856
Sir: I hereby certify that the following
is a true extract from a petition of William Fairbanks to the General Court of Massachusetts referred
to in the certificate issued from this office under
date of November 2nd 1855 upon which a bounty of Fifty Dollars was allowed to said Fairbanks, and that said petition is signed by said William Fairbanks and
Witnessed by Moses Fairbanks, and is as follows
Thus it will be seen that his term
of services as a soldier was two years and three
months, and afterwards served more than two
years in the wagon service he would mention
one tour of this service. In the year 1779 your
petitioner, with three or four other teams, under the direction of the Board of War, at Boston, were loaded with Military stores, to be delivered at Westfield, on the Connecticut River. My load was a very heavy morter, left by the enemy on some of the Islands in the
Page 43

the harbor when he left Boston- these stores
were delivered according to order, at
Westfield, and after a day or two of rest, and the teams about starting for Boston as ordered, an officer of the grade of
Colonel, whose name is forgotten, ordered your petitioner to stop and go with the team South with him. Your petitioner remonstrated and resisted without effect,
having the misfortune to have a good covered wagon, he was obliged to submit to this impressment his comrades having no covers to their wagons, returned to Boston. He then received the essential baggage
of a Regiment and pushed his way through foul
weather and bad travelling to the Fishkills, thence to some place on the Hudson River above New York and was then liberated, and in this one tour was on constant fatigue but little short of two months time"

A true Copy
Attest Francis DeWitt
Secretary of the
Commonwealth
Page 44

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, Nov 28th 1855
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the attestations hereunto annexed
John C. Dodge was a Justice of the peace for
the County of Suffolk and Colburn Ellis
a Justice of the Peace for the County of Norfolk
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
In Testimony of Which, I have hereunto affixed the SEAL OF THE
COMMONWEALTH, the date above written
E M Wrigham
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 45

We, Rufus French and Jesse Morse
of Didham [Dedham]
in the County of Suffolk &
State of Massachusetts on
oath testify and say that
we were formerly
acquainted with William Fairbanks
decd [deceased]  who
was a Revolutionary Pensioner
of the United States & who died
said Dedham on or about
the 21st day of December 1842.-- that we are also acquainted with Moses Fairbanks
who has made the written declaration & that
he is the son of said
William Fairbanks and
that he & Olive Clark, widow of
Naham [Nathan] Clark of said Medway, are the
only surviving children of said William
Fairbanks
Jesse Morse
Rufus French
Norfolk Ss. November 26th 1855. Then personally appeared the above named Rufus French & Jesse Morse & made oath that the foregoing affidavit by them subscribed is true. & I certify that said affiants are personally known to me & are credible witnesses & residents of Dedham & that I have no interest in this claim & am not concerned in its prosecution
Colburn Ellis
Jus. Peace
Page 46

I,  Francis Howe of Dedham in the
County of Norfolk & State of Massachusetts, on oath depose & say that I am
a practising physician in said Dedham
& have been about forty one years. that William Fairbanks, who was a Revolution
any pensioner of the United States was
attended by me in his last illness, that
he was a resident of said Dedham &
died in said Dedham on the twenty first
day of December Eighteen hundred and
forty two and left two children only viz
Moses Fairbanks of said Dedham, & Olive
Clark widow of Naham Clark of Medway
I further depose & say that Lois
Farbanks widow of said William
Fairbanks was attended by me in her
last illness & died on the tenth day 
of July Eighteen hundred
& fifty one
Jos. Howe
Suffolk ss. November 26th 1855. Sworn
to & subscribed before me & I certify that the
affiant is personally known to me that he
is a Physician, a resident of Dedham &
credible witness & that I have no interest
in this claim & am not concerned in its
prosecution
Colburn Ellis
Jus. Peace
Page 47

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston
November 2nd 1855
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 William Fairbanks
is borne on the records of the General Court of Massachusetts in the form of a petition for bounty, he never having received bounty land for his services and the General Court authorized the Treasurer to pay the said
William Fairbanks, Fifty Dollars, he having served more than two years as a soldier, and two years as a Wagoner, from Dedham.
The Fifty Dollar bounty was allowed the 19th of April 1838 by the General Court of Massachusetts
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written
Chas W Lovett
[illeg] Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 48

39 State St. Boston
June 27, 1856
Sir, In reply to your letter of the 18th Dec
[nltd] respecting the application of the children
of William Fairbanks decd. for an increase of
his pension under the Act of 7 June 1832 on
account of his services as a Teamster, I have
the honor to transmit herewith a copy of his
petition to the General Court of Massachusetts
certified by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
vis which the character of those services, is to
some extent set forth.
This is the only evidence upon this point which I am able to adduce, but I most respectfully submit, that if this statement be true, it shows most conclusively that the service in question was not rendered under due contract, (for that
implies an agreement between the parties) but
on the contrary, that it was compulsory
that if he had declined rendering it, he
would have been dealt with according to
the law martial. If then, he was
forced into the service & did his duty.
would he not stand upon an equally
favorable footing with those who enlisted?
Page 49

Would he not have been legally entitled
as to the established pay of a wagon conductor
at that time ($40 pr mo) & is he not now
entitled to the benefits of that service in
the adjustment of his pension?
In regard to the degree of credit which
is due to this statement, I will merely suggest
that the truth of it was, & must have been
established by competent evidence, to the satisfaction of the Legislature of Massachusetts
for it formed the basis of their action, in
the passage of the Resolve, granting him
the Bounty referred to in the certificate
of the Secretary of State of Nov. 2, 1855.
heretofore transmitted by me.
I am in most respectfully
Your obt Servt
-
Franklin Hall
-
Hon. J. Minot
Commr of Pensions
Washington D.C.