Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 13893, for Sylvanus Shaw, Massachusetts
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE 
Mass. [Massachusetts]

Shaw, Sylvanus 
or Silvanus
Persis

NUMBER
W13893

CONTENTS
Page 2

5757
Massachusetts
Sylvanus Shaw
of Hampshire in the State of Mass [Massachusetts]
Who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain ______ of the reg. commanded
by Cap Hancock in the Mass. line for 9 Mos.

Inscribed on the Roll of Mass
at the rate of 30 Dollars ~ Cents per annum.
To commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 15th day of Feby 1833 and sent to Hon G N Briggs H of Rep

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $45.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33 15.00. 
$60.00

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by G F McBlair Clerk,
Book D. Vol. 2nd. Page 98.
Page 3

Massachusetts
Persis Shaw
widow of Sylvanus Shaw
who served in the Revolutionary 
war, as a Private
Mass
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate 
of 30 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence
on the 18 of January 185[illeg.]
Certificate of Pension issued
the 28th day of Augt 
and sent to 
Hon. B Goodrich
H of Rep
Recorded on the Rolls of Pensioners under act
February 9, 1848, Page 136 Vol. 2
Page 4

No. 4357

Sylvanus Shaw
Private
9 Months
Massachusetts

The interrogatories not
completed. Request to procure
a certificate from the 
Secretary of the state of Massachusetts
relative to his pension
November 28, 1834
Honorable G N Briggs
House of Representatives
$30
C.R. Huntington 
Northampton
Massachusetts 
R107
Page 5

Brief in the case of Sylvanus Shaw of the County 
of Hampshire in the State of Mass.
(Act 7th June, 1839)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court.
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 67 years.
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period
In 1782 Mass.
Duration of Service
Years, ___
Months, 9
Days, ___
Rank. As a Volunteer
Names of the General and Field Officers under whom he served. Gen. Capt. Hancock
5. In what battles was he engaged? None.
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Abington
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Deposition.
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
No clergyman's certificate
X Certify that the forgoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
Lewis Bell
Examining Clerk.
Page 6

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Town of Hingham
Town Clerk's office, May 11, 1832
I, the subscriber, do hereby certify, that it
appears by the Registry of Marriages and
Deaths of said town of Hingham, Mass.
Sylvanus Shaw of Abington and 
Persis Stodders of Hingham were married.
November 15 in the year of our
Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety Two
by the Rev Daniel Shute
The record is in the words and signed as following, viz:
Married, by the Rev Daniel Shute, Sylvanus Shaw of 
Abington, and Persis Stoddard of Hingham
Nov 15th 1792.
Hawkes Fearing Jr Town Clerk

I, Hawkes Fearing Jr above named, depose and say that I am 
the clerk of the Town of Hingham in the county of Plymouth
that I am the keeper of the Registry of Births, Marriages and 
Deaths of said Hingham, and that the same is a true record
from the records of Marriage, with the exception above named and certified by me.

Subscribed and duly sworn to before me this 
twelfth day of May AD 1852.
David Fearing, Justice of the Peace
Page 7

DECLARATION, in order to secure the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
County of Hampshire
ON this nineteenth day of August in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty five
personally appeared in open Court, before Samuel Hinkley Judge of Probate
now sitting Sylvanus Shaw a resident of Cummington
in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged sixty seven
years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the 
benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following officers and served as herein stated. 
I was born in the town of Abington in the County of Plymouth on the seventeenth day of May 1765 and resided in Abington until I was twenty nine years old when I removed to Cummington and have resided there since about the middle of March 1782. I volunteered for the term of nine months in the service of the state of Massachusetts to go on to Castle Williams now Fort Independence. I marched to that place and should think was under the Command of Capt Hancock. I remained and performed duty there until the month of December when I was discharged. I have no record of my age but suppose it may be found in the records of the town of Abington where I was born. I received no discharge and have no documentary evidence of my service. 

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on 
the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 
Silvus [Sylvanus] Shaw
Before Samuel Hinkley Judge of Probate for sd County
Page 8

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interogatories presecribed by the War Department, that the above mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate

I Samuel F Lyman Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Sylvanus Shaw for a pension. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court this Twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty twy. 
Sam'l F Lyman Register
Sylvanus Shaw Declaration
No 4367
Page 9

Persis Shaw

Hon B Goodrich
Ho of Reps
Page 10

State of Massachusetts Hampshire County SS
On this eighteenth day of May 1852 personally
appeared before the Court of Probate for said County
Persis Shaw a resident of Cummington in the County
of Hampshire Aged Seventy eight years who being first
duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the
following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the
provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled
an act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows
and various subsequent acts that she is the widow of
Sylvanus Shaw who was a private in the army of the
Revolution that he served on fort independance or Castle
Island in the harbor of Boston nine months as will appear from a certificate of the Secretary of the State of
Massachusetts now on file in the pension office
She further declares that she was married to the said
Sylvanus Shaw on the fifteenth day of November 1792 that
her husband the aforesaid Sylvanus Shaw
died on
eighteenth day of January 1852 that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage
took place previous the first of January 1800 at the time
above stated
Persis Shaw
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written Before J Havernow [illegible] Judge of Probate

I Samuel F Lyman Register of said Court of
Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing are the
original proceedings before said Court in the
matter of the application of said Persis Shaw
for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and the seal of said Court this 18th day of
May A.D. 1852 
Sam'l F Lyman Register of Probate
Page 11

In reply to your request of............received............for a statement of the military history of Sylvanus Shaw 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. No. F13893

(Chart here):
 Dates of Enlistment or Appointment
Length of Service
Rank
Officers under whom service was rendered-Captain/Colonel
State

September 1781 | 8 mos.| Pvt./Capts. Thomas Cushing & William Burbeck | [no Col. given] | Mass
Served at the Castle in Boston Harbor

Battles engaged in-- none stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment-- Abington, Mass
Date of application for pension--Aug. 20, 1832
His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application--Cummington, Hampshire Co. Mass.
Age at date of application--born May 20 1765 at Abington, Mass. died Jan'y 18, 1852
Remarks: He was at Hingham Mass Nov 15 1792  m. Persis Stodders she was al. pens on an app. exec. May 18, 1852 while a res. of Cummington Mass. aged 78 yrs. There is no other family data.
Respectfully,
Commissioner
Page 12

Rev. WIDOW, &c.

No. 13893
Persis Shaw
Widow of
Sylvanus Shaw
Pri Rev War
Act: Feb 2 '48
Index:--Vol M, Page 207
{Arrangement of 1870}

Apr 6/85 Sent Hist to Charles L
Shaw 157 Franklin St, Astoria, NY- mel
1922 Mch. 25 Hist to Lillian
A. Clark.
Page 13

No 59
Persis Shaw
wid of Sylvanus
Mass

3 aw 24 Aug 1832
Act 2d Feb 1848
(7 July x'd out)
Page 14

Pension Office
Aug 24 1852

Massachusetts Roll
Act June 7 1832
Sylvanus Shaw 
Hampshire pensioned at 30$ per annum
To what time was he paid?
Triplett

Js. Gallaher Esq.
P auditer
pd to 4th Sept 1851
BTB.
Page 15

No. 57
Persis Shaw
widow of Sylvanus
Mass

adm
Act 2 Feb 1848
30$ per annum
from 18 Jany 1832
when he died


Cert to Hon. B. Goodrich
H of Reps
Page 16

1832 &c
Persis Shaw widow of Sylvanus of Mass.
Husband a pensioner Act June 7 1832 at 30$ 
Died 18 Jany 1852 Record proof of marriage,
Certificate to Hon. JB Goodrich H of Reps
Page 17

J Goodrich 
MC

J. E. Heath Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington


(sideways)
June 14/52
Appl. of Persis Shaw
wid. of Sylvanus

Hon. JB Goodrich
House of R.
Page 18

J. E Heath Esq.
Comr. of Pensions

Sir 
Enclosed I hand you the papers of Persis Shaw, widow containing her application for a pension
Respectfully your
obt. srvt.
J Goodrich

House of Reps.
June 12 1852
Page 19

Brief in the case of Persis Shaw widow of Sylvanus
County and State of Massachusetts
act 2d Feby 1848

Claim, ("original") (for increase crossed out)
Proof exhibited, (if original)

Is it documentary, traditionary or support by tolls? If either, state the substance.
Husband was a pensioner under act June 7 1832 at 30$ per annum. died 18 Jany 1852

Record proof of marriage

(If for inccreas,)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim?  If so, what?

Thornton Triplett
Examining Clerk.

Name and residence of Agent
Hon. J B Goodrich
H of Reps
Page 20

No. 4.367
Sylvanus Shaw

It does not appear that John Hancock ever commanded a company. This case is considered very doubtful. To remove all doubts on the subject a certificate from the Secretary of the State of Massachusetts must be produced in regard to the service.
March 28 1832
C. P. Huntington
Page 21

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Sylvanus Shaw which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  Yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  Yes
V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?  Yes
VI. Has he given the name of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  Yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension that the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?  Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?  Yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?  Yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?  Yes
Page 22

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and other respectable citizens as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?  No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?   No
XIII. If the applicant has om documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she or they are persons of credibility? And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?  Yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES
Quere V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less that the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For_____
year_____months and _______days, I served as a _______, For ______months an _____days, I served as a ________and for such service I claim a pension."
Page 23

8
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served and particular rank he held, as the law direct the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and his length of service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV, Proof of Service
In a case where the name of the applicant is ot found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in the affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI Mode of authenticating papers,
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any aper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Page 24

Sylvanus Shaw
Payments to be made at
Boston Mass
by the Pres. U S B Bank
Agent for paying Pensioners,
in the Agency of Mass.

Served on Castle William under Colonel Burbit
lived in Cummington
40 years in 1834 before
in Abington

Recorded by G H McBlair
Clerk, in Book D Volume 2nd
page 98
Page 25

WAR DEPARTMENT 
Revolutionary Claim
I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 7th June, 1832, Sylvanus Shaw of the State of Massachusetts who was a Private in the Arny of the Revolution is entitled to receive Thirty dollars and ----cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of march, 1831, and payable semi-annually, on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this
fifteenth day of February one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three
Lewis Capp
Secretary of War

Examined and Countersigned
J. L. Edwards
Page 26

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire ss. At a Court of Probate holden at Chesterfield in and for said County on the third Tuesday of May A. D. 1832 before the Hon. [illegible] Coaker Judge of Probate for said County satisfactory evidence was furnished that Sylvanus Shaw the before named Pensioner of the United States died in in Cummington in said County on the 18th day of January 1852 and left a widow whose name is Persis Shaw and she is still living.
In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and seal of Office.
Saml F Lyman Register of Prob.
Page 27


Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Secretary's Office Janr. 18th 1833 
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 Sylvanus Shaw's name is borne on a Roll in Book No.1 of Navy in Militia Rolls, Warrant N. 56. Nov 13 1782, as having served at the Castle in Boston Harbour, under Tho. Cushing Esq (Leut. Governor) as Capt & Will Burbeck Capt Lieutenant, and was paid 12 pounds. He also served under the same officers again at the Castle, & was paid in Warrant 4.9.4 N. 60, March 13th 1783 in same Book ● He also served under Capt. Will Burbeck at Governor's Island and was paid in Warrant 2.00 No 39 in the Book of Abstract F. Sept. 3, 1783 Total Amount paid for services, Eighteen pounds ,nine shillings & fourpence Edward D Bays Secy
Page 28

Josiah Shaw affidavit for Sylvan Shaw
Page 29

I Josiah Shaw of Plainfield in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being of lawful age to certify that I was acquainted with Sylvanus Shaw in the time of the Revolutionary war that my brother Brackley and myself enlisted in December AD 1779 and that the said Brackley remained two years and three months and that the above named Sylvanus then took the said Brackley's place on the Castle (so called) and remained to December AD 1782 nine months as nearly as I can recollect and that I now know the s'd Sylvanus Shaw of Cummington in County and Commonweath aforesaid and that he was regularly and honorably discharged from said place in December 1782. I also certify that was with the s'd Sylvanus during the above time and that John Hancock was our Captain. William Bemanbanks was our Lieutenant and Samuel Trenton Ensign
Josiah Shaw.

Hampshire JS. August 17 AD 1832 Then personally appeared Josiah Shaw above named and made oath to this [illegible- covered by folder paper - see scan #30 for remainder of paragraph]]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
Hampshire SS.  I, SAMUEL F. LYMAN, Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County, do hereby certify that John Mack Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition was taken is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly and regularly appointed, and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing, and have no doubt that the signature annexed to said deposition is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this twentieth day of August A. D. 1832. Samuel F. Lyman Register of Probate.
Page 30

I Josiah Shaw of Plainfield in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being of lawful age to testify that I was acquainted with Sylvanus Shaw in the time of the Revolutionary war. That my brother Brackley & myself enlisted in December AD 1779 and that the said Brackley remained two years and three months and that the above named Sylvanus then took the said Brackley's place on the Castle (so called) and remained to December 1782 nine months as nearly as I can recollect and that I now know the said Sylvanus Shaw of Cummington-County & Commonwealth aforesaid and that he was regularly and honorably discharged from said place in December 1782. I also testify that I was with said Sylvanus during the above time and that John Hancock was our Captain-William Burbanks our Lieutenant and Samuel Trevor our Ensgn.
Jossiah Shaw

Hampshire SS. August 17 AD 1832 Then personally appeared Josiah Shaw above named and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed
before me John Mach. Justice Peace

(paper folded over)  In testimony----the seal of said Court this -----A.D. 1832
Saml. F. Lyman Register of Probate
Page 31

Briggs 
Ret’d case & [illegible]
Jan’y 31

Adm'd

Col J. L. Edwards
Pension Office
Page 32

Sir
Enclosed I send you the papers of
Sylvanus Shaw which papers have been returned
as being imperfect. I am desiring to enquire
after the application of the following persons belonging
to Massachusetts and ask there the certificates which
may be found to any of the applicants may be
sent to me: viz [namely] Asa Gurney, Nehemiah Richards,
Nathan Snow, Thomas Terrell, Ebenezer Bisbee,
Whitcom Pratt, Josiah Tory, Beriah Shaw.
Respectfully yours,
G N Briggs
Colonel Edwards
30 January [18]33
Page 33

[encircled stamp:]
PENSION U.S. OFFICE Mar 7 1895 [end of encirclement]

[in a square stamp:]
OLD WAR & NAVY FILES Mar 9 1895
[end of square stamp]
Page 34

feb 27, 1895
Hon Wm Lochren:
Dear Sir:
Many thanks for
the copy of Josiah Shaw's 
statement of service in
the Revolutionary War.
Will you kindly send me, also, a statement
of the revolutionary service 
of Sylvanus Shaw
of Cummington, Mass 
a pensioner who died 
Jan 18, 1852. He was a
native of Abington.
Very respectfully,
Chas Lyman Shaw
157 Franklin St
Astoria, New York
Page 35

157 Franklin St
Astoria, Long Island
March 19th, 1895
Hon Wm Lochren:
Dear Sir,
Please inform me
at your earliest convenience
whether any of the following
men were pensioners in the
Revolution or war of 1812 and,
if so, kindly send me a 
statement of their services:
1st, Sylvanus Shaw of
Cummington, Mass who 
died Jun 18, 1852, aged 87.
He was born probably at 
Abington and is said to 
have been a revolutionary
pensioner.
Page 36

2d, Ebenezer Shaw of
Abington, Mass who was
born in 1718 and dies in 1796.
He is said to have been
an officer in the Revolution.
3d, Jonathan Noyes of
Abington or Weymouth.
4th, Joseph Cooke of Northampton Mass 
who in 1779 was a captain in Col Porter's
regiment. He died in 1788
but his wife Lydia survived
him until 1814 and may
have received a pension.
Many thanks for the 
record of Josiah Shaw
received about Feb 24th.
Yours truly, Chas Lyman Shaw
Page 37

[in a square stamp:]
OLD WAR AND NAVY FILES 
APR 16 1895
[end of in square stamp]

[in circle stamp:]
U.S. UNION OFFICE APR 13 1895
[end of circle stamp]

File
W. 13.893
Page 38

Hon Wm Lochren:
Dear Sir,
Many thanks 
for you statement 
of the military history
of Sylvanus Shaw
of Cummington, Mass
which reached me this 
morning.
Yours truly,
Chas Lyman Shaw
157 Franklin St
Astoria, New York
April 9, 1895
Page 39

Lee, Massachusetts
Feb 21, 1922
Bureau of Pensions
Washington DC
Commissioner
My dear Sir
Will you kindly send
me a copy of the military history of Sylvanus Shaw
born Abington, Mass 1766
died West Cummington, Mass 
1852, was placed on Mass 
pension roll 1833 for
service of nine months
as private in Capt Thomas
Page 40

Cushing's Co
Thanking you for your
kindness, I am
sincerely yours,
Lillian a Clark

Mrs Albert B Clark
83 Franklin St
Lee, Massachusetts