Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 19809, Matthias Honeywell, Conn. New York
Page 1

(3─1776)
SERVICE
Conn.
New York

Honeywell, Matthias
Esther

NUMBER
W. 19809
B.L.Wt. 26897-160-55
Page 2

5639
New York
====================
Matthias Honeywell
of Walton in the State of New York
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Billings of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Richmond in the New York 
line for 2 years
====================
Inscribed on the Roll of New York.
at the rate of 80 Dollars ["Cents" lined thru] per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
====================
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 day of February
1833 and sent to Hon E Root
Ho Repre's. [House of Representatives]
====================
Arrears to 4th Sept 1832                            $120.00
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33           40.00
======
$160.00
======

{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }

Recorded by Jno Cromwell Clerk
Book D  Vol. 5   Page 145
Page 3

Let. To J. Bostwick Dec 7. '37
Let To Hon A J Parker July 3. '38
Let. To Hon E. Root Sep 5. '39
Let. To Hon J. Taliaferro Apl 13- '40
Let. To Hon J. Taliaferro Jany 19. 1841.
Page 4

2203   Alby,
New York
====================
Esther Honeywell
widow of Matthias Honeywell
NY
who served in the revolutionary
war, as a Private
====================
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
80 Dollars -----
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1848.
====================
Certificate of Pension issued the
9th day of Oct 1848
and sent to Hon. W B Maclay
New York
====================

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 2, 1848, Page 83  Vol. 4.
Page 5

105310  Act Mar 3/55
April 28/55
Esther Honeywell
widow of
Mathias Honeywell Priv.
Cap " "
Col " "
No 26897 iss May 26/56
War of the Revolution
U. S. Pensioner
NY. Feb 48 - 2203
W: 160 Acr May 12/56
Boynton 
M
Claimant
Walton
[illegible] NY

C[?] Claimant Dec 21/55
Vol H [?] page 61
Page 6

Declaration
Of Esther Honeywell in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 4 July 1836

State of New York
County  of Delaware ⎬ ss
On this first day of September Personally appeared before me Jabez Bostwick First Judge of Delaware county courts Esther Honeywell a resident of the town of Weston in the County of Delaware aforesaid aged Seventy eight years on 11th day of October last.  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 4 July 1836 that she is the widow of Matthias Honeywell who was a Private Soldier in the Army of the revolution And for the proof of his services in the Revolutionary War she is unable to state but believes the proof of his services is to be found on the files of the War Department That her Husband was a pensioner under the act of the 7th of June 1832  She further declares that she was married to the said Matthias Honeywell in [smudged] Wilton Parrish in the then town of Norwalk county of Fairfield & State of Connecticut on the Six day of April 1780 by the Reverend Isaac Lewis And that previous  to her marriage her name was Esther Smith And that her husband the aforesaid  Matthias Honeywell died on the 15th day of June 1835 and that she has remained his widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed.
[right] her
[right] Esther X Honeywell [X being her mark in lieu of signature]
[right] mark

In presence of 
[signature] David Honeywell

Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written before me.
[signature] Jabez Bostwick First Judge &c
Page 7

I Jabez Bostwick First Judge certify that the above named Esther Honeywell was unable as she states to write her own name and was under the necessity of making her mark And I do further certify that she is a creditable person and a person of truth & veracity & that her statement is entitled to be believed And that on account of bodily infirmity is unable to attend court to make her declaration.

State of New York
Delaware County ⎬ ss
On this 1st day of September 1837 Personally appeared before me Jabez Bostwick First Judge of Delaware county courts David Honneyell [Honeywell] to me personally known who being first duly Sworn according to law doth on his oath say that he is the son of the within named Esther Honeywell That his Father the within named Matthias Honeywell died on the 15th day of June 1835 That the aforesaid Esther Honeywell has remained the widow of the said Matthias Honeyell [Honeywell] & has not intermarried since the death of her said Husband
[signature] David Honeywell

Sworn & subscribed this first day of September 1837
Before me
[signature]  Jabez Bostwick

I certify that the above named David Honeywell is a person of strict moral integrity & of truth & veracity & that his statement is entitled to credit
 [signature] Jabez Bostwick
Page 8

State of New York
Delaware County  Ss,  On this 9th day of October 1833 personally appeared
in open court before the judges of the court of Common Pleas now sitting
Matthias Honeywell a resident of the town of Walton in the county of 
Delaware and State of New York 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 benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.
The he entered the service of the United States under the following
named officers and served as herein stated.  That in the month of April
1776 then being a resident of [illegible], Dutchess county
but then in the city of New York, he at the later place enlisted
into a company, as a private, commanded  by
Capt. Andrew Billings, in a regiment commanded by
Col. Rudolphnus Richmore.  He enlisted for nine
months-- was in service in said company & regiment
when the American Army retreated from
Long Island---was with the army when it retreated
to the 7 mile stone & made a stand there--and then
retreated to a little below Fort Washington, & made a
stand there for a while--was in the battle at Hasborn
Heights--was with the army when it retreated by king's
bridge to White Plains.  Was in the battle of White Plains
in September of that year--.  In the fall went with the 
regiment to Peckskill.  There marched & crossed at Kings
ferry  & went into New Jersey.  About first of Nov. went
to Morristown with the regiment.  Thus to Easton--then 
the [illegible]  to Willis falls Bucks county--now
called New Hope.  Lay there till 24th Dec when he,
with the regiment. proceeded down the river to eight
mile ferry & recrossed into New Jersey.  -- proceeded
that night amid hail, rain, & snow to Trenton
were we arrived at day break on Christmas morning
Page 9

Was that morning in the battle under Gen. Washington when about nine hundred Hessians were killed or captured.  That day returned to New Hope.  Continued thus till first January 1777 when his term of service had expired & he dismissed--no written discharge.  He returned home to Southeast.
The next spring in May or June 1777 he belonged to a company of militia in said town of Southeast commanded by Capt. Azier Barnum, when the whole company was ordered out en masse to defend the lines below Peekskill, against an apprehended attack from the enemy.  He was out in this service about one month when he & his company were permitted to return to their homes.
In July of that year (1777) he enlisted as a private for four months, in a company of state troops commanded by Capt. Nathaniel Scribner, raised in Southeast & the adjacent towns, to guard a large quantity of public stores collected at a place now called Patterson in Putnam county.  He served the 3d term of four months - was dismissed & returned home.
In the beginnings of the Autumn of 1778 he went for one month as a substitute for one Jeremiah Wakeman a private in a company of detached militia in the town of New Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, commanded by Capt. Stephen Pardee.  He with that company was engaged during that month in actual service in guarding the coast on Long Island sound - At the end of the month was dismissed & returned home to New Fairfield to which place he had then changed his residence.
In September 1779 he engaged as a substitute to service in lieu of one Stephen Jackson who had been drafted for three months to serve as a guard to military & public stores, at Danbury in Connecticut.  He, as a private & substitute as aforesaid, at Danbury, served as bush guard under the command of Capt. David Banton for the term of three months, when he was dismissed & returned home to New Fairfield.
In the year 1780 early in the spring was called out with the militia under the command of Capt Azier Barnum aforesaid for three months to guard the lines

[In the left margin are numbers indicating the number of months he served 1, 4, 1, 3, 3]
[At the bottom is the number 21, the total number of months of service]
Page 10

on the North river--Continued thus, chiefly in Peekskill & Kwompond [Crompond] & on duty during the three months when he was dismissed & returned home to Southeast which place had again become his residence.
In the summer following this tour of duty, he belonged to a class of six who were bound to furnish a man for the service for three months. - This was at Southeast aforesaid - He went into service for his class & at Fishkill was attached to a company commanded by Capt. Lee in a regiment commanded by Col. Lewis Dubois of Poughkeepsie. - Marched from Fishkill to Westpoint - staid there a week or ten days when he with about two hundred of the three months men were detached & crossed over the river & marched down to King's ferry - then crossed over to Stoney point & marched into New Jersey to fill vacancies in Van Cortland's regiment.  He was then attached to a company in said Cortland's regiment commanded by Capt. Henry Dubois. Remained there on duty till about the 23d. of September seven days before the  expiration of his term of service, when he was detached on a tour of duty on board whale boats & down the Hackensack river. - That day was taken prisoner by the Tories & carried into New York. He was detained as a prisoner about one month when he was exchanged & returned home.
He was in militia service called out when Fairfield & Norwalk were burnt, for about six weeks but as he had 24 months without it he omits detail.
He was born 8 Feb, 1764 at Bedford Westchester county - Has no record of his age.  At twelve years of age went to live with his grand parents at Southeast. That was his home till he removed to New Fairfield in Connecticut in 1770.  Again became a resident of Southeast
in 1780 which place continued his home till 1803 when he removed to Hillsdale in Columbia county, where he lived four years when he removed to Walton where he has resided ever since.  He has no documentary evidence except the deposition of James Sherwood

[In the left margin are numbers indicating the number of months in each tour, 4, 1 1/2]
[At the bottom is the total number of months including the total from the previous page, 26 1/2]
Page 11

& Barnabas Cole hereunto annexed and knows of no person except as above, by whose testimony he could prove his services.

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.  
[signature] Matthias Honeywell

Sworn to and Subscribed  the day and year aforesaid ─
[signature]  C B Sheldon Clerk

We Simeon Johnson & Samuel C. Johnson residing in the town of Waton [Walton] in the County of Delaware aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Matthias Honeywell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy two years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
[signature] Simeon Johnson
[signature] Samuel C. Johnson

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. ─
[signature] C. B. Sheldon Clerk
Page 12

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation  of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states & the Court further certifies that it appears to him that Simeon Johnson & Samuel C. Johnson are residents of the town of Walton and County of Delaware & that they are credible persons & that their statements are entitled to credit. And it is the opinion of this court that a Clergyman can not be produced in Court by the said applicant without too much expense & inconvenience to him.

I Crawford B Sheldon Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Delaware do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Said Court in the matter of the application of Matthias Honeywell for a Pension.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Said Court this 9th day of October 1832
[signature] C. B. Sheldon Clerk

[illegible Court Seal affixed at left]
Page 13

I certify that these papers were handed to me in this condition by the clerk of Delaware
E. Root
11 Feb. 1833

[on side]
1  [p2?]
Matthias Honeywell
Pensioner
$80 per ann
Hon E. Root
H R [House of Representatives]
Page 14

FAMILY RECORD.

MARRIAGES.

Matthias Honeywell was
married April 6th 1783

Esther Smith was 
married April 6th 1783.
Page 15

Family Record.
BIRTHS.
Matthias Honeywell
was born February 14th 
1760

Esther Honeywell was 
Born October 11th 1759
Page 16

State of New York
Delaware County ⎬ss
Helen M. Robertson of the town of Walton deposeth and saith, that the accompanying family record was taken from the Bible for the express purpose to send to Washington as evidence in obtaining a pension;  she further saith that she has been acquainted with the same for several years past and further saith not.
[signature] Helen M. Robertson

Sworn and subscribed before me this 20th day of June 1845 and I certify that Helen M. Robertson is a credible witness.
[signature] Abraham Ogden Justice of the Peace
Page 17

165310
Esther Honeywell
Land Claim
Page 18

State of New York
Delaware County ⎬ ss
On this sixth day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty five personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace duly authorized by law to administer oaths within and for County and State aforesaid Esther Honeywell aged ninety five years a resident of the town of Walton in the County and State aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law deposes and says that she is the widow of Matthias Honeywell deceased who was a private soldier in the Revolutionary War and who while living obtained a pension from the United States on account of his services in said war, that she has no means at this time within her knowledge of making proof of  his said services, that she is now a pensioner and is the identical person named in an original certificate in her possession of  which I certify the following is a true copy.
" I certify that in conformity with the act of February 2d 1848 Esther Honeywell of New York widow of Matthias Honeywell who was a Private in the revolutionary war is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of Eighty dollars per annum commencing on the 4th of March 1848 and continuing for life unless she should again marry; in which case the Pension is not payable after the time of such marriage.  Given at the War office of the United States this 9th day of October
one thousand eight hundred and forty eight.   
[signature] W.L. Morey Secretary of War

L. S.
Page 19

Examined and Countersigned
[signature] J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions  

"that she refers the Commissioner of Pensions to the proofs on which the original certificate of pension to her said husband was granted for evidence of his Services, She further states that she was married to the Said Matthias Honeywell on the 6th day of April 1783 by one Mr Lewis a Clergyman and that her name before her said marriage was Esther Smith that her said husband died at Walton aforesaid on the 15th day of June 1834 and that she is still his widow that there is no public record of her said marriage within this state, that the following  is a true copy of the family record of her said husbands family  "  Matthias Honeywell was
married April 6th 1783 to Esther Smith Matthias Honeywell died June 15th 1834
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act approved March 3rd 1855  She further states that she has never applied for nor received any bounty land warrant under this or any other act of Congress except the present application.
[right] her
[right] Esther X Honeywell [X being her mark in lieu of signature]
[right] mark

In presence of 
[signature] Thos. Marvin

Mr Alfred Honeywell and Mary Kerr residents of the County of Delaware and state of New York upon our oaths declare that
Page 20

the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by the above claimant Esther Honeywell in our presence and that we believe from her appearance and statements and from a personal acquaintance with her know that the said applicant is the identical person she represents herself to be, that we are well acquainted with the family record of the said Matthias Honeywell deceased that the foregoing is a true copy of the original record and that we have no interest in this claim
[signature] Alfred Honeywell
[signature] Mary Kerr

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year first above written and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons, that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be and that I have no interest in this claim.
[signature] Thos. Marvin Justice of the peace
Page 21

State of New York 
Delaware County Clerk’s Office ⎬ I Benjamin Cannon Clerk of the County of Delaware and also Clerk of the Courts of said County do hereby certify that Thomas Marvin Esquire before whom the annexed deposition purport to have been taken was at the time of taking such deposition a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Delaware aforesaid elected and sworn and duly authorized by law to take the same and that his signature thereto is genuine.
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix[ed] the Seal of the said Court and County this 16 day of April 1858
[signature] Benjamin Cannon Clerk

[illegible Court Seal affixed at left]
Page 22

October 5, 1939.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mrs. Alston O. Rose
992 Windsor Avenue,
Windsor, Connecticut.

BA-J/CC 
Matthias Honeywell
W.19809

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Mathias Honeywell and the War of 1812 record of William Honeywell, both of Walton, New York.

There is no claim for pension on file based upon service in the War of 1812, of a William Honeywell. The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, W.1809, based upon service of Matthias Honeywell in the Revolutionary War.

Matthias Honeywell was born February 14, 1760, or February 8, 1764, both dates are shown, in Bedford, Westchester County, the state and names of his parents are not shown. When he was twelve years of age he went to live with his grandparents in Southeast, Dutchess County, New York, their names not stated.

[note on left margin and between line break:
add next time -> New York
Andrew & Benjamin Pelton's]

While a resident of Southeast, New York, Matthias Honeywell, enlisted sometime in April 1776, in New York City, served as private in Captain Billings' New York company, and in Colonel Rudolphus Ritzema's regiment, was in the retreat from Long Island, the battles of Harlem Heights, White Plains and Trenton, length of this service, nine months; enlisted in May or June 1777, served one month as private in Captain Azor Barnum's New York Company; enlisted in July 1777, served as private four months in Captain Nathaniel Scribner's New York company; in the beginning of autumn 1778, he enlisted in New Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, where he was then residing, served one month as private in Captain S. Pardy's Connecticut Company; enlisted sometime in September 1779, served as private three months in Captain David Bouton's Connecticut company; in the spring of 1780, he enlisted in Southeast,
Dutchess County, New York, where he was then residing, served three months as private in Captain Azor Barnum's New York company; enlisted in the summer of 1780, served three months in Captains Lee's and Henry DuBois' companies, Colonel Lewis Du Bois' and Van Cortlandt's New York regiments, about September 23rd, seven days before the expiration of this tour he was detached on a tour of duty on board whale boats on the Hackensack River, and that day taken prisoner by the Tories and carried to New York where he was kept a prisoner about one month when he was exchanged and
Page 23

returned home.
“He was in militia service called out when Fairfield and Norwalk were burned for about six weeks but as he has twenty-four months without it, he omits details.” 

After the Revolution he lived in Southeast, Dutchess County, New York until 1803 when he moved to Hillsdale, Columbia County, (state not shown) where he lived four years then moved to Walton, Delaware County, New York. 

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 9, 1832, while a resident of the Town of Walton, Delaware County, New York.

The soldier died June 15, 1835, in Walton, New York.

Matthias Honeywell married April 6, 1783, in Wilton Parrish, Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut, Esther Smith, who was born October 11, 1759, and was a resident of Norwalk, Connecticut. Place of birth and names of her parents are not shown. 

The soldier’s widow, Esther Honeywell, was allowed pension on her application executed June 20, 1845, at which time she was a resident of Walton, Delaware County, New York. 

While still a resident of Walton, New York, Esther Honeywell made application April 6, 1855, for bounty land which was due on account of the service of her husband, Matthias Honeywell, in the Revolutionary War. She was granted one hundred sixty acres of bounty land on Warrant No. 26897, under the Act of March 3, 1855. 

In order to obtain information in regard to the location of the land cited above, you should address the Commissioner of the General Land Office, Interior Department, this city, and furnish the warrant number, the acreage and the act under which said warrant was issued. 

The only names of children of Esther and Matthias Honeywell shown are as follows:

In 1837, their son David made a statement in Walton, New York, regarding his father’s death, and in 1840, their son, Elliott was in Walton, New York.
Page 24

In 1837, one Hannah Smith aged seventy-six years was residing in Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut, and stated she witnessed the marriage of Esther and Matthias Honeywell, and in 1838, the widow, Esther, stated her marriage was witnessed by Jeremiah Smith, Hannah Platt, Rachel Smith and Anna Smith, Their relationship to the family not stated.

In 1838, Esther's brother, Jerry Smith, who was born in June, 1762, was residing in Neversink, Sullivan County, New York.

In 1845 one Helen M. Robertson was residing in Walton, New York and stated she had been familiar with the family record of Matthias Honeywell for a number of years. In 1855, one Alfred Honeywell and one Mary Herr were residing in Delaware County, New York and witnessed the signature, by mark, of Esther Honeywell. Reference was made to one Stephen Honeywell. Their relationship to the family not stated.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of Esther Honeywell, widow of Matthias Honeywell, you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:

Esther Honeywell, widow of Matthias Honeywell,
Certificate #2203
Issued October 9, 1848
Rate $80.00 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1848
Act of February 2, 1848
New York, Albany, Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
Page 25

Revy
WIDOW, &c.

File No. 19,809
Esther Honeywell
widow of
Mathias Honeywell
Pri Rev War

Act  Feb 29 48

Index:─  Vol A,  Page 348
[Arrangement of 1870]

1939 - Oct 6 Hist to Mrs Alston of Rose Co.
Page 26

26,897
Rev Army
Page 27

✓
["Let. J. Bostwick 7 Dec. '37" lined thru]
["A.J. Parker 3 July 38" lined thru]
["Hon E. Root 39" lined thru
Hon J. Talliaferro  40
["Hon D. Russell 40" lined thru]
[" Hon S. Gordon 42" lined thru]
Hon W. B. Pierce Aug. 11 . 45
Hon. W. B. Maclay Oct. 3 '48
[arrow pointing from above Hon. J. Talliaferro to the following paragraph]
This letter refers to several others so not taken from old Letter Books. The same argument prevails in re, to this sol. [soldier] as in the other letters later in from the old books & filed herein - MHF
Page 28

Mathias Honeywell, Delaware Co. NY.
Act 7 June 1832; $80.00
To what time was he last paid?
G.C.A.
Pension Office
Let Novr 4 1848
Died 25th June 1835 paid to that period.
[signature] W. Tyson
Page 29

Papers
Hon. J. Taliaferro
Page 30

Mathias Honeywell NY. Albany aet 7 June last pd
GMC
16 Jany 41
Died 25 June 1835 paid to that period
L H
Page 31

8409
Albany
New York
====================
Esther Honeywell
widow of Matthias Honeywell
who was a Private
in the Revolution,
Husband died 25 June, 1835
====================
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
80 Dollars --------
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.
====================
Certificate of Pension issued the
9th day of Oct 1848,
and sent to 
Hon. W. B. Maclay,
New York.
====================
[Acts of March 3, 1843, and June 17, 1844.]

Recorded in Book A
Vol. 2    Page 77

[left page]
Reported
Page 32

10,482
New York
====================
Esther Honeywell
Widow of Matthias Honeywell
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832
and who died on the 25 June, 1835,
of Delaware in the  State of N.Y.
who was a Private in the Compy
commanded by Captain Billing of the
Regt. commanded by Col. Richmond in
the Revolution ["line" lined thru] for 2 years
====================
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany
at the rate of 80 Dollars -----
per annum, to commence on the 4th day of 
March, 1836.
====================
Certificate of Pension issued the 9th day of
October, 1848, and sent to Hon.
W.B. Maclay       New York
====================
Total amount,  $400.00

[Act July 7, 1838.]

Recorded by Th. Lumpkin Clerk,
Book  D  Vol. Page 161

[right page]
Reported
Page 33

War Department
Pension Office
5 Sept. 1839
Sir
The argument enclosed in your letter of the 15th ulto in the case of Mrs Esther Honeywell, designed more particularly to show that the decision in her husbands case in 1833 allowing him a full pension under the Act of June 7 1832 aught now, unless obtained by fraud, to be affirmed in favor of his widow, has been under consideration; It may be [crossed out...] whose claim was adjudicated upon partial evidence & who  [illegible,....crossed out...] that if the husband [crossed out] by evidence since obtained it is proven was not then entitled to a pension, that if claimant  as his widow is not entitled to [crossed out] a pension
The question whether an objection can be raised to marriage on account of the age of the husband at the time it is not necessary to discuss;  If it should be in proof that the husband was for instance but 10 years of age at the time the marriage took place or so young as to create strong presumptive evidence against it.  the reason for raising that objection will not probably be questioned

[signature] Hon Erastus Root
Delhi
N.Y.
Page 34

War Department
Pension office
3 July 1838

Sir
The additional evidence in support of the claim of Mrs. Esther Honeywell contained in your letter of the 30th also is not satisfactory as regards the age of the Claimants husband. On our reexamination of her husbands papers, [crossed out] under the act of June 7th 1832 it appears that he was allowed a pension upon insufficient evidence
It is alleged in his declaration that he served  nine months under Capt. Andrew Billings, Col Rudolphus Richmores ["regt" crossed out] in 1776, in 1777 4 months under Capt Scribners  In 1779 3 months under Capt Bouton, in 1780 3 months und[er] Capt Barnum &c ─ No Capt of the name of Billings belonged to Col Ritzemas regt.  [word crossed out] Capt Andrew Billings was of another regt. but the name of the claimants husband does not appear there ─ His name [illegible] is not on the rolls of Capt Bouton or
Page 35

Capt Scribner - and it may be added that there was no tours of service in either of those Companys at that time of even one months duration - The name of Mathias Honeywell is on a pay roll of Capt Barnum but he is then credited with 8 days service only instead of 3 months.

Hon. A. J. Parker
3 July 1838

Hon A.J. Parker
House Reps
NY
Page 36

War Dep [War Department]
Pen: Off [Pension Office]
Dec. 7, 37

Sir
The claim of Mrs Esther Honeywell has been examined & disallowed.
She alleges that she was married 6 Apl. 1780 to her late husband Mathew Honeywell who was a pensioner under the act of 7 June 1832 and declared upon oath that he was born on 8 Feby 1764  ~ Hence it would appear that he was but 16 years old at the alleged date of the marriage. If it shall be alleged that he erred as to his age or was misunderstood by the draftsman of his declaration, the error can be established alone by the Town Register of births at Bedford Westchester Co.
It is proper to state that subsequent evidences of the New York service discredit much of the service for which his claim was allowed in 1833.
[signature] Jabez Bostwick Esq
Hampden
Delaware Co. N.Y.
Page 37

Pen Off [Pension Office]
Feby 5th, '42 [ February 5th 1842]

Sir, 
I have the honor to return you the letter of Mr. Johnson respecting the case of Esther Honeywell and to inform you that her papers under the Act of 4 July '36 have been withdrawn for the use of the Committee on Revyy Pensions during the last Congress & may no doubt be obtained from the office of the Clerk of Ho. Repres ~

I have the honor to be 
Very Respectfully 
[signature] Hon. S. Gordon
H. R. [House of Representatives]
Page 38

Esther Honeywell 
widow of
Matthias Honeywell 
====================
March 23, 1840.
Revoly Pensions 
with Mrs. Clark's Resolution 
====================
July 10, 1840 No. 663
Abel Herrick et al

December 31, 1840
Refer to Comm. on Rev. Pens. [Committee on Revolutionary Pensions]
Page 39

Clark
N Y
Mr. Honeywell was a pensioner & drew a full pension under the act of 1832. He died about four or five years ago. He was on for Walton in the County of Delaware. Application has been made for a pension for his widow. This was denied by Mr Edwards on the ground that her late husbands services were not sufficiently proved - An argument, by Erastus Root of Delhi was addressed to the  Com'r about August 1839 in support of the claim of the widow. That argument failed to convince the Com'r. Let the committee possess themselves of the papers in Honeywell's case, and in that of his widow, and also of that argument & I think they will report a bill in her favor.
Delhi 14 March 1840
[signature] E Root

Hon. Mr. Clark

[left side, on edge]
 Clark 32. ~
Page 40

Act '43 no 9510
 No 13716
Esther Honeywell
wd of Mathias
NY
Act 7 July 1838
Admd 2 years pri
$80 per an
Admd acts 3 March 1843
17 June 44 & 2 Feby 48
$80 per an
fm 4 March 1843
Died 15 June 1835

[signature] Hon. W. B. Maclay
New York
Page 41

House of Reps. Dec. 28th 1840
J.L. Edwards Esq.
Sir
Will you have the goodness to send me Copies of the papers on which Mrs Esther Honeywell claim for a pension rests, including the arguments inclosed to you by the Hon. Erastus Root of New York the papers I believe were deposited in your office in October 1839.
My object is to return them to the Committee on pensions in the House your early Attention to this subject is requested.
I am with great Respect your Obt. Srvt.
[signature] D. Russell
Page 42

[left side, on edge]
Dec 28. 40
Esther Honeywell

J L Edwards Esq.
Pension Office D.C. 

[right side, on edge]
Hon D Russell
HR. [House of Representatives]
Page 43

Comm: Revy Pensions - 6th of April 1840

Will Mr Edwards examine the cases referred to by the resolutions of the H. of Reps herewith handed to him, & state, in a summary manner the evidence on file, in support of each claim, with his reasons for disallowance, which statement, together with the resolutions, Mr Edwards will be pleased to return to me.
Very respectfully
[signature] John Taliaferro

J: L: Edwards Esq
Page 44

2758
Esther Honeywell
NY
Act 4 July 36
Page 45

House of Representatives
30 June 1838.

Sir,
Some time ago Mrs Esther Honeywell, widow of Matthias Honeywell applied at your office for a pension under the act of 1836. Some objections were made - to obviate which I enclose herewith additional testimony which I hope may be deemed satisfactory.
Very Resp'y
Your ob servt
[signature] A. J. Parker

J. L. Edwards Esquire
Page 46

Pension Office,
January 19, 1841.
Sir,
Agreeably to your request I have the honor to enclose you herewith the papers of Mrs. Mary E. Carney, under the acts of July 1836, 7 July 1838 numbered from 1 to 5 inclusive.
Matthias Honeywell was inscribed on the roll in 1833, under the act of 7 June 1832, at the rate of $80 per annum, and paid to the day of his death, as it was not discovered until his widow Esther Honeywell applied for a pension, that he was not entitled, as Communicated to you in my report of 13 April last, of which, so much as related to her case, is extracted and herewith enclosed.
I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully
Your Obt: Servt:
[signature] J L Edwards

Hon J Taliaferro
House of Representatives
Page 47

Extract of a letter from the Pension Office, to Hon: John Taliaferro, dated 13 April 1840. ~
"Esther Honeywell's claim has not been allowed under the act of July 1836, on the grounds of insufficient proof of service, and of the date of the marriage. It is true that her late husband was allowed a full pension under the act of June 1832, when our information of the N. York militia service was very limited, and the existence of the rolls in the comptroller's Office at Albany unknown.
The position assumed and urged in this case, viz: that the official adjustment of his case is an authoritative settlement of her claim under the act of July 1838, as by the act She is allowed such pension as he would be entitled to under the act of June 1832, is fallacious & untenable. Whatever may have been the intention of the party in asserting the claim under the act
Page 48

of 7 June 1832, it is now perfectly clear from the rolls, subsequently discovered, that no one allegation of his several terms of service is sustained by the rolls. The term of 3 months under Captain Barndem in 1780, is shewn by the rolls to have been 8 days. His name is not borne on the rolls of Captain's Scribner J Bonton, nor were they engaged in any terms of service, exceeding a few days at that period of the war as proved by their pay rolls. As to the other term of 9 mos. in 1776 under Capt Andrew Billings of Col. Ritzema's regiment, it is shewn by the rolls, that Capt Billings did not belong to Ritzema's regiment, which was broken up in the fall of that year by Ritzema's desertion. Nor is his name borne on Capt Billings roll. His claim having been originally admitted upon what was believed to be the best attainable evidence, would not now be continued if he were alive; when better evidence has been discovered, which controverts
Page 49

every allegation of service - and the act under which she claims, accords to her such pension as her late husband would be entitled to under the act of June 7 1832, if living at the date of its passage. He was not, upon a review of his papers, with the light of subsequent evidence, entitled to a pension which he succeeded in obtaining from the government - and in the adjustment of her claim, the Department cannot keep out of view or disregard that evidence. -
Page 50

State of New York
County of Delaware ⎬ ss
On this 5th day of April 1838 personally came before me Jabez Bostwick First Judge of Delaware county aforesaid Jerry Smith of the town of Neversink in the county of Sullivan & State of New York aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law sayeth on his oath make this his supplementary deposition in the case of Esther Honeywell. That he this depondent is now a pensioner under the act of 1832. That he is the brother of the said Esther Honeywell the widow of Matthias Honeywell deceased. That he was born as appears by the family record in June 1762 and he well recollects that when said Matthias Honeywell married his sister that the said Honeywell was said to be about twenty years of age and what makes him more clear in his recollections as to his age was that the said Honeywell was to come into the possession of a certain freehold estate when he should arrive at the age of twenty one years. it being property left to him the said Honeywell by his grandfather. And the executors of his grandfather estate would not consent that the said Matthias should not go into the possion [possession] of the same unless he could find security and that one Captain Thomas Nickerson became security for the said Honeywell to indemnify the executors. And the said Matthias Honeywell became of age the next February following. and their older child was born in the same month. And this deponent further deposes & says that he knows the said Honeywell was at least two years older
Page 51

than him this deponent. And when the said Honeywell was married to his sister now Esther Honeywell he the depondent was about eighteen years of age.
And this deponent further says that he is confident that there was a mistake in the original declaration of the said Matthias Honeywell as respect the birth of the said Honeywell which appears by the statement in the letter of the commissioner of Pension of Dec 7 1837 to J Bostwick was in February 1764. And this deponent further says that calculating from his own age & from his knowledge of the age of the said M Honeywell he has every reason to believe the said M Honeywell was born in 1760 - not in 1764. as appears to have been stated in the original declaration.
[signature] Jerry Smith

Sworn and Subscribed before me this 5th day of April 1838 
[signature] Jabez Bostwick, First Judge

I do certify that I am not personally acquainted with the above named Jerry Smith but from his appearance & his manner of making the statement above sworn to & his clear recollection on the subject I have every reason to believe his statement to be true.
[signature] J Bostwick, First Judge
Page 52

Bedford NY May 3,1838
Dr Sir, Your letter bearing date April 9 came to hand on the 25th. I have delayed sending until the present in hope of ascertaining from some of our aged people the age of Matthias Honeywell but cannot ascertain anything in relation to his age. There is no record of births in this town. The records of the town were destroyed by fire in the Revolutionary War by the enemy & since that time birthings have not been registered. I am sorry sir that it is not in my power to render the widow any assistance at present. There is no family in the town bearing the name of Honeywell. There was about ten years since a man by the name of Stephen Honeywell who moved into the northern part of this state and left no connections behind him. I have not been able to find any person that ever knew Matthias Honeywell. 
I am very respectfully your obt servt [signature] J W Hustha

Bedford West Chester County NY May 3rd 1838
This may certify that I have examined the records of this town and the birth of Matthias Honeywell is not registered in this office.
[signature] J W Hustha Town Clerk
Page 53

Erie County ss
Personally Came before John Salsbury Esquire a Justice of the peace in and for the County Aforesaid Barnabas Cole, and being Sworn According to law Deposeth and saith that in the year 1776 Matthias Hunnewell Enlisted in Captain Andrew Billing Company and in Col Rhodolphus Richman Regiment and served as a Soldier nine months and further saith not.
[signature] Barnabas Cole
Sworn and Subscribed before me this 10th Day of May AD 1831 
[signature] John Salsbury

[Printed form below]
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Erie County,  ss.
I Edwin. J. Kelso Prothonotary of the court of common pleas in and for the county of Erie, aforesaid, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, that John Salsbury Esquire, before whom the annexed Deposition purports to have been taken, and who in his own proper hand writing, to me well known, has thereunto subscribed his name is, and at the time of taking and subscribing the same was an acting Justice of the Peace of the said Commonwealth within and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn to, all whose acts as such, full faith and credit are, and of right ought to be given throughout the United States and elsewhere. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court the 12th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty one
[signature] Edwin J. Kelso Prothy

[illegible Court seal affixed above left]
Page 54

Albany N.Y. July 2. 1845.
Sir
The enclosed papers of Esther Honeywell are submitted as supplementary to original papers already filed in the matter of her application for pension. 
The family record now sent, as it bared evidence of some age, we trust will be admitted to strengthen other proofs which may have been adjudged imperfect.
Application has been made to the former agent in this case for your objections to its allowance, but your letter had been mislaid. I regret to trouble your department in such cases & beg leave to assure you that I always endeavor to obtain your written objections made to former agents before engaging in any claim personally submitted.
I am Sir
Very Respectfully
Your obt servant
[signature] Wm R. Pierce

Hon J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 55

Esther Honeywell
Widow of
Matthias
Honeywell
March 23. 1840
Revoly Pensions
Papers
Mr. Clark
Papers from P. Office
Page 56

No 32
26. Congress
A. [or 1] Session

Congress of the United States
In the House of Representatives
March 23. 1840.
On motion of Mr Clark
Resolved. That the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions do inquire into the propriety of granting a pension in conformity to the provisions of the late act of Congress, to Esther Honeywell, widow of Matthias Honeywell late a pensioner of the United States.
Attest
[signature] H. A. Gailan
Clerk
Papers
Page 57

The joint resolution of July 1. 1848 declares that any woman, who may have been a widow of an officer or soldier of the revolution shall upon proof by her, that she was married to any such officer or soldier prior to January 1. 1794 & that she is a widow be placed upon the pension roll at the same rate that such officer or soldier received during his life time

The following papers contain the application of five widows for the benefits of said joint resolution. They have already proved their marriages and that they were the widows of revolutionary pensioners and the proof has been admitted. 
The present papers will shew that they are still living

1st Deborah Gates has been pensioned at the rate of twenty two dollars & nine cents per annum. Her late husband Oldham Gates received forty seven dollars. She is of course entitled to the same.

2nd Polly Hacket has received $66.66. Her late husband John Hacket received $96. She is evidently entitled to the same ($96)

3rd Polly Kilbourn has received $32.44 Her husband Eliphaz Kilbourne received $80

4th Esther Honeywell has applied for a pension, proved Marriage &c, but failed. Her husband Mathias Honeywell received $80. She is now entitled to that amount.

5th Charlotte Van Dyck has applied and failed. Her husband Jacob Van Dyck received $37.50 she is now entitled to the same

New York Sept 1848.
Sir
the above applications I enclose at the request of a constituent of mine for your action & of the merits of the cases I know but little
Very Respy
Your Obt Servt
[signature] W R Maclay

To Col.
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 58

[left side, on edge]
Feb 3 1842
Hunnewell
NY

[right side, on edge]
Hon S Gordon 
H.R.

Free
S Gordon
MC

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Page 59

Washington Feb. 2 1842
Dear Sir
Will you oblige me with a succinct reply to the inquiry contained in the enclosed letter in reference to the failure of the application of the Widow Honeywell for a pension? Perhaps you have a brief of the grounds or objections on which it was denied with which you can furnish me a copy or a reply to the queries of Mr Johnson's letter
Yours tr
[signature] S. Gordon

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Page 60

2758
Sept 30
NY
4 July 36
3d Sec
Hamden NY
Sept 26th
Page 61

Hamden Delaware County NY Sept 26 1837
J L Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir I enclose to you the Declarations of the Widow Esther Honeywell for the purpose of obtaining her Pension under the act of 4th July 1836. She presumes the evidence of the Services of her husband in the Revolution is on file in your department as her husband was a pensioner before his death. Please to inform me of the result.
I am Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
[signature] Jabez Bostwick
Page 62

Esther Honeywell
Applicant for Pension
Under Joint Resolution
of July 1st 1848
Page 63

Declaration
In order to obtain Pension under the resolution of Congress of July 1 1848

State of New York
Delaware County ⎬ ss

On this 30th day of August 1848 personally appeared before me Abraham Ogden a Justice of the Peace in and for said county Esther Honeywell of the town of Walton in said county aged Eighty eight years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain pension under said resolution of July 1st 1848
That she is the widow of Matthias Honeywell who was a pensioner of the United States at the rate of Eighty dollars per annum and who died in the town of Walton County aforesaid and State of New York on the fifteenth day of June 1835 and that since the death of her said husband she this declarant has been unable to obtain a pension not being able to obtain the proof demanded of her husband's revolutionary services she therefore now applies for the sum to which she is entitled under said act of July 1. 1848
[right] her
[right] Esther X Honeywell [X being her mark in lieu of signature]
[right] mark

Subscribed and sworn the day and year aforesaid before me and I certify that the above declarant is the widow of Matthias Honeywell who was a pensioner as above set forth
[signature] Abraham Ogden Justice Peace

I certify that Esther Honeywell cannot write her name for want of education
[signature] Abraham Ogden Justice Peace
Page 64

State of New York Delaware County Clerks Office }ss

I Wm McClaughry Clerk in and for said County do hereby certify that Abraham Ogden Esqr. before whom the annexed deposition purports to have been taken was at the time of taking such deposition Justice of the peace in and for the County of Delaware aforesaid elected and Sworn and duly authorized by law to take the same
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County the 11th day of September 1848
[signature] Wm McClaughry, Clerk

[illegible Court Seal affixed at left]
Page 65

Aug 20.
adl evi [additional evidence]
[stamp] 
DELHI NY AUG 16

Esther Honeywell
NY

[stamp]
FREE

James L Edwards Esq.
Commr. &c 
Pension Office
Washington
Page 66

The Court after considering & acting upon the inclosed is requested to place it among the files in the case of Mrs. E. Honeywell.

15 Aug. '39
[signature] E. Root
Page 67

Sir,
Mr Elliot Honeywell son of Matthias Honeywell late of Walton in the County of Delaware & a pensioner of the U.S. has solicited me to rush the claim of his mother Esther Honeywell to a pension. He has handed to me a letter from you addressed to the Hon. A. J. Parker, dated July 3. 1838 in which you state, "The additional evidence in support of the claim of Mrs Esther Honeywell contained in your letter of the 30th ultimo is not satisfactory as regards the age of the claimants husband." On a reexamination of her husbands papers under the act of June 7, 1832 it appears he was allowed a pension upon insufficient evidence. 
From the date of your letter I infer that the application of the widow is under the act of July 1836 and not the one of July 1838. The only difference in the requisite evidence to establish Mr. Honeywell's claim in the one or the other of the said acts appears to me to consist in this that under the act of 1836 the solemnization of the marriage must have taken place before the expiration of the last term of service, while by the last act it was extended to 1794. I will then consider the case as under the act of 1836.  Neither the section under which she claims nor the executive instructions require her to prove or even to State in her declaration the age of her husband. 
I submit it therefore to yourself to judge whether your objection that the "additional evidence in support of the claim is not satisfactory as regards the age of the claimants husband," is well founded. If such evidence is not required it surely cannot be material whether it is defective or satisfactory.
Page 68

your second objections that her late husband "was advanced a pension upon insufficient evidence" is a broad one and requires a closer examination. Before I proceed to examine this case upon general principles I will premise that Matthias Honeywell case was one of those cases which I presented to your  consideration during the 2d Session of the 22d congress.  I think I remember correctly when I state that it was one of the numerous cases you returned to me with objections. It was re-examined and I think further evidence furnished of this I am sure that after a thorough examination you allowed the pension. This is not one of the cases in which I appealed to the Secretary.
You say this pension was allowed upon insufficient evidence. By whom was it allowed? By the Secretary of war on the finding and the report of James L. Edwards Esq. his chief of the Bureau of Pensions.
The decision of the Secretary was the judgment of the law upon the facts found by the competent authority. Till that decision shall have been vacated by competent authority (& that can be done only by known deception & fraud) the facts therein stand as proved and are evidence of the services of Honeywell on the claim of his widow. It is made so by the executive instructions, under your own hand as commissioner of pensions under date of July 9, 1836. In cases like the present you do not require (7th section]) the claimant to set forth the particulars in relation to the services of her late husband, but have required her to state the part of his having been a pensioner (13th section]) and make the proper reference to enable the department to refer immediately to the evidence upon which he was pensioned and then facilitate the investigation of the claim. The evidence on which her late husband was allowed his pension is thus made sufficient in support of her claim. 
You are mistaken in supposing that Honeywell
Page 69

the pension was "allowed upon insufficient evidence". I am sure there was sufficient evidence. The contrary supposition is an importation either upon your integrity or sagacity, which I never can consent to make. No; it was not allowed upon insufficient evidence. Your intended illustration immediately following your assertion shows it. you undertake to contradict and repel that evidence, to falsify Honeywells declaration and oath, and the oaths of his witnesses by comments now remaining in the war office. Do you falsify that declaration and oath is the question I shall now undertake to examine.  In the first place I will premise that the act of the 7th of June 1832 was passed chiefly to provide for cases resting upon evidence not to be found in the  war office. The act of 1818 with its modifications & amendments and the one of 1828 had provided for most of the cases of regular service where the rolls had been duly returned. This act was made to apply to cases of regular service for a less term than formerly ,- and to cases of service of "state troops" "militia" & volunteers". These claims, or much the largest part of them were to be supported by other evidence than what could
be found in any department of the general government. The Secretary so understood it when he undertook the execution of the law. In his executive instructions be directed that the claimants oath be taken he setting forth the very particulars of his service & allowed traditionary evidence and compensation of affidavit or depositions proving the service, and various other evidence not to be found in any of the public offices. And this evidence was to be brought before a court of record, and the claimant himself be put upon his answer to a formal set of interrogatories. Upon all this the court were to "declare their opinion that the applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states." This a court of record with plenary & equity powers were to hear and determine the case and send a transcript of their judicial opinion thereon to the secretary of War as proof of the services, and for his final action.
Page 70

in the premises. But you now say that the proofs are insufficient, or in other words, that the pension was "allowed upon insufficient evidence" and as I understand your letter, because it does not appear from the records of the war office. It appears to me probable however that you do not intend by your reference to those records to insist that the only proofs of those service are to be derived from that source.  I suppose you intend by that reference to show that Honeywell's declaration, the proof exhibited to the court and their judicial opinion thereon, are untrue. Indulge me with a brief examination of this question.
In your letter you state that "It is alleged in his declaration that he served nine months under Capt. Andrew Billings, Col. Rudolphus Richmore in 1776,  in 1777 four months under Capt Scribner, in 1779 three months under Capt. Bouton, in 1780 three months under Capt Barnum &c" Well, deposed it,- at least 24 months of it.- to the satisfaction of the court at Delhi, and of James L. Edwards at Washington. But you say, "No captain of the name of Billings belonged to Col. Ritzmas regiment. Capt. Andrew Billings was of another regiment, but the name of the claimants husband does not appear there". How does this trimphant discovery of yours prove that Honeywell did not serve the nine months or any part of it in 1776 or does it prove that his declaration under oath is false. That the proofs he introduced to support that declaration are false? He might have served in Capt Billings company in that year, and also in Col Ritzmas regiment in the same year, and still in the return you saw that Captain's name might not appear. Whoever understand the history of the revolutionary war knows that officers stayed with their companies, and without their companies, and parts of companies without their officers were frequently transferred. The term of enlistment and the vicissitudes of war would often make it necessary to consolidate companies, transfer  officers, & otherwise change their organization.
Page 71

And is it pretended that you have returns in the war office noticing every such change? I will state to you a case that came under my notice a few
years ago. A soldier was returned as directed. This
sort appeared at the war office, and was interposed
as an insuperable objection to his claim. The facts
turned out to me that he was furloughed, taken
sick during his absence, obliged to overstay his furlough or recovered, returned to his duty, served outhis time & was honorably discharged. The parts
did not appear at the war office but the discharge
being last, it was competent according to all the
instructions to prove the service by credible
witnesses. I state this can to illustrate the position
I take that negative evidence in the war office
ought not, and cannot repel positive proofs, and
in most case cannot impair their credit. But we
will upon for a moment that Honeywell was his
taken in his belief that it was in Billing' company
and Richmore's regiment in which he served in 1776 . it did not follow that he did not serve at all in that year The Secretary did not require these particularities in order to defeat a just claim, but to enable him to detect an attempted imposition. He was aware of the feeble and decayed memories of the returned soldiers, and allowed them therefore in note of the instructions of 1832 to excuse that defect by an affidavit. If then objections had been made to Honeywell's application and he had found that his memory was defective he could have made the affidavit required. Now he is dead, should not every legal and equitable intendment and construction be extended to the widow. That is, if he erred in the particularization it was owing to a decayed memory but that he did not in in the important fact of service, that fact which must be as enduring as life The above reasoning, if there is any force in it will equally apply to your statement, that his name is not on the rolls of Capt. Bouton or Capt. Scribner.
Page 72


In answer to the other facts you mention I refer you to the same cause of reasoning
I will thank you to advise as soon as your conscience would permit whether this claim can be allowed.
I have the honor to be
Very respectfully
Your obed servt
[signature] Erastus Root
Delhi 15 Aug 1839

J.L Edwards Esq.


Mrs. Esther Honeywell
Claim
Argument for
Page 73

2758
Esther Honeywell
widow of Matthias
NY
Married 6. Apl 1780
Husband died 15 June 1835
Page 74

State of New York
County of Delaware SS
I Crawford Sheldon Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Delaware  & the same being a Court of Record Do certify that Jabez Bostwick Equire, the person before whom the foregoing affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County duly commissioned and Sworn, and that his name subscribed to the foregoing affidavit and certificate is his proper hand writing and Signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court this 25 day of September 1837
[signature] C B Sheldon, Clerk

[illegible Court Seal affixed upper left]
Page 75

State of Connecticut
Fairfax County, } SS
Norwalk Augt 22. 1837 Personally appeared before me Benj. Isaacs Justice of the Peace for said County Hannah  Smith of said Norwalk who being first duly sworn according to law deposed and says that she is Seventy Six years of age and was well acquainted with Esther Smith formerly of said Norwalk  and well remembers and was present when the said Esther Smith was married to Matthias Honeywell by the Rev Isaac Lewis and according to her best recollection  it was in the Spring of the year 1780.
[signature] Hannah Smith
Sworn and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid and that I am well acquainted with Hannah Smith and that she is a credible and reputable witness.
[signature] Benj Isaacs Justice of Peace

State of Connecticut
Fairfield County }   ss.
I Thomas B Osborne Clerk of the County Court within and for the county of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut do hereby certify that Benjamin Isaacs Esq whose own proper signature known to me to be genuine is annexed to the above certificate is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County duly commissioned and qualified and duly authorized to administer oaths and take depositions &c. Given under my hand and the seal of said County Court in Fairfield this 22 day of August AD 1837.
[signature] Thomas B Osborne, Clerk

[illegible Court Seal affixed at left]
Page 76

Town Clerk office of Norwalk County of Fairfax State of Connecticut
I. Benj. Isaacs, Town Clerk of the Town of Norwalk aforesaid. do hereby certify that I have carefully examined the Records of this Town and do not find the marriage of Matthias Honeywell to Esther Smith on Record.
Attest. [signature] Benj.  Isaac, Town Clerk
Norwalk Sept 7 1837-
Page 77

Supplemental Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by an act of Congress, passed July 7 1838 &c entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."

State of New York
Delaware County ⎬SS.
On this Twentieth day of June in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty five personally appeared before Abraham Ogden a Justice of the peace Esther Honeywell a resident of the Town of Walton in the County of Delaware and said State of New York, aged Eighty six years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by an act of Congress passed July 7. 1838 &c entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows." That she is the widow of Mathias Honeywell late of the town of Walton in said State of New York who departed this life on the fifteenth day of June 1835. That her husband the said Mathias Honeywell was a soldier of the United States during the War of the Revolution & at the said day of his death a pensioner under the Act of June 7, 1832. That he served under a number of enlistments one of nine months & as Declarant believes with the Connecticut troops. She remembers hearing the names of the following officers with or under whom he served viz. Capt Pelton,  Capt Billings, Colonel Richmore & Capt Joshua Barnum. Declarant is unable to give a full account of her said husbands service but presumes that the particulars were stated by him in the matter of his own application for pension. That she has already applied for pension, but some difficulties occurring in making out the required proofs her agent has abandoned the claim. She therefore employs William B Pierce of Albany N.Y. to continue the application.
AND DECLARANT FURTHER SAITH, That she was married to the said Mathias Honeywell the Sixth day of April seventeen hundred and Eighty three by Rev Mr Lewis at Wilton Conn; that the following persons were present at her marriage, to wit: Jeremiah Smith, Hannah Platt, Rachel Smith and Anna Smith.
That previous to her said marriage she resided in the town of Norwalk, Connecticut and bore the maiden name of Esther Smith
That her husband the said Mathias Honeywell died as aforesaid on the fifteenth day of June Eighteen hundred & thirty five since which time she has remained his widow.
[right] her
[right] Esther X Honeywell [X being her mark in lieu of signature]
[right] mark

Subscribed and sworn the day and year aforesaid, before me.
[signature] Abraham Ogden Justice of the Peace
Page 78

State of New York  Delaware County ss.
I, Crawford B Sheldon Clerk of the County of Delaware do certify that Abraham Ogden Esq the Justice before whom the within declaration and annexed affidavit purport to have been sworn was at the date of each a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, and that his name subscribed to the same is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County this 23d day of June 1845.
[signature] C B Sheldon, Clerk

[illegible Court Seal affixed at left]


13116
Esther Honeywell
Declaration
Act July 7. 1838

Married 1783
husband died 23 March 35
Agent
[signature] Wm B. Pierce
Albany N.Y.
Page 79

I hereby certify, That the accompanying pages numbered from one to nine, inclusive, are truly copied from the originals in the Office of the Commissioner of Pensions Department of War.
[signature] J L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.

Be it remembered, That James L. Edwards, who has signed the foregoing certificate, is Commissioner of Pensions; and that to his attestations full faith and credit are and ought to be given.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and caused the seal of the Department to be affixed, on this twenty ninth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty.
[signature] J R Poinsett
Secretary of War.

[illegible Department Seal affixed at left]
Page 80

State of New York
Delaware County ⎬ ss.

On this 9th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court before the judges of the Court of common pleas now sitting, Matthias Honeywell a resident of the town of Walton in the County of Delaware and State of New York 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 benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served
as herein stated. That in the month of April 1776 then being a resident of southeast, Dutchess County, but then in the city of New York, he at the latter place enlisted into a company, as a private, commanded by Capt Andrew Billings in a regiment commanded by Col. Rudolphus Richmore. He enlisted for nine months was in service in said company & regiment when the American Army retreated from Long Island - was with the Army when it retreated to the 7 mile stone & made a stand there, and then retreated to a little below Fort Washington, & made a stand there for a while. Was in the battle at Harlem Heights. was with the army when it retreated by Kingsbridge to White plains. was in the battle of White plains in September of that year. In the Fall went with the regiment to Peekskill. Thence marched and
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crossed at Kings ferry & went into New Jersey.
About first of Nov'r went to Morristown with the regiment. Thence to Easton thence down theDelaware to Wells's falls Bucks County, now called New Hope. Lay there till 24th Dec.r when he, with the regiment, proceeded down the river to eight mile
ferry and recrossed into New Jersey. proceeded that night amid hail, rain & snow, to Trenton where we arrived at day break on Christmas morning. Was that morning in the battle under Gen. Washington when about nine hundred Hessians were killed or captured. That day returned to New Hope. Continued there till first January 1777 when his term of service had expired & he was dismissed. No written discharge. He returned home to southeast.
The next spring in May or June 1777 he belonged to a company of Militia in said town of Southeast commanded by Capt Azur Barnum, when the whole company was ordered out en masse to defend the lines below Peekskill against an apprehended attack from the enemy. He was out in this service about one month when he and his company were permitted to return to their homes.
In July of that year (1777) he enlisted as as a private for four months, in a company of State troops commanded by Capt Nathaniel Scribner, raised in Southeast & the adjacent towns, to guard a large quantity of public stores collected at a place now called Patterson, in Putnam County.
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3.
He served the 2d term of four months, was dismissed & returned home.
In the beginning of the autumn of 1778 he went for one month as a substitute for one Jeremiah Wakeman a private in a company of detached militia in the town of New Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut commanded by Capt Stephen Pardee. He with that company was engaged during that month in actual service in guarding the coast on Long Island Sound. At the end of the month was dismissed & returned home to New Fairfield to which place he had then changed his residence.
In September 1779 he engaged as a substitute to serve in lieu of one Stephen Jackson who had been drafted for three months to serve as a guard to military & public stores at Danbury in Connecticut. 
He, as a private & substitute as aforesaid, at Danbury, served as such guard under the command of Capt David Bouton for the term of three months, when he was dismissed & returned home to New Fairfield.
In the year 1780 early in the spring, was called out with the militia under the command of Capt Azur Barnum aforesaid for three months to guard the lines on the North River.
Continued there, chiefly in Peekskill & Krampond & on duty during the three months when he was dismissed & returned home to Southeast, which place had again become his residence.
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In the summer following this tour of duty, he belonged to a class of six who were bound to furnish a man for the service for three months. 
This was at Southeast aforesaid. He went into service for his class & at Fishkill was attached to a company commanded by Capt Lee in a regiment commanded by Col. Lewis Dubois of Poughkeepsie. Marched from Fishkill to West Point staid there a week or ten days when he with about two hundred of the three months men were detached & crossed over the river & marched down to Kings Ferry. then crossed over to Stoney Point & marched into New Jersey to fill vacancies in Van Cortland's regiment. He was then attached to a company in said Cortland's Regiment, commanded by Capt Henry Dubois. Remained there on duty till about the 23d of September, seven days before the expiration of his term of service, when he was detached on a tour of duty on board whale boats & down the Hackensack river. That day was taken prisoner by the Tories & carried into New York. He was detained as a prisoner about one month when he was exchanged & returned home.
He was in militia service called out when Fairfield & Norwalk were burnt, for about six weeks but as he has 24 months
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without it he omits detail.
He was born 8 Feb. 1764 at Bedford Westchester County. Has no record of his age.
At twelve years of age went to live with his grandparents at Southeast. That was his home till he removed to New Fairfield in Connecticut in 1778. Again became a resident of Southeast in 1780 which place continued his home till 1803 when he removed to Hillsdale in Columbia County,
where he lived four years when he removed to Walton where he has resided ever since. He has no documentary evidence except the deposition of James Sherwood & Barnabus Cole hereunto annexed and knows of no person except as above, by whose testimony he could prove his services.
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.
[signature] Matthias Honeywell

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
[signature] C. B. Sheldon Clerk

We Simeon Johnson & Samuel C. Johnson residing in the town of Walton in the County of Delaware aforesaid, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Matthias
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Honeywell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy two years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
                    
[signature] Simeon Johnson
[signature] Samuel C. Johnson

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[signature] C .B. Sheldon, Clerk

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states & the Court further certifiesthat it appears to them that Simeon Johnson & Samuel C. Johnson are residents of the town of Walton and County of Delaware & that they are credible persons & that their statements are entitled to credit. And it is the opinion of this Court that a Clergyman cannot be produced in Court by the said applicant without too much expense & inconvenience to him.

I Crawford B. Sheldon Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in                                                                                                                                                                                 and for the County

[hand written Seal with letters L S at left]
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of Delaware do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Mathias Honeywell for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 9th day of October 1832.
[signature] C. B. Sheldon Clerk

I certify that these papers were handed to me in this condition by the Clerk of Delaware 11 Feb. 1833.
[signature] E. Root

James Sherwood of lawful age being duly sworn testifies & sayeth that on or about the first day of April in the year 1776 that Matthias Honeywell a resident of Duchess County in the State of New York did enlist into Captain Andrew Billing's Company of Continental Troops in the second Regiment of the State of New York commanded by Col'n Reechmore [Richmore] for the term of nine months and this deponent further sayeth that the said Matthias Honeywell did serve as a private soldier the length of time that he enlisted in said company and this deponent further sayeth that Capt Andrew Billings was raised to the office of Major and that Adgent [Adjutant]  Benjamin Petton commanded the said company after Billings.
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promotion and this deponent further sayeth not.
[signature] James Sherwood

Sworn and subscribed to before me this 4th day September A.D. 1830.
[signature] Seth Wheeler - Justice of the peace in the town of Wheeler in the County of Steuben State of N York and I do believe that James Sherwood is a man of veracity and a peasible good inhabitant.

State of New York
Steuben County
Clerks Office ss.
I certify that Seth Wheeler before whom the within affidavit was taken was at the time the same was taken was a justice of the peace in and for the said County of Steuben.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County this fourth day of September 1830
D. Rumsey, Clerk
by [signature] Thos Lefferts Dep. Clerk

[handwritten seal with the letters L. S. at left]

Erie County ss.
Personally came before John Salsbury Esquire a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid Barnabas Cole and being sworn according to law deposeth and saith that in the year 1776
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Matthias Honeywell Enlisted in Captain Andrew J. Billings Company and in Col. Rhodolphus Richmore Regiment and served as a soldier nine months and further saith not.
[signature] Barnabas Cole
Sworn and subscribed before me this 10th day of May A.D. 1831.
[signature] John Salsbury

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Erie County, ss.
I Edwin J. Kelso, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County of Erie aforesaid do hereby certify that John Salsbury Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition purports to have been taken, and who in his own proper hand writing, to me well known, has thereunto subscribed his name is, and at the time of taking and subscribing the same was an acting Justice of the peace of the Commonwealth within and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn to, all whose acts as such, full faith and credit are, and of right ought to be given throughout the United States and elsewhere. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court the 12th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-one.
[signature] Edwin J. Kelso Proth'y

[handwritten Seal with the letters L. S. upper left]
Page 89

992 WINDSOR AVENUE
WINDSOR, CONN.

[illegible writing to the right]

September 12, 1939

U.S. Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir: -

Please send me a statement for my D. A. R. papers about the pension granted to Esther Smith Honeywell, widow of Mathias Honeywell, a soldier in the Revolution, who lived in Walton New York.

Also, please tell me if Ann Taylor Honeywell, of Walton, N. Y. received a pension as the widow of William Honeywell, who served in the war of 1812.

Yours truly,
[signature] Hannah Honeywell Rose.
( Mrs, Alston O. Rose )

62/124
8

[date stamp at top of page]
[outer circle containing numbers 1 thru 12 with 1/4 hour increments and arrow pointing to 10:45]
RECEIVED 
SEP 14 1939 
MAIL SUB-DIV.
R[???] No 23
VETS ADM
[/date stamp at top of page]
Page 90

James Sherwood of lawfull age being duly Sworn testifies & Sayeth that on or about the first day of April in the year 1776 that Matthias Honeywell a Resident of Duches [Dutchess] County in the State of New York did enlist into Captain Andrew Billing's Company of Continental Troop in the Second Regiment of the State of New York Commanded by Coln Richmore for the term nine months and this deponent further sayeth that the said Matthias Honeywell did serve as a private soldier the length of time that he Enlisted in said Company and this deponent further sayeth that Capt. Andrew Billings was raised to the office of Mager [Major] and that Adgent [Adjutant] Benjamin Pelton Comanded the said Company after Billing's promotion and this deponent further sayeth not.
[signature] James Sherwood

Sworn and subscribed to before me this 4th day of September AD 1830
[signature]  Seth Wheeler Justice of the Peace 
In the town of Wheeler in the County of Steuben State of N York
And I do believe that James Sherwood is man of veracity and a peasible good inhabitant.
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State of New York
Steuben County
Clerk's Office ss:

I certify that Seth Wheeler before whom the within affidavit was taken was at the time the same was taken was a Justice of the peace in and for the said County of Steuben. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County this fourth day of September 1830.
D. Rumsey Clerk
by [signature] Tho's Lefferts Dep. Clk

[illegible Court Seal affixed upper left]