Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24,277, Caleb Gibbs, Continental Mass.
Page 2

876.
Massachusetts
Catharine Gibbs widow of Caleb Gibbs who served in the Revolutionary war as a major.
Inscribed on the Ross at the rate of 600 Dollars.
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of July 1848, and sent to G. L. Bulfinch
Boston, Mann

Recorded on Roll of Pensions under not Febrary 2, 1848, Page 52 Vol. 2

Reported another Certificate found Octer 1: 1849. I sent to G. L. Bulfinch
Boston, Mass
Page 3

136
Catharin Gibbs wid. of Caleb d.
Mass
March 1787
died
Allow a Major
2 years $ 600 per ann
pen 4 March 1831

[illegible] Maj Purkett

Tho W Phillips Esq
Boston Mass
Page 4

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk Ss:
On this thirtieth day of July
A.S. Eighteen hundred & thirty eight, personally appeared before the Honorable
Peter O. Thacher, Judge of the Municipal
Court of the City of Boston (the same being
a Court of Record,) Catharine Gibbs,
a resident of the City of Boston, in the County
of Suffolk, widow, aged seventy two 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 & pensions to 
certain widows"; that she is the widow
of Caleb Gibbs, formerly of said City of Boston, who served, as she verily believes
during the whole of the Revolutionary
War.  He entered the army as a volunteer
& was at the battle of Lexington on 19th April 
1775; on the 24th of the same month, he was
appointed an Adjutant; in January 1776 
he obtained a Lieutenancy & in March
1776, he was promoted to be Captain of
the Guards, of the Commander in Chief, 
General Washington. - When that corps
was increased in July 1778 he was promoted to be a Major & in October 1780, was
arranged in the Massachusetts Line. - 
She verily believes that he was present 
at various skirmishes & was engaged
in several actions, during the war, in one of
which he was wounded in the ankle.
He was with the Commander in Chief at
White Plains, at Brandy Wine, Germantown,
Page 5

& at Valley Forge.  He was also engaged 
in the expedition against Rhode Island
in 1778.  He was a Captain or Major  in
Washington's Guards, for four years at
least.  She annexes hereto, an original
letter from Genl. Washington, to Major
Gibbs, dated 18 Jany 1780 in Camp near
Springfield.  She also refers the Honorable Secretary of War to a letter from Geo. 
Washington to James McHenry, then Secretary of War, dated 25 March 1799, &
published in Sharks' Life of Washington
Volume eleventh, pages 409, 410, by which
the Commander in Chief declares that Major
Gibbs served during the whole Revolution
ary War.  She is informed there is among
the Resolves of Congress, one appointing
said Caleb Gibbs, a Major in the Army
of the Revolution, but she can not refer
to the same.  She further states that
her said husband, was careful to preserve
all his valuable papers, but at a fire
which occurred at the Navy Yard in
Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1815, many, 
indeed most of his Revolutionary papers
were destroyed.  She is therefore unable
to produce his commissions.  Said Gibbs
was Naval Store Keeper of the United
States, stationed at said Charlestown, to
which office he was appointed, as she knows
by his old friend & Commander
Genl. Washington, in which office he remained til the time of his decease.

She further declares, that she was married to the said Gibbs, at Boston aforesaid, but the Rev. Olr [Oliver] Everett, pastor of the New South Church in January A.D. seventeen hundred eighty seven; that her late husband, said Caleb Gibbs, died in Charlestown, Massachusetts, on the sixth
Page 7

Certificate of Mrs. Gibbs' Marriage
Page 8

[paper seal with ribbon attached]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
City of Boston, July 28, 1838.
The subscriber do hereby certify, that it
appears by the Registry of marriages in the town (now
City) of Boston, that there is the following record 
of marriage, viz. Caleb Gibbs, Esq. & Catharine Hall
married by the Revd. Oliver Everet fouteenth Jany. one
thousand seven hundred & eighty seven.
That it is a true copy of the record, with the
exception of the date, which is expressed in the record
in fair legible figures, as follows - 
Caleb Gibbs, Esq. & Catharine Hall married by the
Revd. Oliver Everet 14 Jany. 1787.
Samuel F. MCleary above named, depose &
say, that I hold the office of City Clerk of the City
of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, & State aforesaid, 
& that the above is a true extract from the records of
marriages of said City, with the exception above 
named, as certified by me.
Sameul F. M Cleary
Suffolk Ss; Boston July 28th
A.D. 1838, Sworn to by said Samuel F. McCleary, before
me, Thomas W. Phillips, Justice of the Peace
& Clerk of the Municipal court of the City of Boston.
Page 9

December 15, 1930
Honorable Ewin L. Davis
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C.

Rev. & 1812 Section
MCS

My dear Mr. Davis:

Reference is made to your letter of December 10, requesting information in regard to Major Caleb Gibbs who served in the Revolutionary War.
   You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 24277, that Caleb Gibbs was in the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775. He was appointed adjutant in April, 1775, and was promoted to lietenant in January, 1776. In March 1776, he was promoted to captain of the Guards of General Washington and was promoted to major of the Guards of General Washington in July, 1778, and served as such until December 31, 1780. He then served in the Massachusettes Line and was in service in the close of the Revolution. He was in the battles of White Plaine, Brandywine and Germantown, and went on the expedition to Rhode Island. He was wounded in the ankle during one action but the particular one was no designated.
   He returned to Boston at the close of the Revolution.
   Soon after the "adoption of the Federal Constitution" General Washington appointed him naval store keeper at Charlestown, Massachusettes. He held this office until his death November 6, 1818, at Charlestown, Massachusettes.
   Caleb Gibbs married January 14, 1787, at Boston Massachusetts, Catharine Hall.
   On account of his service in the Revolution she was allowed pension on her application executed July 20, 1838, at which time she was seventy-two years of age and was living in Boston, Massachusetts.
Page 10

One Samuel Adams Wells of Boston, Massachusetts, stated in 1838 that he had been connected with the family of Caleb Gibbs by marriage since 1812. There are no further data relative to the family of this soldier.

Very truly yours,

N.W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner
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Revy Widow, &c.

File No. 24277
Catharine Gibbs
Wid of Caleb Gibbs
Maj Rev War
Act Feb 2nd 1848
Index :- Vol. A, Paje 276
[Arrangement of 1870,]

1920 May 21. Photostat of Washington letter furnished N. S. Lincoln 
2235 - I. L. N. W. City (see receipt for payment on Samuel Sheffield S. 39842) aud
1926 June 22. E. Adamson wife, birth & parents not on record, aw
1930 Dec. 15 Hist to Hon. Ewin L. Davis
W.C.S
Page 12

C.G. 
Camp near Springfield
18th Jan. 1780
Dr Gibbs, 
A trunk of mine
No 4 (which the included key
will open) is not more than
half filled. _ I intended to
have compleated the package
with my Bed blankets, but
on enquiry, found they had
been sent down to the Marquis
(which I am sorry for, as I 
hardly expect to see them
again, or much directed if
I do). _ Under these circum
stances I wish you to fill the
Page 13

the trunk NO. 4 with the best
of those blankets which were
drawn from the public stores
as well for the purpose of 
[illegible] preventing
inquiry from the loose state
they are now in, as to secure
some covering for me [illegible]
the Winter _ The remainder
of these Blankets I would also 
have detained subject to my 
order only as there may be 
in the course of the Campaign
and our intercourse with our 
Allies, occasion for them. _
Pray send us (if it is
not already done) such things
as are necessary for our tolearable
Page 14

tolerable comfort & convenience at this place & nothing more._ The rest to be in waggons -
with much esteem &
regard I am
Dr Gibbs
yours
G. Washington
I write again to 
Cheever abt. the Plates
_ & to Phila. for what things
are wanted._
If my Watch which was sent
to Mrs. Washington is done, pray
let it _ & the chair which is 
in the hands of Colo. Blaine be 
sent to me by careful hand.
The Pipe of [illegible] you recd. the other
day is a [illegible] me from Mr. R. 
Morris & [illegible] very fine
Page 15

June 18th 1780
From 
His Excell. Genl. Washington
[stamp] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES
[written sideways] 
 Maj. Gibbs  
Morris Town
Geo. Washington
Caleb Gibbs 
W. 24277
[illegible] + Mass.
Page 16

Massachusetts 77
Catharine Gibbs
widow of Caleb Gibbs dec.
who died on the 6th November 1818 of Boston in the State of MA.
who was a Major in the ________ commanded
by Captian ______ of the _______ commanded
by ______ in the Washinton life
guard, for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of MA.
at the rate of 600 Dollars 00 cents per annum,
to commence on the 4day of March, 1836

Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of Augt
Phillips 1868 and semt thus in Boston, Mass.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1838 $1200.00
Semi-annual allowence ending 4 Sept $300.00
$1500.00

Revolutionary Claim Act July 4, 1838, 

Recorded by D D Addison Clerk,
Book A Vol. 21st. Page 90
Page 18

136
Aug 6
Mass
1 July 1838

Hon. Joel
Pensions
Department
Page 19

Boston August 1st 1838
Hon. Jos R. Poinsett,
Sir, 
I have the honor to enclose
to you the accompanying documents
to substantiate the claim of Catharine
Gibbs to a pension, under the Law
of July 1838.  Should a pension be
granted, please Sir, to send the certificate
to 
your obedient servant,
Thomas W. Phillips
Page 20

Commonwealth of Massachusetts }
               Suffolk County                         }  ss
                                     Be it known that on this 7th Seventh  day of
April 1843. personally appeared before me the subscriber,
a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid,
Mrs. Catherine Gibbs a resident of Boston                  in
said County and Commonwealth aged seventy six 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 on the 3rd
day of March 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons who
served during the Revolutionary War -
          That she is the widow of Caleb Gibbs who 
was a Major in the Revolutionary War and served
as she verily believes, as stated by her in her original declaration for a pension under the law of the 7th of July 1838,
to which declaration and the papers accompanying the same
now on file in the War Department, she would refer for in
more particular statement of his services for the proof of her
marriage, identity, and the time of her husband's death.
          She further declares that she was pensioned under said
act at the rate of Six Hundred Dolls. per annum, which
amt. she received from the 4th of March 1836, to the 4th
of March 1841 at the Agency in Boston, Massachusetts,
and at the time of receiving her last payment surrendered 
the Pension Certificate granted to her under said Act to the Pension
Agent at the said city of Boston, agreeably to the rules
of the Department.
          Ant this declarant further alleges that she has not
intermarried since the decease of her said husband but is now
and ever since has been the Widow of said Caleb Gibbs
deceased, as will now fully appear by the proof hereto annexed.
          And further she saith not.
                                                        Catharine Gibbs

     Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first within written   And I certify that the applicant is
Page 21

personally known to me to be the person within described
                                                                        Before me
                                                                     Alden Bradford
                                                                                      Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
Secretary's Office - Boston April 13th. 1843
I hereby certify that at the dates of the within
attestations Alden Bradford and Thomas Tolman
were justices of the Peace for the County of Suffolk and
Commonwealth aforesaid, duly constituted and commissioned
Page 22

I James C. Wild of Boston, in the County 
of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of
lawful age on oath testify and say that
I am well acquainted with Catharine Gibbs
the applicant named in the foregoing declaration and have been for many years
last past. - I know that she was the
wife of Caleb Gibbs who was as I always 
have understood and verily believe an
officer in the Army of the Revolution and
that since his decease she has not
intermarried but still continues the widow
of said Caleb Gibbs.   I further testify that 
said Catharine was a pensioner under
the law of Congress approved the 7th day of 
July 1838 at Six Hundred Dollars per annum.
                                                   Jas C Wild
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk County - } ss  Boston, 12th April 1843.
Personally came James C. Wild Esqr. who is
known to me to be a credible witness
and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed it true
                    Before me,
Thomas Tolman  Justice of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Suffolk
On this 27th day of September 1849, before me the Subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county of Suffolk personally appeared Catharine Gibbs, who on her oath declared, that she is the widow of Caleb Gibbs dec., formerly a Major in the War of the Revolution, that her name was placed on the Pension Roll of the State of Massachusetts, that she received a Certificate of that fact under the Seal of the Secretary of War, which certificate on or after the ninth of March 1849 at Boston in said county she lost, but is unable to state under what circumstances it was lost. She has made diligent search for it, and has caused diligent search to be made for it by others, and it cannot be found. Said certificate entitled her to a Pension of six hundred dollars per annum.
Sworn to a subscribed  Catharine Gibbs
this 27 day of September 1849. Before me G. L. Bulfinch
Justice of Peace
Attest
Charlotte M. Park

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk County Js. I James C Wild Cashier of the Boston Bank is___
solemnly swearthat I will know Catharine Gibbs, who has sworn to the above Affidavit by her signed, to be the same person described in the above Affidavit.
Sworn to & subscribed this 28th day of September 1849
Before me G.L. Bulfinch Justice of Peace

I certify that James C Wild Erg. who has signed the foregoing Affidavit, is a person of veracity. I further certify that I have diligently searched among the papers in the Pension Office for the Certificate of Pension of Ms. Catharine Gibbs and it cannot be found.
G. L. Bulfinch Jus. Peace & Pension Clerk
Page 24

Admitted

G.S. Bulfinch
Boston, Mass
Page 25

DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of 2d February, 1848, entitled, "An act making further pension for surviving Widows and Soldiers of the Revolution."

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk County, SS.
On this second day of June 1848 personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the county aforesaid, Catharine Gibbs, a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, aged eighty one years, who being first duly sworn, accoring to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaratin, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed on the 2d of February, 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. The she is the widow of Caleb Gibbs who was a resident of Boston and was a Major and who was an aid to General Washington, and had command of a Regiment in the Revolutionary War to the best of her knowledge & belief, and is the identical person who drew a pension under the Act of 17th June, 1844, on account of the Revolutionary service of her late husband aforesaid, at the rate of six hundred dollars and cents per annum.
She further declares that she is still a widow.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written, Catharine Gibbs
Before me, In presence of
G. S. Bulfinch Justice of the Peace.
Certify, That the declarant is personally known to me, a widow and a pensioner, as she declares. G. S. Bulfinch Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County, SS.

Clerk of the Court, of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that    is a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified; and that his signature, above written, is genuine.
Given under my hand, and the Seal of said Court, this day of 18

Clerk
Page 26

H. Purkett , deposition
Page 27

I, Henry Purkitt, of the City of Boston
in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged
eighty two years, being first duly sworn,
do depose & say that I was acquainted
with Major Caleb Gibbs whose widow
Mrs. Catharine Gibbs is now making
application for a pension under the laws
of the United States.  I knew said Gibbs
during the war of the Revolution & he was 
an officer in the Guards of the Commander in Chief.  He served more than 
three years as an officer in that corps. 
I was myself Quarter Masters Sergeant
of the Light Dragoons, Second Regiment
under Sheldon, who was Commander of
that Regiment.  I was at Valley Forge, 
at the battles fought at Germantown
& Brandywine.  I knew said Gibbs
after his return to Boston at the close
of the war, & have always known him
to have been considered, by our brother
officers, as a meritorious officer of
Page 29

Maj. Gibbs-
Col. Purkett
Page 30

Extract from Gen. Washington's 
letter to James McHenry, secretary
of War, dated 25 March 1799.
"The two Major Edwards & myself were
detained five weeks, in wading thro
volumes of applications for military
appointments.  And what has followed?
Why, any member or Congress who had a 
friend to serve, or a prejudice to indulge, 
could set them -[our recommendations]
all at nought.  Out of a number,
I will select one instance only in proof
of this.  It is a striking one.
The case of Gibbs I allude to.  He was 
known to you, General Hamilton & myself, 
in his former services.  He served thro the whole
revolutionary war, & in the last act of it, was a 
Major in the selected corps of Light Infantry.
He was strongly recommended by Generals Lincoln,
Knox, Brooks, & Jackson, who ought to be perfectly
Page 31

acquainted with his respectability & pretensions:
yet the vote of a member of Congress
(I presume) was more respected.
See Sparks Life of Washington
Vol XI p 409.410
There is one other passage at p. 420.421
where Washington shows his attachment
to Major Gibbs - Vindicates that he
considered him an injured man.
In the Life of Gen. Hamilton, written by
his son, there is a passage that shows 
that Hamilton while in the Army of the
Revolution had a high opinion of Major
Gibbs.  Col. Hamilton wishes for a separate command - to go upon some hazardous expedition;  & hopes he might
be so favored as to have Major Gibbs for his second.
Page 32

For,        Boston 28 Sep. 1849

Enclosed is the Application of Mrs. Catharine Gibbs for  a Duplicate Pension Certificate; she wishes it to be sent to my care.

Very Respectfully
Your obediant servent
G. S. Bulfinch
Page 34

I, Samuel Adams Wells, of the City of Boston in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged fifty one years being first and duly sworn do depose & say that I was well acquainted with Major Caleb Gibbs, formerly of the City of Boston, who was Naval Store Keeper at the Navy Yard in Charleston in Massachusetts.
   I was well acquainted with said Gibbs for several years before his decease. I verily believe from several conversations with said Gibbs, that he entered the army of the Revolution at an early period of the war & served through the same with the approbation of his superior officer. I have known Mrs. Catharine Gibbs, widow of said Caleb, ever since the decease of her kind husband, and verily believe that she hath never been married to anyone, have said Gibbs. I have known said Caleb Gibbs from 1801. I knew him until his decease in 1818 having been connected with the family of said Gibbs by marriage since 1812.
S. A. Wells
Page 36

Washington letter 
photo in
See receipt for
payment in
Samuel Sheffield
&39843
Page 39

Commandant. He served to the close of the war and became a member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati. He died at the Charlestown Navy Yard. If you have any record of this mans birth place please let me know. Also his fathers full name and where he lived. I believe this man was a direct ancestor and am trying to find out something of his ancestors.
I will be very much obliged.
Edith Adamson
204-4 Fond du Lac
Wis.
Page 40

res of Boston Mas
he died Nov 6 1818
in Charleston Mas
Page 41

Rev.
Page 42

Ewin L. Davis
Fifth District Tennessee

Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C.

December 10, 1930

Hon. Edward W. Morgan,
Acting Commissioner,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C. 

My dear Mr. Morgan:
   I shall appreciate it if you will advise me whether a pension was ever granted to Major Caleb Gibbs by the Federal Government on account of his service in the Revolutionary War. He is said to have served as an Aide to General George Washington.
   Please also furnish me any other information which your records may give relative to his military service.
   Thanking you for your attention and courtesy in the premises, I am
Yours sincerely,
Ewin L. Davis
Page 43

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.

June 22, 1926.

Edith Adamson,
204-4, Fond-du-Lac, Wis.

Madam:
   I have to advise you, that in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 24277, of Catharine, widow of Major Caleb Gibbs of Boston, Mass., the date and place of his birth and names of his parents are not on record.

Respectfully,

Winfield Scott,
Commissioner.