Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32,851, Amos Holdin, Conn.
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Service    
Conn.      Holdin, Amos            S.32,851
                Holden  or
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14,619R
Connecticut

Amos Holden
of Glastenbury in the state of Connecticut
who was a Private in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Webb of the Connecticut
line, for the term of Eighteen months

Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 4 of April 1818.

Certificate of Pension issued the 7 of Sept. 1814
and Sent to Jonathan Brace Esq
Hartford Connecticut

Arrears to 4th of Sep 1819                 136.53
semi-anl. all'ce ending Mar 1820         48.00
17 mo 2/50(?)                                   $184.53

                                   Revolutionary claim
                                   Act 18th March, 1818

Note: Sideways inscription
something? Sent to Mr. M. Burrall, Esq 11 April 1841(??)
North Canaan, Con~t
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District of Connecticut ss. County of Litchfield, County Court. 
On this 28th day of December 1820 personally appeared in open Court, being a court of RECORD for said county in said district, having the power to fine and imprison Amos Holden aged fifty seven years resident in Salisbury in said county, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows: viz. 
That he enlisted at Glastonbury in the State of Connecticut for eight months, about the commencement of the year AD 1780, in a Company commanded by a Captain Darrance & in a Regt commanded by Col. Sherman, & that in July 1780 according to his best recollection, & before his first period of service had expired he again enlisted as a private under the late Baron Steuben at the Highlands, for the term of three years, and was placed in a company of Infantry commanded by a Captn Webb, in a Regt commanded by Col. Samuel Webb, in the Connecticut line & that he continued to serve in said Webb's Reg't until his term of service had expired, & was then honorably discharged at West Point in the State of New York, & on the 4th day of April 1818 he made an application for a Pension & received a Pension Certificate, dated the 11th day of September 1819, & numbered 14,619.

And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of any property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provision of an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have no nor has any person in trust for me any property, or securities, contracts or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed. And I the said Amos Holden do further declare, on Oath, that from my age & infirmities I can do but very little labour, and that I have no Wife, or Children or Family, and no estate either real or personal of any description existing
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excepting my Clothing, & am wholly dependent on my labor as a Farmer for support--and that I have no trade or profession.--


Amos Holden

Amos Holden
16,619
March 1820
Witness
Wm M. Burrall
South Canaan
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Sworn to and declared on the 28th day of December A.D. 1820 before the said Court
Certified by 
Frederick Wolcott, Clerk.

I, Frederick Wolcott, Clerk of the County Court, in the county of Litchfield, and state of Connecticut, do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court, that the said Amos Holden hath not any property whatever excepting his necessary Clothing

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this 28th day of December 1820

Frederick Wolcott
Clerk of the County Court for the
County of Litchfield

[Seal]
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Amos Holden
Private
82 to 83
Webb Connect.
Reg't

Admitted
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State of Con't
County of Hartford
ss.

Amos Holden of Glastonbury in af County being duly sworn doth depose & say that he served in the revolutionary war on the Continental establishment & in the Con't line for about eighteen months--
That he entered the service in the month of July 1782 to serve as a private for three years & faithfully served until after the peace viz in December 1783 when he was honorably discharged at West Point [caret] which discharge is now lost. He belonged to Capt Dorrance's company & Col Sam'l B. Webb's Regt before the Peace & afterwards, he belonged to Capt Wells' company in the same Regt & the Con' line--
That he is a resident citizen of the U. States has never had a pension, is in reduced circumstances & in need of assistance from his country for support--

Amos Holdin
Sworn to & subscribed 
this 4th day of April 1818
ss
Before me--
Jonathan Brace Judge of the County Court
for the County Aforesaid
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State of Connecticut County of Hartford
August the 4th 1819

Personally appeared Mr. Thomas Goodale of Glastonbury in said County who is a credible witness and made Solemn Oath that in the year 1782 he lived a near neighbor to the within named Amos Holdin and knew that he left home to join the Army sometime in the Summer of 1782 and believes about the Month of July in said year and understood and believes that he did soon after he left home join the Continental Army as a Soldier to Serve for three years that he was absent from  home until near the close of the year 1783 he thinks about the Month of December when he returned home from the [illegible] in the dress and appearance of a Soldier--that he then said Goodah in about the same age of said Soldiers, that they were both born & raised in the same neighborhood, and intimately acquainted with the transactions of each other and that he has often heard the said Holden relate many things which took place when he was in the Army and of his Suffering, etc. and he never had a doubt of the truth of his Statements, and of his having served in the Continental Army during the terms he has stated in his declaration and in the Company & Regt he has mentioned.
Joel House who is a credible witness & who belonged to the appeared [caret] at the same time and made Solemn Oath that he belonged to the Continental Army in the year 1782 & 1783 and often saw said Amos Holden as a Soldier of the Reg (according to his best recollection) commanded by Col. Samuel B. Webb in the Connecticut line, that he saw him first towards the [illegible] of the summer of hte year 1782 he thinks was in the Month of August and frequently saw him afterwards in said Regt during the remainder of that year & during the year 1783 or late or the middle of June when [caret] he left the Army, and there left said Holden in said Reg't and that he came home afterwards some time in the Month of December [illegible] next following--
Before me
Jonathan Brace Judge of the [caret] County Court for said County--
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STATE OF CONNECTICUT,
and County of Hartford. ss. Hartford

I, Jonathan Brace, Judge of the County Court, within and for said County, the same being a Court of Record, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction that Amos Holden----who swore to and subscribed the foregoing affidavit, served as a private--in the Revolutionary war against the common enemy, and on the Continental establishment, for at least the term of nine months, and is a resident citizen of the United States, in reduced circumstances, and in need of assistance from his country for support. His discharge he also swears is lost.
And in addition to the proof contained in the foregoing affidavit, and in support thereof, I further certify that it is proved to me by the testimony under oath of Daniel Wright who is a credible witness, that the said Amos Holden served in the revolutionary war, as aforesaid;
and from the like testimony of Stephen Strickland that the said Amos Holden is in reduced circumstances, and in need of assistance from his country for support.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the said Court to be hereunto affixed, and subscribed my name at Hartford aforesaid, this 25th day of April A.D. 1818.
[seal]
Jonathan Brace Judge of the County Court for the County aforesaid--

April 25, 1818 sealed with the seal of said Court by direction of the Honorable Jonathan Brace who is the Presiding Judge of said Court 
Thomas Chester, Clerk
State of Connecticut County of Hartford August the 14th 1819 I hereby certify that Amos Holden, who made the declaration aforesaid is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of assistance of his Country for support
Jonathan Brace Judge of the County Court for Hartford County aforesaid
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APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER
________________________
County of Litchfield ss. Salisbury State of Connecticut
On this 30th day of January 1827, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Litchfield personally appeared Amos Holden of Sheffield in the State of Massachusetts who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Wells & Darran in the regiment commanded by Colonel Webb, Sherman, in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the Pension Roll of the State of Connecticut from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the State (District, or Territory) of Massachusetts where he intends to remain, and wishes his Pension to be there payable, in future; and that his reasons for removing to the State of Massachusetts are to live and reside with his brother in Law Simeon Sage & be supported & protected by him, who lives in Sheffield in said State
Sworn and subscribed to, before me, the day and year aforesaid
Samuel Church Justice of Peace
I Frederick Wolcott Clerk of the County Court, or Court of Common Pleas, within the County of Litchfield in the State of Connecticut, certify that Samuel Church Esq, now is, and for more than one year last part, hath been a Justice of the Peace within & for said County legally appointed, commissioned & qualified [caret] & that his name subscribed to the above certificate is genuine & that full faith & credence are due to his official attestation & acts.--

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand & affix the Seal of said Court at Litchfield in said County this twenty-second day of February  AD eighteen hundred twenty-seven
Frederick Wolcott
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[Seal]
set my hand & affix the seal of said Court at Litchfield in said County this twenty second day of February AD eighteen hundred twenty seven
Frederick Wolcott

Litchfield County Salisbury February 22nd 1827
Samuel Church one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County do certify that the aforesaid Amos Holden is personally known to me & that I know him to be the same Amos Holden to whom the original certificate by reason of which he has drawn a pension in the State of Connecticut was given and that the same is now in my [illegible]; and that the said Amos Holden is now alive
Certified by
Samuel Church Justice of Peace
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32851
Revy INVALID
File No. 32, 851
Amos Holden
Pri Rev War
_____________
Act: 18th March 1818
Index:--Vol. 2, Page 194
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Massachusetts
__________
[crossed out: Connecticut]
Transf'd to Massachusetts
___________
Amos Holden 
placed on the revo.
roll, 7 Sept. 1819.
____________
Susp. see papers within and letters 12 March 1823, to Agent & Pensioner, and 15 Oct. 1823 to S. Church
[ripped page] Sterling written to 10
[ripped page] 5 & Aug 19, 1825-
[ripped page] removed. Sett letter
[ripped page] Sterling, Sharon

Trans. to Massachusetts 27 April 1827 and notice sent to Pensioner at Sheffield
Salisbury Post Office Massachusetts
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E. Whittesey
No. 13
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Eliphalet Whittlesey says that he has been acquainted with Amos Holden for about twenty nine years but [illegible] during that period Amos Holden has not [illegible] any property to the knowledge of deponent
Deponent further says that said Holden is now & has ever since his first acquaintance with him been deemed a man of very of very much [illegible] & hardly [illegible]
Eliphalet Whittlesey
Sworn before me
[illegible] 1823
Ansel Sterling Justice of Peace
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Geo T. Gordon
No. 6
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This may certify to all whom it may concern that we the subscribers have been during a number of years personally acquainted Simeon Sage & know Holder his brother-in-law who was a Soldier in the revolutionary war. That said Sage owns a farm lying on the line between Sheffield & Salisbury a part in the former & a part in the latter Town on which he together with Holden now resides. & that said Holden has stated & a number of years ago did state [caret] in our hearing that towards said farm he had [caret] paid a number of hundreds of Dollars, not less than six or seven, and that he expected to live with him, & that he has most of the time since to our knowledge lived with him & been a faithful laborer in said Sage's service
George T Gordon
& Adam Dike
Berkshire
Nov. 19-1823

The personally appeared before me the subscriber a justice of the peace & made solemn oath to the facts stated in the above affadavit, the above named George T Gordon
RFB
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Sheffield Feby 19 1823--
Hon. J. Calhoun

Sir--

At the request of Mr. Willys Bartholomew I address you. The enclosed papers will make you acquainted with this communication--Ba-w says he assisted Holden to get his pension I was then wholly ignorant of the facts contained in the statement--He has now ascertained that Sim Sage is obligated to support him, & has ample means in his hands for that purpose--The enclosed copy of a deed is under the hand of a gentleman of my acquaintance--B'w thinks it an act of justice to his Country--& feels it due from himself, to give this information--It will no doubt receive the consideration it deserves--
I am Sir, with high respect
Your &etc
R.F. Barnard
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Hezekiah Hall of Sheffield of lawful age testifies and says that some time in the month of December A.D. 1820 he was in company with Mr. Willys Bartholomew of Sheffield and while in conversation with him the said Bartholomew he heard him say that he had to raise a certain sum of Money and that he designed to [illegible] a part thereof by assisting one Amos Holden to obtain a pension from the United States and that if that he said Holden did obtain the pension he the said Bartholomew should apply it to his own use and that if he once could get that Money into his hands he thought he should never have to refund it again because that Mr. Simeon Sage who is at present under obligation to support said Holden would rather give up the part of the pension already due if it could be continued in future than to run the risque of having him struck off from the list of pensioners and further the deponent says not
Hezekiah Hall
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9th August 1824 Personally appeared before me at Salisbury the within named deponent and solemnly swore to the truth of the within depositions
Eliphalet Whittesely Justice of the Peace
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J L Edwards Esq.
Washington
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Sharon Sept [illegible] 1825
Sir
Your favour of the reply of August has been received and in obedience to the request of the War Department Plan made the necessary enquiries (by spending one Day in Salisbury) into the circumstances of Amos Holden a soldier of the revolution whose pension has been suspended 
I have in addition to the Documents sent to me been furnished with four other affidavits taken by myself at the request of said Holdens friends which are enclosed with those sent me. I have also examined sundry Witnesses, all of whom personally known to be men of strict truth & veracity and the result of my enquiry is that Amos Holden is now and ever has been a Man of very weak intellect much below men in general so as not to be capable of taking care of himself and has not been capable of acquiring property for more than twenty five years [illegible] enough to take care of any if he had it, and that hi is not now nor has he been during said period [illegible] of any property whatsoever except a black stove worth about sixty dollars which he [illegible] about fifteen or twenty years ago (but which
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in fact belongs to his brother in law Simeon Sage) and that he has no means of support whatsoever except the avails of his labour. That there is no person under any legal or moral obligation to support him at all. That he lives with a brother in law (said Sage) who has taken care of him for about twenty five hears past and who voluntarily and without any pecuniary consideration whatever moving him thereto, in 1802 [illegible] to the Town of Salisbury (which is among the enclosed documents) to [illegible] said Town [illegible] from all [illegible] that they might be put to an account of Amos Holden, the fact appears to be this, the Select Men of said Town of Salisbury (as they were by law authorized) were about to warn said Holden to depart said Town lest he should become a Town charge and acquire a settlement by residence and to [illegible] his removal and will said Town [illegible] Sage [illegible] the bond that Holden might reside with him as he had no better friend to whom he could resort but not a cent was given to Sage to induce him to [illegible] the bond and it has since turned out that by running the line between the States of Massachusetts and Connecticut, neither Sage nor Holden lived in Salisbury within it nor without [illegible] when Sage [illegible] the home
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I am therefore very clear in the opinion that on the ground of property, or rather the want of it, no Man is or can be more justly entitled to his Pension and the arrears if any--
I can further State that I am satisfied the pension has been taken by reason of false information forwarded to the Department by one Willys Bartholomew who got into his possession one or two years Pension belonging to Holden and Sage as the friend of Holden caused a suit to be brought for it & recovered & to retaliate [illegible] you the information on which the Department has acted in suspending Holden's Pension -
Yours very respectfully
A Sterling
J.L. Edwards Esq.
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Copy of Simeon Sages Bond to Salisbury
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Know all Men by these presents that I Simeon Sage of Salisbury in Litchfield County & State of Connecticut am held & firmly Bound to Samuel Moore Treasurer of Salisbury aforesaid or to his successor in office in the [illegible] sum of One Thousand Dollars to be paid to the said Samuel Moore Treasurer or to his successor in office to which payment well & truly to be made and [illegible] I bind myself & my heirs executors and administrators firmly by these presents signed with my hand Sealed with my Seal this 13th day of September AD 1802
Th e Conditions of this obligation is such that whereas one Amos Holden of Salisbury in Litchfield County is likely by mismanagement and bad husbandry to become chargeable to the inhabitants of said Town of Salisbury, Now if the above bounded Simeon Sage his heirs executors & administrators shall from time to time and all times hereafter save defend keep harmless and indemnified & full & absolutely requite & discharge the Select Men of said Salisbury & their successors & every of them and all other Persons
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whatsoever who now are or at any time hereafter shall be inhabitants of Salisbury aforesaid and every of them from and against all & all manners of costs charges Damages & expenses whatsoever which shall or may at any time hereafter in any manner arise or grow due by reason of the aforesaid Amos Holden and from all Actions suits troubles and demands whatsoever touching or concerning the said Holden if the said Simeon Sage or his heirs & as above Bounded shall comply & fully comply with & Save harmless said Town of Salisbury & the inhabitants thereof as herein written, then this obligation to be Null & Void otherwise to remain in full force & Virtue
Signed Sealed & Delevered
in presence of 
Alexander Lamb
Isaac Bird

Simeon Sage [in circle] Seal
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The foregoing is a true Copy of the Litchfield County of Salisbury 11th Feby 1823. I hereby Certify that the foregoing is a true Copy of the original Bond in my Hands
Abijah C. Peet
Town Treasurer
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Ansel Sterling Esq.
Sir,
at the request of Mr. Willys Bartholomew of this town I enclose to your care several affadavits the object of which I understand he has explained to you personally. He also reqests me to say that the has seen Col. Dargle our representative & requests him to give you any assistance you may need.
I am, sir,
very respectfully,
yours etc.
R.F. Barnard
Sheffield Nov. 20th 1823
Page 30

Jonathan Scovil of Salisbury in Litchfield County of lawful age testifies and says that about eighteen or twenty years since he was agreed upon as an Arbitrator by Simeon Sage and Amos Holden to hear determine and settle a controversy between the said Holden and Sage in which the said Holden claimed a sum as due to him from said Saige for labor which he had done for him the said Sage and the deponent says that after examining the aforesaid parties he was of opinion that there was due and owing to the said Amos Holden from the said Simeon Sage [caret] about the sum of Three Hundred and thirty three Dollars and thirty four cents for which sum the said Sage executed and gave to the said Holden his Notes on Interest and the deponent further days that in conversation with the aforesaid Sage [caret] about six weeks past he informed him the deponent that the said Holden had given up to him the said Sage the aforesaid Notes without any compensation and further the deponent saith not
Johnth Scovill
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Litchfield County afs Salisbury Oct 13th 1823
Personally appeared Jonathan Scovill signer of the foregoing affidavit and solemnly swore that the facts therein contained were the truth and nothing but the truth before me
Eliphalet Whittlesey Justice of the Peace
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Atwater Cook
No. 5
Page 33

To whom it may Concern being requested to write what I heard Mr. Amos Holden Say Concerning his property about thirteen years ago I bought a farm in Sheffield in the Neighbourhood where Mr. Simeon Sage lives & Amos Holden brother in law to sd Sage soon after I moved on the farm I bought in Sheffield Mr. Holden Came to my house & in Conversation he informed me that he was a Soldier in the revolution war and his brother in law Simeon Sage also, & they bought the farm they now live on on the line between Sheffield & Salisbury & that he the Sd Holden let his Brother Sage have one thousand Dollars of his property towards paying for his farm not [caret] long after I became acquainted with Mr. Sage & he Informed me of his being a Soldier in the old [caret] revolution war & also A. Holden I told Mr. Sage what Mr. Holden had told me Concerning the war Mr. Sage asked me what Holden said to me about his letting him have his property. I told him that Mr. Holden told me that he let him have or turn'd in towards his farm one thousand Dollars to which Mr. Sage made no reply--
Mr. Sage is Considered a wealthy farmer besdies his meshenary of Carding & Cloth Dressing Mr. Holden Since that time hath been in Mr. Sages imploy the greatest part of the time & a faithfull Labourer, I have heard that Mr. Holden hath been on the pension list which is the Cause of my writing what passed between me and these parties
Sheffield [caret] Nov 17th 1823

Berkshire ss
Nov 19th 1823
Then the above named Atwater Cook personally appeared & made solemn oath to the truth of the above
Before me R.F. Barnard Jus of the Peace
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To the Hon John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War

We the subscribed Inhabitants of the Town of Sheffield in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Salisbury in the State of Connecticut do certify that some months since Willis Bartholomew of afsd Sheffield presented to us a paper requesting our signatures, which paper related to Amos Holden a pensioner of the United States and representing that said Holden was not entitled to the pension he was receiving from government, the said Bartholomew made to us a representation on the subject, and we solely relying upon his Statement affixed our names to said paper which we have since understood has been forwarded to the department of war. Aside from the representations of Bartholomew we then knew nothing of the situation of said Holden in regard to any property or estate of which he was possessed, And we know of no property which the said Holden then owned or now owns unless a certain house given to the town of Salisbury can be considered as property within the meaning of the pension Law, and without said land we consider Mr. Holden as entirely destitute of property, incapable of performing much if any labour for his own support & a proper subject for a pension. Dated at
Salisbury July 27th 1824
Thaddeus R. Cook
Elijah Stanton
Samuel C Scovell
Calvin Bryant
Lemuel Sparks
Ira Owen
Miner Owen
Daniel Bath
Abner Roys
Benjamin Sparks
Oranga Benjamin
Page 35

I Wyllys Bartholomew of Sheffield in Berkshire County and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age do testify and say that I know that Amos Holden has told me that he paid One Thousand Dollars towards the farm that his Brother Simeon Sage now lives on also I know that the said Sage sold me a Mare for which I gave him sixty Dollars the said Sage informing me that the mare belonged to the aforesaid Holden this information was about sixteen or seventeen years past. Furthermore the aforesaid Simon Sage has told me that the said Holden had once held a note against him the said Sage for the sum of three hundred and thirty Dollars the said Sage further informed me that the said Holden gave up the said note and all other demands for his being bound to support the said Holden. I have been acquainted with the said Holden for more than twenty years last part he has been one of the most faithful men for business on the farm we have among us the said Holden is a single man and always appeared to take all the care of the farm the said Sage has appeared to take the lead of the business abroad and do the trading and carried on the Clothier business. I have often heard my Neighbors mention how faithful the said Holden was in business the aforesaid Holden for an old man is very industrious now and constantly in the said Sage's employment and further the deponent says not.
Wyllys Bartholmew
Page 36

Litchfield County Salisbury Oct 28th 1823
Personally appeared Wyllys Bartholomew signer of the within affidavit and Solemnly sworn that it contained the truth and nothing but the truth before me

Eliphalet Whittlesley Jus of the Peace
Page 37

Andrew Andrews
N— 15
Page 38

Andrew Andrews deposes and says that he has been acquainted with Amos Holden for twenty eight years last past during which time I have lived within two miles of him and I have never known of his having any property during said time except a black Mare with he claims to be his and if I had any property I should have been [illegible] as a laborour on the Farm for six or seven Months about fourteen years ago--The Deponent further states that in 1802 it was supposed that said Holden would become chargeable to the Town of Salisbury in [illegible] of an unfortunate connection of his with a woman of ill fame and the Select Men of said Town in order to save said Town from harm therefrom were about to remove him from Salisbury. but Mr. Simeon Sage a brother in law of the said Holden gave a bond to said Town to save them harmless from the expense of said Holden in order that said Holden might reside with him said Sage which not done by the request & advise of the Family of said Sage & the connections of said Holden & the bond was given in consequence of an arrangement & not in consideration of any money or property [illegible] Holden for his support
Andrew Andrews
Sworn before me Sept 1 1825 
Ansel Sterling Just of Peace
Page 39

Simeon Sage
No 12
Page 40

Simeon Sage Deposes & says that he is the brother in law of Amos Holden & that in 1802 he gave a bond to indemnify the Town of Salisbury from all expenses that might accrue to them from said Holden that he was [illegible] to give said bond to said Town to prevent the removal of said Holden from said Salisbury & that he did not recieve of said Holden as a consideration for giving the same that he is now poor & has no had any Property [illegible] which is more than thirty years he never received any property from his Father who was a poor man & that he has been of rather [illegible] of taking care of himself ever since then

Simeon Sage
Sworn before me
this 1st day of Sept 1835
Ansel Sterling Just of Peace
Page 41

Alexr Lamb
No 14
Page 42

Alex Lamb deposes & says that he has been acquainted with Amos Holden for twenty five to thirty years during which time the said Holden never had any property that deponent knew of but a black Mare which he claimed
The Deponent notarized a bond in 1802 given by Simeon Sage to the Town of Salisbury to save said Town harmless from the expenses of said Holden and that when said bond was given it was not understood that said bond was given in consideration of any property which said Holden let said Sage have but to prevent the removal of said Holden from said Town as the Select Men were apprehensive that said Holden might become chargeable to said Town in consequence of his intermarriage with a woman of ill fame who was then [illegible] and the said Holden not having any property nor was he a legal inhabitant of said Town
Deponent further says that for about twenty two years last past he has been collector of said Town of Salisbury & he never had a [illegible] to collect [illegible] said Holden which he should have had had he have had any property during said time
Alex Lamb
Sworn before me 
Sept 1 1825
Ansel Sterling Jus of Peace
Page 43

I Simeon Sage of Sheffield County of Berkshire Commonwealth of Massachusetts do testify & say: that Mr. Amos Holden of said Sheffield a Pensioner of the United States, has generally resided with me for many years past. I have kept and supported him because he is the brother of my wife, and not because I have ever received of him any property as a consideration for his support. The said Holden has not for man years been possessed of any property to my knowledge. Many years ago the said Holden held a note against me for about Three hundred dollars as near as I can recollect for labour performed for me which note has been paid & cancelled more than twenty years ago. In the year 1802 as near as I can recollect I have a bond to indemnify the Town of Salisbury from any expense by reason of said Holden, & this I was induced to do solely to extricate the said Holden from an unfortunate difficulty into which he had fallen by reason of marrying a woman of ill fame, & to prevent his
Page 44

being removed by authority of law to the place of his [illegible] Amos Holden is incapable of taking care of himself & his labour is not and has not been for many years of but little value & he is entirely dependent upon me or the public for his support
Salisbury Aug 13, 1821
Simeon Sage

Litchfield County of Salisbury August 13, 1823.
Personally appeared before me the subscribed one of the Justices of the Peace within & for said County Mr. Simeon Sage and being duly cautioned made solemn oath that the facts by him above stated and submitted are the truth and nothing but the truth
Certified by
Samuel Church Justice of Peace
Page 45

We the Subscribers do hereby certify that we have been acquainted with Mr. Amos Holden of Sheffield in the County of Berkshire Commonwealth of Massachusetts for many hears he has generally resided with his brother in law Mr. Simeon Sage of said Sheffield & he has never to our knowledge resided unless it may have been occasionally for a few months in the town of Salisbury otherwise than by residing with said Sage, who formerly was considered as living in the State of Connecticut but upon running the line between the State of Connecticut & Massachusetts was found to live in Massachusetts. We have never known Mr. Holden to be possessed of any property either Real or Personal, he is a man of weak intellect & for many years past in our opinion incapable of managing any business. We do not consider him to be capable of earning his own support by his labour, but verily believe that without other means of support he must be supported at the public expense.
Abiel Chapin
William Morgan
John Holmes
Abijah C. Peet
Simeon Granger
Benj Hinman
Page 46

Levi Roys
Nath Leonard
Loring Bartlett
John Tharp
George J Gordon
Nathaniel C Clark
Lent Roys
Jacob Spoon
Nathan Peek
Heil Rowley
Stanton
Josh W. Stanton
Giles Andrews
Asahel Savage
William Mise
William Bull
James Harris
Barnabas Meacham
Ezekiel Fuller
Daniel Symons
Isaac Hollister
Beanajah Camp
R Loring
Daniel Bull
Owen
Ezekiel Bryant 
Ira Orson
Lemuel Sparks
Calvin Bryant
Moses Chapin
Edward Hurt
Benjamin Sparks
Orange Benjamin
Alex Lamb
Page 47

Hon. John C. Calhoun
Secretary of War
Washington City
Page 48

Salisbury [crossed out: July] August 13th 1823

Sir:

Mr. Amos Holden a Pensioner for whom pension has been stopped, requests me to inform the Department of such facts as are within my knowledge regarding his situation and also regarding the statements by which his pension has been stopped. I have not known Mr. Holden but a few years, but since my acquaintance with him he has been an infirm man, of weak intellect & one whom I verily believe entirely incompetent to support himself. I have never known Mr. Holden possessed of any property nor can I by enquiry of the most respectable persons in this vicinity who have been acquainted with him ever since he resided here ascertain that he was ever worth a cent, nor do I believe he ever was. The Statement made to the War Department & upon which his pension was stopped, I have the best reasons for believing was made by one Willis Bartholomew of Sheffield as I have been informed he was the person who circulated it privately for signatures [underlined]. Bartholomew has been & still is at enmity with Mr. Simeon Sage a brother in law of Holden & with whom he has lived & by whom he has been supported for many years. Bartholomew was the person who aided Mr. Holden in procuring the renewal of his pension [underlined], carried him to Court for that purpose & if I have not forgotten testified for him, on his return from Court he persuaded Holden to give him a Power of Attorney to prosecute the arrears of his pension with which he obtained the money at Middletown, has even refused to pay it over to him, this caused a Law suit and the Law suit I have
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no reasonable doubt caused the Statement forwarded to the War Department. I have been credibly informed and believe it to be true, that many persons who signed that statement knew nothing of the facts stated in it except from the information of Bartholomew who circulated it, and indeed some persons whose names are subscribed to the statement were mere children in the year 1802 & who would not have known that Holden had property at that time which Mr. Sage received & in consideration of which he gave the bond to the town of Salisbury.
The Bond you will perceive is not given for the support of Mr. Holden but to indemnify and save the town of Salisbury harmless from him. The facts are these; Mr. Holden is brother in law to Mr. Simeon Sage & has lived with him many years & did live with him when the bond was executed, Mr. Sage has lived [caret] for many years where he now does (to wit) in the Town of Sheffield in Massachusetts; at the time the bond was given the dwelling house of Mr. Sage was supposed to be in Salisbury in Connecticut & th
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upon them, be therefore drove away the woman & took the charge of Holden himself but without receiving one cent of property of him; this statement of Mr Sage I believe to be true as well from the character of the man as from statements made to me by gentlemen of the first respectability & who were well acquainted with the cercumstances. I know of but few men whom I think less capable of taking care of themselves than Mr Holden; he is very [illegible]. I think no person would even harbour him for all the labors he can perform, & nothing but the charity of his brother in law Mr Sage keeps him from becoming a public charge.
With sentiments of respect
Samuel Church.
Since writing the above I have received the statment accompanying that letter signed bny Abijah C. Peet Esq and others. I have only to state that I am aquainted with most of the gentlemen whose names are subscribed to that statement and known them to be gentlemen of respectability and veracity and some of them the same known who subscribed  the statement whom which Holden's pension was suspended. I also state that the plan of [illegible] legal settelment is written in Sheffield, Mass., or Glastenbury in this state & not in Salisbury.
Your O. [illegible] [illegible]
Samuel Church
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To the Hon. John C. Calhoun Secretary of the War Department
The Undersigned Selectmen [caret] and others of the town of Salisbury in the County of Litchfield & State of Connecticut respectfully represent that they are well acquainted with Amos Holden of Salisbury who is now on the pension list roll of the State of Connecticut, under the law of March 18th 1818--that they have understood & verily believe, that A. Holden was not many years since possessed of a small property which went into the hands of Simeon Sage of Sheffield in Berkshire Mass & that the said Sage did thereupon give to the said Holden or the inhabitants of Salisbury for his maintenance and support for life a bond for that purpose the undersigned parties represent that the said Holden is now & has been for some years past an able bodied & working man, & is, has been in the constant employ of Sage, performing labor which would in our opinion afford considerable wages & much more than is or has been expended in his support--they further day that Simeon Sage is a man with six or seven thousand dollars clear of debt. We do not hesitate to express our belief that said Sage is legally bound for his support & that he is amply able to do without injury to himself--
Wyllys Bartholomew
Abner Roys
Allen Robinson
Anson Goodrich
Samuel Emmons
Benjamin Sparks
Phineas Chapin of Salisbury
Lemuel Shears
Amos Shears
Sylvester Root
Ina Owen
Daniel Bush
Thaeus R. Cook
Orange Benjamin
Dabie Scoville
Samuel Satwell
Elijah Stanton
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Eliphalet Whittlesley
Calvin Bryant
Atwater Cook
Butler Ives
Lemuel Sparks
Aurelius Sparks
Minor Owen
John B. Bryant
John M. Bartholomew
Page 53

To the Hon. John C. Calhoun Secretary of War

I certify that some months since Wyllys Bartholomew of Sheffield in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts presented a paper to me requesting my signature which paper related to one Amos Holden who was then and is still living with Mr. Simeon Sage representing that the said Holden was not entitled to a pension from the United States -- For the purpose of inducing me to sign said paper he made sundry representations showing that he was not a proper subject for a pension (viz) that the said Holden was able to labour--that he had property of which he the said Bartholomew had knowledge in a part of said Holden's Money was in his Bartholomew's hands and that Mr. Sage was already by bond holden and obligated for his support from the foregoing representations after some solicitation I affixed my name to the said paper
From inquiring more particularly into the circumstances of and situation of the said Holden [caret] I have learnt that although some what wanting in natural abilities was formerly able to labour to some profit but that since he has become more advanced in life with the infirmities of age his labor is of little consequence. I have also since learnt that the property in the hands of Mr. Bartholomew was a part of the pension due the said Holden
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the bond which was given by Mr. Sage to the Town of Salisbury securing the Town from expenses was given in complyance of a statute law of the State of Connecticut and is not evidence of property in the hands of the said Mr. Sage which might belong to the said Holden
I am now of opinion that if I had taken further time and opportunity for enquiring into the subject I should not have subscribed the aforesaid paper
Eliphalet Whittlesey
Salisbury August 4th 1826

To the Honor. John C. Calhoun Secretary of War
I hereby certify that Wyllys Bartholomew of Sheffield called on me as above stated by Eliphalet Whittlesey Esq. and made the same statements to me as certified to by said Whittlesey, and I had the opinion relative to said Holden that he the said Whittlesey has above stated but on further enquiry I learned that I have put my Signature to a paper that I should not have done, had I been in possession of [illegible] of the facts relative to the subject
Thomas Chapin
Salisbury August 5th 1824
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To the Hon. John Calhoun Secretary of War

I hereby certify that sometime since Wyllys Bartholomew of Sheffield & Commonwealth of Massachusetts call on me & presented me with a certain paper signed by sundry persons & stating that one Amos Holden a Pensioner was not a proper subject to receive a Pension in consequence of money which he was in possession of & requested me to sign his paper which I did--But upon further enquiring into the subject I am satisfied that said Holden has no property of any kind or name that he is a man who is partially deranged, who does no labor to any profit for any person, and had I have been in possession of the information that I now am, at the time that I signed the aforesaid paper I should never have done it--
David Scoville
Salisbury August 5th 1824
Page 56

Amos Holden, evidence
in support of to remove
suspension
________________

Rec 21 Aug 1825

John C. Calhoun
Secretary of War
Washington City.
Page 57

Salisbury (Con) August 14 1824

Hon John C. Calhoun Secretary of War

Sir

I again forward to the Department of War, documents on the subject of the pension of Amos Holden which has been suspended for further evidence. I have on a former occasion taken the liberty of refreshing my own knowledge of facts relating to this subject to which together with the document before forwarded I beg have call the attention of the Secretary, as well as to the further evidence [underlined] now forwarded. In addition to what I have before stated, I can only say that the suspension of Holdens pension has been occasioned by the false representations of Willis Bartholomew solely, who has in his hands about $184.00 of Holdens pension which he received from the U.S. Branch Bank at Middletown as the attorney of Holden which he has appropriated to himself & for the recovery of which
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a suit is now pending against him. The accompanying documents have been voluntarily executed by gentlemen who signed the representations upon which the pension was suspended, whether these are all the persons I know not as we cannot ascertain the persons who joined in that representation, but there together with that as have before been forwarded are all with whom Mr. Holden is acquainted. These are gentlemen of undoubted veracity & many of them of the first standing & respectability. Eliphalet Whettlesey is a Brother of Hon Elisha Whittlesey Member of Congress, and one of the most worthy & respectable magistrates of this county. I cannot but confess I feel considerable anxiety in this subject knowing as I no that Holden is one of the most needy & dependent men of my acquaintance, unable both in body & mind & with no prospect but [illegible] charity to cheer his remaining days. I cannot but persuade myself that these
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documents together with those already forwarded will be considered by the Secretary as amply sufficient to authorize him to renew the payment of Holdens pension. The affidavit of Hezekiah Hall is the key by which all the machinations of Bartholomew may be unlocked and I do assure you sir that Mr. Hall is a gentleman of the most undoubted [illegible] and veracity.
Yours with unfeigned respect,
Samuel Church

PS. Regarding the bond alluded to, I say only as I before said that Holden is not and never was an inhabitant of the town of Salisbury & the town is not liable for his support, and Mr. Sage by that bond as will be seen by its inspection is bound only to indemnify [underlined] the town of Salisbury from charges for his support but is under no obligation legal or moral to support him.
S. Church