Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 33804, for Cuff Tindy, Massachusetts
Page 1

SERVICE
Mass
Cindy, Cuff (colored)
S 33804
Page 2

Letter to John G. Thurston, Jan'y 14, 1855.

Notification sent Sep. 14th 1820 to [illegible] Bigelow, Clk of C.C. Pleas Worcester Mass

6615
Massachusetts Roll
Cuff Tindy -
of Lancaster in the state of Massachusetts who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Bailey of the Massachusetts line, for the term of Nine Months-
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 9th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 4th of February 1819 and sent to John Davis Esq Judge Boston
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1818 49nd & 26/30 - 38:93
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4th March 1819 - 48:-
$86:93
{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818}

Continued
Page 3

Cuff Tinday [sic]
Mar 1819

[written very faintly]
No 6615
Feb 1819
Com^d 14 Sept 
182?

Con
Page 4

Schedule of the Estate of Cuffy Tinday of Lancaster in the County of Worcester, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress of May 1. 1820. 

1 horse - $45.~
3 Sheep - 3.50
3 Lambs - 3.~
1 Scythe - .75
1 Rake - .25

$52.50

I am, by occupation a farmer, but by reason of my age and a Rheumatoid complain, I am unable by my labour to support myself and should I be deprived of my pension I could not  subsist without the aid public or private charity.

[signed] Test. Moses Smith [/signed]

[signed] his
Cuff x Tinday
mark [/signed]
Page 5

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

COUNTY OF WORCESTER, ss.

On this tenth day of July 1820, personally appeared in open Court, before the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, being a Court of Record, within and for said County of Worcester, established as such by the laws of said Commonwealth, Cuff Tinday [Cuff Tindy] aged sixty-two years, resident in Lancaster 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: I enlisted into the ^ land service of the United States, on the establishment, according to my best recollection in the month of May 1778 ; and served accordingly as a private, for the term of [underlined] 9 months: that during said term of service I belonged to Capt Adam Bailey's Company and Col. Patterson's Regt. of the Mass. Line. Under the Act of Congress of Mar. 18th, 1818 I recd. a pension certificate numbered [underlined] 6,615 ; and my original application bore date April 9th 1818; -- " -- " -- --

and I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to being myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me, nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed. 

Test. Moses Smith

his mark [hand drawn X] Cuff Tinday

Sworn to and declared, on the tenth day of July 1820,
Attest, Abijah Bigelow, Cler.
Page 6

No 267

Cuff Tindy
(formerly Cuff Cousins)
of Lancaster Mass.

Soldier

Mass. Line. Bailey's Regt.
April 1778
9 months

Affr. 9th April 1818.

Wanted, the Judges certificate, that he believes the applicant to be in "reduced circumstances in life, &c".
Page 7

United States of America.

State of Massachusetts, Suffolk Cty. Boston April 1818.

I, Cuff Tindy of Lancaster, a citizen of the United States, now resident at said Lancaster, in the County of Suffolk aforesaid in the State aforesaid, do on oath declare, that I served, in the War of the Revolution, the full term of time required by a Law of the United States, made and passed in the month of March, A.D. 1818, entitled “And Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War,” as [ink blot] requisite to entitle me to be placed on the pension list of the said United States, having entered the Land service of the said United States, on the Continental Establishment, and served as a private soldier against the common enemy ; from April 1778, when I enlisted in Capt. Mussey’s company, in the regiment commanded by Col. Baily, in the Massachusetts Line, and soon after joined the Continental ^ Army then encamped near 
[type crossed out: That I belonged to]
to West Point, where I served nine months & more (when I enlisted, & during the whole time I was in the continental service, my name was [underlined] Cuff Cousins, after my master, with whom I then I 
[type crossed out: and that I left the service] 
lived in Holliston, in the County of Middlesex, in said State, being then a slave. On being made free by the Laws of my State, I resumed [the word 'my' written over the word 'the'] family name [crossed out: of] my Father's name was [underlined] James Tindy, & lived at Hopkinton in said county of Middlesex, where I was born) I left the continental service in the month of March 1779, when I recd. an honourable discharge, which I have lost. [ink smear]
I also served in Captain Chamberlain's company at the taking of Genl. Burgoine [Burgoyne] in October 1777 and also in the expedition on Rhode Island under Majr. Genl. Sullivan
[printed text: And hereby relinquish all claim to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the said United States, if any may be, or hath been, so allowed]
I further declare that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life I stand in need of assistance from my country for support.

[Signature of Cuff Tindy] 

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen Pursuant to a law of the United States, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," made and passed on the 18th of March, A. D. 1818, personally appeareth before me the abovenamed Cuff Tindy and after due examination and caution to testify and declare the whole truth, he maketh oaths to the declaration aforesaid, and subscribes the same in my presence.

Wm. Davis 
Asst. Judge Mass. Dist
Page 8

I Cuff Tindy of Lancaster in the County of Worcester and commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged fifty seven years, do testify and say that I inlisted in the service of the United States in the spring of the year A.D. 1778. That I joined the revolutionary Army then encampt near West Point, upon after That I was put into the Massachusetts Regiment then commanded by Col. Baily in Capt Mussey - [^] Company That when I inlisted my name was called Cousins, after my master, as I was a Slave at that time - having resided with said Master for years in the Town of Holliston, in this State. - That I served in said Regiment nine months and received an honourable discharge. That I am now in reduced circumstances in life & need the aid of the Government for my support. 

[signed] Attest. Joseph Wales [/signed]

[signed] Cuff x Tindy
mark [/signed]

A

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Suffolk [illegible] Boston April 9. 1818
I the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace of the [illegible] written in the County of Suffolk aforesaid, hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Joseph Wales Esqr. of Lancaster, who has placed his name to the above certificate as a witness, and being well acquainted with his handwriting, I have no doubt of it being his own proper handwriting. The said Wales is a reputable man, being a Deacon of the Church where he lives, and a Justice of the Peace for the County of Worcester in this State.

[signed] Saml Prescott, Just. Peace of the [illegible] [/signed]
Page 9

BA-J/EEL
Cuff, Cindy-S.33804

Washington, D.C.
December 27 1934

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.33804, based upon the military service of Cuff Tindy in that war.

Cuff Tindy, a colored man, was the son of James Tindy and was born at Hopkinton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  The date of his birth is not given.  He was the slave of ----Cousins, and bore his master's name when he entered the service in the Revolutionary War, but after he received his freedom, took the family name, Tindy.

While residing at Holliston, Massachusetts, Cuff Cousins or Tindy enlisted, date no given and was at the taking of Burgoyne:  he enlisted in April or May, 1778, served as a private in Captains Adams Bailey's and Muzzey's Companies, Colonel John Bailey's Masschusetts Regiment and was discharged in March, 1779.  He stated that he served, also under Captain Chamberline and under Colonel Paterson in the Massachusetts Troops.

He was allowed pension on his application executed April 9, 1818, at which time he was residing in Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts and was aged fifty-seven years.  In 1820, he stated that he was aged sixty-two years.

He died January 7, 1826 or July 7, 1826 (both date are shown) in Lancaster, Massachusetts.

There are no data as to wife or children.
_________________

The above history to be sent if ever called for.
It was written just to have a record of negro soldiers.
Page 10

South Lancaster Jan 6. 1855.

L.P. Waldo Esq.

Sir

A Revolutionary Pensioner named Cuff Tindy (Colored) died in Lancaster Mass. Jan'y 7th 1826. His Administrator was Pauley [unclear due to ink smear] Hammond also of Lancaster. His heirs now living have reason to believe that the arrears of pension money from September 1825 to the time of his death was not claimed by his administrator and are as yet unpaid.

Will you please inform me of any such arrears are due & if so send form for application ^ for recovery of such arrears. Has any law been passed within 3 years granting further pensions to the widows or heirs of Revolutionary Pensioners.

Respectfully Yours, 
John G. Hewston
Page 11


[handwritten]
Pension Office
January 15/55.

Sir
Please state if the within named pensioner
was paid to the Date  of
his death. Very respectfully
your obt. Servant.

S P Macico
Commissioner

R. I Atkinson, Esqr
3^d Auditor,
Treas^y Dept.
M ? Candall
Page 12

Cuff Tindy [sic] died 7 July 1826
Ro? J Antinion
Auditor
Page 13

[printed document with fill ins]

33804
Revy  INVALID.

File No.  33804
Cuff Cindy
Pri Rev War

Act: 18th March 18?
Index:-Vol. 8,  Page 419

[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 14

Pension Business

P. Waldo Esq.
Pension Office
Washington D.C.

[stamp] FREE
[stamp] SOUTH LANCASTER
JAN
MASS

[written on left hand side in other direction] Cuff Tindy Mass - 18 M 1818
Page 15


Massachusetts District, ss.
Boston June 11 A. D. 1818

IT appearing to my satisfaction, that  Cuff Cindy,
subscriber to the annexed declaration, sworn to before me,
did serve in the revolutionary war against the common enemy, as stated in said declaration, I now transmit the testimony in the case, with the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the department of war, pursuant to the directions of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary "war"; the testimony and proceedings in the premises being the declaration aforesaid, with the accompanying document marked A
together with this certificate.

In witness  whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the
seal of the District Court of the United States for this District
to be hereunto affixed.

[illegible] Davis [signature] }Judge of the District Court U. S. Massachusetts District.
Page 16

MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, SS.

30 January 119.
I AM satisfied that the above named, Cuff Tindy. by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, is in need of assistance from his Country for support.

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR.

[Signature of Wm. Davis]

District Judge U.S. 
Massachusetts Dist.