Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22840, Joseph Howland, Mass.
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SERVICE  Mass.
Howland, Joseph
NUMBER  S. 22840
CONTE
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5489 New York
Joseph Howland of Delhi in the state of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Soper of the Regt. commanded by Col. Marshall in the Massachusetts line for 11 months & 11 days
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 37 Dollars 86 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 day of Febry 1833 _ and sent to Hon E Root
Ho Repres
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 - $ 58.79
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar '33 18.93 
[=] $75.72
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Jno. Cromwell Cleark,
Book D  Vol. 5  Page 145

Letter to [illegible] Auditor DO [illegible]
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the [illegible] April 183 [illegible] from 4 Sept 1837 to 4 March 1839. Agt notified 11 March 1840
[crossed out: Wm. C. F[illegible]]
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Joseph Howland
New York
on Rolls, Massachusetts Regt.
10 July to 21 Dec.'50
5. 11.days

Adm'd.
Hono E Root
H.R.
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BRIEF in the case of Joseph Howland of Delaware County in the state of New York 
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? in open Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 69
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[column headings: Period. Duration of Service-Years, Months, Days. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.]
1.	The year previous to taking Cornwallis}.  Months 6. As a private. Cap Soper Colo Marshall
2.	The year Cornwallis was taken.  Months 3. “[ditto]. Cap Reed Major Smith
3.	1781. - Months 3 -. “[ditto]. Cap White Major Winslow 
5.	In what battles was he engaged? No Battle
6.	Where did he reside when he entered the service? County of Bristol Mass
7.	Is his statement supported by a living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary
[crossed out: [illegible]]
8.	Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The dates of the years of service are not rightly stated
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Payton
Examining Clerk.
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Joseph Howland [illegible]
Pension
Service in Massachusetts Rgt.
5. mo. 11 days
6 _ militia -
______________[equals]
11 : 11 days
aom'd.
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State of New York
Delaware County [bracketed, }] SS
On this 9th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the county of Delaware aforesaid now sitting Joseph Howland a resident of the town of Delhi in the state of New York age sixty nine 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 7th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated. In the month of June one thousand seven hundred and [crossed out: [illegible]] the year previous to the taking of Cornwallis prisoner he resided at the town of Freetown county of Bristol & State of Massachusetts and enlisted for six months under Captain Amasa Soper Major Winslow & Col Thomas Marshall of Boston and proceeded from Freetown and joined the continental army at West Point in the state of New York under the command of Gen Patterson. Remained at West Point about three weeks & then marched from thence to Stonney Point crossing the Hudson on river at King’s Ferry remained at Stonney Point about four days. At Stonny Point Four Brigades United march from Stonny Point into Orangetown in the state of New Jersey remained at Orangetown about three weeks until after the execution of Major Andre the British spy from thence marched to a place called “the English Neighborhood” thence to the town of Tennepecks thence to Potaway Bridge thence back to West Point where the time expiring for which he enlisted he was discharged & returned to Freetown, the place where he enlisted, was in it was in no battle or skirmish had a written discharge but has not seen it discharge written forty years & he does not know where it is or what became of it. Captain Soper while at West Point was cashiered & discharged and the command of the company after that event devolved upon Major Winslow and was called Major Winslow’s Company. Josiah Smith was Lieutenant of the company. He does not recollect the names of the officers commanding of the other Brigade that united at Stonny Point with Gen. Pattersons’ Brigade The Regiment was called the tenth regiment. Massachusetts line. He served six months under the aforesaid enlistment In the month of May one thousand seven hundred and [illegible] one the year that Cornwallis was taken he resided at Freetown in the County of Bristol aforementioned & enlisted again for three months under Captain Gardner Reed [illegible]
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John Smith Lieutenant Evans Reed marched from Freetown to the island of New Pad in the State of Rhode Island remained there about six weeks & then March to Faglan’s Ferry in said State of Rhode Island stationed there until the time of enlistment expired when he was discharged & returned back to Freetown. Was in no battle, had a written discharge but the same is lost and he has not seen it to his knowledge within forty years does not recollect the names of any other officers under whom or with whom he served_ He served under the above enlistment for the term of three months. In the month of July one thousand and seven hundred and eighty, he resided at Freetown aforesaid in the State of Massachusetts and again enlisted for three months under the command of Simpson White also acted as Captain for the time being. Marched from Freetown to West Point under Simpson White’s command remained at West Point three months under the command of Major Winslow the Colonel’s named not recollected at the expiration of the three months for which he enlisted, was discharged & returned home was in no battles had a written discharge but the same is lost has not seen it for forty years to his recollection & does not know what has become of it_
He enlisted and did duty as a private soldier during each of the aforesaid enlistments. He was born on the second day of March one thousand seven hundred & sixty-three at the town of Freetown County of Bristol State of Massachusetts. He has no other record of his age than the entry of his birth in his Bible. He resided in the said town of Freetown from his birth until he came to Delaware County to reside about thirty-six years ago and has lived in the town of Delhi where he now resides chiefly since he came to live in Delaware [illegible] County. That there are no witnesses living by whom he can prove the services aforesaid in the Revolutionary War within his knowledge.
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He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State
Joseph Howland
Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid}
C B Sheldon Clerk
We Walter Chace of the town of [illegible] in the County of Delaware and Gideon Frisbee residing in the town of Delhi in said county of Delaware hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Howland who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 69 years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion 
Walter Chace
Gideon Frisbee
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
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 and the court [illegible] that certifies that it appears to them that Walter Chace is of the town of Camden and county of Delaware and Gideon Frisbee a resident [crossed out: this county] of Delhi in said county of Delaware and that they are credible [illegible] and that their statements are entitled to credit and this court further certify that the clergyman residing in Delhi has resided there but a little over six months and previous to that time [illegible] an entire stranger to the man and it is this opinion in this court that a clergyman who has been acquainted with the now Joseph Howland would not be produced in court without too much expense and inconvenience to him
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SS Crawford B Sheldon Clerk of the [crossed out: said] 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 Joseph Howland for a pension_
[crossed out: Witness] testimony in [illegible] I have hereunto Set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Said Court this 9th day of October 1832. CB Sheldon
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State of New York
Delaware County } SS.  On the second day of May 1854 personally appeared before me the under named Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Delaware aforesaid Guedeon H Edgerton and Gideon Frisbie residents of said County of Delaware who being duly sworn according to law Testify and say that they were personally acquainted with Joseph Howland deceased who was a resident of Delaware County aforesaid and drew a pension of $87.86 per annum and that they are acquainted with George Howland and Albert Howland and that they are the children and sons of the said pensioner Joseph Howland deceased above mentioned and also mentioned in the annexed certificate of E. M. Wright Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts_
G. H. Edgerton
Gideon Frisbie
Sworn to and Subscribe before me this 2nd day of May 1854
J. Palmer
Justice of the Peace
I certify that I am personally acquainted with the above deponents Gueden H Edgerton and Gideon Frisbie and that they are persons of truth and veracity_ Dated Delhi May 2nd 1854
J. Palmer
Justice of the Peace
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State of New-York,
DELAWARE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, } SS
I, Benjamin Cannon, Clerk of the County of Delaware, and also Clerk of the Courts of said County, do hereby certify that Jesse Palmer Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition purports 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 affixed the Seal of the said Court and County, this 2nd day of May _ 1854
Benj. Cannon Clerk.
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State of New York
Delaware County } SS
On this 21st day of April 1854, Personally appeared before me the under named Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Delaware aforesaid William Andrews and Burnham Andrews residents of Said County of Delaware. Who being duly Sworn according to law, Testify and Say, That they were personally acquainted with Joseph Howland deceased who was a resident of Delaware County aforesaid and drew a pension of $38.86 per annum and that he Died July 15th 1848. We further Testify that George Howland now applying for an increase of Pension with Albert Howland is the only surviving children of Said Joseph Howland deceased. And that their mother died Fifty years ago last March.
William Andrews 
Burnham Andrews
Sworn To and Subscribed before me this 21st day of April 1854
Peleg Kent
Justice of the Peace
I certify that I am personally acquainted with the above deponents and that they are persons of truth and veracity.
Dated this 21st day of April 1854
Peleg Kent   Justice of the Peace
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State of New-York,
DELAWARE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, } SS
I, Benjamin Cannon, Clerk of the County of Delaware, and also Clerk of the Courts of said County, do hereby certify that Peleg Kent Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition purports 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 affixed the Seal of the said Court and County, this 2nd day of May _ 1854
Benj. Cannon Clerk.
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State of New York
Delaware County [illegible] On this 26th day of April 1854 Personally appeared before me William Gleason Jr. County Judge in + for the County of Delaware in the State of New York, Mr George Howland who being duly sworn according to law testified and says that himself now of the town of Meredith in this Delaware County + Albert Howland of Jefferson County New York are the only surviving children of Joseph Howland deceased who was a Pensioner of the Revolutionary War +[illegible] Thirty Seven Dollars + 86 cents per annum + who died a resident of said Delaware County on the 15th day of July 1848. that the wife of said deceased + mother of the [illegible] George Howland + his said Brother Albert Howland died fifty years ago last March + that their said father never married again but died a  Widower that their said father Joseph Howland  before he resided in said Delaware County was a Resident of Bristol in the State of Massachusetts that he died as aforesaid in [illegible] Delaware County NY. Then this Declaration is made for the purpose of obtaining the difference between the amount of pension that the father of Dependent + of said Albert Howland receive under the Act of March 4th 1831, and the amount that he was entitled to, as appears from the returns from the office of the Secretary of the State of Massachusetts hereto annexed, under the act afore[illegible]  
Subsribed + Sworn before me in open Court this 26th day of April 1854 + I certify that said George Howland is a credible + reputable person + fully [illegible]
George his + mark Howland
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titled to belief + further that he does not write, he never having learned to write. + I certify that the name of Albert Howland was [illegible] scratches before said George Howland subscribed this deposition as therein appears [illegible] I find + determine as such Judge that the facts stated in said foregoing deposition are proved true in open court [illegible] satisfaction
Wm Gleason Jr [signed]
County Judge of Delaware County 
in the State of New York
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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 William Gleason Jr [handwritten] Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition purports to have been taken, was at the time of taking such deposition, a County Judge [crossed out 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.
[seal]     In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court and County, this 2[illegible] day of May 1854
Benj.Cannon [signed] Clerk
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
[Seal] Secretary's Office, Boston:
March 28th 1854.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Joseph Howland is borne on pay roll of Capt. John Turner's Comp. Col. John Cushing's Regt. R. Island Service, from Sept. 21, 1776. two months [underlined] as Corporal, from Pembroke.
Also on on pay roll for the Six months soldiers who marched to join the Continental Army for the Town of Freetown from July 3 1780 to Jary 10 1781. 6 mos 16 days, including [illegible] allowed in [illegible] July 18, 1782.
Also on pay roll of Capt. Daniel Drake's Comp. Col Drury's Regt. from Bristol Co. from Aug 30 to Sept 9 1781. 3 mos 17 days.
Also on pay roll of Capt. Henry Brightman's Comp. Col. Thomas Dean's Regt. Detached from the Towns of Freetown, Berkley + Dighton for forty days unless sooner discharged from March 8 1781 6 days
Also on pay roll of Field + Staff Offices
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belonging to Col. Theophilus Cotton's Deceased Regt. that did duty at Newport in consequence of orders from his Excellency Gen. Hancock from March 8 to March 31 1781  24 days [illegible] 
And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
E M Wright [signature]
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
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State of New York}
Delaware County } ss

The Secretary of the State of Massachusetts is requested to furnish evidence from the Roles in his Department of the Service of Joseph Howland [underlined], who was a Soldier in the Revolutionary War, was a resident of the State of Massachusetts in the County of Bristol and Served in the Continental Service. This application is made by his [illegible] 
[illegible] in Presence of 
Jesse Palmer
Justice of the Peace
Geo. his x mark Howland
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Dear Madam,

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Joseph Howland of Freetown, Massachusetts.

The record of Joseph Howladn is given herein as found in pension claim S. 22840, bound upon his service in that war.

Joseph Howland was born March 2, 1765 in Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts, the names of his parents are not shown.

While a resident of Freetown, Massachusetts, he enlisted, served as privatge in Captain Amasa Soper's company, Colonel Thomas Marshall's 10th Massachusetts regiment, and was discharged January 10, 1781 at which time Major Winslow was in command of this company. He enlisted in May 1781 and served three months as private in Captain Gardner Reed's company, under Major John Smith in the Massachusetts troops, engaged in Rhode Island; after that, he served three months as private in Captain Simpson White's company under Major Winslow in the Massachusetts troops, at West Point, New York.

The soldier moved from Freetown, Massachusetts, about the year 1796, to Delaware County, New York.

He was allowed pension on his application committed October 9, 1832, at which time he resided in Delhi, Delaware County, New York; he had resided principally in said Delhi ever since he moved to New York State.

Joseph Howland died July 15, 1848 in Delhi, New York. He was then a widower; his wife, whose name is not shown, had died in March 1804 and he had not remarried.
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In 1854, two sons survived their father; George Howland of Meredith, Delaware County, New York; and Albert Howland, of Jefferson County, New York.

Very yours truly,

A.D. 
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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Revolution 22840
INVALID.

File No. 22,840

Joseph Howland
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 39

Index:-Vol. 2 Page 190
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1915 - May 21 Hist to D. Avis E. Smith
1935-Feb. 25. Hist to Miss Bessie C. Howland - DAR
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller’s Office,
February 27, 183[crossed out]40.

Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled “An act disecting the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States,” Joseph Howland, — a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany. N.Y. Agency, at the rate of Thirty Seven Dollars and eighty six Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department from the 4th of Sept. 1837. To the 4th March 1839.

Respectfully, yours,
[illegible]
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
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96
Pension Office, 
May 22 1854
Sir, 
The Certificate of the Secretary of Massachusetts transmitted in support of a claim for increase of pension in the case of Joseph Howland deceased, a revolutionary pensioner, has been received.
Upon examining the papers filed by Howland in 1833 I find that the office allowed him for all the service he claimed to have performed, and it is hardly probably he understated its Duration -  He expressly declared then that he first entered the service in 1780. The item now certified of two months in 1776 must have been performed, therefore, by some other person of the same name, who appears to have entered from Pembroke [underlined] - not from Freetown [underlined].
Again, the Declaration of Howland stated that he performed his three tours as a private [underlined] It is not at all possible that he served in any other capacity, especially in that of Quarter Master as is certified in the present Certificate - I can see no ground for increase in this case - and
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the claim is, consequently, rejected.
Very respectfully 
[illegible]

[illegible]
May 22/[illegible]

William C. Follet Esq
Lansingburg
New York
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W.C. Follet
Lansingburg.
May 15th 1854
Encloser: application of Joseph Howland for an increase of Pension.
Dept. [illegible]
May 18/54
Acknowledged and respectfly referred to the Commissioner of Pensions.
[illegible]
Ack trsfer to Comm of Pensions

M Packard
18 May 1854
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Lansingburgh May 15th 1854

Sir
I enclose the application of Joseph Howland for an increase of Pension
Yours Respectfully
Wm. C. Follet
To the Secretary of the Interior
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PENSION
E
U. MAY S.
17
1915
OFFICE

DEPT. OF THE INTERIOR
RECEIVED
MAY 17 1915
[illegible] PENSIONS
SECY'S OFF. MAILS & FILES

RWS
17 Rev Sec
Kansas City, MO
May 15/15.

Department of 
the Interior: 
Washington D.C.

Would you please send me the war record of my great grandfather Joseph Howland who fought in the war of the Revolution. and I desire any facts in
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regard to him that will enable me to become a member of the "Daughters of the American Revolution."
I have the following data
Joseph Howland (son of Gersham) was born in 1767- married Avis Chase (for whom I am named) died in 1848.
His [illegible] 1 James, 2 Hope 3 Sally 4 George 5 Phineas, 6 Riley 7. Albert
George was born Aug. 6. 1793 died 1873. married Sally Stilson; 
Their children are -
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1 Urania 2 Cynthia 3 Huldah 4 Albert 5 Esther 6 Hiram 7 Amanda 8 Isaac 9 Annice 10 Charles

-Huldah Howland was born Mch 29. 1822, married to James H Smith Apr 12, 1848 Died Aug 19, 1907
children, Avis Elida Smith born Oct 17. 1851. + 
David Roger Smith born Aug. 22 1854. 

Gershom Howland came from Rhode Island in 1796  with his four sons - Joseph
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Job, Phineas, and Gershom, and settled in the valley of the Delaware above [illegible] Village N.H.
-Joseph is buried near [illegible]
[illegible] Joseph Howland's war record I have no data - but my mother has told me that he told her of his extreme sufferings during the war.
I think he was not an officer but am not certain 
Please give me the data you you have on record and [illegible]
Yours Sincerely.
Avis E. Smith, M.D.
822 Rialto - Bldg Kansas City, Mo. 

PENSION 
E 
U. MAY S.
17
1915
OFFICE
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Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir,

Can you give me any information as to the Revolutionary War record of Joseph Howland of Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts or whether he was in the war or not?

I thank you for the favor.

Very truly yours,
(Miss) Bessie I. Howland
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTIONS. 3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
S.F. 22,840   Washington, D.C., ----, 19---
----
----
---
In reply to your request of ----, received ----- for a statement of the military history of Joseph Howland a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
Dates of Enlistment or Appointment.| Length of Service. | Rank.| Officers Under Whom Service was Rendered. Captain| Colonel| State.

July 3 1780| 6 mos 16 days || Amasa Soper| Thomas Marshall | Mass.

May 1781| 3 mos|| Gardner Reed | Major John Smith ||

1781| 3 mos|| Simpson White | Major Winslow||

Battles engaged in, ----
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Freetown Bristol Co Mass.
Date of application for pension, Oct 9 1832. His cl was al
Residence at date of application, Delhi, N.Y.
Age at date of application, born Mch 2 1763 at Freetown Mass died July 15 1848 in Delhi N.Y.
Soldiers wife died Mch [illegible] 1804. Her name is not stated soldier did not marry again. In 1854 George Howland living in Meredith Delaware Co N.Y. and Albert Howland of Jefferson Co. N.Y. were the only surviving children
There is no other family data.
Respectfully, 
Commissioner
6-2856