Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16161, John Whitney, Mass.
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Service       Number
Whitney, John W16161
Sarah
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John Whitney

Rejected- See letter of June 8th 1820 to Nahum Parker.  Judge to Fitz William NH.
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Rejected

The applicant having deserted the service is excluded from the benefit of the act.
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SERVICE    NUMBER
Mass. Whitney, John W.16161
Sarah
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service                                                         number

Mass.               Whitney, John              W. 16161
                                        Sarah
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4264 N. Hampshire, Concord Sarah Whitney widow of John Whitney who was a Private N. H. in the Revolution Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843. Certificate of Pension issued the and sent to day of Jan. 1844 Thos M. Edwards Keene, N.H. Act of March 3, 1843. Recorded in Book A. Fol. 1, Page 256. Repd
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts. His Excellency Edward Everett, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over said Commonwealth To all whom it may concern: Know, that Ira Barton Esqr is Judge of Probate and William Jennison and Jacob Wales Esqr are Justices of the Peace and all for the County of Worcester in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned, and that to their Acts and Attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court; that the within attestation in due form and by the proper Officers. In Testimony whereof I have caused the Public Seal of the Commonwealth to be hereunto affixed, this fourteenth day of August, A.D. 1838, and in the sixty third year of the Independence of the United States of America By His Excellency the Governer. John P. Bigalow Secretary of the Commonwealth.
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*381
Sarah Whitney
Mass

admitted
Pension H80

papers of John Whitney
on file N.N. requests can
so March 18, 1878.



Jacon Wales
Baldwinville,
Mass
Aug 18
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Declaration In order to obtain the benefit of the act of any July 7 1838 entitled an act grantry half pay and premises to certain. Commonwealth of Massachusetts under County in this with day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight fully appeared before her Barker Judge of the Court of Probate for same Army of Rush, Sarah Whitney was widow under of nine years, who being first duly sworn as anding to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the  of the pension made by the act of Congress passed July 7 1838 entitled an act grantry half pay and pensions to certain beds that she is the case of John Whitney late of Februittin in the County of Chishan in the State of New Hampshire dience, who was a soldier of the revolution and service only as he can state as follows, thus arival the best into the same for the ten of furthrough in this County, and thugh the him nothing of the said punnally, she believes he service these years the applied for a pension under the law of 1818, implice a large quantity of evidence in his case, and as the understand his services were water by the
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rolls in the war department, but she further
understands, that it appearing from pension
rolls that her said husband has a [illegible] his
application was register. She now foregoes her
claim as his widow citing her claim upon
the wisdom filed in her said husbands care
who [illegible] clearly have been entitled to a
pension under the act of 1832. She confidently
trusts that the Justice of the government
will not deny to her a County [illegible] to
which she thinks she is entitled by law, and
which she feels she ought not to forfeit for
any [illegible] of her husband, especially
as he [illegible] valuable services to his army
for which he would himself have been entitled
to a pension hence his service to the term
of the passage of the law of 1832.
She further declares that her maiden name was
Sarah Twitchell, that she [illegible] to the town of [illegible] in said County of [illegible], and was
married to the said John Whitney at Upton in said County by Josiah Dean a Justice of the Peace, on the twenty-first day of June in the year seventeen hundred and eighty one, as will men fully appear by the proofs hereto annexed. She further declares that her said husband died on the twentieth day of February in the year eighteen hundred twenty-four at said Fitzwilliam and that the his [illegible]
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That she has not married Junir to senir 
services but has married previous to the first
day of January in the year seventeen
hundred ninety four.
[illegible]
Sarah  Whitney
[illegible]
Sworn to [illegible] the day and year above written
Before me
Ira Barton Judge of the Court of
Probate for said County of [illegible]
The intentions &c are in my hand writing and are
made before testimony and swearing.
J. Barton
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These may certify that marriage was solemnized
between John Whitney and Sarah Twitchel both
of Westborough June twenty first three thousand seven hundred and eighty one.
Josiah Deane Justice of the Peace
A true copy of the record with the exception of the [illegible] which he expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows June 21. 1781.
County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts.
I Daniel Fiske Jr above named, depose and say that I hold the office Town Clerk in the County, town, and state aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town of Upton with the exceptions above named as certified by me
Daniel Fiske Jr Clerk of
that said town of Upton
Worcester, ss. August 7. 1838.
Sworn to, by the above named Fiske,
Before me, William Jennison, Justice of the Peace.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester, ss.
I, Joseph G. Kendall, Clerk of the Court of Common pleas for said County of
Worcester, do certify, that William Jennison, Esquire, within named is a Justice of the peace, in and for said County; and that his signature to the
certificate of the oath of Daniel Fiske Jr. on the
preceding page, is in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof, I hereto set my name,
and affix the seal of said Court, at Worcester,
the seventh day of August, A.D. 1838.
Jos. G. Kendall, Clerk
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I Jesse Forristall of Fitzwilliam in the County of
Cheshire and State of Newhampshire aged fifty six years, Depose and say that I was well acquainted with John Whitney late of said Fitzwilliam is Deceased the said John Whitney died in said Fitzwilliam as nigh as I can remember about fourteen years ago I cannot tell the exact time enough I attended his funeral. I further
say the said John left a widow by the name of
Sarah Whitney who now resides in said Fitzwilliam I further say the said Sarah has remained a widow ever since the death of her husband the said John Whitney
Jesse Forristall
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester County ss Winchendan August 7-1838
subscribed and sworn to before me the day and year above written
Jacob Wales Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify I have acqainted with the above named Jesse Forristall for more than twenty years and I believe him be a man of truth and I trust veracity
Jacob Wales Justice of the Peace
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I David Whiting of Fitzwilliam in the County of
Cheshire and State of Newhampshire aged fifty one years. depose and say that I am son of John Whitney late of said Fitzwilliam Deceased. I further say that my Father the said John Whitney died in said Fitzwilliam the twentieth day of February eighteen hundred and twenty four at my house in said Fitzwilliam. I further say my Mother Sarah Whitney and widow of my Father John Whitney aforesaid and that she now resides in said Fitzwilliam and has for the most part of the time since I can remember, and that she has
remained a widow ever since my Father died. I further say my Father the said John Whitney was a Soldier in the Revolutionary war as he always told me and served I think upward of three years in all. I further say that my Father told me at the time he applied for a pension that he had an honorable discharge but after he left the service he sent it some where the place I do not remember to get some back pay and never had seen it since he further told me at the time be applied for a pension under the act of Congress passed 1818. that he was rejected on account
of his having been recorded a deserter he further told me he served his time out for which he enlisted meaning it from the time he started from home and he and a number more left supposing they had a right to to so. but
was persued and taken back and stayed untill he
received an honorable discharge
David Whitney
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester County Royalston August 6-1838.
subscribed and sworn to before me the day and year aboveitten
Jacob Wales Justice of the Peace
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thereby certify that I have been aquainted with the within named David Whitney for about twenty five years [illegible] past and he is a man of truth and [illegible] veracity.
Jacob Wales Justice of the Peace
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N Hampshire
John Whitney
Rejected

See letter of 8 June 1820 to N Parker, Judge in Fitzwilliam NH
lets: 13 Sept 1838 [illegible]
Bigelow
letter from [ ] Bigelow
[ ] Sep 21, [ ] file within.
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Rev. WIDOW, &c.

File No. 16161
Sarah Whitney
Wid of
John Whitney
Priv Rev War

Act March 3d '/43
Index: Vol. M, Page 331

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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2827
Massachusitts
Sarah Whitney.
widow of John Whitney, decd,
who was a pensioner under the act of ---
and who died [illegible] about 14 years ago.-
of Worester Co. the State of Mass:-
who was a private in the Comp'y commanded
by Captain Barns --- of the Reg't commanded
by Col. Bigelow - in the Mass: -- line for 2 years -

Inscribed on the of Massachusetts
at the rate of 80 Dollars --- Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 15th day of May
1839 and sent to Jacob Wales, Baldwinsville, Mass:

arrears to the 4th of Mar: 1839          $240.00
semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept: $40.00
                                                            $280.00
{Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by Mm Stenart - Clerk,
Book A - Vol. 1 - Page 144
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[vertical text]
Mab  Sept 21.
No. All[illegible]
free
Hon. J. L. Edwards
commissioner of Pensions
Washington.
[upside down text at bottom]
From
Pleas of Massachusetts
[illegilbe] - Sept 21 1838
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Secretary's Office
Boston, Sept. 17, 18[ ]8

Sir
Your favor of [illegible] 1818 is at [illegible]
It appears by the "Army book" that John Whitney of Westborough ^(Court of W...) served in Barnes Company, Bigelow's Regiment from June 12, 1777 to June 12 1780 a was [illegible] for the whole three years at 40s per month.
Very respectfully 
your [illegible] ser't
John P. Bigelow

Hon. L. S. Edwards
Com's of Pensions
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8
ROLL
PAR
C
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Washington City Aug't 22 1838

Hon. J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
In the declaration of the widow Sarah Whitney you will se she refers to the application made by her husband John Whitney of Fitzwilliam Newhampshire under the act of 1818 for the proof of her said husbands services.  the said John did not receive a Pension under said act as I was informed by his widow the said Sarah Whitney and by David Whitney a son of the said John.  an account of the rolls showing that he deserted.  the truth of the case is as stated to me by said widow and said David and as will appear in part by the affidavit of the said David that his father the said John did not apply for a pension under said act of 1818 untill a short time before the act of 1820 which would cut him off as he possessed a small proper and therefore did not press his claim further but at the time the said John left and as appears by the rolls was recorded as a deserter a number more left with him supposing they had a right to leave as they had stayed and served the time for which they enlisted  I was further told by the said David that they left openly and in the daytime and got but a short distance and were taken back to camp by a file of men and were [illegible] a stayed till they were legally discharged and the said John always supposed he so stood on the rolls, it will appear as you will se by the affidavit of said David that his father the said John had a legal discharge but
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sent it to Boston or somewhere else to obtain some back pay and at the time he applyed for a pension could not find it.  It appears from all that I can learn about it that the said John and others that left at that time left under a mistaken notion of their rights supposing that their times were out and that they had a right to leave if their officers would not discharge them.
Your Hon. may think that there is a little discrepancy between the declaration of the said Sarah the applicant and the affidavits of the said David Whitney and Jesse Forristall, but I think you will be able to reconcile it as the truth of the [illegible] is the applicant resides for the most part of the time a few rods over the line in the Town of Fitzwilliam N.H. but as it was more convenient for her she made her declaration before the Hon. Ira Boston Judge of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Worcester Mass - but she is the widow of the before mentioned John Whitney and I was aquainted with them both before the death of the said John  should you grant her a certificate she would like to have it payable in Boston
Respectfully yours xo Jacob Wales
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[sideways]: Aug 23
file with Sarah Whitney's papers

Hon L Edwards Commisioner
 of Pensions
Washington City
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4512
Declaration of Sarah Whitney

$80 per an.

Please return 
Thos. M. Edwards
Keene, N.H.

Ths. M. Edwards
Keene
N.H
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DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of the 3d March, 1843, granting pensions for one year to certain widows who have received pensions under the Act of July 7, 1846
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE,
Cheshire County, ss.}
On this sixteenth day of September 1843 personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Cheshire and State of New-Hampshire, Sarah Whitney a resident of Fitzwilliam in the County of Cheshire
and State of New-Hampshire, aged ninety four
years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed
on the 3d of March, 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the
Revolutionary War. That she is the widow of John Whitney who was a Private in the Revolution and died on the 20th day of February A.D. 1824 that she was a pensioner under the act of July 7th 1838 on the [illegible] list at the rate of eighty per annum and was paid at Concord, State of New Hampshire.  She further declares that she is still his widow.
attest{ A. A. Parker, David Whitney, Bela W. Felch

her Sarah Whitney mark
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written, Before me,
Amos A. Parker, Justice of the Peace.
I certify that the above declarant is personally known to me.
A. A. Parker, Jus. Peace
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We David Whitney and Bela W. Felch both of Fitzwilliam in the county of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire of lawful age depose and say that we were acquainted with John Whitney, late of said Fitzwilliam, [illigible], that he died on the 20th day of February A.D. 1824  that he left a widow Sarah Whitney who still lives and remains his widow.
David Whitney
Bela W. Felch

State of New Hampshire
Cheshire ss.  September 16th 1843
Subscribed and sworn to before me, A. A. Parker, Jus. Peace

I hereby certify the above named deponents are credible persons and entitled of belief.-
A. A. Parker, Jus. Peace
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State of New Hampshire
Cheshire ss.
I Samuel Beno. Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for said County of Cheshire (it being o land of record) certify that Amos A. Parker is a Justice of the Peace for said county of Cheshire duly commissioned and qualified according to law - and that his signatures as within written are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my [illegible] and this seal of said court of Judicature this thirtieth day of September AD 1843
L Beno. Clerk.
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John Whitney
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COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
SECRETARY'S DEPARTMENT, April 3d, 1820.
BY THIS I CERTIFY, That it appears by public, official documents remaining in this Department, that John Whitney - served as a Soldier in Capt. Barne's Company, and Col. Bigelow's Regiment, (being of the one Regiments in the Massachusetts Line, and on the Continental Establishment,) in the American Army, in the War the Revolution, from June 12th 1777 to June 12th 1780, being three years the term for which he enlisted.
Alden Bradford,
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The above named John Whitney was from Westboro at that time - another John Whitney was in same Regt. from Harvard, enlisted July 10th-1777 and served three years
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I Joel Pratt of Sterling in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, do depose and say that I well knew John Whitney of Fitzwilliam in the State of New Hampshire, a private soldier in the army of the revolution that belonged to the 15th Massachusetts Regiment under Col. Bigelow, that he was one of the three year men who left the camp on the first of January 1780 under a mistaken idea that their term of service had expired.
-That he was one of the men I was ordered to march back from Danbury in Connecticut; - that he was tried for the offense by a Court Martial, and was permitted to return to his duty without any corporal punishment, and afterwards was discharged after he had served out his time.- And I have but little doubt upon my mind, that it was an honourable discharge.- Mr. Whitney was in the company with Israel Manning of Holden in this County, and was as much to blame, and no more.  In his case, on the files of the Pension Office will be found my affidavit, giving a minute detail of this unhappy affair, to which I would refer the proper officers of the War department.
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WORCESTER, ss.
I, ABIJAH BIGELOW, Clerk of the Judi
holden within and for said County of Worcester, certify, that M Esquire before whom the annexed
affidavit made, is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, d
the purpose, acting under the authority of this Commonwealth, and
subscribed thereto is his own proper signature.
IN testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affi[xed]
seal, this twenty eighth day of Febr[uary]
A. D. 1820.
Abijah Begelo

Application for
John Whitney

[see previous page for cut off parts]
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester, ss.
I, Abijah Bigelow, Clerk of the Judicial Courts holden within and for said County of Worcester, certify, that Moses Thomas, Esquire, before whom the annexed affidavit has been made, is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly qualified for the purpose, acting under the authority of this Commonwealth, and that his name subscribed thereto is his own proper signature.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the County seal, this twenty eighth day of February, A.D. 1820.
Abijah Bigelow, [illegible]

Application of
John Whitney
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Joel Pratt
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester ss.  February 26th 1820
Personally appeared Joel Pratt, and made oath to the truth of this affidavit and I certify that the said Pratt is well known to me as a person of truth and veracity and I believe is not interested in the success of this application.
Moses Thomas, Jus. Peace