Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14,719, Cato Fisk, N.H.

Page 1

Service N. H.
Fisk or Fiske, Cato
Elsa
Number W.14,719

Page 2

1891
Massachusetts

Elsa Fiske widow of Cato Fiske decd who died in the year 1824 of Suffolk in the State of Massa who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Ronell of the Regt. commanded by Col. Reid in the N. H. line for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of Massa at the rate of 80 Dollars [blank] Cents, per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued 27 day of March 1838 and sent Hon R Fletcher Ho. of Reps.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1838 $560.00
Semi=annual allowance ending 4 Sept "- 40.00
[Total] $600.00
Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3d.
Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk,
Book A Vol. 2d Page 50

Page 3

5299.
New Hampshire

Cato Fisk private New Hampshire line In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.

Inscribed on the Roll of New Hampshire at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence the 6 of Apl 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 14 Jan 18[page damaged] and sent to Hon J. Butler H Rep

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1818 39.47
Semi-anl, all'ce ending 4 Mar 1819 48.0[?]
[Total] $87.4[?]
{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.}
1777-6 years
Continued

Page 4

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk SS.
On this twenty eighth day of December A. D. Eighteen hundred and thirty seven, personally appeared before me, William Simmons, one of the Justices of the Justices' Court for the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts- Elsa Fiske a resident of the City of Boston in the County of Suffolk, and Commonwealth aforesaid, widow aged about eighty three years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4, 1836, That she is the widow of Cato Fiske, formerly of Exeter in the State of New Hampshire, deceased, who was a private in the army of the revolution, that she hereunto annexed two original certificates, by which it will appear that said Cato Fiske received a pension for his revolutionary services, and that she presumes the particulars of his service will appear in the proper office at Washington
She further declares that she was married to the said Cato Fiske by the Reverend Nathaniel Trask at Brentwood in New Hampshire, in the month of March, as

Page 5

she believed in the year Seventeen hundred and eighty three, but she knows that it was before the close of the revolutionary war, because the Cato Fiske was at the time of the marriage absent from the army on furlough, and afterwards returned to it and served in it for some time before the close of the said revolutionary war, that she cannot remember the day of the death of her said husband, but he died she thinks about thirteen years ago; and that she has remained a widow ever since, as will now fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed
Elsa Fiske her mark X

Sworn to, and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before the subscriber, and I hereby further certify that I believe the said Elsa Fiske to be a credible witness and to be believed on her oath
Wm Simmons

Page 6

Cato Fisk[']s claim for a pension private 1818 2nd New Hampshire lin. - 6th Apl 1818

Service admitted,

The Judge's certificate as to the indigent circumstances of the applicant wanting-

Vol 1 pg 212
Nov 4 1783

Page 7

I Cato Fisk now of Deerfield in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire Testify and declare that I enlisted as a soldier in the company commanded by Capt William Rowell of the second Regiment in the Newhampshire line of the American Armey in the Revolutionary war in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven and and served without any intimission from the time of my first inlistment to the seventh day of June in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty three at which time I was honorably disc[h]arged from sd [said] Armey and am now in reduced circumstances in life and am in need of assistance from my County for support
Cato Fisk his mark X

Deerfield April 6th 1818
Rockingham SS State of New Hampshire
On the day and Year above named the above Declaration was made and sworn to before me-
Hall Burgin Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Rockingham aforesaid

Page 8

Rockingham SS
I Herby Certify that is appears to my Satisfaction that the said Cato Fisk Served in the Revolutionary War as he has stated in the within Declaration
by him subscribed and transmit the testimony in the case to the Secy of the Department of War-
Hall Burgin Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for sd [said] Rockingham
[on seal] N H
Conect
By order of the Judge
Attest P. Chadwick Clerk of said Court

Page 9

Cato Fisk,
Deerfield, Rockingham County, N. Hampshire
5.299.
March 1819
Con-

Page 10

State Of New-Hampshire. Rockingham....SS.
On this 18th day July, 1820, personally appeared in open court, at Concord, before John Harvey and Hall Burgin, Esqrs. Justices of the Court of Common Pleas for the said County of Rockingham, being a Court of Record for the said County of Rockingham, having the power of fine and imprisonment, Cato Fisk age Sixty years, resident in Deerfield, 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 in the Spring of the years 1778 into the Company commanded by Captain William Rowell of the Second New Hampshire Regiment in the Continental Establishment commanded by Colonel George Reid for during the war that he served the full term of his enlistment and was discharged in June 1783 as will more fully appear by his original declaration made in order to obtain a pension which Declaration is dated the sixth day of April 1818 That he has received a pension the number of his pension Certificate is 5,299

And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 8th 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 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 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. My occupation is that of a Laborer but am not of sufficient ability to pursue it as formerly by reason of age and infirmities I have in family residing with me my wife aged 53 years[,] Two sons James and Ebenezer[.] James is aged about 28 years and is non compis Mentis. Ebenezer aged about 24 years who has been sick for several weeks confined to his bed and a granddaughter Louisa aged three years. Their capacity to contribute to their support is nothing but their personal labors-
Cato Fisk his mark X
Witness P Chadwick
Sworn to and declared at Concord on the 18th day of July 1820 before us John Harvey Hall Burgin Justices of said Court

I, Peter Chadwick Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Rockingham do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truely copied from the record of the said court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is 64 dollars and 17 cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this 21st day of July, 1820.
P Chadwick Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Rockingham.

Page 11

Schedule Containing the whole estate and income of Cato Fisk (his necessary clothing and bedding excepted,) by him subscribed, exhibited to the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Rockingham, on the 18th day of July 1820, and annexed to his oath, viz.

A small hut and small Back standing on another man[']s Land. 40.00
1 Cow 15.00
1 Pig 3.00
8 old chairs 1.50
2 old Tables 1.00
Iron ware 1.50
Crockery, knives and forks [.]75
Syth and Sneath [Scythe and Snath] [.]75
one old Ax [.]67
[Total] 64.17
Cato Fisk his mark X
Witness P Chadwick

Page 12

I Sarah West of Brentwood, in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, aged seventy years and upwards, so testify, depose and say; that in the fall of the year 1780, I went to live with the late Rev Nathaniel Trask of said Brentwood, and lived with him until I was out of my time, and made his house my home for several years after I was out of my time and until I was married. Soon after I went to Mr Trask[']s, a colored woman came to live in the neighborhood of Mr Trask[']s- not a quarter of a mile from his house- she used to be called Aunt Sellar- a colored girl by the name of Else Huso used to live with her and was often at Mr Trask[']s. I knew her well. She was courted by a colored man, Cato Fisk, and I remember of her being published to Cato, and I laughed at her about it. This was in the winter of 1782-3, and in the spring of 1783 the said Cato Fisk and Else Huso was married. I was not present at their wedding but I recollect on a Sunday after their publishment was out I heard Mr Trask say that he was going over to Aunt Sellar[']s to marry Cato and Else and after he returned the same evening he spoke about the wedding of the colored couple

Page 13

Jonathan Trask, a son of the minister, was invited by Cato to attend the wedding and did attend it, and told me about it after he came home. The next day after they were married I went into Aunt Sellar[']s, and wished Else joy of her marriage. Cato was then at the door cutting wood. Else continued some time at Brentwood, after she was married and until Cato and she moved to Exeter which I think must have been the next fall or winter but I do not remember the precise time. I several times saw her, when she lived at Exeter, where she was several years.- I have been acquainted with Else ever since her first going to Brentwood and she has always borne a good character for truth and industry, and was much set by, by her neighbors wherever she lived
Cato was not much in Brentwood after he was married until after he removed to Exeter. He was a drummer in the army and a fiddler at home; He continued in the army several months after he was married, as I suppose, and until about the time he moved his wife to Exeter.-
I went to live with Mr Trask[']s in the

Page 14

Fall after the "Dark day" and Cato and Else were married a little more than two years afterwards in the Spring, and early in the Spring, but I cannot remember the day of the month, nor the month with certainty, although I think it was the month of March.
The Rev Mr Trask and his son Jonathan have been dead many years and not one of Mr Trask's children is now living
Sarah West her mark X

State of New Hampshire Rockingham SS January 16, 1830
Then the said Sarah West (who, I certify, sustains a fair reputation for truth and whose statements are entitled to credit) made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit by her signed is true
Before me Joseph Graves Jus. Peace

Page 15

State of New Hampshire Rockingham SS
Probate Office Jany 16, 1830
I John Kelly Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Joseph Graves Esquire i s Justice of the Peace for said County and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his, was by him executed in my presence and is genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this 16th day of January AD 1830.
John Tully Register of Probate and Clerk of the Court of Probate for said County
[note on right hand side of page] Hon Rd Fletcher N R

Page 16

Revy Widow, &c.
[Fi]le No. 14719
Elsa Fiske widow of Cato Fiske Pri Rev War
Act: July 4th [18]36
[In]dex:-Vol. A, Page 234
{Arrangement of 1870.}

[18]30- Aug 8 Hist to Adj. Gen Setter [f]iled in Misc file [u]nder C. H. Bridges
E E L.

Page 17

New Hampshire
Act 4 July 1836-
Elsa Fiske, wido of Cato-supr
Let to Hon R. Fletcher
4 January 1838

Page 18

Cato Fiske N.H. a pension under the Act of March 18, 1818 to what time was he paid,
Pen Off Jany 4 [18]38

paid to the 4 March 1824 JH

Page 19

I Nancy Daley of Boston in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Widow, on Oath depose and say, that I am the same person, who gave my Deposition, in December last, to be sent to Washington, in support of my Mother's, Elsa Fiske's, petition for for a Pension, on account of her late huband's services as a Soldier. Since I gave that depostion, I have thought more about the time of the death of my father, the said Cato Fiske, and recollect some circumstances, which have enabled me to fix the time. He died on, or about the twenty fourth day of March AD 1824- I remember, that General McCleary died, a few days after my father; and the next Sunday the Minister preached a sermon on their death, and mentioned my father, before he mentioned the General, and some people in the Parish were offended at it. I went to church, and remember it was wet and sloppy walking. I was present at my father's death. He died in Epsom, New Hampshire, on or about the day I have named. He died on Monday

Page 20

night about, eight o'Clock, as I perfectly recollect. He was buried the Wednesday following, and the minister of the Parish attended the funeral and made prayer, the General died the day after my father was buried, to the best of my recollection.
Nancy Daley her mark X

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk SS. Boston, February the 19th AD 1838.
Personally appeared the aforesaid Nancy Daley before me William Simmons Esq, one of the Justices of the Justices Court within and for the County of Suffolk, the same being a Court of Record, and being duly sworn to testify the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, gave and subscribed the foregoing Deposition before me, which I reduced to writing and read to her. And I certify that the said Nancy is a person of fair reputation for truth and veracity.
Wm Simmons

Page 21

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk SS
I Thomas Power, Clerk of the Justices' Court within and for said County, do certify that William Simmons Esq is one of the Justices thereof, and that her signature to the foregoing certificate, is his genuine signature.
In witness whereof I have hereto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court, this 19th of February AD 1838.
Thomas Power

Page 22

I Clarissa Rose of Boston in the County of Suffolk, on oath do testify and say, that I have been acquainted with Elsa Fiske, now of Boston aforesaid, but formerly of Exeter in the State of New Hampshire, widow of Cato Fiske, formerly of said Exeter, deceased, for thirty years or thereabouts, that when I first knew them, they lived together as man and wife, and were so spoken of and considered by all persons acquainted with them, and that I never heard the fact of their being legally married questioned, that they continued to live together as man and wife till the death of the said Cato Fiske, which happened about thirteen- years ago; that the said Elsa has never since been married, but now remains the widow of said Cato. that I am aged about Forty- years
Clarisa Rose
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Suffolk SS. City of Boston On this twenty eighth day of December A. D. Eighteen hun-

Page 23

[continued from previous page]-dred and thirty seven, Clarissa Rose- the subscriber of the foregoing affidavit personally appeared before me the subscriber, William Simmons, one of the Justices of the Justices' Courts, for this County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts- and after being duly sworn according to law did make and subscribe the foregoing affidavit and I further certify that I believe the said Clarissa Rose to be a credible witness and to be believed on her oath.
Wm Simmons

I James Fiske of Exeter in the State of New Hampshire, labourer, on oath do testify and say, that I am the oldest child of Cato and Elsa Fiske. I am fifty years old. I lived with my father and mother up to the time of his death, which took place about thirteen years ago, at a place called Ipshom [Epsom] in New Hampshire. I never heard any question of the legal marriage of my father and mother. They always lived together as such, to the time of his death. My mother has never since been married, and now lives in Boston-
James Fiske his mark X

Page 24

I Nancy Daley of the City of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, Widow on Oath, do testify and say, that I shall be forty seven Years old next March, and am the daughter of Cato and Elsa Fiske. My Father died about thirteen years ago in the State of New Hampshire. I was born in Exeter in New Hampshire, where my parents lived during my childhood. My father and mother lived together as husband and wife to the time of his death- and I never heard any question made of the legality of their marriage. My mother, the said Elsa is now living, and has remained a widow since the death of my father the said Cato Fiske. I used to hear my father talk about having been in the war.
Nancy Daley her mark X

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Suffolk SS, City of Boston, on this 28th of December 1837- James Fiske and Nancy Daley, subscribers of the foregoing affidavits personally appeared before me William Simmons, on of the Justices of the Justices' Courts for the said County of Suffolk, and after being duly sworn according to Law, did severally make and subscribe the foregoing affidavits and I further certify, that I believe the said James and Nancy to be credible witnesses and to [illegible] on oath-
Wm Simmons

Page 25

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk. SS.
I, Thomas Power, Clerk of the Justices Court for the County of Suffolk, do hereby certify that William Simmons Esquire, whose name is hereto affixed, was, at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Justices Court for the County of Suffolk, that the several signatures of his name herein are his proper handwriting, and that the said Court is a Court of Record within said Commonwealth. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand, and caused the seal of the said Court to be hereto affixed, this twenty ninth Day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven.
Thomas Power Clerk

[note on upper right hand of page]: 3062 Elsa Fiske N H
Hon R Fletcher H R
[note on right middle side of page]: 2988 3062 Elsa Fiske wid of Cato Mass

Page 26

War Department No. 5.299
Pension Office, 20 Sept,1820
Sir, You are hereby informed that the schedule of your property has been examined; and the Secretary of War has directed your name  to be continued on the Pension Roll.
I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards

To Mr Cato Fisk., care of Peter Chadwick, Esqr
Exeter, N. H.

Page 27

Payable semi-annually--the first payment on this certificate will be made on the 4th of March next at the [illegible] Bank 
U. States Portsmouth 
N. H.

Recorded

Page 28

War Department
Revolutionary Claim.
I Certify That, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th of March, 1818, Cato Fisk late a private in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the New Hampshire Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the Sixth day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this fourteenth day of January  one thousand eight hundred and nineteen
J. C. Calhoun
Secretary of War.

Page 29

[note on left side of page]: Report to Hon. R Fletcher H. R.

John L. Edwards Esq,
Commissioner of Pensions

Page 30

Boston Feb 19. 1838
Sir,
I enclose you some additional papers in relation to the claim of Elsa Fiske, widow of Cato Fiske, a revolutionary soldier for a pension.
In regard to the proof of marriage, the records being lost, it is evidently the best proof which could be obtained.
The circumstances of the oldest son, being born several years after the time fixed for the marriage, though not a very common, is certainly not an unusual circumstance. If fraud had been attempted in the case, it would have been easy to have suppressed or altered the time of the birth of the oldest son. I think, he never, you will find on re examining the papers that the eldest son was born sooner after the marriage than you suppose.
The testimony as to the time of Cato Fiske's death now fixes the date. It confirms

Page 31

the testimony of the witnesses who testified before, who fixed it if I recollect right at about thirteen years ago. The time is now ascertained to be less than fourteen.
I cannot but believe you be satisfied with the evidence now before you, and will grant the pension.
Yours very resfy [respectfully]
S. E. Sewall atty of Elsa Fiske
John L Edward Esq.

Page 32

Cato Fiske- N H
Married March 1783
Died
Wars
paid to March 4, 1824
See final sent cert. Vol 1 p. 212 [illegible] Nov 1783
Wanted prf [proof] of marriage and of dat[e] of death

1820 [-] 53 = 1767 [-] 16= 1703
1837 [-] 47 = 1790 Nancy
1820 [-] 28 = 1792 James

Page 33

Mr Butler
Certificate

Page 34

Mr Edward - Cato Fisk lives in the same town, in which I reside. I know him well, and he is really indigent, and is in need of the assistance of his country for support
Josiah Butler Member of the House of Representatives in Congress
Washington Nov 28, 1818-

Page 35

Brentwood N H Dec 18 [circled]
Ephraim Robinson P. M. free

Mr Dean Willis Boston M-

Page 36

Brentwood Dec 15, 1837
Dear Sir
I duly received yours of the 7 Instant I hereby certify that I have carefully, examined the records of said Town and do not find therein the record of any marriage between Cato Fisk to Elsa Huson and I would further certify that by the records of said Town it appears that there were but few marriages Recorded on the Town Book in former years, either by Ministers or Magistrates- I have been to the former residents of the Revd Nathaniel Trask desd [deceased] who was Minister in said town from the year 1752 to 1789- but the papers or records which he kept are all distroyed-

Should there be a prospect of assertaining [ascertaining] any proof, of their marriage in any way whatever I will take the first opportunity of informing you of the fact
Yours Respectfully,
Ephraim Robinson T. Clerk

[bottom left corner]:
W 37 [+] 17 =54 [+] 19=73

Page 37

I Dean Willis of the City of Boston in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on Oath, do testify and say, that at the request of the Widow Elsa Fiske of said Boston, I wrote a letter addressed to the Town Clerk of Brentwood in the state of New Hampshire, and sent the same to him by mail, he being Postmaster in said Town. In a week or ten days I received by Mail, the within letter dated 15th Decr 1837 Brentwood, and signed Ephraim Robinson T Clerk, in answer to mine, and in relation to the enquiries therein made by me.
Dean Willis

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk SS. City of Boston, December 28th 1837- Then Dean Willis, the subscriber of the foregoing affidavit, personally appeared before me the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Justices' Court for the County of Suffolk, aforesaid, and after being duly sworn according to Law did make and subscribe the foregoing affidavit and I further certify, that I believe the said Willis to be a credible witness and to be believed on his Oath.
Wm Simmons

Page 38

Elsa Fiske
Wid of Cato decd
Married March 1783
Decd- 1824
Allow $ 80 per ann
Certf 4 March 1837

N H Con and line
Col Reid
Capt Rowell
Private see Reids
Rolls- Jany 1781
Hon R Fletcher H R

[note on right side of paper] In at Mass Act 1836
Jan [18]38
2988

Page 39

Washington Jany 3, 1838
Dear Sir,
I beg leave to ask your attention at your earliest convenience to the inclosed papers, and ask of you the favor to communicate to me the result-
Should there be any defect in the evidence, you will oblige me, by informing particularly what is wanted-

with entire respect
your Obd Servt
Richard Fletcher

James L. Edwards Esq

Page 40

James L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington

[note on left side of page]: Hon R Fletcher H. R.

Page 41

Boston Dec 30, 1837
Sir,
I enclose an application for a pension on behalf of the poor widow of a revolutionary soldier. I presume the evidence showing his services will be found in your office.
If the evidence sent with what you have on record is satisfactory will you be kind enough to send the certificate to me, by mail, making the pension payable in this town.
If further evidence is wanted will you return me the papers, or give them to Hon Richard Fletcher at Washington, and let him me know what farther is wanting. I believe all the requisitions of the statute are complied with.
Your very respy [respectfully]
S. E Sewall
Report to Hon R Fletcher H. R.

Page 42

Admitted
Hon J Butler
H of Rep

1 Case
Hon J Butler
Dec 1, 1818

Honble [Honorable] Mr Edwards
Pension Office-

Page 43

Mr Edwards
I have returned the Papers of Cato Fiske with my own certificate which if not sufficient, I can procure the affidavits of as many persons as you - may require or can return the Paper and obtain the Judges Certificate
Yours respectfully
Josiah Butler

Page 44

Deposition of Theophilus Loverin in support of the claim of Cato Fisk a pensioner

Page 45

I Theophilus Loverin of Raymond in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire testify and say- that I was well acquainted with Cato Fisk during five years of the Revolutionary War- We both served in Capt Wm Rowells[']s company of the second Regiment of the New Hampshire Line commanded by Col George Reed- I knew him to be honorably discharged-
I am now well acquainted with said Fisk and consider him to be in reduced circumstances in life and in need of assistance from his country for support-
Theophilus Loverin

Page 46

Deposition of Thomas Mathes in support of the Claim of Cato Fisk a pensioner

Page 47

I Thomas Mathes of Deerfield in the County of Rockingham of State of New Hampshire testify and declare that I knew Cato Fisk a private in Capt William Rowell[']s company of the second Regiment New Hamphire line of the American Armey in the Revolutionary war- for the term of five years and knew him to be honorably discharged with a badge of merit- I am now well acquainted with said Fisk and believe him to be in reduced circumstances in life and in need of assistance from his country for support-
Thomas Mathes