Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 1,744, William Forbes, Me.

Page 1

Forbes, William
Lucy

Number
W. 1744.

Page 2

[Document is a mix of printed typeface and handwriting]

9074
Maine
William Forbes [large 4 in different handwriting added in right margin]
of Bangor in the ["state" is crossed out] Dist of Maine 
who was a private in the regiment commanded by 
Colonel Sprout of the Mafstts 
line, for the term of nine months --

Inscribed on the Roll of the Dist of Maine 
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on 
the 6th of April 1818.

Certificate of Pension issued the 9th of Apr.1819 
and sent to M. Kinsley Esq, 
Hampden Maine

Arrears to 4th of Mar 1819, 10 and 25/60/m. 87.69
Semi-anl. all'ce ended 4th Sept 1819 48.00
$135:69
[Numbers in above section are stacked as if for adding]

{Revolutionary claim, 
Act 18th March, 1818.}

[At bottom in different handwriting]
Discontinued

Page 3

Atty Genl
William
July. 6.1821.
Sent McGaw

Remitated
May 7.1822
and sent to
W.D. Williamson
N Pub

[Written vertically on left side of document]
Notification sent to Jacob McGaw Esq
Bangor Me.  July 16.1820
Letter to Joseph Carr. 24 July 1844

Page 4

[Horizontally along long edge]
Notification sent to Jacob McGaw Esq
Bangor Me.  July 16.1820
Letter to Joseph Carr. 24 July 1844

[Written along short edge of document - top is on right]
Atty Genl
William
July. 6.1821.
Sent McGaw

Remitated
May 7.1822
and sent to
W.D. Williamson
N Pub

Page 5

[Left and right pages – left is illegible]

[Right page]
[Illegible] W[illegible] Forbes Testify
[illegible] Cer[illegible] Dully
Served in the Revolutionary
war as a Private
[illegible] Witnfs Same
[illegible] March of
2[illegible – may say Mar. 79]

[illegible] on
[illegible] March, 1848.

[illegible] recognized the
[illegible] day of July, 1819 [may be 1814],
and [illegible] 
[Signature] A.C. Wakefield
Bangor
Me

Served in War of Revolution under
February 1848, Page 5 No.
29th July,  [illegible]

Page 6

[Document is a form with a mix of printed typeface and handwriting]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Penobscot, ss.
On the 6th day of April A. D. 1818,
before me the subscriber, one of the judges of the Third Eastern Circuit, of  the Court of  
Common Pleas , in said Commonwealth, including the Counties of Hancock, Washington 
and Penobscot : Personally appeared William Forbes.
who, being by me first duly sworn according to law, on his oath made the statement and 
declaration by him subscribed, and hereto annexed, in order to obtain the provision made 
by the late 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."

And thereupon, I the said Judge do certify that I am satisfied the said William 
[blank space] did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in  his said decla-
ration, against the common enemy, and that he has made it appear to me, that he is in re-
duced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support. 

Which proceedings and the testimony annexed, being all he has been able to produce, 
I now transmit to the Secretary, for the department of War, pursuant to the  directions of 
the aforementioned act of congress.

IN testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name and caused the seal of said Court 
to be hereto affixed  [Signature] M. Kinsley Esquire,
Judge of the Court as aforesaid.

Page 7

William Forbes
Enlisted in August 1783 
and served till the close 
of the war.

Admitted

Page 8

I William Forbes of Bangor in the County of
Penobscot and State of Mafsachusetts do declare
and Say that Sometime in the month of March
in the year 1783 at Newburgh I inlisted into the
Service of the United States of America as a 
Soldier in Captain Jacksons Company of the
Second Mafachusetts Regiment commanded 
by Colon Sprout and that I Served in Said
Regiment until the thirty fourth day of December
of the same year at which time I was Hon
orably discharged – which Discharge is
herewith enclosed –

I do hereby further testify & Say that
I am now under reduced circumstances
and need the afsistance of my Country for 
support    [Signature] William Forbes

[In left margin is a small “6” with a “2e” below it and lines above, between, and below them]

Page 9

Willm Forbes
Declaration &c.

Copy

9074
Not Entitled
9 Ap: 1819

[Larger handwriting]
Not entitled
Allowed
J

Hon. W.D. Williamson, N. R

Page 10

[Document is a form with a mix of printed typeface and handwriting]

STATE OF MAINE.

COUNTY OF PENOBSCOT, ss Me Circuit Court of Common Pleas, begun and held in 
Bangor within aforesaid County, on the fourth Tuesday of June A.D. 1820.

ON this twenty seventh day of June in the year
of our Lord eighteen hundred and twenty, personally appeared in  open court, being a
court of record within and for said County, and State of Maine, established by a law of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, made and passed on the [“eleventh” crossed out] twenty [illegible]  [the number is inserted] day of June, A.D.
1811, and recognized by the Constitution of the State of Maine; Wiiliam
Forbes, aged, fifty eight years, resident in Bangor
in said County of Penobscot, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his 
oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows: I served as a
private Soldier in the Revolutionary War
in the Company commanded by Capt. Jackson
in the Second Mafsachusetts Regiment
commanded by Col. Sprout, in the Conti-
- nental Establishment, under a three 
years enlistment; and was honorably dis-
-charged on the 21th day of December 1783; 
as is set forth in my original declaration
made on the 6th day of April 1818; on
which declaration my pension certificate
numbered 9074, was granted.

Page 11

AND I William Forbes do solely swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any matter whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with the intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring 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 eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, 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.
(Signed) William Forbes
Schedule of real and personal estate belonging to me the subscriber, necessary clothing and bedding excepted, viz
Real Estate- None-
Personal Estate.- one pair of oxen bought on credit, and owe for them their whole value-3 Cows- one pair of steers, 2 years old- one heifer, 2 years old - 1 heifer, 1 years old - 2 swine.
I am justly indebted to the amount of - $156, and have no debts due to me that can be collected.
Schedule of the family of William Forbes, who by occupation am an husbandman - I am afflicted with the Rheumatism and Cramps. 
My wife Lucy Forbes, 41 years with a slender constitution and sickley.
Son Jefferson Forbes, 19 " - good health- works for me and goes to school
Son Daniel Forbes, 18 " - {unable to work on account of fever - core}
Son George Forbes, 16 " 
frequently afflicted with bilious colic
Daughter Sally Forbes 11 years - Son Charles H. Forbes 7 years - Daughter Lucy G. Forbes, 2 years
(Signed) William Forbes
Sworn to and declared on the twenty seventh day of June A.D. 1820 before the Court. Att. Thos. Cobb Cler.
I THOMAS COBB, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Third Eastern Circuit, in the County of Penobscot, and State of Maine, do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied- from the records of the said court : And I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court, that the total amount of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is one hundred and fifty dollars.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have unto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this twenty seventh day of June A.D. 1820.
Thos Cobb Clerk
of the said Court for the County of Penobscot.

Page 12

373
Lucy Forbes
widow of William
Maine

admitted,

Private 30 per ann. com. 4 March 1848,

A.G. Wakefield 
Bangor ME

Page 13

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of
Congress of the 29th of July 1848, entitled an act for the
relief of enlisted surviving widows of officers and soldiers of
the Revolutionary Army.


State of Maine
County of Penobscot
On this eleventh day of November 1848 personally
appeared before the Hon Frederick H Allen Judge of the
District Court for the Eastern District per Said County of Penobscot
at her place of residence in said Bangor Lucy Forbes a
resident of the city of Bangor, aged sixty nine years, who
being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath
make the following declarations in order to obtain the 
benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July
29th 1848 entitled "an act for the relief of certain surviving
soldiers and officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary Army." [illegible]
she is the widow of William Forbes who was a private in
the army of the Revolution.  [illegible] he served from revolution
state the Regiment or corps in which he served, but for the same
refer to his declarations and the accompanying my proofs on file
in the department. She further declares that he was named
to the Lord William Forbes on the first day of March one
thousand seven hundred and ninety five that her husband
the said William Forbes was a pensioner of the 
United States and died on the [crossout] or about the fifteenth
day of May 1848 and that she was not married to him

Page 14

previous to his leaving the service, but the [illegible] [illegible] place previous to the first day of January eighteen hundred [illegible] at the time above stated. She further declares that she is still a widow.

Lucy Forbes


Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above said
Before me
Frederick H. Allen
Just. of the Court & for said State.


I certify that the said Lucy Forbes is unable from weakness and bodily infirmity to attend court and for this reason the above declaration is made before me at her place of residence.

Fred H. Allen
Just. Dist. Court & for said State.


State of Maine
County of Penobscot. I William T. Hilliard, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts for said County of Penobscot hereby certify that Frederick H. Allen is a Judge of the District Court for the Eastern District for said county and his full faith and credit may be and ought to be given to the certificate by him subscribed, and that his signatures above are genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affix the seal of said Court for the Eastern District, and subscribed my name this eighth day of November AD 1848

W^m T. Hilliard Clerk

[Seal]

Page 15

"An intention of marriage between William Forbes
and Lucy Griffin both of Greenfield entered January
tenth seventeen hundred ninety five.
                                                  Daniel Wells, T. Clerk"

I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the 
Record, with the exception of the date, which is ex=
=pressed on the Record in fair, legible figures as
follows, "Jan 10. 1795."

Attest David Willard, Clerk of the town 
of Greenfield, county of Franklin, Comm' [Commonwealth abbreviation]
of Massachusetts.
I David Willard, above named depose and say: 
that I hold the office of town Clerk of the town of
Greenfield. County of Franklin & Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts, and that the above is a true extract
from the Records of said town with the exceptions
above named, as certified by me.
              David Willard, Clerk of the said town
              of Greenfield.
[In smaller print] Commonwealth of Massachusetts- Franklin, ss. Nov 1. 1848.
subscribed & sworn to-
Before me, Almon Brainard Justice of the Peace.

Page 16

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
-----
FRANKLIN SS.

I, Henry Chapman, Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth, for the county of Franklin, do certify that Almon Brainard Esquire, whose signature is affixed to the certificate on the paper hereto annexed, was at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned, and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth; and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to his acts and attestations done in that capacity, and that I am acquainted with the handwriting of the said Almon Brainard Esquire and belive his signature to said Certificate is genuine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court for said Commonwealth, this first day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight.

H. Chapman, Clerk.

[Seal]

Page 17

[crossed-out Capt. Haskell]
Capt. Jackson

[bottom part is in four sections]
[first section]
FORBES, WILLIAM
(MASS.)
W-1744

[second column]
Forbes

Page 18

BY THE HONOURABLE
MAJOR-GENERAL KNOX,

Commanding the AMERICAN FORCES on Hudson's River.

William Forbs Soldier in the Second Massachusetts Regiment, being inlisted for Three Years, is hereby honourable DISCHARGED from the Service of the United States.

Given in the State of New-York the thirty first Day of December 1783

J. Knox M Gen^l

By the General's Command,

REGISTERED in the Books of the Regiment.

[Stamp] THE NATIIONAL ARCHIVES OF UNITED STATES

Page 19

Select mens
Certificate

Page 20

Bangor, Nov 1821

We the undersigned Select men of Bangor
have been to See W^m Forbes & find him destitute of most of the conveniences & many of the comforts of life when he was placed on the Pention Roll it placed him in credit so as to purchase some stock such as one pair of oxen & one or two cows but not being retained on the Pention list has been compelled to return the stock to make payment, said Forbes has a large family of Children & many of them small they appear to be very destitute for furniture in the house they say they have but one cow which they are aging to kill for the family food & seven sheep which constitute the whole of their stock & in our opinion he is a subject that is needy of the assistance of his government

{Wiggins Hill
James Tilton} Select men of Bangor

Page 21

Thomas Forbes
-----
Jany 29 1822

Ref^d to Com^r of the Whole
on Bill No 37.

Williamson 16. 29. ao on 37

Page 22

To the Honorable Senate; and House of Representatives for Congress of the United States, assembled, at Washington.

The Petition of William Forbes of Bangor in the County of Penobscot, and State of Maine, late a Soldier in the Revolutionary Army of the United States, respectfully represents, that he is, and for many years has been in indigent circumstances. That after the passing of the Act of Congress of March 18th 1818, for relief of the Officers and Soldiers of the Revolution, in [illegible] circumstances he made declaration of his service & circumstances in conformity with the Provisions of said Act, and received from the War Department a Certificate entitling him to a Pension. And afterward in pursuance of the Provisions of the supplementary Act he returned a schedule of Property, then in his Possession, which was valued by the Court at about one hundred and fifty three Dollars. and he also stated, that he was then owing more than that sum. That in consequence of said Schedule he was stricken from the Pension List and his Pension stoped.

And your Petitioner further represents, that the Property he then possessed has since been taken in payment of the debt he then owed for the same Property. That he is now in debt, almost destitute of Property. and by reason of Infirmities and disability [illegible] by the Rheumatism he is unable to support himself by Labor.

Therefore he prays that he may be restored to the pension List, and again receive a Pension. And as in duty bound will ever pray.

William Forbes

Bangor January 11th 1822.

Page 23

Bangor Oct. 11th 1843.

J. L. Edwards Esq^r
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir

Enclosed are the papers in relation to the Widow of W^m Forbes for pension from March 4th 1843 to May 15th 1843

will you please to forward to me the amot due for M^rs Forbes

I am sir very
Respectfully your
Obt servt

Joseph Carr

Page 24

Copy

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 29th day of July 1848, entitled an act for the relief of certain surviving widows of Officers and Soldiers of the Revolutionary Army.

State of Maine
County of Penobscot ss.

On this eleventh day of November 1848, personally appeared before the Hon. Frederick H. Allen, Judge of the District Court for the Eastern District for said County of Penobscot at her place of residence in Said Bangor, Lucy Forbes, a resident of the City of Bangor, aged sixty nine years who being 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 29th 1848 entitled "an act for the relief of certain surviving widows of Officers and Soldiers of the [crossed-out Revolutionary] army of the Revolution: - that she can not from recollection state the Regiment or Corps in which he served, but for the same refers to his declaration and the accompanying papers on file in the department. She further declares, that she was married to the

Page 25

said William Forbes on the first day of March one Thousand seven hundred and ninety five. that her husband the said William Forbes died on or about the fifteenth day of May 1843, and that she was not married to him prior to his leaving he service [crossed-out army], but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January eighteen hundred to wit, at the time above stated. She further declares that she is still a widow.

(Signed) Lucy Forbes

Page 26

State of Connecticut
County of Windham County ss. Hampton

On this [illegible] day of November AD 1848 personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace within and for said County of Windham Ebenezer Griffin aged Seventy three years A resident in Hampton in said County of Windham, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare and say, that Lucy Forbes Widow of William Forbes, now residing in Bangor in the County of Penobscot in the State of Maine, is his sister, that he has been acquainted with her from childhood to the present time. that his said sister Lucy Griffin was married to the said William Forbes on or about the first of March seventeen hundred and ninety five, that the marriage took place at said Hampton, and that this deponent was present at the marriage, and saw them married. and knows that Lucy Forbes, widow, now residing in said Bangor is the same person. that by the name of Lucy Griffin. was married as above stated to William Forbes. He further declares that he saw Forbes before the marriage resided in Greenfield in Massachusetts. that his said sister also had resided in said Greenfield with another sister, who was married and lived there, and that the said Forbes and her said sister Lucy came from Greenfield to [illegible] the deponent [illegible] [illegible] in said Hampton and was there married as above stated and at the same above stated, and that from that time till the death of the said Forbes, which took place about

Page 27

[illegible] years ago they lived together as husband & wife and had a family of children and this deponent has no reason to doubt. but that they were lawfully married at the time aforesaid and verily belong they were

Eben^r Griffin


[illegible] and [illegible], the day and year first above written
Before me Dyer Hughes Jr. Justice of the Peace


I certify that I am personally acquainted with Eben^r Griffin who signed & swore therefore, [illegible] & that full credit in [illegible] given his lifetime.

Dyer Hughes Jr. Justice of Peace


State of Connecticut Office of Clerk of Windham County ss. County Courts

I hereby Certify that Dyer Hughes Jr. Esq was on the 18th day of November AD 1848, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Windham duly commissioned and qualified that the above is his genuine signature

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Subscribed my name and Affixed the Seal of the County Court this 30th day of Nov^r. 1848

Daniel Tyler Clerk

[Seal]

Page 28

Col. James L. Edwards
Com. of Pensions
Washington 
D. C

Page 29

Maine

Bangor, May 17. 1849

Hon. J. L. Edwards

Sir

Enclosed is the application & accompanying papers of Mrs Lucy Forbes, for a pension. As soon as an examination can be had & her name placed on the list, you will please, send the certificate to me at Bangor, Maine & oblige,

Your obedient Servant

A. G. Wakefield

Page 30

Aug 9 '44

A. G. Wakefield
August 14 /49

In behalf of Mrs. Lucy Forbes an applicant for a pension, who is inscribed on the Pension List at $30 per annum thinks she is entitled to $90/annum.

Hon. J. Ewing
Sec'y of the Inte[cut-off]
Washing[cut-off]
D. [cut-off]

Th. Wilson

Comm^r of Pensions for 
answer
Dept of the Interior
August 9 /49

Page 31

Maine

Bangor, Aug 4. 1849

Hon. J. Ewing
Sec'y of the Interior

Sir, On the sixteenth day of January last, Mrs. Lucy Forbes Widow of William Forbes, forwarded by me, to the Hon. J. L. Edwards Com^r of Pensions, her application for a pension under the act of July 29th 1848, I have, this day, received a certificate from the "Depart of the Interior," that "Lucy Forbes of Maine, widow of William Forbes who was a private in the revolutionary war, is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of Thirty dollars per annum"

Mr Forbes, during his lifetime, received a pension at the rate of ninety six dollars per annum.

By an inspection of the act of July 29th 1848 Sec. 1. I see "That the widows of all officers, non-commissioned officers, most

Page 32

cians, Soldiers," [illegible], "Shall be entitled to a pension during such widowhood of equal amount pre annum that their husband would be entitled to, if living, under existing pension laws."

As I have no reason to doubt that Mr Forbes, if living, would under existing pension laws be entitled to ninety six dollars per annum, I am constrained to think that Mrs Forbes is entitled to the same sum under the act of July 29th 1848, &, therefore that there is some mistake, or oversight in the certificate for only Thirty dollars per annum.

It may facilitate your examination of the case to state that the certificate's "Recorded in the Pension Office are on the Roll of Pensioners under act February 2d, 1848 Page 5, Vol. 1."

No money will be drawn on the present certificate until I have learned from your department, and, as nearly eight months have elapsed since her application was made, & she is very

Page 33

feeble in health, may I not hope to receive an answer to this, at an early date?

I am very respectfully
your obedient Servant

A. G. Wakefield

Page 34

Maine

Bangor, May 17. 1849

Hon. J. L. Edwards

Sir

In reply to yours of the [illegible], I would say that Mrs. Lucy Forbes claims pension under the
act of Congress passed July 29, 1848, that her husband, William Forbes, served in Captain Jackson's Company of Infantry in Col. Sprouts Regiment, that she thinks he was in the service at the close of the war of the revolution.

I enclose a copy of her application sent to your department Jany 16, 1849.

Any further information will be cheerfully given

Very respectfully your
obedient Servant

A. G. Wakefield

Page 35

[Revy] WIDOW, &c.
File No. [1744]
[Lucy Forbes]
[Widow]
[William Forbes]
[illegible Rev. War]
Act: [July 29, 1848]
Index: - Vol. [a], page [245]
{Arrangement of 1870.}