Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11656, William Wilson, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Wilson, William
P. 11655
Christen.
CONTENTS

Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th July 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows".
State of New York Columbia County
SS. On this 5th day of October one thousand eight hundred & forty personally appeared before me Justice Wilson William E. Heath a justice of the Superior Court of Hudson the same being a Court of Record. Justice  Priscilla of Copake in said County aged 84 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declarations in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows". That she resides in Copake aforesaid formerly Laughtank in said County and is the widow of William Wilson who was a private in the army of the Revolution in the Continental line. That her said husband at the time of his enlistment resided in the town of _____ in the Province of Maine then belonging to Massachusetts. That said William Wilson her said late husband served as he always said in the Massachusetts Line that he served as he alleged about four or five years. That her said husband at one time said he intended to apply for bounty land but did not _____ Helen C. Wood

She recollects hearing her sd husband say he was a prisoner. She further declares that she was married to the said William Wilson on the Nineteenth day of July One thousand Eight  Seven hundred & eighty nine as stated in the annexed deposition of Samuel Bryan that her husband the aforesaid William Wilson died on the 20th day of March Eighteen hundred and twenty four. That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January 1794. (Viz at the time above stated).
Sworn before me this 5th day of October 1840
Wm S Heath Justice of the Peace Court of Hudson
Cristeen his Brusin Mark

State of New York Columbia County. } Ls. L. Samuel Bryan of Hudson in said County being sworn say that I am now sixty four years of age. That my father (name) was James - Bryan late of Hillsdale in the County aforesaid deceased. That my said father for several years was a justice of the peace in said town of Hillsdale and that as appears by his records he was a justice of the peace in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine. Said Records are now in my possession & I find therein the following Entry in the hand writing of my said father, to wit, July nineteenth one thousand seven hundred & eighty nine then married William Wilson (and Cristeen Bruffie) of Taughtkanick, that the above is a true transcript from said Record except the date which is expressed in fair legible figures as follows to wit, "July 19 th 1789". And the whole sentence & entry is in words & figures as follows, to wit, "July 19 th 1789, then married William Wilson and Cristeen Bruffie of Taughtkanick". That it would be difficult to cut out this entry without cutting out other entries of marriages - besides I should be unwilling to do so.
Sworn to & subscribed before me
this first day of March 1839,
Wheeler A. Clarke
Commissioner of Oaths.
Samuel Bryan

I am well acquainted with Samuel Bryan named in the foregoing affidavit. He is a very respectable citizen a man of property of good moral character & entitled to credit. I further certify that I made the copy of said record contained in his affidavit & that the same in all respects an exact copy.
Heber H. Clarke Commissioner of deeds

State of New York, } ss. Columbia County, }
I, KILLIAN MILLER, Clerk of the County of Columbia, Do Hereby Certify,
That Wheeler P. Clarke whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of the Proof or acknowledgment of the annexed Instrument
and thereon written, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgment, a Commissioner of Deeds in and for the County afore- said, dwelling in said County, and duly authorised to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of such Commissioner, and verily believe that the signature to the said Certificate is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said County, the 7 th day of October 1840
Killian Miller Clerk

State of New York Columbia County } ss.
I Dorothy Turner of Copake in said County being sworn say that I am now seventy nine years of age. That my maiden name was Dorothy Bussie and am the sister of Mr. Cristeen Wilson of Copake in said County who is the widow of William Wilson late of Copake aforesaid deceased. and who died several years ago leaving my said sister said Cristeen his widow and who still remains his widow not having intermarried since his death. Said William Wilson was by trade a Sailor. He came to Copake then Saugkaimke in this County soon after the war from the Province of Maine and married my said sister in the year 1789 as stated in the affidavit of Samuel Bryan hereto annexed.
My said sister husband said William Wilson was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution & belonged to the Line as I have heard him say frequently, and that when he enlisted he lived in the Province of Maine then belonging to Massachusetts.
Dorothy X Turner Mark
Sworn before me this 5th October 1840 Wm. B. Heath Justice of the Peace

State of New York Columbia County } City of Hudson }
Be it known that on the 5th day of October 1840 before the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Justice Court of the City of Hudson aforementioned the same being a Court of Record, at the town of Coakley in said County personally appeared Birtens Bruisse named in the annexed declaration and made the said declaration before upon oath by me in due form of Law administered and then submitted to an Examination therefor before me -
That said Birtens Bruisse is by reason of bodily infirmity unable to attend before a court of Record
All which I hereby Certify Wm O'Heath Justice

8.179. ✓ Cristea Mrs Wilkins Wilson Copake, Columbia Co New York
W. H. Clarke, agent Hudson N. York

State of New York &  Nicholas Brasie Columbia County, ss. Nicholas Brasie of Boston County Massachusetts being sworn say I was well acquainted with William Wilson the late husband of Cynthia Wilson I have heard said William Wilson say he served the United States in the War of the Revolution as a soldier and heard him say he was taken prisoner.
Sworn not subscribed) before me by the above named Nicholas Brasie who I certify is entitled to credit. This 16th October 1840
Nicholas Brasie
WM Wilson Cont of bills

State of New York Columbia County } ss.
I, Jeremiah A. Van Kintner, Clerk of said County do hereby certify that William Elliott named in the two  three annexed depositions was on the day of the date thereof a Commissioner of deeds in & for said County. That I am ac- quainted with the hand writing of said Commissioner & truly believe his signature of "Wm Elliott" to be his hand writing & signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said County this 2 nd February 1842 J A Van Kintner Clerk

State of New York Columbia County } ss. We John F. Brazee of Coeymans in said county
Being sworn (say we are acquainted) with Christen Wilson widow of the late William Wilson late of Coeymans in said county. That said William Wilson was a tailor, that he died about                      years ago.
(We were acquainted with said William Wilson in his life time, he had the reputation of having served as a soldier in the war of the Revolution,
We have heard him called the old soldier, and we have heard him talk of his services in the Revolutionary war. Sworn and subscribed before } John F. Brazee on this 17 th day of Oct 1840 } I certify that I am acquainted with this deponent and that he is entitled to credit WM Elliott Comr. of Secs
State of New York } Columbia County } ss John A Decker being sworn says that he is acquainted with Christen Wilson widow of the late William Wilson late of Coeymans in said county. That said Wilson was a tailor. That he heard said Wilson say he had been a soldier in the revolutionary war that he had been in action and that one Decker was shot down by his side - and also that said Wilson had been taken prisoner John A Decker Sworn and subscribed before } this 17 th day of Oct 1840 } I certify that I am acquainted with this deponent and that he is entitled to credit WM Elliott Comr. of Secs

State of New York Columbia County } City of Hudson } E. D. Edward L. Holley Clerk of the Justices Court of the City of Hudson aforesaid do hereby certify that William E. Heathes named in the annexed paper and before whom the annexed declara- tion was made, was at the date thereof and at the date hereof one of the Justices of the peace of the Justices Court of said City of Hudson.
That I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said William E. Heathes and know that the signature to said Declaration affidavit and certificate to be the hand writing of said William E. Heathes.
In testimony whereof I have by the direction of said Justices hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 10th day of
January 1842.
E. D. Holley, Clerk of the said court

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
11,655 P. O. Christeen Wilson
Service: Widow William Wilson
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Letworth Clarke March 11. 1842 } to same 1. April 1842
11655-
act 7. July 1838

State
New York
Hudson March 28 th 1842
Sir,
Your Letter of March 11 th still intact relating to Mrs. Christine Wilson's claim is before me.
The Com te will see the difficulty Mrs. Wilson labors under in identifying her late husband.
All the evidence that can be obtained as to his identity has been sent.
Viz. Her statement that her husband was from Maine & enlisted into the Massachusetts line.
2 d the other witnesses who testify to what they have heard him say in his life time.
Cumulative testimony can be obtained. That is the whole community there know that he W m Wilson was reputed to have been a Revolutionary Soldier & that he was from the Province of Maine. This I can obtain if it will be of any service.
But is it not satisfactorily proven that this William Wilson applicant's husband served, that he was from Maine & that he was taken prisoner.

There was, it appears, by your letter only one by that name, William Wilson who served from Maine.
The amount to which, according to your letter, Mr. Wilson will be entitled to if successful is only about $125. according to my calculation in all, this small amount is hardly worth much further exertion.
Mr. Wilson would, I have no doubt be gratified if he could get this small amount, & it is hoped that upon a reexamination of the case you may allow him a pension for this small amount upon the testimony on file.
Resj. & truly yours
Wm. H. Clarke.
Hon. J. L. Edwards.

Oristeen Wilson's Case
widow of William Wilson
act July 7. 1838.
Wheeler, H. Clarke Hudson & York agent,

N.B. If a W m Wilson from Maine should be found in Mass. Con- line having served 3 yrs or about that time without having been imprisoned I should feel more satis- fied that he was the man but if none should be found except those named in Horner's Letter then I think the case will warrant the conclusion that he was the man.
See W m Wilson 3 d Massachusetts Regiment; " " " "

Hudson N York, Jan'y. 23 d 1842.
Sir,
Enclosed I send you the application of Mrs. Orisleen Wilson, widow of William Wilson deceased.
The marriage took place July 19 th 1789. The proof of the marriage will undoubtedly be satisfactory.
M rs Wilson remembers that her husband said he enlisted in the Continental Line of Massachusetts, and that he was from the Province of Maine, she does not remember the town.
She states that her husband was a Prisoner but she did not appear to recollect this so distinctly as the other witnesses whose testimony is annexed.
The only means of identifying him is the fact that his residence when he enlisted was in the Province of Maine, & was in Mass. Cont. Line.
I send you a portion of a letter sent me by Mr. Homer of 3 of that name, one a Fifer, Applicant's husband was not a Fifer. Was he either of the others named by Mr. Homer? The W m Wilson of Hampswell in Captain White's company, was from Maine as Hampswell is in Maine.
I have in my own mind an opinion that this is a meritorious case, but whether the proof of identity is such as will be satisfactory or whether it can be made so, may

perhaps be doubted, unless your Rolls shew his identity. The old Lady seemed positive that her husband alleged 5 years service, and at one time a man by the name of Gains Stebbins talked of applying for his bounty Land. Is not the William Wilson in Whites company Tupper's regiment the man? He was from the Province of Maine.
If the William Wilson of Capt Ashleys company was from Maine I should think he was the man.
I inquired of the old Lady why her husband did not apply for a pension under act of 1818. She said it was because he had too much property. They had a life lease of a small farm which the old Lady still enjoys, and owns.
The Com ee , will see that we have no means of procuring proof of identity, we can furnish evidence of his reputation of having been a Soldier, if more would be useful.
This case is submitted to your consideration, and if but one William Wilson enlisted from Maine into the Massachusetts Line, we submit whether we are not warranted in claiming his

Services as having been performed by applicant's husband - Mr. Wilson gave me the statement of her husband's services before I wrote to Mr. Homer Boston & my letter to him was written before I knew what the Records contained - I presume he has my letter - I requested him to send me the names of those by the name of William Wilson who served in the Mass. Cont. Line with the place of their residence - If you think that letter of mine to Mr. Homer would be of any service I will procure it, if in existence -
I have kept this case by me in hopes that some further evidence might be found - but have not as yet succeeded in finding any - The widow's statement when I first saw her was that her husband was from the Province of Maine, was in the Mass. Cont. Line & served 5 years - as her husband told her, on the first interview I had, she said nothing about his having been imprisoned and I heard no assertion of this kind until after I rec d . Mr. Homer's Letter and then, in answer to my interrogatory she so then said he was imprisoned - Thus much I deemed it my duty to state, All is respectfully submitted, Truly yours, Hon. J. L. Edwards, Wheeler, H. Clarke

William Nelson the
5 years old love
was a prisoner
M '89 - a 1824
Miss S. H. name a M. H. G. B. G.
White Tappan —

about 9 1/2 m o (sun)
24136 C 132
7-15-6

1924 Wachovia May 9. 1924 p 1145 ✓ Maha Ashly. Nov 1924 p 77 du. 76782