Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 25049, Jedediah Witham, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Witham, Jedediah Spinney, Hannah (Former widow)
W 25049
CONTENTS

Let. to W.B. Parker, June 15. 1838 Same 17 Mar. 1841 Hon. J. H. Sevier January 6 th 1842 W.H. Hackett W 29/53
Maine 1293
Mrs. Sarah Spinnery (formerly widow of Jedediah Witham)
who died on the 28 th June 1778, of York Co. in the State of Maine who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Burbank of the reg t commanded by Col. Brewer in the Mass ts . line for 1 y r 3 m. 28 days.
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 53 Dollars 10 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 th day of Aug t 1837 and sent to Miss H. Hayes & Cogswell, South Berwick
Arrears to the 4th of March 1837 $318. 60 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sep r 37 26. 55
$ 345.15
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 d }
Recorded by M. Allison Clerk, A Vol. 2 Page 16

State of New Hampshire } ss. County of Rockingham }
On this twenty second day of November, A.D. 1853, personally appeared Jedidiah Witham, a resident of Eliot in the County of Rockingham, and State of Maine aged Seventy Six years, who being duly sworn ac- cording to law declares that he is the only surviving child of Jedidiah Witham, and Hannah Spin- ney formerly his Widow, who was a Pensioner, and died at Eliot, on the twenty seventh day of October A.D. 1842,
That he makes the declaration for the purpose of obtaining the arrears of pension due the said Hannah at the time of her death Jedidiah Witham
Subscribed and sworn to before me on the day and year above written: and I do hereby certify that I believe the facts before mentioned are true. Wm B Hackett Not Public
State of New Hampshire, County of Rockingham,
On this twenty second day of November A.D. 1853, personally appeared before me a Notary Public, authorized for said State, duly commissioned and qualified according to law, and authorized to administer oaths within said State, Melina Davis, and Olive Witham, both of Eliot Maine, who being duly sworn according to law, say that they have been acquainted with Jedidiah Witham of said Eliot, who signed the above declaration, for more than thirty years and that the said Jedidiah Witham is the only child surviving or (that ever was born) of Hannah Spinning, Widow of Jedidiah Witham late a Pensioner of the United States deceased who died October twenty seventh A.D. one thousand eight hundred and forty two, & that we are both disinherited.
attest
Wm B Hackett W.M.Y. Hackett
Melina Davis Olive Witham mark

State of New Hampshire } County of Rockingham } 23
On this twenty second day of November A.D. 1853, before me a Notary Public within and for the State of New Hampshire, appeared Dedieal Witham Paulina Davis & Olive Witham all credible and respectable witnesses and made out to the truth of the annexed affidavits by them respectfully subscribed, and certify that I have no interest in the result of this cause, and am not concerned in its presentation in witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my Notarial Seal on this twenty second day of November A.D. 1853.
Wm B. G. Cackett Notary Public

I Diamond Kennond of Eliot in the County of York & State of Maine aged eighty four years testify depose and say that I have known Mrs Hannah Spinnay ever since she was a child, we have always lived within two miles of each other & indeed were both born within that distance from each other. When we were both young she was about as large as I was & I supposed we were nearly of the same age, Her maiden name was Hannah Davis & I also knew Jedediah Witham who lived a little over a mile from me. In the spring of the year of our Lord fifteen hundred & seventy seven (to wit 1777) I remember to have heard that the said Jedediah Witham was married to the the said Hannah Davis, and I do well remember that soon after they were so mar- ried, in June 1777 the said Jedediah Witham enlisted into Captain Burbanks company in the army of the United States and imme- diately went off & joined the continental army. I did not see them married, but have no doubt they were married as it was so said at the time, she was ever afterwards regarded and spoken of as the wife of Jedediah Witham & I never heard their marriage dated - After her said husband had gone into the army as aforesaid some months the said Mrs Witham was delivered of a child which was always reputed to be the child of Jed- ediah Witham aforesaid - The child so born was named Jedediah Witham, who has always lived near me, to this day, and has always been considered as the lawful child of the said Jedediah Witham first named - & of his Mother Hannah Witham as the reason which makes me remember when he went into the army & what company he joined is because I had a brother in the same company - -

She said Jedediah Witham never returned after he went into the army, but I have often heard it said that he was killed in the Battle of Monmouth June the 20th A.D. 1778. My near neighbour Reuben Frost who was in the army with him & belonged to the same company, told me that he stood by the side of the said Jedediah Witham when he was killed. That he was shot through the head, and dropped by his side. After the news came of his death, the said Hannah was always regarded as his Widow - she lived as a Widow several years & then married John Buttle & moved to the hither part of Dover not two miles from this place - The said John Buttle died - and she married one Timothy Spinnery & removed back to this place - The said Timothy Spinnery died upwards of twenty years since - and she has remained a Widow ever since - Since she has been a widow she has been supported a part of the time by this town in their poor house, and a part of the time by her said son Jedediah Witham, who is barely able to maintain her -
Her Diamond Kenning
State of Maine
County of York, On this eighth day of July in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & thirty seven personally appeared before me the said Diamond Kenning & made solemn oath that the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed is just & true - & I do certify that the said Diamond Kenning is well known to me to be a person of truth and veracity and his statements are entitled to full credit Wm. S. Hayes Just. Peace York County Maine

I Timothy Kennard of Eliot in the County of York, and State of Maine aged eighty one years, a revolutionary pensioner of the United States upon the Rolls of the Agency of the State of Maine under the Act of Congress of the seventh of June A.D. 1832, testify dispose and say, that I was well acquainted with Jedediah Witham formerly of Eliot the kitteny deceased. That said Jedediah Witham was a revolutionary soldier, and served in the same company and Regiment with myself, that I was both his messmate & comrade in the army. That I myself enlisted September the first A.D. 1777 for eight months, and was discharged at Valley Forge in the State of Pennsylvania on the first day of May A.D. 1778 having served out the term for which I enlisted. That I do not know precisely when said Witham enlisted, but it was previous to my enlistment and in the early part of the season - and when I joined his company at Albany I found him the said Jedediah Witham there, doing duty as a soldier in Col. St. Lawrence's company. He being my messmate and an old acquaintance I had frequent conversations with him; he then told me that he enlisted for three years, which I have no doubt was true. We were both attached to Captain Burbank's Company, in Col. Samuel Brown's Massachusetts Regiment of the line in Brigadier General John Patterson's Brigade. That I left him at Valley Forge when I was discharged as aforesaid, and have never seen him since. I heard soon after the event, that the said Jedediah Witham was killed at the Battle of Monmouth on the 28th day of June 1778.
When I was discharged from the army at Valley Forge as aforesaid & came home, I was

the bearer of a letter from said Jedediah Witham to his wife from the army, and I delivered it to his wife with my own hands at Eliot, then a part of the town of Hitting- and I recollect that she then had a child in her arms - which was the reputed child of the said Jedediah Witham - who is now living and has supported his mother for many years past - I have no doubt that the said Jedediah Witham was lawfully married to the said Hannah Spinnery who now claims a pension as having been his widow for I have always been acquainted with her from her youth to this time - They were respectable people lived together as husband and wife before he went into the army and I never heard their lawful marriage doubted - she afterwards married John Puttler who also died - & she married Timothy Spinnery of Eliot - and he died upwards of twenty years since, and the said Hannah his widow has lived a widow ever since - The said Han- nah Spinnery is a credible person & her statements are entitled to full credit.
Timothy Leonard
State of Maine
County of York July 8th A.D. 1837 - Then personally appeared the said Timothy Ken- nand and made oath that the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed is just & true; and I do further certify that the said Timothy Kennand is well known to me to be a person of truth and verac- ity, and his statements are entitled to full cred it
Wm. A. Hays Just Peace York County Maine

I Daniel Jones of Kittery in the county of York and State of Maine Esquire, of lawful age do hereby testify and say that I am the town clerk of Kittery aforesaid, lawfully chosen and sworn, and that all the records of said town now in existence are now in my possession & under my care. Among these books of Records is an ancient Book entitled "a book Vol. 2. of Deaths, births and marriages" and in said Book is the following entry in the handwriting of the town clerk for the time being viz:
"Jedediah Witham and Hannah Davis both "of Kittery, their names and intentions of "marriage entered May yr 25 th 1777" —
which I testify is in the usual form of entering publications or intentions of marriage. — I have looked for the record of their marriage & do not find it on the town Books, and do not think it is there, as ministers sometimes omitted to return to the town clerk marriages by them solemnized to be recorded.
I further testify do hereby say that the following is a true transcript from the same book of Records of the town of Kittery viz:
"John Buttle of Dover, and Hannah Witham of "Kittery, their names and intentions of marriage "entered December yr 1 st 1781."
Attest Daniel Jones
Town clerk of the town of Kittery —
And I further testify do hereby say that the following is also another true extract from the same book of Records of the town of Kittery viz: "1782 January John Buttle of Dover and "Hannah Witham of Kittery married by Alphaeus "Spring minister of the gospel in the upper "Parish in Kittery"
Daniel Jones Town clerk of the said town of Kittery

I further depose testify and say that the foregoing record of said marriage is in the usual form of such entries on the town Records of Bittersy.) Daniel Jones
State of Maine County of York, July 8th A.D. 1837. Then personally appeared the said Daniel Jones, and made oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is true, and I further certify that the said Daniel Jones is known to me to be town clerk of the town of Bittersy, that he is a person of truth and veracity and his statements are entitled to full credence. Wm. A. Hays Just Peace

Declaration of Widow Hannah Spinnery, & the Evidence in Sup- port thereof
admitted
Pn 1 of 3 ms. 28 days $53 10
Hayes & Logsdon Agents South Berwick Maine
on roll from 1 March 1977 to 28 June 1978 when it is marked "Killed in Battle 28 June 1978" Capt. Mark Col Brown ms. Roll

Declaration,
In order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the act of Congress of the fourth of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty five, & of the first section of the Act of the third of March A.D. 1837 -
State of Maine
County of York ss - On this eighth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty seven personally appeared before William Allen Hayes Esquire, Judge of Probate within & for the County of York, in the State of Maine, Hannah Spinnay a resident of Bliet in the County of York and State of Maine aged eighty two 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 Act of Congress passed July 4th A.D. 1835, and the Act explanatory of said Act passed March the third A.D. 1837 -
That on the eleventh day of June A.D. seventeen hundred and seventy seven she was married to Jedediah Witham & Stephen Spinnay then a settled Minister of said Bliet, a part of Kittery. That her said husband the aforesaid Jedediah Witham on or about the twentieth day of June in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and seventy seven at said Bliet then a part of Kittery enlisted as a private soldier in Captain Burbank's company of the Army of the United States for three years - and immediately joined the Northern Army under the command of Major General Nathaniel Gates at Albany in the State of New York, and marched from that place with the army in various directions, and in all its movements until the battle of Monmouth when & where he was killed on the twenty eighth day of June -

A.D. seventeen hundred & seventy eight having served one year & eight days -
She further declares that she was married to the said Jeshiah Witham on the 11th day of June A.D. 1777 - That her said husband Jeshiah Witham died as aforesaid at the battle of Monmouth on the 20th day of June A.D. 1778 - That she was after- wards married to John Puttie, who died in the year seventeen hundred & Ninety three, and that she was afterwards again married to one Timothy Spinney who died in the year A.D. eighteen hundred & ten - and that she has remain- ed a widow since the decease of the said Timothy Spinney in 1810 - and of course that she was a widow on the 4 th day of July A.D. 1836 - as will more full ly appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed
Witness
Wm. A. Hays
Rawlin Maples
her
Hannah T. Spinney
marks
State of Maine
County of York } On the eighth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven, personally appeared the above named Hannah Spinney subscribed the foregoing Declaration, and I do certify that the said Hannah Spinney is a person of truth and veracity, and her statements are entitled to full cred it ; and I do also certify, that the said Hannah Spinney by reason of her great age and bodily infirmities is unable to travel and attend court - //
Wm. A. Hays Judge of Probate York County, Maine -

State of Maine.
York county ss.
I Wm. Cutter Allen, Registrar of the Court of Probate for the county and State aforesaid, hereby certify that the Hon. Wm. A. Heaves is the Judge of the Court of Probate aforesaid, and also a Justice of the Peace within and for the county of York, and that his signatures hereunto annexed are his genuine signatures.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this 14th day of July, 1837.
Wm. Cutter Allen, Regr. Prob. Court York county.

Rev  WIDOW, &c.
File No. 23049
Hannah Spinney Formerly Widow of Jedediah Witham Rev Rev War
Act: July 4 th 1836
Index:—Vol. 8 , Page 236
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Nov. 11/98. Walter E. Burdakin. E. Boston, Mass.
Jany. 11 "99. Miss S. R. Hetzel. City.

Portsmouth N. H. Nov 22. 1853
Sir
I transmit herewith the application of Isidore Witham, son and only heir of Isidore Witham and Hannah Spinnery, to which latter person a Pension of Fifty three dollars, 87 cents per annum was granted Augt 7. 1837 under the act of July 4. 1836; for the arrears of Pension due said Hannah at the date of her disease
I am Sir
Very respectfully
Your obed Servt
W. H. G. Harkett
Hon L. P. Waldo Censor of Pensions &c

Jan 25 1842
206
General Admiral  Admiral
on roll '36
Edward.
Pension Office
Washington City
Rev A. H. Lewis
Hon. A. H. Lewis H. R.

Will Col Edwards, examine the enclosed paper and say if there be on file, in his office any proof which would establish the enclose of this paper, viz Hannah Spinney, to the amount she asks.
Scratch chamber Jan'y 3 d 1841.
A. H. Lewis.
Col Edwards. Pension Office. Washington City D.C.

Mrs. Reals - 1 June

Portsmouth, N. H. 10 th May 1838.
Hon: J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
Sir: -
In June 1837,
I made out the declaration of Hannah, formerly the widow of Jeremiah Witham of Maine & also took an affidavit of Witham's service from a Mr. Knowland of Eliot, but could not find her marriage of her on the Kittery records, only "the intentions of marriage", and Mr. Jones the Town Clerk of Kittery states that that was all that he certified to: - I was also present at Kittery, when William A. Hays, Judge of Probate, took her declaration: She obtained a pension, her son Jeremiah Witham has refused to pay me for my trouble, on the ground that Judge Hays, made the papers over again & found the marriage on the Records, which I could not: - Judge Hays took all the papers to South Berwick for the Register of Probate to put on his seal of Certificate, & I saw them afterwards forwarded to the pension Office, and the Certificate of pension was enclosed to him by the Judge I suppose recd. his pay, but Witham refuses to pay me any thing.
Now the Town Clerk states that he never gave any Certificate of the marriage being consummated for he could not, as it was not on his Books.

The purpose of this is therefore to enquire, whether, the pension of said Widow of Scandiah Witham of Eliot, Maine, was granted on the publication or certificate of the " intentions of marriage " or whether any proof of the marriage ceremony was also adduced & what that proof was?
For if it was a Certificate purporting to come from Daniel Jones Town Clerk of Kittery that the marriage ceremony was performed, as Witham states to me it was, it, the Certificate, must be spurious, as Mr Jones has stated to me, lately, that he gave none such, for he could find only the " intentions " on the Kittery records.
Samuel Prescott was yesterday convicted in the Circuit Court of the U.S. sitting here for forging & altering the Book of Records of the minister of the Gospel the Town of Madbury

on one Indictment of sentenced to two years confinement in the N. H. State Prison, the other Indictments were quashed by order of the Judge, or a Nolle Prosequi entered by the D. Atty.
Seth R Shackford Justice of the Peace and his son, William A Shackford implicated in the same transaction forfeited their recognizances or ran away as I understood.
It is supposed that the Shackfords have gone to Portsmouth, Ohio, as an uncle of theirs, (now deceased) resided there & left a large estate.
Have you yet decided the cases of the Widows I forwarded you, namely Mrs Wilson, Mrs Phillips, Mrs Fowler, Mrs Neal, Mrs Shatbridge?
I am, Sir, respectfully your Obedt Servt
Wm B. Parker

2320 July 17 Sperry The 4 July '36 3rd Sec. Revolutionary Claims
Hannah Sperry Edward Nathan
Free
James L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington
Hayes & Lawrence

SoBerwick July 15 1837
Hon J. L. Edwens Dr Sir,
Enclosed we send you the Declaration of Mrs Hannah Sperry with the accompanying evidence to support her claim to a Pension
Your early attention to the same will oblige
your Obedient Servt Hayes & Cogswell
Hayes & Cogswell

REVOLUTIONARY SERVICE.
O. W. & N. Div.
MEMORANDA.
Please supply as much as possible of the data called for below.
Full name of soldier:
Jedediah Witham.
Place of residence before service: (Town, county, and State, if possible.)
Mass.
Place of residence after service: (Town, county, and State, if possible.)
Date of death (as near as possible):
June 28th, 1777.
Killed at Battle of Monmouth,
Christian name of widow:
Hannah Spinney.
Did either he or his widow receive a pension?
Widow rec'd a pension.
Remarks:
Was in Gen. John Patterson's Brigade, also joined the army under com and of Gen. Horatio Gates. "Book A Vol. 2. pg. 16."
Your name and address:
Miss S. R. Getzel Registrar Gen'l D. X. R. 902 Z St. N. W. Washington D. C.

#902-F, St.,
Washington, D.C.,
Dec. 13, 1898.
H. Clay Evans, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
Kindly give me all the information you have in your office with regard to the enclosed slip, and oblige,
Very truly yrs,
(Miss) Susan Rinie Betzel
Reg. Gen.
N. S. D.A.R.

NATIONAL TUBE WORKS COMPANY.
D. W. HITCHCOCK, PRESIDENT. E. C. CONVERSE, VICE-PRES. AND GEN'L MANAGER. A. F. LUKE, SEC'Y AND TREASURER. HORACE CROSBY, ASS'T GEN'L MANAGER.
Sales subject to strikes, accidents, or causes beyond our control. Quotations subject to change without notice.
BOSTON, MASS. Oct. 25. 1898.
My Dear Sir:
I wish to obtain a certified copy under seal, of the pension certificate and record of one Jedediah Witham Priv. in Revolutionary War , as recorded Book A. Vol 2 page 16, issued under date of Aug. 7. 1837.
Kindly let me know what the fee will be and I will immediately remit.
Respectfully Walter Burdakin.
22 Marion St. Boston Mass. To Pension Commissioner Washington D.C.