Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14119, James Wells, Continental Mass. Of Hartford Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental
Wells, James
W 14119
Mass.
Lucy
Bd. Ht 2314-200 Lieut. Issued Jan. 12, 1792 No papers.
of Hartford, Conn -
CONTENTS

let to P. ag July 11 '49
Reported Dec 3 14/48
2395.
Massachusetts.
Lucy Wells.
widow of James Wells Mass
who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a Lieutenant
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 320 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 day of Dec. 1848 and sent to
E. M. P. Wells.
Boston Mass.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 172 Vol. 2

Boston, Octob 31-
Sir, E. M. P. Wells, son of the late Lieut. Jas. Wells of the conti- nental army & Mass. Line, has been known to me many years, & is one of the most intelligent, useful & respecta- ble citizens of this place - He & his mother, the widow of Lt. Wells, came here several years ago, ten or fifteen from Hartford, Cont. - where they they for lived before lived. I believe always, —
You are aware that the Army books or record here are not later than 1780 —
Yours H. B. Ad'rd

1914 3007 Lucy Wells act 7. July 38
x m87.
adm 2 years L 2 320 $
No disbursement
Hon R. Fletcher

Boston Oct 31 1838
The undersigned certifies that the name of James Wells Lieutenant in the fourth Regiment, Massachusetts Line, stands on the Original Book which contains the names of the officers who formed the Massachusetts Society of Cincinnati, which society was formed in the year 1783.
Thos. Jackson Secretary to the Massachusetts Society of Cincinnati
State of Mass ts County of Suffolk Oct 31. 1838. Then the said Thomas Jackson made oath to the truth of the statement above made - & I also certify that said Jackson is well known to me & is Secy. of said Society Hlden Bradford Just. Peace

Lucy Wells resident in Boston, County of Suffolk & State of Massachusetts, aged seventy years, who, being first 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 7 th . 1838, entitled an act granting half-pay & pensions to certain widows. That she is the widow of James Wells , who was a Lieutenant in Continental army of the United States, in the revolutionary war, from 26 th of September 1780 to the close of the said war in about October 1783. as she fully believes, & understood from her said husband during his lifetime. - and as is evident from a record relating to the Massachusetts line of said army, a copy of which from which is here to with annexed, & from the fact that

he was admitted a member of the Society of Cincinnati for said State, an indis- pensable qualification for which was that one be an officer in said Army & line, & served till the close of the war; a certificate of which is hereto annexed that he was in Col: Tappan's regiment a part if not all said period of his ser- vice; & that she fully believes that before his receiving a com- mission as Lieutenant, as aforesaid, he was a pifer, & then a Sargeant in the said army — but she cannot say how long, tho' she believes till his having a commission as Lieutenant — She further declares that she was married to the said James Wells on the _____ of May in the year 1787 that her husband, the afore- said James Wells, died in Feby 1805 —
That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place before the first of January seventy hundred & ninety four; viz. at the time above stated.
Two interlineations before signing
Lemmy Wells

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Suffolk ss. Boston October 30 th 1838 - Then the before named Lucy Wells, being unable to appear in court, by reason of bodily infirmity, personally appeared, subscribed and made oath to the foregoing declaration, before me,
James C. Merrill Justice of the Police Court of the City of Boston -

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, October 31 st 1838.
I hereby Certify, That James C. Merrill Esq r is a justice of the Police Court of the City of Boston, and that Alden Bradford Esq r is a justice of the Peace, both for the County of Suffolk,
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.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John C. Brigham Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Notarial Copy
Be it known that James Wells Esq. late a Lieut in the 14 th Reg t Massachusetts line of the American Army, is a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, instituted by the Officers of the American Army at the Period of its Dissolution, as well to commemorate the great event which gave Independence to North America, as for the laudable Purpose of inculcating the Duty of laying down in Peace Arms assumed for public Defence, and of uniting in Acts of brotherly Affection, and Bands of perpetual Friendship the members constituting the same.
In Testimony whereof, I the President of the said Society, have hereunto set my Hand at Mount Vernon in the State of Virginia this fourth Day of July in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and eighty four, and in the ninth Year of the Independence of the United States  By Order
H. Knox secretary
G. Washington President —
State of Mass s Co. Suffolk, City of Boston Nov r 1 st 1838. By this I certify that I have compared the above with the original document, or Diploma, & that it is a true copy thereof. In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name, & affixed my notarial seal — Alston Bradford notary Public
... 1838 Nov. 1 st P. Scam

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, October 27. 1838
I hereby C ertify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that James Wells served in Colonel Dupper's Regiment as a Lieutenant from September 26. to December 31. 1780. being 3 Months and 5 days at £8. per Month -
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John D. Bigelow
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Boston Aug 29th / 1845
Sir
I have received from The Hon R.C. Winthrop your favor, to him, "respecting the pen- sion of Mrs Lucy Wells widow of James Wells" & together with the prin- ted document — In filling the blank I cannot call to mind & my muth- er cannot with sufficient cor- rectness to swear to it, the amt of pension which she received under the acts of '38 & '44 I therefore write to request of you such information viz: What amount of pension was receipted for by Duty Wells of Boston (formerly of Hartford Conn) as the widow of James Wells a Lieut in the 4 th regiment of the Massachusetts Line of the Revolutionary ar- my under the acts of '38 & '44?
If you will do me the fa- vor to furnish me the above item you will much oblige
— With great respect —
Your Obedt Servant E.M. P. Wells

Massachusetts-1914.
Lucy Wells widow of James Wells, deceased-
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died in the month of Feb. 1805- of Suffolk Co. in the State of Mass- who was Lieut. in the ————— commanded by Captain ————— of the Regt. commanded by Col. Tappan in the Mass- line for 2 Years Lieutenant.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts. at the rate of 320 Dollars ————— Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 th day of Feb- ruary 1839 and sent to Hon. R. Fletcher, A. B.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1838 = $800.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mo. '39 - 160.00
$960.00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by S. A. Elliot Clerk Book ————— Vol. 1, Page 144.

Rep.
200
Set the to Wm Winthrop July 21/48 n. Call. N. Wells Sept 14/50
Massachusetts.
Lucy Wells widow of James Wells. who was a Lieutenant in the Massachusetts line 21 years.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 320 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of May 1843 and sent to
Alden Bradford Boston Mass.
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A Vol. 1. Page 57.

Key
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14119
Lacy Wells
Widow of
James Wells
Lieut. Brew War
Act: Feb 2 d 48
Index:—Vol. M , Page 321
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Sir
In conformity with your directions I herewith inclose the papers for my mother's pension & am
With great respect
E. M. P. Wells
Boston Sep 18 1848

Sir,
Boston 13 July 1849
In reply to your favor of 11 th inst, I have to state, that it appears from the Rolls of this Agency, that Lucy Wells widow of James Wells, du a a Lieutenant at $320. per annum, was paid under Acts,
July 7. 1838 The amount of 1600. March 3. 1843 " 320. June 17. 1844 " 320.
and that she was paid under the Act of 17 June 1844 up to 4 Mch 1845.
Very Respectfully
Your obed t serv t
Franklin Hawn Pension Agent.
Jas. L. Edwards Esq. Comm r of Pensions.

I, Joel Hawes, Pastor of the first Evangelical Society in the City of Hartford, do hereby certify and make known - That I have been Pastor of said Society from about the year A.D. 1818 until the present time - That my immediate predecessor in said pastoral office was the Rev Nathan Strong D.D. - that his pastoral connection with said Society as I am informed & readily believe continued sometime previous to the time of the re- surrection & continued until his death about the year A.D. 1815 - That on entering upon the duties of Pastor of said Society I inquired for the parish register kept by the said Nathan Strong D.D. during his said ministry - & was told that there was none, or that it could not be found - I have never seen any such register & readily believe there is none in existence - There is therefore no means of ascer- taining the date of any marriages in said Society during the time of said Strong's ministry, except from the testimony of surviving friends, or from family records. Given at Hartford this 4th day of October A.D. 1838 -
Joel Hawes. -
Pastor of the First Church in the City of Hartford.
State of Connecticut County of Hartford ss. City of Hartford Oct. 4th 1838 - Personally appeared on the day & year above written, before me Samuel H. Huntington a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Hartford aforesaid, the Rev Joel Hawes D.D. Pastor of the First Church, or First Evangelical Society in the City of Hartford, whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate, and being personally known to me, subscribed the same in my presence, & made known to me that to the best of the same, upon the pains and pen- alties of perjury - objecting from conscientious scruples to make other oath thereto -
Samuel H. Huntington Just. Peace for the County of Hartford.

I Susanna Goodwin of the City & County of Hartford State of Connecticut do affirm and say that I am well acquainted with Mrs Lucy Wells formerly Miss Lucy Ball, & was intimate with her before her marriage with Mr James Wells - I was not present at the wedding but well recollect hearing of it at the time it took place - They commenced house keeping in a house adjoining the one I occupied - they were always reputed & considered man & wife legally married - I well remember the death of Mr Wells, but cannot now specify the year - Mrs Wells removed from this City eight or ten years ago to the City of Boston, as I understood, where I suppose she now lives -
They commenced house keeping, as above specified about the year Seventeen hundred ninety - over three hundred ninety one - They belonged to the First Ecclesiastical Society in this City, when at the time of their marriage was under the pastoral charge of the Rev Nathan Strong D.D. Dolies at Hartford this 6th day of Oct. 1838 -
Susanna Goodwin
State of Connecticut } ss. County of Hartford }
I James H. Holcomb Clerk of the County Court for said County hereby certify that Samuel H. Huntington who has subscribed the accompanying certificate is a Justice of the Peace duly authorized to take the acknowledgment of deeds & that his signature thereto subscribed is genuine.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 6th day of October A. D. 1838.
James H. Holcomb, Clerk.

I George Goodwin of the city & county of Hartford, State of Connecticut do hereby say that I am in the eighty second year of my age - That I served my apprenticeship in said city of Hartford, and have ever since resided in the same that I well knew Mr James Wells late of said city of Hartford as early as about the year A.D. 1790 - until his death - & also his wife Mrs Lucy Wells, formerly Miss Lucy Buel - They were always reputed & considered man & wife legally married & as such I knew them many years having lived near them - Since James is now dead and according to my best recollection since about thirty five years ago - Some years after his death his widow removed from this city to the city of Boston as I was informed & until then & as I suppose is there still living - Given at Hartford this 6th day of Oct. 1838 - Geo. Goodwin
I Sommana Smith of the city & county of Hartford State of Connecticut above and say that I am now in my sixty sixth year - That I served my apprenticeship in said city of Hartford, with Mr Ebenezer Moore - During my apprenticeship Mr James Wells was a boarder in said Moore's family - While he was there I recollect morning it was said that he was to be married to Miss Lucy Buel - Soon after having this, the marriage took place, & became a matter of public notoriety - That I was not present at the marriage - All I know of the fact is that it was spoken of publicly at the time - Mr & Mrs Wells afterwards for sometime then went to house keeping - The marriage took place about fifty years since - I know Mr & Mrs Wells well after this time - They always lived together and were reputed to be man & wife, legally married

I recd the circumstancs of his oath but cannot now specify the time when it. happened Mr Wells was reported to have been at home in the army of the revolution at the time I first knew him -
Mrs Wells removed from this city about ten years ago - to the City of Boston as I am informed & likely believe - where I believe she now resides -
Mr & Mrs Wells before their marriage belonged to the First Ecclesiastical Society in this City, then under the pastoral care of the Rev. Nathan Strong D.D.
Signed at Hartford this 6th day of October A.D. 1838 - Norman Smith
State of Connecticut Hartford County } ss.
City of Hartford Oct 6th 1838
Personally appeared before me Samuel Huntington a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Hartford on the day & year above written, Mrs Susanna Goodwin George Goodwin, & Norman Smith, whose names are subscribed to the foregoing depositions, & they each being personally known to me subscribed the same in my presence & made solemn oath to the truth of the same -
Samuel Huntington Just. Peace in & for Hartford County -

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston Septem r 19 th 1848.
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Prescott Bigelow was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk,
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W. Blatchford
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of 2d February, 1848, entitled, "An act making further provision for surviving Widows and Soldiers of the Revolution."
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss.
Suffolk COUNTY, }
On this sixteenth day of September 1848, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the county aforesaid,
Lucy Wells a resident of Boston in the county of Suffolk aged seventy nine 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 2d February, 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of James Wells who was a resident of Hartford, Connecticut and who was a Lieutenant in the War of the Revolution and is the identical person who drew a pension under the Act of 17th June, 1844, on account of the Revolutionary service of her late husband aforesaid, at the rate of three hundred & twenty dollars and cents per annum.
She further declares that she is still a widow.
Lucy Wells L.S.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day } Before me,
and year above written, }
In presence of E. M. P. Wells Prescott Bigelow - Justice of the Peace.
C. L. Wells
I Certify, That the declarant is personally known to me, a widow and a pensioner, as she declares.
Prescott Bigelow Justice of the Peace.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss.
COUNTY, }
Clerk of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that is a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, duly qualified; and that his signature, above written, is genuine.
and, and the Seal of said Court, this 18
CLERK.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston Septem r 19 th 1848.
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Prescott Bigelow was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk,
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W. Blatchford
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

State of Massachusetts, Suffolk ss. City of Boston, April 12. A.D. 1843.
Boston April 12. A.D. 1843. On this twelfth day of April A.D. 1843, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace & Notary Public in & for said County of Suffolk, Lucy Wells, a resident of said Boston, aged seventy six years, & long well & personally known to me, 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 law the act of Congress, passed on the 3d. March 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the revolutionary war. That she is the widow of James Wells, who was a Lieutenant in the army of the United States in the war of the Revolution, in the regiment or corps, commanded by Col. Tupper part of which that the annual amount of the pension she received under the act of July 7 th 1838 was three hundred & twenty dollars. — She also further declares that she is still a widow — Lucy Wells
is still a widow - Sworn to & subscribed on the } Lucy Wells day & year above written, before } Alden Bradford Just Peace &
notary Public
I also certify that she is still the widow of said James Wells. Alden Bradford Genl. P.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Secretary's Office April 12 1843
I hereby Certify that at the date of the within attestation Alden Bradford was a Justice of the Peace and Public Notary for the County of Suffolk.
Witness the Seal of the State
James A. Bolles Secretary of the Commonwealth

Said James Wells was a native of Connecticut, & was in that line the first part of the war - in 1780 & after he was in M aj ors Line - & in Tappan's Regt. Part of the time at least. The Regiments were reduced more than once & officers changed, especially as to Col o of Regiments
A. Bradford Just P er son