Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16,780, Winthrop Watson, N.H.

SERVICE
NUMBER
1686
Watson, Winthrop Mary
W. 16780
CONTENTS

3311
Reps B
+
New Hampshire
Mary Watson.
widow of Winthrop Watson, decd. who was a pensioner under the Act of 7th June, 1832 and who died on the 3 rd March, 1834 - of Strafford Co in the State of New Hampshire who was a private in the Comp y - commanded by Captain Gilcomb of the Regt - commanded by Col: Poor - in the M ch 8: line for 8 Months, -
Inscribed on the Roll of Portsmouth - at the rate of 20 Dollars 16 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26th day of June 1839 and sent to F. Cogswell, Lodger, N. H. -
Arrears to the 4th of Mar: 1839 $79.98 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept 13.33
$93.31
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by Wm Stewart Clerk, Book A Vol. 1 Page 59

21 5 20 New Hampshire Winthrop Watson
of Nashua in the State of New Hampshire who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Titcomb of the Regt. commanded by Col. Poor in the Mass line for 8 Months,
Inscribed on the Roll of New Hampshire, at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Sept. 1888. — and Martha V. Kimball Dover
Arrears to the 14th of Sept. '83 $ 66.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4/1/34 13.33 $ 79.99
Revolutionary Claim, Not June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Book 6
Geo. C. Hall Clerk, Vol. 1. Page 128.

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-HAMPSHIRE.
STRAFFORD SS.—On this twenty second day of October A.D. 1838 personally appeared before me Ezekiel Hurd one of the justices of the Court of Common Pleas. Mary Watson a resident of Dover in the County of Strafford, aged eighty four 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 7, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows:" That she is the widow of Winthrop Watson who was a Soldier or Sergeant in the army of the Revolutionary war, and (I think) served in a company commanded by Capt. Pitcomb and recruited from Dover County of Strafford and State of N.H. when he resided, and was at Cambridge Massachusetts . he left said Dover for said service on the nineteenth day of June, Seventeen hundred Seventy five and was placed on the pension roll of the United States under the act of Congress 1832 and was paid at Portsmouth N.H. She further declares she has no documentary evidence in support of her claim but that she thinks there are records at the Revolutionary War at Washington
She further declares that she was married to the said Winthrop Watson on the twelfth day of March in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six that her husband, the aforesaid Winthrop Watson died on the third day of March A.D. eighteen hundred thirty 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, seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz : at the time above stated.
Mary Watson
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before me
Ezekiel Hurd one of the justices of the Court of Common Pleas
I hereby certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the court.
Ezekiel Hurd one of the justices of the Court of Common Pleas

State of New Hampshire
Shafford.
I Francis Cogswell Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County hereby certify that Ezekiel Hurd is a justice of said Court and that I believe the within signature purporting to be his are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the Seal of said Court This 23d day of October 1838.
F. Cogswell Clerk

I Sally Horne of Dover county of Strafford and State of New Hampshire of lawful age depose and say I am the daughter of Winthrop Watson late of said Dover deceased and Mary Watson his wife, that said Win- throp & Mary lived together as man and wife to my knowledge more than thirty years - I further depose and say My father said Winthrop Watson died on the third day of March A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty four and that my mother the aforesaid Mary Watson was never married to any person since the death of my said Father that she lives in the family with me and that she has no family record of her marriage I further depose and say I was present when Mary Watson made her declaration (in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of July A.D. 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows") and that she is the identical person referred to in this affidavit as the widow of said Winthrop Watson
Sally Horne
State of New Hampshire
Strafford ss, on this 22 d day of October A.D. 1838 Personally appearing the above named Sally Horne  Watson made solemn oath that the above affidavit by her subscribed is true before me, and I certify said Sally Horne is a person who sustains a good character for truth. Ezekiel Hurd Justice of the Peace

State of New Hampshire Stafford ss - I Francis Cogswell Clerk of the Superior Court for said County hereby certify that Eschiel Hunt is a Magistrate as within and that the within signatures purporting to be his are in my belief genuine -
Witness my hand and the Seal of Office this 23d October 1838.
F Cogswell Clerk
2844

I, Asa A. Tufts of Dover in the County of Strafford & State of New Hampshire do hereby say that I am now & have been for some years, Clerk of the First Church in Dover aforesaid, that the Rev Dr. Jeremy Belknap was the Pastor of said Church from February 18 th 1767, until September 11 th 1786. That the said Dr Belknap left a Book among the records of said Church with the following superscription to wit
"a Record of marriages by Jeremy Belknap" in which record are the following words and figures.
"1776 Mar 12 Winthrop Watson & Mary Horn both of Dover" that is to say "One Thousand seven hundred & seventy six years [church] twelfth Winthrop Watson & Mary Horn both of Dover"
In testimony of the above I herewith subscribe my name this twenty second day of October A. D. 1838
Asa A. Tufts
State of New Hampshire
Strafford ss. October 22 d 1838. Personally appearing, Asa A. Tufts above named, made solemn affirmation that the foregoing & above affidavit by him written & subscribed is true. Before me, John A. White, Justice of the Peace.

Shafford. Jr.
State of New Hampshire I Francis Cagswell Clerk of the Superior Court for said County hereby certify that John H. White is a Magistrate as within and that the within signature purpor- ting to be his is in my belief genuine -
Witness my hand and Seal of said Court this 23 d day of October 1838 - F. Cagswell. Clerk.

State of New Hampshire Shafford County ss
I Francis Goguen, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County hereby certify, That Ezekiel Nurd is an acting justice of said Court duly commissioned and qualified, that his Commission was dated on the 25 th day June 1838 and will not expire until he shall have attained the age of seventy years - and that said Nurd acknowledged to me that the signatures to Mary Nelsons Declaration annexed were genuine. I therefore certify them to be genuine -
I also certify that Ezekiel Nurd is an acting justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned & qualified, that his Commission was dated on the twenty fourth day of November 1834 and will expire on the 23 d day of November 1839 and that he acknowledged to me that the signatures to Sally Howes affidavit annexed was genuine - I therefore certify the same to be genuine.
I also certify that John H. White is an acting justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned & qualified, that his Commission was dated on the seventeenth day of June 1837

and will expire on the 16 th day of June 1832. and that said White acknowledged to me that the signature to Asa A. Tufts affidavit annexed was genuine. I therefore certify the same to be genuine.
I also certify that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of said Hurd and White and I have no doubt that the signatures purporting to be theirs to the annexed affidavits are genuine and I therefore certify them to be genuine.
In testimony of all Which I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of said Court this 18 th day of June A D 1839.
F. Cogswell, clerk.
2844

Winthrop Watson St Hampshire
Prob 8 Months
14 06
May 1 1873
P. 367
22 12 5
J Kimball Dover N H

BRIEF in the case of  Winthrop Watson  vs. of Strafford  in the State of N.H.  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? before the Court,  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 84  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Army N.H. Spring In 1795 enlisted 8 As a Gen. Capt. Titcomb Col Poor  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Dover N.H.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? one Witness,  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Witness not Certified 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Dyer
Examining Clerk.

To the Hon. Lewis Cass
Dear Sir, with this is inclosed an application for a Pension the pension certificate or return I wish you would return or direct to me Dover N.H. I have known the applicant more than forty years he is considered a man of truth and veracity and I have no doubt but that he is entitled to a pension.
Dover December 1832 Samuel Kimball
State of New Hampshire Shoafford ss I James Bartlett Reg y of the Court of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Samuel Kimball whose name is subscri- bed to the seven preceding certificates and that Charles H. Farn whose name is subscribed to the three preceding certif- icates, are both justices of the peace for said County of Shoafford, and that said Signatures are their proper and genuine Signatures
In Witness Whereof I have caused the Seal of said Court to be hereunto affixed this 31 st day of May A.D. 1833
James Bartlett Reg y

I Charles Harn do testify and say that I have known and been acquainted with Winthrop Watson the applicant for a pension with which this is a document, twenty five years, that he is and has been a man of truth and veracity as far as ever came to my knowledge and the reason assigned that the applicant has not obtained the evidence of a Clergyman as to his belief respecting his age is and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary services - is that there has not been any regular Clergyman till within three or four months in the congregation to which he belongs and that he lives in a remote part of the town and has been confined about three months from old age and infirmity, and as to further say that it is the general belief in his neighborhood that he did serve in the revolutionary war and is entitled to a pension
New Hampshire } Charles Harn Strafford ss. } On the 30 th day of May A.D. 1833 Then the above named Charles Harn Esq. made solemn Oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is just and true Before me Sam l Kimball Justice of the Peace
Strafford ss. May 30 th A.D. 1833. I hereby certify that the above named Charles Harn esquire is a man of credibility & truth and veracity and a magistrate Sam l Kimball Justice of the Peace

I Daniel Cushing do testify and say that Winthrop Watson of Dover enlisted in Captain Benjamin Fitchum's Company of Infantry in the Spring of 1775. and march- -ed to Winter Hill then so called I enlisted in said Company, and we both enlisted for the term of eight months; we served in said Company together and were in one Mass. and our field officers were Col. Poor. Col. McDuffie and Major Kelley. Gen. Washington our General. DANIEL Cushing
New-Hampshire Stratford ss. On the 17 th day of September A.D. 1832. Then the above named Daniel Cushing made Solemn Oath the above affidavit by him subscribed is true Before me Samuel Kimball Justice
Stratford May 29 th 1833. I hereby certify that the above named Daniel Cushing is a man of truth & veracity - Sam l Kimball Justice Peace

Winthrop Watson do testify and say that I was born in Dover the second day of December old style A.D. 1747. as I was informed by my parents and others, but have no record of my age and never heard of any written record. I have no written discharge from the service of the revolutionary war and I have no recollection of ever receiving any; but a verbal one. I have been married fifty seven years and my wife is now living.
Winthrop Watson
New Hampshire Strafford ss. { On the 29 th day of May A.D. 1833 Then the above named Winthrop Watson made Solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is just and true. Before me Sam l Kimball justice of the Peace.
Strafford ss. May 29 th 1833. I hereby certify that the above named Winthrop Watson is a man of credibility & truth and veracity Sam l Kimball justice of the Peace.

I Samuel Kimball do testify and say that I have known and been acquainted with Winthrop Watson the applicant for a pension with which this is a document; for forty years, that he has been and is a man of credibility and of truth and veracity and the reason assigned that the applicant has not obtained the evidence of a clergyman as to his belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service is that there has not been any regular clergyman till within three months in the congregation to which he belongs and that he lives in a remote part of the town and has been confined about three months from old age & infirmity and does not know the clergyman as he says, I further say that it is the general belief in his neighborhood that he did serve in the revolutionary war and is entitled to a pension and that every person is desirous that he should have it. Sam d Kimball
New Hampshire } On the 30 th day of May A.D. 1833. Strafford ss }
Then the above named Sam d Kimball made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is just and true. Before me
Chas d . Harn justice of the Peace
Strafford ss. May 30 th A.D. 1833 I hereby certify that the above named Sam d Kimball Esquire is a man of credibility and truth and veracity and Magistrate
Chas d . Harn jus of the Peace

Wentworth Wilson -
22085
22125

STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
COUNTY OF STRAFFORD ss.—
COURT OF Probate
September TERM, 1832
On this 18th day of September 1832, personally appeared before the Judges of Judge of the Court of Probate now in session at Dover within and for said County of Strafford, Winthrop Watson a resident of Dover in said County of Strafford and State of New-Hampshire; aged eighty four years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States, in the year 1775 and served as follows:—
That he enlisted at Dover N.H. in a Company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Titcomb in the Spring of 1775 - for the term of eight months, and marched to Winterhill served in said Company - which was annexed to the Reg. commanded by Col. Poor - served as a Sergeant & returned home that fall have no discharge, & does not distinctly know the time of his enlistment or discharge
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or an Annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
Winthrop Watson
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, in open Court.
And the said Court do hereby declare their its opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
Daniel C. Atkinson Judge of Probate
ATTEST—
I James Bartlett Clerk of the — Court of Probate for said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Winthrop Watson for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, this 18th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
ATTEST—
James Bartlett Reg.

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 16780 Mary Wilson Widow of Winthrop Wilson Brig. Genl. War. Act: July 9 th 1838 Index:—Vol. 21 , Page 310
[Arrangement of 1870.]

2844
Mary Walson Wid of Benjamin
TH
Ad July 7 1838
Maria 1776
daa 1834
Allen of Th. 66
pm ann
S. Cogswell Som NH

22 125
Winthrop Station
J. Kimball Esq. Dover N.H.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Winthrop Watson which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yy V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yy VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yy

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.