Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 44076, James Williams, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Williams, James
S 44076
CONTENTS

181849 New York
James Williamson
38
of Washington in the State of New York who was a Private in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Grayson of the Mass ts line, for the term of 1791 War
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 9 of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 of Dec r 1822 and Fulls Hon. N. Pitcher Govr. of Miss s
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1822  422.93
Semi anl. all'ce ending March 1823  48
52 mo 26/30  $470.93 8 416 6.93
{ Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818. }
422.93 May 1. 1820

James Williams Affidavit and Schedule
Raise blank Sandy Hill Washington County N. York agent —

STATE OF NEW-YORK, Washington COUNTY, ss. }
ON this Sixth day of December 1820 personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of Common Pleas in and for the said county—a Court of Record, which proceed according to the course of common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of their proceedings, and which have the power of fine and imprisonment, James Williams aged Sixty five years, resident in Kingsbury in said county, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18th of March, 1818, and the 1st May, 1820:—That he the said James Williams served in the Revolutionary War, as follows, viz. three years and one month in the company commanded by Captain Abraham Watson in the regiment commanded by Colonel Greton in the line of the state of Massachusetts in the Continental establishment; that he continued to serve in said corps, from the Spring of the year 1781 to the fall of the year 1783 when he was discharged from the said service, at West Point in the state of New York having served three years .
And further, that he made application for a pension in pursuance of the act of Congress of the 18th of March, 1818, the ninth day of April 1818 and received a pension certificate, No. _____ dated at the War Office of the United States, the _____ day of _____ and has received his pension, at the rate of _____ dollars per month, from the said _____ day of _____ to the fourth day of _____
And, in pursuance of the act of the 1st May, 1820, I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with 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 18th 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.
his  James X Williams mark
Schedule of the property of the above named James Williams to wit -
   one axe  1 50  one barrel oak 8-63     2 Hoes "  1 00  one pair Sheeters  50    1 Pot "  50  3 pails "  75    1 Dish Kettle  1 50  1 Corn Basket  38    1 Tea Kettle  1 "  3 Chests "  1 50    3 Knives & Forks -  50  one Shider "  75    6 Table Spoons  30      2 Tea Spoons  8      6 plates "  50      1 Platter  38      2 Sets Cups & Saucers  62      1 Table "  25              $12, 51      his  James X Williams mark

And further that he is by occupation a Laborer and Very much infirmed by age and crippled by Rheu- matism so as to be unable to procure the means of subsistence for myself and family without the aid of Public or Private Charity - and that he has a wife named Elizabeth Williams aged fifty six years who is weakly and infirmed and one son Annan Williams nine years old who are dependent on him for support - and further that he made his original application for a Pension in Pur- suance of the act of Congress of the 18 th of March 1818 and received Notice that his name was found on the Army Rolls as having deserted in June 1777 which he says was at least three years previous to his enlistment or service in any manner whatever in the Army of the United States. Subscribed and sworn in open Court the day and date above } his J. Williams mark D. Shepherd Clerk
I, James D. Shepherd - clerk of the Washington Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington 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 in val- ue of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is Three — dollars and fifty one cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this Sixth — day of December — 1821 D. Shepherd Clerk

State of New York } Washington County } p. James Williams of the Town of Fort Ann in the County of Washington aforesaid the same person mentioned in the annexed Affidavit subscribed by him, and in the other annexed Affidavits, being duly sworn saith that in the Month of May in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and Eighty one at the Town of Pittsfield in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, he did Enlist into the Army of the United States to serve against the Common Enemy under Captain Watson of the Third Massachusetts Regiment commanded by Colonel Gration to serve for three years, as stated in the first annexed Affidavit. And that he did in fact serve as therein stated and was discharged as therein set forth. And he most solemnly swears and avers that previous to the time of his Enlistment above mentioned he has not enlisted in any shape or manner into the said Army of the United States, nor did he in any way belong to it as either as a Militia Soldier or in any other capacity, and that he did not desert from the said Army in June 1877 or at any other time, but he did in fact serve faithfully and constantly from the said time of his Enlistment until he was discharged as aforesaid. And that he well knew Daniel Jones and Bezalel Pierce in the annexed Affidavits named while they were soldiers in the Army as stated in their Affidavits annexed. And he further saith that he is old and very poor, and needs the assistance of his Country for support - James Williams Mark

Sworn this 2 nd day of October 1818
before Me
Henry C Martindale. One of the Washington Com Pleas Judges —
State of New York
Washington County. ss. Be it remembered that on the several dates of the three additional Affidavits annexed to the original declaration of James Williams above named herein annexed personally appeared before Me Henry C Martindale One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington, the said James Williams, Ezekiel Jones Bezaleel Pierce, John Mott and Nathan P Colvin in their respective annexed affidavits named, and severally took and subscribed the annexed Affidavits to which their names appear, and being by Me duly sworn each on his oath declared that the facts set forth in his Affidavit were true. And I Certify that I am personally acquainted with the said Nathan P Colvin and know him to be a Credible Witness and as well from Information as from the appearance and Manner of the other three Witnesses I have no doubt of their Credibility also - And Williams also I know to be in extreme indigent circumstances. And I am well satisfied that he served in the Revolutionary War against the Common Enemy, as stated in his Affidavit -
Henry C Martindale

State of New York Washington County vs - Esdrail Jones of the Town of White- hall in the County of Washington aforesaid - said being duly sworn saith that on or about the first of January 1777 at Nohelstown in the State of New York he Enlisted into the Army of the United States under Captain Abraham Paton of the 3 rd Massachusetts Regiment commanded by Colonel John Green. William Hull afterwards Lieutenant Colonel That he served in that Regiment during the revolutionary War against the Common Enemy Six Years and five Months. That he served the Campaign of 1777 in said Paton's Company against Burgoyne. That during that Campaign he knows that James Williams who is named in the annexed Affidavit or declaration did not belong to said Paton's Company and he is confident that he did not belong to that Regiment. That there were one or two Men of the name of Williams belong- ing to that Regiment in 1777, but what became of them he does not know, but neither of them was the James Williams mentioned in the annexed Affidavit. That he first became acquainted with James Williams, the person named in the annexed Affidavit at New Pitzker in the State of New York sometime in the Month of February 1783 where his Regiment, the same 3 rd Massachusetts, lay in Winter Quarters. That the said James Williams was then a regular Soldier in the Company formerly commanded by the said Paton, of the said 3 rd Regiment, and that the said James Williams was then dressed in Uniform, and appeared to be an experienced Soldier, and though this deponent does not know how long said Williams had

then been in the Service he is confident he was not a new Soldier but must have been in the Army at least several Months That he saw him several times during that Winter. That in March then next this defendant was detached to the lines, and returned to the Encampment in April thereafter, when he found the said James Williams still there. That in June next thereafter to wit 1788 this defendant was discharged from the Army, and about that time he well remembers seeing the said Williams still in the Army. That he never heard of his having deserted at any time. That during this defendants service he was frequently detached and abused on duty, and when with his regiment he was stationed on the left, and the Company to which said Williams belonged was near the right of said Regiment, which this defendant supposes to be the reasons why he did not sooner become acquainted with the said James Williams. And further this defendant saith not.
Ezekiel Jones
Sworn this 25 th day of August 1818 before Me
Henry C Martindale One of the Washington Common Pleas Judges.
Washington County ss. John Moss of Granville in said County being sworn saith that for many years he has been well acquainted with the above named Ezekiel Jones, and he believes him to be a Man of truth and veracity. — John Moss
Sworn this 25 th day of August 1818 before Me
Henry C Martindale One of the Wash. Com. Pleas Judges

State of New York
Washington County
vs. Bezaleel Pierce of the
person of Boston in the County of
Massachusetts and State aforesaid being duly sworn saith that in the Spring of the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty one in the Month of May he entered into the Service of the United States to serve against the Common Enemy as a private soldier in Captain Watson's Company of the 3rd Massachusetts Regiment Commanded by Colonel Gorton, William Hull Lieutenant Colonel That he joined the Army at Phillipsburg and there found James Williams the same person named in the annexed Affidavits a private in the same Company. That he continued in the service from that time until about the first day of March next thereafter, when he was dis- charged by his said Colonel Gorton at the Highlands when he left the said Williams still in the Army in the same Company and Regiment. And this deponent knows that the said James Williams served in the same Company and Regiment with this deponent during all the time this deponent was in the Service which was more than nine months for they were fellow soldiers and Messmates together, and further saith not.
Sworn this 12th day of September 1880
before Me Henry C. Martindale One of the Washington Com- mon Pleas Judges
Bezaleel Pierce

Washington County, ss. - Nathan Colvin of the Town of Kingsland do hereby certify that he is personally acquainted with Bezaleel Pierce within named, and he believes him to be an honest upright Man, and he has no doubt of the credibility of his testimony and further saith not. Sworn this 25 th day of September 1818 Nathan P. Colvin before Me Henry Mantinicki Esq. of the Washington Common Pleas Judge.

In the Matter of James Williams Revolutionary Soldier Deft and Certificate
James Williams, Massachusetts line, Revolutionary Claim.
transmitted by Henry C. Martindale, Esq.; Sandy-hill, Wash n . County, New-York.
Found on Col: Grea- -ton's regim t . (3 d Mass ts ) and stated by the rolls to have deserted in June, 1777. Not found on the rolls in subse- quent arrangement of the said regiment.
Inadmissible.
War Dep t . Oct. 24. 1818.
The annexed affidavits are not proofs that Williams served out his time honorably. The claim cannot be admitted.

State of New York Washington County
ss. James Williams of the Town of Fort Ann in the County of Washington and State of New York being duly sworn on his oath saith that in the Month of May in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven Hundred and Eighty one at the Town of Pittsburgh in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts he enlisted into the Army of the United States to serve against the Common Enemy under Captain Watson of the Third Massachusetts Regiment of the 3rd Brigade Grayton Colonel William Hull Lieutenant Colonel Grayton Colonel William Hull. That he served as a private Soldier for three years. That in the Month of June after he enlisted he joined the Army at West Point. That he served his Country against the Common Enemy from the time of his Enlistment until the restoration of Peace, when he was discharged he thinks in the month of September or October in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and Eighty Three at West Point aforesaid. That he remained in the same Regiment during his whole Term of Service. That his discharge aforesaid is lost or destroyed and no written or other evidence in his proof of his Enlistment service and discharge aforesaid. That he is now and ever since the Term of his Service aforesaid has been a resident Citizen of the United States, and now lives in the Town of Fort Ann in the County of Washington and State of New York aforesaid. That he is sixty years of age, has a family and no property, and by reason of his advanced Circumstances stands in need of the Assistance of his Country for Support.
James Williams Mark Sworn this 9th day of April 1880 before Me Henry J. Martindale One of the Judges of the Washington Com. Pleas.

State of New York Washington County
Ep. Be it remembered that on the fourth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighteen before Me Henry C. Martindale One of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington personally came James Williams in the foregoing Affidavit named, and having declared that he could not write subscribed the same by making his mark, and being by Me duly sworn on his oath declared that the facts therein stated are true and I further certify that I have for a number of years known the said James Williams and though I know nothing of his enlistment and service, as aforesaid, I have frequently under- -stood from common report, that he was a revo- -lutionary soldier, long before the passage of the presents Law of Congress, insuring for revolutionary soldiers. And I am satisfied both from his Affidavit and his manner of relation, that he served in the revolutionary War against the Common Enemy as stated in his Affidavit aforesaid, and I know him to be poor and old, and that by reason of his aforesaid circumstances he stands in need of the assistance of his Country for Support
Henry C. Martindale
cannot be admitted

State of New York Washington County ss I, Daniel Shepherd Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington do hereby certify that Henry G. Martindale Esq. by whom the above certificate has been made is one of the Judges of said County acting under the authority of the said State and that the above is his Signature In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 14th day of April 1818 D. Shepherd Clerk
I also certify that the said Henry G. Martindale Esq. is still one of the Judges of the said Court of Common Pleas - October 13th 1818 D. Shepherd Clerk
See before for

State of New York Ontario County } ss. On this twenty second day of September one thousand Eight Hundred and twenty one personally appeared before me Warren Brown Justice of the Peace in and for the said County Nathaniel Green of South Bristol in the County afore said who after being duly sworn doth depose and say that was a Soldier in the Army of the Revolution and from the first of January Seventeen Hundred and Eighty one to the 8 th day of June 1783 in he was a quarter Master Serjt in Col l John Greator s 3 d Massachusetts Reg t and during the whole of said time he was person- -ally and well acquainted with James Williams now of the Town of Kingsbury in the County of Washin- -ston State afore said and Well knows and Positively remembers that the said James Williams Served as a good and Faithful Soldier in Capt l Abraham Watson s Company and Col l John Greator s Regiment the whole of the time above stated - And he further saith that during the whole of the said time he was intimately acquainted with the afore said James Williams and truly saith that the said James Williams was esteemed as very faithful and active Soldier and that he did not desert the Service of the United States or in any way engage himself by unsoldierly or bad conduct during the whole of the time above stated - he further saith that the Places where he served in Company with the said James Williams was at New Boston, and New - Windsor a Do called near West Point and at

at West Point and in the vicinity of West Point and he further saith that the said James Williams is now present at the signing of this affidavit and he knows him to be the same James Williams he has described in this affidavit - and that he has been acquainted with him ever since the close of the War of the Revolution -
- Subscribed and sworn to at South Bristol in said County the day and date above before me Warren Brown J.P.
Nathaniel Green
State of New York Ontario County } ss
I certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Nathaniel Green and that he is a respectable man and a man of Truth and Veracity - Warren Brown J.P.
Ontario County } ss Clerks Office }
In testimony, that it appears from the Records in said Office that Warren Brown whose name appears above was on the fifth day of May 1820 a Justice of the peace in and for said County, and further, that it does not appear from the said Records that the said Warren Brown has been superceded or removed from office, and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Warren Brown, and verily believe the signature

which appears to the annexed certificate, like in his own proper hand writing, I subscribe my name and affix the seal of said County at Canandaigua this sixth day of October 1821 - Gavin L. Nicholas

The Hon. J. C. Calhoun Secy of War

Sandy Hill April 2 d 1821
The Hon. S. C. Calhoun,
Sir, I have been requested by James Williams, an old soldier to enclose to you his papers for the purpose of allowing him a pension - which has heretofore been refused him, by a particular examination of his papers I think you will be satisfied that he did not desert as intimated by the endorsements upon his declaration, for he expressly swears that he did not join the Army of the United States until the year 1781 and it will appear by the enclosed letter of the Secy. of the commonwealth of Massachusetts that his name is not found in Gilesons Reg t previous to 1780 - Williams own affidavit is well corroborated by the affidavits of others - I have known Williams well for twenty five years, and believe he was a faithful soldier and do not believe that he ever deserted the service, he is old, infirm, and very poor, consequently wholly unable to go to his native state for further proof - allow me therefore to request the Honble the Secy. of War to re-examine his papers, and I cannot but hope that a pension certificate will be enclosed to me for Williams - With great respect your friend & serv t Nathaniel Pitcher

Rufus Clark
Sandy Hill Washington County N. York
Agent —

State of New York } Washington County } p. In the Matter of James Williams Benjamin Cutler being duly sworn doth depose and say that he was a soldier during the War in the American Revolution, in Capt. Benj n Hayward's Company, & Col. Tupper's Reg t and in the year 1782 he was well acquainted with James Williams in Capt. Abraham Watson's company & in the 3 rd Massachusetts Regiment commanded by Col. Grooton & Hull - and he is positive that he saw him in actual service during said year at the Boston Neck so called near West Point and further this deponent saith not Subscribed and sworn to Sandy Hill this fifth day of Benj n Cutler Sept r 1821 before me
J. B. Lathrop Public Notary of the State of New York
State of New York } Washington County } p. I certify that the above named Benj n Cutler is a respectable Citizen and Credible witness
J. B. Lathrop Public Notary
1.87 1.50 75  2.25 84  1.41

Adm 31
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Pension Office

House of Reps Dec r 5 th 1822
J. S. Edwards Esq m
for. Permit me to call your attention to the Pension papers of James Williams (of Washington Co- NY) left with you last Spring for re-examination - one of the depositions  part of your requirements is, the affidavit of some commissioned officer as to the service of Williams, all his officers originally resided on some part of Massachusetts, and he knows not at this time whether any of them are living - I have known Williams for the last thirty years, during which he has resided in Kingsbury in the above County. He is exceeding poor & debilitated, and is wholly unable to journey in pursuit of the witnesses required, with- out public or private charity - which charity he has occasionally rec d for several years past -
He made one journey of two hundred miles to get the affidavit of Dr. M c Gowan, Green

and to enable him to perform this journey, myself & others contributed, I firmly believe that Williams is justly entitled to a pension, and humbly trust you will find the facts sufficient to warrant the
With great respect yr ob t
serv t Nathl. Pitchford

Yes
Mr. Russel Clark
Sandy Hill State of New York

Boston March 3 d 1821
Sir,
We have no records of the Soldiers from this State, in the revolutionary Army, of a later date than 1780.
As it was possible Williams might have enlisted earlier than you stated, I have searched our books, & his name is not in Grooton's Regt. which was the 3 d  for 1780 - or before
Then came many men who enlisted in 1781 for three years & during the war - but we know nothing of them officially - After 1780, the army was wholly paid directly by continental agents , so that no returns were made to each state respecting them - For 1777, 1778, 1779 & 1780, this State had

sixteen Regts as its quota, & paid them. & therefore it is, that their names for those years are in this office - But after 1780, we have neither records, lists or regimental rolls, of any sort -
Yours Obt. Servt.
Halden Bradford
Aug 16 th Ames 18 th

44076
INVALID.
Rev
File No.
44,076
James Williams Rev Rev
Act:
18 th March 18 th
index:—Vol.
8
, Page
569
[Arrangement of 1870.]