Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 34,553, Stephen Witt, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Witt, Stephen
S. 34,553
CONTENTS

7972
4
Massachusetts
Stephen Witt
of Worcester Co. in the state of Massachusetts who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Putnam — of the Massachusetts Line, for the term of 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 16 th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 th of March 1819 and sent to Edward D. Bangs, Esquire Worcester. Worcester Co. Mass ts
Arrears to 4th of Mar 1819 - 10 mo 85. 3 Semi-ann. all ce ending Sept r 1819 48
8133. 3
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continue
Application made July 19 th in 1820 by Abiah Dyer, Mother of Stephen Witt

Stephen Leith
16 Apr
not on Rolls DA
Adm
at Peterham P office & Rand my pay there

State of Massachusetts
Stephen Witt a Citizen of the United States, now resident at Peterborough in the County of Worcester in the State aforesaid, do on oath testify and declare, that in the War of the Revolution, on about the first of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight
I entered and was engaged in the land service of the United States on the continental establishment, and served accordingly from that time to the month of March following until the term of nine months was fully completed and ended in March A.D. 1782. I enlisted again for the term of three years then more and served for the term of nine months as a Soldier against the common enemy, without any interruption or absence: that I belonged to Capt. Daniel Chase's Company and Col. Rufus Putnam's Regt. being the 5th Mass. Regt. for the first nine months - afterwards in Capt. Thos. Turner's Company in Col. Putnam's Henry Jackson's Regt. commanded by Maj. Lowell.
and that I left the service on or about the last of December A.D. 1782 when I was discharged after procuring Robert Hoyt as my Substitute for the remainder of the term which was accepted as such - and that, by reason of my reduced circumstances in life and poverty, I stand in need of assistance from my country for support, being now of the age of Sixty three
And I hereby relinquish all claims to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States, if any may be or hath been so allowed. Stephen Witt
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this sixteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen pursuant to a law of the United States, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War," made and passed on the 18th of March, A. D. 1818, personally appeareth before me,
John C. C. Cummings Western District
the abovenamed Stephen Witt and after due examination and caution to testify and declare the whole truth, he maketh oath to the declaration aforesaid, and subscribes the same in my presence; and, on examination duly made by me the said Judge, it appeareth to my satisfaction that the said declaration is true,
Given under my Hand and the Seal of said Court, the day of the date aforesaid.
John Bangs

Stephen Witt. Plemham
2667
Sept 1819
卷二

Schedule of the Estate of Stephen Witt, of Petersham in the County of Worcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Applicant for a Pension, under the act of Congress of May 1. 1820.
1 Bow, 6 Sheep, 1 pig, 1 plough, 1 draught-chain, 1 axe, 2 hors 1 Shovel, 1 Iron Bar, 1 Shave, 1 hammer, 1 pair pinches, 1 Gimblet 1 case drawers 1 Chest, 2 tables, 1 light-stand, 1 meal chest, 1 kneading trough, 1 sieve, 9 chairs, 3 cider barrels, 1 Gallon Bottle, 3 empty casks, 1 churn, 2 pails, 1 milk pail, 3 porter plates, 11 Porter plates, 6 Earthen do, 1 tea pot, 1 coffee pot, 6 cups and saucers 6 tea spoons 1 Brass kettle, 2 dish kettles, 1 pot, 1 tea kettle, 1 spider, 1 pr. shovel & tongs, 1 pr. Steelyards, 1 pr andirons, 1 pr flat irons, 4 milk pans 1 Great wheel, 3 candle sticks, 1 mug, 1 pitcher, 9 knives & forks, 1 pr shears, 1 looking glass, 1 tin tunnel, shaving tools. —
all which amounts to the sum of $58. —
I Stephen Witt do hereby certify state that my family consists of myself, my wife whose age is 54 years, one son of the age of 14 years and one daughter of the age of 9 years. My wife has a weak constitution, & has been feeble for a long time. My occupation has been that of a Blacksmith, at which I laboured until my eyesight failed me about three years ago. I have since laboured as a Husbandman, as far as I am able from loss of sight and have occasionally been dependent on my friends for pecuniary assistance.
Stephen Witt. —

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF WORCESTER, ss.
ON this twenty first day of June 1820,
personally appeared in open Court, before the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, being a Court of Record, within and for said County of Worcester, established as such by the laws of said Commonwealth, Stephen Witt , aged sixty five years, resident in Petersham , in said County, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as
follows: In the year 1778, about the 12th day of May, I entered a company commanded by Capt. Daniel Shaw in the Regiment commanded by Col. Rufus Putnam, in the Massachusetts line and on the Continental establishment for the term of nine months; and I was afterwards in the same year, stationed at Fitchburg, under the command Capt. Gourd, who commanded the establishment of the United States, in the capacity of a blacksmith; and I so continued till the first day of February 1779, when I was regularly discharged by Col. Hays, which I have lost. In the latter part of February 1782 I entered the company commanded by Capt. Thomas Turner on the same establishment in Col. Henry Jackson's Regiment, in the Massachusetts line, for three years, and I so continued for ten months. I proceeded on Robert Hoyt, to take my place; and was then regularly discharged which I have lost. My original application was dated April 16. 1818. and my
certificate is numbered 7972.
and I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818; 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, 1818; 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.
Stephen Witt
Sworn to and declared, on the twenty first day of June , 1820 before the said Court.
Attest, Abijah Bigelow  Clerk
I, ABIJAH BIGELOW, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, holden within and for the County of Worcester, do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the Record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, is fifty eight dollars. and
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this twenty first day of June 1820.
Abijah Bigelow Clerk of the Court for the County of Worcester.

34.553
Rev INVALID.
File No. 34.553
Stephen Witt
Pri Rev War
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 157
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Jan 7 '99 Mrs. S.C. Packard Greenfield Mass

I Pelatiah Hawes of New Braintree in the County of Worcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a Soldier and Pensioner in the United States service, do on oath testify and say, that in summer of 1782 I saw Stephen Witt then of New Braintree, now of Petersham in the County aforesaid, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army of the United in the service of the United States on the Continental establishment, and I knew him as a soldier on said establishment until the winter following; but I cannot recollect the Regiment in which he served: then he was discharged from said service by hiring Robert Hoyt to take his place for twenty six Months and I know said Hoyt was accepted in the place of said Witt; (and I was then told, that the twenty six Months would complete three years service of said Witt) - and further your deponent saith not.
Pelatiah H.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
WORCESTER, ss.
I, ABIJAH BIGELOW, Clerk of the Judicial Courts holden within and for said County of Worcester, certify, that Samuel Minter junior before whom the annexed Affidavits have been made, is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly qualified for the purpose, acting under the authority of this Commonwealth, and that his name subscribed thereto is his own proper signature.
IN testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the County seal, this seventeenth day of February — A. D. 1819.
Application of Stephen Witt
Abijah Bigelow, Clk.

I Pelatiah Hawes of New Braintree in the County of Worcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a Soldier and Pensioner in the United States service, do on oath testify and say, that in summer of 1782 I saw Stephen Witt then of New Braintree, now of Petersham in the County aforesaid, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army of the United States in the service of the United States on the Continental establishment, and I knew him as a soldier on said establishment until the winter following; but I cannot recollect the Regiment in which he served; then he was discharged from said service by hiring Robert Hoyt to take his place for twenty six Months and I know said Hoyt was accepted in the place of said Witt; (and I was then told, that the twenty six Months would complete three years service of said Witt) - and further your deponent saith not
Pelatiah Hawes
Worcester ss. New Braintree Feb y 15 - 1819 Personally appeared the above named Pelatiah Hawes and made oath that the above declaration by him subscribed is just & true
Before me Samuel Moxon Just. of the Peace
I hereby certify that the above named Pelatiah Hawes is well known to me, to be a man of truth and his character in point of truth & veracity is good
Sam d . Moxon Just. of the Peace

I Robert Hoyt of New Braintree in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a Soldier and Pensioner, in the United States service, do on oath testify and say, that in the month May or June A. 1770, I saw Stephen Witt then of New Braintree, now resident in Peterham in the County of Worcester aforesaid, who enlisted with me in the United States service in the Revolutionary Army on the continental establishment , for nine months service: and I went in company with him to Fishkill: at this place said Witt was detached as a Blacksmith, and I parted with him & saw him no more during that term of time. — In the year 1783, I was hired by said Stephen Witt to serve in the month of January, to serve for him in the United States service, on the aforesaid establishment, for the term of twenty six months, to complete the term of three years , which the said Witt had enlisted for: and further your deponent saith not.
Robt Hoyt
Worcester ss. New Braintree July 12. 1819. Personally appeared the above named Robert Hoyt and made oath, that the above declaration by him subscribed, is just and true. —
Before me Samuel Minter Esq. Just. of the Peace
I hereby certify, that the above named Robert Hoyt is well known to me, and I consider his relation, in point of truth and veracity , good
Sam. Minter Esq. Just. of the Peace
County of Worcester — Mass. —

March 27, 1899 Commissioner of Pensions.
I am desirous of establishing the identity of Stephen Witt - born Aug 15 - 1754. died May 28. 1852 He was a soldier in the American Revolution from 1776 until the close of the war - was a prisoner also was in the war of 1812. At the Archives in

Boston there were two men that answered this name & the dates but as I did not know the name of the Regiment or the Officers They advised me to seek information of you - I am quite positive the man from Worcester Co.
The object of this search is to join the Daughters of the Revolution.
I am informed there is no question about his being

a pensioner —
Respectfully,
Mrs Stella de Packard
Greenfield Mass
3 leavenworth St.

This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services.
Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.
L. W. B. I. 34553.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.
June 7th, 1899.
Madam:-
In response to your recent communication you are advised that Stephen Witt made an application for pension on April 16, 1818, at which time he was 63 years of age and residing at Petersham, Mass., and his pension was allowed for nine months' actual service as a private in the Mass. troops, Revolutionary war. Place of his enlistment not stated. He served under Capt. Chase and Col. Putnam.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Mrs. Stella C. Packard,
Greenfield, Mass.
3 Crescent St.