Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11,643, Ebenezer Willoughby, N.H.

SERVICE
NUMBER
N.H.
Willoughby, Ebenezer
R. 11,643
CONTENTS

United States. Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Suffolk
& City of Boston } ss
On this fifth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared in Open Court before William Simmons Esqr, one of the Justices of the Police Court, within and for the City of Boston, the same being a Court of Record. & now sitting at said Boston, in & for the County aforesaid, Ebenezer Willoughby late of Lowell now resident of said Boston, aged Twenty five Years the Second day of December last past, 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. A.D. 1832.
Said Willoughby states, that he was first called into the Service, in his native town of Plymouth in the State of New Hampshire, to guard certain Military Stores, which had been deposited in the Dwelling House of Judge Emerson in said Plymouth, by the Committee of Safety, of whom he remembers, Capt. John Willoughby, Judge Emerson, Col. David Webster, Capt. Jotham Cummings, Capt. Sam l Dearborn, Col. Moses Barker, Capt. Sam l Holmes, & Judge Sam l Livermore, all of whom are dead. The said Willoughby's memory as to dates is very much impaired, but he is confident his Service as Guard commenced in the Spring of the Year in which the Battles of Lexington, Concord & Bunker Hill were fought. He was called out & served in a Company of which his father John Willoughby was Captain, Zachariah Parker Lieutenant, Amos Webster ensign. He was there employed as Guard for two Years & two months, with other persons, none of whom are now living

to the knowledge or belief of said Willoughby. He was particularly put on guard in the night, as his wakefulness & faithfulness were relied on. He states, that these Officers were frequently called away on service else where on emergencies, & that he was left in command of the Guard. He was also employed to arrest dissenters, and did arrest many. He states, that he was then marched to the Canada line against the Indians, called the Cocknawaga & St Regis Indians. Said Parker had now become the Commander of the Company, & Capt. Willoughby & Ensign Webster had gone West, and were afterwards at the surrender of Burgain, where the latter fell in battle. The Declarant was gone on this expedition three Months, and had one severe conflict with the Indians, under the command of their Chief, called King Tommo, & the Declarant states that he shot, in that conflict one of the chief warriors of King Tommo. He then returned to Plymouth & continued his services beyond the Military Stores in pursuit of dissenters. He went twice afterwards on expeditions against the Indians of about three months each, but no fighting of any consequence. He was at said Plymouth when Peace was declared. The Declarant states that he was in actual service four Years and a half. His first expedition against the Indians, was soon after Royalton in Vermont was burned & the inhabitants robbed and murdered by the Indians. The Declarant is in indigent circumstances, having no property except a little furniture, having a second wife, by whom he has a pair of twin children seven Years old dependent on him and his wife for support.
This applicant received for his services one hundred and eighty four dollars, all which

he lost by the depreciation of the currency. He hereby relinquishes every claim, whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state, to his knowledge. He has been told that there are Brevards at Wash- ington, touching the services of the Militia in New Hampshire; but whether there are or not, or if so what they contain, the Declarant does not know
Ebenezer Willoughby
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid before me.
Wm. Simmons Justice of the Police Court within and for the City of Boston.
And the said Court do hereby declare their Opinion after the investigation of the matter, that the above named Applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states
Wm. Simmons Justice as aforesaid
I Thomas Paine, Clerk of the Police Court of the City of Boston, do hereby certify that the foregoing con- tains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Ebenezer Willoughby for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court, on the day and year first aforesaid.
Thomas Paine.

A. Willoby Sep m

I Abner Willoughby of Plymouth county of Greater New Hampshire aged forty nine years born as I suppose June 14 th 1769 - before I say that my father Capt John Willoughby lived in said Plymouth during the Revolutionary war - was Captain of the Plymouth militia during that period - that there were public stores guns powder & all of flints &c. deposited in said Plymouth at the dwelling house of Judge Sam- uel Emerson - which stores or some of them or some similar I myself afterwards saw in that house, belonging, as was said, to the public - that an alarm came of an incursion of indians into the Coos country, & the men were called on to go & drive them back, - I remember the alarm of seeing men about with guns - my father went with Col d David Webster & others to Coos - I remember also a guard was placed at Judge Emerson's which was about a quarter of a mile from my father's - to guard the stores for fear of Indians & fear of Tories, who were in the neighborhood, who were feared would take the stores - my brother or Ebenezer Willoughby then lived at home & I well remember his being called to go & walk guard at Judge Emerson's house to protect the stores

I was a small boy but well remember the alarm of fear of the people & my brother John who was older than he snow dead were stationed there to guard the stores - I cannot say how long they did duty there, it is so long since - I remember being shown their lines of guard & have often heard their standing guard there, spoken of in the family, years ago, & the feelings ex- perienced at the time, talked of - I often say that my father has been dead some years that my brother Joseph went to my brother John went into the service in the Revolution I said, I believe at Albany New York in the service - There are no papers left of my father's & my brother's edge, containing any record of Ebenezer's services or my other brothers - My brother John I re- member was in the army was said to be in Bunker Hill Battle - I have often heard him tell how his corn leaf was shot out of his hat in that battle -
Abner Willoughby
State of New Hampshire } July 14. 1838 Grafton County } This personally appearing Abner Willoughby whom I well know

Who is a man of fair & credible character made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed before me V. D. Rogers Jr. Pastor

John Cummings of Plymouth aged sixty five years up to say that I was born in said Plymouth county of Plymouth New Hampshire That my father Jonathan Cummings lived in said Plymouth before the Revolutionary war during said war - about two a half miles from Judge Samuel Emerson in said Plymouth - that my said father was in the Revolutionary service - that I remember my mother receiving communications from him in his absence in the army & alarms that occur- red for fear of attacks from the Tories in the neighborhood in the absence of the able bodied men of Plymouth nearly all of whom were said to be absent & alarms of attacks from In- dians from the (Coos country) - Further that that there were reported to be many Tories in the neighborhood at that time I have always since understood that the people of Nashua most a neighboring town were generally unfriend- ly to the Revolution - that my said father was a member of a body called committee of Safety - that at said Judge Emerson's house there was kept as I understood at the time & always since a quantity of public military stores powder ball flints & that a guard was maintained for a long time & also
John Cummings

tut them - that I have always understood that Ebenezer Willoughby son of Capt John Willoughby of Plymouth was sworn in that grand though I do not remember any knowledge of at the time of his actually serving - & I have no doubt from all circumstances all I have heard that these slaves were kept there & that he served as guards to protect them - that said Capt. John Willoughby, my father - judge Emerson & all the elderly people who were of age at that time are dead or removed from here. I know Francis, who could give accurate information of said Ebenezer Willoughby's services -
State of Norfolkshire Grafton 3 Aug. 16. 1838 Personally appearing Jonathan Cuming Esquire whom I know to be a person of respectability & good character for veracity made solemn oaths to the truth of the above affidavits by him subscribed before me N. D. Rogers Justice of Peace

John Willoughby affidavit

I John Willoughby of Hampton county of Grafton & state of New Hampshire aged fifty three years do hereby say that I am the son as I suppose of John Willoughby late of Bel dams & grandson of Capt. John Willoughby late of Plymouth both in said county deceased - & nephew of Eleazer Willoughby of Lowell in the commonwealth of Massachusetts - that my father died recently over the age of 70 my grandfather over the age of 90 also re- cently - that in their life time I have often heard them speak of the revolutionary war & the services of my said uncle Eleazer in that revolution - that my grandfather resided as I understood at that time, & my knowledge did a long time afterwards, in said Plymouth, about a quarter of a mile from Judge Samuel Emerson's in Plymouth. - & I have often heard from my father & grandfather that magazines were kept, belonging to the public, at Judge Emerson's dwelling house in the revolution. - that a guard was ordered by the com- mittee of safety by General Stark to protect said magazines from the Tories of the neighboring region others, who it was apprehended were sheltered by them. - that a guard was accordingly kept there a long time every night & on Sabbath days, & that my said uncle Eleazer performed that duty at first for two months on trial & afterwards as guard some time man for two years, - a considerable portion of the time performing double guard, as they liked

it, - that I have no doubt from all I have heard from them, other elderly people now deceased, that my said uncle performed said services & that he was considered at the time remarkable for his vigi- lance of fidelity, his ability to endure watching for unusual lengths of time. - That I have myself seen the place in said Emson house, where said magazines were deposited, & have seen balls of flint there, which I have no doubt were fired at the old fort there in the revolution. -
Further say that my said father has often told me of his being a sol- dier in the revolution & of being in the battle of Bennington & of having his corn leaf (a corn stone I distinctly remember his telling) shot out of his hat - where the Americans were then du- ring that battle - I have always understood that there were many Tories in the neighbor- hood of Plymouth in the early stage of the Revolution, especially in New Bedford where Hon. Samuel Livermore, Kings at- torney for the Province of New Hampshire, then resided and John Willoughby

State of New Hampshire Grafton ss - August 16 th 1838 Then personally ap- pearing John Willoughby signer of the foregoing affidavit known to me to be a man of good character for integrity & veracity - made his oath to the truth of the said affidavit before me
John Rogers Justice of the Peace

I Phinehas J Willoughley on oath depose and say, that I was forty years of age, the 13 th of May last - that I now reside in that part of the City of Boston, called South Boston. I have lived in this City for the last twenty years. My occupation is that of a Teamster. I was born and brought up in the Town of Plymouth in the State of New Hampshire, & lived there till I moved to Boston. I am the son of Abner Willoughley now living in said Plymouth, & I am the Grand- son of Captain John Willoughley late of said Plymouth deceased. I have known Mr. Eben- ezer Willoughley, who is now present at the taking of this Deposition, from my infancy. He is my uncle, & a son of said Captain John Willoughley, who died between Ninety eight & Ninety nine years of age. It is now, not a year since his death. My father had the homestead, & my Grandfather lived with him, so that I lived in the same house with my Grandfather, till I was twenty years old. I remember, that my Grand- father used frequently to get out & read his Papers about the Revolutionary War,

and, who served under him. My Grandfather was a Captain in the Service - & I remember he used to read from the papers & State, that my Uncle Ebenezer Willoughby, his son, was in the Service under him; but I do not remember where, or how long. Whether these papers are in existence, or not, I do not know.
The old Gentleman used to keep the papers I have spoken of, in a wooden box about a foot square, with a sliding cover. I remem- ber the appearance of the box, as distinctly as if it were but yesterday - It was always understood & spoken of among all the mem- bers of the family, that my Uncle Ebenezer was in the Service, during the revolutionary war - He is a man of good reputation for truth.
D. J. Willoughby
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Suffolk ss. City of Boston, September 6 th 1838.
Then personally appeared Phinehas Willoughby, who is a man of fair character & good reputation among his acquaintance for truth, & made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him signed before me. —
W. M. D. Justice of the Peace

I Samuel Goodhue of Boston in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Gentleman, now in my Seventy fourth Year, on Oath depose and say, that I moved to Cockermouth, now called Groton in the County of Grafton & State of New Hampshire, in the Year 1782. I had, before that time, been in the revolutionary Service in the Militia of Massachusetts. At Groton I became acquainted with Ebenezer Willoughby, who lived in the adjoining town of Plymouth. He moved into Groton, and we were members of the same church. I have been acquainted with him from that time to the present. He has always been reputed a man of high moral character & integrity & a man of veracity. I have always esteemed him such. We used to talk over our services and experiences in the war. I remember that he stated, near the time I became acquainted with him at Groton, that he had served as Guard over Military Stores at Plymouth. After he came to Boston to reside, I have heard him, state that he went on expeditions against the Indians. I knew well his father Capt John Willoughby, who was a good citizen & a worthy man. He lived to an advanced age. I never heard any question made, by any, of Ebenezer's

acquaintances, that he served in the revolutionary war, & I entertain no doubt that he did. I have not the least suspicion of its truth. It is probable that all those who served with him are dead. All the persons, whom said Willoughby mentions in his declaration as belonging to the Committee of Safety I knew; and they are all reported to be dead. His indigent circumstances are not caused by idleness or intemperance or any fault of his. He has been a laborious man, & of good habits, as far as I have known.
Sam l Goodhue
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Suffolk ss. October. 5. A.D. 1838. Then personally appeared Samuel Goodhue, signer of the foregoing Affidavit, whom I know to be a man of good reputation for integrity & veracity, and made sol- emn oath to the truth of the foregoing Affi- davit before me.
Richd. D. Webb J. P.

State of New Hampshire Secretary of States Office
I hereby certify that N. P. Rogers and John Rogers are each now Justices of the Peace and have been duly qualified as such for more than one year within and for the County of Grafton and are by the laws of this State empowered to administer oaths.
In testimony whereof I have this 12th day of October Anno Domini 1838 caused the seal of the State to be hereunto affixed.
J. M. Whipple Deputy Secy

Ebenezer Willoughby Mass.
Act June 7. 1832 34767
W m Simmen Boston

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, October 16 th 1838.
I hereby Certify, That William Simmons Esq r of Boston is a _____ Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk , _____ in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court; and he has been a Justice of the Peace as aforesaid for the year last past.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John P. Bigelow Secretary of the Commonwealth.

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Ebenezer Willoughby a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
Only Ebenez' Willoughby found on Rev. War pen. records.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Spring 75 4 1/2 years Served under his father John Willoughby and Zachariah Parker ✓ N.H.    who was appointed by the Committee of Safety to guard the military stores at Plymouth, N.H. He was also engaged in the pursuit of deserters and expeditions against the Caughnawaga.
Battles engaged in, Eug. with King Tommie. Ind. Chief  in exped. against Caughnawaga 7th Regt. Indians Residence of soldier at enlistment, Town at Plymouth, N.H. Date of application for pension, Oct. 5, 1838. Residence at date of application, Boston, Mass. (late of Lowell) Age at date of application, b. Dec. 2 1762 Plymouth, N.H.
Remarks: 1838 col. refers to second wife & twins as 7 yrs. names not mentioned.
This claim was never allowed for the reason that the claimant failed to prove that his alleged service was of a strictly military character.
( "Toms Chichi" Chief of Yamacraw Ind. Georgia - )
Very respectfully.

1908 May 23. Hist. to E. F. Kelsey &
REJECTED
11643
P.O. Ebenezer Willoughby
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____ _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

Ebenezer Willoughby map. act 1832. Let to W. Simmons 13 June '39
116 H 3

Record Division.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
May 2, 1908
Searched by L. D. Lamparter
Original No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant, _____
Soldier, Ebenezer Willoughby
Service, Rev. War
Remarks: No claim as above except Req. 11643

Bureau Office - June 13 - 1839.
(Copy of letter
(allegations of Ebenezer Willoughby) —
The Dept possesses no docu. proof in support of Mr Willoughby's allegations & this is believed to be the first instance of any claim having been presented for such service — or that such services were ever performed
Claims 76 mos p Spr. 75 on the guard — + 3 mos afterwards under Capt Parker
Our rolls show that Jno Willoughby was Capt in 77 — for 16 da — only on 2 tours but the name of Stranger W — is not upon either roll. Indeed, it could not be expected — for according to his own acct he was but 14 when his guard duty ceased & conseq. must have entered the service at 12 yrs — of age — Why he has not applied before does not appear — The Dept is satisf. that whatever may have been the nature or extent of the alleged service it was not of a strictly military character & the claim is therefore disallowed.
W m Simmons Esq Boston —

The Wm. Hengerer Co.  IMPORTERS, JOBBERS AND RETAILERS.  BUFFALO.
May 18th., /08.
Mr. V. Warner,
Department of Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir;—
Some weeks ago the writer sent you a certified copy of a call to arms to Captain Ebenezer Willoughby also some correspondence with  from the Adj. General's Office, War Department, Washington, D.C. I requested information regarding the war record of Ebenezer Willoughby and also asked you to return enclosed correspondence. Would you kindly give this your attention as I am very anxious to have the papers returned.
Yours very truly,
New Hamp - ? serv.
E. H. Halsey  69 Royal Ave  Buffalo NY

The Wm. Hengerer Co.
IMPORTERS, JOBBERS AND RETAILERS.
BUFFALO.
April 28th., /08.
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:-
Enclosed please find certified copy of letter also reply attached to my letter of inquiry to the War Department. As suggested by the Adjutant General, I respectfully apply to you for information relative to military record of Ebenezer Willoughby. We should be pleased to have any information you can give. Kindly return enclosed correspondence and oblige,
Yours very truly,
E. F. Kelsey C/o Wm Hengerer Co. Buffalo N.Y.