Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14087, Moses Watkins, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Watkins, Moses Abial
N 14087
CONTENTS

249H 1237 Massachusetts
Abial Watkins widow of Moses Watkins dec d
who died on the 31 st October 1820 of Middlesex in the State of U.S. who was a Private in the Comp y . commanded by Captain Winch of the Regt commanded by Col. Bullard in the M.S. line for 17 mos Private Mass
Inscribed on the Roll of U.S. at the rate of 30 Dollars 67 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 st day of Jan y 1839 and sent Hon. J. Davis Senate U. States
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1838 $425.12 Semi-annual allowance ending Mar 39, 28.33 $453.35
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 d }
Recorded by W. L. Addison Clerk, Book A Vol. 2 nd Page 62
Let to Hon. J. Davis Feb 23. 1839.

Abial Watkins
✓ 40247
4 July 1836
wid of Moses
Mass.
Manned 1775
died 1820
Allens 17 me fr
$ 54.66 per ann
Mass Middle
Coop Middle
Hor J Davis U.S.S.

State of Massachusetts } ss. Middlesex County }
On this thirty first day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared before the Honorable Samuel P. Fay, Esquire, judge of the Court of Probate in and for said County of Middlesex, Abial Watkins a resident of Hopkinton in the county of Middlesex aforesaid, aged eighty five 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 4, 1836. That she is the widow of Moses Watkins who was a private in the Army of the Revolution and served, according to the best of her knowledge and belief, as is herein stated viz. - That in the spring of 1775 the said Moses Watkins enlisted into a Company commanded by Captain James Mellen and served as a Private in said Company at or near Cambridge Eight Months; and that in the year 1776 he enlisted and served five months as a private she thinks in Captain Joseph Winch's Company and Col. Bullard's Regiment; and that in the fall of 1777 he served as a private in a Company commanded by Capt. Daniel Eames in Col. Benjamin Hawes' Regiment at least one month in the State of Rhode Island; and that in the latter part of December 1778 he enlisted into a Company commanded by Capt. Samuel Burbank in Col. Sprout's Regiment and served as a private in said Company three months in the State of Rhode Island; and that the said Moses Watkins resided in Holliston in said county of Middlesex the first time he entered the service and when he came home from the eight months service he removed to Hopkinton aforesaid, where he resided until his death. And the said Abial Watkins further declares that she was married to the said Moses Watkins in the fore part of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy five but she does not now recollect the day of the month and she cannot find any records of her marriage; that her husband, the aforesaid Moses Watkins died on the thirty first day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty; and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof herunto annexed; and that the said Moses Watkins never was a pensioner; and that my said husband and myself were residents of Holliston.

in said county of middlesex until the time we were married; and that we were married in Holliston aforesaid by the Rev. Joshua Prentiss who was then the Minister of said Holliston at the time above stated and at that time we removed to said Hopkinton; and that the said Moses Watkins came home from the service on a furlough to be married. Witness to the signature The mark of Abial Watkins Matthew Metcalfe.
Subscribed by said Abial Watkins Sworn to on the day & year first above written, at her house in Hopkinton, she being too infirm to go from home before me J. P. P. Tracy judge of Prob. for said Co. of Mid. x.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex County, ss.
I Isaac Fiske Register of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Middlesex hereby certify that Samuel P. May Esq is the Judge of said Court & that his signature written on the annexed Paper is his genuine signature.
I also certify that Matthew Metcalf Esquire is a justice of the Peace within and for said County duly commissioned & qualified & that his signatures written on the several papers hereto annexed are his genuine signatures.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this thirty first day of October in the year Eighteen hundred & thirty eight.
Isaac Fiske Esq

I Elias Bullard of Holliston in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Esquire do certify that there is on the Town Books of said Town containing the Entree for Publishments, the following record - viz - "One Thousand Seven hundred and seventy five May eight Moses Watkins to Abial Hall both of Holliston" that this is a true copy of the Record with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures as follows - 1775 May 8 th
I Elias Bullard above named depose and say that I hold the Office of Town Clerk in the Town of Holliston aforesaid in County and Commonwealth aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Town, with the exception above named as certified by me
Elias Bullard Town Clerk
Sworn to before me this sixth day of March, 1838.
Before me.
Matthew Metcalf, Justice of the Peace for said county of Middlesex

I Thomas Dickinson of Holliston in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Esquire, of lawful age, do testify and say, That I was Town-clerk for said Town of Holliston four or five years ago, and a certain person who was at that time looking at the records destroyed a leaf of the records which contained the marriages soon after the publication of Moses Watkins to Abial Hall and I have a strong impression on my mind that I have seen the marriage of Moses Watkins to Abial Hall recorded on that leaf before it was destroyed, but cannot say positively that I am not mistaken; and said leaf contained the marriages in said Town about four years.- And further I say not.
Thomas Dickinson
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Middlesex ss. March 6th. 1838. Then the above named Thomas Dickinson, who is known by me to be a man of truth and a credible witness, personally appeared, and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true, according to the best of his recollection and belief. - before me Matthew Metcalf, Justice of the Peace for said county of Middlesex.

I Richard Hall of Chester in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont aged Seventy five years, do hereby certify and say that I was present and saw, the marriage ceremony take place between Moses Watkins and Abial Hall, (then of Holliston Massachusetts) at said Holliston. That I lived in the same family with the said Abial Hall (she being my sister) I now well recollect going with the said Moses and Abial to one Mr. Prentice an aged minister of that town. The time according to my best recollection was in the spring, Summer or Fall of the year 1777 & then & there saw the said Abial Hall, (now the Widow Abial Watkins) married to the said Moses Watkins by the said Prentice. That I have visited my said sister since the decease of the said Moses Watkins. That according to my best knowledge & belief the said Abial Watkins has not since intermarried, but still remains the Widow of the said Moses Watkins. And this Affiant further states that he recollects the said Moses Watkins was in the eight months service of the United States and was at home on a furlough at the time they were married. That his recollection is somewhat strengthened by a circumstance which took place at the time of the marriage, the Old Gentleman the Priest, helped the Bride. That he also recollects that the said Moses Watkins went into the service, after the eight months service expired. He thinks in the year 1776 - the term of five months. The word Summer was interlined before signing.
Richard Hall
Sworn and subscribed this eighth day of October A.D. 1838. Before me Amos Gleason Justice of the peace
Thereby certify, that the above named Richard Hall is well known to me bears the character of a man of Truth, & is a credible Witness.
Amos Gleason Justice of the peace
State of Vermont, I Benjamin Swan Clerk of the County Court for the County of Windsor do hereby certify, that Amos Gleason is a Magistrate as above, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his, is genuine. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto Affixed the seal of said Court, & subscribed my name this 19 th day of October in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.
Benjamin Swan Clerk

I John Bowker of Hopkinton in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy seven years, do testify and say that I was well acquainted with Moses Watkins late of Hopkinton, deceased and that I was knowing to his enlisting into a Company commanded by Capt James Mellen (who then lived in said Hopkinton) for eight months, he enlisted in the spring of 1775 with a number of others who belonged to Hopkinton, and after he had been gone a short time he got a furlough and came home and he told me he came home to be married and he also told me he was married at that time, and he then went back to Cambridge and I do not recollect of seeing him again till his eight months were out, when he returned home to Hopkinton with the other soldiers which went from Hopkinton with him, and I do not know of any person that is now living that served with the said Moses Watkins in said eight months service. I recollect well of hearing Capt James Mellen tell of Moses Watkins serving in his Company during said eight months and I have heard him laugh about Mr. Watkins being obliged to come home and be married, and I have heard Cap Mellen say he should not let Mr Watkins had a furlough if Abial Hall who is now his widow had not sent to him informing him that it would not do for him to wait till his eight month were out before he was married. I was at that time not old enough to go into the service myself, but I was knowing to Mr. Watkins serving said eight months as well as I could without being in the service with him. — And I do further testify and say that the said Moses Watkins enlisted in the latter part of December 1778 into a Company commanded by Cap t Samuel Burbank in Col Sprout's Regiment and served as a private in said Company thru months in the State of Rhode Island, and that I served in the same Company with him during the whole of said term. The words "deceased" and "had not" being previously interlined.
John Bowker
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Middlesex ss. October 4 th . A. D. 1838. Then the above-named John Bowker, who is known by me to be a man of truth and a credible witness, personally appeared and made solemn oath that the above affidavit, by him subscribed is true, according to the best of his recollection and belief. — before me.
Matthew Metcalf, Justice of the Peace for said county of Middlesex.

I, Sally Watkins of Hopkinton in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Single Woman, do testify and say, that Moses Watkins late of said Hopkinton, Yeoman, deceased, who was a Soldier in the War of the Revolution, died on the thirty first day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundreds and twenty, and that Abial Watkins, who was for a long time the wife of the said Moses Watkins, has not been married since his death, but now remains his widow. -
Sally Watkins
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Middlesex ss. October 27th A. D. 1838. Then the above named Sally Watkins, who is known by me to be a person of truth and a credible witness personally appeared and made solemn oath that the above affidavit, by her subscribed, is true. - before me. Matthew Melcalf, Justice of the Peace for said County of Middlesex.

Mary Waltham of Holliston 1775 8 mo Capt Miller vol 15 p 71 on 8. 1776 5. " Munich no roll 5 77 1 " Earny vol 2 p 7 on 1 mo 1. 78 3 S. Dunbar no roll ————— 3 17

W Feb 23
Abial Watkins Adm - act 36.
Hon. J. Davis Senate U.S. Pension Office

Washington. July 21-
Sir
I desire to be informed whether you have sent me a certificate for Abial Watkins of Hopkinton Mass. In yours of the 28 th ult you say the claim is admitted c.
Yours respectfully
J Davis

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14087
Abial Watkins
Widow of
Moses Watkins
Pr. Rev War
Act: July 4th 36
Index:—Vol. M , Page 309
[Arrangement of 1870.]