Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23189, Aaron Witham, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Witham, Aaron Harris, Abigail
W 23189
Former widow
CONTENTS

Reports
Elizabeth Hovey widow of Asa Hovey who served in the Revolutionary war, as a private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 40 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 rd day of June 1848 and sent to
Thomas Waterhouse North Berwick Maine.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 3, 1848, Page 13 Vol. 1.

State of Maine
On this 6 th day of November in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and forty five personally appeared before me Barrett Potter Judge of Probate for the County of Cumberland Abigail Harris a resident of New Gloucester in the County aforesaid aged 80 years and upwards who being first sworn doth upon her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the acts of Congress passed the 7 th of July AD 1838, 3 rd March AD. 1843. and 17 th June AD. 1844.
And this declarant states that she was formerly the widow of Aaron Witham who was a resident of Gloucester Massachusetts in the time of the Revolutionary War. She has heard her said husband say that he was a Soldier of the Revolution and she believes he was in the service a long time and her impression is that he was in the service in the whole two or three years. She has heard her husband say that he was in the battle at Long Island. Her husband was taken prisoner while in the service and at a time he was on board a vessel & was in prison one year or more in the State of New York . She is unable to state the names of the officers under whom he served. She has heard him speak of a Capt Boyle but she is

not able to state whether he served under him or not.
And this applicant further states That she was married to Aaron Witham by the Rev d Mr Fuller at Gloucester on the 19 th of February 1784 and that her said husband was lost at sea in about eleven years after her marriage. That after the death of said Aaron Witham she was married to Elias Men- -ill at New Gloucester Maine about four years after the death of her first husband and that said Merrill died forty three years ago in October last. That after the death of her second husband Elias Merrill she again married John Harris of New Gloucester which marriage to John Harris was in October 1805 and that said Harris died on the 6 th day of March 1845 and that she now is a widow as will appear by the testimony annexed -ca- Abigail her Harris mark
Attest John Harris
Signed and sworn to before me by the above named Abigail Harris the day & year first above written. Barrett Potter Judge of the Probate Court

State of Maine Cumberland County Ys.
I C. C. Tobie Register of the Probate Court for the county aforesaid hereby certify that the Hon Barrett Potter is judge of Probate That he is duly commissioned as such accord- ing to the laws of the State, that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine and That full faith and credit should be given to his official acts in said capacity.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto placed my hand and affixed the seal of said Court This seventh day of November A.D. 1845
C. C. Tobie Register

State of Maine
Cumberland ss.
I Barrett Potter Judge of Probate hereby certify that it has been satisfactorily proved before me that Abigail Harris was formerly the widow of Aaron Witham that said Witham died at sea about fifty years ago. That said Abigail was, subsequent to the death of her first husband, again married to Elias Merrill, and also to John Harris and that said Harris died on or about the sixth day of March A.D. 1845 and that the said Abigail Harris is now a widow.
Barrett Potter

"Mr. Aaron Witham and Abigail Langsford of this Town was entered January thirty first, One thousand seven hundred & eighty four."
"Mr. Aaron Witham & Miss Abigail Langsford were Married by Rev d Daniel Fuller, February nineteenth. Anno Domini One thousand seven hundred & eighty four."
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of Record, with the exception of the date which is expressed in fair legible figures as follows, in entered January 31 st 1784 Married February 19 th A.D. 1784.
William Saville Town Clerk
I William Saville, Clerk of the Town of Gloucester, in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, depose and say, that I have the custody of the Records of said Town, & that the above extracts are true copies from the Record, with the exception above named as certified by me
William Saville Town Clerk of Gloucester.
I hereby certify that William Saville is Clerk of the Town of Gloucester, & full faith & confidence may be relied on his signature. Henry Phelps, Ins. Bail.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Essex S.S. September 10 th 1845 Then ap- peared the above named William Saville Town Clerk as aforesaid and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him signed. Before me.
Henry Phelps, Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston;
July 15 1845.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Aaron Witham is borne as a private upon a list of Capt n Gideon Parker's Comp y . in Col. Moses Little's reg t . "in 1776." No term of service is specified, the date of the earliest enlistment is "Jan y 1." and against the name of said Witham, is "Dec r 30." This is the only roll of Captain Parker for that year. The name of said Witham is not found upon rolls of Capt n Boyle; or upon any other records in this office.
Rec p 4 B-2

1216
And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Patten; Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Application of Abigail Harris widow of John Harris late of Newspencerte and formerly widow of Aaron Witham
To the Secretary of State Massachusetts the undersigned requests the Secretary of State of Massachusetts to furnish from the rolls & other documents relating to Military Service in the war of the revolution the evidence of the Service of Aaron Witham who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution My said husband Aaron Witham was a resident of Cape Ann in the State of Massachusetts in the time of the Revolutionary war - and this applicant has heard her husband say that he served in Captain Boyles Company and she believes in Colonel Little Reg She further states that she has heard her husband say that he was taken prisoner while in the Service and detained prisoner one year or more and by reason of old age she is unable to state more particularly her said husbands Service
Abigail h Harris Mark Cape Ann April 21-1845 Legard Updegraff Wathaniel L. G. Gossall Justice the Peace

12319 Abigail Harris (since) Marry Dec. 13, 1845, Sarah Williams
Mr act 7 July 1838 Married 1784 Marry and died 1795
F. Bradford Portland Maine

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By His Excellency George N Briggs Governor and Commander in Chief in and over said Commonwealth
To all whom it may concern:
Know Ye, That on the tenth day of September eighteen hundred and forty five, Henry Phelps was, and is now, a justice of the Peace for the County of Essex,
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commission- ed, and that to his — Acts and Attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have caused the Public Seal of the Commonwealth to be hereunto affixed, this eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty five, and in the seventieth year of the Independence of the United States of America.
Geo. N. Briggs
By His Excellency the Governor.
John D. Sleeper Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 23189
Abigail Harris Former widow of Aaron Williams Pr. Rev War
Act Feb 29. 48
Index: Vol. A Page 316
[Arrangement of 1841]

7458.
Maine
Abigail Harris, formerly widow of Aaron Witham, who was a private, in the Massachusetts line.
Report
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 40 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of Dec: 1845 and sent to H. Bradford, Portland, Maine
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
+ 17 June, 1844.
Recorded in Book A Vol. 2 Page 4

9765.
Maine.
Abigail Harris, formerly the widow of Aaron Witham - who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the — in 1795 or 1796 - of Cumberland in the State of Maine who was a private in the commanded by Captain _____ of the _____ commanded by _____ in the _____ line for 12 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 40 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of Dec: 1845 and sent to F. Brad- ford, Portland, Me
Total amount, $ 200.00
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by Heustentant — Clerk, Book D Vol. 1 — Page 7.
3717

No 12319 Abigail Harris formerly Maid of Aaron Micham Mrs
Act 7 July 1838
Adm d 12mo per $40 00 per ann
Adm d . Acts March 1843, and 17 June 1844 $40 00 per ann
F. Bradford Portland Mrs

Portland Nov 10 th 1845
Sir
I forward to you enclosed the application of Abigail Harris formerly the widow of Aaron Witham, who claims a pension for one years service of her husband under the Acts of 1838, 1843. & 1844.
I am Respectfully
Your Obt: Servt: F. Bradford
J. L. Edwards Esq Commr of Pensions Washington D.C.

Admitted
Thomas Waterhouse North Pownal Maine

STATE OF MAINE.
CUMBERLAND, ss.
CLERK'S OFFICE, JUDICIAL COURTS, }
Portland,
June 16th A. D. 1848. }
I, Chas. H. Garmen CLERK of all the JUDICIAL COURTS in and for said COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, certify that
Mr. Waterhouse Esquire is an acting Justice of the Peace, within and for the County of Cumberland, as appears by the paper hereto annexed; that he is Duly qualified to act as such; that the Commission of the said Waterhouse is dated February 13th is dated A. D. 1845, and will expire February 13th A. D. 1852.
and that the his is following SIGNATURE purporting to be Genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court for said State, the day and year first above written.
Chas. H. Garmen , CLERK.

war Department.
Widow's Pension.
I certify that in conformity with the act of March 3, 1843, Abigail Harris, formerly - 17 June, 1844, S widow of Aaron Witham, - who was a private, and died on the _____ day of _____ in 1795 or 1796 - is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of Forty dollars and _____ cents per annum, commencing on the 4th March, 1843, and terminating on the 4th of March, 1848, unless the Pensioner shall marry or die before the last mentioned date; in which case the Pension is not payable after the time of such marriage or death.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 13 th day of December, one thousand eight hundred and forty five.
W. L. Marcy.
Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned.
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.

Payment to be made at
Portland,
by
W. Woodbury,
Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of
Maine
Payable on the 4th September and 4th March
Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book A Vol. 2. Page 11
William Woodbury
Clerk.

State of Maine Cumberland County } ss.
On this 14 th day of June A.D. 1848, personally appeared before the subscriber of the town of Durham in said county, Mrs. Abigail Harris formerly widow of Aaron Witham now a resident of New Gloucester in the county of said Cumberland aged 83 - years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the Act of Congress, on the 2 d of February, A.D. 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of the said Aaron Witham who was a private in Capt. Gideon Parkers company in Col. Moses Little's Regt. for the year service of 1776, That she receives at the rate of Forty dollars per annum under the act of 17 th of June, A.D. 1844. and that her certificate bears date of 13 th of December A.D. 1845. Recorded in Book A, Vol. 2, Page 4
She further declares that she is still a widow, Witness Job Harris
Abigail her Harris mark
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written, I certify that the declarant is personally known to me, to be the identical person she declares herself to be. Before me.
As Waterhouse } a Justice of the Peace and Demorum
(Signature)

North Pownal Me, June 14 th 1848, Please for the benefit of the applicant (viz, Abigail Harris) aircel the certificate requested to her agent in the Prunies to N. Pownal Me,
Manas Waterhouse
J. L. Edwards Esq r Comm ee Pensions Washington
D. C.