Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,205, Abisha Willis, Mass.

SERVICE
Willis, Abisha
NUMBER
Mass.
8.30.205
CONTENTS

See letter to Mr. Shaw March 4, 1836.
81 Hampshire
21. B 79 Massachusetts
Abisha Willis
of Berkshire in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Warburn of the Regt. commanded by Col. Crary in the Mass line for 7 Mos. 25 ds.
Hot. Smith
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 26 Dollars 08 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of Sep. 1833 and due to Mr. Shaw Belchertown
Arrears to the 4th of Ap. 33 $ 65.90 Sem-ant. allowance ending 4th Mo. 34 13.04 $78.94
Revolutionary Claim, Recd June 7, 1832.
Recorded by G. O. Stiles Clerk, Book E, Vol. 4, Page 92.

BRIEF in the case of  Abisha Willis  of  Berkshire  in the State of  Mass  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 79 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     In 1776 — — 6 — private Capt Sawyer Col. Mansfield   79 or 80 — 1 10 18 — " — " Washburn " Caley   " — " 40 — " — " — " — " —   Previous to Lexington Battle — " 5 — " — " — " —   do " " — " 30 30 — " — } no officers mentioned  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bridgewater Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. M. Clapp Examining Clerk.

17412 Abisha Willis Mass
Private 7 Mo 25 Days
5-12 06
March 26 1833
P. 314
\begin{array}{r} 275 \\ 27.50 \\ \hline 26.04 \\ 52.16 \\ \hline 13.04 \\ 65.20 \\ \hline \end{array}
Mason Shaw Belchertown Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Abisha Willis  of  Berkshire  in the State of  Mass  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 79 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1776 — 6 private Capt Sawyer Col. Mather   79 or 80 4 18 " " Washburn " Coney   " " 10 " " — " —   Previous to Lexington Battle " 5 " " — " —   do " " " 20 30 " } no officers mentioned   " "  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bridgewater Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. M. Clapp  Examining Clerk.

I Leveah Willis of Belchertown in the county of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged sixty eight years. testify and say that Abisha Willis of the same Belchertown is my Brother, that we were born and brought up in Bridgewater in the county of Plymouth in said Commonwealth. That said Abisha was frequently called out on alarms during the Revolutionary war. First he was marched to Boston in 1775 and was absent a short time. That afterwards in 1776 about the last of June he entered in Capt. Lyman's company of Daniel Snow as first Lieutenant, and that he went to Castle Island in Boston Harbor and was absent from the last of June to the last of December. That afterwards in 1779, I believe, and about the first of September, he was drafted, and marched to Rhode Island in the company commanded by Capt. Abraham Washburn of said Bridgewater, Jason Hobbs being the first Lieut. and was absent about six weeks. That afterwards in 1780, he was called out in the same company under the same officers, and was absent on that expedition about three weeks.
These impressions are strong on my mind, because I had four Brothers who served in the Revolutionary war at several places at the same time.
Leveah
his mark Willis

Zerviah Willis' Devo. in care of Abisha Willis

I Zerriah Willis of Belchertown in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged sixty eight years. testify and say that Abisha Willis of the same Belchertown is my Brother, that we were born and brought up in Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth in said Commonwealth. That said Abisha was frequently called out on alarms during the Revolutionary war. First he was marched to Boston in 1775 and was absent a short time. That afterwards in 1776 about the last of June he entered in Capt. Sayer's Company & Daniel Snow as first Lieutenant, and that he went to Castle Island in Boston Harbor and was absent from the last of June to the last of December; That afterwards in 1779, I believe, and about the first of September, he was drafted, and marched to Rhode Island in the Company commanded by Capt. Abraham Washburn of said Bridgewater, Jason Hobbs being the first Lieut. and was absent about six weeks; That afterwards in 1780, he was called out in the same Company under the same Officers, and was absent on that expedition about three weeks.
These impressions are strong on my mind, because I had four Brothers who served in the Revolutionary war at several places at the same time.
Zerriah
his mark Willis

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire ss. Belchertown August 22 d 1832 Then the within named Zerriah Willis appeared and made solemn oath that the deposition to which she hath put her signature is true.
Before me Mason Shaw Justice of the Peace.
I hereby certify that Zerriah Willis before mentioned is a person of good character, and to whom testimony full faith & credit should be given.
Mason Shaw Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire ss. Samuel T. Lyman Register of the Court of Probate for said County, do hereby certify that the Mason Shaw Esquire is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County duly and regularly appointed and that the above signature purporting to be his, is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of office this thirtieth day of October A.D. 1832
Sam l T. Lyman Register

Hrischa Willis Declaration
2. Willis Declaration
18412
107 Hrischa Willis

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Hampshire ss.
On this fifteenth Day of August A.D. 1832 Personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Samuel Hinkley Judge of Probate of Wills & now sitting in Belchertown in said County of Hampshire, Miss H. A. Wells a resident of the same Belchertown aged 79 - who being first sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. viz.
That the first part of July A.D. 1776 for six months he enlisted at Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth in said Commonwealth and was enrolled in the Company commanded by Capt. Amasa Dyer in the Regiment commanded by Col. Marshall in the service of said Commonwealth of Massachusetts, marched to Boston, and afterwards to Castle William where he was employed in rebuilding the fortifications at Castle William, now Fort Independence in Boston Harbor and was discharged at said place after his term of duty had expired, before the said  the said  Hinkley  Hinkley  Judge of Probate  Judge of Probate  in  in  the  the  County  County .
That afterwards in the year 1779 or 1780 was drafted for forty days and enrolled in the Company commanded by Capt. Abraham Washburn in the Regiment commanded by Col. Gary and marched to Rhode Island and served at that time from forty to fifty days - His service was before Sullivan's expedition.

That afterwards was drafted for ten days and in the company commanded by the same Lieut. Abraham Washburn in said Col. Curny's Regiment, and marched to Butts Hill on Rhode Island, and assisted in erecting a fort on that hill; at the expiration of the ten days was dismissed; and marched home to said Bridgewater, afterwards in two days the enemy's ships appeared off Rhode Island, and was then again embodied, in the same Company and marched back again to Rhode Island and served five days in that Expedition and after we had removed Howland's ferry were dismissed. He further says that twice previous to Lexington Battle he was called out and marched to Boston, and was detained about three days at each of those times - and that all the above services was in for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts an account of the Revolutionary war.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Abisha his Willis Before me Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate for said County We Gideon Ames and Samuel Loomis residing in Belchertown aforesaid, and neighbours of said Abisha Willis for about thirty years, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with said Abisha Willis who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age; that he is situated and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed } the day and year aforesaid }
Gideon Ames Samuel Loomis
Before me Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named Applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states - and the court further certifies that Gideon Hunt and Samuel Lemmon both of Belchertown are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
Samuel Hinkley Judge of Probate
I Sam d C. F. Lyman Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Abisha Hobbs for a pension -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court this fifteenth day of August A.D. 1832
Sam d C. F. Lyman Register

Belchertown Ms. Feb 9 1
pm
Feb 13
J. L. Edwards Esquire Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.
Atkins

Bethelstown Feb 21 st 1836
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions
Sir,
I have been enquired of whether there was an Administrator or Executor on the Estate of Abisha Willis late of Bethelstown deceased - a Revolutionary Pensioner - That the pension due at his decease, should have been claimed & paid to his Adm r or Ex r &c. It seems by the regulations of the Pension Office before me that "If a Pensioner has died & left a Widow, the balance of the pension belongs to her: if he left no widow or she be dead - to the children of the pensioner and if no children then to the legal representative of the deceased" - and I was not aware, and do not perceive any reason why there should be any distinction - in the manner of obtaining such balance - Why in one case Administration should be required, and not in the other or others -
The small balance that was due on the Pension certificate of Abisha Willis - has been paid over to the only legal representative - He was a cripple for many years - feeble and very poor - was never married - his Sister Zeruah Willis - the only legal representative - was unmarried also, she took care of him - is also very poor - and has after complying with what was supposed to be required of her, rec d . the balance & returned the certificate, There was no estate whatever to administer upon - The small sum due on the Pension certificate would not have paid the expense & trouble -
I hope nothing further will be required of her - She is unable to meet any expense whatever - and that the War Department will waive any exceptions that may have been taken in this case, and advise their agent in Boston accordingly - Very respectfully - yours Mason Shaw

Copy of J. K. Simpson Son's letter
Abisha Willis Mapside
file with the above case.

(copy)
Commonwealth Bank Pension Office Boston Feb y 26 th 1836
Sir
In the q tr ending the 30 th Sept 1835 in making payments to revolutionary pensioners under the Act of 7 th June 1834 I made the following errors viz
The arrears of pension due Abisha Willis who died Oct 15 th 1834 was paid to his sister S Willis - also the arrears of pension due Jonathan Weld who died on the 14 th day of July was paid to his brother S Weld
The Judge of Probate in Welds certificate says he "died leaving no Widow, children or grandchildren, but one Brother, viz Ebenezer Weld who is his only legal heir and representative", and the certificate of Willis is similar
These payments should have been made to an Executor or Administrator but as I have since ascertained the pensioners both died very poor and left no estate to administer upon and if administration had been taken out the money would have gone into the same hands as it now is. If an Administrator is now appointed it would be only for the purpose of signing  signing a receipt to send to the Department. Under these circumstances I would enquire if these vouchers cannot now be admitted

I am Sir, Very Respectfully Your obedt Servant (Signed) L. M. Stone for John H. Simpson Agent
James I Edwards Esq Compt. of Pensions Washington- D.C.

30 205 Rev INVALID.
File No. 30 205
Abisha Miller
Rev
Act: June 1 st 1824
Index: Vol. 9 , Page 455
[Arrangement of 1870.]

17412
Abisha Willis
P.O.
Mrs. Shaw Esq. Belchertown Mass

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Abisha Willis which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? no VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? in part VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? no
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? The Court has
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Hirsha Willis
Supplementary Decl n for Pension

Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a justice of the Peace within and for the County of Hampshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Abisha Willis of the town of Belchertown, who being duly sworn deponeth and saith that he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of all the terms of his several services set forth in his Declaration, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below as a private soldier. In 1776 he served as set forth in his Declaration six months at the end of said term of service he and the whole Regiment was discharged but that he ne r received a written discharge. Also that as he has stated in his said Declaration in 1779 or 1780 that, by reason of old age, and consequent loss of memory he cannot recollect the year - he served as a Private soldier forty days, and that in addition thereto he was two or three days marching to, and two or three days returning from said forty days service, That he also served as he has declared the term of ten days and also five days and that these times taken up in marching to and from said places of said service, was over and above the said terms of service. Also that the two terms of service of about three days each about the time of Lexington Battle for the above reason he cannot distinctly recollect the precise number of days. He further declares that he never received a written discharge - but was discharged or discharged when his said several terms of service was out.
He further declares that he never knew any commander under whose orders said Regiments were commanded other than the colonels he has mentioned.
His Lieutenant for six months was Daniel Frowe and Joseph Brapth was Lieutenant for the forty days service - and Jonathan Willis was Lieutenant in

the ten days and in the five days service and that in the said services of three days each Abraham Washburn commanded the company.
He further declares that the clergyman of the society of which he is a member was dismissed a short time previous to his making his declaration in open court aforesaid and that said society is still destitute. That he therefore pro- duced two of his neighbors who have known him more than thirty years to testify to their belief in the truth of his declaration.
He further states that he has no documentary evi- dence of his said services and knoweth of no one living who served with him in said companies nor any other person who knoweth of his services except Reviah Willis, whose testimony he has produced - his Mark Abraham Washburn
Hampshire J. May 21 st 1833 Then the above named Abisha Willis personally appeared and made solemn oath that foregoing statement respecting his services in the Revolutionary war is true Before me Mason Shaw Justice of the Peace
I certify that full credit is to be given to state- ment aforesaid of said Abisha Willis that it is true.
Mason Shaw Justice of the Peace

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Hampshire ss.
I, SAMUEL F. LYMAN, Register of the Court of Probate within and for said County of Hampshire, do hereby certify that Mason Shaw Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition was taken, was, at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly and regularly appointed, and that the signature thereto annexed purporting to be his, I know to be genuine.
IN testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this Sixteenth day of August
A. D. 183 3 .
Samuel F. Lyman Register of Probate.