Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 34,555, John Williams, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Williams John
S. 34 555
{ B.L.W. 2296-300 capt. Issued Feb. 27, 1790. No papers.
CONTENTS

Massachusetts Rolls.
1,409
John Williams, 31 Col Putnam Captain, 11
Massachusetts line 16 Sept 82 War In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on the 30 th of March 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 th of June 1818 and sent to Saml. Dana, Esq., Boston, Mass.
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818.
Service after ending:
8 months 2/31 4/30 $103.95
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818 }
Concord Groton Widder

Notification sent October 26. 1820 to Abraham Bigelow, Cambridge, Mass.

John Williams
Correct

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Be it remembered, that on the thirtieth day March - in the year of Our Lord, One Thousand, Eight hundred, and Eighteen - - - Before me Samuel Dana Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the middle Circuit (comprehending the Counties of Essex, and Middlesex, within the Commonwealth, afore said) being a Court of Record, by law instituted, and established. Comes John Williams - of Groton - - - in said County of Middlesex Esq. and on Oath declares, that he served in the war of
The revolution from the commencement, to the termination thereof. - That he was in the service of the State of Massachusetts as a Lieut. That his first Captain's Commission upon the Continental establishment was dated at Albany Nov. 1. 1777 and he was annexed to the Regiment commanded by Col. Rufus Putnam this Regiment Commission was signed by Henry Laurens Pres t - On the 29 th Sept r 1779 he received another Commission from Congress signed by Samuel Huntington Pres t No. 55. by which he was appointed a Captain in the 12 th Mass. Reg t in the Army of the United States, under which he served until he received another Commission signed by John Hanson Pres t of Congress, and dated at Philadelphia the sixteenth of September A. D. 1782 by which he was appointed a Captain in the First Mas- sachusetts Regiment, and in this Regiment which was commanded by Col. Joseph Hove, he re- mained to the end of the war, when he was ordered by Maj. Genl. Heath, to conduct about two hun- dred Soldiers, from Camp, who had been dismissed and furloughed, from the army, which he did, and returned to his residence in Groton in June A.D. 1783. - He was in the Battle of Bunker's Hill at Charleston - of Long Island - of Morrisena, and at the Capture of Burgoyne's Army. Before he went into the Army, he was by occupation a hatter, and when he joined the Army he left a wife with a small Family & Children, He supported on his wa- ges, but when he returned, it had taken all his former earnings, and wages to support his Family, he was then obliged, to rely upon his Commutation, which soon so depreciated that he was compelled to sell his Certificates for one eighth part of the face sum promised them and they were soon exhausted, since which he has gained, a poor livelihood, by manual labor - He is now near Seventy two years old. He has never received assistance for support, save only a small allowance from his Brethren of the Society of Cincinnati, but on account of his advanced age he can not much longer procure subsistence by his labor and -
--- such is his present situation by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, that he now stands in need of assistance from his Country for support. -
John Williams
This made, taken, subscribed & sworn to, at Groton in said County of Middlesex - - - the day and year aforesaid. -
Sam. Dana

†
Capt. John Williams

To the Honorable JOHN C. CALHOUN, Secretary of the Department of War of the United States.
I, the undersigned Samuel Dana , Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Middle Circuit, (comprehending the Counties of Essex and Middlesex) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being a Court of Record, duly established by Law, Do hereby certify, That on the thirtieth day of March in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen Personally appeared John Williams and made and subscribed the declaration which is hereunto annexed. and at the same time, he exhibited to me, one of the commissions described in said declaration
from which it appears to me, that the said John Williams did serve in the War of the REVOLUTION, against the common enemy, upwards of nine months. upon continental establishment
Wherefore, in pursuance of the directions of an Act of Congress, made and passed the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," I have transmitted the said Declaration & the Commission aforesaid to you the said Secretary, that such further proceedings may be had in the premises, as the said Act may require.
In testimony of all which, I have caused the Seal of said Court to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand within the said Circuit, the thirtieth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Eighteen .
Sam. Dana

145
John Williams Jr
Residua
June 1818
Am

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
MIDDLESEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Concord, within and for the County of Middlesex, on the second Monday of June A. D. 1820
Before the Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Esquire, Chief Justice,
and
WILLIAM WETMORE, and } Associate Justices STEPHEN MINOT, Esquires, } of said Court.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, John Williams resident in Groton - in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 1.409 now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
“WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.”
“I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, John Williams late a Captain in the army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of twenty dollars per month, to commence on the thirtieth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
“Given at the War Office of the United States, this thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War,”
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
SCHEDULE,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
Real Estate - none.
Personal Estate viz.
  1 pot of the value of 1.00 1 pair andirons 1.00 - $ 2.00   old tea kettle .13 shovel & tongs .50 1 chest 1.00 - - 1.63   2 old tables 1.00 1 old chest .50 5 old chairs 1.00 2.50   2 old wheels 1.00 crockery pewter & earthen ware 2.50 3.50   Beetle & wedges .40 gridiron & toaster .20 2 scives .20 } 1.00   looking glass .20 - - - - - - } $10.63 
John Williams.
And the said John Williams having been first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served during the whole of the Revolutionary war part of the time as a Lieutenant and part as a captain first in the Regiment commanded by Col. William Prescott of the Massachusetts line, and afterwards in

other Regiments, was in the battles of Bunker Hill Still water and White Plains all which services are more particularly set forth in his original declara- tion dated March 30 th 1818 on file in the war office - that he is seventy three years of age was a hatter by occupation but is now totally unable to perform any labour - that his family consists of the following per- sons viz. his wife Molly aged seventy one years, infirm and feeble - Persis his daughter aged 31 years and Rhoda Ann old a grand child aged 11 years.
John Williams
Sworn & declared to before me
S. Dana judge.

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Samuel Dana — a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
4 I, John Williams do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, 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 eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, 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. So help me GOD.
John Williams.
Middlesex ss. C. C. C. P. June Term, A. D. 1820
Then the abovenamed John Williams took and subscribed the aforewritten Oath before me,
Samuel Dana - Judge of said Court. 7
I, ABRAHAM BIGLOW , Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and 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
Ten dollars & sixty three cents
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Cambridge, in said County of Middlesex, on this 20th day of July 1820 .
Attr.
Abraham Biglow 30

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN Congress ASSEMBLED
Greeting.
N o 28
To John Williams Esquire
We Reposing special trust and confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO by these presents constitute and appoint you to be a Captain in the first Massachusetts Regiment in the Army of the United States, to take rank as such from the Eleventh day of August 1777. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a Captain by doing and performing all manner of things therunto belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers, under your command, to be obedient to your orders, as Captain. And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as you shall receive from this, or a future Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress, for that purpose appointed, a Committee of the States, or Commander in chief for the time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your superior Officer, according to the rules and discipline of War, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in force until revoked by this, or a future Congress, the Committee of Congress beforementioned, or a Committee of the States.
34555
Witness His Excellency John Hanson Esquire President of the Congress of the United States of America at Philad a April the Sixteenth day of September A.D. 1782 and in the Seventh Year of our Independence.
John Hanson
By Order of Congress Meriwether Secretary at War

34 555 Rev INVALID.
File No. 34 555
John Williams Capt Rev War
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 457
[Arrangement of 1870.]