Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18658, Stephen Williams, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Williams, Stephen
NUMBER
S. 18658
CONTENTS
carded

Stephen Williams son of Edmund Williams & Lydia his wife was born Nov. 10. 1752 N.P.
True Copy of record Wm Snow T. Clk. of Raynham,

Williams, Stephen Mass. 5/8/658

Williams, Stephen Mass. 51858
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ) BRISTOL, ss. )
At a COURT of PROBATE holden at Taunton - in and for said County on the twenty ninth day of August . one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, before the Honorable HODIJAH BAYLIES, Judge of the Probate, &c. for said County, personally appeared Stephen Williams a resident of Raynham in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832, make the following declaration. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as hereinafter stated; to wit, Under Capt. Henry Hodge, Lt. Job Dean, Col. & other field officers unknown; again under Capt. Noah Hall, Lt. Sylvester Jones, Ensign William Crossman , I think Col. French commanded the regiment; the other field officers forgotten; again under Capt. Robert Crossman Lt. Abiel Marston Ensign Burt , Col. Carpenter , Lt. Col. Lane , Major James Williams , again under Capt. Jonathan Shaw , Lt. Zebulon Field , field officers unknown, again under Josiah Brooker Lt. Thomas Dean, Col. Carpenter , as I think, the other officers forgotten; and the particulars of his several services he will specify in reply to the fifth subjoined interrogatory;
and further declares as follows, in reply to the interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of War
1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Ans. That he was born in Raynham in the County of Bristol and Sta in the year one thousand seven hundred and fiftytwo .
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it? The record of my birth by the said Town of Raynham for the purpose of recording. Copy whereof certified by the present Town Clerk of said Town is her
3 Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolution do you now live?
Always in Raynham aforesaid

4. How were you called into service ; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, for whom ?
I always voluntarily enlisted except for when I went as a substitute for Noah Williams; every time in the State Troops or militia
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served ; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. Under Capt. Hodges I entered for two months in the month of December in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy five, marched from Taunton to Roxbury near Boston where we were joined to the army then Blockading the British in Boston, and we did duty there for the said term of two months; I do not remember any other regiment, I remember keeping guard at Gen. Spencer's quarters; but do not recollect any other officers; Under Capt. Hall I entered in the month of February in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy six, marched from Taunton to Winter Hill in Cambridge and served there and at Dorchester two months in the army blockading Boston; we were employed in guard duty and throwing up intrenchments, I saw Gen. Washington there; but cannot remember other regiments or officers, I was there when the British sent out a flag of Truce after we had made the fortification on Dorchester Hill, and said if we would let them alone they would go out peaceably, they would not burn Boston up; Under Capt. Crossman I entered in September in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy six, we marched from Taunton to Providence and crossed the Connecticut river at Hartford, thence to Newhaven in Connecticut and then to Horseneck the last town in Connecticut, staid there awhile and then marched to Mamaroneck where there was another regiment with ours commanded by Col. McIntosh, afterwards we were stationed at North Castle, while there I went with a detachment which marched in the night to attack a body of the enemy at East Chester, but they having received intimation of our approach had made off, and we returned to our regiment at North Castle where we staid till our term of service, to wit, two months, was out; when we were dismissed; Under Capt. Shaw I was in what was called Spencer's secret expedition, and served thereon one month; we marched from Taunton through Kingston to Howland's Ferry in Kingston in the State of Rhode Island; we collected boats and made repeated attempts to cross to Rhode Island, we marched by night down to Hogland Ferry in Little Compton in the same State, and attempted to cross there; but the enemy discovered us and killed some of our boatmen in the boats & the expedition failed; this was in the fall of the year Seventeen hundred and seventy seven; Under Capt. Crocker I was six weeks in Sullivan's expedition, in the latter part of the summer of the year Seventeen hundred and seventy eight I went as a substitute for my brother as aforesaid, we marched
2m?
2m?
2m?
1m?
1 1/2 m?
8m? 2m?

from Scituate to said Howland's Ferry, and staid there encamped awhile in the wood & then crossed to Rhode Island, marched to Bull's Hill and chose a position to retu- rn to if compelled so to do, then we marched down to the British lines near Newport and threw up intrenchments, while there I was taken sick, and sent back from the camp to a deserted house near Bristol Ferry at the northwest end of the Island, and was there when the battle at Quaker Hill was fought, but too sick to take part in it, after the battle I got into a vessel which landed me on the main near Howland's Ferry, where I found some friends who assisted me home to Raynham, where I remained too sick to join my company again before it was dismissed, for proof of my aforesaid services I refer to the annexed affidavit.

Stephen Williams S.S.R.
3997
Stephen Williams S.S.R.

6. Were you a Soldier or an Officer? if a Soldier, did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and, if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? if an Officer, did you ever receive a commission, if so by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
I was a private soldier, I never received a written discharge.
7. State the names of the persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
To the Revd. Simon Doyett & Godfrey Robinson Esq.
And the said Stephen Williams doth further declare that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and that his name is not on the Pension roll of the Agency of any State, or (if any) only on that of the agency of the State of
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Stephen Williams H. Mayhew, Jr. of Probate.
WE Simon Doyett  Enoch Sanford a Clergyman residing in Raynham , and Godfrey Robinson Esq. residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Stephen Williams who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be about seventy nine years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Enoch Sanford. Godf. Robinson H. Mayhew, Jr. 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 abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Simon Basset  Simon Basset has signed the preceding certificate is a Clayman resident in the Town of Raynham in said County of Bristol, and that Godfrey Robinson Esq. who has also signed the same is a resident in said Town and is a credible person, and that their _____ statement is entitled to credit.
A. V. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
Register of Probate.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } BRISTOL, ss. }
I Anselm Basset Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Stephen Williams of Raynham in said County, for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court the day and year first above written.
Anselm Basset

6718.
Massachusetts
Stephen Williams
of Bristol in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain _____ of the reg t commanded by Col French in the Mass line for 8 (Ninety) Days
Miln
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 27 Dollars 98 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 th day of Jan 1833 and sent to J. J. Goodwin Secy of Reps
Arrears to 4th of Jan 1833 $55.96 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 33 13.99
$69.95
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J. H. Blair Clerk Book D. Vol. 2 nd Page 92.

In 1844 I am 47 and Godfrey Robinson, Oct 17: 39
81 Mental

3997.
Stephen Williams of Bristol County Mass.
2 Witnesses not certified as credible — Refer to the Hon Mr. Woodger W.P.B. to certify the same.
of 14 th
8 Private 8 mo 12 day Advised P 196.
$ 27.98.
a Babbett Farmton Mass.

BRIEF in the case of  Stephen Williams  of Bristol Co in the State of Me  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? in Open 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. As a Names of General and field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. Gen.     In 17 75 Dec 2 — pr Cap Hodges Col   76 Feb 2 — n " Hall " French   Sept 2 2 — " " Crossman Lieut Genl   77 4 — " " Shaw —   78 — 42 " " Crocker —   8 Mo 12 day,  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Raynham  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses & 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.
H. H. Bliss Examining Clerk.

I, Ezekiel Lincoln of Taunton in the County of Bristol Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy eight years do testify and say, that I have been acquainted with Stephen Williams of Raynham in said County ever since he was a young man, and that in the revolutionary army we both served as private soldiers in the Company under Capt. Robert Crossman Lt. Jacob Dunt, Ensign Abiel Macomber, in Col. Carpenter's regiment of Massachusetts Militia, in what year I cannot remember, we marched through Rhode Island & Connecticut, thence to Horse neck, thence to Whiteplains, and were stationed awhile at North Castle, whence we went on a scouting party after Rogers's Rangers, after our return from this scouting expedition we staid till our term of service was out to wit two months, and the said Williams served the whole of said term in said Company. Ezekiel Lincoln
Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Bristol ss. Aug. 27. 1832 Ezekiel Lincoln made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him signed Before me A Barrett Just. of the Peace
Bristol ss. Jury. 15. 1833. I certify that Ezekiel Lincoln who signed the above affidavit is a disinterested & credible Witness - A Barrett J. Peace

I, Israel Washburn, of Raynham in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy seven years, do testify and say, that from my youth up I have been acquainted with Stephen Williams of said Raynham, and that I know he served in the revolutionary army, for we were both soldiers together in the Company commanded by Capt Henry Hodges, & Lt Job Dean in Col. Joseph Reed's regiment; we served in that Company two months, commencing in the last of December in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five, marching from Taunton to Roxbury and joining the army then blockading the British in Boston in which we did service during said term. Israel Washburn
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss. Aug. 27. 1832 Israel Washburn made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him signed Before me Alvan D. Just. of the Peace
Bristol ss. Jany. 15. 1833. Israel Washburn who subscribed made oath to the above deposition is a disinterested & credible witness — Alvan D. Just. of the Peace

I, Nathaniel Britton of Raynham Mass aged eighty two years, testify under oath that Stephen Williams of Raynham aforesaid, served as a private in the War of the Revolution in the same company with myself in the year 1777, under the immediate command of Capt Jonathan Skand and Lt. Lebulon Fales, in what was called Spencer's Expe- -dition. The service rendered by the said Williams in this campaign was during one month, near the Island of Rhode Island. Nathaniel Britton
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss. June 28 th 1832
Then personally appeared Nathaniel Britton, and made solemn oath that the foregoing statement by him subscribed is true according to his best knowledge and belief - Before me
James L. Flagg, Jr. Pro. Paris

I, Seth Dean of Raynham Mass. aged seventy five years, testify under oath, that I well knew Stephen William of Raynham aged 80 to have served in the same company with me, as a private in the War of the Revolu- -tion, in the year 1776, at Winter Hill and Dorchester Heights near Boston, two months, under the immediate command of Capt. Noah Hall, Lt. Sylvester Jones and Ensign Ephraim Crossman in the Regiment commanded by Col. French of Berkeley, Mass. Seth Dean
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss. Found Aug. 28 th 1832
Then personally appeared Seth Dean and made solemn oath that the foregoing statement by him subscribed is true according to his best knowledge & belief —
Before me,
James L. Hodges, J. M. Paris

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Wistot J. Anselm Bassett, Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County of Bristol do hereby certify that James L. Hodges, A. Bassett and Godfrey Robinson are Justices of the Peace within & for the County of Bristol aforesaid and are duly qualified to administer oaths and that the signatures to the foregoing certificates purporting to be theirs, are the genuine signatures of the said J. L. Hodges, A. Bassett and Godfrey Robinson —
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this seventeenth day of January Eighteen hundred & thirty three Anselm Bassett

Israel Washburn Ezekiel Lincoln Noah Williams
Washington February 22 nd 1833.
I hereby certify to the entire credibility of the foregoing witnesses - viz: Israel Washburn Ezekiel Lincoln and Noah Williams James L. Hodges

I. Noah Williams of Raynham in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts do testify & say that I am now Seventy five years old that in the Summer or fall of 1778 I was drafted to serve a campaign in the American Revolution at Rhode Island in a company of Militia commanded by Capt. Josiah Crocker of Taunton & Lieutenant Thomas Dean of Raynham & I hired my Brother Stephen Williams to serve as a Soldier for me in said campaign & he did serve for me as a Substitute in said company about six weeks at Rhode Island in what was called Sullivan Expedition
Noah Williams
Bristol ss. August 28 th 1832. then the above named Noah Williams personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed Before me Godfrey Robinson Justice Peace
Bristol ss. January 16 th 1833. This may certify I am acquainted with the above named Noah Williams and according to my best knowledge he is a credible witness and entitled to belief
Godfrey Robinson Justice of Peace

3997 Stephen Williams
At Bassett

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Stephen Williams of Bristol Co 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? None 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? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes 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? ~~~~~
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? ~~~~~
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Yes
And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? Yes
Corrected by Mr. [unintelligible]
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? Yes
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? Yes
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 the 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.
†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 authenticated 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 end 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.
14. Amended

Burlington Iowa
Aug 12. 1905
W. S. Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.
Will you please examine the pension records and ascertain for me, if possible the War record of Stephen Williams the Revolutionary soldier.
Stephen Williams my great, great, grand father, was born in the state of Rhode Island about the year 1750. In 1776 he was living in the town of Danby, Rutland County, state of Vermont. He is known to have been a Revolutionary soldier and must have entered the army from either Vermont, Rhode Island or, New York

Whatever fee is required for this research I will remit immediately. I am very anxious to obtain, not alone his war record, but also to learn the place where he spent the last years of his life and the place and date of his death. This I think can be obtained from the records if his name is on the pension rolls.
A prompt reply will be greatly appreciated.
Very truly yours, Minerva A. Williams.
319 Jefferson St. Burlington Iowa.

Washington D.C. Jan 8 1905
Commission of Pensions, U.S. Pension Office, City,
Sir
Will kindly give me outlines of revolutionary services of Stephen Williams of N.Y. State & of Andrew Andrews of either Conn. or N.Y. and graciously oblige,
Yours truly, R.R. Bennett 1717 T. St.

18 658 INVALID.
Jan. 20, 1905 Hist. to R.R. Bennett, City.
Sept. 13, 1905 History to Minerva A. Williams, Burlington, Ia.
File No. 18,658
Stephen Williams
His Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 419
[Arrangement of 1870.]

; to wit:
to of Massachusetts
it is on the Book kept the births in said Town a to annexed.
inary War, and where
stitute? and if a substi-
the last time

2. 18. 658
Stephen Williams
Son of Edmund Williams & Lydia his wife b. Nov. 10 1752 N.S. Raynham, Mass.
Aug. 29, 1832 re Raynham Bristol Co., Mass. Here at enl.
Dec. 1775
Capt. Henry Hodges
2m
Feby. 76
Capt Noah Hall Col. French
2m
Sept 1776
Capt Robt. Crossman Col. Carpenter
2
Fall 77
Capt Jonathan Shaw Spencer expd ORD
1m
Am

Sym 78 aut for bro-noah
Josiah Crocker
Col Carpenter
Sullivan Eppel Rd 6 m