Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33807, Francis Town, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass
Town, Francis
S. 33807
CONTENTS

(2312)
Massachusetts
Francis Towne // Capt Lyman Private Massachusetts Line
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence the 16 th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th of Sept r 1818 and sent to S. Hinckley Esq d Northampton Mass.
Arrears to 4th of Sept r 1818  due 36-79 Semi-ann. all ee ending 4 March 1819 - 48 -
84-79
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
One Year Died August 24, 1827
Northampton Hampshire Co
Massachusetts Francis Towne Private Massachusetts Line In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence the 16 th of April 1818 Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th of Sept r 1818 and sent to S. Hinckley Esq d Northampton Mass. Arrears to 4th of Sept r 1818 due 36-79 Semi-ann. all ee ending 4 March 1819 - 48 - 84-79 { Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. } One Year Died August 24, 1827 Northampton Hampshire Co

N o 43
Francis Town
2812 15 Sept 1818
Belfast town M
Mar 1819

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
HAMPSHIRE ss.
At a Special Session of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Western Circuit, begun and holden at Northampton, within and for the County of Hampshire, on Wednesday, the fifth day of July, and de die in diem to the sixth day of said month A. D. 1820 :
PERSONALLY APPEARED, in open Court, being a Court of Record, within and for said County, created such by the Laws of the Commonwealth, Francis Town aged sixty two years, resident in Dolansburg in said County, who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows :
I enlisted into the Company Commanded by Capt. Lyman in the Regt. commanded by Col. Elisha Porter in the Massachusetts Line of the Continental establishment in the month of Feb y 1776 and served until Jan y 4 1777. I again enlisted in June 1778 into the Company commanded by Capt. David Saint in the Regt. commanded by Col. Wood in the Continental establishment & served at this time nine months. I am 69 years old. my health is poor, a Carpenter by trade. I have a family of nine Children, none of them able to support me. I am unable to support myself and my Children have with me and affords me some assistance, and I have occasionally been supported by the town my Certificate under the Pension Law of 1818 is dated September 15 th 1818 and numbered 2,312.
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, 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 18th day of March, 1818; 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 following schedule by me subscribed.
One Bay Pot $1.25 One Tea kettle 75 c $2.00 One Milk Pail 25 c One Shovel & Pail 34 c .59

is dated September 15 th 1818 and numbered 2,312.
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, 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 18th day of March, 1818; 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 following schedule by me subscribed.
  One large pot 1.25  One Tea kettle 75 c  $2.00    One Milk Pail 25 c  One Spade & Pail 34 c  .59    One Shovel 20 c  One Shovel & Long 1.25 c  1.45    Six old Chairs 2.50.  One Tea kettle & tin Kettle 67  3.17    One Earthen Plate & five plates & three bowls   .57    One Tea set One Pitcher One Tea Canister 45   .45    One old Table. One old Chest One pair of underarms   3.41    One p o old Shelves. Two benches. one smoky stove. One bed straw. One sitting gnateat. one Boiling pan   5.61    Two Hammers, ten Chisels One set Campfire   1.28    One Cornish & one bed mould & one match Stump   .81    Two round hollow two head plane 4.00  two O.P. Planes two rabbet d o One noseing 1.40  2.40    One halving plane One Sash d o 1.00  One sash saw. one box rule 75 c . One Box & bits 3.00  6.75    Three augers. One 2 in d o 2.00  One 1 1/2 in d o one 1 in d o 1.00  6.    One adze. One Cross Saw 1.67.  One Iron Square. two pair Chisels 2.40. One back saw & old pencil 2 c  6.07    Francis Towne  $40.56  
Sworn to, and declared, on the before the said Court.
fifteenth
day of July ,
1820,
Attest, Josiah Dwight Clerk.
I, JOSIAH DWIGHT, Clerk of said Court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule which follows it, 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 Forty dollars, and fifty six cents.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this sixth day of July 1820.
Josiah Dwight

January 25, 1932
BA-J/MSHF:MLB
Mr. William L. Town Box 485 Troy, New York
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to request of Mr. E. W. Morgan, of January 23, in your behalf, in regard to securing information relative to pension that might have been allowed Lydia Gray Town, based upon service of a soldier by that surname in the Revolutionary War.
The Revolutionary War records of this office have been searched and there is no record that a claim for pension was made by a Lydia Gray Town because of the services of her husband by that surname.
As stated in office letter of July 30, 1931, to you, the name of the wife of Francis Town (S. 33807), Revolutionary War soldier, is not given in his claim for pension.
The statement he made in 1820, in regard to his family, was made in July and is shown as follows: "I have a family of nine children, none of them able to support me. I am unable to support myself one of my children lives with me and affords me some assistance, and I have occasionally been supported by the town". He did not give the names of his children, nor refer to his wife.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

1930-Dec. 30-Disb. to Wm L. Town- See request & reply in cl. Wm Abiather Evans (P. 21080) 1930-Jan. 16-Mr. W. L. Town further advised in re. to his said residence, last payment etc. See reply in Wm Town - S. 42507 1937-Jan. 28-Wm L. Town adv. further in regard to family - Wm L. Town
33807 Rev INVALID.
File No. 33807
Francis Town
Rev Rev
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 421
[Arrangement of 1870.]

dated Jan. 19, 1932, Extract of letter from W m L. Town, Box 485, Troy, N.Y. to the Director of Pensions.
"I think I have now, thanks to your help, a complete record of my Great-Great-Grandfather's Revolutionary service, Francis A. Town.
Our family records show that his wife, Eunice Warner, died June 2, 1817. Your records show that he was placed on the pension roll April 16, 1818, certificate #2312. I have discovered in Mass. that a Francis Town and the widow Lydia Gray were married at Belchertown, Mass. March 11, 1820. Francis Town died at So. Hadley, Mass. Aug. 24, 1827. and the arrears of pension due was paid on Dec. 12, 1827, to Joseph Gray, Administrator. This name (Gray) makes me believe that there was a second marriage, which does not show on our family records.
Will you kindly see if Lydia Gray Town was a Revolutionary soldier's wife who may have received a pension. If so give me any information about her that appears on her record."
(Sig) W m L. Town
Mrs. Church Will you write Mrs. Town and let me have carbon copy of letter? E. Morgan
Submitted by Mrs. Morgan Jan 23-32

Francis Town's application for a Pension
Northampton in War in Force April 31
Honorable J. C. Calhoun, Sec'y for the War Department Washington
The application of Francis Town for a pension, taken & sealed up and forwarded by me Thomas Hinkley - Judge
Admitted
If the Pension is granted it is requested the bounty- lets may be ordered to J. Hinkley Northampton Mass 29

I Francis Town of Belcherstown in the County of Hampshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts Testify & say in January Seventeen hundred & Seventy Six I Enlisted under Capt. Josiah Lyman, in Col o Elisha Porter Reg t , as a Drummer  Infantryman to serve one year in the revolutionary war of the United States, & found my reg t at Hadley in said County we marched directly from the Hospital to Lubeck in Lower Canada, & was discharged at Windsor in York State, in January Seventeen hundred & Seventy Seven. Thus I served in the revolutionary war as a  Drummer  Infantryman one year on the Continental Establishment and in the Massachusetts Line.
I am an inhabitant of Belcherstown aforesaid & Sixty years old. I have not received any Pension from  the Government, and by reason of my reduced circumstances I need assistance from my country for support
April 16 th 1818
Francis Town
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampshire ss April 16. 1818 Freeman Town personally came before me the subscriber Judge of the Court of Probate of wills &c. being at least of the age of 21 and for said County, & being examined & cautioned to testify the whole truth made solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed contains the truth the whole truth & nothing but the truth, and that it offered to my satisfaction that he served in the Revolutionary war against the the said Francis Town is in the County of Hampshire  the enemy  as stated in the above  the said Francis Town is in the County of Hampshire  deposition - Taken and heard before me & I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Court aforesaid the Day & year aforesaid. Samuel H. Hinkley Judge of said Court
If granted it requested the Certificate may be enclosed to me at Northampton Mass ts S. Hinkley

I Joseph Lyman of Goshen in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age testify and say that Francis Towns of Belchertown in said County some time in the winter in the year Seventeen hundred and twenty five enlisted as a drummer into a Company of Foot Regiment commanded by me I then living in Belchertown in a Regiment commanded by Col. Elisha Porter for the term of one year. That some time past the middle of March of the same year said Francis marched with said company directly to Canada in the Canada expedition so called and said Francis continued faithfully to serve as a drummer in said company during the whole of the term for which he enlisted
Joseph Lyman
Hampshire ss. August 28 th 1818 and made oath Personally appeared Joseph Lyman that the deposition by him subscribed is the truth before me Oliver Taylor justice of the Peace

Gideon Stebbins of Belcherstown in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age testify and say; that Francis Town of Belcherstown aforesaid some time in the winter in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and seventy six, enlisted as a drummer into a company of foot commanded by Capt. Jonah Lyman of said Belcherstown, in a Regiment commanded by Col. Elisha Porter, for the term of one year; of which company I was the second Lieutenant, that on the eighteenth or nineteenth day of March of the same year, or very near that day, said Francis marched with said company directly to Canada, in the Canada expedition so called; and said Francis continued faithfully to serve as a drummer in said company, during the whole of the term for which he enlisted;  Gideon Stebbins
Hampshire ss August 27, 1818 Personally appeared Gideon Stebbins subscriber to the foregoing deposition and made oath for the truth of the same. (Before Joseph Bridgman Jr) Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts ss Hampshire ss August 29. 1818 I Daniel Stebbins of Northampton in said County of lawful age testify and say that I am personally acquainted with Capt. Gideon Stebbins signer of the above Deposition and with Maj. Jonah Lyman signer of the Deposition hereto annexed and I know them both to be men of credibility and of the strictest veracity - Daniel Stebbins
Commonwealth of Massachusetts ss Hampshire ss Aug. 29. 1818 Personally appears Daniel Stebbins Esq. a Notary Public for said County and a man of truth & veracity and makes solemn oath that the foregoing Deposition by him submitted is the truth the whole truth & nothing but the truth
1818. The reason of Daniel Stebbins' Deposition is because Joseph Bridgman, Esq. a Notary Public for the County of Hampshire, has not certified as to the credibility of the witnesses.
Before me Samuel H. Hinkley Judge of the Court of Probate of Middlesex and a Justice of the Peace within the said County

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire ss. Clerk's Office Northampton
I Josiah Dwight Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court within & for said County certify that Samuel Hinckley Esq. is Judge of the Probate Court & Justice of the Peace & that Oliver Taylor & Joseph Bridgman Esquires are Justices of the Peace, all in the said County of Hampshire, & that their signatures to the several Certificates on the Papers hereto annexed are the proper hand writing of the said Samuel, Oliver & Joseph — In witness whereof I have set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 29 th day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & eighteen.
Josiah Dwight