Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29535, Jonathan Weston, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Weston, Jonathan
S. 29535
CONTENTS

77 M d 06/11
H d . April 24 - 1839 A.B.
10.897. Massachusetts
Jonathan Weston
of Middlesex in the State of Mass who was a Pirate in the company commanded by Captain Batchelder of the ship commanded by Col Bridge in the East Indies for 2 years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Pensions at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 rd day of May 1833 and since [illegible] Jonathan Weston Middlesex Mass
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $160 — Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. 40 — $200 —
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. Blair Clerk, Book 6. Vol. 2. Page 91.

215 215 15
Jonathan Weston Mass
Private 2 years Adm'd
$80-
Joshua Prescott Mass Middlesex Mass

County of Middlesex  BRIEF in the case of  Capt Jonathan Weston  of Middlesex  in the State of  Massachusetts  (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? 75 yrs  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.     Enlist In 1775 — 8 — private Capt Eaton, Balch, Hildreth   1776 — 3 — mechanic Col Bridges   1777 — 2 — — Capt Edw. Belknap, Col. Brooks   1777 — 4 — — " Foster, " Bullard   1778 — 3 — — " Ford, " Garrison   — 11 — — " Brown, " Wade  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Several skirmishes,  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Chelsea Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Documentary & living witnesses  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.
W. D. Briggs Examining Clerk.

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS : COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ss.
On this fifth day of September A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the HONORABLE SAMUEL P. P. FAY, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Middlesex aforesaid, now sitting, Col. Jonathan Weston , a resident of Reading , in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, aged 75 years, the first day of last March , who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on his oath, make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: air That in the fore part of the year A.D. 1775 he belonged to the Company in said Reading commanded by Col. Thomas Eaton, and on the nineteenth day of April, 1775 was called out on alarm, when the British troops marched from Boston to Lexington and Concord, and was marched in said Company to Concord and met the enemy on their return in the lower part of said Concord near Lincoln, who fired upon them  his company but not having a sufficient force they were compelled to let them pass when the Company and he immediately with other troops who were pursuing in their rear pursued them and harassed them on their way, killing some and wounding others, to Bunkerhill in Charlestown where they arrived in the edge of the evening after a hard day's fatigue and he further says that they and the Company were then marched to Cambridge and were there stationed, where he remained eight or ten days or more, and then enlisted at said Cambridge for the term of eight months as a private soldier in the Company commanded by Col. John Batchelder in Col. Hovey's  Hovey's Regiment and served from said nineteenth day of April as aforesaid till he enlisted as aforesaid and from that time till the first of January A.D. 1776 when his time of service was out and he was then again discharged. He says that he was not in the battle on Bunkerhill on the 17th June 1775; but that Col. Batchelder's company in which he served were reserved for guard and during said Battle were marched by Major Brooks over Charlestown neck and were just going to ascend the hill when they met the American army on their retreat from said Hill, while the British ships of war lay on both sides of the neck opened upon them a very severe fire and they were ordered to retreat there being no prospect of success had they come on, they then returned to their former station in Cambridge and then served on guard erecting Forts &c during said eight months as aforesaid.
8 m 11 d see Benjamin Young Depr. most for this service
See James Hill's Depr. for this 3 months
He further declares that on the first of January 1776 he enlisted for the term of three months as a recruit in the Company commanded by Col. Eder which was then stationed at said Cambridge where he served said three months in hard labor and sometimes in much danger from the continual fire of the enemy from Boston and from their ships in erecting forts and fortifications and was then discharged which was about, or a little after, the British troops left Boston on or about the 26 th of March.

He further declares that in the fore part of October 1776 he again enlisted for two months, he does not now remember which and joined the company commanded by Capt. Belknap in Col. Bullard's Regiment and with said company marched from Reading to White Plains in said State of New York where the company he was in was stationed, and in which place and near that place he performed Military service mostly in scouting parties and other military service during said two months, when the company in which he was in as well as himself was discharged.
He further declares that in July 1777 he again enlisted for four months in the company commanded by Capt. Abraham Foster in Col. Bullard's Regiment and went from said Reading to Bennington Vermont in said company where he arrived two or three days after the celebrated Battle in that place on August 16th. Thence they marched to Saratoga, when his company were stationed and in his company did duty till after the taking of Burgoyne and his army, He says his company was not in the battle at the taking of Burgoyne but he with other amputees to about four hundred were placed on guard to prevent the enemy from flanking the American Army and had seven or eight skirmishes in all of which they succeeded in defeating the object of the enemy. After Burgoyne and his army were taken prisoners the Regiment to which he belonged were employed to take charge of prisoners, and marched with them one day, when they were put in charge of those troops who had enlisted for thirty days and that his company and Regiment whose service was of longer duration marched to Albany and thence to New York City and soon after to White Plains where he served till his time was out and was then discharged at that place. He does not now recollect the time of his discharge but distinctly remembers that he served his time out. In the Winter of 1778 he again enlisted in Reading for three months as a private in the company commanded by Capt. Lord and of his mistakes not, in Col. Genish's Regiment and was stationed at Fort No. 2 in Combridge and in guarding Burgoyne's troops on Prospect Hill till his term of three months expired and then he was discharged. He further declares that in the last of July or first of August 1778 he again enlisted at Salem, Essex County for six months as a private in Capt. Brown's Company and Col. Wades Regiment and marched from Salem to Providence, R. Island and shortly from thence to Newport where he staid near a month and thence returned from New Port, to East Greenwich, when he served in his company till his time was out and was then discharged. He says he was born in Reading on the first day of March A.D. 1757. He has record of his age in the town records of Reading but after that he lived in Reading when called into service and has always and now lives there, that he was called in to service as aforesaid, the names of his fellow officers, general circumstances of his services are as after said had no written discharge, General Parker, Colonel Flint, Colonel Putnam. 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.
Jonathan Weston
whole term 26 months.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
J. P. P. Pay
JUDGE OF PROBATE.
We, Melvin Emerson a clergyman, residing in South Reading aforesaid, and John Hart Esquire, a magistrate, residing in South Reading aforesaid, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jonathan Weston who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 75 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.
John Hart
Melvin Emerson
Subscribed and sworn to before
J. P. P. Pay
Probate

Benj a Young D r for Jonathan Weston
from White Plains.
Jonathan Weston
24 5 15

And the said Court hereby declares its 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 Reuben Emerson who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman resident in South Reading and that the said John Hart who has also signed the same is a Magistrate resident at South Reading and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. P. P. Day Clerk
I, Isaac Fiske , Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Middlesex aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jonathan Weston — for a pension. I also certify that Joshua Prescott
whose own proper signature is set to the deposition of Benjamin & Jeremiah Hall hereto annexed is a justice of the Peace within said County of Middlesex
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this of September A. D. 1832.
10th — day Isaac Fiske Reg

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Dec. 15 1832
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 Jonathan Weston served under the following Officers
   Captains Colonels Term of Service Where Stationed   When Enlisted Service claimed Rolls found M o Days Rolls not found M o Days     Tho s Eaton Green April 19 1775. 8 " 11 3 18 4 23 Cambridge   Jn o Bacheller Bridge Ditto 25 D o .   Edes Jan y 1 st 1776. 3 " 0 0 0 3 " 0 Cambridge   Belknap Brooks. Oct o 1776 2 " 0 0 0 2 " 0 White Plains   Ab m Foster Brilliant Aug 18 1777. 4 " 0 3 24 0 6 Saratoga   Ford Gerrish winter 1778. 3 " 0 3 0 2 Fort Cambridge   Brown Wade last July or 1 st Aug t . 6 " 0 6 0 Providence & Newport  
26 " 11 7 42 18 29
Whole Amount of Service found Seven Months & twelve Days.
Edward D. Bangs Secy

Benj n Young Depo. for
John Weston
seme sm at Cambridge

Depo. No 1 st
I Benjamin Young of Reading in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts do depose and say that in the last of April or first of May A D 1775 I enlisted in Cambridge in said County for the term of eight months in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war in the Company commanded by Capt. Batchelder in Col. Ebenezer Bridge's Regiment and joined said Company at said Cambridge and served in said Company in Cambridge and vicinity, during the said eight months, which expired on the the first day of January A D 1776, at said Cambridge, and and was then regularly discharged.
During which time I was well acquainted with Jonathan Cheston, who then resided and still resides in said Reading, and who enlisted and served for the same time, at the same place, in the same company, with me during said eight months, till the first of January 1776 or aforesaid, and was then discharged with others who enlisted and served for the same time which time of discharge was on the last day of December following our enlistment.
September 3 d A D 1832
Benjamin Young
State of Massachusetts County of Middlesex ss.
On this third day of September A D 1832 personally appeared the foregoing named Benjamin Young and made oath that the facts stated in the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed were true.
Before me Joshua Prescott Jus. Peace I also certify that said Benjamin Young is a very credible witness Joshua Prescott Jus. Peace

James Niles Depo. for Jono. Weston

I James Hill of Stoneham in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, but formerly resident in Reading in said County of Middlesex, do depose and say that I enlisted in the forepart, or first of January, 1776 in the service of the United States as a Mechanic in the Company commanded by Capt Eder stationed at Cambridge and served inside Company about two months and twenty days till the 20th of March following, and were dismissed at or about the time the British troops left Boston. During all which time I was well acquainted with Jonathan Weston of Reading aforesaid, who now lives in said Reading, who was in the same company with me and there did service as a Mechanic in constructed forts and barracks during the same term and was then dismissed with the rest of us.
I further say that in the forepart of October A.D. 1776. I enlisted in said Reading as a private soldier for two months in the service of the United States in the Company commanded by Capt Beldnap in Col Brooks Regiment to go to White Plains in the State of New York and soon after our enlistment went to White Plains with said Company and which was there stationed and there served on guard and other duties for the said term of two months expired, when I with the rest of the company whose term were out were discharged together, and I well remember that the aforesaid Jonathan Weston was in the same company aforesaid and served in said Company during the same term of two months and was dismissed with the Company.
I further say that I enlisted in the winter of 1778 in January, I believe, for the term of three months in the Company commanded by Capt Ford, and I believe in Col.
Gerrish Regiment. stationed at Fort No. 2 in Cambridge

and served in guarding Burpoynes Troops during said term of three months, which was the time for which we were engaged, and then we were discharged.
I further say that Col Jonathan Weston afore mentioned was in the same company with me and served the same time and was at at the same time dismissed.
I further say that in July 1778 I enlisted for six months in the company commanded by Col Ben Edgell, in Col. Wade Regiment and after words our company was put in Col Pops Regiment and went to Rhode Island, and was on the Island, where the battle took place there and retreated off said Island. and our company were stationed at Fall River, to guard the shore, and served my time out. And I further say that I well remember of seeing the afore mentioned Weston in the service there, and but for he was not in the same company with me, and after we left the Island, were separated the company in which he served having gone in a different direction but I have no doubt but that he served there six months in the same manner as I did.
Sept 1 st 1832
James Hill
State of Massachusetts County of Middlesex ss.
On this first day of September 1832 Personally appeared the above named James Hill and made oath that the facts stated in the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed were true before me Joshua Russell Justice of the peace
I also certify that said James Hill is a very credible witness Joshua Russell Jus Peace

Depo No. 2.
I Benjamin Young of Reading in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts do depose and say, That in the forepart of October A. D. 1776, I or was drafted I do not now recollect when enlisted in said Reading as a private soldier for two months in the service of the United States in the Company commanded by Cap Belknap in Col. Brooks Regiment to go to White Plains in the State of New York. and soon after our enlistment I marched with said Company to White Plains where said company was stationed and there I served on guard till my time of two months was out, when I with the rest of the company were discharged together. During which time I was well acquainted with Jonathan Weston who then and now resides in said Reading, who enlisted at the same time into the same company and served served therein with me during the whole of said two months. and was dismissed with the rest of the company September 1 st A. D. 1832.
Benj Young
State of Massachusetts County of Middlesex ss
On this first day of September A. D. 1832 personally appeared the aforementioned Benjamin Young and made oath that the facts stated in the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed were true. Before me Joshua Pierce Justice. His credibility testified in Deposition no 1 st

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Jonathan Weston which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? ys II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? ys 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? ys 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? ys VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? ys VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? ys VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? ys IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? ys 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? ys

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? clergyman only
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? documentary & living witnesses
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? yes
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? 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? _____
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 merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the 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.

Rev War (3-169.)
Bureau of Pensions.
29535-J
Application No. _____
Certificate No. _____
NAME OF SOLDIER,
John Jonathan Weston
Co. _____, Reg't Mass
INFORMATION DESIRED.
All papers
for him
K
died at Skaneateles NY. left no widow

A report by telephone from the General Accounting Off. on Dec. 4, 1930 was as fol: Martha Weston lawful wid. of Jonathan Weston, late of Reading, Mass. (Middlesex Co.) who d. Apr. 24, 1839, received the accrued pen- sion due on acct- of his service. It was paid Dec. 3, 1839 at which time she was at Reading, Mass.
See Rev. Wm James Hartshorn p. 14117 whose widow married Jonathan Weston -

J. 29. 535 / Jonathan Weston Sept. 5, 1832 Reading, Mass b. Feb. 1, 1757 Reading Mass - rural
Apl 19 75 Capt Thomas Eaton Col Green
Apl 25, 75 Capt Jas Batchelder Col Bridges
Small 8
Jany 1, 76 Mechanics Capt - Edes
3m
Oct. 76 Capt Beekman Col Brooks
2m
July 77 Capt Abraham Foster Col Bullard
4m
Winter 78 Pm Capt Fort Col Gernick
3m
July or Aug 78 Pm Capt Brown Col Wade
6m
mobat. 2k at Saratoga

Mr Eugene Ware Com. of Pensions,
Dear Sir:-
Will you be so kind as to inform me whether the name of Jonathan Weston appears among the pensioners of the Revolutionary War?

The man I am looking for was in the battle of Bunker Hill, but from what colony I can not tell. Presumably however he was from Mass. or New Hampshire - He died in Skeneateles New York. Family

Tradition has it that he received a pension for his services.
Very gracefully
(Mrs) Jennie W. Scudder 1006 N. Ke. Ave Washington D. C.
July 21. 1904.

29 535 Rev  INVALID.
aug. 5, 1904 Hist to Mrs. Jennie W. Scudder, D.C.
File No. 29,535-
Jonathan Weston Rev. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 443
[Arrangement of 1870.]