Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 34537, Joseph Willis, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Maas
Willis, Joseph.
S 34537
CONTENTS

6587.
Massachusetts
Joseph Willig
Middlesex County in the state of Massachusetts who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Jackson of the Massachusetts line, for the term of one year.
Enrolled on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 8 th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 th of Feby 1819 and sent to Hon. Nathl D. Dows Esq Judge Boston Massachusetts
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1818. 4 23 / 30 mo 39.19 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 th Mar 1819 - 118.09
$87.19
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Middlesex County Discontinued

Notification sent to Abraham, Biglow. Esq. 22 d September, 1820. Cambridge. Massachusetts.
Ms. A. 9. 2. 12 v. 1, p. 10 Fuller, C. May 1 1823.

244. Joseph Willis
6507
Feb 1812
not full

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, Joseph Willis resident in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. S. 587 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 late a "18th March, 1818, Joseph Willis  Private in the army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the "Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eight "dollars per month, to commence on the eighth day of  April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen "Given at the War Office of the United States, this fourth "day of February one thousand eight hundred and  nineteen 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,
  " Two acres of land with one half of a house & half a barn on the same in Sudbury $1,000.00   1 house - - - - - 13.00   1 cow - - - - - 18.00   1 pig - - - - - 8.00   9 chairs - - - - - 1.50   3 tables - - - - - 2.00   1 looking glass - - - - - 0.75   lot crockery ware - - - - - 2.00   iron ware - - - - - 1.50   Lin ware - - - - - 0.50   1 desk - - - - - 5.00   1 pair audirous shovel & tongs 1.00   1 hoe & shovel - - - - - 0.75   $551.95   Debts due from me on notes - - - 400.00   Joseph Willis $151.95 

11. And the said Joseph Willis being first duly sworn on oath declares that he is fifty five years of age that his family consists of himself and wife and five children - the oldest child is only twelve years of age - the youngest is under two years of age - that his occupation is that of a farmer - that his family is expensive and that his labour will not enable him to support them - that he served in the war of the Revolution nearly two years in Capt Larnard's Company and Col. Jackson's Regiment most of said term.
Joseph Willis.
Sworn to and declared before me }
Wm. Wetmore Judge No. 11

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Wm. Wetmore a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
11 I, Joseph Willis 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.
Joseph Willis—
Middlesex ss. C. C. C. P. June Term, A. D. 1820
Then the abovenamed Jos. Willis took and subscribed the aforeswritten Oath before me,
Wm. Wetmore Judge of said Court. //
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 one hundred & fifty one dollars
& ninety five 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

MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss.
Boston June 11 A. D. 1818
IT appearing to my satisfaction, that Joseph Willis subscriber to the annexed declaration, sworn to before me, did serve in the revolutionary war against the common enemy, as stated in said declaration, I now transmit the testimony in the case, with the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the department of war, pursuant to the directions of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war;" the testimony and proceedings in the premises being the declaration aforesaid, with the accompanying documents marked A together with this certificate.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the District Court of the United States for this District to be hereunto affixed.
M Davis
} Judge of the District Court U. S. Massachusetts District.

MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss.
30 January 1819.
I AM satisfied that the above named, Joseph Willis by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, is in need of assistance from his Country for support.
M Davis { District Judge U. S. Massachusetts Dist.
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR.

No 258
Joseph Willis
(Private)
Jacksons Reg t - Mass t Line.
Nov r 1702 - Disch d Dec r 1703
1 Year
Aft d 8 th April 1810-
Same.
Wanted, the Certificate of the Judge, that he believed the Applicant to be in "reduced circumstances in life, &c."

I Joseph Willis of Sudbury in the County of Middlesex and Common Wealth of Massachusetts fifty one years of age do testify declare and say that I enlisted in the year 1782 about the month of November as a recruit for the Continental Army for the said town of Sudbury as one of said town quota and that I joined the Army about the first day January 1783 in Capt Simon Learned's Company in Col Henry Jackson's Brigade in Genl Paterson's Brigade and served one full year and then received a discharge
I am now a citizen of the United States and reside in the town of Sudbury in the above said County and Common Wealth and am in reduced circumstances and stand in need of assistance from the Country agreeable to an act of the Congress of the United States passed the 18th day of March 1818 intitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War
Joseph Willis
Massachusetts District ss.
Boston 8. April 1818
Sworn to before me
M c Davis
Dist. Judge.
Mass. Dist.

34537 Ray INVALID.
File No. 34,537
Joseph Ellis Rev Rev Rev
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 457
[Arrangement of 1870.]

2/10 Massachusetts
Joseph Willis - priv; (Hon. J. Locke H.R.)
Aged 50 yrs - farmer - unable to support himself by labor -
Wife, 49 yrs old - 1 daughter, 15 yrs old - 1 son 10 yrs old - feeble health.
3 other sons, George Washington Willis , John Hancock Willis , & Samuel Adams Willis -
all born at one birth, 46
are aged 3 yrs.
66 50 22 65 48 70 4
Served 1 yr. in 1702, "03
10th Sept. 1810,
exhibits to  Inventory of 1815 , with one half of a house, & one half of a barn, & c. $400 - 1 horse, $13 - 1 cow $10 - 1 pig, $6 - 2 sundry articles of household furniture -
Whole amount $551.95 -
There is an error in the addition - it should be $451.95 - "
Debts due on notes 400.00
$51.95 -
U. S. Supt. 1820 - Application for restoration, as per
Sched. dated 11 th Dec r 1823,
old chains, $1. - 3 old tables, 2 - 1 looking glass, 75 cts - crockery etc. whole amt. of Sched: $13.50

Accounts for the changes in his property, viz: - Horse died about 1 year before this last dated: was made - Cows were killed, & consumed in the family. - All his real estate sold on the 6 th Sept r 1823, to David Lincoln for some of applicants just debts - & a balance of $14 paid to him, & expended in support of his family - An attested copy of the deed is within consideration money $200  David Lincoln (the above Grantee) & his Heirs, sold the 11 th Dec r 1823 to the Pensioner was indebted to him previous to Sept r last, & that he debt is for the money - amount not stated - that Applicant as also indebted sundry other persons some of whom had obtained executions - that, not knowing how to secure him- self and his money, he offered to buy the real estate of Applicant at the price of $200 - and to pay himself take up the executions & pay other debts, as the money would go - The bargain made - $14 balance was paid over to Applicant (set to R. Baldwin) Oct 19, 1835  The Selectmen may certify, under date of the 24 th Nov r 1823, that Applicant has no real estate, & but very little personal property - and that he cannot subsist without assistance from some - source - (A. Bigelow, Esq. - Cambridge Mass)

I David Lincoln of Sudbury in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do depose and say, that Joseph Willis of said Sudbury, late a United States Pensioner, but whose name was struck from the list on account of his property, was for some time previous to September last indebted to me, for which I held his several promissory notes; that he was also indebted to sundry other persons, some of whom had sued him and obtained executions against him; that knowing of no property of said Willis by which I could secure the payment of my demands, except his real estate, I agreed to purchase the said real estate of him at the price of two hundred dollars, and to first discharge my own demands against him, then procure discharges of executions and other demands against him, and to pay him the balance, if any, in money, to which he agreed, & accordingly conveyed to me all his real estate on the 6th day of September A.D. 1823, and I discharged my demands against him, paid two Executions, and sundry other demands, and paid him a balance of fourteen dollars & sixty cents, and no more. And I do further testify & say, that I consider the said sum of two hundred dollars a full consideration for said real estate, and that I would gladly sell it for that price, and that I am not, to my knowledge, any way related to said Willis. David Lincoln
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Middlesex. On this eleventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty three, personally appeared before me, Caleb Butler Notary Public for said County, duly and admitted and sworn, and dwelling in Groton in said County, the above named David Lincoln and made solemn oath, that the above affidavit by him subscribed, is true in all its parts. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notarial Seal the day and year last aforesaid.
Caleb Butler. Notary Public.

Sudbury Nov r 24 th 1823.
We the Subscribers Selectmen of the Town of Sudbury do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Willis and his circumstances in life that he has no Real Estate and but very little Personal Estate and that consists of household furniture that his health is some what impaired that he served in the Revolutionary War that his circumstances are such that he and his family cannot subsist with assistance from some quarter much longer Therefore we are fully of the opinion that if any person has a just claim upon United States pension for Joseph Willis is one—
John Clapp Martin Brown Israel Maynes

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Middlesex ss.
On this eleventh day of December 1823, personally appeared in open court, being a Court of Record for the County of Middlesex, Joseph Willis, resident in Sudbury in said County, aged fifty-eight years, who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress, of the 18 th March, 1818 and the 1 st May 1820, that he, the said Joseph Willis enlisted in the summer in the year 1782 in the State of Massachusetts in the company commanded by Captain Simon Gannard in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Henry Jackson in the line of the State of Massachusetts on the Continental establishment; that he continued to serve in the said Corps until the year 1783 in the month of December, when he was discharged from the said service, in Danesborough in the State of New York; that his name has been placed on the Pension list, and dropped therefrom on account of his property, that he is a husbandman by occupation, but unable to support himself, by labour; that his family consists of his wife Lucy aged 49 years, his daughter Nancy Willis aged 15 years, his son Daniel G. Willis aged 10 years feeble in health, and his three sons, George Washington Willis, John Hancock Willis and Samuel Adams Willis all born at a birth aged

aged three years in October last, and that he is unable to support himself and family without Charitable assistance — Joseph Willis
Schedule of the property of Joseph Willis necessary clothing & bedding excepted viz.
It will be seen that there was an error in the addition in said Willis' former Schedule of one hundred dollars.
  9 Old chairs of the value of 1.00   3 Old tables 2.00   1 looking glass .75   Crockery ware 2.00   iron Ware 1.50   lin Ware .50   1 chest 4.00   Andiron Shovel & tongs 1.00   hoe & shovel .75   $13.50 
Joseph Willis
And, in pursuance of the act of the 1 st May 1820, I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18 th 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 18 th 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 Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed. That, since the exhibition of my first

Schedule, the following changes have been made in my property: — Horse died about a year since; Cow and pig killed and consumed in my family; all my real estate sold Sept. 6. 1823 to David Lincoln to pay some of my just debts, and a balance of $14.60 paid to me, and expended in the support of my family —
Joseph Willis
Sworn to, and declared, on the eleventh day of December A. 1823, before the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Middlesex —
Attest. W m Biglow Clk.
I Abraham Biglow, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify, that it appears to the satisfaction of the said Court, that the said Joseph Willis, did serve in the Revolutionary War, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months under one engagement, on the Continental establishment. — I also certify, that the foregoing oath, and the Schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records 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 thirteen dollars 50 cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this first day of January 1824. —
W m Biglow.

Know all men by these presents, that I Joseph Willis of Sudbury in the County of Middlesex, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, yeoman, in consideration of ten hundred dollars paid by David Lincoln of the same Sudbury aforesaid yeoman, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, sell and convey unto the said David Lincoln his heirs and assigns the one undivided half of a certain tract of land situated in said Sudbury with the buildings thereon being all the land which I the said Joseph Willis now and now possess lying in said Sudbury, one tract on which the buildings stand bounded as follows. Beginning at a stone road at land of Jesse Willis then angling by land of said Jesse to land of Martin Moore then by land of said Moore to land of said Lincoln then by land of said Lincoln to land of Walter Haynes then by land of said Haynes to land of Reuben Moore then by land of said Reuben to land of said Lincoln then by land of said Lincoln to land of said Haynes then by land of said Haynes to said stone road then by said stone road to where it first began also the undivided half of a small lot of meadow land lying in Sudbury great meadow bounded westerly and southerly by land of Isaac Wheeler easterly by the river northerly by land of said Lincoln also the one half of a small tract of land on the southerly side of Lancaster road bounded westerly and southerly by land of said Isaac northerly by said Lancaster road to have and to hold the above granted premises to the said Lincoln his heirs and assigns to his and their use and behoof forever. And I do covenant with the said
David

David Lincoln his heirs and assigns, that I am lawfully seized in fee of the above-granted premises; that they are free of all incumbrances, that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said David Lincoln. And that I will warrant and defend the same premises to the said David Lincoln his heirs and assigns forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons. In witness whereof I the said David Lincoln have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty three. Joseph Willis of seal.
signed sealed and delivered in presence of us.
Augustus Towner Byrnes Willis F. D. Kidder.
Mid dlesex ss. September 6 th 1823. Then the above-named Joseph Willis acknowledged the above instrument to be his free act and deed —
Before me Augustus Towner. Justice of Peace.
Mid dlesex ss. Septem r 10. 1823 Received and Recorded by Wm. H. Stone Reg r .
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Middlesex ss. Cambridge, December 11. 1823.
The foregoing is a true copy of record. Book 250 page 91.
Wm. H. Stone Reg r of Deeds for said Co. of Middlesex p —

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Sirs: I Abraham Bishop Clerk of the Judicial Court in the County of Middlesex, do certify that William H. Stone is Register of Deeds for the County of Middlesex, & his name set to the foregoing certificate is his own pro- per signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court at Boston the fifteenth day of January 1824.
Abraham Bishop Clerk

Joseph Willis
GIVEN in the State of NEW-YORK,
the service of the United States.
for the term of Three Years, is hereby recommended for
Regiment,
in
Commanding the American Forces on Hudson's River.
Major-General KNOX,
BY THE HONORABLE

BY THE HONOURABLE MAJOR-GENERAL K N O X,
Commanding the AMERICAN FORCES on Hudson's River.
Joseph Willis Solobay in the fourth Massachusetts Regiment, being inlisted for Three Years, is hereby honourably DISCHARGED from the Service of the United States.
Given in the State of New-York,
the Thirtyfirst Day of Decr
1783
By the General's Command,
Wm M c Leod
REGISTERED in the Books of the Regiment,
B. H. Howe, Adj. t Genl.

Hon J. L. Edwards Esq Commisr. of Pensions Washington

Sudbury. Middlesex County Mass ts August, 27 th 1895
Sir
Please to transmit a copy of Joseph Willis' Discharge to Mr. Reuben Balwin of Boston - said Joseph Willis was my late husband and a Pensioner, of this Town of Sudbury, and drew under the act of Congress of the 14 th of March 1814, and died about six years since. said Discharge is believed to be on file at Washington in the Pension Office - a copy of which may enable me to claim a gratuity from this Commonwealth.
Very Respectfully Sir I am your O bt Servant
Lucy Willis
J. L. Edwards Esq. Comm re of Pensions Washington
N. B. The above named Joseph Willis served in Capt. Simeon Larnads Company of Col. H. Jackson's Regiment of the Mass ts line - until after the peace in 1813, and is believed to have served over two years and six months. The requisite time, to enable the widow to claim the gratuity from this Commonwealth -
R. B.