Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16474, Samuel Willson, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Willson, Samuel Ann
W. 16474
CONTENTS
m 1820 aged 59 yrs + res. Saratoga Co. N.Y. d. Jan. 7. 1834

7,995
New York
Samuel Willson
of Saratoga in the state of New York who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Marshall of the Massachusetts line, for the term of 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 1 st of June 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 rd of March 1819 and sent to Samuel Drake, Esq. Judge, Waterford N. York
Arrears to 4th of March 1819. $ 15 / 32  4 / 32 $69.00 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Sept. 1819 . . . 48.00
$117.00
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued
Historical record of War Dept. 1820 re: Samuel Drake, Esq. Judge, Waterford N. York

5795
Albany New York
Ann Willson
widow of Samuel Willson decd.
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1878 and who died on the 7th of January 1834 of Matinego in the State of N.Y. who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Marshall of the Reg t commanded by Col d Marshall in the N.Y. line for 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany N.Y. at the rate of 30 Dollars & ---- Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of Sept r 1828 and sent to N.Y.O. Doc Waterford N.Y.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1840 $135:00 Semi-annual allowance ending June 40: 15:00
$150:00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by N.H. Addison Clerk, Book 2 Vol. 2 Page 110

on Roll 9 months
Samuel Wilson Private July 1779 to April 1780 Marshall Massachusetts Reg.
Admitted

State of New York Saratoga County 3
On this 16 th day of June 1818 be- fore me the subscriber one of the judges of the court of common pleas for said county personally appeared Samuel Wilson, aged 77 years who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of con- gress entitled "An act to provide for cer- tain persons engaged in the land & Naval service of the United States in the revolu- tionary war". That the said Samuel Wilson enlisted on the 13 th July 1779 in the state of Massachusetts in the company commanded by Captain John Marshall in the Regiment commanded by Col. Thomas Marshall of the Massachusetts line & in the Brigade commanded by General - Pattison. The number of his Regiment defendant does not recollect - That he con- tinued to serve in said company & unit- between the 13 th  & 18 th days of April 1780 when he was regularly & honorably discharged from service at West Point in the State of New York And he further saith that he has lost his discharge & has no other evi- dence at present in his power to estab- lish his claim - & that he is in reduced circumstances in need of assistance from his country & that he is now & ever has been a resident citizen of the United States
Sworn before me this 16 th June 1818 Sam l Drake the Judge aforesaid
Sam l Wilson

I Samuel Drake the Judge aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Samuel Wilson did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy & I also certify that he is from my own knowledge in indigent circum- stances & in need of assistance from his country - And I now transmit the proceedings & testimony taken & had before me to the Secretary for the Depart- ment of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of congress - Dated June 16 th 1818 at Waterford in the said County Sam d Drake
State of New York ss. Seneca County ss. I William Stilwell Clerk of the said County do certify that Samuel Drake is a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of said County and that the foregoing are his signatures - In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affix- ed the seal of said Court of Common Pleas - Done this sixteenth day of June 1818 -
Wm Stilwell Clerk

Samuel Wilson Copy Wilson
7995
Sep 11 1829
[Faint mirrored text from the reverse side of the page]
[Faint mirrored text from the reverse side of the page]

State of New-York, } ss. County of SARATOGA, }
ON this 24 th day of August 1820 personally appeared in open Court, in the Court of Common Pleas of the said County, the same being a Court of Record for the said County, 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, Samuel Wilson
aged 89 years, resident in the said County, in the State aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows: for the term of nine months in the years 1779 & 1780 in a company commanded by Capt. Warner in the regiment commanded by Col. Marshall in the Massachusetts line
That his original declaration was made on or about the sixteenth day of June 1818 and that his Pension Certificate is numbered 7995
AND I 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 schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
Sam l Wilson
Sworn to and declared on the 24 th day of August 1820 before me in open court
Thomas Palmer Clerk
Thomas Palmer Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Saratoga do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath and the 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 twenty one dollars and Ninety three cents.
IN testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this twenty fourth day of August 1820
Thomas Palmer
Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Saratoga.

a schedule of the Estate of Samuel Wilson the persons in the affidavit hereto annexed named his necessary clothing, and bedding excepted-
   $ C     2 hog heads 5/ 4 barrels 16/ 1 barrel soap 8/ 3. 62 1/2   1 table 12/ chains 12/ 1 kettle 4/ 2 do 10/ 5. 00   2 pots 12/ 1 tea kettle 6/ 1 drying pan 4/ 3. 00   1 spider 3/ 1 pewter plates 3/ tin ware 2/ 1. 00   2 pails 4/ 6 knives & 5 forks 6/ crooking ware 14/ 3. 25   4 pewter tea spoon 4/ 1 iron spoon 1/ 25   2 wooden boards 2/ 12 tin pot 3/ 62 1/2   1 stone petticoat 2/ 2 jugs 4/ 81   1 stone pot 3/ 1 broad are 12/ 1 saw 5/ 2. 50   1 hammer 2/ 1 basket 4/ 75   Square and compasses 5/ 1 pine chest 12/ 1. 12 1/2   $21 93  
This said Samuel Wilson is by occupation a labourer, he is wholly disabled by rheumatism and other infirmities from pursuing it. his family residing with him consists of his wife named Anna aged 58 years, very deaf and wholly unable to support herself & a grand daughter named Mary Ann aged some years with one leg withered and wholly unable to support herself.
Sam l Wilson
Sworn to in open court
Thomas Palmer clerk

State of New York Saratoga County } ss. Joseph Willson being duly sworn says he is the son of Samuel Willson late of the Town of Waterford & County of Saratoga, a Pensioner and Ann Willson wife of the said Samuel, that he the said Joseph Willson was employed by his mother, the said Ann, in looking up testimony to prove that she the said Ann is entitled to a Pension under the act of the 7 th July 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows", that he the said Joseph Willson has spent much time in traveling to different places & enquiring of divers persons, who were most likely to be acquainted with her to know the fact of the marriage between the said Samuel and Ann, that in all his enquiries he has not been able to find any person who was present and saw them married, other than Elisha Ward the Brother of the said Ann, & who has made affidavit of the fact and this Deponent verily believes there is no other person now living — that he this Deponent has also made enquiry for the record of the said marriage and is informed and believes that no Record was ever made of the marriage, either by the Magistrate who performed the ceremony the said Samuel or any other person — that Esq. Wells, who it is said, performed the marriage cer- -emony has been dead many years as this Deponent is informed and believes — and this Deponent has not been able to find any of his Books or Records and this Deponent verily believes that the said Wells never kept any record of marriages and this Depo- -nent is informed & believes that it was not then customary for magistrates to keep a record of marriages and that they were not required by law to keep a record —
Sworn before me this 23 rd day of May A.D. 1834
J. Willson
C. M. Dae Judge of Saratoga County Court.

Saratoga County Clerk's Office I Archibald Smith Clerk of the said county do certify that Nicholas B. Doe before whom the above affidavit was taken was on the 23 d day of May 1840 and still is a Judge of Saratoga County Court, duly qualified according to law. And that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe that his name to the within affidavit is his genuine signature In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said County the 29 th day of May 1840 Archibald Smith Clerk
This is to certify that I am acquainted with Joseph Willson & know him to be a person of reputable character and his word on oath or otherwise entitled to full credit. — Dated May 23 d 1840 J. M. Doe Judge of said Court

In the Matter of Mrs Ann Willson Application for Pension
4831
Marr'd June 1984
Husb Dwd 7 Jan 1884

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the seventh of July Eighteen hundred and thirty eight entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" —
State of New York & ss: Saratoga County ss: On this Twenty first day of February Eighteen hundred and thirty nine personally appeared before me Nicholas B. Dorr one of the Judges of Saratoga County Courts, Ann Wilson a resident of the Town of Waterford in the County of Saratoga and State of New York aged Seventy four years in March last, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July Seventh One thousand Eight hundred and thirty eight entitled "an Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" — That she is the widow of Samuel Wilson who was a private in the Army of the Revolution and a pensioner at the time of his death at the rate of ninety Six Dollars per year under the Act of the eighteenth of March one thousand Eight hundred and Eighteen — That the Pension Certificate of her said Husband was left at the United States Bank in the City of New York where pensions were paid at the time the applicant received her Husband's back pay — after his death, as the applicant was then informed and verily believes — That a pension was granted to the applicant's said Husband a few months after the passage of the Act of Congress of the eighteenth of March One thousand eight hundred and Eighteen —

to the best of this applicants recollection and belief - That the evidences of her said Husbands services in the Revolutionary War were sent to the Pension Office at the time he applied for a pension in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighteen and are believed to be now on file in the Pension Office at Washington, to which the applicant begs leave to refer, as the only evidence she has now in her power, of her Husbands services in the Revolutionary War; and on which she founds her claim to a Pension as his widow -
She further declares that she was married to the said Samuel Wilson in the Month of June one thousand seven hundred and eighty four - That the day of the month she does not now recollect - that they were married by Edward Wells a Justice of the Peace in the Town of Cambridge in the County of Washington and State of New York. that no record was ever made of her Marriage to her knowledge - That she has no knowledge that there is now any person living who was present at her marriage with the said Samuel Wilson other than her Brother Elisha Ward whose affidavit is herunto annexed - That her Husband the aforesaid Samuel Wilson died on the seventh day of January one thousand eight hundred and thirty four - That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January one thousand seven hundred and ninety four. viz, at the time above stated -
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written before me her mark Anne Wilson (Signature)
Judge of Saratoga County Courts.

Nara
I do hereby certify that the above named Ann Wilson has been long personally known to me, that she is a woman of truth and veracity and of good & reputable character. That she is now from the infirmities of age and feeble state of health unable to attend Court at its place of sitting in this County, and that she cannot write her name.
Feb d 21 st 1839
N. B. D.
Judge of Saratoga County Court
State of New York, Saratoga County Clerk's Office ss.
I Alphonso Goodrich Clerk of the County of Saratoga do Certify that Nicholas B. D. before whom the annexed foregoing Affidavit Subscribed purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Judges of the Saratoga County Court, in and for said County, and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing, and verily believe his name subscribed to the said Affidavit, & the above Certificate to be his proper hand writing and signature —
Witness my hand and seal of Office the 22 d day of February 1839
A Goodrich Clerk

Otsego County } E. W.
Ebenezer Ward of the Town of Onondaga the County of Otsego and State of New York, being duly sworn on his oath says he is Eighty one years of age, That he is the Brother of Mrs Ann Willson, widow of Samuel Willson Deceased, late of the Town of Waterford, County of Saratoga & State of New York, That the said Ann Willson and Samuel Willson were married in the month of June in the year Seventeen Hundred and Eighty four according to the best of this deponent's recollection and belief, but does not now recollect the precise day on which they were married That this Deponent was present at the marriage ceremony between the said Ann Willson & Samuel Willson and saw them married; The marriage ceremony was performed by Ed- ward Wells a justice of the Peace, at the Town of Cambridge in the County of Washington State of New York — That from about the time of the marriage of the said Ann Willson and Samuel Willson up to the time of the said Samuel's death they resided together as man and wife and raised up a Family of Children. — Ebenezer Ward
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 16 day of February A.D. 1899
Walter Fitch Com m of Deeds
This is to certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Ebenezer Ward and know him to be a man of truth & veracity and reputable character. — Walter Fitch Com m of Deeds

STATE OF NEW-YORK, } ss. Otsego County Clerk's Office, }
I, Jesse Rose, Clerk of said County, do hereby certify, That Wallace Fitch Esq whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the proof or acknowledgement of the annexed instrument, and thereon written, was, at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgement, a Commissioner of Deeds in and for the said County of Otsego, dwelling in the said County, commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of such Commissioner and verily believe that the signature to the said certificate of proof or acknowledgement is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said County, the day of February A. D. 183 9
Jesse Rose Clerk.

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 16474
Anna Willson Wid of Samuel Willson Prio Rev War
Act: July 7 th '38
Index:—Vol. M , Page 342
[Arrangement of 1870.]

V N. York Ann Wilson let. to N. B. Doe, 6. July. 1839
Act July 1838

Albany Samuel Willson at 1818 to what time paid?
Due 7 th Jan y . 1834 p to that period 1/4
V L
7 Jan 1834

4831
Ann Willson
Act. July 7. 1838
Married June 1784 Husband died 7. Jan 1834
Col Marshall } M.P. Capt Marshall }
Admitted Pivotal 9 months $30-
N. B. Dole, Esq. Watford N.Y.

4831 Wig.  Mount.
Ann Wilson act 1838 WATERFORD 23 FEBRUARY
J. L. Edward Comm ee of Pensions
105-
B. Doe Matthias Myers
Washington D. C. —

Waterford, Saratoga County, N. Y.
Feb y 23. 1839
J. L. Edwards Esq Comm ee of Pensions,
I enclose you the application and necessary proofs of Mrs Ann Willson widow of Samuel Willson late a Pensioner under the act of 1818. We hope it may receive your attention soon. — Any communication may be addressed to me. I must also take the liberty to enquire again what has been the result of Mrs Phebe Whitney's application for a Pension it is now about 4 months since the Papers were forwarded to your Office. I hope the Papers may receive your attention in their turn, for the old lady cannot live long. —
Respectfully
Your S r O. W. D r

June 5. 1840.
My address Dear Miss,
B. Roberts Esq. Com te of Pensions Washington - D. C.
FREE

J. L. Edwards Esq. D-Sir
Your letter of the 6 th July 1839 stating the objections to allowing a Pension to Mrs Ann Willson widow of Samuel Willson dec d - states "The proof in relation to the date of the claimants marriage is not satisfactory. If record evidence thereof cannot be found, that fact should be established by a witness who can specify the date."
I was some what surprised at the decision, in as much as Mrs Willson and Mr Ward had both testified to the marriage & that it took place within a certain period of about one month as near as I now recollect - If it took place within the time specified it was sufficient to entitle her to a pension and made no difference whether it was on the first or the last day of that term. - She states that there was no record of the marriage and if there was no fact by which they could fix upon the particular day of the marriage, other than their own recollection, it is not to be expected that they could fix on the precise day. - Had they done so their testimony would not have been entitled to as much credit as they now are. - They proved clearly & distinctly all that the law requires and I see no reason why she should be required to prove more.
I have lately been informed by Mr Porter who called on you at the request of Mrs Willson's friends, that I had misunderstood your letter referred to above. - That the objection to Mrs Willson's papers was, that she had not proved that there was no other or better evidence of her marriage than that which had been presented - if so I would beg leave to refer you to Mrs Willson's declaration in which I think you will find that she distinctly declares that there is no record nor any other evidence I would also furnish the enclosed affidavit in addition to the evidences heretofore furnished -
Please let me hear from you on this subject as soon as possible Watertown, Saratoga County N.Y. May 30. 1840 - Respectfully Yours J. B. Doe

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Willson, Samuel GRADE Private LINE New Hampshire or Wilson, Samuel
WARRANT NUMBER 3173 and 3549 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED December 28, 1796 to Christopher D. Thon, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.