Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14260, Benjamin Witt, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Witt, Benjamin Bacon, Olivia
K 14260
Former widow
CONTENTS

5590 Massachusetts
Olivia Bacon formerly widow of Benjamin Will who was a Sergeant V Bri in the Rev War Mass
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 116 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 d day of May 1844 and sent to
Rev O Hudson H Kips
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A Vol. 1 Page 60.
2 Certs. '38 V Bri
rep 25 May '44 1883 Jan'y 12. Mary DeWitt Freeland with date of pension allowed the rate of pension & the time for which allowed to date of death (abt 9 yrs 11 mo) exact amount p e can be obtained from 3 d Auditor Prior

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
WORCESTER COUNTY, ss.
I, William Jennison, Assistant Clerk of the Judicial Courts for the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, do hereby certify, That Alvah L. Underwood, Samuel Minter, and Salem Towne, Esquires, are Justices of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified; and that their signatures to the certificates on the depositions of Olivia Bacon, Robert Hoyt, Stephen Witt, and Luther Litchfield, — hereunto annexed, are genuine, and said Underwood, minister of the Gospel, and even such Justices on the days when their respective certificates purport to be dated. — And that the Hon. Ira M. Barton is Judge of the Court of Probate established by law within and for said County of Worcester, duly commissioned and qualified as such Judge, and that he was such Judge on the nineteenth day of December 1843, and his signature to the certificate on the deposition of Alexander De Witt, and the Declaration of Olivia Bacon, hereto annexed, is in his own proper hand writing. —
Given under my hand, and the Seal of said County, this first day of May , — in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty four .
William Jennison, Assistant Clerk as aforesaid.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Nov 23 1813
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 the name of Benjamin West is borne upon the Eighth Month rolls of Capt John Holman's Col. Artillery from May 1, 1778 to Dec 1778 and is the only service of said West in 1778 that appears in any roll in this Office.
There are no rolls of Danforth's Keyes Regiment prior to 1779 in this Office. The name of Benjamin West is also borne upon the books of the 11th Regiment Col. Artillery, as a Sergeant, in the company of the St. Col. from Aug 8, 1778 to May 29, 1779. It was 21 days, when he was discharged by the Col. by supplying a man in his place.

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone: and that said application and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances which tend to satisfy me of the identity of the party described in the application with the individual who rendered the service.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Geo A Bolls
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF REVOLUTIONARY SERVICES BY THE WIDOW.
State of Massachusetts County of Worcester Town of Oxford
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his office, of the service of my late husband
Benjamin Witt
He enlisted in the year 1775 to 81 from the town of New Braintree in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts in the Company of Capt. Leonard's in Benjamin R. Woodbridge Regiment, and served as a private until 9 Months  Effingham 1775 We were married in the year 1787 He died 18th Ap. 1818
The only other facts which I recollect, are as follows, viz:— He enlisted & served in Col. Davenport's Keyes Regiment in the state of Rhode Island Six Months the Captain's name I cannot learn — In 1779 he enlisted as a Sergeant for 3 years & I can prove he had orders for enlisting men & that he did enlist men — I cannot ascertain who his officers were or how long he served
Aug 8. 1777 May 29. 1779 Vol 15. 23 the only thing I can prove is that he was in the service of the state from May 1. 1779 to 9 days

My second Marriage was in Nov. 1832 to Deogil Bacon of Charlton County of Worcester & State of Mass. He died in March 1835
I am now 77 78 years old, and my memory does not enable me to state any thing further material to the search required.
I have empowered Alix D. Dett of Offord to act in the premises as my Attorney.
WITNESS my hand, this Thirtieth day of October
A. D. 1843
Signed in my presence } Olivia Bacon by said
Alan G. Underwood JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

Robert Hays Affidavit

I Robert Hoyt of New Braintree in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged eighty eight years, on oath do testify and say, that I was a Soldier in the Army of the Revolution, that I enlisted for six Months service in the Company commanded by Captain Ebenezer Knowl, and in Col. Danforth Keyes' Regiment, and we were in the State of Rhode Island during the time aforesaid; I was well acquainted with Benjamin Witt, who was an inhabitant of New Braintree aforesaid, and he enlisted in the same six Months service that I did, and was in Col. Keyes' Regiment; but the Company in which he enlisted and served, I do not now recollect. I saw him frequently while in Rhode Island, and knew him to be a Soldier in that service —
Robert Hoyt
New Braintree } December 4 th 1841 }
Worcester ss Dec. 4-1841. Personally appeared the above named Robert Hoyt, and made oath, that the above affidavit by him signed is true
Before me Samuel Mixter Justice of the Peace and I hereby certify, that I have been personally acquainted with Robert Hoyt aforesaid, for more than thirty years, and that he is a man of truth & veracity and of remarkable memory —
Samuel Mixter

I Stephen Witt of Dana in the County of Worcester Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Eighty Nine years of age, on Oath do testify and say, that I was a Soldier in the Army of the Revolution, I was well acquainted with Benjamin Witt then resident in New Braintree; he enlisted for Nine Months with me in the year 1775 and served with me that term in Captain Leonard's Company, and Col. Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge's Regiment. In the year 1777 I was a Soldier, and stationed in Rhode Island, Benjamin Witt came there and told me he had enlisted as a Sargeant in the Army for three years; - I know he had orders for enlisting Soldiers, and I further know he enlisted six men, while he was there, and they went away with him. I do not recollect the names of his Officers or the length of time he served under the last enlistment. I well recollect, that Benj m Witt was in the Army the same year of the Battle at White Plains, but I cannot recollect any particulars respecting it.
In presence of us Samuel Minter Jason Minton
Stephen his  Witt mark
Worcester ss. August 1 st 1843 - The above named Stephen Witt made oath, that the above affidavit is true
Before me Samuel Minter Justice of the Peace
I further certify, that the said Stephen Witt has been known to me from my youth, and his mind and recollection appear to be remarkably good for a man of his age, and his integrity undoubted
Samuel Minter

I Alexander De Witt, formerly written "Witt" of Lyfne in the County of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, do desire and say, that I am the son of Benjamin Witt late of New Hampshire deceased, once Oliver, now Oliver Bacon his widow. I noticed that my said father applied to Judge Paine for a pension just before his death in April 1818. Since since I have ascertained that my mother is entitled to a pension, I have made diligent enquiry at the Probate Office and elsewhere, for the declaration he made, if there was any, but I have been unable to find one. He died at the time I have also stated, and afterwards my said mother married Oliver Bacon of Charlton who died in March in the year eighteen hundred and thirty four, since my said mother has now been married since his death.
Alex: (D. Witt)
Wentworth J. Oct. 19. 1843. I swear to be said deponent who is known to me as a man of truth
Before me Wm. H. Barton J. Probate

10900 Olivia Bacon reg N o Act 1843, "5925" Mass.
Act 7. July 3 8. m 87. d 18. on Roll Co o Jackson 21 mo. 2100 100 1/2 2 - 9 per Adm 116. 66-
Also Register N o under the act of March 4 3. 116. 66
Am. C. Hudson

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Worcester. On this nineteenth day of December in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty three, personally appeared before the Court of Probate within and for said County of Worcester, Oliver Bacon, a resident of Oxford in said County, aged twenty seven years, 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 Acts of Congress passed July 7, 1838 and the amending act passed August 23, 1842, and the Joint Resolution passed August 16, 1842, entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows"
That she is the widow of Benjamin Witt lots of New Marlinton in said County deceased, who was a sergeant, and perhaps, some of the time, a private in the Army of the Revolution. She has heard him tell much about his services and she will believe he served a considerable part of the war, more than two years. As she was not married to him when after he came out of the Army, and

know nothing of him before that time, She is unable to state his services as of her own knowledge. But she does know that in April 1818, he went to Nathaniel Pease Esquire, then the Judge of Probate for said County, to make a declaration for a pension under an Act of Congress then recently passed, and came home and was found dead in his bed the next night after. Whether he made a declaration or not she is unable to say. She has made diligent enquiry for such a pension but has been unable to find it and if such declaration were taken, it may have been forwarded to the War Department. She has no documentary evidence of his services, and she respectfully offers to the prob' comm'ee, and to such other evidence of his services as may be found at the Pension Office.
She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Ditt on the thirteenth day of February in the year seventeen hundred and eighty four that her husband, the aforesaid Benjamin Ditt died on the eighteenth day of April in the year eighteen hundred and eighteen; that she was not married to

him prior to his leaving the services but the marriage took place previous to the first of January nineteen hundred and ninety five, viz at the time above stated.
She further declares that after the death of the husband aforesaid, she was married to Daniel Baron of Charlton in said county on the _____ day of December in the year eighteen hundred and thirty one, that he died on the twenty fifth day of March in the year eighteen hundred and thirty four, and that she is still a widow.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day above year just above written.
Has Ben
Before me
Mr M. Bartlett Judge of the Court of Probate

J
Hon Cha s Hudson Member of Congress at Washington Dis Columbia
Rev. Des. N. H.

J
Hon Cha d Hudson
Member of Congress at Washington Dis Columbia
Miss. Deshler

Offord May 15 th 1846.
Mr. Henderson
Def
Sir. Some time since Judge Burton sent to the Secretary of War testimonials of services rendered by my Mother in the War of the Revolution for the purpose of obtaining a pension for my Mother. I not having heard anything respecting it. I have taken the liberty to ask the favour of your services respecting it. That if any thing in regard to the papers are wrong it may be speedily corrected. My Mother was married to Mr Daniel Bacon of Charlton & the Papers were made out in the name of Olivia Bacon. you will perceive the name of my Father was Benj. a Witt & when my Mother was published to Mr Bacon she was call d DeWitt & was so call d I presume in consequence of I & my Brothers having our names changed from Witt to DeWitt years ago. which circumstance I trust you will be acquainted with & therefore will be able to explain the apparent discrepancies in the papers sent the Secy. - I shall feel under obligation for any aid you may render my Mother in this time of need. I hope to hear from you respecting it, when you shall have seen the Secy. - I rec d your kind favour, containing the report of Com on Manufactures, an able document which & reflects much credit upon the writer, & I owe you your services an appreciation by y r constituents. & this last document adds another & the highest laurel in your political brow

Go against the annexation of Texas - if there is no danger. Speak against it it will do you good here - speak strong (if you have a chance) against Slavery the things of Worcester County are ready & willing to hear. no danger - It gives us at the North pleasure & courage to see such a disposition made of the tariff question. I hope it may long shew be upon the the table where it is laid - Nothing new in old Worcester. Our meeting at W against the annexation. you have undoubtedly seen in the papers of the day - it was good & spirited. the right kind of men was there - thing, look brilliant & cheering for Harry of the West & nothing could have been better than the nomination of Vice Pres.
Respectfully Yours
Abf: H. Witt

I, Joseph D. Kendall, Clerk of the Judicial Courts, in and for the County of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, do certify that I, as Clerk as foresaid, have the care and keeping of the Records and Files pertaining to said Courts, for said County, and also of the former Court of General Sessions of the peace for said County, which was also a Court of Record - that the laws of this State formerly required the return of Marriages, solemnized within said County, to be made by the Town Clerks of the several Towns in said County, to the Clerk of the said Court of General Sessions of the Peace, and by him to be entered of Record in the Office of Clerk of said Court.
That I find in such Records in my Office, the entry of a certificate of marriages in the Town of Charlton, in said County, for the year 1787, made in said Records of said Court of General Sessions of the Peace, by Joseph Allen, a former Clerk of said Court, now deceased, in the words and figures following, to wit -
“Charlton -
“February 13 th 1787. Mr Benjamin Witt of New Braintree & Mrs Olivia Campbell of Oxford were married by A. Campbell.
“April 26 th 1787. Mr Jonathan Seward and Miss Annis Campbell both of Oxford were married
By A. Campbell
“May 3 d 1787. Mr Eliazander Nickels & Miss Lucy Nickels both of Oxford were married
By A. Campbell
“The above are recorded on the book of Records for Marriages in the Town of Charlton. Attest Nath l McIntire, Town Clerk.
“Returned May 30 th 1788.
“Recorded by, Jos. Allen. Cler. Paris.”
In testimony whereof, I here to set my name, and affix the County seal, at Worcester, this sixth day of December, in the year 1843.
Joseph D. Kendall

I hereby certify that Mr. Daniel Bacon and Mrs. Olivia D. Ditt were married December sixth one thousand eight hundred and thirty one. and recorded as the law directs by me
James Boomer Pastor of the Baptist Chh. in Charlton
Charlton April 27 th 1832.
Mr. Daniel Bacon departed this life March ninth one thousand eight hundred and thirty four aged 74 years
I Luther Litchfield Clerk of the town of Charlton in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts do certify that the foregoing are true Copies of the record of the marriage of Daniel Bacon and Olivia De Witt, and of the death of the said Daniel Bacon, with the exception of the dates which are expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows (viz) December 6 th 1831 and March 9 th 1834
Attest. Luther Litchfield } Town Clerk.
I Luther Litchfield above named depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk in the town of Charlton in County and State aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town with the exceptions above named. as certified by me
Attest Luther Litchfield } Clerk of said town of Charlton
Worcester ss Charlton April 29 th 1844
Sworn to Before me
Salem Town Jus. of the Peace

Rev WIDOW, &c. am
File No. 14260
Olivia Bacon
Widow of
Benjamin Witt
Sergt Brew War
Act: March 3 rd 48
Index:—Vol. a , Page 35
[Arrangement of 1870.]

8419 Massachusetts
rep 25 M agt 4 p
Olivia Bacon, formerly widow of Benjamin Witt, who was a pensioner under the Act of - and who died on the 18. April 1818 of Worcester - in the State of Mass. who was a Sergt & S er in the Compy commanded by Captain _____ of the reg _____ commanded by _____ in the Rev. War time for 21 mo 21 ds. S er . 2 Mo 9 " S er
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 116 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 th day of May 1844 and sent to Hon. C. Hudson Rep.
Total amount, $ 583 30
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by J. A. Swann Clerk, Book D Vol. 1 Page 53.

Waverly Mass. May 2. 1844
J. L. Edwards Esq. Sir &c
Sir
I enclose the proofs of Oliver Haxon for a Juryman under the Act of 1838 &c. You will please return the certifi- cate to me
Very Respectfully Yours
Thos M. Banton

O. M. and N.
(No. 60.)
C. B. W.
WIDOW'S DIVISION.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
PENSION OFFICE,
Washington, D. C., January 2 d , 188 3.
Madam:
To aid in tracing the claim referred to in the inclosed papers, THEY SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THIS OFFICE with answers in full to the subjoined interrogatories, which answers should be inserted on the blank lines below.
Any communications heretofore received from this Office relative to the claim should also be returned.
Very respectfully,
[Signature: J. M. D. Dille]
Commissioner.
Mrs. Mary D. W. Freeland West Sutton Worcester Co. Mass.
INTERROGATORIES.
1st. What No. was given to the claim by the Pension Office?
I cannot tell
2d. What is the claimant's full name and relation to soldier?
Olivia Bacon 2 d marriage was by 1 st marriage Olivia Witt widow
3d. What was the soldier's full name?
Benjamin Witt
4th. What was his company and regiment, and when did he die?
He was in the Revolutionary War Northern Army He died in New Britain in 1817
5th. When, or about when, was the claim filed?
from 1845 to 1848 or 1840-1848
6th. If Pension has been paid, at what Agency?
It has been paid
Worcester or Boston (I think)
(Signature.)
Mary de W. Freeland
was a widow by 2 d marriage when application was made for pension

P.S. Please write who ob- tained the Pension, and for what service obtained
West Sutton (Post Office Co. Worcester, Massachusetts) December 15, 1882
Pension Office
I do not know that I am rendering the "Interior Department" any service but as a matter of right I will place the following circumstances before the De- partment. vis. About the year 1845. or I might say between the years 1840 & 1848 there was application made for a pension for a "Soldier's Widow" by her son or herself. she was a widow at this time from a "2nd Marriage" being married

in Oxford or Charlton Mass s to Daniel Bacon of Charlton from 1831 - to 1835
as such her name was Mrs. Olivia Bacon of Oxford Mass s . The Application was made for her as the widow of Benjamin Witt died 1817 her 1st marriage. She died February 1848.
I have heard the pension was obtained by her son the late Alexander De Witt of Oxford, Mass s .
Olivia Bacon's Estate was never settled by law in the "Probate Court of Worcester Co." Her son did as he pleased with what little property she left. There were some mine heirs however.
It is said he gave her property to her four daughters is given to a niece by his will.

1879
deceased
Alexander De Witt is deceased & his estate is not yet settled by his executors My widow I believe has received $5000 without children { and has the use of his home & { landed estate very valuable and it hope Alexander De Witt it is stated purchased a house for his mother out of this government money - he might have entire it his mother's but held the title in his which I think is the fact. taxes of town will show name - I can not give you facts precisely only as I have heard - it being in my own family viz. Alexander De Witt an uncle and his mother my grandmother I write in strict confidence Yours &c - as your informer De Witt Free land Mrs. Mary Sutton East Windsor Mass.

{ Charles A. Angell      byford      Co. Worcester - Mass. 75 { Dr William - Newton      "              "              "              " Executors of the Estate of Alexander De Witt