Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14186, Benjamin Willet, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Willet, Benjamin Woodwell, Lydia (Former widow.)
No. 14186
CONTENTS

Massachusetts
Lydia Woodwell formerly widow of Benjamin Willet, who died on the 29 th June 1801 of Fever in the State of Mass ts who was a Pri. in the Campy commanded by Captain Mighill of the Reg t commanded by _____ in the Mass ts line for 15 mos 24 dys
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of $ 2 Dollars 16 Cents per annum to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 th day of Apr l 29, and sent to and town to and Newburyport, Mass ts
Arrears to the 4 th of March - $ 417 28 Semi-annual allowance ending 26 08 $ 443 36
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the }
Recorded by R Burdin C. Book A Vol. - 2 - Page 62.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
ESSEX, ss.
I, JOHN PRINCE, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for the County of Essex, do certify, that Hon. David Cummings is Judge of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County. That William Adair of  Nesbitt, Esquire was on the 14 th day of August last, and now is a Justice of the Peace, within and for said County, and that their signatures hereon are genuine.
WITNESS MY HAND, and the Seal of said Court of Common Pleas, at Salem this twentieth day of September A. D. 1838
John Prince Clerk.

3815
Lydia Woodwell formerly widow of Benjn. Willett
Mass.
act 4 July 36.
m. 88.
adm'd
15mo. 240 mi
$52.16
no deduction
2015p.64 on 8mo 607
4 199. - 5. 28
20. 118. - 1. 20
15. 24
Wuff Heart
Newburyport.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I hereby certify, that Benjamin Willet and Lydia Willet, both of Newbury were married on the tenth day of September, one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight, by the Rev d John Tucker, as appears by the record of the Marriages in my Office.
Newbury Aug t 13, 1838.
Attest, Ezra Hale Town Clerk
Ezra Hale, above named, on oath do declare, that I hold the Office of Clerk of the Town of Newbury, and that the above is a true Extract from the records of said Town, now in my possession with this exception, that on the said record, it is in fair legible figures thus Sept r 10 th 1778.
Ezra Hale
Sworn and subscribed this day month and year above written before me W m Worth Justice of the Peace

I Jeremiah Poor, now of Georgetown, late Rowley, in the county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Eighty one years, and of sound mind, do hereby declare, that the late Benjamin Willett, justice of the peace in said county of Essex, now deceased, was always until his time - I do know that the said Benjamin Willett was a private in the Army of the revolution - I know that he enlisted, and served at Cambridge as a captain, in a company commanded by Captain Hight - in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy five, and that he served therein eight months - I am certain that he enlisted in said company at Rowley, in April or May of that year, he was then an apprentice to Francis Pingree, who is also dead - I was well acquainted with him and that family - I was not in the service myself, only for about three months - but I know the fact, that said Benjamin Willett enlisted, as I have stated for eight months, and I am fully satisfied that he did serve that full time - commencing before the Battle of Bunker Hill. Newburyport August 29th 1838.
Jeremiah Poor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Before me, James of Newburyport, August 29th 1838. Then Jeremiah Poor above named, who is personally well known to me, personally appeared, and made oath in due form of law, to the truth of the above written deposition to him subscribed in my presence - I do further certify that the said Jeremiah Poor, is believed by me to be a credible witness.
W. W. East, Justice of the Peace.

I Aaron Rogers, of Newbury, in the county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged - Seventy six years and upwards, on oath do testify and declare - that I was well acquainted with Benjamin Willet, who was formerly of said Newbury, now deceased - The said Benjamin Willet, enlisted in the company commanded by Capt. Jenkins, Colonel Gherkin's Regiment, in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, and served therein in the State of New York - Three months, in that year - and enlisted together were into the Army at the same time, and there in the same work, and we also returned together - I am now on the pension list of the United States, as allowed for that service - being three months, in which said Benjamin Willet served also, in the War of the revolution - said Benjamin Willet has been dead a number of years.
Newburyport August 11. 1838.
Aaron Rogers
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss. Town of Newburyport August 11. 1838. Then Aaron Rogers, above named, who is personally well known to me, made solemn affirmation to the truth of the above written deposition, by him subscribed, in my presence;
I do also certify, that the said Aaron Rogers is a credible witness
W. W. North Master of the Superior Court

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the 3 rd Section of the Act of Congress of July 4 th 1836.
State of Massachusetts - Essex County ss
On this tenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty seven - personally appeared before the Honorable David Cummings, one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Lydia Woodwell, a resident of Newbury county, and State aforesaid aged Seventy 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 Act of Congress, passed July 4 th 1836.
That her former husband was Benjamin Willet, was a revolutionary soldier and served in the army of the United States as follows - in first in a company which was then commanded by Captain Moulton, in the year 1775, in which served eight months, and afterwards served in the year 1779 or 1780, as she has always been told, and she believes, a further term of nine months, in different companies or for a stated term of time, which by reason of age, and loss of memory, she cannot now more particularly set forth, in this declaration; but would respectfully ask leave to refer to the rolls, and documents which may be on file, at the Office of the Department of War, in Washington, with such as she may be enabled to annex to this application.
She further on oath declares, that she was lawfully married to the said Benjamin Willet by the Reverend Dr Tucker, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight, at said Newbury - the said Dr Tucker since deceased, that her said husband the said Benjamin Willet, she had eight children, viz: Mary now deceased, who if living would be 57 years of age - Hannah, also deceased, 55; Joseph, if living, is now in the Western Country, aged 52, and Benjamin, in same place, aged 49; Sarah now living, in said Newbury aged 47; Martha deceased, if living would be 45; Elizabeth, deceased 42 and John also deceased 39.
That said Benjamin Willet, died on the 29 th day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and one - That after his decease, she intermarried with Jacob Woodwell, of said Newbury - and in the month of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four, the said Jacob Woodwell died - that she has remained a widow ever since the decease of said Jacob Woodwell, her last husband as aforesaid, as will appear by reference to the proofs annexed.
Sworn and subscribed
the day and year above written the said Lydia, being by reason of bodily infirmity unable to write her name
David
Cummings
Lydia Woodwell
Jus. C. C. Plene

I Moses Sonnerly, of Newburyport, in the county of Essex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy Eight years, and upwards, do hereby testify and say that I was a private, in the Army of the United States, and served therein in the War of the revolution, and am now on the pension list roll of the Massachusetts Agency. I knew then, while in said service, and afterwards, well acquainted with the late Benjamin Willet of Newbury, who has deceased, and I do know that he was a private, and served in the Army of the United States, at West Point and other places in the year One thousand seven hundred and Eighty, for the term of six months. We were drafted at Newbury and enlisted, on the third day of July 1780, and were marched to Springfield, where we were placed under different Officers, and at West Point I was placed as Captain of a Company, in Colonel Wesson's Regiment. I am not able now to say certainly, where company said Benjamin Willet was placed in, but this I do know, that he served in said Regiment six months - he was with me as one of the guards when Major Andre was executed. I was in the habit of going to Willet's almost every day, while we were in said service - I know the fact that said Willet was drafted & enlisted at said Newbury as before stated, on the third day of July 1780 for six months, and that he served his time out, as I have before stated, and was discharged after the middle of December of that year. I have a full and perfect recollection of him and of said service.
Moses Sonnerly.
Newburyport August 14. 1838.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I do hereby declare that Moses Sonnerly, of Newburyport, August 14th 1838. Then personally appeared, the above named Moses Sonnerly, and made oath, in due form of law, to the truth of the above written depositions by him subscribed, in my presence. I am also hereby said said Moses Sonnerly, is a credible witness - well known to me.
W. C. [unintelligible] Justice of the Peace

I Samuel Newman, of Newbury, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged sixty seven years, do hereby declare, that I have always well and intimately known the late Benjamin Willet, who was a resident of Dedham, in the service of the United States, since deceased, and his widow Lydia, who is now living: I do further declare that said Benjamin Willet died, in the month of June one thousand eight hundred and one, leaving the said Lydia his widow; that the said Lydia Wrennuck remained his widow several years when she the said Lydia, intermarried with Jacob Wrennuck - the said Jacob Wrennuck died on the sixteenth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty four - and the said Lydia is still remaining his widow and has not intermarried since his decease. Newburyport September 18 th 1838
Sam l Newman
I Moses Short of Newbury aforesaid, do hereby declare, that I well know the fact that the above named Benjamin Willet died in June 1801 - leaving the above named Lydia, his widow, that said Lydia afterwards intermarried with Jacob Wrennuck; that said Jacob Wrennuck died May 16 th 1834, and that the said Lydia has not since intermarried. Newburyport September 18 th 1838
Moses Short
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Essex ss. Newburyport September 18 th 1838. Then personally appeared Samuel Newman Esq. above named, and Moses Short above named, who are both personally well known to me, and generally made oath, in due form of law, to the truth of the above written affidavit by them respectively subscribed in my presence. - I do also certify, that the said Samuel Newman and Moses Short, are both citizens of respectable standing, in whose declarations full confidence may be placed.
W m Wash Justice of the Peace

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14186
Lydia Woodwell Former Widow of Benjamin Willet Priv. Beer War
Act: July 4 th 1836
Index:—Vol. M , Page 356
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Newburgh Sept 21 st 1858.
J. L. Edwards Esquire Commissioner of Pensions Sir
At the request of Mrs. Lydia Westland, who was formerly the widow of Benjamin Witter, deceased, who was a private and served as such, in the army of the United States, in the war of the Revolution, I ask leave to forward you herewith, her application for the benefit of the provision of the Act of Congress of 4 th July 1836. will you allow me in her behalf, respectfully to request, that if the accompanying Evidence, is deemed satisfactory, Certificate may be issued to her, payable in Newburgh Worfey, in such amount as you shall consider her entitled under said Act.
Very respectfully
Yours truly J. L. Edwards

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Willet, Christopher GRADE Private LINE Delaware
WARRANT NUMBER 10903 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED September 2, 1789 to — not shown —
*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.