Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15,714, William Wethrell, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
or Wethrell William Withrell
W 15,714
Atwood, Ruth
CONTENTS
Former widow

Massachusetts-7065-
Ruth Atwood, formerly the widow of William Wetherell
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the about 40 years since of Barnstable Co. in the State of Mass ts — who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Lewis — of the commanded by in the Massachusetts-line for 8 months —
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts — at the rate of 26 — Dollars 66 — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 d — day of March 1843, and sent to Hon. B. Burnell, H. R.
Arrears to the 4th of Semi-annual allowance ending
$133.30
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by Book A — Vol. 1 — Page 68 — Clerk,

Recd Mar 7. '43 let to G. H. Boardman Dec 31, E. Browne Jr May 28, 1857- order to pay Sept 16/57.

Ruth Atwood
Mass.
act 7. July 38
m 81
over 20.198. in 75. 8mo
adm?
8mo pri
$ 26.66
Ha. B. Burnell
A.R.

"A list of Marriages by the Rev d Isaiah Lewis Pastor of the Church of Christ in Wellfleet
William Withers and Ruth Rich both of Wellfleet was married November eighth seventeen hundred and eighty one"
I Giles Holbrook Town Clerk of the town of Wellfleet in the County of Barnstable & Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the record, of the said town now in my possession with the exception of the date, which is expressed in the records in fair legible figures as follows viz November 8: 1781"
Giles Holbrook } Town Clerk
I Giles Holbrook above named depose and say that I hold the office of town Clerk of the town of Wellfleet in the County town & State aforesaid, & that the above is a true extract from the records of said town with the exception above named as certified by me
Giles Holbrook
{ Clerk of the town of Wellfleet aforesaid

7 I, Giles Habbrook the within named Clerk hereby certify that I have carefully examined the record of the within named cause of Wells.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Barnstable ss. Probate Court April 23 d 1840 Personally appeared before me in open Court Giles Habbrook and the preceding & succeeding pages and made oath to the truth of the two depositions therein contained subscribed the same Nymphas Wareton } Judge of Probate for said County
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Barnstable ss. I the undersigned Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County hereby certify that the Hon. Nymphas Wareton is the Judge of said Court and that the foregoing signature purporting to have been made by him is his genuine signature By which whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of said Court This twenty third day of April A.D. eighteen hundred & forty

I Giles Holbrook the within named Clerk hereby certify that I have carefully examined the records of the within named town of Wellfleet and cannot find the death of William Withrell late of said Wellfleet etc therein recorded.
I further certify that the marriage of Eleazer Atwood and Ruth Withrell and the death of the said Eleazer Atwood are therein recorded in the following words and figures - "Eleazer Atwood and Ruth Withrell both of Wellfleet were married August 2 nd 1804" Recorded by Samuel Waterman Town Clerk"
"Mr Eleazer Atwood died March 27 th 1815" Recorded by Sam l . Waterman Town Clerk" Giles Holbrook 3 rd Town Clerk
I Giles Holbrook of Wellfleet in the County of Barnstable & Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby certify that I am town Clerk of the said town of Wellfleet and the foregoing are true copies of the records of said town now in my possession as above certified by me Giles Holbrook { Town Clerk of the { Town of Wellfleet

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Barnstable County B On this twenty third day of April A.D. eighteen hundred and forty before the Court of Probate held at Barnstable in for said County personally appeared Ruth Atwood a resident of Wellfleet in said County aged seventy seven years, who being first duly sworn ac- cording to law, doth on her oaths make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the act of Congress pas- sed July seventh eighteen hundred and thirty eight entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain wid- ows That she is now a widow, that her first husband was William Wetzel of said Wellfleet who was a private soldier in the army of the revolution - that he served at several places as she verily believes - that his first service according to her best information was at or near Cambridge in the State of Massachusetts in a Company under the command of Capt. Winslow Lewis for a period of eight months - this she thinks

was militia service, and that he entered the service by enlistment at Milford aforesaid, and she supposes the enlistment took place in the year 1775, but cannot state the precise date, nor the names of any of the officers except the one aforesaid.
That after the termination of the service aforesaid, according to her best recollection and information, he enlisted into the Continental army, and marched to Canada, or to or towards the lakes, —
She cannot state the precise date of this service, but supposes it to have been immediately after his service at Cam- bridge aforesaid, and that he enlisted at that place — She cannot state with accuracy the place where he performed this service, but supposes that a part of it at least was in the State of New York. She cannot state with certainty the names of any of the officers under whom he served during this service, but was informed by Thomas Dill, a pensioner, in his life time, that some of the officers were General Gates, Col: Gration & Col: Stark — The length of this service she believes was one year or more.

She thinks he performed some service after that before described but cannot state particulars
She further declares that her maiden name was Ruth Rich, and that she was married to the said William Wethrell on the eighth day of November A.D. Seventeen hundred & eighty one - That her husband, the said William Wethrell died about forty years ago - that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service or at any rate she does not now recollect of his performing any service after their marriage for which she can claim allowance but that the said marriage took place previous to the first day of January A.D. Seventeen hundred and ninety four to wit at the time aforesaid - That from the death of her said husband she remained a widow about ten years and was then married to one Eleazer Atwood of Milford and that he died about fifteen years since - and that since his death she has not been married but has remained a widow ever since - She has no documentary evidence

of said William's services, but the here with furnishes such proof as is within her power & knowledge - and she refers for further proof to doc- uments in the War Department, relative to revolutionary services, and prays that they may be referred to & examined for evidence in relation to this her application
Ruth Alwood
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Barnstable ss. Probate (court) April 23 1840
Personally appeared before me in open court the above named Ruth Alwood and made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration & subscribed the same
Nathaniel Marston (Judge of Probate for said County)
Commonwealth of Massachusetts - County of Barnstable ss.
I hereby Read Register of the court of Probate in and for said County hereby certify that Nathaniel Marston is judge of said court and that the above signature purporting to have been made by him is his genuine signature In witness whereof I have hereunto set my name & affixed the seal of said court this twenty third day of April A.D. eighteen hundred forty
H. B. Brannell H. 72
no 8653

I Nathan Harding of Wellfleet in the county of Barnstable & State of Massa- chusetts aged eighty eight years - depose and say that I was a soldier in the army of the Revolution and a prisoner of the United States under the law of June 7 th A.D. eighteen hundred & thirty two that I served one period of two months at Cambridge in this State under Capt Winslow Lewis, Colonel Grattan, - that William Withers lots of Wellfleet who died about forty years ago served with me at Cambridge during the same period - We enlisted for six weeks ac- cording to my best recollection but served two months - At the expiration of the aforesaid service I returned to Tiverton in said county and did service there and the said Withers enlisted at Cambridge into the Continental army and marched to Canada as Withersward - said Withers was gone a long time in the army and served as I think at least two years -

I will recollect when he returned as he met with me at Boston and we came to Millfleet together - I do not know the names of any of his officers except that I think that General Putnam marched with the troops with them & Withrell went - I have heard P Withrell tell of an engagement with a British vessel and the lakes and that of fifty men of whom he was one who breakfasted together only then returned to supper -
Said Withrell's widow is now living at said Millfleet her present name being Ruth Atwood she having after the decease of said Withrell married one Eleazer Atwood lots of said Millfleet who died about twenty years ago -
Nathan Glading

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Barnstable ss Probate Court April 23 d 1840
Then personally appeared before me in open court Nathan Harding named on the foregoing papers and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition and subscribed the same - He is a credible witness Nymphaus Marston Judge of Probate for said County
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Barnstable ss.
I the undersigned Clerk of the Court of Probate in and for the County aforesaid hereby certify that the Hon Nymphaus Marston is the Judge of said Court and that the above signature purporting to have been made by him is his genuine signature In witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court This twenty third day of April A.D. eighteen hundred and forty

I Joanna Newcomb of Millfleet in the County of Barnstable & State of Massa- chusetts aged seventy five years, dispose and say that I was well acquainted with William Withnell late of said Millfleet who died about forty years ago, and have been and am well acquainted with the widow Ruth Atwood up d Millfleet who was formerly the wife of said William Withnell and the only wife he ever had - She several years after the death of the said William married Elazar Atwood late of said Millfleet who has now been dead about fifteen or twenty years - I was present in probate court at Millfleet this day when she made her declaration for the purpose of pro- curing a pension and knew her to be the same person who was the wife of said William as aforesaid -
Joanna Newcomb

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Barnstable Co. Probate Court April 23 1840 Personally appeared before me in open Court Joann Knowland within named and made oath to the truth of the within affidavit and subscribed the same. She is a credible witness Nymphas Marston } Judge of Probate for said Court
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Barnstable Co. Timothy Reed Register of the Court of Probate in & for said County hereby certify that the Hon. Nymphas Marston is the Judge of said Court and that the above signature purporting to have been made by him is his genuine signature
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this twenty third day of April A. D. Eighteen hundred and forty

Withall on the copy of certificate of marriage And in the Mass. book

Map
Rev  WIDOW, &c.
File No. 15-714 South Stewart Widow of William Wetbell Dis. Rev War
Act: July 7 th 38
Index:—Vol. A , Page 21
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Keith Alwood - for info
William Mitchell
Col. - c. 1838
Washington D.C.
Whiting
Commissioner of Customs
Who is the author of this letter? A Clerk of the Dept. & at the same time a prosecuting atty for Customs, he must quite often be other than the one who wrote it. Folger MS. A.9.2.9

For attendance by Ch Clerk 4-
S. Cole, Esq. Pension Department Washington D.C.

3 d Auditor's Office May 28. 1837.
Sir: Ruth Atwood, Mass. Act July 7. 1835, at $26. \frac{66}{100} per annum, does not appear to have been paid.
Very Resp. Nath. Fossiter Auditor
Gen. C. Whiting Esq. Comm d of Pensions.

Pension Office, May 27, 1857.
Sir:
Please inform me when Ruth Atwood , of Mass. was last paid at $26 66 a year under the Act of 1838.
R. J. Atkinson Esq J Auditor
Respectfully D. Cole
Niplett
Chf Clerk

House of Reps
July 24 1893
Sir,
The accompanying papers I shall be obliged to you to examine & determine whether a claim is established for a pension.
Your Obedt Servt
Parker Purnell
Mass:
J. L. Edwards Esq Constitution St Washington D. C.

Charlestown, Mass. Nov. 20. 1856
J. Bole, Esq. Dear Sir:
Will you please find accompanying this, one dollar, and if that with the obligations of the undersigned be inducement sufficient, will you be kind enough to read the following statement, and the question appended thereto, and give me simply an affirmative or negative answer to it;
William Withnell (American) was in the service in the Revolution, from July 17, 1775 at different times and in different engagements to Aug 1, 1780 as American Soldier . He married Ruth Rich Nov. 8, 1781, and

be married but once. He died on or about the 1 st April 1798. The issue of this marriage was six children all of whom are dead but one. (Mrs. Rich) my client. The widow (Mrs. Withnell) remained a widow till July 1805, when she married Eleazar Atwood, who (said Eleazar) has been dead more than thirty years. — no children thereof. The widow (now Mrs. Atwood) remained a widow there ever after. She died in 1842. Previous to her death Judge Meadston encouraged her to apply for a pension which she did but did not live long enough to receive. Her daughter Mrs. Azubah Rich (my client) is the only remaining child of the above William Withnell — She was advised by Woodman of Boston, who professes to know about such things, that she has a claim.
On the above facts, has Mrs. Azubah Rich my client any claim, or would it be advisable for her to petition for pension, annuity, or any thing else —
Very truly Yours Griffin H Boardman

P.S. From Woodman's counsel Mrs. Rich has gone to much expense in preparing papers having had them in reading more than two years and in Woodman's hands.
A.W.P.

Pension Office, December 1 st 1856.
Gentlemen:
In reply to your letter of the 20 th ult. you are informed that Ruth Wood, formerly widow of William Withrell, made application for a pension in the year 1840 - It was allowed on the 3 rd March 1843, at the rate of $26.66 per annum from the 4 th March 1836 for five years and the certificate sent to the Hon B. Burnell, then of the House of Reps. As the widow died in 1842, the heirs have no further claim.
I return, herewith, the one dollar note you enclosed to me.
Very respectfully Yours W. Ferris J. Cole J a Commissioner
Messrs Griffin and Boardman Charlestown Mass.

Army Pension Agency Boston 15 May 1857
Sir
At the request of Arabah Rich only surviving child of the identical Ruth Atwood referred to in the accompanying Communication I have to enquire if she is not entitled to the amount of the pension, which was allowed her mother but which, has remained unclaimed to the present time, as appears by the Rolls of this Agency, from the following Causes, Hon. B. Burnell referred to in the accompanying Communication, about the period of said Certificate having been

probably received by him, died at the City of Washington and it has been impossible to obtain his papers. Since. He never delivered said Certificate to Ruth Atwood or any one known to her and never obtained the amount of the pension for her, and she dying shortly after her family lost sight of the matter, until lately their attention was directed to it by Mrs Rich while visiting her son -
Reply
E. Brown
Hon. George C. Whitney Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.