Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,658, for Azel Johnson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Johnson, Azel
S. 2, 658
carded
CONTENTS

Ohio 5153
Azel Johnson
of Athens in the State of Ohio who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Lewis of the Regt. commanded by Col. Semott in the Mass line for 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 30 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4th day of Feb 1833 and sent Hon. S. J. Vinton House of Reps
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $45.11 Semi-ann. allowance ending Mar 33 15.00 $60.11
{ Revolutionary Claim, Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by A. H. Madison Clerk, Book D Vol. 11 Page 34
Roll of death not on file

Arzel Johnson
Private
9 Mo
Hon.
S. F. Vinton

BRIEF in the case of  Abel Johnson of the County of Athens  in the State of Ohio  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court 2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 3. How old is he? 69 years 4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1778 Subsistuta 3 for his Father As a Gen. Capt. Goodwin   " 80 6 — Private Col. Garnett, Capt. Lewis  
5. In what battles was he engaged? none 6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Noburn Mass. 7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? nothing - lost his discharges - 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Regular
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Levin Pelt  Examining Clerk.

Abel Johnson - - - Declaration
filed October 13 th 1832.
H. Bartlett Clerk

State of Ohio Athens County ss
On this thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court, before the court of common Pleas of Athens County aforesaid, now sitting, Abel Johnson, a resident of Dover Township in the said County of Athens and State of Ohio, aged sixty nine years who being, first duly affirmed according to law, doth on his solemn affirmation, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed June 4 th 1832.
That in his sixteenth year of his age, in the year 1778, he served a term of three months, as a substitute for his father who had been drafted, in the Massachussetts militia in the service of the United States, that he was stationed at Boston, that his Captain's name was Goodwin, his Lieutenant Gwynn from the Town of Hobson from which place he also went, that a Major Brown Thinks was Muster Master, that he served out his said term of three months, and was regularly discharged on the first day of January 1779, and gave over his discharge to his father. That he afterwards enlisted in a Company of Six months men, from the said Town of Hobson, in the year 1780 and served out the said term of six months and was regularly discharged the first day of January 1781, that his Captain's name was Lewis, and his Lieutenant's White, that the Company was attached to a Colonel Bennett's Regiment of Light Infantry in General Poor's Brigade, that Major General Lafayette was in command of the Division of the army in which he served. That he was not in any battle, but was principally employed while at Boston in guarding stores, and on the fortifications at Roxbury neck, and during his six months term he was stationed a part of the time at West Point, and thence marched with the army under General Lafayette into the Jerseys, where he was stationed for a time at a place called the English neighborhood that at one time the army marched through Hopkinton that at one time he was in a detachment sent out to forage and proceeded to Verplank's Point, that the whole time of his service during two terms amounted to nine months, exclusive of the time taken in going and coming, that he furnished his own blanket, for which he took a company receipt, but which with has become lost, that he gave his discharge to his father who drew the pay, of which he has a memorandum on or written old piece of paper. That he has no other documentary evidence, and that he knows no person now living, by whose testimony he can prove his service. He further subscribes the day & year first written. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except this present & declares that his name is not on any pension roll of the agency of any state.

Affirmed & subscribed the day & year first above written Henry Bartlett Clerk A.C. Pleas
Azel Johnson
We Asa Stearns a clergyman residing in Alexander Township, Ash County, State of Ohio aforesaid and Daniel Wetmore and Josiah True residing in Dover Township in the County of Athens and State of Ohio aforesaid, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Azel Johnson, who has subscribed & affirmed to the above declaration, that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Subscribed & affirmed the day & year aforesaid
Henry Bartlett Clerk
Asa Stearns Daniel Wetmore Josiah True
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Asa Stearns, who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Athens and State of Ohio, and that Daniel Wetmore and Josiah True who have also signed the same are residents of the same County and State, are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Henry Bartlett Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Azel Johnson for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this thirteenth day of October, A.D. 1832.
Henry Bartlett Clerk

September 12, 1938
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/MCS Azel Johnson, S.2658
Mrs. May Hart Smith 1725 North Garfield Avenue Pasadena, California
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your request for information relative to Azel Johnson, a Revolutionary War soldier who was born November 27, 1762, in Woburn, Massachusetts, and died May 4, 1838, in Athens, Ohio.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S.2658, based on the military service of Azel Johnson.
The date and place of birth of Azel Johnson and the names of his parents were not given.
Azel Johnson enlisted in Woburn, Massachusetts, in 1778 in the sixteenth year of his age and served three months as private in Captain Goodwin's Massachusetts company and was discharged January 1, 1779; he served as substitute for his father. He enlisted in 1780 and served six months as private in Captain Lewis' company in Colonel Oimat's regiment of light infantry under General Lafayette and was discharged January 1, 1781.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 13, 1832, at which time he was sixty-nine years of age and was living in Dover Township, Athens County, Ohio.
The papers in this claim contain no data relative to the family of Azel Johnson.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator
32 69 101

Rev. Van
2658
INVALID.
File No. 2658
Gen. Johnson
Dr. Mass. Line
Act: June 7, '32
Index: — Vol. 4 , Page 194
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Mch. 25-1901 Miss Anna Clark Ft. Smith Ark
1909 June 30. Hist to Dr. F. G. Crowley p. 1912 May 22. Do M. A. Lewis p. 1915 Mch. 1. Hist to Mrs. A. L. Elliott p. 1916 Mch. 9. Mrs. Elliott advised only one statement of service to same person, p. 1917 Feb. 14. Do Mrs. H. D. Henry. p. 1931 Apr 27 Hist. to Mrs. Daniel P. Atwood - Elop
1938. Sept. 12. Hist. to Mrs. May Hart Smith Mch. D.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Arzel Johnson further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? yes XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.”

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
† QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡ QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by L. D. L.
Claim No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant _____
Soldier Azel Johnson
Service Mass.
Additional Service Rev. War
No _____ claim, State records _____, 190_____
No claim, combination records _____, 190_____
REMARKS:
No claim except I. # 2658

Athens, O.
May 15, 1912.
Bureau of Pensions Washington, D. C.
Do you have the Revolutionary War Record of Azel Johnson? (of New York I believe).
If so kindly send me a copy of it. He was said to have fought with Lafayette.
Enclose stamps no stamps
Yours truly M. A. Lewis
22 S. Congress St.
Athens, Ohio.

one 2 ct stamped Envelope Enclosed NT OPN
St. env. ret'd - m ELLIOTT & BEASLEY
DEALERS IN
GRAIN, FLOUR, FEED, COAL, FENCE POSTS AND WIRE FENCING
STONY RIDGE, OHIO, Feb 17 1915 190
Dear Sir: I am sending you a stamped self address envelope and wish you would send me the war record of Agel Johnson of Massachusetts.
Kindly send it as complete as possible I want it partly to prove that I am eligible to the D. A. R.
Thanking you I remain
Very respectfully, Mrs. A. L. Elliott

MRS. MAY HART SMITH 1728 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 1 Aug. 1938
Veterans Administration, Washington, D. C.
My dear Sirs:
Will you kindly send me a copy of application for pension for service in the Revolutionary War, made by Azel Johnson Jr. born 27 Nov. 1762 Woburn Mass.; died May 4, 1838 Athens, Ohio.
He married Aug. 24, 1788 Leicester Mass., Rebecca Brown.
Thanking you , I am,
Very truly yours,
May Hart Smith

Chicago, Illinois, March 17, 1931.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sirs,
Kindly send me any information you may have on file concerning the parentage and descendants of one Azel Johnson, Jr., who served as Pvt. in the Revolutionary war, variously under General LaFayette, and Captain Seth Goodwin. C D
Said Azel Johnson was an ancestor of mine, and this information is desired for proving claim to entrance in the Sons of the American Revolution.
Thanking you for your attention, I am
Very sincerely yours,
Daniel F. Atwood
Daniel F. Atwood, 2151 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Illinois.

Rev. War Records -
Athens Ohio
Feb 4 " 1917
Department of The Interior. Washington D.C.
Would like the war record of Agel Johnson of Noburn Mass.
Very Resp.
Mrs H D Henry 6 So. College St Athens Ohio -
Also, Record of John Brown of Worcester Mass. Further data

Rev AMERICAN SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHY
KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI
June 23-09. Enc
Pension Dept.,
Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:-
Will you please send me whatever record there is on file of John Brown, of Massachusetts, a soldier in Seth Washburn's furnished June 26, 1909. To Miss J. Y. Crowley Pikeville Mo. Company, Revolutionary War, also of Azel Johnson, son-in-law of the said John Brown.
Thanking you in advance for an early reply, I am,
Very truly yours,
Dr. F. H. Gosuler

REYNOLDS, DAVIS & CO. NOS 23 & 25 NORTH SECOND STREET.
Wholesale Grocers AND COTTON FACTORS.
Glew
Fort Smith, Ark.
3/11/1901
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
Will you kindly give me official record of Revolutionary war service of one Azel Johnson , born Nov. 27th, 1762, in the town of Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; died about 76 years later and who was one of the pioneer settlers of Athens County, Ohio?
Thanking you in advance for this and any other information you may be able to give me, I am,
Yours truly,
(Miss) Anna Clark.
Care Reynolds, Davis & Co.

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Azel Johnson a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ( or his widow's ) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. S. File 2658
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1778 to Jan. 1, 79 3 mos. Pri. Goodwin ✓ Mass.   1780 to Jan. 1, 81 6 mos. Levis Gimat's Lt. Inf. Gen. Lafayette's Division.  
Battles engaged in, none
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Eut from Nohurn, Mass.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 13, 1832.  Allowed.
Residence at date of application, Dover Twp., Athens Co., Ohio.
Age at date of application, 69 years
Remarks: No family data!

April 27, 1931
Rev.& 1812 Wars Section EEL
Mr. Daniel P. Atwood 2151 W. Jackson Boulevard Chicago, Illinois
Dear Sir:
16 3/4 7 3/4 You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.2658, that Azel Johnson enlisted in 1778, exact date not given, in Woburn, Massachusetts, served as a substitute for his father, whose name is not given, for three months as a private in Captain Goodwin's Massachusetts Company, and was discharged January 1, 1779.
He enlisted in 1780, exact date not shown and served six months as a private in Captain Lewis' Company, Colonel Gimat's Regiment of Light Infantry under General Lafayette, and was discharged January 1, 1781.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 13, 1832, at which time he was aged sixty-nine years and resided in Dover Township, Athens County, Ohio.
There are no data as to wife and children.
Very truly yours
Date of death not on T/B E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.

Rev. War Section.
for a stat a soldier of information soon on file
March 9, 1916.
Mrs. A. Lovell Elliott, Stony Ridge, Ohio.
Madam:-
In response to your letter dated the twenty-ninth ultimo, you are herewith furnished the history of John Brown Sur. File # 9718 Rev. War, and advised that the his- tory of Azel Johnson Sur. File # 2658 Rev. War, was mailed to you under date of March 1, 1915, and that it is not the practice of this Bureau to furnish more than one statement relative to a soldier to the same person.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.