Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13840, for Asa Markham, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Markham, Asa
S. 13840
carded
CONTENTS

Kind to Pension Agt. 21. Oct 1839 To Albany New York from 4 March 1839. 7. Nov 1839. Notice to the Postmaster Northampton New York
75 Dorchester
New York Albany! 5-238 Massachusetts
Asa Markham of Berkshire in the State of Mass ts who was a private in the by Captain _____ of the Regt. commanded by Col. Willis in the Mass ts line for 18 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 61 Dollars _____ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 th day of June '33 and sent H. W. Bishop Senas Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 - 12 2 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept " - 3 0
$1 52
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm Miller Clerk. Book E Vol. 2 Page 53

18444 Asa Markham Maps.
Col. Byrd
Admit 15 m. per share $50. 3 " " " " " " " " " " 11 =

BRIEF in the case of Co. of Berkshire
Asa Markham in the State of Mass (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 73  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. As a, Gen.     Oct 17 1748. enlisted 3 15 Private He has forgotten the officers -   June 1746 - 47 3   1747 - 1748 4 Capt Dooley Col Willis   1749 - 50 2 Capt. forgotten Col. Brown   1750 enlisted 6 Col. Bigelow  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Battle Fort Ann - Jones Mills and several skirmishes -  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Stockbridge Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary and two living witnesses.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Taylor
Examining Clerk;

Asa Markham Gt Bennington Vt Hyde Park Pa Nov 14 1832
18744

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Berkshire, ss.
ON this fourteenth day of November A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable WILLIAM P. WALKER , Judge of the Court of Probate, within and for said County of Berkshire, now sitting.
Asa Markham a resident of the town of Great Barrington in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy three years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
In the latter part of September or first part of October 1778 (according to his best recollection) he enlisted into service in a Company at Stockbridge (Mass) and marched with said Company to Glens Falls, in the state of New York, and from thence to Albany and remained there in said service, at the Barracks, until the expiration of his term of enlistment being three months . - He thinks it was in December when he was discharged . - it was at a time of extreme cold weather - the name of his Officer he has forgot. - When at Albany there were no other troops there except the Regt. to which he belonged. - He served here as a fifer .
In the first part of the summer of 1776 viz in June (the exact day of the month he cannot tell) he again enlisted for three months into said service at said Stockbridge - marched with his company from thence to Lansingburg, thence northwardly some distance to Stillwater as he thinks, and cross d over to the west side of the North river, and marched back & forth. - was at Saratoga a while, - continued in the service during three months , and was then discharged - the precise time when discharged he cannot state. - He has forgot the name of his officer - The number of troops with him in this service was not large comprising according to his best recollection only two or three companies in these two last tours we were called "three months men" In regard to the time of entering the service I have last stated he has given it as well as he could recollect I believe he is correct. In the month of June 1777 he volunteered in service in a company commanded by Capt Bradley - the Lieut's name was David Pissley - marched with said company to Williamstown - thence to Fort Edward, thence to Fort Ann, - while at said

Fort Ann a detachment of the enemy appeared - the troops (himself among the number) marched out & a battle ensued in which battle he was, - the engagement was continued sharply on both sides until at length a party of British Indian appeared - the Americans then retired & proceeded to Fort Edward, - this was in the early part of July according to his but recollection - at this engagement Col. Willis commanded the Americans. - After this time he served in various scouting parties about in that part of the country opposed to Burgoyne - filling up streams & roads with trees &c to obstruct the enemy's approach - He was also in a battle at Jones' Mills (so called) when Col. Nixon, (or Nichols) commanded, who had his horse shot from under him - He was also in several skirmishes - he continued in the service until the fore part of Oct. when he was discharged & returned to Stockbridge. - Can't tell the day of the month - it was just before the taking of Burgoyne, being in the whole all of four months -
In the month of July 1779. (according to his but recollection) he at Stockbridge again volunteered in a company of militia attached to the Regt. commanded by Col. Brown, - Marched to Bennington & to Pawlet, at which latter place they drew provisions - thence to Castleton & encamped, while at Castleton the greater part of the troops there went to East Bay & took a British guard & brought them to Castleton where he remained with a few troops during S. expedition - He then went with the prisoners back to Bennington & remained there until he was dismissed which he believes was in September - He was in the service at this time two months -
Does not remember his officers names. - In the latter part of June 1780 he again enlisted for six months in the Continental Army, in a company commanded by a Lieut. whose name he has forgot, - Marched directly to West Point and was there attached to Col. Pikelow's Regt. in Genl. Glover's Brigade - from West Point he went with other troops into the state of New Jersey & was at different places in said state, Orange town, Tottoway & Tappan, - then returned back to West Point, & remained there until about 6 weeks before he was discharged, when he was detached to go to White Plains (Quaker Ridge so called) & went there accordingly - From thence returned to West Point where he arrived on the 9th day of January, destitute of clothing almost, and bare feet, with both great toes badly frozen - On the 9th of Jany. he was discharged, destitute of provisions, - made his way home to Stockbridge and was obliged to beg his victuals on the road. - In this tour he served nine days over 6 months - He was mustered at Great Barrington by Truman Wheeler the Muster Master who is dead - He lately called on Claudius Wheeler son of S d Truman to see if he could find any evidence - who told him

there was one Muster Roll of his father in being, but he had let another revolutionary soldier have it who had sent it to Washington - Said Markham believes said Roll was so sent in August last, and perhaps his name may be found thereon. He was born in Springfield Mass. Sept 22 d 1759 - No record of his age. - lived in Stockbridge each time when he entered the service - removed from Stockbridge to Lansborough (Mass) thence to Tyringham, and from thence (last spring) to the adjoining town of Great Barrington - never had but one written discharge which was given him by Col. Pigeon at West Point at the end of his last tour - - the original is lost - some years ago I applied for a pension and forwarded a copy of said discharge which he presumes is now in the War Department -
Refers to Ezra Kellogg Esq. Moses Hopkins Esq. Rev d Sylvester Putt, in regard to his reputation &c
He knows of no one by whom he can prove any thing relating to his services excepting, by Joseph Howland and Eliakim Hamilton, whose depositions accompany this declaration - Has no documentary evidence, & can find no one else by whom he can prove any thing in regard to his services, excepting said Howland & Hamilton. - he served each time as a private except the time when he served as a fifer - by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise

years in which he served excepting the term of 1980 & 1977 but according to his best recollection he served the period he has stated.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker J. Probate Isa Markham
We Sylvester Burt a Clergyman, residing in the town of Great Barrington and Moses Hopkins residing in Great Barrington hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Isa Markham who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy three years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. — He is also a man of truth & veracity — Sylvester Burt Moses Hopkins
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories, prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. B. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Sylvester Burt who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, resident in the town of Great Barrington in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that Moses Hopkins who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Great Barrington in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Berkshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Isa Markham for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office of said Court of Probate, this fourteenth day of November in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Henry W. Bishop - Register of Probate
B. except as to his services in 1776 & 1778. about which the applicant has not a very distinct recollection — W. P. W.

APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER.
County of Saratoga ss.
On this Seventh day of October 1839, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Saratoga personally appeared Asa Markham
who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Bradley in 1777 in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Brown in 1779 Col. Bigelow in 1780 in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Massachusetts from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the State (District, or Territory,) of New York County of Fulton where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable, in future. The following are his reasons for removing from Great Barrington Massachusetts to the State of New York, that he resided with his son Asa Markham Jr. in Massachusetts. That his son sold his property in Massachusetts and purchased a farm in the town of Broadalbin County of Fulton State of New York, and moved from Massachusetts the last of March 1839 to Broadalbin, and the said Asa Markham moved there with his son. Asa Sworn and subscribed to, before me, Markham Jr. he is nearly blind and cannot take care of himself, and further saith not the day and year aforesaid.
Aspinwall St. John Justice of the Peace
Asa Markham
The oath to be taken before a duly qualified Magistrates, whose official character and signature must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. The county Clerk, Secretary of State, or some other officer, must certify, under his seal of office, that the officer who administered the oath is a Justice of the Peace, Judge, Mayor, Alderman, or Notary Public, as the case may be, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
The oath must be supported by the testimony of some respectable person, as to the Pensioner's identity. He must swear that the person who has taken the above oath is the person described in the affidavit. The Magistrate must certify, that the witness is a person of veracity; and the affidavit must also be authenticated in the manner above directed.

State of New York Saratoga County
Asa Markham Ind being duly sworn before me Seymour St John a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, and says that Asa Markham named on the other side of this sheet, is his Father who has resided with him for a number of years past, that he knows he is the same Asa Markham who obtained his Pension Certificate while living in Great Barrington State of Massachusetts, and that he moved with him to the town of Broadalbin County of Fulton State of New York about the last of March 1839 from Massachusetts, and that he well knows that the person who has made the affidavit on the other side of this sheet, is the same is the same who is described in the affidavit on the other side of this sheet, and further saith that Sworn to and subscribed before me this 7th day of October 1839 Seymour St John Justice of the Peace
I cheerfully certify that Asa Markham Ind who makes the above affidavit is a man of character truth & veracity Seymour St John Justice of the Peace
STATE OF NEW-YORK, } ss. Saratoga County Clerk's Office, }
I, Alpheus Goodrich, Clerk of the county of Saratoga, Do Certify , That Seymour St. John before whom the annexed affidavit purports to have been sworn, was at the date of the same, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said county, and that I am acquainted with his hand writing, and verify believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit, to be his proper hand writing and signature.
Witness my hand and seal of Office, the 11 th day of October 1839
Alpheus Goodrich Clerk

Oct 20 1888 Mrs Geo E McCarthy Auburn, N.Y.
Rev. Hays
✓ 13.840 INVALID.
File No. 13.840
Asa Markham
Briv. & Fifer Rev. H.
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 239
[Arrangement of 1870.]

45 Grover St. Auburn, N.Y.
Commissioner of Pensions Wash. D.C.
Sir, —
In the year 1837 Asa Markham was living in Great Barrington, Mass. and drawing pension as Revolutionary Soldier ,

Can you furnish record of him in order that his descendants may join Daughters of Revolution,
Yours respectfully Mrs. Geo. E. McCarthy 45 Grover St. Auburn. N. Y.
Sept. 12. 1898,

Northampton N. 3 Oct 14 3
Free
J. L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington City
Oct. 17. '39
Mr E. ...

Dear Sir
Enclosed is the application of Asa Markham for a transfer. will you have the goodness to let me know when the transfer will be made. So that he Markham will know when he can send to Albany to draw his Pension -
Very much oblige Yours
Nathaniel Westcott
J. L. Richards Esq.
M. Westcott Esq.
Norhampton,
New-York.
for Pension only Comm: of Pension

Merchants Bank. Boston, 24 th Oct r 1849.
Sir,
Your letter of the 21 st inst. is rec d . In reply I have to state that Adm. Markham a Pensioner now on the roll of this Agency under the Act of 7 th June 1832. at $61. per Anns. has been paid up to 4 th of March 1849.
I am very resp t . Your Ob t Serv t
Franklin Warren Pension Agt.
J. H. Edwards Esq Comm r of Pensions Washington D.C.

1871/4
1871/4 Asa Markham

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Asa Markham which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy 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? yy 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? yy VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy 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? yy

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? yy
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?
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yy
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yy
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? yy
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yy
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
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 each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
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 authenticates 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 ends 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.
□ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

I Eliakim Hamilton of West Stockbridge in the County of Berkshire & County of Mass. aged 78. years, upwards testify & say that in June 1777 I went from New Marlborough Mass. a volunteer in Capt. Wheeler's Company of Militia, to Fort Edward & from thence to Fort Ann, at which last place I was in an engagement with the British & Indians, in the four part of July. - after the battle we went to Fort Edward. - While on our way to Fort Edward we at a place called Kingsbury I found there Asa Markham (now living in Great Barrington, who before & since that time I was & am well acquainted with) was in another company in the same Regt. with myself, as a private. - After that time I often saw him while at Fort Edward, and at other places during that time. - How long P. Markham was in the service I do not know while we were one, one half of the militia was discharged first, and I remember that P. Asa was one that staid, -
In the fall of 1778. I enlisted in a com- -pany of three months men (as we were called) & the said Asa was a private in the same company. we Mustered at Great Barrington. - Went to Clear- -brook in the state of New York, thence to Albany & staid there until our time of enlistment expired, P. Markham & myself both returned together, he then living at Stockbridge. - And I know that P. Markham did serve at this time the period of three months, in the same company with myself -
Eliakim Hamilton
County of Mass. Berkshire ss. Nov. 14. 1832. Personally appeared Eliakim Hamilton and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him signed (and P. Hamilton is a person of credibility) (Before me Increase Sumner Just. Peace)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Berkshire, ss.
Sumner
I, HENRY W. BISHOP. Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County, do hereby certify that Greene Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition was taken is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly and regularly appointed, and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing, and have no doubt that the Signature annexed to said deposition is genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this fourteenth day of November A. D. 1832. Henry W. Bishop. Register of Probate

I Joseph Howland of Pittsfield in the County of Berkshire Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age do hereby say that I enlisted in the Continental Army in the latter part of June 1780 & marked for Lenox in said County on the 1 st day of July then following to Great Barrington in said County & that I there saw a Markham of said Great Bar- rington with whom I was then well acquainted who then resided in Stockbridge in said County the said Markham was then with the Soldiers & I then understood that he had enlisted in said Army for the term of six months. He marched with me to West Point having been mustered at said Great Barrington. At West Point we were attached to Col. Bigelow's Regiment & belonged to the same Company & the same mess. & I know that the said Markham was a mem- ber of said Company until he was detached from the same about six weeks previous to the expiration of our term of enlistment. About the 1 st January 1781 I was discharged & returned home & did not see said Markham after he was detached from said Company until he returned to said Stockbridge. At the time of my said enlistment I was about eighteen years of age & then resided in Lenox in said County.
Joseph Howland Berkshire ss. Lenox September 19. 1832. Then the said Joseph Howland to you known as a credible person made solemn Oath to the truth of the above disposition by him subscribed before me George J. Tucker Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Berkshire.
Charles Sedgwick a Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court, being a Clerk of Record in the County of Berkshire, do hereby certify that George S. Fisher Esq. before whom the within Deposition was taken & executed is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Berkshire that his name therein subscribed is his true & proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of Court at Lenox this 19. th day of September - A.D. 1852 -
Chas Sedgwick Clerk