Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 34,564, John Wooldredge, R. I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
R.I.
Wooldredge, John Woolridge or
S. 34,564
CONTENTS

Massachusetts Roll 18214
John Woolridge Colo. Hitchcock Private R. Inf. Massachusetts Line Jany '76 13 months In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 18 of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 of July 1818 and sent to Hon. Genl Putnam Salem. Mass
Arrears to 4th of Septm 1818 Semi-annual account ending 4 Mo. 17/30th $ 36.53
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818 }
Hon. N. Pillsbee
not entitled decision confirmed by Secy of War, 19 th Feb 3 1821. Warblehead C. S. [?] be re-instated.
No. 22 - Schedule See letter to Genl Putnam, 24 Dec 1822 John Woolridge Salem, Mass. Dec 1820 to

To the Hon. the Senate and the Hon. House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled.
Respectfully represents John Woodbridge of Marlborough in the County of Essex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that he was a Soldier in the Revolutionary war between the United States of America & Great Britain, that he faithfully and truly served in said war a time amply sufficient to entitle him to a Pension agreeably to the requirements & provisions of the acts of Congress regulating pensions in such cases, that agreeable to the provisions of the first of said Acts he transmitted to the Secretary of the War Department duly authenticated documents proving his services and necessities as by said Act was required, and that he was then considered as coming within the provision of said Act and his name was placed on the Pension list accordingly.
And your Memorialist further represents that pursuant to the subsequent and last Act of Congress relating to Revolutionary Pensioners, a schedule of his property as required by said Act was transmitted to the Hon. Secretary of the War Department, by which it appeared that I was the owner of a small House, but no other property of any amount. And that the debts against me, which were principally for repairs made on said House, and that I had no means of procuring a livelihood but from my own daily labour. & that I was old, infirm & poor. But notwithstanding all this the Hon. Secretary was pleased to erase my name from the Pension Roll. And thus your memorialist is left destitute and poor. That in consequence of his being deprived of his Pension, which he was in the habit of apportioning amongst his

in part, as he received it, & which together with what he might gather from his own industry, he fondly flattered himself would enable him in time to clear his House, and leave him a comfortable shelter in his declining years, he has been obliged to sell his House at Auction, & that although the greatest exertions were made, the House was sold for a sum short of my just debts, leaving your memorialist in a more forlorn condition than before —
And your memorialist further respectfully represents that the prospect which he once had of looking to children for support & assistance in his old age, has been cut off by the death of three sons & one Son in law, three of them over twenty years of age, and one of them killed on board a ship of war during the last war. And that his son in law has left with your memorialist a destitute wife and three small children. —
From the above representation of facts your Memorialists humbly hopes & prays that your Honors will be pleased to take his case into consideration, & that his name may again be placed upon the list of meritorious pensioners, and as in duty bound will ever pray —
Middlesex Nov. 1821.
John Woodbridge

1824
John Woolridge July 1818 Not Recd.
Not Recd
on this the 2nd of the said Court, at Salem, in said County of Essex in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court. Attest my hand and seal this 2nd day of July 1818 RICHARD BUCKLE, Clerk of the Court

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Salem, within and for the County of Essex, on the third Monday of June, A. D. 1820.
Present, Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Chief Justice. Hon. WILLIAM WETMORE, and Hon. STEPHEN MINOT, Associate Justices.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, John Woolridge resident in in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 1824 now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, John Woolridge late a private in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the 18th day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
Given at the War Office of the United States, this sixteenth day of July one thousand eight hundred and eighteen J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
SCHEDULE,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
Real estate, a dwelling house & land valued at 600. - - $ 600.00
1 old birch desk & case of drawers 2.50, 1 stand table 1.40, 1 small table 1.00 - 4.90
7 chairs 1.75 1 looking glass 4.00 1 small glass 50c 1 pair of andirons 2.00 - 8.25
1 old pair of andirons 40c 1 pr shovel and tongs 1.00 1 iron pot 66 - - 2.06
1 kettle 25c 1 tea kettle 40c 1 frying pan 69c 2 pewter dishes + 9 plates 2.50 3.84
Crockerware 1.50, 2 old quadrants 4.50, Fishing lines 3.00 Books & charts 2.50 11.50
1 old musket 1.50 1 pair of old pistols 1.50 - - - 3.00
$633.55
no income - no debts owing to him -
Is owing John Woolridge jr 100.00 Major Tral 50.00
Samuel Bouden 40.00 Widow Reynolds 30.00 Abel Gardner 25.00, and to sundry other persons of small debts amounting to 100.00 - - - 320.00
$313.55
Served in Capt. Symonds company Col: Hitchcock's Regiment in the Rhode Island line 13 months -
He is 62 years old, is infirm and unable to work more than 2 hours a day; has formerly been a mariner; now goes

a fishing in the bay and sometimes helps cure fish : is troubled with a bad humor in his mouth, and on his body ; has a wife aged 56 years who is much out of health and very infirm and unable to work : has 2 daughters, one named Betsy, 17 years old, unhealthy, and always has been subject to the sick head ache, and one named Sally, aged 15 years who likewise is, and always has been out of health, has the sick head ache and both are unable to work ; all they can do, is occasionally to bind a shoe, but never able to support themselves — And one grandson named Robert Stevens aged 7 years. John Woolridge
Sworn to & declared before Wm Wetmore Judge within named

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Wm Wetmore a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
I, John Woolridge do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. So help me GOD.
John Woolridge
Essex, ss. C. C. C. P. June, Term, A. D. 1820.
Then the abovenamed John Woolridge took and subscribed the aforesaid Oath before me
Wm Wetmore
Judge of said Court.
I, ICHABOD TUCKER, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is three hundred & thirteen dollars fifty five cents —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Salem, in said County of Essex, on this 17 th day of July — A. D.
Attr.
Ichabod Tucker, Clerk,

John Wooldridge
De'con for Pension
French.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, ss. At the Supreme Judicial court held at Ipswich within and for the county of Essex on the third tuesday of April A.D. 1823 -
On this fifteenth day of April 1823 personally appeared in open court, the same being a court of Record for said county proceeding according to the course of the common law with a Jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a Record of its proceedings and having the power of fine & imprisonment John Wooldridge resident in said county aged sixty five years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the pension made by the acts of the 18th March 1818 the 1st May 1820 and the 1st March 1823, that he the said Wooldridge enlisted for the term of eight months in the month of April 1775 in capt. John Merritt's company col Glover's Regt and went to Cambridge. Immediately on the expiration of the s'd eight months he enlisted into capt. Symonds company belonging to col. Hitchcock's Regt in the Rhode Island Line on the Continental establishment wherein he served thirteen months, & was discharged at Morristown in the Jerseys -
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of congress entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and Naval services of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the 18th March A.D. 1818. and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule following the necessary bedding and clothing for myself and family excepted viz. Real Estate - none
  Personl Estate. 1 old birch Desk & Drawers  $ 2. 50    1 Stand table $1.40. 1 small table $1, 7 chairs $1.75  3. 15    1 Lookinglass damaged $3. 1 Small do. 50 c, 1 pr. Andirons $2. 50  5. 50     $11. 15  
(copy)

  1 pr. Old andirons 40¢  1 pr Shovel & Tongs $1.  1 Iron Pot 66¢  —  $2. 06    1 Kettle, 25¢,  1 Tea Kettle, 40¢  2 pewter & 9 pewter pots $2.50.   3. 16    Crockery ware $1.50  1 old Quadrant $2.  1 Musket no lock $1.50  —  5. 00    1 pr old pistols $1.50  —  —  —  1. 50        $11. 72       Amount brought over  11. 15        $22. 87  
That since the exhibition of my first schedule the following changes have been made in my property, viz.
1 Frying pan valued in my first schedule at 69¢. has since rusted out and become useless. 1 old Quadrant, Fishing Lines, & Book of Charts mentioned and valued in my former Schedule at $8. I sold, of necessity for $9. My Dwelling House and land valued in my former Schedule at $600. I sold at public Auction on the 11. day of March 1821 to my son Thomas Wooldridge who was the highest bidder therefor for the sum of $425. And that the said Thomas Wooldridge in satisfaction thereof on the 20th of April 1821 paid to Jesse Blanchard sixteen dollars and twenty two cents: On the 27th of sd April paid to Abel Gardner twenty four dollars & fifty five cents. On the 17th of May 1821 paid John Frail sixtynine dollars & seventy two cents. On 22 d paid John Johnson sixty six dollars & seventy cents, and on same day paid Samuel Bowden his forty dollars. And to sundry other persons sundry small bills amounting to sixty eight dollars & ninety cents. And on the same day gave up a note which he held against me dated the 2 d of March 1820 amounting with interest to the sum of one hundred dollars, the same being debts which I justly owed said persons. And my sd son has since furnished me for my family's use articles amounting to seventy nine dollars & fifteen cents.
I have no employment I occasionally cut out shoes for my son when I am able, but cannot work much even at that being quite infirm & being afflicted with an uncomfortable humor in my lip & body. My wife is 59 years old and very infirm. I have with me two children Betsey aged twenty & Sally aged eighteen and both of them weakly & unable to work much. And I am incapable of supporting them & myself without the aid of Government, except by private or public charity.
John Wooldridge
(copy)

Sworn to and declared on the sixteenth day of April 1823 before me
Isaac Parker { Chief Justice of S. J. court
I, Ichabod Tucker Clerk of the court aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and Schedule have been admitted to the Record of the said court. And I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is twenty two dollars and eighty seven cents.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court on this sixteenth day of April Anno Domini 1823
W m Ichabod Tucker, Clerk,

John Woolridge -
18 Ap
Not on Rolls
DN
adm 2

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Be it remembered, That John Wooldredge aged fifty nine of Marblehead — in the County of Essex in the Commonwealth aforesaid, doth make upon oath the following DECLARATION , to wit,
That he was enlisted in the Company of Captain John Merrett  as a private in Col John Glover's Regiment of Infantry in the service of the United States on the 1 st day of June Anno Domini 1775 in the Massachusetts line for the term of seven months, that he marched from Marblehead to Cambridge in this State and continued in the same Regim t — until the first of January 1776 at which time he was honorably discharged and paid by Col Glover , that he never had any written Discharge. That in January 1776 he again enlisted in the service of the United States in Captain Francis Symonds's Company Col Hitchcock's Regiment of Infantry in the Rhode Island Line, he marched from Cambridge aforesaid to the City of New York, Long Island, through New Jersey, was at the capture of Princeton N.J. continued in the service in Col Hitchcock's Regiment for the term of thirteen months, at the expiration of which term he, was honorably discharged having faithf lly served the term for which he was entitled, that he never had any written Discharge
That the Declarant is infirm; that from his reduced circumstances in life he is now in need of assistance from his country for support; and that he hereby relinquishes his claim to every pension heretofore allowed him by the laws of the United States.
John Wooldredge

AFFIDAVIT.
I Philip Hooker of Marblehead in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, Laborer do on oath depose and testify,
That I was a private in Cap Wm Francis Symonds Company Col Hickcock's Regiment of the Rhode Island Line that I served United States service for the term of thirteen months from January A.D. 1776 to February 1777 that I know the aforesaid John Wooldridge to be a private in the same company and Regiment during the time aforesaid that I was discharged at the same time with said John Wooldridge and that I never had any written discharge and I believe the said Wooldridge never had any written discharge
Philip Hooker

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ff.
On this eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, personally appeared before me Samuel Putnam one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of said Commonwealth
the aforementioned John Woodbridge & Philip Hooker and in my presence severally subscribed and made solemn oath to the aforeswritten Declaration and AFFIDAVIT , by them respectively made as aforesaid:—And it appearing to my satisfaction, that the aforementioned John Woodbridge served more than NINE MONTHS, to wit, from the _____ day of January - A.D. 1776 to the _____ day of February A.D. 1777 at one period of the Revolutionary War, on the Continental Establishment, against the common enemy, I do hereby cer- tify the testimony in the case, and the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the Department of War.
Given under my hand, and the seal of the Court a- foresaid, at Marblehead , this eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
S. Putnam Just S. J. Court of Mass t
Vide Seal on the other side

Essex Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I Ichabod Tucker clerk of all the judicial courts of said state in & for the county of Essex do certify that the within Samuel Putnam is a judge of said Supreme Judicial court that the within signature is his proper handwriting that the seal hereto affixed is the seal of said court
Salem April 20 1818 - Atty. Ichabod Tucker

Massachusetts.
John Woolridge, priv.
Served 13 mo. from 1770
1 st Sched: dated June 1820.
  Real Estate  —  $ 600.00    Personal  —  33.55    Total   $ 633.55  
Sched: under Act Mar. 1823 [dated 10 th Ap. 1823]
Personal property $ 22.87
accounts for the decrease of property &c
On the 11 th March 1821 sold at public sale his Real Estate for $425 to Thos. Woolridge his son (copy of deed exhib- ited) which son paid the debts of Father to the full amt. of purchase names of persons to whom
paid with dates given.
Claimant aged 65 y rs
no occupation, very infirm wife aged 59. infirm
2 Daughters 20 & 18 y rs
both feeble & unable to work.
before Ralph H. French Esq. Marblehead Mass.
Wed May 27. 1823
Sept. term 1818.

W-had Oct 14th
4
Mr. Lander
John Woolbridge
July 1888
For reconsideration
Hon. Nathl. Silsbee, member of Congress.
Washington

90 McNead Dec. 13. 1820
Hon. N. Selsbee.
Sir at the request of Capt. Woolbridge I take the liberty of sending the inclosed documents to you, & on his behalf solicit your personal influence with the Subj. - You know the value of real Estate in McNead, & the poverty of the place. It is the general opinion that Capt. Woolbridge House or shell , as it might more properly be called, would not sell for two hundred dollars . And the debts he owes would more than three times consume it -
This being stricken from the List of Pensioners has had a very sensible effect on the old Gentlemens fortune, & is almost insupportable - Do intercede for him - We have lost three Pensioners within three weeks, & two or three more who will not live the winter out. So that Mr. Woolbridge being renewed will not make our number good by 8 -
very respectfully yr obedt Servt
N. W. Washburn

of the fortress was demolished.
Early in the summer of 1759, he embarked at Halifax, on board the British fleet, with the army under Gen. Wolfe, and ascended the river St. Lawrence to Quebec. He was engaged in the action near the Falls of Montmorenci, and afterwards scaled the Heights of Abraham, and fought in the battle on the Plains, where Wolfe and Montcalm fell. After the surrender of Quebec, he remained as one of the garrison during the winter, and in the spring of 1760 marched out under Gen. Murray, to give battle to the besieging French army, under M. de Levi, on the Plains of Abraham, near Sillery. This conflict was as hot and more sanguinary than the former, in which Wolfe fell. During the ensuing summer, he ascended the St. Lawrence, under Gen. Murray, to Montreal, who was joined there by a body of troops under General Amherst, the commander in chief in North America, and by another detachment of the Army under Col. Haviland. So well concerted were the military operations of that campaign, that three armies, one under Gen. Amherst from Lake Ontario , another under Gen. Murray, from Quebec , and the other under Col. Haviland, from Lake Champlain , reached Montreal, the point of their destination, on the same day, and the Marquis de Vaudrieul, late French Governor, surrendered Montreal, Detroit, Michilimackinac, and all the French northern territories, to the Crown of Great Britain.
After the peace of 1763, John Down came and settled in this country.
Soon after the commencement of the Revolutionary War, while our army was encamped at Cambridge, Gen. Washington recommended to Congress to raise a Corps of Marines, who might occasionally be detached on board our armed vessels to cruise for and intercept the transports of ordnance and stores, destined to supply the British army then in Boston. A Regiment for this purpose was raised chiefly in Marblehead; it was commanded by Col. Glover, and was stationed at Beverly till the British army evacuated Boston, when it marched under Gen. Washington to New-York. John Down enlisted in that Regiment. Col. Wm. R. Lee, the venerable Collector of the Customs at this port, was the Major; and to him, more than any other individual, that Regiment, so often mentioned in history, owed its reputation for discipline and efficiency. It rendered the most important and arduous services, at Long Island, near New-York, in the retreat through New Jersey, and at the battles of Trenton and Princeton. Down bore with cheerfulness all the fatigues and perils of that toilsome campaign.
At Ch...

on, pen, 5,000 5,000 2,000 0,000 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 15,000 14,000 13,000 12,000 11,000 40,000 39,000 38,000 37,000 36,000 35,000 higher 2,000 to the led on which Mes- e fur- post- from the noun- alua- ed at which their ni- o- all ace lu- at als, ey he
Mr Metcalf, was subjoined a directive report a bill for the relief of the petitioner to the extent of 2765 dollars, indemnify him for his losses-sustained Munday's Point, which was put and carried. Adjourned to Monday.
Massachusetts Legislature.
SENATE.—MONDAY, JAN. 21.
A petition of J. G. Hales, for aid in making a Topographical Map of the State, was referred to the Hon Messrs Hunewell and Thomas, Messrs Dowse, Forward, and Rotch.
A petition of Francis Welsh and others, for an Insurance Company in Boston, was referred in both Houses to the Com. on Banks.
A petition from the Essex Turnpike Corporation was referred to the Committee of Turnpikes.
TUESDAY, JAN. 22.
Subject of Public Lands.—The Committee of both Houses to whom was referred at a former session, a Message from his Excellency the Governor, communicating sundry Resolutions of the Legislature of the State of Maryland, relative to the apportionment of the Public Lands of the United States, in certain cases, to the encouragement and support of Common Schools, and other Seminaries of learning; and to whom was also referred that part of the several Communications of his Excellency to both Houses, the present session, relating to the same subject, and transmitting sundry Resolutions of the Legislatures of the States of Vermont, New Jersey, and Kentucky, relative to the same, made a report, together with sundry Resolutions, which report and resolutions were read, and ordered to lie on the table, and that 100 copies be printed for the use of the
a pe re the tin Sp di we ra m ce th ce N fe ti ne fo c

M-h-ud Feb 4 7th
Waverly (Horn) & Hamble
1
Hon. Gideon Barstow. Member of Congress Washington

Marblehead Feb. 6. 1822
Hon. G. Barstow.
Sir, Will not the Secy of the Navy be satisfied from the evidence furnished that Mr. Woolridge's name was improperly stricken from the Pension Roll? And will he not be pleased to restore it that he may receive his back pay? Mr. Woolridge certainly at the time he made out his Schedule was not worth one cent in the world, because his House was held for the payment of the repairs, & has since been taken & sold and did not fetch enough to pay them - It will be extremely a hard case if he must again comply with the requisitions of the Law, and furnish a new Schedule & lose all back pay - Will you have the goodness to try for him, he is extremely poor, old & infirm - His name was stricken off on account of not having served the requisite time - I think he furnishes abundant proof to the contrary - Will you enquire into his case & see what may be wanting? I have inclosed a publication in the Salem paper, that you may see that none were more meritorious than the Marine Corps of which Homer was one - He can procure the testimony of Col. Lee to prove that he was enlisted therein.
respectfully your obedient
Ralph Waldo Emerson

M-hiad May 5th-
Miss Estelle
To
The Hon. John C. Calhoun
Secy of War
Washington
Rec'd 9 May 1842
1842
John Westmore
Rec'd
March 1843

Marblehead May 3. 1828
Hon. J. C. Calhoun.
I take the liberty of inclosing the papers of Mr. Woolridge for renewal of his pension - His documents will show (what was the fact) that when stricken from the Pension Roll, he was not worth one cent - And if he could be allowed to receive the back pay since his name was stricken off, it would afford great relief to a very poor, but meritorious person - Will you have the goodness Sir, to inclose the documents to me for Mr. Woolridge & I will see that he has them -
I am Sir, with great respect your obdt Servt.
Ralph H. French
Hon J. C. Calhoun

Capt. Woodridge
Capt. Woodridge -
Sept. 1878
Jan. 5. 1821

Gentlemen I hope you will excuse me in making knowne to you. the Necessity I stand in of the Pension, which was granted to such as myself, and I also received, untill the Secretary was Pleas'd to erase my name out of that list on acc't of my Property, when it was made knowne to him at the time that my debts where near equal to the Property, which was an Empty house, for the best of my furniture I had disposed of for support. Before I received the Pension, after I was placed on that list my Creditors was willing to entrust me as long as I was intitled to it by my deviding it with them as part payment, but when that was stop they come forward and request a settlement this caused my estate to be Notified and sold at Publick auction, which took place on 17 th May 1821 the selectmen and others attended but owing to the fall of real estate and the circumstances of the town it brought hardly sufficient to pay the debts. I now stand more in need of assistance then before, as I own nothing but a little furniture, no friends to look too for support. As winter comming on, my infirm- ities growing worse I can do but little labour if offered nor can I bear heat or cold. I once had a Prospect of looking up to children for support if need should call but am deprived of that hope also by loosing three sons and one son in law three of them over 20 years of age one was killed in the late war onboard a ship of war the son in law left me his widow and three Children to support -
Marblehead November 7 th 1821
John Woolridge

We the subscribers. Select men of Marblehead in the County of Essex do hereby certify that we are well and personally acquainted with Capt John Woodbridge named in the within Certificate by him written and subscribed and know the facts therein by him stated to be true, and we do further certify that in our opinion Capt Woodbridge is a highly deserving and meritorious subject for his Country's notice and assistance - we know his necessities - we know him to be deserving -
Marblehead November 7 th 1821
John Prince John Harris J. Spearhawk Dan Weed Benja Knight

Know all Men by these Presents That I John Wooldridge of Marblehead in the County of Essex Mariner in consideration of Four hundred and twenty five dollars to me paid by Thomas Wooldridge of Lynn in said County Cordwainer, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknow- ledge do hereby give grant bargain sell and convey unto the said Thomas Wooldridge his heirs and assigns forever all that dwelling house land under adjoining and thereto belonging situate in said Marblehead and formerly owned and improved by John Diamond the same is bounded as follows, viz. northeasterly on the Street leading from the main street to the old work house land, southeasterly on land of Isaac Storgs deceased and extends from the street to a passage way leading to a well and situate between the premises and land of Brimblecombs, southwesterly on this way and then northwes- terly on land of Goodwins and extends from said way to the street aforesaid or however otherwise the premises are bounded or reputed to be bounded with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof.
To have and to hold the aforegranted and bargained premises with all the privileges and appurtenances thereto to the said Thomas Wooldridge his heirs and assigns to their use and behoof forever. And do covenant with the said Thomas Wooldridge his heirs and assigns that I am lawfully seised in fee of the premises, that they are free of all incumbrances, that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Thomas Wooldridge to hold as aforesaid. And that I and my heirs will warrant and defend the same to the said Thomas Wooldridge his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.
In witness whereof I the said John Wooldridge

have hereunto set my hand and seal this nineteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one.
signed sealed and delivered
John Wooldge - - - seal
in presence of us
E. Prince
John Prince
Essex ss. Commonwealth of Massachusetts Marblehead May 21. 1821.
The within named John Wooldge appeared and acknowledged the within by him subscribed to be his free act and deed before me John Prince Just. Peace
Essex ss. Received May 24. 1821. recorded and examined by Amos Choate Reg.
True copy of record, Book 226 Leaf 127 Attest Amos Choate Reg
Copy
John Wooldridge to
Thomas Wooldridge
We the subscribers Selectmen of Marblehead do hereby certify that we know the above to have been a bona fide sale. And that it was made for the purpose of paying the just debts owed by J. Wooldridge as by him stated. Groat Wooldridge we also know to be poor & very infirm -
Attest May 3. 1829
John Prince } Selectmen Dan Weed } of John Gears } Marblehead J. Spearhawk B. Knight

To the Hon. John C. Calhoun Esq. Secretary of War.
The undersigned, Selectmen of Marblehead in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in behalf of their friend and unfortunate fellow townsman John Woolridge most respectfully beg leave to represent, that we have long been acquainted with him, we know him to be an honest, industrious but unfortunate man. Unfortunate in regard to his family, in consequence of having a widowed daughter cast upon him for support, together with her child a young lad about nine years old. His wife as well as himself we know to be infirm and incapable of labouring for support.
We have examined the annexed statement made by himself of his present situation and property and believe it to be strictly and literally true. The depreciation of real estate is and has been greater in Marblehead perhaps, than in any other town in the Union. Owing to the present distressed state of commerce and the uncommonly ill success in the Fisheries for several years past the people of Marblehead are almost reduced to a state of starvation. In part if Mr. Woolridge's services in the Revolutionary War were sufficient (of which we have no doubt) to entitle him to a Pension, and if honest poverty be a qualification we know of no man better entitled to the notice and assistance of his Country than Mr. John Woolridge.
Mar. Dec. 5. 1827
John Prine Dan Weed J. Sparhawk John Harris Benja. Knight Selectmen of Marblehead

We the Undersigned citizens of Marblehead in the County of Essex hereby certify that we have been long personally acquainted with Mr. John Woodbridge of this Town, and most cheerfully subscribe our names in testimony of his being a man of good moral character, and from his reduced circumstances in life as a meritorious subject for the attention & assistance of his country. We do know that he has not property sufficient for the support of himself & family, and that owing to the infirmities of age is incapable of earning anything like a comfortable subsistence. We do therefore most cordially recommend him as we truly believe him to be, one whose claims on account of Revolutionary services, & his reduced situation in life, a most deserving subject & Pensioner -
Attest Dec r 7. 1820
Nathl. Hooper
W m Hooper
William Reed
Isaac Story
Joseph Wilson Collector
Robert Hooper
John Hooper
Reuben French

A statement of myself & family at Present myself very infirm not able to do at half a mans labour nor have not ben this three years past my wife afflicted with St Antonisfire and other infirm ties two daughters not able to go out to work for their living but do some work at shoe binding one widow daughter goes out to work for her living but through weakness is obliged to come home to geather through one boy her Chld 9 years old. my house & property vallued by the assessors at a very high rate at about 530$ the debts that I owed I Permissively gave to them I was fure not to enlarge but donte no exactly to what amount but by examining them find the small debts to amount to 344.91 ct adding their to every day for support to add to which is note given in 1811 for 232$ which I neglected to mention when the inventory was made out by the assessors & rendered to the Judge as will appear by the dockements sent forward to the government my house out of repair and but little of any necessaries of life for my family to subsist upon Gentlemen this is the situation of your humble servant Marblehead Decem r 5-1820 John Woolridge
PS When my house was appraised by the assessors as per Inventory they appraised it as they did when they took the valuation of Estates in town some years past for the purpose of assessing taxes. it is now supposed not to be worth one half of what I owe. & I expect to be obliged shortly to sell the same John Woolridge

ADDITIONAL
PROOF.
I, John Melzard of Essex in the County of ESSEX, in the COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHU- SETTS, habeamus do on solemn oath testify and depose, as follows:—
That John Woodbridge , who subscribed the annexed Declaration, after having served as a Soldier in the American Revolutionary War from May to December 1775 in Col. John Glover's Regt, on the first of January 1776 enlisted again in Capt Francis Symonds Company in Col. Hitchcock's Regt. of the Rhode Island Line upon the Continental Establishment and marched to New- York. That he was in the Battle at Princeton & Long Island, and that he continued in the service until the month of February 1777 and was honorably near Morris Town. I was with him & knows that his declaration is true. John Melzard
Essex J. June 23 d 1814. Then John Melzard personally subscribed and made solemn oath to the above written affidavit, before me Ralph W. French J. Dist. Clerk

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
I, SAMUEL PUTNAM, a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid, hereby certify, that the aforesnamed Deponents, John Melzard & Philip Fisher
are credible and disinterested witnesses; and that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Declarant served in the Revolutionary Army on the continental establishment against the common enemy more than nine months at one period of continued service; and I further certify, that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Declarant is in reduced circumstances in life, and stands in need of assistance from his country for support.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Court this 30 th day of June Anno Domini 1818.
S. Putnam Just S. J. Court of Mass s }
I, Ichabod Tucker , Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court aforesaid, do certify, that the Hon. Samuel Putnam is a Judge of said Court, that the above is his signature, that the seal affixed is the seal of said Court, that the within named Ralph H. French Esq. who has certified the aforewritten depositions, is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Essex, duly empowered and qualified to administer oaths.
Ichabod Tucker Clerk.

34 564 Rev INVALID.
File No. 34,564
John Woolridge Rev Rev
Act: 16 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 163
[Arrangement of 1870.]