Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 13930, for Silas Stearns, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Stearns, Silas Lydia
No. 13930.
CONTENTS

- Massachusetts 2,251.
Lydia Stearns widow of Silas Stearns, deceased, who died on the in August 1806, of Middlesex County the State of Massachusetts, who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Fuller, of the regiment commanded by Col. Gardner in the Massachusetts line for 8 months, private.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of August 1838, and sent to R. Baldwin, Esqr. Boston, Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1838, $ 186.62 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Septm. 13.33
$ 199.95
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 d . }
Recorded by G. J. Rhodes Clerk Book A Vol. 2, Page 59.

V 2523- Lydia Stearns - Mas.
Widow of Silas Stearns. due
comd Imo per $26. 66/100
no deduction
R. Baldwin Esq. Boston Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Middlesex County ss } On this Seventeenth
day of August, in the year of Our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty seven. Personally appeared before the Hon Samuel P. Pay, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Middlesex in Said Commonwealth Lydia Stearns a resident of West- on in Said County and Commonwealth Aged Eighty- Eight years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on her Oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4. 1836, That She is the Widow of Silas Stearns late of Weston dec. That Said Silas Stearns her late Husband served as a Private Soldier in the War of the Revolution, first eight months in the year 1775 under Capt Nathan Fuller of Col Gardners Reg t at Cambridge and again in the year 1776, Nine or twelve months under Said Nathan Fuller, who was then a Major. this last mentioned Service was at Ticonderoga in the State of New York, and in 1778, he Said Silas Stearns served three months at Winter Hill in Charlestown under Capt of Col Reg t , and was engaged in Guarding the British Prisoners at that place, taken with Gen t Burgoyne.
She further declares that She was Married to the Said Silas Stearns at Newton on the tenth day of June in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy two, and That her Husband the aforesaid Silas Stearns died on the day of August, in the year Eighteen hundred Six and that She has remained a Widow ever since that

period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereat annexed, -
her Lydia Stearns
Subscribed & sworn to at the poor-house in Weston, by said Lydia Stearns, she being too infirm from age to attend court before me
J. C. P. Fay Judge of Probate for County of Middlesex
I Abel Pierce of Weston in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being duly sworn do on Oath testify and declare That I am over Eighty years of Age. And that I was a Soldier in the War of the Revolution and am a pensioner of the United States under the Act of March 18. 1818. I knew Silas Stearnes of Weston, He was an eight months Man in the year 1775 and as well as myself was in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Said Stearnes served as a private in Capt Nathan Fullers Comp y . of Col Gardners Reg t . of Mass ts Troops, after that Battle I frequently saw said Stearnes Stationed at Cambridge in the Vicinity of Boston who continu- ed in Service until after the British evacuated that Town, in the Spring of the year 1776. - when Said Stearnes again Re-enlisted according to the best of my Recollection for one year and marched to the State of New York, I saw Said Silas Stearnes during the Summer of the year 1776 at Ticonderoga in that State and He was in the Reg t in which the above named Capt Nathan Fuller was Major but I cannot now remember the number of

the Reg t , as I did not serve in the same Reg t with him, I always understood that Said Silas Stearnes performed other Tours of Service but I have no personal knowledge of the fact being myself attached to the first Mass tts Reg t Col Joseph Vose, in which Reg t I served until the close of the War. The aforesaid Silas Stearnes died in the Poor House at Weston before the passage of the pension Act of March 18, 1818. And Lydia Stearnes his Widow, who is now living and an inmate of Said Poor House and has not married since the death of her late Husband, Said Silas Stearnes.
Middlesex ss August 10 th 1837 Then personally appeared the above named Abel Pierce & Abel Pierce made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed & who is a credible Witness Before me W m Garrison Justice of the Peace
I Oliver Woods of Weston in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being sworn do on Oath testify and say. That I am forty one years of Age, That I am keeper of the Poor House in Said Weston and have been engaged in that occupation for four years last past. Lydia Stearnes the Widow of Silas Stearnes was an inmate of Said Poor House when I took charge of it and has been ever since and is at the present time. Said Lydia Stearnes is an aged Widow, Woman of eighty eight years of age according to the Record of Said Poor House, I never had any acquaintance with Silas Stearnes the late Husband of Said Lydia, but it is commonly reported and believed that he died in this Town about thirty years since and Said Lydia his Widow has not married since his death.
Oliver Woods
Middlesex ss: Aug. 17 th 1837. Personally appeared the above named Oliver Woods, who is a respectable credible person Amade oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed Before me J. P. Fay J.P.

Wadsworth Co. Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I Isaac Dike Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereby certify that Leonard P. May S q . is the Judge of said Court & that his signatures written on the paper hereto annexed are his genuine signatures. — I also certify that Ebenezer Cheney whose own proper signature is written on this paper, is a justice of the Peace within & for said County, duly commissioned & qualified.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this twenty first day of August in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred & thirty seven
Isaac Dike Reg

On the Records of the Town of Newton I find as follows. "The following Marriages
were consummated by Thomas Greenwood Justice of the Peace." Among others are found the following — "1772. June 10 th Silas Stearns and Lydia Follen both of Weston were joined in Marriage."
Newton 11 th August 1837. This may certify that the above quotations are a correct copy from the Records of said Town. —
Attest E. F. Woodward Town Clerk.
Middlesex ss. — Newton 11 th Aug. 1837. Then personally appeared the above named E. F. Woodward & made Oath that the above Certificate by him submitted was just & true — before me Eben. Cheney Justice of the Peace.

Marriage Certificate of Silas & Lydia Stearns
Wesley D. Johnson Esq. No. 41 Court St. New Bedford. Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Middlesex County. Town of Newton. Town Clerk's Office. January 15 th 1838.
I hereby certify that it appears from from the Records of the Town of Newton relat- -ing to Marriages solemnized by Thomas Greenwood Justice of the Peace, that on the tenth day of June One thousand seven hundred & seventy -two Silas Stearns and Lydia Fuller both of Weston were joined in Marriage; that the following is a true copy of the Records, the date being expressed in fair legible Figures as follows Viz-
"1772. June 10 th Silas Stearns and Lydia Fuller both of Weston were joined in Marriage."
Elijah F. Woodward
I Elijah F. Woodward above named depose and say that I hold the Office of Town Clerk in the Town of Newton, County & State aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Town, as certified by me.
Suffolk ss Boston 16 Jan. 2. 1838
Sworn before me Geo. W. Coffin Justice of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Peace.
Suffolk ss
I, Thomas W. Phillips Clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston hereby certify that George W. Coffin Esquire, is a Justice of the Peace in the County of Suffolk & that the signature, on this sheet purporting to be his, is true is his genuine Signature. Witness my hand & the Seal of said Court unto set this Eighteenth of January A.D. Eighteen hundred & thirty eight. Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk.

Stearns.
Aug 9.
Inat
Map
James L. Edwards Esq. Govt of Louisiana Washington

Boston Massachusetts August 5th 1838
Sir
In the case of Mrs Lydia Stearns, widow of Silas Stearns referred to in your letter dated November 9, 1837 and March 16, 1838 (mentioned with others) in the latter of which her claim is admitted for 8 months Service which I presume was the Service in Gardner's Reg't in 1778, — From recent traditional information I learn that said Silas Stearns enlisted for three months in 1776 under Capt John Tilton of Sudbury, Matthew Hobbs of Weston S ir the names of soldiers who served with him are also given as follows viz — Samuel Murdock of Newton, Jonas Pease of East Sudbury, Benjamin Rand of Weston. This Service was performed at Tyconderoga in State of New York, as names are here particularly stated it may be a guide to further investigation, the three months of alleged Service was probably in the latter part of 1777 or commencement of 1778 in Col Jacob Gerrish's Reg t  at Weymouth but the Capt is not known
Be pleased to give this case another investigation, and forward her Certificate at all events for whatever Service may be admitted as the Old Lady is very important
I am Very Respectfully Sir Your Obs t
J L Edwards Esq Reuben Baldwin Com d officers Washington

Lydia Stearns Massachusetts
Suspended
See letter 9 th Nov 1837 R. Baldwin. do. 16 March 1838

Widow of Silas Stearns.
No roll of Capt Nathan Fuller Col Gards reg altho there is evidence of his having been a Capt in P. Regt in 1775
The Captain rose in 1776 should be stated
The Capt in 1778 should be stated

Mass
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 13930
Lydia Stearns Widow of Silas Stearns Pri Rev War
Act: July 4 th 86
Index:—Vol. M , Page 244
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Stearns, Stephen GRADE Private LINE Massachusetts
WARRANT NUMBER 5074 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Feb. 29, 1792 to Moses Beard
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.