Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8,785, for James Keniston, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental Mass. N.K.
Keniston James Kemiston
S. 8785
CONTENTS
carded

Ohio 29.865
James Keniston
Hamilton Co. in the State of Ohio
was a Private in the company commanded Captain Kinnman of the Regt. commanded Col. Stark in the N. Hampshire for 2 years
N.H. Continental: James Keniston Oct. 31, 1907 Records corrected
scribed on the Roll of Ohio the rate of 80 Dollars ————— Cents per ann commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 th day of March 1835 and sent to Thos J. Henderson Cincinnati, Ohio
  Arrears to the 14th of March '35.  320.00    For ann. allowance ending 1 st Sep. '35.  40.00     $360.00  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, Book E-2 - Vol. 8 Page 33

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832 The State of Ohio Hamilton County } ss
On this twentieth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Honourable the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County now sitting James Keniston a resident of Hamilton County in the State aforesaid aged seventy six years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath 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 Captain Aaron Kineman First Dearborn Ensign the name of his first he does not recollect his Col d was John Starks (afterwards Genl Starks) at the Town of Rye Rockingham County Winterhill New Hampshire and marched from thence to Winter Hill near Boston where they were engaged in building fortifications and remained there until dischar- ged having served eight months this was in the year 1775 and again entered the service in the spring of 1776 at the town of Rye in the County of Rockingham and State of Newham- shire aforesaid under the following named officers the names of his other Captain Joseph Parsons the names of his other officers he does not recollect; and where marched to Pikeskill on the Hudson River New York where they remained six months and were discharged & returned home. He then entered the service in the Massachusetts line in the town aforesaid under Captain Stephen Jenkins and marched to West Point where they were engaged in com- pleting the fortifications at that place and after

having served six months was discharged and returned home. And again entered the service soon after his return for six months under Captain Robison of the New Hampshire militia and was marched to White Plains where his company was detached from the company regiment to which it had been attached (the Col's name he does not recollect) and sent to Fishkill where they were employed in various scouting parties against the Tories. one hundred and sixty of whom his company took and confined in a large stone Church - in the said Village of Fishkill and guarded them from thence to Exeter N. H. and there lodged a part of them in jail and marched the rest to Portsmouth and Dover. jails and then returned home and was discharged.
And again near the close of the year 1777 or the beginning of 1778 He enlisted in the Continental service under the command of Captain William Rowel with Ensign Hoyt and transferred to said Captain Rowel's Regiment Company 60 th Dames Regiment and joined the Army at Howlands ferry above Albany where they soon met the enemy and drove them back near Still water where they surrounded them and took them being under the command of Genl Gates. After being absent about a year in the service he returned home during their enlistment he was in the Battle of Bennington and soon after his return home (his health having much improved) He again entered the service under Captain Joseph Parsons and marched to Rhode Island to prevent the British (who had possession of New Port Island from loosing it) to plunder on the mainland where they made several attempts to dislodge them from the Island but were driven back and remained in the neighborhood until discharged having served six months .

that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn & subscribed the day 27 th of
James Harrison
In the case of James Harrison I can state that the said Harrison has resided in the neighborhood for about two years during that time he has been considered an industrious honest man and his veracity I never have known questioned and believe him to be a man of truth but his military services I know nothing.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20 th Aug 1832
E Brown
David Fann Clerk
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 applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certify that William Carey and Christopher ... who has signed the preceding certificate are residents of the County and State aforesaid are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of James Harrison for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have

that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn & subscribed the day 27 th of
James Keniston H. an. Sams Clerk P.T.
We the undersigned residing in the County & State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Keniston who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy six 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 believe in that fact.
Sworn & subscribed the day 27 th of
H. an. Sams Clerk P.T. William Cary Christopher Cary
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 applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that William Cary and Christopher Cary who has signed the preceding certificate are residents of the County and State aforesaid are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. H. an. Sams Clerk P.T. of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County.
We hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of James Keniston for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have

hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of our said Court & of my office at Ancon = note this 21 st of August 1878.
John A. Davis
Acting
11876

8785 INVALID.
File No. 8785
James Keniston Prior Civil War
Act: June 1 st 1832
Index: Vol. 1st, Page 202
[Arrangement of 1870.]
James Keniston Records corrected. Oct. 21, 1904

Cincinnati Nov 19 th 1824
Sir I herewith again enclose you the application of James Kenniston for a pension - which was returned for further Testimony - to procure which I have written to Nathl White Esq r of South Deerfield New Hampshire - who has replied and informed me that he has procured the depositions of Richard Webster Mark Randall and Jeremiah Brown - which he promised to enclose to you direct - with this addition - I think the evidence sufficiently strong - (if the case was murder) to hang the Respondent -
I Remain with great Respect your O bt Serv t
J S Edwards Esq r Thomas J. Henderson

South Deerfield } D.R. Feb 28 th } Dear Friend
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
(Faint mirrored text from the reverse side of the page)

(South) Deerfield N.H.
Feb 24. 1835
My Dear Sir
Enclosed I send you four Affidavits taken for James Keniston formerly of this place, but now of Ohio, who is I learn applying for a pension
Thomas J. Henderson Esq of Cincinnati requested me to procure the same and either forward them to him or your Office
Your Obt Servant Nath l White
J. L. Edwards Esquire Commissioner of Pensions
P.S. I have delayed for some time forwarding the enclosed expecting one more Affidavit from Newburyport Mass. & another from Canaan in this State, but they have not been rec d .

South Deerfield 1884 Dec 26 th 25 1/4
Jan 7. 5.1884 addl. evidence for James Garrison Ohio.
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commisioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

(South) Deerfield N.H. Dec 25. 1833
Dear Sir
Some time since I rec d a letter from James Keniston (who once resided in this place but now in the State of Ohio) requesting me to take the affidavits of several persons who was out with him in the service of the U.S. during the Revolutionary War - The persons he named are all dead but two - one of which resides 30 miles from me & the other in this town whose Affidavit I herewith enclose - The Deponent informs me of several others who are now living & could probably testify to the same he has, should it be necessary - and should it be necessary I would procure the affidavit of the other witness Rich d Webster who is 30 miles hence -
Mr Keniston requested me to forward the Affidavits to him - but fearing some delay & Expense in sending to you via Ohio I send to you direct & shall write him
I am Sir very respectfully Your Ob t . Servant
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Nath l White

James Keniston
Affidavits of Richard Webster & als
in Parsons Co
Sentem Re 31777. 4 mi 6 dgs
in Leekins Co
Porr Re 34778 - 8 mi
in Rhinns Co
Tade Re 31776 - 4 mi
16 mi 6 dgs
See Startus Re
in 1775
no rds nor
eviden
} 8 24 mi

I Richard Webster of Rye in the County of Rockingham make oath and say that I well knew James Keniston formerly of said Rye who moved from Rye to Deerfield in said County said Keniston enlisted into the Revolutionary service against Great Britain September 1776 and served with me under Capt Jon m Robinson of Atham & Col. Fisher that head quarters were at Fish Kill and that he was discharged the 27 of November following. That he the said Keniston enlisted the last of June or the first of July 1777 and served six months with me under Capt m Joseph Parsons late of said Rye & Col. Senter & that head quarters were at Warwick in the state of Rhode Island.
Rich d Webster
State of New Hampshire Rockingham County ss
August 14 th 1834
The above named Richard Webster personally appeared and subscribed and made oath that the above affidavits in his belief is true
Before me
John W Parsons Justice of the Peace & Quorum
State of New Hampshire ss Rockingham County ss
I Peter Chadwick Clerk of the
Superior Court of Judicature for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that John W Parsons above named was on the 14 th day of August 1834 a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and that his signatures to this and the annexed affidavits are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this nineteenth day of September Anno Domini 1834
P Chadwick Clerk of said Court
The words "I believe" in his handwriting by me
P Chadwick Clerk

I Michael Dutton of Ryeb in the County of Rockingham make Oath and say that James Keniston formerly of Ryeb in said County upwards of two months in the fall of 1776 he served with me in the Revolutionary Service under Capt Jona thn Robinson of Stratham in said County — & Col Tash and that head quarters were at Fish Kill — Michael Dutton
State of New Hampshire } Rockingham County ss }
The above named Michael Dutton personally ap- peared August 15 th 1834 subscribed and made oath that the above affidavit is in his belief true
Before me John W Parsons Justice of the Peace & Quorum

I Mark Randall testify and say that I well knew James Keniston who formerly lived in Ryse in New Hampshire & afterwards moved to Deerfield in said State that said Keniston was out in the Revolutionary War in 1778 and served eight or nine months with me under Capt Stephen Jenkins of Newburyport in Col Thomas Poor's Regiment of Massachusetts on the Continental Establishment and that head Quarters was at West Point in the State of New York Mark Randall
State of New Hampshire
Rockingham ss
The above named Mark Randall personally appeared September 6 th 1834 subscribed and made oath that the above affidavit is in his belief true
Before me
John W Parsons Justice of the Peace & Quorum

I Jeremiah Brown of Northampton in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire make oath and say that James Keniston of Rye and from said Rye moved to Deerfield in said County was out in the Revolutionary service with me six months in 1777 under Capt Joseph Parsons 6th Sentinels Regt. N. H. line head quarters at Warwick in the State of Rhode Island Jeremiah Brown
State of New Hampshire } Rockingham County ss } August 15 th 1834 Then personally appeared the above named Jeremiah Brown subscribed and made solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed too is in his belief true
Before me
John W. Parsons Justice Peace & Quorum

I Ezekiel Knowles of Deerfield in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire testify and say that I was a Soldier in the Army of the Revolution - that I was well acquainted with James Keniston who lived in this town for many years and left here about twenty five years since - said Keniston was with me in the Mass. line and in the same Company under Capt Stephen Jenkins then of Newbury - Part our Head Quarters was at West Point N. York. The year we served there was the same year of the Monmouth Battle - I think said Keniston served at that time eight and nine months - I further testify that I served under Capt Joseph Pearsons at Rhode Island in the year 1777 that the above named James Keniston served with me in the same Company, our term of service; I think at that time was for six months -
Ezekiel Knowles
State of New Hampshire Rockingham ss December 12. 1833 Personally appeared the above named Ezekiel Knowles and having subscribed the foregoing Affidavit made solemn oath that the same is just and true - Before me Nathl White Jus. Peace

State New Hampshire
Rockingham
I Peter Chadwick clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the county of Rockingham do hereby certify that Nathaniel White Esquire before whom the within affidavit was sworn is a justice of the Peace within and for said county of Rockingham and that his signature to the certificate thereof is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this twenty third day of December AD 1833
Peter Chadwick Clerk of the Court Rockingham County
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original document.]

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Keniston, James GRADE Private LINE New Hampshire
WARRANT NUMBER 3261 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED July 21, 1789 to Ladd and Cass
*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.