Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 5898, for Joseph Annis Keys, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Keys, Joseph Annis or Keyes Eleanor
R 5898
CONTENTS

Declaration - Law of 7 th July 1838
State of New York
County of Erie
Erie County Court Oct Term 1847 personally appeared
Asa S. Brown Patton of said county, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in behalf of the children of Eleanor Keyes deceased, late of said county & widow of Joseph or Joseph A. Keyes, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 7 1838 entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" That the said late widow Eleanor Keyes the said late widow of the said late Joseph Keyes, late a soldier in the war of the Revolution & a resident of Bolton Worcester County Massachusetts, that the said Joseph Keyes is supposed to have served from four to seven years in the war of the Revolution, but having died before the passage of a Revolutionary pension law, the name of the officer under whom he served cannot be named that the said widow Eleanor Keyes was married to the said Joseph Keyes, or as he was some times called Joseph Annis Keyes in Leicester, Sullivan County New Hampshire in 1786 Seventeen hundred and eighty six & that the said Joseph Keyes died in 1815 leaving his widow the said Eleanor Keyes, who remained his widow till her  died a widow  death , & that she died on the 13 th day of January 1842 eighteen hundred and forty two, leaving at her death the following named children her surviving, being her only children her surviving & that each of them is over the age of twenty one years, Towit, Permelia Hyde & Sally Shields of Allegany County New York, Elizabeth Baker of Erie County New York, Joseph A. Keyes & Elsie W. Keyes of Michigan, Daniel W. Keyes & Polly Skinner of the State of Ohio -
Subscribed & sworn before the Court at the date above mentioned
Asa S. Brown
McWhorter C.M. of Erie County and of the County Courts thereof

Certificate of the Court
State of New York
Erie County I Buffalo this 8 day of October 1847 The Court hereby certify that the person within named. Brown  Baker , who made the within declaration is a respectable person, & that satisfactory proof was adduced before the court, to satisfy the court that Eleanor Keys, (a widow of Joseph Keys, died in said county of Erie in January 1842 eighteen hundred & forty two, and that she died a widow, leaving at her death the following named children her surviving, being her only children her surviving & that each of them is over the age of twenty one years to wit - Pamelia Hyde and Sally Shields of Allegany County New York - Elizabeth Baker of said county of Erie, Joseph A Keys & Jesse W Keys of Michigan, Daniel W Keys & Polly Skinner of the State of Ohio, the proof that was satisfactory to the court, was the declaration of Asa L. Brown Baker the attached affidavit of Elizabeth Baker & of Doctor George Sweetland
Moses Bristol Clerk of said Court
State of New York
Erie County Clerk's Office I Moses Bristol Clerk of said County, and of the County Court thereof, certify that the within affidavit of Elizabeth Baker and George Sweetland was taken before me at the time of taking said affidavit a justice of the peace for said County duly authorized to take the same and further that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of said Justice and truly believe that his signature to the said affidavit is genuine and further that a copy of said affidavit before Frederick P. Stevens the County Judge of said County on the 8 day of October 1847 and subscribed to the same and was duly sworn by said Justice as to its truth In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this 20 day of October 1847
M. Bristol Clerk of the said County of the Court thereof

State of New York County of Erie - I ss Elizabeth Baker, whom I hereby certify to be a highly respectable person, after being duly sworn according to law, depose & say that she is of fifty seven years of age & upwards, that she is the second child now living of her late mother, Eleanor Keys, (the widow of Joseph Keys, that this deponent's father the said Joseph Keys had the reputation of having been a Revolutionary Soldier & that he died in 1815 leaving his widow, the said Eleanor Keys this deponent's mother, and who remained  was a widow at  at her death and that she died on the 10th day of January 1842 eighteen hundred and forty two in said County of Erie, and that at her death she left the following named children her surviving, being her only children her surviving & that each of them is of the age of over twenty one years, to wit - Fennelia Hyde, & Sally Shields of Allegany County New York, Elizabeth Baker of Erie County New York, Joseph A Keys, Jesse W Keys of Michigan & Daniel W Keys & Polly Skinner of Ohio  Subscribed & sworn before me } this 9th day of October 1847 } M. D. Minslow J. P.  Elizabeth X Baker mark
State of New York County of Erie I ss Jack George Sweetland, whom I certify to be a highly respectable person, after being duly sworn according to law, depose & say, that he attended widow Eleanor Keys in her last sickness as her Physician, and that he finds from memorandums made at that time, that she died in January 1842 eighteen hundred and forty two, that the said Eleanor Keys was the reputed widow of Joseph Keys, and that at her death (and she died a widow) she left the following named children, being her only children her surviving to wit - Sally Shields, Fennelia Hyde, Elizabeth Baker, Joseph A, Jesse W & Daniel W Keys, & Polly Skinner  Subscribed & sworn before me } this 5th day of October 1847 } M. D. Minslow Justice of the Peace  Geo Sweetland

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
5898
P. O. Leonard Keyes Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

No 1349p
Eleanor Keyes dead No
Let to Wm. N. H. Keall April 15 th 18.
Let to Mrs. Elizabeth Barker April 25 th 1849. to sum 30 th August 1849
act 7 July 1858

Set out H. Baker 31 March 1834
5898

✓ A. D. Baker Evans Erie Co. N.Y. 20. Mch. 1854
Ingenius as to the unidied by Mr. Rop. and Alty, who is transcribing a Revision Claim for Belsey & Baker
Respectfully referred to The Comm. of Pensions
Dept. Int. Mar. 27/54 } for resolution
Chas. A. Allen

13498 Nov 2 47 Eleanor Hays as mother of Joseph 1838
Hon J. L. Edwards Com. of Pensions Washington D.C.

Quid Och 28. 47
Sir
I inclose application of Clearwater the papers will tell for themselves, if all is not right, I don't know it, I wish to be right, & I wish a pension, only upon condition one is honestly due, your rolls may furnish more service
Respectfully Yours W. L. Scrub Trad. Eng.
Ward L. Edwards Comd. & Purser Washington D.C.

N 13492 Eleanor Keyes, dau mo of Joseph NY act 7 July 1838

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston:
Oct 26 1846.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Joseph Keyes is found upon a List of Men in Capt Jonathan Houghton's Company, as a private. No Service named. Said List is dated, August 9. 1776.
Upon another List of Men who engaged to serve till the 1 st of December 1776, and to march to New York. Said List dated June 1776.
The name of Joseph Ames Keyes not found.
The above is all the evidence of service of any one of the name shown by the Military Records in this Office.

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Perry,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his office, of the service of my husband, Joseph Annes Keyes - in the war of the Revolution.
He enlisted from the town of Bolton in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts in the year 1775 as a in the company commanded by Captain in
Regiment and he served as follows. by: - Cannot name his officers, but it is believed he served through the war, was at West Point in Fort Put, when Genl. Arnold absconded, he saw him start to - probably served 4 to 7 years was at Valley Forge with the Army -
I am now _____ years old, and my memory does not enable me to state my husband's services more fully than above stated. Witness my hand, this 9th day of September A.D. 1846 -
Signed by said agent in my presence Mrs. Foster Mother } Saml. E. Babb By Arad Loy Agent
I certify that from papers exhibited before me, it appears that the said Arad Loy is the appointed agent Mrs. Foster Mother

House of Representatives Washington Mar 27 th 1848
Sir,
I have been requested to inquire whether the pension application of Eleanor Keys under the law of 1838 as widow of Joseph Keys has been decided & how? The app n is from my district (Erie Co N.Y.) and I am informed that the papers were forwarded on the 28 th Oct last.
I am also desirous of knowing whether the papers of inferior widows can be taken before any officer, other than a judge, when they are distant from the residence of a judge and are too feeble to be taken before him? Our new constitution gives as but one County judge (instead of five) to a county, and if they must in all cases be sworn before a judge it will in some cases prevent deserving widows from obtaining the benefits of the laws passed in their favour.
I am Very Resp y
Your res. Ob t Serv t E. P. Hall
J. L. Edwards Esq r Comm of Pensions }

Respectfully referred to the Dept of the Interior Wardlaw March 24/84
Encl P. Schott 27 March 1884

1854 Evans, Erie Co. Pa., March 20 th
To the Washington War Department Sir. I wish to make inquiry concerning a gentleman by the name of Richd. Ross an Atty. if he is in Washington or some other place Please let me know as soon as you get this if he is in W
You in haste Respectfully
A. D. Baker
The gentleman of inquiry is pro- secuting a pension for Betsey E. Baker an heir of Jo. A. Keyes a Revolutionary Soldier and I have written to him 3 or 4 times and not get any ans
Direct to A. D. Baker town, (Evans Centre) Co., , , Erie Co. state, , , N. Y.
(N.B.)
the name is Richd. Ross. atty
Please write immediately and oblige yours
A. D. Baker

Paid 10
W th Washington War Department D.C.
Maryland Collins N.Y. Feb'y 2
Trans N.Y. Febr. '49 Elizabeth Baker
Long. about class of the die. Work for a pension.
218. See Febr. '49 Pension office
Wm. -

Evans Feb 1 st 1849.
Chiefs
I one of the heir of Joseph A. Keyes wish to make some inquiry concerning a pension that has been sought for by Brad Joy, of Ovid, Seneca County. He took the business into his hands to investigate in April of 1846. He encouraged us very much our father died Jan 1845 our mother died 1842 she was blind for the last thirteen years she spent her last days with me my brothers and my sisters all being scattered abroad they put the business into my hands.
Joy said in 1847 each of us must be individually bound that he should hold in his hands one third of all that he could obtain in our favor and the remainder to be paid to me to divide among ourselves (the seven children) which they all did according to his request and in Oct. he sent a petition to be and was signed by me in the presence of M. D. Winslow esq. Dr George Sweetland signed in the presence of Peter Barker esq all of Evans also by Asahel Brown who forwarded it to Buffalo for further assignment the said Joy said this petition was to go to Washington.
Joy said not long ago that he could not help us that it had abandoned case and we think there has been some mistake among so many agents.

Please to peruse this and unspett This wittner then has been any thing goanta in our favor
if you write me pleas to write soon
date to Evans,
Erie County, New York
I hope this will be aswrd
Elizabeth Baker

✓ Aug 27/49 (Aug. 17/49)
Elizabeth Baker
Seeks a pension for the Revolutionary service of her father.
M. Ames answered this by X 29 Aug
Ref. of Com. of Pensions Dep't of the Interior Aug 28/49.
Wachary Taylor The President
E. Evans Aug 19/49

Evans August 12th 1842 12 42
Sir I wish to communicate a little to you as a Second Washington my Father looked to him for advice and obeyed his orders in the Revolutionary war I am about to look to you for advice I am a poor widowed Dependant and Daughter of my own and she is also a widow with three little children and she needs a support then and assisted me all that she can my Father was a soldier in the Revolution war he was was in the American service between six and seven years he was in the Battle at Bunkerhill and he was with Arnold at Lake Champlain he was present with Arnold at West Point at the time that Andre was taken. He has often told us about his sufferings at Burlington Bay and at Lake Champlain he has showed us the place where he helped to build the causeway to bring their baggage across he has showed us the remains of the old Fort at the head of the Lake he left Vermont State in the year Eighteen hundred twelve he moved to Galen Seneca Co NY in New York State in Eighteen fourteen he had two Sons I wished to come to Buffalo they came and we left D arker and they went to Erie the eldest died there and in in garrison. I suppose my Father died and left my Mother with four children under age a poor widow and has since for she had no home of her own and she had to break up house keeping her eldest son was a man and eldest daughters were married and she left with around then children about thirteen years before her death she became blind with inflammation in her eyes she spent the last of her her days in Evans here with me she died in January Forty two in the Eightyfirst year of her age we thought of trying to get our Father's pension for her but we was so poor and all of his papers papers being lost by her going from place to place to live that we despaired of trying three years ago  three years ago heard of one man who said he said that he had got pensions for the Descendants of the revolutionaries every year we sent him what evidence we could get and he thought that he could get us a

pension he then sent us an article which he said we must all individually sign - binding us that he should have in his possession one third of all that he could get and I employed a man to go and my two sisters and three brothers which cost about forty dollars my friends living so far from me and from each other it was very difficult writing and get a correct answer and they all individually signed to allow me one third of all that he could get and the rest was to be sent to me to be divided as we were were disposed among ourselves. I had the last care of my Mother after I returned the article with those agreements to Mr. Goy he then sent me another package of papers to be signed by me and other individuals in the presents of a justice he said to be sent to Washington and after a month he sent me word that there could not be any thing got in our favor but he still holds our papers in in February I wrote to the War Department at Washington to see if there could not be something done in our favor and they said that they could not find quite six months services and I thought that rather hard for I think that he was in the service more than six years and as there was no hope of a pension at that time I don't think that there was any thing to induce a christian Father to tell his children about his hardships only the remembrance and the reality of the revolution my Father's name was Joseph A. Keyes and he had a one brother that enlisted in the revolution and he died in the service his name was Christopher Keyes. Mr. Taylor Sir if you the will please look to this business and see if there can be any thing done in a legal way that will assist in our getting a for pension you will confer a great favor on one that is Sincerely poor and needy that is in regard to myself and I have one sister that is a widow as well as myself she is poor and without a home it is poverty and sickness compels me to make this request and if you think this unreasonable please to excuse and pardon me for troubling you with this letter but if you wish to write to me on this subject any

advice from you
would be gladly received and in regard to getting a pension I consider it our just due and we believe that our Father was a faithful soldier as we believe that the records would show if they could be found! if you wish to answer this please direct to me
Betsy Elizabeth Baker Evans Center Essex Co N.Y.
this to Mrs. Zachary Taylor Washington
not