Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L.Wt. 67,565-160-55, for William Stewart, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Stewart, William
BL. Vt. 67, 565-160-55
Mary
War of 1812. CONTENTS
CONTENTS

215. 612.
- Act 3. Mar 7
Sept. 29 | 5 0
Mary Stewart wid- of William Stewart.
Thi, Paris  Heidelberg
Capt. M c Clelland
Dear Friend
Jan 26 th 1857 Paris
af
2 o Ser: Mar. of 1812 Deceased Capt. A. A. Phelps Col. Enos Root Ent. 7. Sep. 1814 Dis. 25 " "
Ent. 24, 1999 Sept. 10 th Ent. Enos 7000 Ent. 7. Sep. 1814 Dis. 4 Nov. 1999. Dis. 25 " "
of the Revolution
Rev. Dr. ...
AD: 160 acf June 23rd 1877
Spec! Blyth
to Mr. "Jr" Mea, 1257 Hooke
On St. Aspie 21 17 17 October
James W Crook.
Springfield Mass!
Vol. 2. =

State of Massachusetts  Hampshire County . ss.
We, John Mann Isaac Gibbs & Lofgren Crosby of Holland having been duly sworn, depose and say, that we well knew William Stewart who was reputed to have been a soldier of the Revolutionary War and who we knew to have been a Geometer at Boston in the war of 1812 and whose widow now applies for bounty land, — that we knew him for more than thirty years before his death, which occurred at Holland on or about the 21 st Feb. 1849 — that we know that he died at about that time because we the said Mann & Gibbs were in his last sickness, & attended his funeral & said Crosby knows that he died about six or seven years ago that we have known his said widow from his death to this time, that she has remained unmarried, and that we are disinterested.
John Mann & Isaac Gibbs
Subscribed, and duly sworn to before me, this twenty sixth day of September A. D. 1855
Amos W. Groves } Justice of the Peace.
It is hereby certified that satisfactory proof has been exhibited before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, by the affidavits of John Mann, Isaac Gibbs & Lofgren Crosby of the said county and state, who are personally known to me, who are entitled to credit, and who swear that they have no pecuniary interest in the result of the above application; that the said Mary Stewart who now applies for bounty land is the identical person, who represents herself to be the widow of the late William Stewart who was a private in the War of the Revolution and that the said William Stewart was also a Geometer in the War of 1812 declared by the United States against Great Britain & that the said William Stewart died at said Holland on or about the 21 st day of February A.D. 1849 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty sixth day of September A.D. 1855
Amos W. Groves Justice of the Peace.

State of Massachusetts County of Hampshire } ss. On this twenty-sixth day of September A.D. one thousand eight hundred & fifty five personally appeared before me a justice of the Peace in & for the County of Hampshire, & State of said, Mary Stewart aged ninety two years a resident of H Condor in the County of Hampshire (formerly the County of Hampshire) in the State of Massachusetts who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of William Stewart deceased who was a private in the War of the Rebellion; that her said husband volunteered or was drafted at said Condor on or about the first of September A.D. 1862 & immediately marched with many others from that & the neighboring towns in the old County of Hampshire to Concord for a term, as she understands was not to exceed three months, & joined or was attached to Capt. McEllond's company & served as private till about the first day of November A.D. 1862 when he was honorably discharged & that he continued in actual service in said War more than thirty days, & returned home.

and for proof of such service she refers to the evidence furnished her from the Records of the State Department in the Secretary's Office, Massachusetts, & hereto annexed.
She further declares that her said husband was in the service of the United States in the month of September A.D. 1814, in the War of 1812, declared by the United States against Great Britain & served as a seaman in transporting from said Gloucester to Boston, the baggage, provisions, rations & munitions of war for the use of the company of militia under command of Capt. A.N. Phelps in Col. Enos Foot's Regiment; that he continued, going & returning for the transporting of such baggage, provisions & munitions for the use of such company then called out by the United States & in actual service at Boston & that he continued in actual service in said War for a term extending fourteen days, to wit, from or about the 7 th day of September A.D. 1814 to or about the 25 th day of September A.D. 1814 - when he was honorably discharged from such service.

She further states that she was married to the said William Stewart in said Hlandford on the first day of January A. D. 1782. by the Rev. Aaron Crosby, a minister of the gospel in said town; that her name before said marriage was Mary Knox; that her said husband died at said Hlandford on the 28 th day of February A. D. 1849 and that she is now a widow.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land under the "Act approved March 3. 1855."
Mary Stewart
We John Mann and Harriet Stewart residents of Hlandford in the County of Hampden State of Massachusetts upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed & acknowledged by Mary Stewart in our presence; & that we believe from the appearance & statements of the applicant that she is the identical person she represents herself to be.
John Mann Harriet Stewart

The foregoing declaration & affidavits were sworn to & subscribed before me on the day & year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person who represents himself to be, & that I have no interest in this claim.
Jam M c Clusky Judge of the Penn-

215.612 1/2 ver Mar 33 329 Sept 33
Mary Stewart Died of William Stewart
Asst. McElland
Revolutionary War
1660
James M. Brooks Springfield Mass

PENSION OFFICE,
Oct 14 1856.
Sir:
Please report service from the rolls. as teamster in 1814.
Very respectfully,
C. H. Rhetts.
FOR COMMISSIONER.
Windsor
3 d and.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts } Hampshire County } ff
We Isaac Gibbs & Sagen Crosby, said Gibbs a private & said Crosby a sergeant & delegate of Capt. Phelps Company who were taken Boston in the militia of Massachusetts of Hampshire in the County & Commonwealth upon oath & say that we were well acquainted with the late William Stewart of said Hampshire whose widow now applies for bounty here on account of his services in the War of the Revolution as a private & in the War of 1812, as a Yeoman. To the latter service we can bear testimony as we saw him often going to & returning from Boston with his team & with loads of officers & soldiers baggage & munitions for the militia who were ordered to Boston in September A.D. 1814 - We know that he was employed by the officers of Capt. Phelps Company in Col. Ennis Gookes Regiment, stationed at Boston & vicinity & that he was paid for this service by order of said officers & by said Colonel & had a written free pass through all the Turnpike gates between Hampshire & Boston.

And we further state & depose that we have known the fact of said Stewart's being a Teamster & transporting stores & baggage for for the militia & of his having received his pay in the same manner as our militia were paid in the first instance, by the Commonwealth; we saw him on the road in such service & know that he was over fourteen days in the same. We also certify & depose that the said Stewart has always been reputed to have served one campaign in the War of the Revolution Northern Army & was at the taking of Burgoyne & that immediately after the surrender of that officer with his army said Stewart & some of the soldiers from Haverford & this vicinity were discharged & returned home. We have often heard said Stewart, who was our neighbor, speak of this campaign; and we well remember that his friends & townsmen made enquiries in his behalf, many years ago, for a pension, but ascertained that his term of service would not entitle him to a Pension. Isaac Gibbs John Mann Logan Crosby

Hempstead Hf. On this 26 th day of September A.D. 1855 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for said County Isaac Gibbs, John Mann & Lason Crosby tenants of Hempstead in said Co. to me well known, subscribed & made oath to the affidavits forewent —
And I certify that to my knowledge the said Gibbs & Crosby are the certain persons who received warrants for bounty lands under the act of Congress passed Sept. 28. 1850. for services rendered in the war, in Capt. Phelps company as stated in the foregoing affidavits —
John M. Crooks, Justice of the Peace

Concord, N.H. of Massachusetts } ff New Hampshire County
I Elisha W. Shepard of Concord in the County & Commonwealth aforesaid do hereby certify, that I am town Clerk of said town duly chosen & qualified & that as such Clerk, I have in my custody, keeping & possession all the public Records & Record Books of said town; that among them are the Records of marriages; that among such Records of marriages is that of William Stewart & Mary Knox, both of said Concord; that their Intention of marriage was only entered in town Clerk's office August 1781 & that the record of their marriage is in the following words & figures, to wit —
" Rec d of marriage of William " Stewart & Mary Knox, " Jan y 1, 1782 — By Rev. Aaron Crosby and I the said town Clerk hereby certify that the same is a correct & true abstract from the Records of marriages solemnized in said town & none in my

proportion officially, as town clerk of the town of Blandford, as certified by me this 25 day of September A.D. 1855.
E. W. Shepard Town Clerk of Blandford
Hampden ss. Sept. 26. 1855 — Personally appeared E. W. Shepard above named & subscribed to the oath to the above affidavit
before me
J. Amos Brooks Justice of the Peace

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
HAMPDEN, ss.
I, George B. Morris, Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth, for the County of Hampden, do certify, that
James W Brooks Esquire, whose signature is affixed to the certificate on the paper hereto annexed, was, at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned, and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth; and that full faith and credit is, and ought to be given, to his acts and attestations, done in that capacity; and that I am acquainted with the hand-writing of the said
James W Brooks and believe his signature to said certificate is genuine: also that the instrument hereto annexed, purports to be duly executed and acknowledged, according to the laws of this Commonwealth, for the purposes therein expressed.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas, for said Commonwealth, this Twenty seventh day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty five
George B Morris Clerk.

I Sajan Crosby of Housatonic in the County of Hampshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age asport & say, that I have resided in the said town of Housatonic from my youth up & am now  years old; that I served as a Sargeant & acted as Clerk in the Company commanded by Capt. Aaron N. Phelps, Lieut. Moore & Ensign Gracy, in Col. Ennis Foot, Regiment & Major - Mark & Howe, called 1 st & 2 d Major, according to our Massachusetts designation & discipline, at that time, in the Militia of Massachusetts, in the War of 1812, with Great Britain & served about forty days, in the months of September & October, at Boston, in the year 1814, for which purpose, I, with several others from the standing Company of Infantry in said town, was drafted & marched to Boston in the first or second week of September, 1814 for which service I have received one hundred & sixty acres of County land, under Acts of Congress; that our Company was composed of drafts from Housatonic & other towns in the neighborhood & the troops were not fully organized into Companies & Regiments till we arrived at Boston, after about eight days from leaving home, though we were partially organized & mustered at Palmer, about 40 miles from Housatonic; that the Selectmen of

Boston also took measures immediately after the said draft of the men drafted, to transport their baggage & camp utensils belonging to said town, to Boston, & said Selectmen & the officers of our Standing Company from which we were drafted, employed & hired William Stewart of said town, to transport & take to Boston our said baggage & camp utensils for our use there, which said Stewart agreed with them to do for such compensation as would be right & reasonable; that the said William Stewart took his team horses & wagon with a full load of our baggage & munitions & proceeded with said baggage, in company with the men drafted here, to Palmer & then to Boston; that we first stoppt at Cambridge Port, some three miles north of Boston & in two or three days after, all the drafted troops from this part of the state marched to South Boston where we remained for the most part till we were discharged; that the said William Stewart was our baggage master & was not released or discharged till several days after our encampment at South Boston & that he was then discharged by our company officers there & returned home, or I suppose; that I know the said Stewart was employed in & about our baggage & camp equipments & utensils several days after our arrival at Boston;

that I do not remember the names of the staff officers of our Regiment, but believe one of the three was named Frost, & think he acted as Quarter Master; that we arrived at Cambridge Port, according to my best recollection, on the 8 th day of the war we left Hudson, distant, about 130 miles; that said I knew said Stewart all my life time lived in the same neighborhood in Hudson; that I also well knew his wife & children several of whom are now living in Hudson; that his widow, Mary Stewart is now living & has applied for bounty land on account of her late husband's service as tenant in the said war; that I verily believe said William was actually engaged in said service or such tenant from 15 to 20 days, in travelling to & from Boston & in the employ & under the direction of our officers while he was there & I believe he must have been, at least, 16 days in travelling; that the said William has always been respected by his townsmen as a soldier of the Revolutionary War & actually served at Bunker Hill, a short campaign & was honorably discharged; said Stewart died in said Hudson several years ago, the fact I remember, but do not remember how long since, and that said respondent has made search for some record

I will service, but can find none, public or private. And this deponent further says, that he is personally well acquainted with the posts of said Stewart, having been hired & employed to transport our said baggage to Boston & that I have often talked with him about it since & that posts are well known to a great many of our Haverford people now living. And further deponent says not
Sayon Crosby
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss. Hampden County -
On this eighth day of May A.D. 1857, personally came before me one of the Justices of the Peace in & for said County, Sapon Crosby, to me well known as a person of truth & veracity & subscribed & made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition -
Eli Pease — Justice of the Peace

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
HAMPDEN, SS.
I, George B. Morris, Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth, for the County of Hampden, do certify, that
Eli Perse Esquire, whose signature is affixed to the certificate on the paper hereto annexed, was at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned, and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth; and that full faith and credit is, and ought to be given, to his acts and attestations, done in that capacity; and that I am acquainted with the hand-writing of the said
Eli Perse, Esquire and believe his signature to said certificate is genuine: also that the instrument hereto annexed, purports to be duly executed and acknowledged, according to the laws of this Commonwealth, for the purposes therein expressed.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court for said Commonwealth, this nineteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven
Geo B Morris
Clerk.

Springfield April 29. 1857
Sir -
Yours of 21 st April inst. informs that the claim of Mary, widow of William Stewart No. 215.612, for bounty land, is still suspended. Your letter requires, that the name of the De Martine be set forth. This was not done, for the reason that his name was not known & that was not inquired into. Mr Stewart was a Seaman & was told, as his son informs me by Col. Cook & Col. Mark, who was both in the service at Boston in 1814, Nov. of 1812, that he must transport the baggage to Boston & not depart without leave, which order he obeyed. His son, Wiley Stewart, called on me to day & stated the great anxiety of his aged mother about her application. I shall make inquiry of some who can testify, who the De Martine was, though his name must be on the Massachusetts Rolls, now, in the War Department at Washington.

When I drafted the declaration of Mrs. Stewart at her house in Hingham, I did not suppose it was absolutely necessary to be particular about the service! or summons, Nov 1872 for there was then no other service proved in the Revolutionary War, at or near Concordia, by the Certificate of the Secretary of State of Massachusetts. She can say no more about this Revolutionary service, although there are now living several individuals in Hingham who have always known & believed the fact. I knew Mr. Stuart well & I believe he only failed to obtain a pension for which he made application in our Court, because he could not prove sufficient length of service.
I suppose Mrs. Stewart is clearly entitled to bounty land for her late husband's Revolutionary service, & cannot but believe she will receive her warrant, even if she is unable to furnish further proof as to her husband's service; but this will be done if possible.

This application has been pending since Sept. 1855. I did not make an enquiry of the Commission of Pensions till the next Spring afterwards - I then wrote them on four months & wrote again & then written at intervals of about the same length of time - several times since, & always respectfully & without previous complaints, but lately I learn the matter is referred to the 3 d Auditor.
I did not suppose, Sir, such a reference was necessary, for the Revolutionary Service claim.
I shall feel very greatly obliged if I can learn that there are any objections to the proof of Mr. Stuart's service in the War of the Revolution.
I am very respectfully Your Obedt. Servt. James M c Leods
Genl. M c Leods Esq. Commissioner of Pensions.

P.S. - may I be allowed to ask the Commission, if this evidence of Revolutionary service is not sufficient I most respectfully ask for an answer. In the mean time - further evidence as to the service of Sumner will be sought after.
W. L. Gurney

67.565.
160 acres.

Springfield May 8. 187
Sir -
I enclose the deposition of one Safon Crosby in the case of Mary Stewart for bounty money, No. 215. 672. I know Mr Crosby very well & fully believe his statement. His first deposition in this case was not so full as this & he was not examined so particularly as in the present one, nor with adverse memory.
I am very respectfully Yours, Attk. Servt. James M. Brooks
Genl. C. Whitney Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

215,612
For Applicant's service as a teamster in the war of 1812, the name of the Quarter Master by whom he was paid is required.
His service as a private in the war of the Revolution if in existence will be found among the Rolls turned over by this to the Pension office in the year 1836.
Treasury Department, Third Auditors Office, April 7, 1857, A. Williams
for Aud.
Re-Exam d Apl. 7, 1857, Beatty

Laura M. Brooks Springfield Mass.
Charles Morgan Map Ex 217.3/11 Boylston Apts 7/56 Mary Stewart 213.6/12
Map Ex Boylston Apts 7/56
June 4/56 D D

Springfield May 9. 1855
Sir -
The Declaration of Trust on my share was acknowledged & notice No. 217.541 dated Oct. 12. 1855.
Also Mary Stuart, acknowledged & Notice No. 215.612 date Sept. 29. 1855
These Petitions have made out some cases - and I have been often urged by them to enjoin - if we have not waited a reasonable time after sending in these Declarations.
I beg you will inform me, if I am entitled as to the reasonable time meant & intended.
These two individuals & several others, whose claims I have the care of here in- teresting me much of late to urge on their claims. It is a fact notorious, that agents so called or rather are all about us, trying to buy claims & pretend to have knowledge of the reasonable action of government upon the claims. I must say, Com. Genl. Minot Esq. Com. Genl. You att. Secy. James M. Howland

Springfield Sept. 27. 1855
Hi
I enclose the description of Mrs. Mary Stewart, widow of William Stewart. You bound to enclose under the act of Congress of March 3. 1855 - for services in the Revolution & the War of 1812 -
From my personal acquaintance with the witnesses & the statements of many of her neighbors & acquaintances I am fully of opinion that her statements are true. The reports that her late husband may be sent home for her benefit.
I am very respectfully Yours
Ann M. Brooks
Her Friend Eunice of Springfield

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, Sept. 22 d 1855.
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 William Stewart is borne on pay roll of Capt. Hugh McCallan's Comp. Col. David Wells' Regt from Sept. 22. to Oct. 18. 1777, 1 month 2 days as private.

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.
T. M. Wing Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Application for Certificate of Revolutionary Service, by the widow of the party recording the same
The Secretary of the Commonwealth is hereby re- quested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his Office of the service of William Stewart, otherwise called William Stewart & a private in the War of the Revolution. He was a native of Bedford Hampshire County Mass one or two campaigns at Scituate in 1777 or 78, about six months - The officers names are not recalled. The applicant, Mary Stewart, requests that search may be made for the service of her late husband, said W. Stewart, in the Revolutionary War. Her age is ninety two years.
Witness my hand this 14 th day of June A.D. 1855 -
of the sea app and Signed by said Saml. H. Cook in my presence Henry J. Osgood Justice Peace
Mary Stewart by her attorney Saml. H. Cook

FREE
Col. McIntosh Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

FREE
Minot Esq. Commissioner of Pensions. Washington D.C.

June 23/57.
This is to certify that
the amount of the sum of
W. H. H.

Additional evidence
No. 215.612.
Mary Stewart Claimant.
Garnet Brooks agent.
Ms
FREE
To Geo. E. Whitney Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

FREE
L. Whitney Esq. Commission of Pensions Washington D.C.

Additional Eviden
Mary Stewart, doimort, bounty land -
No. 215.512.
James M. Brooks agent
May 12 Mabin Ins...
Washing the S.C.
Commissaire of Pensions
Rev. E. Whitney Esq.
FREE

215.613
Mary Stewart
Wid of Mr. Stewart
adver. Map Ev Sept 20/56
Again to Mr. Perry May 25/57
Mr. Malcolm
Please send the above named case susp d May 12/57
Sperry

Springfield May 21. 1837
Sir.
I recd your Circular in the case of No. 215.612, Mary, widow of William Stewart for bounty land, on the 14 th inst; this, I presume was in answer to mine of the 9 th inclosing the deposition of Roger Crosby as to the service of William Stewart, a Treasurer, War of 1812. This Circular requires that the name of the De Mortua or Pay master be set forth. Mr Crosby; deposition who was himself in the service at Boston, in the War is quite full & to the point, but I am told by Mrs. Stewart's friends that many others of the same sort are left & can be furnished if deemed necessary.
All the evidence of De. Mortua or Pay master, or any other officers in the same service at Boston, is in the War office or some branch of it, at Washington & the rolls at Washington of the Massachusetts service at that time is all the evidence we have or have ever had for prosecuting claims for the bounty land, by Massachusetts claimants & to them I must refer the names of officers, men who rendered other services & are entitled by

law to the bounty, must rely upon the same evidence that the regulations admit & allow in the absence of documentary proof.
I have heretofore recd & understood the law & regulations , that Revolutionary services are good grounds to entitle a widow to bounty land, on account of the services of her deceased husband, but your Circular of the 12 th May says "the bounty land acts do not provide for any service prior to 1790."
I have, as agent for several claimants, within two years past, recd bounty land warrants from your office, for services rendered in the Revolutionary War; and I cannot but think there is some mistake or misapprehension in this matter.
I feel obliged to urge this claim respectfully, as I know I have always done, for more than 18 months, upon your official attention & would ask an answer to this as soon as may be practicable.
I am very respectfully Your obedt Servt Ithamar W. Wood
Genl Whiting Esq Commissioner of Pensions