Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7037, for Thomas Matteson, Rhode Island

SERVICE
NUMBER
R.2
Matteson, Thomas
W. 7037
CONTENTS

State of Ohio Ashtabula County ss
On the 27 th day of August A.D. 1834, personally appeared in open Court, before the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio, within and for the County of Ashtabula now sitting. Thomas Matteson of Westport in the County aforesaid and State aforesaid, aged Seventy Eight years, who first being duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.
That he enlisted in the Militia as a Private That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated: to wit:
That he enlisted in the Militia as a private at West Greenwich , County of Newport and State of Rhode Island , for Twelve months , on the 8 th day of June 1776 as near as he can recollect; in Col. Brown's Brigade, Lieut. Col. Smith's Company, of which Company Amos Frink was Ensign. That after staying at W. Greenwich one week, the Company to which he was attached composed of 60 men, marched to South Kingston in said State of R. Island, to watch the motions of the Enemy encamped on the Island of Rhode Island: here here he was employed during the whole course of his enlistment in standing Sentry. That at the expiration of 9 months, to wit in March 1777 he received a written Discharge, which was burnt with his house & other effects in 1790 at Sago, Otsego Co. N. York. Nor can he state the day of the month he rec d said discharge, but as near as he can recollect it was near the middle of March, last aforesaid at South Kingston aforesaid. That he has no doc- umentary evidence that he served as stated being all consumed with the destruction of his house; and that he knows of no person now living whose testimony he procure to testify

as to his service; and that he knows of no Clergyman in his vicinity who can testify from his acquaintance with him that he is reputed and believed in the vicinity, to have been a Revolutionary Soldier.
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the Agency of any State, or if any only on that of the Agency of the State of Ohio.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Morris Matteson
We, Stephen Matteson of Hartsgrove & Noah Newton Jr of Rome, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the S d Matteson who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 78 years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Stephen Matteson Noah Newton Jr
Answer to Quest 1. At West Greenwich Rhode Island 1775
Answer to Quest 2. I have, at W. Greenwich R. Island
Answer to Quest 3. When called into the service I lived at W. Greenwich R. Island, since the Rev. War, in Sags N York and staid there till I removed to Hartsgrove, County of Cattaraugus where I now reside.
Answer to Quest 4. I enlisted as a volunteer
Answer to Quest 5. One Brown was Col. of the Brigade to which my Reg t belonged. Geo. Tentet was Lieut. and Amos French was Ensign of my Company. These are the names of all I can recollect.

I enlisted at W. Greenwich R. Island on the 8 th June 1776 as near as I can remember & after staying there one week, the company to which I was attached consisting of 60 men marched to S. Kingston of said State, to watch the motions of the enemy encamped on the Island of Rhode Island: There I staid 9 months, the period of my enlistment. When I was discharged I received Ans to 2. 6 a written discharge from my Lieut. Geo. Tenter, but it was burnt with my house & other effects in 1790 at Sagg. N.Y.
Ans to 2. 7. I am acquainted with Noah Newton Jr. Stephen Mattison, David Mile, Archibald Laddington, Joseph Clark, Reuben Poole and many others. —
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after hearing the  upon the premises  that the  above named  applicant that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Stephen Mattison, & Noah Newton Jr are credible persons, & that their statements are entitled to credit.
I Samuel Hendry, Clerk of the Supreme Court for the County of Ashtabula and State of Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thos Mattison for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 27 th day of August 1834 Samuel Hendry Clerk

PAID 18 3/4
Sept 11 th
Jefferson O. 3 Sept. 3 rd
Free
Ohio
Hon. J. P. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington City
Please make returns to J. H. A. Burden Esq. Jefferson Hancock Co. Ohio
Thos. Walter Ohio
30908

State of Ohio Ashtabula County Hartsgrove township September the 28 th 1833.
Personally appeared Mrs. Germaine Clark and made oath to the following that her father Thomas Matteson is seventy eight years old the present month and that his house was burnt in seven hundred ninety five with a certificate which he received from the army, and that she heard Mr. Paul Gamet say that he saw him inside in the revolutionary war several times and that she had often heard her mother tell how much she suffered whilst her father was in the war
I hereby certify the above to be a correct statement from Mrs. Clark and that she made oath to the same before me
Cornelius Norris Jr. J. P.
This affidavit was misplaced at the time I sent the other writings or I should have sent it with them

June 29, 1938.
Laura Kendall Thomas 427 Hill Avenue Elmhurst, Illinois.
BA-J/ILL John Dudley S. 32225 Thomas Matteson R. 7037
Dear Madam:
The records of John Dudley, S. 32225, and Thomas Matteson, R. 7037, are furnished herein as found in pension claims based upon their service in the Revolutionary War.
JOHN DUDLEY-S. 32225
John Dudley was born February 25, 1758 in Seabrook, New London County, Connecticut; the names of his parents are not shown.
While a resident of Newport, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, he enlisted and served as private in the New Hampshire troops, at different times, given as follows: from about October 1776, in Captain Walker's company, Colonel Benjamin Bellows' regiment, then in Captain Robert Oliver's company, Colonel Reed's regiment, also in Captain Mann's company, Colonel Stark's regiment and was discharged February 15, 1777, during which he was first stationed near Fort Ticonderoga, was in the battle of Trenton and assisted in taking several hundred Hessian prisoners, and was later at Princeton, New Jersey; from May 1777, one and one half months in Captain Samuel Hurd's company, Colonel Bellows' regiment; from sometime in September 1777 under Lieutenant Jesse Wilcox, Captain Oliver Ashley and Colonel Bellows, was in the battle of Saratoga and was discharged at the expiration of service of one month; and about two weeks in Captain Samuel Hurd's company at the time Royalton was attacked.
Some time after the end of the Revolutionary War, the soldier moved from New Hampshire to Rutland, Vermont, thence about 1816 to Ogden, Monroe County, New York.
John Dudley was allowed pension on his application executed December 4, 1832, at which time he resided in Ogden, Monroe County,

New York.
In September 1840, John Dudley had moved to Illinois to live with his son, John Dudley, Jr.; he did not state the name of his wife, the date of their marriage, nor the town in which this son resided.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name of person paid, and, possibly, the date of death of this pensioner, you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, this city, and furnish the following:
John Dudley Certificate #20037 Issued July 30, 1833 Rate $35 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832. Illinois Agency (transferred from New York Agency).
THOMAS MATTESON-H. 7037.
Thomas Matteson was born in September 1755, in West Greenwich, Rhode Island; the names of his parents are not shown. He resided there during the period of the Revolutionary War, after which he resided in Sago or Otege, Otsego County, New York; his home there was burned to the ground (1790-1796) during his absence with his wife, whose name is not shown. He moved from New York State to Hartsgrove, Ashtabula County, Ohio.
He applied August 27, 1834, while a resident of Hartsgrove, Ohio, for the pension which might have been due on account of his service in the Revolutionary War. He stated then that he enlisted in West Greenwich, Newport County, Rhode Island, June 8, 1776, served as private in Lieutenant George Tennant's company, Colonel Brown's Rhode Island regiment and was discharged in March 1777.
His claim for pension was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of the alleged service as required by the pension law under which he applied.
In 1835, Thomas Matteson had moved to Fox River, Cook County, Illinois; in 1840, he resided in Du Page County, Illinois.

In 1833, Mrs. Jemima Clark, daughter of said Thomas Matteson, was a resident of Hartsgrove, Ashtabula County, Ohio, and made affidavit in behalf of her father. In 1834, Stephen Matteson of Hartsgrove, Ohio, made affidavit also, but his relationship to the family was not shown.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

H 30,908
Illinois
Rejected
let to P. Ballingall 29. Oct. 1840
7037
Act 7 June '32

Suspended See letter 11 Feb 1834 to N. Norton Jaffrey do 9 th June 35 to applica Chicago Illini

Sturgeon Bay W. Rev see Wisconsin "The Good" v July 14 th 1915-
Will you kindly give me the record of service of Thomas Matteson, a Rev. soldier who lived in Du Page county Illinois.
He drew a pension there.
I thank you for the information.
Truly yours
Mrs. C. E. Brush

Ex'r.
INVALID.
REJECTED
Act of July 14, 1860, and March 3, 1872
✓ 103 3
P. O.
Thomas Matteson
Service:
Rejected + Suspended Pensions - Page 425 - "No proof of service."
Enlisted: _____, 18
9/2/31
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
July 25-98 Biomalleson 722 - 19 Ave Denver Colo
Per W. 20229
1915 - July 23 - Hist. to Mrs. C. E. Bruck V.L. Min
1931 - Sept. 2 - Hist. to Mrs. Howard C. Jones. L.R.R.
1938 - June 29 - Hist. to Laura Kendell Thomas - S.R.R.

P. Ballingall
29. Oct. 1846.
OL

Gen. H. Dec 29. 40
Sir
The claim of Thomas Matteson under the act of J. June 32 has been examined & disallowed. He alleges that he served 9 mo in 77 or 78 under Lt. Geo. Lennart Col. Brown at South Kingston - Waiving any objections which might be made to the want of defective narrative of the service and to the absence of all proof, it will be sufficient to inform you that the militia of R. I. at the period referred to served for a month in claps of that the R. I. Line & Brigade in which alone 9 mo men were enlisted, bear neither his name nor those of the only officers designated by him - There was no such service as he describes rendered at South Kingston under the authority of R. I. J. Ballingall Naperville Illinois

June 29, 1938.
Laura Kendall Thomas 427 Hill Avenue Elmhurst, Illinois.
BA-J/ILL John Dudley S. 32235 Thomas Matteson R. 7037
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of six soldiers of Du Page County, Illinois, namely David Brown, Wilbur Sweet, Gideon Warner, Parker Chase, John Dudley and Thomas Matteson, the three last named cited as pensioners of Du Page County, Illinois, in 1840.
There is no claim for pension on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a David Brown of Illinois, nor of any Wilbur Sweet or Gideon Warner. The records show that Parker Chase, W. 903, was a pensioner of New Hampshire in 1832, that between September 1836 and September 1840, he had lived in Illinois, and that he returned to Campton, Grafton County, New Hampshire, where he died.
The records of John Dudley and Thomas Matteson are furnished you herewith.
Very truly yours,
A. D. MILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

Washington September 2, 1931.
BA-2/ILL
Mrs. Howard C. Jones 109 White Street Huntsville, Alabama.
Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 7073, that Thomas Matteson was born in September, 1755 in West Greenwich, Rhode Island.
He applied for pension August 27, 1834, while a resident of Hartsgrove, Ashtabula County, Ohio. He stated that while a resident of West Greenwich, Newport County, Rhode Island, he enlisted June 8, 1778, served as private in Lieutenant George Tennant's Company, Colonel Brown's Brigade, Rhode Island troops, and was discharged in March, 1777.
His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of his service as required by the pension laws.
After the Revolution he lived in Sage or Otege, Otsego County, New York, (was there about 1790 or 1795) until he moved to Hartsgrove, Ohio.
In 1835, the soldier had moved to Fox River, Outagamie County, Illinois and in 1840 was a resident of Du Page County, Illinois.
His daughter, Mrs. Jemima Clark, was living in Hartsgrove, Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1833. The name of soldier's wife was not given.
One Stephen Matteson was a resident of Hartsgrove, Ohio, in 1834, no relationship to soldier shown.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Assistant to Administrator.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
R.F. 7037
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Thomas Mattison a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Jan. 8, 1776 Mar. 1777 Pvt. Lt. George Tennant Brown R.I.                                            
Battles engaged in, _____
Residence of soldier at enlistment, West Greenwich Newport Co. R.I.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 27, 1834.
Residence at date of application, Hartgrove Ottawa Co. Ohio
Age at date of application, 78 yrs. born at West Greenwich R.I.
Remarks: Soldier referred to his wife, her name is not stated. His daughter Mrs. Jemima Clark was living at Hartgrove in Ohio in 1838. Soldier lived in DuPage Co. Ill. in 1840.
No other family data
The claim was rejected on the ground of insufficient proof of service as required by the Act June 7, 1832 under which he applied for pension.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

b mem
427 Hill Ave. Elmhurst, Illinois June 15, 1938.
Pension Bureau Washington D.C.
1077 Died in NH.
In Du Page County, Illinois, we have the names of six soldiers who fought in the Revolution War. Parker Chase , Wilbur Sneath , David Brown , John Dudley , Gideon Warner and Thos. Matterson . We can locate the graves of only two of these. The Daughters of the American Revolution desire to mark the graves of these soldiers. In a book in the Chicago Public Library called "Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary and Military Services" Returned under the act for taking as the sixth census in 1840. Page 186 Du Page Co.
   Soldier Age. With whom he resided in 1840     Parker Chase 77   John Dudley 82. ✓ S. Dodge   Thos. Mattison 86 ✓ John Dudley   Stephen Mattison  
Will you please send us the Pension Record of these three pensioners and address to which their pensions were sent? This will help us greatly in our search.
Very truly yours,
Laura Kendall Thomas Honorary Historian Martha Dabats Chapter D.A.R.

Aug. 14 1931
Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
In the census of pensioners published in 1840 I notice one Thomas Mattison in Du Page Co., Ill, aged 86, living with Stephen Mattison. May I have a copy of the application of this man? I am eager to learn his rank, as I am told he was a Captain. - rather than one Thomas Mattison I seek was Capt of the 23 Regt (Va?)
Yours very truly,
Kathleen Paul Jones
Mrs. Howard C. Jones, 109 White St., Huntsville, Ala.

June 4 Ohio Jefferson O. May 28-3
Free Rec
Hon. J. P. Edwards, Commission of Pensions Washington City.

Jefferson, Ashtabula County, May. 25 1835. Hon. J. S. Edwards Sir,
I hereby transmit to you the letter of yours relative to the claim of Thomas Matteson to a pension. Upon my receipt of it Mr Matteson had removed to Fox River, Cook County, Illinois, whither I immediately directed it that he might know the reception taken to his application. To day I received the same documents, with a statement of his service on the back of it in his own hand writing, together with an affidavit of his daughter, taken, previous to his removal from that state (Ohio), before Cornelius Norris a Justice of the Peace for the Township of Hartsgrove in this County. I am aware Sir that what I send you is not strictly Legal Testimony but I hope that under all the circumstances of the case you will be inclined to lend a favorable ear to the old gentleman's petition. It is the very best testimony that under the circumstances of the case I am able to obtain. I have enquiries of many people living in Hartsgrove relative to his character circumstances &c. They unanimously declare their belief to be that he was a soldier of the revolution; that he was a member of the Methodist Church in that place and sustained an excellent reputation for temperance, truth & a party — They also informed me that his pecuniary circumstances were miserable, owing to the debilitated state of his health & a sick daughter who was dependent on him for support; and that a small pension would greatly relieve a distressed and meritorious old man, and to assist him in obtaining it I offered my

June 15 1846
Ms
Thos Mather
Oct 1832
Pension "Papers"
J. L. Edwards Esq
Pension office
Washington City
D. C.
FREE

Naperville Du Page Co Ill 1 st June 1840
Sir,
I transmit to you the Declaration of Thomas Matteson, a Revolutionary Soldier, in order to procure his pension; which I trust you will find correct in all its essentials. - Should any thing be yet wanting, it is hoped that notice may be sent to me as early as your numerous duties will permit, as the applicant's health is very precarious.
your ob d Serv t P. Ballingall.

30908 W Application for a Pension Thomas Matteson Illinois 1840 act 7 June 32

State of Illinois } County of Du Page } ss:
On this first day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty personally appeared in open Court, before the County Commissioners of said County of Du Page now in session Thomas Matteson a Resident of said County and State of Illinois aged Eighty five years, and now in his Eighty sixth year, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States at West Granage, in Rhode Island, in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy seven, or Seventeen hundred and seventy eight, (but from old age and loss of memory he is now unable to swear positively which of these two years it was) (And this Deponent states that in the same year, and at the same time, one John Parker enlisted with him) That the name of the officer who enlisted this Deponent was George Sennant whose rank was that of Lieutenant but this Deponent is unable to recollect the number or other distinguishing name of the Regiment into which he enlisted as aforesaid. That this Deponent was enlisted as aforesaid, and served in the Regiment as a Private, for the period of

nine months and was at the expiration of that period discharged from farther service (the time for which he enlisted having expired) by a discharge signed by the said Lieutenant George Tennant. That the name of the Colonel of the Regiment in which this Deponent so served as aforesaid was Brown but his christian name he does not recollect. That this Deponent does not remember the name of any of the Captains or the Major in said Regiment but he well recollects the name of the Ensign of his company. That the name of the said Ensign was Amos Prink and the reason why this Deponent so recollects said Prink is that he had known him seven or eight years prior to his enlistment, (this Deponent having lived within two miles and a half from said Prink). That when this Deponent so enlisted as aforesaid he (this Deponent) was a resident of West Granage in Rhode Island aforesaid and remained after his said enlistment at said West Granage a week and a half, and marched thence to Granage New Town, in Rhode Island, where he joined his regiment and did duty seven weeks; and thence marched to South Kingstown in Rhode Island and there served out the remainder of the time for which he enlisted and was there discharged by the said Lieutenant George Tennant as aforesaid. And this

Deponent further states that forty six years ago at Otego (then in the County of Otsego in the State of New York) this Deponent's House was burned to the ground while he and his wife were absent and that his said Discharge was then in his said House & was then and there burned up. That this Deponent knows not of any surviving Witness by whom he can prove his claim as set forth.
That this Deponent well remembers the following circumstance which took place at South Kingston aforesaid while Deponent was in the Regiment aforesaid. A British ship was laying off and used to send a party on shore to get water - this being observed, the said Ensign Prink, with a detachment, of which this Deponent was one, went to capture the enemy then on shore; and that the said Prink then shot the British officer who had charge of the party, the others escaping by means of their Boat.
And this Deponent further states that at the time he enlisted as aforesaid he received thirty Dollars in Continental money as a bounty. That this Deponent applied eight or nine years ago for a Pension but did not succeed, because, (as he understands,) he could not adduce as living Witness as to his service.
That this Deponent hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a

pension or an annuity except the present; and he declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any agency in any State. And the Deponent further states Sworn to and subscribed that he cannot now write his name on account of bodily infirmity. the day and year aforesaid Allan M'Intosh Clerk of said Court. Thomas his  mark Matteson
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states and that the applicant's statements are true and that the annexed statement of Benjamin Tupper and Thomas Gates is entitled to credit.
Hart L. Cobb, Hiram Fowler, John W. Walker, I Allan M'Intosh Clerk of the County Commissioners Court of the County of Du Page in the State of Illinois do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Matteson for a pension. And I further certify that Hart L. Cobb, Hiram Fowler and John W. Walker are County Commissioners of said County of Du Page and that the signatures above are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Naperville in said County this first day of June A.D. 1840.
Allan M'Intosh Clerk

Thomas We Benjamin Tupper and Leah Thomas Gates residents of the County of Du Page in the State of Illinois certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Matteson who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing (Declaration) that we believe him to be about Eighty six years of age and that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Thomas Gates
Subscribed & sworn to this 1 st June AD 1840 in open Court
Benj Tupper
Allan M'Intosh, clerk