Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33750, for John Stephenson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Continental Mass.
Stephenson, John.
8 33 750
CONTENTS

John Stephenson
1580 Springfield
Jan 1870
not paid
Sep 1875
533750

COMMONWEALTH OF
MASSACHUSETTS.
COUNTY of Hampden
ss.
ON this tenth day of July 1829, personally appeared, in open court, before the Circuit Court of Common Pleas the same being a Court of Record and so established by a Statute of said Commonwealth, said Court being now in session at Springfield within and for said county of Hampden
John Stephenson aged Sixty three years, resident in Springfield who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: In May 1775 enlisted into the service of the United States for the term of Eight months and served in the company of Capt. Levens Ball in the 3 d Regiment of Massachusetts. A few days before the expiration of said term again enlisted for the term of one year in the same company & Regiment & served through the year at the expiration of which I entered as volunteer for six months and was engaged in the battle of Trenton & Princeton in 1776. In May 1777 I enlisted for three years into the service of the United States & was enrolled in the company commanded by Capt. Charles Cotton in the 3 d Regiment. Afterwards in 1778 or 1779 I enlisted during the war & after the company of Capt. Charles Cotton was broken up I was enrolled in a company commanded by Capt. Joseph Williams of — and continued in the service during the war. When I was enlisted regular discharge which I have lost. I was on the lines at White Plains & while there, was shot by a ball from the enemy just below the knee & was taken by the enemy on the 3 d day of February 1780 confined in the Sugar House at New-York as a prisoner & exchanged on the 13 th Dec following during which time I suffered great hardships & many privations. I was also in the battle at the taking of Burgoyne. My pension certificate dated June 30 th 1818 & my application April 11 th 1818 No. 586 — John Stephenson a day labourer dependent upon his daily labour for the support of himself & wife & two children who are the youngest of a family of eight children. The other children have left him and gone from the state to seek their fortunes. John Stephenson is affected with a large Breaeh in his Bowels which at times renders himself entirely unfit for any labour.

and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818. I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
SCHEDULE.
   Doll. cents.     1 Table $1.00 3 Spectacle glasses $00.15 1 Iron Kettle $00.25   1 do 50 1 Salt Cellar 6 1 Skillet 19   1 chest 2.00 1 Pitcher 17 1 Gridiron 55   1 do 75 1 earthen Dish 25 1 Slice & tongs 1.25   1 do 75 1 Wash bowl 25 1 pair Steelyards 75   1 do 1 platter 20 1 pair Sad Irons 25   1 Springing Wheel 1.00 4 stone Jugs 1.00 1 hand Bellows 1.00   1 do 50 3 plates 5 6 chains 1.50   1 1/2 Doz earthen plates 1.50 1 Set Knives & forks 2.92 3 barrels 1.50   3 Decanters 1.00 1 Coffe pot 1.2 3 iron axes 37   1 Vinegar Cruice 33 2 Pails 83 2 Baskets 25   4 Tumblers 2.5 2 tea canisters 17 1 tree 25   1 Tea Set 2. 1 Iron Pot 1.00 1 Looking Glass 17   1 Mustard pot 1.2 1 Looking Glass 1.00 1 Trunk 50   1 Iron Kettle 1.50 1 Basket 25   2 Boxes 33   2.00   28.05  
Sworn to and declared on the fifteenth
day of July 1820
before the Circuit Court of Common Pleas  West John Ingersall Clerk
John Ingersall Clerk of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the County aforesaid do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is Twenty Eight Dollars and five Cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, on this
fifteenth day of July 1820  John Ingersall { Clerk of the Court for the County of Hampden

H.S. Noyes May 28 1855
1,580
John Stephenson, Capt Ball Private
Massachusetts line 75- years In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 11 th of April 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30. of June 1818, and sent to J. Booker, Esq. Springfield, Mass.
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818.
Station following
4 months 24/30. $38.40
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Not entitled Springfield, Hampden Co
Modification sent July 29th 1820 to John Dugersville Springfield Mass
Reinstated May 31. 1821 & sent to Clerk of Court

John Stephenson
John Stephenson April 11 Correct JH

Hampden Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ss. BE IT REMEMBERED , That on the Eleventh day of April A. D. 1818, came before me, JOHN HOOKER , Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Western Circuit in said State, and including the said county of Hampden the above named John Stephenson the Applicant & Abner Russell severally swore  respectively made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavits by him subscribed, and hereto annexed. I do thereupon hereby declare, that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said John Stephenson the applicant did serve in the revolutionary war, against the common enemy, for more than nine months, on the continental establishment, as set forth in his affidavit aforesaid, and that he is yet a resident citizen of the United States, is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of assistance from his country for support. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the said Circuit Court for the said county of Hampden to be affixed hereto, this eleventh day of April 1818 And I do therefore hereby certify & transmit the above & annexed as the testimony & proceedings had before me on the above application to the Secretary of the department of War of the United States.
John Hooker

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss. Springfield April 11 th 1818
Personally appeared before me John Hooker one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas within and for said County; John Stephenson now resident in said Springfield and made solemn oath that at Roxbury in the State of Massachusetts in the Spring of the year seventeen hundred and seventy five he was enlisted as a private soldier in the American revolutionary Army in the Company of Captain Silver Bell in the Second Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry, commanded by Colonel Danielson for the term of eight months, for during which term he served against the Common enemy, that afterwards on the eleventh day of May in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven at Sims Springfield he was enlisted in the Company of Captain Charles Colton in the Third Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry commanded by Colonel John Grater, and that in said last mentioned regiment during six years and one month he served against the Common enemy until the eleventh day of June in the year seventeen hundred and eighty three at which time he received a written discharge under the hand of Genl Washington, which said discharge he has since lost and is not now found and that by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he stands in need of assistance from his Country
April 11.
John Stephenson
I Abner Russell of Springfield Mass do depose & say that I served in the Company of Capt Charles Colton in the Regiment commanded by Coll. Grater being the Third Mass ts Regiment for the term of nine Months - That said John Stephenson belonged to 1 st Company & Regiment & served during all the time I was there - and I know of his being absent from home & not returning till the close of the war  the end of the war - I have no doubt of his serving in said army during all the time he has stated in his & afterwards
Abner Russell

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
S. F. 33750
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of John Stephenson a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     May 1776 May 1777 Pt. Libbeus Ball Danielson Mass.   aw May 1777 Charles Colton Greaton   Joseph Williams   Feb. 3, 1780 he was shot below the knee while on the lines at White Plains. Taken prisoner & confined in Sugar House until the following Dec. 13, when he was exchanged, and discharged June 11, 1783.  
Battles engaged in, Trenton, Princeton & Taking of Bargoyn.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, _____
Date of application for pension, April 1818
Residence at date of application, Springfield Hampden Co. Mass.
Age at date of application, 61 yrs. born in Mt. Springfield
Remarks: He married in 1798 Sarah --- who died Jan'y 27, 1845. There were 8 children no names are stated. Place of burial is not given.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Springfield Mass. Jan. 24 1853
J.E. Heath Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir.
Your favor of the 18 th inst with statements respecting bounty land of Abraham Moore Dec r . No. 26,668 is received. Mr. Isaac Moore and family were very much surprised to learn that Michael Moore was living in 1834. As they are cut off from the bounty land, they request me to inquire whether there is any arrearage of pay, due Abraham Moore?
Mr. John Stephenson born in West Springfield. enlisted into the army of the Rev. olution - served 8 years. through the war. was in several battles, was wounded and carried the ball to his grave. - received a pension of 96 dollars until his death which occurred Apr. 1. 1841 - was honorably discharged - was married in 1798. his wife, Sarah, survived him about 4 years, dying Jan. 27 1845, but drew no pension after his death. - was she not entitled to it? and is it not due to her children now? If so. I will forward the necessary proof of the above facts. Was not Mr. Stephenson entitled to a larger pension, from the fact of his being wounded? Is there any bounty land due him or his heirs?
Mr. Andrew Moffit born Apr. 4 th 1748. enlisted into the revolutionary army for the war, in the town of Killingly Conn. and served 8 years. at first on foot, afterwards in Capt. Dennison's Company of light horse, was in the battle of Bunker hill - on Long Island, and other engagements, was regularly and honorably discharged, - married Hannah Sparks of Killingly before the war, never drew

any pension or bounty land. His wife died Sept 20 th 1802 - There are five heirs - four of them being grandchildren, and one, the only living child - now resides in this town. On properly authenticating these facts, can bounty land, or money, or both, be obtained for the heirs?
Respectfully Yours
H. S. Noyes.

Rock Island County
State of Illinois
Juvenile Division
CARRIE S. O'CONNOR CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER
Sept 20 1913
Sect. of Pension Department Washington D C
Dear Sir
Can you tell me if John Stephenson who fought in the War of the Revolution was pensioned as have you any record of him having laid in the Old Dutch Prison in New York. wounded. the John Stephenson was also buried in the what was known at that time as the old cemetery at Springfield Mass Will you kindly give me any

Rock Island County
State of Illinois
Juvenile Division
CARRIE S. O'CONNOR CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER
191
information you can about him I am trying to learn what I can in order to get in to the D. & R. this John Stephenson had a  one son a Fred. & daughter Lucy and we think a son John, but not sure Alfred was born in Wareville Mass. Aug 1808 - he was my Grand father
Thanking you for any information you can give me Sincerely
Carrie Stephenson O'Connor 142 1/2 - 5 Ave Madison Ill

1855
Samuel B. Ross
Springfield 3 23 P.M. Mon Masts,
R 25 P.M.
John Stephenson Masts
act 1818. =

Springfield Mass. Feb. 23, 1855.
Mr. P. E. Hasler.
Dear Sir,
The heirs of John Stephenson have placed in my hands your letter, the contents purport that you are an agent; appointed by Government to look up Pension, Claims &c; - they have also requested me to write to you & ascertain what course they must take to obtain what is just their due. John Stephenson served eight years in the war of 1876. he also received a ball in one of his legs which remained in until his death; he received $94.00 per year after his decease his widow lived four years without receiving anything. Please reply to this soon & give directions how to proceed.
Yours &c.
Samuel J. Ross.

FREE
Recd. Aug. 14 John Brown's account John Clark
at 1 May 1820
John Calhoun Secretary of War Washington
21

Springfield August 7 th 1820-
To the Honorable John C. Calhoun The War
Massachusetts - Hampden Co.
Sir
In behalf of John - Stephenson of this place a Pension under the Law of Congress of March 1818 - and rejected under the Law of Congress of May 1820 - I pray your Honor to refer to his case as stated in the Papers sent you by J. Ingersoll Esq.
If any additional evidence is wanted to prove this claim, will you have the goodness to inform me that it may be furnished - I have supposed that he was rejected by mistake -
I am with the highest respect
Your Obedient humble
Yours truly
John Howard

33 750 Rev INVALID.
183 Sept. 29 Hist. to Carrie Stephenson O'connor T. M.
File No. 33, 750
John Stephenson Ph. Rev War
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 397
[Arrangement of 1870.]