Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21745, for Joseph May, Connecticut

SERVICE
Conn.
May Joseph Rebecca
NUMBER
W. 21745
CONTENTS

Connecticut 1625
Rebecca May widow of Joseph May deceased
born who died on the 17 th of January 1806 of Hartford Co in the State of Ct who was a Sapper in the Company commanded by Captain Wills of the Reg t commanded by Col Chester in the A.C. time for 6 months & 2 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 22 Dollars 36 Cents, per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 th day of Nov r . 1837 and Sent Hon. J. Tracy House of Representatives
Arrears to the 4 th of Sept r 1837 $145.34 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 th Mar ch 38 - 11.18
$156.52
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 d }
Recorded by H. H. Addison Clerk, Book 4 Vol. 2 N Page 72.

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 21,745
Rebecca May Widow of Joseph May Life, Stearns.
Act: July 4 th 86
Index:—Vol. 16 , Page 10
[Arrangement of 1870.]

2974 Rebecca May wife of J. F.
Mar. 1775 do 1806 Aon c 6m. 3 d. ffr $2236 pr ann. comf 4 Mar 1831.
Cont. Mile 608 N. W. Cor. Chester
Hm. J. Forney NR

State of Connecticut } ss Wethersfield County of Hartford - }
On this 21 st day of October 1837, personally appeared before Thomas H. Seymour Esq. Judge of Probate for the District of Hartford, at Wethersfield in said Probate District, Rebecca May, a resident of the town of Wethersfield, in the State and County aforesaid, aged 80 years, who, being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July 4 th 1836 - That she is the widow of Joseph May and that the said May was a Life in Captain Chester Welles Company Col d John Chesters Regiment -
That her husband went into the Service sometime in the Month of June 1776, and went to New-York - She thinks he returned home sometime in January 1777 -
That he went into the Service again after his return, but under whom he served this last term, or how long, she does not know, but should think 5 or 6 months - She further declares that she was married to the said Joseph May by the Reverend Samuel Hart in the town of Faybrook on the 13 th day of November 1775 - That her husband the aforesaid Joseph May died at Wethersfield on the 17 th day of February 1806; and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed -
Rebecca May
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before
Thos. H. Seymour judge
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the appropriate interrogatories That the aforesaid Joseph May was a Life & served in the army of the Revolution as is stated in the foregoing declaration, and that the present applicant is his surviving widow married to him before the period of his said service, and that the said Joseph May died on the 17 th day of February A.D. 1806. and that she has remained a widow ever since that period.
I Thos. H. Seymour hereby certify that the above & foregoing contains the

original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Widow Rebecca May of said Wothersfield for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Probate Court this 21 st day of October A D 1837.
Thos. H. Seymour judge.
J. Farnsworth

I Joseph Stillman of the Town of Wethersfield in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut and of the age of Seventy Seven years depose and say, that I was a soldier in the War of the Revolution and that I was well acquainted with Joseph May, and that he was in the service in 1776. He was a fifer and I think the first time I knew of his being in service he was in Captain Chester Welles Company Col o John Chesters Regiment. I cannot tell how long he was in service. Joseph May belonged in Wethersfield and was married to Rebecca Stillman before he went into the service in 1776. I was not present at the marriage but I heard of it at the time, and I know they went to keeping house together in Wethersfield in the neighborhood where I lived soon after they were reported to have been married, and before he went into service; and that they lived together as husband and wife and reared a family of children, and were reputed to be husband and wife by their neighbours and the inhabitants of Wethersfield, and I never heard that fact disputed or called in question by any one, and further the deponent saith not.
Joseph Stillman
Hartford County ss. Wethersfield November 18 th 1837 Personally appeared Joseph Stillman signer of the above deposition, and after being legally sworn made solemn oath to the truth of the above and foregoing and subscribed his name thereto before me; and I certify that I am acquainted with the deponent and that he is a man of truth and veracity.
Franklin H. Merriman Justice of Peace

Comptrollers Office Hartford Ct.
November 8 th 1837
On application for evidence of the service of Joseph May I have examined the Books and papers remaining in this Office relating to the Revolutionary War, and find and certify as follows viz:—
"A Pay Roll of Captain Chester Welles Company, in Colonel Chesters Regt. from their arrival in New York to the first day of October including 6 days to travel one Hundred and twenty miles." The name of Joseph May  fifer on said Pay Roll as having arrived in New York July 10 th 1776 and is credited for 2 months and 27 days service. On another paper headed, "A Pay Abstract of Captain Chester Welles Company in Colonel Chesters Regiment from the first of October to the 25 th of December 1776 inclusive of time allowed to march from Camp home, Joseph May, fifer , discharged Dec. 25 th Days of travel home, 12. In service 3 months 6 days."
It appears from the Books in this Office that Colonel John Chesters Regt. to which Capt. Chester Welles belonged, was raised in June 1776 and marched in July to Camp at New York.

There The within is all I can find on the Books or papers in this office relating to the service of Joseph May
Wm. H. Field Comptroller

RECORD.
MARRIAGES.
Joseph May was Married to Rebecca Stetson Nov 13 1775 Henry Bunn Feb 13 1776 Sylvester May 22 1779-80 Henry August 21 1784 Joseph Dec 13-1786 Sylvester Nov 30 1789 Rebecca Sept 11 1796
I Sylvester May of the town of Wethersfield in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut and of the age of Forty Eight years depose and say that I am the son of Joseph and Rebecca May and that the above and foregoing is a true copy of the Record of our family as contained in an old Bible which was in the possession of my father and Mother a long ago as I can remember, and I have seen the names and dates in said Bible, of which the above and foregoing is a true copy, from time to time ever since I was ten years old. And I furthermore state that it is a true record of the names and dates of our family according to the best of my knowledge and belief. My father, Joseph May died at Wethersfield February 17 th 1810 aged fifty two years, and further the deponent saith not.
Sylvester May
Hartford County ss Hartford November 21 st 1837
Personally appeared Sylvester May, bearer of the above deposition and after being legally sworn made solemn oath to the truth of the above and foregoing, and subscribed his name thereto before me; and I certify that I am acquainted with the deponent and that he is a man of truth and veracity.
Franklin H. Merriman Justice of Peace

State of Connecticut / County of Hartford / County Clerk's Office —
I, Philo A. Goodwin Clerk of the County Court for said County of Hartford do hereby certify that Franklin H. Merriam whose name is subscribed to the forgoing certificate is an acting Justice of the Peace in said County, regularly commissioned & qualified as appears to me of Record in my Office & that I am acquainted with his hand writing, & that the forgoing signature purporting to be his is genuine, & that as such Justice full faith & credit are due to his official acts.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said County Court & subscribed my name this 25th day of November A.D. 1837.
Philo A. Goodwin Clerk