Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15,302, for John Sadler, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Navy
Sadler, John Mary
N 15,302
Mass residence and agency of widow
CONTENTS

Read. Letter to Samuel Alarion Aug 11. 1848.
No 842
72 54.
Massachusetts
Mary Sadler, widow of John Sadler, who was a Seaman, in the Frigate Alliance, under John Paul Jones.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 57 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28. day of August, 1845 and sent to R. Baldwin, Boston, Mass.
[Act of March 3, 1843.] 17th June, 1847.
Recorded in Book A Vol. 2 Page 38.

I John Saddler of Dartmouth in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts aged fifty three years being duly sworn on oath depose and say that I was the eldest son of John Saddler late of At- tleborough in said County of Bristol deceased. I lived in the family with my parents till my father deceased. He died at said Attleborough more than thirty three years ago. I was then almost nineteen years old.
I have always understood from my said father, that he was an Englishman by birth. I understood from him that he was impressed into the service of Great Britain during the Revolutionary war and sailed with the fleet that brought over Burgoyne's army to Quebec; and that he deserted, and joined the American Army. I do not know how long he continued in the the American Army.
I have heard him say that he afterwards shipped on board the Alliance one of Commodore Paul Jones's vessels, and that he continued in the service till peace was declared - that during the time he

was in the Service. he was in several battles. I don't recollect how many. That he was on board said vessel, when she was commanded by Captain John Bony. That he continued on board said vessel, till she returned after the Peace, when he was discharg- ed and paid off.
I have frequently heard my said father talking over the afore- mentioned matters, and many others which I don't now recollect with his old companions; particularly with William Atwell & David Heading, and several others; they are now both dead. The truth of the afore men- tioned was never called in question, to my knowledge.
My mother Mary Saddler the widow of the said John is still living at Bedham in this state. She lives with her daughter, Betsey Saddler. She has never been married since the decease of her said hus- band John Saddler. John Saddler

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston March 22 d 1845
I hereby Certify , That at the date of the annexed attestation John H. W. Page was, a Justice of the Peace for the County of Bristol.
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Perry, Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss March 10 th 1845
Then personally appeared before me, the Subscriber a justice of the Peace for the said County of Bristol. the above named deponent John Saddler who is well known to me, and is a credible witness, and whose statement is entitled to full confidence, and made oath to the truth of the above description by him sub- scribed -
John W. W. Page Justice of the Peace in for the County of Bristol

104th Jan'y 31 1844 Mary Sadler Widow of John Sadler
m 90 — Mass.
Act. 7. July '38 Frigate Alliance sailed in March April '79 returned to Boston in Aug t '80 —
adm?
15 mo. Seaman
50 7 —
also act 3 marks & 17 June '44 —
Reuben Waldo Boston Mass

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, of the 7th July, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows."
State of Massachusetts, } ss. County of Norfolk }
On this Twenty third day of September in the year Eighteen hundred and Forty Three. Personally appeared in Open court, before the subscriber, Judge of the Court of Probate for Norfolk County in said State Mary Sadler a resident of Dedham in the county of Norfolk aged seventy nine 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 7, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows;" That she is the widow of John Sadler deceased , and that she was his second wife. That her late husband John Sadler aforesaid was one of the Convention prisoners, surrendered at the capture of General Burgoyne's army, in the year 1777, and soon thereafter said John entered the Naval Service of the United States, and continued in said service from the latter part of 1777, or the forepart of 1778 until after the peace in 1783, most of which time said John Sadler served in vessels commanded by Capt John Paul Jones and as a Marine on board of the Alliance Frigate commanded by Captain Peter Landais, during said service he was in several Battles. And that he continued to serve on board of the Alliance after that Vessel was commanded by Captain John Barry, and made several cruises in her to Europe during which several Naval battles took place between the Alliance and the vessels of the enemy; and after the conclusion of peace said John came to the United States and was paid off for his services in final Settlement certificates, which certificates he sold afterwards to two maiden Ladies at Attleborough in this State by the name of Sabin, one of whom was named Polly.
She further declares that she was married to the said John Sadler on the nineteenth day of July in the year seventeen hundred and ninety  third ; that her husband, the aforesaid John Sadler died on the Twenty  third day of December , in the year Eighteen hundred and three that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz: at the time above stated.
Sworn to, and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before me,
Mary Sadler J Leland Judge of Probate

I Ebenezer Fuller of Attleborough in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy years, being sworn to do testify and say, that soon after the termination of the Revolutionary War I became acquainted with a man by the name of John Sadler who, as I understood, was by birth an Englishman - he married for his first wife Hannah More who was an aunt of my wife - and soon thereafter he purchased a house and lot in my immediate neighborhood in Attleborough, and thus became an inhabitant of said town. Said John and Hannah lived together till they had one child who was named Hannah - subsequently the said Hannah the wife died. The said John Sadler married for his second wife Mary Larkin of Boston in this State and removed her into the said town of Attleborough, by whom he had several children here. Upwards of thirty years since said John Sadler died in this town, leaving the said Mary his widow, who is still living, and, as I understand, resides with her children in Dedham in the County of Norfolk in this State. It was reported always, and believed, and never contradicted to my knowledge, that the said John Sadler had served as a seaman on board the Frigate Alliance one of John Paul Jones' fleet in the Revolutionary war, the particulars of which I have no personal knowledge.
Ebenezer Fuller
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss. January 25 th 1844. Then the above-named Ebenezer Fuller, who is a respectable inhabitant of the town of Attleborough and a person of undoubted truth and veracity, personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed,
Before me John Daggett Just. of Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, City of Boston
September 19. 1843.
The subscriber do hereby certify, that it appears by the registry of marriages in the town (now City) of Boston there is the following record of marriage vizt. John Sadler & Mary Garkin, married by Rev. John Gathrop nineteenth day of July A. D. one thousand, seven hundred and ninety, that it is a true copy of the record, with the exception of the date which is expressed in the record in fair legible figures as follows "John Sadler & Mary Garkin married by Rev. John Gathrop 19 th July 1790"
Samuel T. M c Cleary. City Clerk.
I Samuel T. M c Cleary above named, depose & say that I hold the office of City Clerk of the City of Boston, in the County of Suffolk and State aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the records of marriages in said Boston, with the exception above named, as certified by me.
Samuel T. M c Cleary.
Suffolk ss. Boston Sept r 20 th 1843. The above named Samuel T. M c Cleary, personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the above certificate by him subscribed.
Before me,
Rich d . D. Harris Just: Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston Jan'y 26. 1844
I hereby Certify , That at the date of the annexed John Daggett was a justice of the Peace for the County of Bristol. and Richard S. Harris was a justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk,
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to their acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Palfrey
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Map Navy Frigate Alliance
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 15302
Mary Sadler Widow of John Sadler Seaman Rev War
Act: Mar. 3 rd / 43 and from 17 th / 46
Index:—Vol. M , Page 188
[Arrangement : 1870.]

Mar. 5. 1906. Canalsfield. N. Lee - 7. B. F.

9980
Massachusetts
Mary Sadler widow of John Sadler who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 23 Dec r 1809 of Norfolk in the State of Mass t : who was a Seaman in the Frigate Albion commanded by Captain J. P. Jones — of the _____ commanded by _____ in the Mass t Navy — time for 15 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Boston at the rate of 57 — Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 th day of August 1815 and sent to R. Baldwin -widow, Boston, Mass t :
Total amount, $285.00
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by Will Stewart — Clerk, Book D Vol. 1 — Page 69.

Let R Baldwin Sept 5. 44 " " 27 " May 7. 45

Mary had a 7254 Mar 8 FREE
J. S. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

Wrentham Ms Aug 7. 1848
J L Edwards Esq To Sir
I take the liberty to address you for the purpose of obtaining some information from your office.
John Saddler who died in Attleborough Mass some 20 years ago served in the war of the Revolution. In his lifetime he received no pension. Of his first marriage a daughter survives.
He married a 2 d time; his widow Mary Saddler was placed on the pension list and necessarily died; quite an amount of pension money as I am told has come into the hands of Mrs Saddler her son & admin rs .
I would be obliged if you would inform me whether, whether the surviving child of John Saddler by his first wife is entitled to any portion of the money?
The widow lived in Dedham Mass at time of her death.
Very Respectfully Yours &c Samuel Warner Jr

Boston, Massachusetts.
May 10 th 1845.
Sir,
Your letter of the 7 th Instant, relating to the claim to a Pension by Mrs Mary Sadler, widow of John Sadler deceased, is received; Believing as the claimant and her friends most sincerely does, in the justness of her claim, the Department need not be surprised if this claim is prosecuted to the utmost extremity; which it most assuredly will be. And if justice to the aged claimant, is withheld by the Commissioner of Pensions, The Secretary of War, and if need be the National Legislature, will be appealed to, before this claim is relinquished.
From present appearances, derived from traditional testimony, that claimant's late Husband performed one tour of Military duty in the American Army previous to his shipping as a Marine in the U. S. Navy, as it is alleged that he made his escape from the British Troops of Burgoyne's Army, (into which he had been impressed) soon after their arrival in Canada & joined the American Army; But whether said John Sadler served in the Massachusetts or New Hampshire line, does not yet appear: Application for evidence of the above mentioned fact is now pending in the Secretary's Office of this Commonwealth, and if unsuccessful here The Secretary of New Hampshire will be applied to next.
Very Respectfully Sir I am Your Obedient Servant Reuben Baldwin
James L. Edwards Esqr. Commissioner of Pensions. Washington,

Boston March 24 th 1845.
Sir.
I transmit herewith the affidavit of John Sadler, as further proof in support of the claim to a Pension by Mary Sadler widow John Sadler deceased. Additional traditional evidence is hereby furnished in support of said claim. I hope the proof of Personal Identity herewith transmitted may be satisfactory, and that a Certificate, may without further delay, be issued in favor of the aged claimant. It is not improbable that Land service will yet be found credited to John Sadler the Husband of Mary Sadler, in addition to his Naval Service.
Very Respectfully Sir I am Your Obedient Servant Reuben Baldwin
James L. Edwards Esqr. Comm'r of Pensions. Washington.

Mrs Mary Sadler Widow of John Sadler decd

Boston, September 1844.
Sir
In your letter of the 5 th instant it is said that, "In the case of Mary Sadler, the proof of the date of the marriage is sufficient. But her declaration of the service of her husband is unsupported by any evidence whatever". In the case of Mrs Mary Sadler, I would observe that it is beyond my knowledge whether there is in existence any such evidence of the service of John Sadler as the Department may think proper to pronounce satisfactory. But as in the case of Mary Lambert, so in the case of Mary Sadler, I would refer you to the Roll of the crew of the Alliance Frigate, as published by John Henry Sherburn, in his "Life & Character of the Chevalier John Paul Jones"; published in the year 1825, and at Page 146. wherein you will find amongst other names, that of John Sadler the husband of the applicant. I would further observe that on the 24 th of September 1838, I procured at the request of the Commissioner of Pensions an original Roll of the crew of the U.S. Frigate Alliance, dated at the Navel December 20 th 1779, which Roll together with other papers, was forwarded at the time specified, as proof of the service of Ebenezer Field, (armorer of the Alliance,) and in support of the claim to a life Pension by Mrs Mary Pratt - formerly the widow of said Ebenezer Field deceased. This Roll was returned to me by the Department, and by me placed in the hands of W m C. Park, where Father Capt. Matthew Park was Capt of Marines of the Alliance during her several cruises. I presume the Department have a copy of said Roll if it has not been lost or mislaid. I cannot obtain a sight of this Original Roll without paying a fee of Two Dollars to W m C. Park, and I have no means of knowing whether the name of John Sadler is borne thereon, except

That Mrs Sadler is of the opinion that her husband was a Marine on board of the Alliance. As to the commencement and duration of John Sadler's service, I presume that at this late day no positive proof can be adduced. The Department will doubtless, exercise their own discretion; But as he was one of the convention Prisoners surrendered under General Burgoyne, and as his name does not appear amongst the Mill Prisoners on Thomas Luce's journal neither on the series of journals (7 in number) kept by W m Russell, who was Secretary of the Mill Prisoners; and as said Sadler's name appears enrolled with the Original crew of the Alliance during her cruise when the Enemies Vessels - the Serapis & Countess of Scarborough were taken in 1779. It is therefore inferred from strong presumptive proof that John Sadler was one of the Original crew of the Alliance, when that Vessel sailed from the United States on the 1 st of January 1779 under Captain Peter Landais. and as to date I would refer you to the testimony produced from Captain Matthew Parks journal, & forwarded to the Department in Mrs Mary Pratt's case - above referred to. Also I would refer to Gardner Hammonds declaration - one of the Suffolk county Pensioners, under the act 18 th March 1818, also to Thomas Luce's of Dukes county in this State and to Thomas Chace's of Livemore Oxford county Maine. A certified extract from Captain Matthew Parks journal, established the fact that when Ebenezer Field died on the first of December 1779 - it was  about 11 months after the sailing of the Alliance; and until that time arrived in the United States on the 16 th August 1780 (See Thomas Luce's declaration), which without insisting upon the further service of John Sadler after the Alliance was commanded by Capt John Barry, will make 19 months, 15 Days. For which period I presume the Department will not not object to allow

The widow of John Sadler, the benefit of.
Be pleased to give Mrs Mary Sadlers case a further consideration, and transmit to me the result.
Very Respectfully Sir I am your Obedient Servant
Reuben Baldwin
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington.

Mary Sadler. Widow of John Sadler decd
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Supplemental Declaration of Mary Sadler, an applicant, for a U.S. pension under the act of 7 th of July A.D. 1838.
I Mary Sadler, of Dedham in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged eighty one years, do hereby make this declaration in addition to my former one made before the Hon. Sherman Leland at a Probate Court held in Roxbury.
I declare that I am the widow of John Sadler deceased, I am his second wife, I will now endeavor to relate according to the best of my feeble memory the circumstances relating to said John Sadler's service in the American Navy in the time of the Revolutionary War, as I frequently heard him relate them to the people of his acquaintance at Attleborough during our residence in that town for a series of years; Said John declared that he was an Englishman by birth & a native of Warwickshire, That at the time of the commencement of the American War, he was an apprentice to a Corral maker, and that he enlisted as a soldier, and belonged to the British Troops of General Burgoyne's Army, and sailed for Canada, that he was eventually captured and taken prisoner when said Army surrendered to the American forces under General Gates, at Saratoga in the State of New York. Soon after his capture said John Sadler shipped on board an American vessel commanded by Paul Jones and sailed under that officer to Europe and entered a port in France and distinctly remembers, that said John always affirmed that he was

one of the crew, of the Frigate Albemarle and served as a mariner during the many cruises made by that vessel which she was commanded by Peter Sanderas & Captain John Barry until the Peace, when he was paid off on final settlement, in Notes & discharged from the service of the United States, which Notes he sold for a mere trifle to a Miss Polly Salton & her sister a Mrs. Francis a widow, lady, both of Athleteborough, and are both now dead.
My late husband, said John Sadler, settled at New London soon after his discharge from the Navy Service above stated. when he set up his trade of comb making. He eventually came to Athleteborough in this state, and there worked at the same occupation, where married to his first wife whose name was Hannah Mene, by whom he had one child a daughter, Hannah. Soon after his wife said Hannah died & he came to Boston where he boarded with my uncle Elias Robinson during which he became acquainted with me and we were eventually married by the Rev. Dr. Lothrop a minister in Boston, and in process of time we removed to Athleteborough where he followed his trade of comb making until his death which occurred upwards of thirty years since. and left me his widow, & I still remain his widow. I have resided in this town of Dedham about nineteen years last past with my children.
Said John Sadler as I always understood from his own mouth served his adopted country faithfully and honorably from the fall of the year 1777 until after the Peace in 1783, and received an honorable discharge from the service which discharge is lost or destroyed

I Joseph Horne of Dedham in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy years seventy years last April, do hereby testify & declare that I have been acquainted with the widow Mary Sadler of this town for the nineteen years last past that she is commonly reputed & known as the widow of John Sadler, formerly of Allston, deceased, I further testify & say, that it is commonly reputed & believed in this neighborhood that the said John Sadler, served on board the Alliance under the Command of Captain Paul Jones during the Revolutionary War, That I have no doubt, but that she the said Mary Sadler is the veritable widow of the said John Sadler, who served as aforesaid & I have never heard it controverted by any person whatever, I further testify that the said Mary Sadler sustains a good character for truth & veracity & together with her children are respectable inhabitants of this town of Dedham - I further testify that I am a native of Dedham & was born here in the same room in which my father was born before me.
Joseph Horne
Nat. H. (Dedham June 23 d A.D. 1845) Then personally appeared Joseph Horne the above named, a respectable inhabitant of this town & & made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition before me Subscribed before me Jonathan H. Cobb, Notary of the Peace

I Abiel Fuller of Attleborough in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Aged Sixty Six years Being sworn to on Oath testify & say that I was born and brought up in said Attleborough, that I am the son of Abiel Fuller deceased, who as well as myself were by trade bomb makers, which trade I still follow. I further testify and say that after the termination of the Revolutionary War, and when I was a lad of some Six or seven years of age, my said Father hired an Englishman by the name of John Sadler who was a Bomb Maker by trade, to assist him in the business, as he was a superior workman at bomb making, said John worked with my said Father about two years as near as I can now remember, during which time and afterwards I became very intimate with him, and from after repeating his history to various people in my hearing, I learned the following circumstances particularly those connected with his services both in the British Army and Navy, in the time of the Revolutionary War, the truth of which I fully believe, neither have I ever heard any body doubt their correctness. We said John Sadler always declared that he was one of Burgoyne's Soldiers, and with the troops of that Army was surrendered as prisoner of War at Saratoga, to the American Army; and that said John always affirmed that when he learned that the said Army was to surrender to the Americans he was glad of it as he was now in America where he meant to remain if he possibly could; said John also frequently stated that he served in the American Navy under Capt John Paul Jones, and frequently related anecdotes & occurrences that took place during his sailing under that Officer, all of which are now obliterated from my memory, after said John had worked some two years with my said Father as I have stated before. said John married to Hannah Moore who in process of time had a daughter whom they called Hannah and shortly thereafter said Hannah the wife of said John died, and he for a short time boarded with his late wifes Sister Miss Jane Moore, and after a while said John went to Boston to work at his trade and left his daughter Hannah with said Jane Moore who took care of her, until after his marriage at Boston to a Mrs Mary Larkin a Widow lady, when said John came to Attleborough and removed his household goods together with his daughter to Boston where I accompanied said Sadler and one other man to Boston during said removal. The said John Sadler, together with his family resided at Boston for a series of years until the yellow fever prevailed in that city when himself and family returned to Attleborough, where he continued to reside and work at his trade until his death which occurred upward of

thirty years since; His widow Mary continued to reside in Attleborough until some eighteen or twenty years since when she removed to Bedham in Norfolk County in this State, and took up her residence with her sister and her own children, where she still resides as I believe for I often here seen her, and she likewise occasionally comes to this town to visit her connections and friends. Said Mary still retains her membership, and believe in the Free-will-Baptist Church of this place of which I am a member. She sustains an unblemished character
Abial Fuller
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol County ss. Attleborough June 26 th
1845 Then personally appeared Abial Fuller who is a person whose testimony is entitled to full credit and belief and made solemn oaths to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed
Before me
Ebenezer Briggs Justice of Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston July 19 th 1813
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Elkanah Briggs was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Bristol and Jonathan H. Cobb was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Norfolk,
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to their acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John D. Sleeper, Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Boston. July 21 st 1845.
Sir.
I transmit herewith further testimony in support of the claim to a Pension, under the Act of the 7 th July, 1838 & 3 rd March 1843, by Mrs Mary Sadler widow of John Sadler deceased.
Be pleased to give the above case a further consideration, and transmit the result to me at this place.
Very Respectfully Sir I am your Obedient Servant Reuben Baldwin
James L. Edwards Esqr. Commr r of Pensions. Washington.