Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17,307, for Reuben Lamb, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
There
Lamb, Reuben Bidwell, Patience
YF 17307
(Former widow)
CONTENTS

2
Death date not on A.R.
Vermont 1464
Patience Bidwell widow of Deuben Lamb
who died on the 21 st July 1790 of Addison in the State of Vermont who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Lincoln of the regiment commanded by Col. Brattle in the Massachus line for
Mass 17 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 56 Dollars 66 Cents, per annum, to commence on the 1 th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 th day of Octo- ber 1837 — and sent to Rev William Glady H.B.
Arrears to the 1 th of Sept r 1837 — 368.29 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar ch 38 — 28.33
$396.62
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 d }
Recorded by L.M. Curay, Clerk, Book A. Vol. 2. Page 34.

2711 Palmer Pidsells Declaration.
Mar ch 1768
died 1790
at Mass. Coast. mts.
ad o 17 m th $56.66
pa. annu. corp. 4 mo. 2
1837 -
Capt Lincoln at Bedford
And W. Slade H.R.

State of Vermont District of Addison ss
On this Seventh day of June 1837, before the Probate Court for the said District of Addison, personally appeared Patience Bridwell, late Patience Lamb, a resident of Granville in said District aged Eighty six years the 19 th day of last December, who being first duly sworn according to law, both on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the acts of Congress passed July 4 th 1836, and March 3 d 1837: - That I am the widow of Reuben Lamb, who was a private & orderly sergeant, in the army of the United States in the Revolutionary war; that during the war we resided in Spencar in the State of Massachusetts; in the Spring of the year 1776, as near as I can recollect the said Reuben Lamb enlisted into the army of the United States, according to my present recollection, for five months, and served for that period, in the neighborhood of New York, and was in the battle of White Plains, - he served, during this enlistment under Capt. Lincoln; - And after that he enlisted and served several short periods of three months & six months, until near the close of the war, when he enlisted and served for nine months - this service I recollect distinctly, and know that at the close of it he returned home in March, fifty seven years ago last March, which must have been in 1780: This date I recollect by the birth of a child, who was born two days after his return: And I shall never forget the suffering and deprivation, which I endured alone, in the care of four or five small children, during what has always been called, by way of distinction "the hard winter". - I cannot recollect his officers, for the circumstances of his service, at this time; but I know that from the time of his first enlistment he was in the service almost the whole time until the end of the last mentioned service: - At different times

during his service, he was at Peshkile & Fiskile on the North River & at Horse Neck, and at different places in New Jersey. That I was married to the said Ruben Lamb, in Brookfield Massachusetts, where I had before that resided, by the Rev Mr. Fisk, the minister of that place, on the first day of December 1768 - being myself a little short of 18 years, & the said Ruben Lamb being 19 years old the 8 th day of the same December. That after our marriage we resided in Spencer where he had before resided. After the close of the war we removed to Danmerston in Vermont, where we resided about two years, & thence removed to Putney Vermont, in the month of December 1786, - this date I recollect by the birth of a child: where we resided until the said Ruben Lamb, my said husband died, on the 24 th day of July 1790. - After this having returned to Spencer in a few years I removed to Hancock, Addison County Vermont, where I lived with a son, until January 1811, when I was married to Elisha Redwell, who then lived in Middlebury Vermont; with him I lived ten years, when he left me and went to Pattersdam, New York, and resided with his son by a former wife. After he left me, I received several letters from him; but soon learned that he was dead: the time of his death I am not able to ascertain: - And I have remained a widow & unmarried ever since that period, as will more fully appear by the proof into annexed. - During the last abovementioned period of service of the said Ruben Lamb, according to my present recollection & belief, he served, as orderly Sergeant, and a part of the time during his previous enlistments; but I am not able to recollect how long. I have been accustomed to write; but through age & infirmities I find, on trying now, my nerves are too much agitated and therefore make my mark.
Subscribed & sworn to the day & year above written before the said Court,
Patience her Lamb mark
Sam l Swift, Judge

State of Vermont
District of Addison } On this Seventh day of June 1837, before the said Court personally appeared William Lamb of Granville in said District, and being duly sworn in, deposes and says, that I am sixty-five years old last November, being, and always understood, born in November 1770: - That during the Revolutionary war I resided with my father in Spencer, Massachusetts; and although young at that time, I recollect Reuben Lamb, my uncle, and his wife Patience Lamb, who has made the foregoing declaration, who resided in the said town of Spencer; I well recollect the said Reuben Lamb's being absent, in the Revolutionary war, and understood he was in the Service; and his wife the said Patience, was left alone. I was often at their house, on a visit to the children of the said Reuben Lamb. - The said Reuben Lamb & his wife's family removed a few years after, into the State of Vermont I resided at Putney, as I understood, where the said Reuben Lamb died. After the death of her husband, she returned and lived a few years at Spencer; and went and met her on the road I carried her a part of the way, on her return to Spencer. - Not long after I removed to Hancock, in the County of Addison, and have resided there ever since, now called Granville ever since. A few years after my removal to Vermont, the said Patience removed into Vermont, and has ever since resided in the same neighborhood. After a few years, she was married to Elisha Bedwell of Middle- bury, with whom she lived a few years, when he left her, and since that time, I know that she has lived alone without any husband and has not since been married: She has resided with me two or three months past. - I understood the said Elisha Bedwell died soon after he left the said Patience. - W m . Lamb Sworn & subscribed the day I gave above written before the said Court, Saml. Swift Judge.

State of Vermont
District of Addison } On this Seventh day of June 1837, personally appeared before the said Court, Harvey H. Lawrence of Myrabadge in said District, who being duly sworn deposes and says, that I was well acquainted with Elisha Bidwell when he lived in Middlebury in this County, and knew that he was married to widow Lamb, and that after living with her for a few years, he left her and went to Canton in the State of New York; where he lived with his son. Having friends & relations in that neighborhood, I have frequently visited that Country, I have seen the said Bidwell there. Through letters from my friends in that Country I learned, that the said Bidwell died six years ago last fall or forsoot of winter; and have learned the fact from several sources, through my friends & others, who have come from that Country. —
Harvey H. Lawrence
Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid before said Court
Sam. Swift Judge
I, Samuel Swift, Judge of the Probate, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of Lamb, otherwise Patience Bidwell for a pension, and that it appeared to said Court that William Lamb & Harvey H. Lawrence, who have made the foregoing affidavits are credible witnesses.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Court this 29 th day of August 1837.
Sam. Swift Judge

Worcester ss.
I William Crosby. Town Clerk of Brookfield, County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do swear, that it is recorded, on the town records of Brookfield, aforesaid, that Reuben Lamb of Spencer & Patience Adams of Brookfield were out Published Sept 24 th A.D. 1768, and were united in marriage, by the Rev. Nathan Fisk of Brookfield, December 1 st A.D. 1768
A true copy of Record. Attest. William Crosby, Town Clerk of Brookfield.
Brookfield May 11 th A.D. 1837—
Wm Crosby. Town Clerk
Worcester ss May 12 th 1837
Then the above named William Crosby personally appeared and was sworn to the truth of the above certificate and I certify that he said Crosby is the Town Clerk of the Town of Brookfield and duly qualified, done before me
Simeon Draper your Deare
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester ss. Jos. G. Kendall Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County, certify that the above named Simeon Draper is a Justice of the Peace within said County, duly authorized to administer the oaths aforesaid, & that the foregoing signature appears to be in his own hand writing.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at Worcester this 12 th day of May. A.D. 1837 Jos G Kendall, Clerk.

I Peter Sylvester of Leicester in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, being eighty two years of age do testify and say that sometime about the twentieth day of June in the year 1776, I enlisted into a company of militia commanded by Capt Loring Lincoln of said Leicester, and marched about that time for the city of New-York, and Moseb Lamb of Spencer in said County and State enlisted and marched with me. We marched by land as far as New Haven in the State of Connecticut, and then we took passage by water to New York where we were stationed until the American army evacuated New York, when we went to Greenwich and staid a short time, then to Harlem heights where there was a skirmish, but neither myself nor said Lamb were in that skirmish, and only four or five of our company were engaged in the skirmish, we then retired to White Plains where we staid until after the battle at White Plains. I myself was not in that battle, being out on a tour under one Capt. Thrapp and did not get into camp until after the company had gone to the battle, but Moseb Lamb was in the battle of White Plains, after this we staid at or near White Plains until sometime in the month of November following when we were discharged, said Lamb and myself then came home, having been out in said service five months. Col. for G  Holman was Colonel of the Regiment. Also sometime in the latter part of August or beginning of September 1777, said Lamb and myself again enlisted into a company of militia commanded by Capt. Josiah White, we marched from Spencer and went by the way of Hadley in Massachusetts to Bennington Vermont and arrived there a short time after the battle

under General Stark and saw the prisoners who when confined in the Meetinghouse, we were then with a detachment of five hundred men sent to Shrewsbury where we were stationed on or near there, until we came to Saratoga, where we were at the surrender of General Burgoyne. We then went to Albany and went down the river Hudson by water to a place called Tarrytown where we were discharged, and some home being out in the service three months. And said Nathan Lamb was out with me the whole period. Col. Job Cushing was our Colonel, and further your deponent saith not.
Peter Sylvester
This may certify that on the twenty seventh day of June 1837 the above named Peter Sylvester made solemn affirmation to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed and I further certify that the said Peter Sylvester is a man of truth and veracity and of good moral character.
Before me. James Draper Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester, ss. I, Joseph G. Kendall, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for said County of Worcester, do certify that James Draper, Esquire, above named, is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and that his signature to the certificates on the three depositions on this sheet, are in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof, I hereto set my name, and affix the seal of said Court, at Worcester, this first day of July, in the year 1837.
J. G. Kendall Clk.
I Nathan Cragg of Spencer in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, being eighty three years of age do testify and say that I lived in Leicester when Capt. Loving Lincoln commanded a company of militia and marched to New York as stated in the deposition of Peter Sylvester, and I was well acquainted with said Capt. Lincoln, and with several soldiers in his company, and knew of their marching as aforesaid, and some of said soldiers, who are now deceased, have often informed me that said Nathan Lamb was in said company and I particularly recollect that they stated he was in the battle of White Plains, and further said deponent saith not.
Nathan Cragg
This may certify that on the twenty seventh day of June 1837 the above named Nathan Cragg was sworn to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed, and I further certify that the said Nathan Cragg is a man of truth and veracity and of good moral character.
Before me. James Draper Justice of the Peace

I Jonas Dennis of Spencer in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, Esquire being seventy seven years of age do testify and say, that I was well acquainted with Reuben Lamb of said Spencer from my earliest recollection until some years after the close of the revolutionary war. I myself was a soldier in the revolutionary war but was not out with said Lamb in any campaign, but I have no doubt that he performed several tours of duty as a soldier in the revolutionary war, it being a well known fact by all his neigh- bours and townsmen who were then living that he did frequent tours of duty as aforesaid. And I have often heard it that said Lamb it in particular of being  was out nine months on and near the Hudson river and in the State of New York  Jersey , that he was part of the time employed under Col. Hays in procuring forage and provisions for the army, and I have no doubt that he was a soldier in said nine months service, and further your deponent saith not.
Jonas Dennis —
This may certify that on the thirtieth day of June 1837 the above- named Jonas Dennis made solemn oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed and I further certify that the said Jonas Dennis is a man of truth and veracity and sustains a good moral character.
Before me
James Dyer Justice of the Peace

December 22, 1937.
Mr. H. H. West 214 South Hill Street Los Angeles, California.
BA-J/ILL Reuben Lamb W. 17307
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Patience Bidwell, listed in 1840, as a pensioner of Addison County, Vermont, 89 years of age.
The data furnished herein are shown in the papers on file in pension claim, W. 17307, based upon service of Reuben Lamb in the Revolutionary War. Patience Lamb, his widow, married Elisha Bidwell, and was the pensioner of Addison County, Vermont, in 1840.
Reuben Lamb was born December 8, 1749; the place of his birth and the names of his parents are not shown. He lived at the time of the Revolutionary War in Spencer, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
He enlisted about June 20, 1776, served as private in Captain Loring Lincoln's company, Colonel Holman's Massachusetts regiment, marched to New York, was in the battle of White Plains and was discharged at the expiration of service of five months, then returned home. He enlisted about August 1777, served three months as a private in Captain Josiah White's company, Colonel Job Cushing's Massachusetts regiment, marched to Bennington and was present at the surrender of General Burgoyne. He served other short tours, officer's names not given. He enlisted in 1779, served nine months and returned to Spencer in March 1780, officer's names not given. It was stated that he was engaged a part of the time procuring forage and provisions for the army in the vicinity of the Hudson River under Colonel Hays. His entire service amounted to at least seventeen months.
Reuben Lamb married December 1, 1768, in Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Patience Adams, of said Brookfield; his residence was then Spencer, Massachusetts. They were married by Rev. Nathan Fisk

of Brookfield, Massachusetts.
After the close of the Revolutionary War, they moved from Spencer to Dummerston, Vermont, and remained about two years, then moved to Putney, Vermont, and resided until his death on July 24, 1790.
After the death of her husband, Reuben Lamb, Patience Lamb returned to Spencer, Massachusetts, and resided a few years, then removed to Hancock, Addison County, Vermont, where she resided with a son, whose name is not stated, until January 1811, when she married Elisha Bidwell who resided then in Middlebury, Vermont; he was a widower at that time, the name of his former wife not stated. She lived with said Elisha Bidwell six years, when he went to live with his own son in Pottsdam, or Canton, New York. The name of this son of Elisha Bidwell, or the names of other members of his family by a former marriage are not shown. Elisha died "after a few years", or in the fall or early winter of 1830, exact date not given.
Patience Bidwell was allowed pension on account of the service of her husband, Reuben Lamb, in the Revolutionary War, on her application executed June 7, 1837, at which time she resided in Granville (formerly called Kingston), Addison County, Vermont.
Reuben Lamb and his wife, Patience, had several children, the exact number and their names not stated. Patience stated that one child was born two days after the return of her husband in March 1780, at which time she referred to her suffering "in the care of four or five small children". She referred to the birth of a child, also, at the time they moved to Putney, Vermont, in December 1786.
In 1837, William Lamb, of Granville, Addison County, Vermont, stated that he lived with his father in Spencer, Massachusetts, and that he visited his Uncle Reuben Lamb and his wife, Patience, and their family; said William was born in November 1770, names of his parents not designated. Patience Bidwell, the widow, had lived with said William Lamb two or three months before she applied for pension on June 7, 1837.
In 1837, Jonathan Lamb, of Rochester, Windsor County, Vermont, stated that he lived within a mile of the residence of Reuben Lamb and his wife, Patience, and saw him leave home while in service; Jonathan stated that he was about eight years of age at the commencement of the war. He did not state

any relationship to the soldier's family.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of the person paid, and, possibly, the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and furnish the following:
Patience Bidwell, widow of Reuben Lamb, Certificate #1464 Issued October 11, 1837 Rate $56.66 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of July 4, 1836. Vermont Agency.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

H. H. WEST CO. Manufacturers' Representative 214 South Hill Street VAndike 1818 Los Angeles, Calif.
December 9, 1937.
Veterans Administration, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
In the 1840 Index of Revolutionary pensioners appears the name:
Patience Bidwell, 89 years of age, in Addison County, Vermont.
Will you be kind enough to give me an abstract of the family data in said application for pension, or in application of her husband, if he made one; said information wanted for a history of Hezekiah West a revolutionary soldier, into whose family said Bidwell finally married.
Thanking you, I am,
Yours very truly,
H. H. West.
HHW/M

1937. Dec. 22 - Sent to N.H. Nat. Inst.
Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No.
17307
Patience Bidwell Former Widow of Benjamin Lamb Died Nov. 1892
Act:
July 4th 1936
Index:—Vol.
1
Page
63
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Dear Sir
I have had the accompanying papers in my hands nearly a month, while I supposed I had sent them to you.
I suggest this as a reason why I desire as speedy an examination of them as you can conveniently give.
Please report the result to me
Respectfully
J. W. Stade
Oct. 6. 37
J. L. Edwards Esq.

Case of Patricia Redwood Son. Lambis Affidavit.

I Jonathan Lamb of Rochester in the county of Windsor and State of Vermont being of lawful age do depose and say that I lived in the Town of Spencer in Mass. from the time that I was four years old untill I was twenty, and lived within a mile of Reuben Lamb's residence in D r Spencer, and was often at his house, and was knowing to his enlisting into the army of the Revolution, and of his leaving him several times to go into the army and at one time he served eight or nine months, and the period of service at other times not recollected, but I should think that he served about three years in the whole. The deponent was about eight years of age at the commencement of the war - and was frequently at said R. Lamb's house during his absence. And the deponent further saith that the said Reuben Lamb was married previous to his entering the army to Patience Adams, and had three or four children and that they lived together twenty years or more and he died, and his wife lived a widow ten or fifteen years and then married to Mr Bidwell and lived with him two or three years, and has lived single since, about twenty years, and further I say not —
Jonathan Lamb
State of Vermont } Hancock June 29 th 1837. Addison County } Then personally appeared Jonathan Lamb and made oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed contains the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Before me
Lerah Barrus Justice of Peace
I hereby certify that the above named Jonathan Lamb is a man of truth and veracity.
L. Barrus Justice of Peace