Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,651, for Stephen Taylor, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Taylor, Stephen
S 14651
Carded
CONTENTS

3659. 3658
Massachusetts
Stephen Taylor
Worcester in the State of Mass was a P of Art in the company commanded by Captain [blank] of the Reg t commanded by Col Ward in the Mass line for P of Infy, 1 st Reg t " P. Art 1 " "
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 90 Dollars ~ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 th day of Dec 1832 and Supt William Garrison Worcester Mass
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $135-- Semi-ant. allowance ending 21 Mar 33 45-- $180--
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H B Blair Clerk Book D. Vol. 2 nd Page 86

4499 Stephen Taylor
Private of Artillery 17 yrs Do of Inf'y 17 yrs 2 yrs
adm'd
$ 90.-
Mr Garrison Esq Worcester Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Stephen Taylor  of  Worcester City , in the State of Mass  (Act 7th June, 1839.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 83 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. Gen.     In 1790 April — 8 — Privt Capt Washburn Col Ward   76. Jan'y — 3 — " " Wheeler " Colton   " April 1 — — " " Pillsbury " Crafts   77. April — 3 — " " Genl Rice " Cushing   79. Sept — 2 — " " " Dwyer  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Stillwater  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Leicester  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional evidence, living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Defective not properly connected 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Examining Clerk.

Stephen Taylor.
Oct 6. 1899.
Worcester County, Massachusetts.

DECLARATION, in order to secure the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
COUNTY OF WORCESTER, ss.
ON this fifteenth day of August , in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty- two , personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate within and for the County of Worcester now sitting, Stephen Taylor a resident of Worcester in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty three years, who being first 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 7th 1832.
THAT he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
That he enlisted as a Volunteer, in the Company of militia, commanded by Capt. Washburn, of Leicester, Lieut. Livermore, H. Col. - Ward's Regiment, in 1775, for the term of eight months, and marched from Leicester, thro' Worc- mestershire, &c. on the old Boston road, to Cambridge, where he served the term of said eight months, having left said Leicester under said enlistment the morning after Lexington Battle - and he was regularly dismissed or discharged from his service at the end of his said enlistment and then went to Sudbury went to Sudbury to where his brother lived, and continued there till some time in Jan'y or Feb'y, 1776, when he again enlisted into the company commanded by Capt. Wheeler, Lieut. Gary, in Col. Boston's, or Cutting's Regiment, marched forthwith thro' Cambridge, down the river, into Boston, and there remained his term of enlistment expired, which was about the last of Apr. when he was discharged - and immediately re-enlisted, in Boston into a company of Artillery commanded by Capt. Melvin, or Melville, of B. Lieut. Mearns, H. Col. Crafts' Regiment, for one year - and remained in Boston till September, 1776, when he went with his company to Providence, Rhode Island, and remained there till some time in the succeeding winter, when he and his company returned to Boston, where he remained, under said Captain, and in the company, until the end of his said year's service, when he was regularly dismissed, or discharged, and returned to his Mother in Sudbury - remained there a few days, and then enlisted into a company commanded by Capt. John Rice, of Sudbury in Col. Cushing's Regiment, for three months, and served said term of three months - he and his said company marched thru' Marlborough, Worcester, Brookfield, &c. and on to Ben- nington, in Vermont, where he tarryed a few days - and then went to Still Water, and there was engaged in the Battle, in October, 1777, when Burgoyne and his army were taken - he received a flesh wound in said Battle - and saw Genl. Burgoyne after the surrender - after his term of enlistment had expired he was dismissed, or discharged, by his said Captain, soon after said Battle, and returned
(A)
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever 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.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
By me Nath'l James Probate in the County of Worcester Stephen Taylor

Worcester, Jy. August 15, 1832. —
We Paul Gates  residing in the town of Worcester and Theophilus Wheeler residing in said town of Worcester, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Stephen Gaylord — who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eighty three years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Nathl. Farnes Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester
Paul Gates Theophilus Wheeler
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Paul Gates , who signed the preceding certificate, is a resident resident in the town of Worcester, — and that Theophilus Wheeler who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town of Worcester, and one credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Nathl. Farnes Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester
I Theophilus Wheeler , Register of the Court of Probate aforesaid do hereby certify at the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Stephen Gaylord for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court, this tenth day of August , — in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two.
Theoph. Wheeler Register of Probate for the County of Worcester in Massachusetts

to Sudbury aforesaid, where he arrived some time in November, 1777, there being some snow on the ground - Again, in September, 1779, having been some months living in Worcester, Massachusetts, said Taylor enlisted into a company commanded by Capt. Brown, as nearly as he can recollect, belonging to Medford, or that vicinity, under Col. Jos. Dufee, of Hiverton, near Providence - This enlistment was for two months, which time he served out, under said Captain, that he marched from said Worcester, to Providence, and thence on to Hiverton, where, and in that vicinity, he remained till his term of service expired, when he was dismissed, or discharged, and returned to Worcester, where he married, and has ever since resided - Having been engaged in the service of his country upwards of twenty seven months - He never had any certificates of discharge, but was regularly dismissed with his fellow soldiers at the end of several terms of enlistment, never having received a furlough for a single day's absence, and was never off of duty during his whole service - and he refers to the accompanying Depositions for evidence to corroborate his statements. -
And in answer to the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department the said Taylor states as follows - to wit -
 (1) He I was born in Concord, Mass ts on the first day of Jany 1749 -  (2) I have no record of my age, but suppose the records of Concord will give the date of my birth.  (3) In Leicester, when at first enlisted - In Sudbury when I enlisted the second time - In Boston when I enlisted the third time - In Sudbury when I enlisted the fourth time - and in Worcester when I enlisted the fifth time.  (4) As a Volunteer, at every enlistment.  (5) I cannot state anything more particularly than is contained in my declaration above mentioned.  (6) I never received any written discharge from the service.  (7) Mr. Thomas Rice - Deacon Nathan Perry - Mr. Paul Gates - Hon. Nathl. Paine. - all of said Worcester. 
(A)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Stephen Tappan 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. S. 14651
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Oct 1775 8 mos. Pvt. Washburn Ward Mass.   Jan 1776 3 mos. Wheeler Cotton   1776 1 yr. Meloille Craft   1777 3 mos. John Rice Winkler   1779 2 mos. Brown Jos. Dampier  
Battles engaged in, Stillwater - received a flesh wound.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, ✓
Date of application for pension, Aug 13, 1832
Residence at date of application, Worcester, Worcester Co., Mass.
Age at date of application, Jan 1, 1749 in Concord, Mass.
Remarks: He refers to having married in Worcester, Mass. after the expiration of his war service; name of wife not stated. No further family data.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Stephen Taylor

I, David Hawes of Worcester, in the county of Worcester, aged sixty nine years, do testify and say that I was a soldier in the War of the Revolution - having enlisted in said Worcester, for the term of two months in the month of September, 1779, as I think, under Col. Durfee, the captain's name I do not recollect - that I am well acquainted with Stephen Taylor of said Worcester; he was in the same company and mess with me, until about a week before the end of my said service, when we separated - that this service was in Tiverton and other places in that vicinity, in the State of Rhode Island - and from my acquaintance with said Taylor, I have no doubt he served out his full term of two months, for which he enlisted as I understood.
David Hawes
Worcester, ss. August 1. 1832. Then the above named David Hawes personally appeared, and made oath to the truth of the foregoing Deposition, by him subscribed.
Before me, William Garrison, Justice of the peace
I further certify that the said Hawes is well known to me, and is a credible witness.
W. Garrison
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester, ss. I, Abijah Bigelow, clerk of the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Worcester, do hereby certify, that William Garrison, Esquire, above named, is a Justice of the peace in and for said County - and that his signature affixed to the certificate of the oath, &c. of David Hawes, above named, appears to be in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand, and affix the County Seal, this twenty second day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Abijah Bigelow, Clk.

Bishop, Bidwell & Co. Wholesale Grocers. No. 45 Water St.
B.P. Bishop. G.L. Bidwell. H.W. Gallup.
Norwich, Conn. Oct 17-1920
Commissioner of Pension Washington D.C.
Dear Sir
if Stephen Paylor was a pensioner in the Revolutionary war He enlisted at Leicester Mass was in the battle of Lexington and served two years under Col Ward and Capt Washburn If he was a pensioner could you give me a copy of the Pension record.
Could you tell me
Sincerely G.L. Bidwell Norwich Conn.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Stephen Taylor - Worcester City Mass - which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? _____ IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? yes Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? yes XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

Concord, Mr. J. Smith
Jan'y 30 97 Hild- to G. L. Bidwell Norwich Ct. Thos Hon. Chas A. Russell
1920, Nov. 15 Hild- li G. L. Bidwell - En
Rehman
✓ 14651 INVALID.
File No. 14651
Stephen Taylor Brn. New War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 320
[Arrangement of 1870.]

This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services.
Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.
L. W. B. I. 14651.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.
January 30, 1897
Sir:-
In compliance with a request on the part of Hon. Charles A. Russell, for information concerning the military record of Stephen Taylor, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, I have the honor to advise you that he made an application for pension on August 15, 1832, at which time he was 83 years of age and residing at Worcester, Mass., and his pension was allowed for two years' actual service as a private in the Mass. troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. Washburn and Col. Ward. He enlisted at Leicester, Mass.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Mr. Gurdon L. Bidwell,
85 Water St., Norwich, Conn.