Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 9094, for John Keep, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass (?)
Keep, John Abigail
N. 9094
CONTENTS

3800
Massachusetts
John Keep
of See in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain  of the Regt commanded by Col Montgomery in the Mass line for 8 Mos
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of Decr 1832 and sent to Rev Bishop Jenne  Mass
Arrears to 4th of Sep r 1832 $39.99 Semiant. allowance ending 21 Mar 33 13.33 $53.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. McBlain Clerk Book D Vol. 2 nd Page 65

15
2254
Massachusetts
Abigail Keep widow of John Keep Mass who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1st day of Decr 48 and sent to
Hon. J. Rockwell House of Reps
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 9, 1848, Page 61 Vol. 1
July 29th. book @.

4791- John Keep
Lee
Meals
Twah 8 Mios
adm
$26.66
H. C. Bishop
Lenox
May.

BRIEF in the case of  John Keap -  of Lee -  in the State of  Mass -  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 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? 79 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.     In 1795 - April 25 th — 8 — priv - Gen. Capt - Coffin. Gen. Montgomery  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Harvard  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence -  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct - 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. H. McBlain Examining Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Berkshire ss.
On this twenty first day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred & forty eight personally appeared before Horatio  Byington a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas at her dwellinghouse in Lee in said County, Abigail Heap a resident of said Lee in said County aged Ninety two she being unable by reason of bodily infirmity to appear in open Court, who being first duly sworn according to Law on her oath makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by act of Congress passed July 29, 1848. entitled "an act for the relief of Certain surviving widows of Officers & Soldiers of the Revolutionary Army", that she is the widow of John Heap late of said Lee deceased, and at the time of his decease a pensioner of the United States under the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832, at the rate of 26 dollars and 66 Cents per Annum, and for evidence of his service she refers to the proofs on file in the Pension Office connected with his declaration,
She further declares that she was married to the said John Heap on the twentieth day of September one thousand seven hundred & Ninety six, and that her husband the aforesaid John Heap died at Lee on the twenty fifth day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, that she was not

Married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January one thousand eight hundred viz at the time before stated, and that she has not intermarried since the decease of the said John but still continues his widow - her
Aligene
X Keep
I know to and subscribed by a making her mark (being unable to write) the day & year aforesaid
before me Horatio Byington
Justice of Court of Common Pleas
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Berkshire ss
I Horatio Byington
one of the justices of the Court of Common Pleas
in and for said State the same being a Court of record do certify that it has been made to appear to me by satisfactory evidence that Aligene  John Keep late of Lee in the County & State aforesaid and a pensioner of the United States at the rate of twenty six Dollars and sixty six cents per annum died at said

See in said County on the twenty fifth day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight leaving a widow whose name is Abigail Keep and that said Abigail has ever since remained and now is sole and unmarried —
Further certify that on the eighth line of preceding page I wrote by mistake the name "Abigail" and erased it & underlined the name John as it should be.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand the twenty fifth day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred & forty eight —
Horatio Dyer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Berkshire I Charles D. G. Wirt Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Berkshire do certify that the Honorable Horatio Dyer is one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas of said Commonwealth that the foregoing Certificate & signature purport to be in his handwriting. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 22 nd Day of November 1848 Charles D. G. Wirt Clerk.

July
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Berkshire ss
On this thirty first day of October AD 1848 Personally appeared Hubbard Bartlett to me known as Town Clerk of the Town of Lee and made oath that the within affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me Ransom Hemen Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Pittsfield ss I Charles Sedgwick Clerk of the Judicial Court of the Commonwealth within & for said County do certify that Ransom Hemen Esq. was on the thirty first day of October last known to me one of the Justices of the Peace within & for said County duly commissioned and qualified and that the signature to the above Certificate purporting to be his is genuine.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the Court of Common Pleas at Lee this twenty second day of November 1848.
Charles Sedgwick Clerk

I Hubbard Bartlett Town Clerk of the Town of Lee in the County of Berkshire Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereby certify that the following is a true transcript of a record, in the Town Book of Lee aforesaid,
Children of John Keep & Elizabeth his Wife Oliver Born July 30 1789 Abbe June 18 1791 James Sept 30 1792 Sarah Feb 14 1794 Elizabeth his wife Died Feb 20 1796 Married Abigail Lewis Sister Born Sept 6, 1797,
Hubbard Bartlett Town Clerk
I Hubbard Bartlett abovenamed do depose & say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the Town of Lee in the County of Berkshire Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that the above is true transcript of a record in the Town Book of the Town of Lee aforesaid and I further depose & say that I removed into this town in the year 1809 and that I soon became acquainted with the said John Keep & Abigail his wife, who was always said to be his second wife and that the s d Sister was always called the Son of the s d Abigail,
Hubbard Bartlett Town Clerk.
And I Hubbard Bartlett abovenamed, do further depose and say that in the year 1838 I held the office of Town Clerk in s d Town of Lee, and that I find a record in the Town Book as follows, in my own handwriting John Keep Died Oct 25 1838. which I certify is a true record.
Hubbard Bartlett Town Clerk

John Keep #791. Application for Pension See Mass Aug t 28. 1832
Keep.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Berkshire, ss.
ON this Eighteenth day of August A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable WILLIAM P. WALKER, Judge of the Court of Probate, within and for said County of Berkshire, now sitting, John Keep — " — a resident of the town of Lee in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged almost seventy nine 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 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. On the 15. April 1775 I went from Haver- town Harvard Worcester Co. Mass. where I then lived to Shrewsbury in Vermont for the purpose of working Iron in the employment of Messrs. Shrewsbury. Soon after My arrival information of the affair at Concord and the commencement of Hostilities between the British and Americans arrived. Soon also American forces came on and took possession of the place where I was employed. The officers informed me that Iron could be purchased cheaper than we could make it and I was thrown out of employment. I immediately enlisted in Captain Coffins Company. The name of the Col. of the Regiment I can not now recollect. Our Commander was Gen. Montgomery. According to My best recollection the company was from New Hampshire and the Hampshire Grants. Of this I am not certain, for I was in a County of Strangers concerning which I had no information. After My enlistment we went to Canada - Our route was down Lake Champlain. Our first stopping place was at St. Johns. The British had possession of the fort and the American Army were besieging it, when our company were ordered to march round in the woods about a hundred rods from and out of sight of the Fort, for the purpose of stopping some British reinforcements at this time and whilst we were besieging the fort there was much Skirmishing. When the Fort was given up our Company had marched down about Fifty Miles, in pursuit of the British and also to prevent their coming up to St. Johns. For it was reported that reinforcements were about to approach to succor the place. After the Fort had surrendered and our company had been dismissed, we came up to a point betwixt Onion River and Otter Creek, and leaving Onion River struck thro the woods to Otter Creek falls. I then went to Crown Point where I had a brother. From thence I returned home and arrived the evening before New Years, having served in this enlistment eight months and a few days. Soon after this I engaged as a Private in private Armed Vessels, and served thus during the war more than years, was frequently taken prisoner and suffered much.

I lived in Harvard Worcester Co. Mass, when I went to Shrewsbury, but enlisted in the Town of Shrewsbury after.
— I have lived since the Revolutionary war in the Town of Salisbury in Connecticut and now in the Town of Lee where I have resided more than Forty years
— I have a Record of My age in My Family Bible in Lee
— I entered into the service by enlistment, & served 8 Months
— I recollect an officer by the name of Buel who also was at the siege of St Johns. The reason why I remember him is that some years after I lived in the same house with him and frequently talked over the scenes thro which we passed, together. He has long since been dead —
— I had a discharge, but after the Act of 1818 I sent it by an agent for the purpose of getting a pension. He informed me that I could not draw because I served only Eight instead of Nine Months which that Law requires — I have never since seen my discharge and what he did with it I have never learned
Served in My enlistment — 8 Months —
The Rev. Doctor Hays of Lee has been acquainted with Me for more than Forty years, and I refer the court to Nathaniel Duman Esq who also has been acquainted with Me for many years
I would further state that I know of no person living who can testify to My services during the Revolution

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
John Keep
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
We Alvan Hyde a Clergyman, residing in the Town of Lee and Nathaniel Tremaine Jr. residing in same Lee hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Keep who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Alvan Hyde Nathaniel Tremaine Jr.
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
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 named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Alvan Hyde who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, resident in the town of Lee in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that Nathaniel Tremaine Jr. who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Lee in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Berkshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of John Keep for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office of said Court of Probate, this Eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two .
Henry W. Bishop. Register of Probate

29/187 Frank E. Best, Chicago. Ills May-9-1903-History to Thos. S. Keep Oakland Calif.
1915, Mch. 10. History to Mrs. Chas. A. Norton. Lrr. 1915, Apr. 6. History to Grace E. V. Barnard. Lrr.
Revy WIDOW, &c.
Sept
File No. 9094 Abigail Keep Wid John Keep. Print Rev. War
Act: July 29 th  1848. Index:—Vol. A , Page 391
[Arrangement of 1870.]

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of John Keep a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his and (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
W.F. 9094.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1775 8 mos. Pri. Coffin ✓ ✓          
Battles engaged in, siege of St Johns. Residence of soldier at enlistment, Harvard, Worcester Co., Mass. Date of application for pension, Aug. 18, 1832. His cl. was al. Residence at date of application, Lee, Berkshire Co., Mass. Age at date of application, 78 yrs. He died Oct. 25, 1808, at Lee, Mass.
Remarks: His first wife, Elizabeth, died Feb. 20, 1796 (date of mar. not stated). He mar. Sept. 20, 1796, Abigail Lewis who was al. pension on her ap. ex. Nov. 21, 1848, while 92 yrs. old and a resident of Lee, Mass. Children: Olive, b. July 30, 1789; Abbe, b. Jan. 18, 1791; James, b. Sept. 30, 1792; Jabez, b. Feb. 14, 1794; Lester, b. Sept. 6, 1797.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

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.
O. W. & N. DIV. REVOLUTIONARY.
Wid. 9,094.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
September 29, 1897.
Sir:
Replying to your request for information concerning John Keep, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you are advised that he made an application for pension on August 18, 1832, at which time he was seventy-nine years of age and residing at Lee, Mass., and his pension was allowed for eight months' actual service as a private in the Massachusetts troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. Coffin and John Montgomery. He resided in Harvard, Mass., when he entered the service.
His widow, Abigail, made an application and received pension for the service of her husband as above set forth.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Mr. Frank E. Best, Chicago, Ills. Box 271.

Oakland, Cal., April 28, 1903.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sirs:-
Our family record shows that John Keep was born at Westford, Mass., Sept. 29, 1753, served eight months in the Revolutionary War as a private under Capt. Coffin and General Montgomery, entered service from Harvard. His name was placed on pension roll Dec. 29, 1832, pension dating from April 4, 1831. After close of war he went to Salisbury, Conn., where he remained until 1788, moving to South Lee, Mass., where he died Oct. 20, 1838.
Can you officially confirm the fact of his revolutionary service ?
Yours very truly,
Thomas S. Keep.
1316 Castro St., Oakland, Cal.

90 94 John Keap
Aug 18, 1832 - 79. Lee Mass
apt - 75 Warrant Mass Apt Biffin Cal - Puk 8 m
Siege of St. John mrs Abigail Lewis Sept. 20, 1796 Lee Mass. B Oct. 25, 1838
First French wife Elizabeth died Feb. 20, 1796

Chicago, Ill. Sept. 18th. 1897.
The Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Sir:--
I desire to ascertain the command in which John Keep served in the Revolutionary Army--this being the John Keep who was placed on the Pension Roll December 29, 1832 as having served as a private in the Massachusetts state troops. Can you give me the term of his service?
I am, Sir,
Very respectfully,
Frank E. Beck Box 291
aw m
X

Redger Box 416 (from em)
Callaway, Neb. March 27, 1915.
To the Hon., Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:-
Will you kindly send me the full re- cord of application of pen- sion made by John Keep or his widow, made Aug 18, 1832. He served under Capt. Coffin and Gen. Montgomery and he entered the

service from Harvard, Mass. He was in the Shay Rebellion.
From these applications I desire to gain information relative to family and dates of death, etc. , which do not show upon the incomplete town records of Harvard, and would appreciate full data from your records.
Being a great-great grand- daughter of said John Keep, I wish data for

application for member- ship to the D. A. P. or- ganization.
Thanking you in ad- vance for your trouble, I am,
Yours very truly, Grace Eva May Barnard Callaway Neb.

John Keep..
Payments to be made at Boston Mass by The Pay Master 13 th Bank Agent for paying Pension- ers, in the Agency of Mass
Master Keep Post Master New Haven Connecticut
Recorded by J H McBlain Clerk, in Book D - Vol. 2 nd page 62

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 7th June, 1832, John Reef of the State of Massachusetts who was a Private in the Army of the Revolution
is entitled to receive Twenty Six — dollars and Sixty Six cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually, on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this Twenty Ninth day of December one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.
Lee Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned. }
J. Edwards

WAR DEPARTMENT
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
I have the honor to inform you that the War Department has been informed of the death of the late Colonel [Name], who was [Rank], and who was [Service].
The War Department has been informed of the death of the late Colonel [Name], who was [Rank], and who was [Service].
(No 3800)

John MRS. CHAS. O. NORTON KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
Feb 15th 1915--
To the Hon-
Commissioner of Pensions-- Washington. D. C.--
Dear Sir;--
John
JESSE KEEP of Harvard Mass,-- with all the family- and personal data- you can-
The Keep Genealogy- says this pension- was granted on an application made Aug 18, 1832- dating from April 4, 1831, and was placed on the Pension Roll Dec 29, 1832- ( for eight months service )
Yours very truly-
Chas. O. Norton
( Mrs. Chas Oliver Norton )

M.B.H.
Rev. War Section.
3-1865
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
WASHINGTON
February 24, 1915.
Mrs. Charles Oliver Norton,
Kearny,
Nebraska.
Madam:
In response to your letter of the 15" instant, you are advised that it does not appear that Jebez Keep of Harvard, Massachusetts was placed on the pension roll December 29, 1832 for eight months service on an application made August 18, 1832
Said dates refer to the Revolutionary War pensioner John Keep, W. File 9094. ✓
If you desire the record of said John please so state.
If however you wish the history of Jabez Keep of Harvard, Massachusetts, you are requested to furnish the approximate dates of his birth and death, given name of his widow, and place of residence after service.
Very respectfully,
G. M. Salzbauer
Commissioner.
Dear Sir;—
In referring again- to the notes- which were sent me- from New York- I find- that in error- the name was written JABEZ KEEP in one places- and JOHN KEEP in o ther -
It is the Pension record of JOHN KEEP that is desired- by me- Kindly send me- all the family data- obtainable- with Pension application data- and oblige-
Most sincerely,
Le. G. Norton
(Mrs. Chas Oliver Norton)

No 23 Abigail Keep mo of John map act 29 July 1848 Adm 8 mo in $21 66 / 3 knm bm 4 March 1848
Hon. J. Rockwell Dunseith, N.D.

Pittsfield Nov r 24. 1888 J. L. Edmonds Esq Commissioner of Pensions Sir
I enclose you papers in the case of Molly Bapst of Berket Berkshire County, Massachusetts. under the act of July 29. 1888 for a pension -
Also of Abigail Keep of Lee under the same Act - I transmit these papers at the request of Mr. Eli Dainton one of my constituents
Very respectfully your obedient Servt Julius Rockwell