Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 40,543, for Joshua Sweet, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Sweet, Joshua
S. 40,543
CONTENTS

let to Hon. E. Whittier, Jan 6. 1838. Let Fr. in to Boston agt aug 29 1839.
To Ohio Pittsburgh from 4 March 1839 - 12 Sept 1839. Notification to Pension Madison Beauga County Ohio
sent to Genl. A. Smith Esq. 28 Sept 1839
87.27
Ohio - Pittsburgh
Massachusetts.
Joshua Root
of Dunstable in the state of Massachusetts who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Hull of the Massachusetts line, for the term of three Years War
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 7 of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 of March 1819 and sent to Jonathan Leavitt Esquire Greenfield Mass
Arrears to 4th of March 1819 $ 87.43 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Sept 1819  48.
$135.43
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued

8.727 Joshua Sweet
[Faint, illegible cursive handwriting]
Sept. 10/19

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
FRANKLIN ss.
At a Special Session of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Western Circuit, began and holden at Greenfield, within and for the County of Franklin, on Monday the tenth day of July, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty, et de die in diem to the fifteenth day of the same month,
PERSONALLY appeared in open Court, being a Court of Record, within and for said County of Franklin, established as such by the Constitution and Laws of said Commonwealth, Joshua Sweet aged fifty five years, resident in Deerfield in said County, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: I entered the service in the month of March A.D. 1780 to serve for the term of three years in the company commanded by Lieut. Nelson, and afterwards by Capt. Lee and Capt. Hunt in the third Massachusetts Regiment commanded by Col and afterwards by Lt. Col William Hull and continued to serve in the same until December A.D. 1783 when I was discharged at West Point.
My certificate is dated March 27 A.D. 1819, the pension to commence April 7. 1818, and is numbered 8727.
I am by occupation a labourer, but a severe rheumatism caused by sleeping on the ground while in the army has almost disabled me from pursuing it.
My family consists of myself and my wife Mary aged 54 years, who is very feeble; and my children Jane aged 21, Joseph aged 17, Alonzo aged 15, Hilthiah aged 12, and Nelson aged 9 years, all of whom are entirely dependent on me for their daily support and subsistence.

and I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818 ; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled " An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818 ; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me, nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
Joshua Sweet
Sworn to and declared, on the tenth day of July A. D. 1820, before the said Court.
Attest, E. Alvord CLERK.
I ELIJAH ALVORD, Clerk of the aforesaid Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the Schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of the said Court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is sixteen dollars
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this fifteenth day of July, 1820.
E. Alvord CLERK.

Schedule of the estate of Joshua Sweet of Deerfield County of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, appli- =cant for a pension under the act of Congress of May 1. 1820
One bow - - - - - 16.00 being the whole estate whereof he is the owner & proprie- =tor, excepting such articles as are excepted in the act of Congress above mentioned
Joshua Sweet

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Franklin, ss.
I Rodolphus Dickinson, Clerk of the Judicial Courts in said County, do hereby certify, that William Billings, whose name in his own hand-writing is subscribed to the Certificate hereto annexed is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified according to the Constitution and Laws of said Commonwealth, and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his acts and attestations as such.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the Western Circuit Court of Common Pleas, of which Circuit the said County is a part, this fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and in the forty third year of American Independence.
Rodolphus Dickinson

I Josiah Tinsley of Conway in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age testify and say that I enlisted into as a Soldier in the American service in the Month of March seventeen hundred and eighty one and continued in the Service until December eighteen hundred and eighty three during which time I was well acquainted with Joshua Swift now of Deerfield in the County aforesaid being a Soldier in the same Company I believe commanded by Capt. L. - the greater part of the time and the last part of the time by Capt. Thomas Hunt - the said Joshua Swift entered the Service at the same time with myself - and continued in the American Army until December seventeen and eighty three - at which time I was discharged - and left the said Swift in the Army. The said Josiah Tinsley further testify that I have no interest directly or indirectly in the said Joshua Swift obtaining his pension and there is no relationship existing between us further the Deponent saith not.
Josiah Tinsley
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss
December 8 1818 - Then the aforesaid Deponent was examined and cautioned and sworn agreeable to law to the Deposition aforesaid by him submitted to him at the request of Joshua Swift before me.
Ware Belknap Justice of the Peace for the County of Franklin -

I Joshua Sweet a Citizen of the United States now resident in the Town of Deerfield in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do on oath declare that I belonged to the Army of the United States in the Revolutionary War and served in the same against the common enemy - I entered the service on the twenty third day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one as a common soldier in the Company commanded by Lieut. Nelson in the third Mass. Regiment commanded by Lt. Colonel William Hull in the Massachusetts Line for the term of three years. Soon after my enlistment a Captain - Lee was appointed to the command of the company and after him a Captain Thomas Hunt commanded it - I continued in the service till the twenty second day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty three when I received an honorable discharge from the Army signed by Major General Henry Knox and by John R. Stafford as Regi- ment of the Regiment and my discharge was registered in the Books of the Regiment.
This discharge I left in the state of New York and town of Norway with some other papers - I have within a few weeks sent to said Norway for it but am informed that it cannot be found - I have not seen it or had any knowledge of it since I left it there.
I am now fifty three years old - am poor and in reduced cir- cumstances in life and stand in great need of assistance assistance from my country for support.
Dated at Greenfield in the County and Commonwealth foresaid this seventh day of April A.D. 1818
Attest. Saml Wells
Joshua Sweet

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Franklin S.S. April 7 th A.D. 1818.
Then personally appeared Joshua Sweet signed to the within Declaration and made solemn oath to the truth of the same Before me J. L. L. Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas
Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Franklin ss - I Ebenezer H. Williams one of the Select- men of the Town of Deerfield in the County and Common- wealth aforesaid do testify and say that according to the best of my knowledge and judgment Joshua Sweet signer of the foregoing declaration is poor and in reduced circumstances in life - April 7. 1818 Ebenezer H. Williams
Sworn to the truth and right above written. Before me J. L. L. Judge &c
To the Secretary of the Department of War - I the Subscriber Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Western Circuit in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts which includes the County of Franklin aforesaid do hereby certify that from the testimony aforesaid it appears to my satisfaction that the before named Joshua Sweet served in the Revolutionary War against the Common Enemies as he has set forth in his Declaration aforesaid and that by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he is in need of assistance from his Country for support - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of the Court aforesaid this seventh day of April A.D. 1818 Jonathan L. L.

Joshua Drown Private, Massachusetts line. 7 th April, 1818.
Not found on the rolls.
Admitted
Jonathan Leavitt, Esq., Judge, Greenfield, Franklin Co. Massachusetts. 20. April, 1818.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Franklin ss.
I Rodolphus Dickinson, Clerk of the Judicial Courts in said County, do hereby certify, that Stephen Taylor, whose name in his own hand-writing is subscribed to the Certificate hereto annexed, is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified according to the Constitution and Laws of the said Commonwealth, and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his acts and attestations as such.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the Western Circuit Court of Common Pleas in said Commonwealth, of which Circuit the said County is a part, this fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and in the forty third year of American Independence.
Rodolphus Dickinson

I, the undersigned, of Deerfield in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age do testify and say that sometime in the spring of the year 1781, the estate to which my father belonged here Joshua Hovey was resident in Deerfield aforesaid to enlist into the service of the United States for the term of three years, and that my father carried said Hovey from this house at that time as he said to Springfield to deliver him to Colonel William Shepherd then commanding at that station. — The said Hovey was gone from Deerfield as I suppose about three years as I never saw him from the time he left here with my father as aforesaid until sometime in the winter of 1783. Afterwards in the year 1791 or 1792 the said Hovey being about to remove to New Hampshire left in my possession a paper pur- porting to be a discharge from the army of the United States of the said Hovey for three years service signed by Gen. Henry Knox a certificate of the registry of the same signed by John R. Stafford Assistant. — This discharge which the said Hovey left in my possession for safe keeping I kept about seven or eight years and then re-delivered it to said Hovey.
I further declare that I am in no way interested in the event of his application his application for a pension.
L. W. H. 1818
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Franklin ss — 5 th December 1818 —
Then personally appeared Mr. Hovey above named and made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration and affidavit by him subscribed before me. And I certify that I am personally acquainted with the said Mr. Hovey and in my opinion full credit may and ought to be given to the foregoing statement by him made.
Stephen Taylor Justice of the Peace

I Stephen Taylor of Taunton in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby certify that some time in the Month of March in the year of Our Lord 1781 Joshua Sweet now residing in Deerfield in the County of Hampshire Commonwealth aforesaid enlisted into service of the United States and I understood was marched to Springfield. Afterwards in the year 1783 I entered the service where I often confided with sometimes on duty and at other times clothed in the United States uniform.
The deponent further states that he belonged to the 2 nd Reg t Mass. and the said Sweet belonged to the 3 rd Mass. Reg t that he did not personally see the said Sweet discharged but at the time he understood that the said Sweet was honorably discharged from the service a few days before the deponent.
The deponent further states that he lived at that time (1781 & 1783) near the father of the said Sweet and frequently saw letters received by the father of said Sweet purporting to come from him in the service.
I further say that I am in no way related to the said Sweet and that I have no interest in the petition of said Sweet or a pension.
Stephen Taylor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss. Greenfield Dec 5-1818
Then appeared Stephen Taylor & made known to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed. Before Rich d S. Newcomb. Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that I have been personally acquainted with the said Taylor for several years & that I believe him to be a man of truth & veracity.
Rich d Newcomb

Merchants Bank Boston 3 d Sept r 1839.
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 29 th ult. I have to state that Joshua Sweet, privates a Pensioner now on the Roll of this Agency at eight dollars per month, under the act of 18 th March 1818, has been paid up to 4 th March last.
I am, very respect lly . Your ob dt Serv t
Franklin H. Camp
Pension Agt.
J. A. Edwards Esq. Comm r of Pensions, Washington, D.C.

Nashua Street, Mass: roll, act 18 Mar 1828,
Be pleased to say to what time he was last p?
Penfui of Mi, Jan 6. 1838. }
To the 4th March 1837.
3 d Aud t office
8th Jan y . 1838
A. H. de

Madison O. 3 August 22 3 Aug
Free
John Sweet for tr...
Edward Commissioner of Pensions City of Washington

State of Ohio Geauga County: ss
On this 19 th day of August A D 1839 before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Geauga personally appeared Joshua Sweet who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company commanded by Captain Hunt in the Regiment commanded by Colonel William Hull and discharged by Colonel Maxwell of the 3 d Mass- his Regiment in the Service of the United States that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Massachusetts from whence he has lately removed that he now resides in the State of Ohio Geauga County Madison Township where he intends to remain and wishes his pension to be payable there in future. The following are his reasons for removing from Massachusetts to Ohio. "to live with his children."
Sworn and subscribed to before me } the day and year aforesaid }
Joshua Sweet
William W Branch Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that the above named Joshua Sweet is the identical Joshua Sweet named in an original warrant in his possession and I further that he is the person described in the foregoing affidavit H. N. Sweet
State of Ohio Geauga County: ss
I hereby certify that the above H. N. Sweet is a person of truth and veracity
William W Branch Justice of the Peace

The State of Ohio Geauga County } ss
I D. Aiken Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County do hereby certify that William M. Branch Esq. before whom the foregoing oath was taken on the 19th day of August A.D. 1839, was at that time and still is a justice of the peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and sworn ac- cording to law; and further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said justice and do verily believe the within signatures, purporting to be his, are genuine. In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court at Chan- dler this 20th day of August A.D. 1839.
D. D. Aiken Clerk

Alden Bradford Secretary of State. Mass.
Certificate
For Joshua Sweet a Soldier in the old 3 rd Mass.
Continental Regiment.

This may certify that Jeremiah Sweet of Deerfield in the County of Franklin, State of Massachusetts appears before me & bears me his declaration & tes- timony of his being a Soldier in the 3 d Massach ts Regiment in the Revolutionary War and was honorably discharged the latter end of the year 1788 That I have not the least doubt or hesitation in my own mind in believing his statement and testimony to be true. & is honorably intitled to the pension lately granted by Congress to Soldiers of that description - That I was a Captain in the said Reg t at that time. Joseph Williams Greenwich Feb y . 24 1819.

This may certify, that I have examined the Declaration of Joshua Sweet of Deerfield in the County of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, who was a Soldier in the revolutionary Army. —
That I was the Lieut. Col. of the 3 d Massachusetts Regt., and that, according to my best recollection he served in the manner stated in his declaration, and that the said declaration is true — — — — —
William Hill
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Newton 17 th Febr. 7 1819.
To whom it may concern I

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office January 28 th 1819
I hereby certify that, by the original list of final settlement certificates returned into this Office, pursuant to a resolve of Congress of the third of November 1783, by Samuel Mellish, Agent for the then late old third Massachusetts Regiment, which was a part of the Army of the United States of America, it appears three of said certificates were due to Joshua Sweet a private in said third Regiment
viz - One for $56. 10
One for - 80 - 00
One for - 15. 35 $151.75. And it also
appears the said certificates were delivered on the 13 th February 1787 by the then Secretary of this Commonwealth
Holden Bradford
Secy of Com te

40 543
Rev INVALID.
File No. No. 5738
Lochna Sweet Rev Rev Rev
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 8 , Page 299
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Feb. 26-1902 Miss E. M. Bissell Madison Ohio

Madison, O. 2-11-1902. Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D.C. Dear Sir;
Please send me the revolutionary war records of Cemariah Crandall of Conn. and Joshua Sweet who died in Madison, O. on May 2, 1840. age 76 years. By sending records of above named soldiers you will confer a great favor as we want the information for a war history.
Yours respectfully Mrs E. M. Russell, Madison, Lake Co., O.