Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10608, for Elisha Tillson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Tillson, Elisha Polly
No. 10608
CONTENTS

I Nchemish Tillson of Wrentham in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, being of the age of seventy years, do testify and say, that my Brother, Elisha Tillson, (who was about two years and four months older than myself,) enlisted into the army in the war of the Revolution, just before he arrived to the age of Fifteen years, and I well remember his going to that part of Stoughton which is now Canton, to pass muster as it was called, and very soon after that went from Foxborough in this State, into the Army at Rhode Island, for three months, and served the full term of three months in the Army at Rhode Island; but I cannot say under what officers he served. My Brother Elisha was at Rhode Island in the same company with one Jonathan Cobb of Sharon or Stoughtonham. I well remember that my Father visited my Brother Elisha while he was in the Army at Rhode Island, and after his visit there, related the circumstance of my Brother's being in the same tent with the said Jonathan Cobb, who was a very tall man and, it was said that he was accommodated with a taller tent than the other soldiers.
In the year 1781 my Brother Elisha Tillson enlisted into the revolutionary Army, in the continental service, and went into the Army at West Point in New York: he enlisted as one of the three years' men; and served about thirteen months when he returned home, having been relieved by a substitute sent in his stead by the Town of Foxborough.
After my Brother Elisha's return from the Army he frequently used to speak of John Wight, John Nason & others who went from the same Town with him and served in the Army; but I know of no one now living who was in the Army with him; neither am I able to say under whom he served.
After my Brother Elisha's return from the Army, which

according to the best of my remembrance was in 1782 - he studied Physic and settled in Bridgewater, where he practised in his profession and married Polly Snell of Bridgewater. He died in Bridgewater in the year 1800, leaving said Polly a widow, who is still living.
Nehemiah Tillson
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk County } ss. Nov. 1 st 1838.
Then personally appeared the above named Nehemiah Tillson, who is a man of truth and veracity, and subscribed and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit.
Before me,
Melatiah Everett Justice of the Peace

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK ss.
Erroll Sampson
I, JAIRUS WARE , Clerk of the Judicial Courts, being Courts of Record, within and for the County of Norfolk, hereby Certify that Melatiah Everett Esquire,
is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Norfolk aforesaid, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified to discharge the duties of said office, and that his signature to the annexed certificate is genuine and true.
In Witness Whereof, I have subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid at Dedham, this twenty second day of November A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight
Erroll Sampson Clerk

V 4428
Polly Tillson widow of Elisha
Mass.
act 7 July 38.
m th 2 d 1800
Hon. J. Q. Adams

State of Massachusetts Plymouth County } ss.
On this ninth day of November Eighteen hundred thirty-eight, personally appeared before the Hon- -orable Wilkes Wood, Esquire, Judge of Probate in and for the county of Plymouth aforesaid, Polly Tillson, a resident of North Bridgewater in the county of Plymouth aforesaid, aged sixty-six 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 Elisha Tillson, late of said North Bridgewater, deceased, who was a private soldier in the Army of the Revolution, and according to the best of her knowledge and belief served sixteen months in said army viz. Three months at Rhode Island according to the affidavit of Nehemiah Tillson which is hereto annexed. Said service she believes was rendered in the year 1780, but she is not able to state the names of the officers under whom he served, as after the most diligent search and enquiry she cannot yet find any person living who was in the army at Rhode Island with him.
She believes he served thirteen months at West Point and its vicinity in the State of New York in the years 1781 and 1782 according to the affidavits of the aforesaid Nehemiah Tillson and John Carpenter hereto annexed: the said John Carpenter being the only person she has been able to find living, who saw the said Elisha Tillson in the Army at New York; and she thinks it most probable that the New York service was in General Glover's Brigade.

She further declares that she was married to the said Elisha Tillson on the second day of September in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two: that her husband the aforesaid Elisha Tillson died on the
day of August Eighteen Hundred and one 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 ninety-four, viz: at the time above stated: she further declares that she still remains the widow of the said Elisha Tillson, and that she has not been married since his decease.
Ally J. Tillson's mark
Subscribed to and acknowledged the day & year first above written before me And I certify that by reason of sickness the Declarant is unable to sign her name to attested bond.
Willen Wood Judge of Probate
Plymouth Y. I Jacob H Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Willen Wood Esq. is Judge of Probate for said County & that the above is his true & genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this twenty eighth day of January. 1839 J. H. Lord

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Plymouth.
Clerks. Office Oct r 25 th , 1838.
I John B. Thomas, Clerk of the Judicial Courts for the County of Plymouth aforesaid hereby certify, that it appears of record in this Office, that on the second day of September in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety two, Elisha Tillson and Polly Snell both of Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth were married at Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth by the Rev d John Porter.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court for the said County of Plymouth on the day and year aforesaid.
John B. Thomas

I John Carpenter of Attleborough in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts of lawful age and engaged according to law do testify & say. That I was in the service in the revolutionary war three months at Peekskill in the State of New York in the year 1781. in Col. Webb's regiment I went from the town of Haverborough, was well acquainted with Elisha Tillson living in the same neighbourhood & brought up with him. Said Tillson left the town of Haverborough before I did, he went to West Point New York for three years. He was not in the the same regiment that I was I think he was in the Brigade commanded by General Glover. of this I am not certain. There were in the same vicinity four Brigades. one commanded by Glover. one by Gen. Patterson. Gen. Larned. & one by Gen. Gration I often saw the above named Elisha Tillson and conversed with him. while I was in the service. I returned to Haverborough after my term of three months had expired and left the said Tillson in the service how long the said Tillson served I cannot tell. but he went into the service long before I did & was in it the same three months that I was. and did not return to Haverborough till some time after I did. So I should think he must have been out at least eighteen months. I also think said Tillson was at Rhode Island three months of this however I am not sure as he was not with me. nor did I see him & further the deponent saith not.
John Carpenter
Attleborough Octr 5. 1838.
Bristol ss. Octr 5. 1838. Then the above named John Carpenter personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed.
Before me Lemuel May Jus of Peace
I hereby certify that the above named John Carpenter is a credible witness
Lemuel May Jus of Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Bristol ss. I Amos Basset Register of the Court of Nisi prius in & for said County do hereby certify that Lemuel May whose signature is affixed to the within certificate is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County -
(Poor paper)
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court This Ninth day of October Eighteen Hundred and thirty eight - A Basset

10608
P. O. Polly Tillson
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
Part of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

V.
Sat. Nov. 22 Adams Feby. 28 th 1839. do Mar 30 1839 —
10608

Elisha Tillsath
80 no officers
R. 10
3 mo
81
~
3 years man - Served 1/3 mo
relieved by the Prison of Donborough

Boston Jan y . 22 d 1839.
J. H. Lord Esq.
Sir
I transmit the declaration of Polly Tillson, which I have retained till this time, hoping to obtain further evidence in the case. There is no hope in the case unless some one will search the rolls at Washington : and I wish you to send the papers to Mr. Adams or some other member of Congress who will interest himself in the case, and I think they will find Elisha Tillson's name on the rolls of the West Point service in 1781 - probably in Genl Glover's Brigade, as suggested in the affidavit of John Carpenter . There is not the least doubt but Elisha Tillson was at West Point 12 or 13 months. He was at R. Island also in 1780 - 3 months. But the only evidence of it is Nehemiah Tillson's & he cannot name the service & officers.
So that I rely solely on the West Point service. If you will examine John Carpenter's affidavit attentively, you will be able to furnish Mr. Adams with a clue to the service which I should think would enable him to establish the claim.
I also transmit the declaration of Mary French, which I think will be sufficient of itself when compared with the

Castle Rolls at Washington; as there can be no doubt of her husband's service; his pay for 6 months on the castle I have lately seen on a duplicate roll in the State House.
Respectfully &c.
Jesse Perkins
J. H. Lord Esq.

I Jesse Perkins of North Bridgewater in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, being forty-eight years of age, do testify and say; That I knew Elisha Tillson and Polly Tillson, his wife, who is now an applicant for a Pension under the Act of Congress passed July 7 th 1838. The said Elisha Tillson was a practising physician in North Bridgewater: and was my Father's family physician at the time of my earliest remembrance. Said Tillson died in North Bridgewater in the year Eighteen hundred one, or in the year Eighteen hundred two; I am not certain in which of those years he died; but I know he died before the year Eighteen hundred three, leaving said Polly Tillson, a widow, and I know she has not been married since said Elisha Tillson's decease.
Jesse Perkins
State of Massachusetts } ss. Nov. 9. 1838. Plymouth County }
Personally appeared the above named Jesse Perkins, who is a credible witness, and subscribed and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit.
Before me, Eliab Whitman Jus. peace

Plymouth Ys. I Jacob N Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Eliab Whitman Esq whose name is subscribed to the within affida- vit is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & the signature within is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the Seal of the Court of Probate for said County this twenty eighth day of January 1839
J. N. Lord