Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14883, for Caleb Joy, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Joy, Caleb Harris, Susanna
W. 14883
Former widow
CONTENTS

Massachusetts 3951
Reported
Susanna Harris, formerly widow of Caleb Fry
who died on the ~~~~~ 1796 of Norfolk Co in the State of Massachusetts who was a Corp Sqn. in the Company commanded by Captain Abel Fisher of the Regiment commanded by Col. John Fellows in the Massachusetts line for 8 Mo. Casual 5 " " Non combat
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts, at the rate of 41 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of November 1843 — and sent to L. H. Cum shney, Weymouth Mass
Arrears to the 4th of September - 1843 579.12 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar. 1844 23.17
$ 602.29
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the }
Recorded by Book 6
Vol. 1
Clerk.
Page 56

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK ss.
Ezra Sampson
I, JAI RUS WARE , Clerk of the Judicial Courts, being Courts of Record, within and for the County of Norfolk, hereby Certify that
Samuel Humphrey Esquire, & James C. Doane Esquire are
Justices 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 respective their signatures to the annexed certificates
are to genuine and true. & that Sherman Leland Esquire is Judge of Probate in & for the County of Norfolk aforesaid, duly appointed, commissioned & qualified to discharge the duties of said Office & that his signature to the annexed certificate is genuine & true
In Witness Whereof, I have subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of said Commonwealth hereunto at Dedham, this twenty ninth day of August A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty four
Ezra Sampson Clerk

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the 3 d Section of the Act of Congress of the 4 th of July 1836. amended by the Act of Congress of August 23 d 1842.
State of Massachusetts County of Norfolk } S s
On this nineteenth day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty three personally appeared before the Honorable Judge of the Court of Probate within and for the County aforesaid Susanna Harris a resident of Cohasset in said County of Norfolk, aged eighty 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 4 th 1836. and by the Act of Congress passed August 23 d 1842. entitled An Act to amend the Acts of July 1836. and 1838. allowing Pensions to certain Widows That her first husband's name was Caleb Joy of Cohasset in said County, who was drowned, she believes, by being knocked overboard by a boom in Plymouth Harbor in Mass. she thinks in the year 1796. That about six years after, she was married to Eli Lane of said Cohasset, who had served much as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, as documentary evidence will show. He died as appears by record Jan'y. 22 d 1818. That her third and last husband's name was William Harris of Cohasset aforesaid, to whom she was married July 17 th 1818. That he was also a soldier in the Revolutionary war and endured great hardships therein, and was a Pensioner of the United States

under the Act of Congress of 1818. He died it appears by record Dec. 1 st 1821. That since that time she has remained his widow.
That she well recollects that the said Joy served almost the whole of the time as a soldier in the Revolutionary War for two years at least immediately succeeding their marriage, in addition to his services prior to the marriage, which she believes amounted to about one year.
That she fully believes she is under no mistake in regard to the length of the time, that she remembers well from her then peculiar situation that the said Joy was not at home excepting at very short periods, which he said was on a furlough, for the whole of two years after their marriage, which is more strongly retained in her memory than the service before the marriage.
That she and many others had often heard him give an account of his services in said war in the order in which she supposes it was performed, and he used to call the whole, three years.
That in regard to the officers under whom he served she can say but little, excepting that she well recollects that he enlisted under Capt. Job Cushing who was a Colchester man that she well knows, she thinks the next day but one after their marriage; that she thinks she has heard him speak of serving under another Capt. Cushing of Hingham; in Capt. Fisher's company, in Capt. Drown's company, in Capt. Lincoln's company, in Capt. Phelan's company, and in several other companies.
That the time is so long since she cannot recollect with certainty the names of many of the officers with whom she was more acquainted.
That she well recollects of hearing said Joy speak of serving at Cambridge, and about Boston, at Hull, at Castle Island, at New York, and at Rhode Island. That in her younger years she remembered well about his services and hardships.

That he induced, and the officers that he used to speak of under whom he served at different places; but as she passes away from the time, and advances in years, she finds she cannot recall to mind all these particulars, and believes that very few who may arrive at 80 will find it otherwise.
She further declares that she was married to the said Caleb Joy on the fifteenth day of December in the year One thousand seven hundred and seventy six: That her husband the said Joy died she thinks in the year above mentioned. That her marriage took place prior to his leaving the service. That since that time she has been married twice as above represented.
And that her first name should be written Susanna, that she was frequently called Susa, which was a common shortening of the name in her younger days, for that reason she supposes the town clerk wrote Susa in his certificate of the publication, and therefore it is so written in the record of the marriage.
And she hopes it will not be thought unaccountable, that by reflecting upon the subject she has recalled to mind much more than she recollected, when Mr. Humphrey first called upon her by request of her friends on the 30 th of June last, which was entirely unexpected and unthought of, and so sudden upon her, and he an entire stranger, that she could recollect but very little about Mr. Joy's service; that since then, the subject has been much upon her mind.
her Susanna X. Haines mark
Sworn to, and subscribed the day and year first above written, in open court
Before me J. Selby Judge of Probate

We Martha Joy aged sixty five years and Eleazar Joy aged fifty eight years , both of Cohasset in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, do testify and say that we well knew Caleb Joy late of Cohasset deceased, who we believe was a Soldier in the Revolutionary War, he died by being drowned at Plymouth Harbor in Mass. we think about forty seven years ago. He was brought to Cohasset and interred there, and we attended his funeral. Susanna Harris who was formerly the wife and afterwards the widow of said Caleb Joy is yet living and in good health for one of her age, being about eighty six years of age . She has been married twice since her first husband Caleb Joy was drowned, the name of her last husband was William Harris whose widow she now is
Martha Joy Eleazar Joy
Witness Dane Bates
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk County ss. July 20 th 1843. Then personally appeared the above named Martha Joy and Eleazar Joy before me the undersigned a justice of the peace within and for the County of Norfolk and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by them subscribed in my presence is true, and I certify that said Martha & Eleazar are well known to me as persons of good reputation for truth.
Isaac Humphrey Justice of the Peace

1776 Dec- 15 th Caleb Joy and Susa Nichols, both of Cohasset married
per me John Browne.
The above is a true copy from the record of the church in Cohasset.
Joseph Atwood pastor of the First Church in Cohasset.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk. Ss. Cohasset July 26 th 1843 I swear to and subscribed before me James C. Browne Justice of the Peace for the County of Norfolk

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, July 15 18 43.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Caleb Joy, is borne upon the eight months rolls, as a corporal in the Company of Capt Abel Fisher, in Col John Fellows regiment; said rolls show that he enlisted April 28. 1775, and he is returned on said rolls in Oct 1775.
The name of Caleb Joy is borne upon the pay roll of Capt Job Cushing in Col G. Lovell's regiment from Dec 15. 1776 to May 17. 1777. 3½ mos.
There are no rolls in this office, that show further service of said Joy.
And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this

Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone: and that said application and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances which tend to satisfy me of the identity of the party described in the application with the individual who rendered the service.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
M. A. Bowers Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Caleb Jay 70
To be called for for not P

I Susanah Harris of Cohasset in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Eighty six years, hereby represent that I was married to Caleb Joy of said Cohasset I think about the last of November 1775. That said Joy was drowned, I think, about twenty years after our marriage since that time I have been married twice. my last husband's name was William Harris whose widow I now am. And would further represent that the said Caleb Joy was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and entered upon the service as a soldier about the time of our marriage and served in a company commanded by Capt. Job Lushing, I believe, a term of about six months and soon after the expiration of said first term he the said Joy enlisted again as a soldier I think for nine months, and at the end of that term he enlisted and served another term and continued as a soldier in the war as long as two years, but the officers under whom he served under Capt Lushing I cannot recollect, but have a recollection that he served a part of the time at Hull, and a part of the time at Castle Island. By the service of said Joy I think I am entitled to a pension under the Act of Congress of 1836. And I hereby respectfully make application to John C. Bolle Esquire Secretary of said Commonwealth for an examination of the rolls for the revolutionary service of said Joy, that I may obtain a Pension therefor. And would further represent that I am now and have been for several years past an inmate of Cohasset Alms house receiving support from the Town of Cohasset. And I hereby appoint said Secretary my Attorney for

the purpose of examining said rolls
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the thirtieth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
forty three
In presence of us
William Peabody
Lydia Peabody
Susannah her X Harris mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk County S.S. June 30 th 1843. Then the above named Susannah Harris subscribed the foregoing and made oath that the same is true according to the best of her recollection
Before me
Samuel Humphrey, Justice of the Peace

59 46
Susanna Harris
Mass.
Act 4 July 36
Dr. 76. 2 96
Secy. Cuffee 75. (opt. 8mo 77 - pri. 5 -
adm d 8mo Cope 5. pri 46. 33
L. Humphrey Weymouth Mass -

I Samuel Whitmarsh of Weymouth in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, being in the Eighty third year of my age, do testify and say that I served as a Soldier more than six years during the Revolutionary War. I enlisted for two three year terms of service, and served nearly the whole of each term, mostly as a private. My first three years enlistment was I think in May in the year 1777, in Col. Thomas Crafts Regiment, afterwards commanded by Col. Paul Revere. While in this first three years service, I became acquainted with Caleb Joy of Cohasset. He served in the same Regiment with me as a private more than one half of the said first term of three years. A part of this service I performed at Castle Island in Boston Harbor, a part of it at Hull, a part of it at Rhode Island & several other places, took one tour to Penobscot with Gen. Lovell, returned through the woodland and had a hard time. I was transferred from one company to another, a part of the time in Capt Thomas Newcomb's company, a part in Amos Lincoln's Company and in Peter Cushing's company. I well remember of being with said Joy at the Castle and when at Hull and I think at other times. In the tour to Penobscot I have no recollection of Joy, and think he was not

there. But I do have a perfect recollection of serving with him at the places above mentioned. A part of the time I think he belonged to Peter Cushing's Company and a part of the time I cannot say to what company he was attached -
Witness
Abigail Whitmarsh
Samuel his Whitmarsh mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk County ss. August 14 th 1843. Then personally appeared before me the subscriber a justice of the peace within and for the county of Norfolk the above named Samuel Whitmarsh and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed in my presence is true, and I certify that said Whitmarsh is well known to me as a person of good reputation for truth, and that his recollection appears to be very good for a man of his years.
Daniel Humphrey, Justice of the peace

I David Lord of Braintree in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, aged eighty three years, do testify and say that I was a Soldier in the Revolutionary war and during that service I well knew Caleb Jay of Cohasset and served with him at Hull I think in the year 1776 a term of about six months. I also served with said Jay at Cambridge in 1778. in guarding Burgoyne's Troops eight months. I also served with said Jay at Castle Island in Boston harbor in the latter part of the war I think in 1781 or 1782. we were both privates. I think he was not in the same company with me either at Cambridge or at Hull, but well recollect the man and his service and many little affairs that he took part in during said service. He was a man a few years older than myself. David Lord
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk County ss. Aug 9th 1843. Then personally appeared before me the subscriber a justice of the peace within and for the county of Norfolk the above named David Lord and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed in my presence is true, and I certify that the said Lord is well known to me as a man of good reputation for truth, and his recollection appears vigorous.
Daniel Humphrey, Justice of the peace

Weymouth Sep. 1 st 1843.
Honored Sir,
Inclosed are Declarations for Pensions of Susanna Harris and Phoebe Thayer, and accompanying papers. It will be seen that Mrs. Harris who is now 86 has been very unfortunately cut off from a Pension by a subsequent marriage until the Act of Aug. 1842. And now in looking about her for proof of her first husband's service finds that every Revolutionary Soldier in the Town where he resided is dead, and that there are very few else whom that can help her to the names of the officers under whom he served, several of which she has undoubtedly lost by her advanced age. It is probable that some of Joel's service was performed as a substitute. There appears no doubt in the minds of any who were acquainted with Joel in his early life that he served much as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Many that are now living have represented to the subscriber, and persons of good character, that they have at various times heard Joel, whom they considered to be a man of truth, speak of his service in the War as amounting in the whole to three years, and give many of the particulars thereof, and that they believe Mrs. Harris is unquestionably entitled to a full Pension.
She is destitute of property, and her connections who left her from the old house for several years are also poor; yet the old lady appears to be much interested, and it is hoped the Honorable Pension Department will give her attention to her case.
In regard to the case of Phoebe Thayer, she appears to be unfortunate in not obtaining all the proof of her husband's service which is desirable. The old

contemporaries of Thayer confirm the representation of Mrs Thayer, saying that they well remember that her husband was a soldier in the service during most of the Revolutionary War. Yet as few of them were with him they cannot testify to the particular service.
It is concluded that he must have served considerably as a substitute. Mrs. Thayer appears to be a very conscientious, and an excellent kind hearted old lady and greatly esteemed by her acquaintance. Her statement of her husband's service after the marriage is unquestion- ably correct. We leave the case with the Honorable Gentlemen who are constituted to decide upon it, believing that they are aware that not one widow in one hundred can name the officers correctly under whom her husband when has been dead more than thirty five years, served sixty five years ago, although she may have a good recollection of the amount of service, and many of the particulars thereof.
Any communication upon the subject of either of the above mentioned cases may be addressed to the subscriber, who is most respectfully
your obt. Servant
Samuel Humphrey
J. P. Edwards Esquire