Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 37,479, for Ebenezer Symmes, Massachusetts

SERVICE
cont.
Mass.
Dynnes, Oberer
NUMBER _____
S. 37,479
CONTENTS

Date of death not on AB
7463
District of Maine
Ebenezer Symmes
of Newfield District in the state of Maine who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Little of the Massachusetts line, for the term of one year.
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 7 th of February 1819.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 th of March 1819 and sent to G. Thatcher, Esq. Saco, Me.
Arrears to 4th of March 1819 - \frac{22.50}{20.37} 7. 31 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Sept. 1819 40. 00
64/19 55. 31
York { Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
York 6 th Mo.

Ebenezer Symmes Private -
Col. Little's Mass. Reg. Dec. 1775 - 1 year -
7 Feb. 1819 -
Admitted

I Ebenezer Symmes of Newfield in the District of Maine, of sixty four years of age do testify and declare that I served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War as follows I enlisted in Dec r 1778 under Capt. Merabiah Dodge of Epes's in Massachusetts in Colo. Moore's Settle's Regiment for one year & served out the time and then volunteered at the request of the Officers for one month & served the month, & was regularly discharged. I had a pass given me as it was then called in stead of a written discharge I was discharged at Chatham in the Ferry in the year 1779 as will appear by the writing under the hand of Colo. Settle for my clothing which was lost which writing is herewith annexed. I have no Pension, am a Native Citizen of the U.S. and from my reduced situation & inferiority of body I am in need of assistance from my country for support. During the said time of service I was in the battle on Long Island, and also in the battle at York Island, and at White Plains and was at Trenton at the capture of the Hessians and at the battle at Princeton. —
7 February 1819
Ebenezer Symmes
Commonwealth of Massachusetts ss.
Be it known that on the seventh day of February 1819 before me the subscriber One of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid personally appeared the above named Ebenezer Symmes and being duly sworn made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him subscribed in my presence in order to obtain the provision made by the late 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. From which declaration signed and sworn to as aforesaid I George Thacher Justice &c. Do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Ebenezer Symmes did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in his declaration, against the common enemy. And that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of

the assistance of his country for support and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony had before me to the Secretary of the department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforesaid Act of Congress.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and have caused the seal of said Court to be hereunto affixed this seventh day of February A.D. 1819.
George Thatcher

I William Symmes of Lawfull age do testify and say that I was in the year's service of the Revolutionary War in the year 1776 and I do know that Ebenezer Symmes did serve thirteen months in the Regt. of Infantry commanded by Col. Moses Little and in the company commanded by Capt. Abram Dodge and that he was honorably discharged from said service at Chatham in the State of Virginia in the year A.D. 1777
William Symmes
Commonwealth of Massachusetts York ss. February 10 th 1819
Personally appeared the above named William Symmes and made solemn oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed
Before me James Ager Jr. Just. Peace
I James Heard of lawfull age do testify and say that I was in the year's service of the Revolutionary War in the year 1776 and do know that Ebenezer Symmes did serve thirteen months in the Regt. of Infantry commanded by Col. Moses Little and in the company commanded by Capt. Abram Dodge and that he was honorably discharged from said service at Chatham in Virginia in the year A.D. 1777
James Heard
Commonwealth of Massachusetts York ss. February 10 th 1819
Personally appeared the above named James Heard and made solemn oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed
Before me James Ager Jr. Just. Peace

July 30, 1936
XXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/REL
Ebenezer Symmes-S.37479 William Symmes -W.25178
Mr. C.C.Symmes Room 207 Bancroft Hall U.S.Naval Academy Annapolis, Maryland
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the records of three brothers who were soldiers in the Revolutionary War, John Cleves Symmes, who was a colonel; Ebenezer, born 1755, at Ipswich, Massachusetts; and William Symmes, born November 15, 1756, at Ipswich, Massachusetts.
There is no claim for pension or bounty land on file based upon the military service in the Revolutionary War of John Cleves Symmes. Such claims are the source of the data furnished by this office.
It is suggested that as a possible means of obtaining information in regard to the military service of this colonel, you apply to The Adjutant General, War Department, this city, who is custodian of military records.
The records of Ebenezer Symmes and William Symmes are furnished you herein.
Ebenezer Symmes S.37479
The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.37479, based upon the military service in that war of Ebenezer Symmes.
The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of Ebenezer Symmes are not shown.
Ebenezer Symmes enlisted at Ipswich, Massachusetts, in December, 1775, served one year and one month as corporal in Captain Abraham Dodge's Company, Colonel Moses Little's Massachusetts

Regiment and was in the battles of Long Island, White Plains, York Island(Fort Washington), Trenton and Princeton.
Ebenezer Symmes was allowed pension on his application executed February 7, 1819, at which time he was aged sixty-four years and resided in Newfield, Massachusetts(Maine).
In 1819, William Symmes made affidavit in York County, Massachusetts(Maine): no relationship to Ebenezer Symmes was shown.
It is not stated that soldier was ever married.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Ebenezer Symmes(S-37479), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
Ebenezer Symmes, Certificate No. 7463, issued March 9, 1819, rate $8 per month, commenced February 7, 1819, Act of March 18, 1818, Maine Agency.
* * * * *
William Symmes W. 25178
The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, W.25178, based upon the military service of William Symmes in that war.
William Symmes was born November 15, 1755 or 1756. The place of his birth and the names of his parents are not shown.
While residing in Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, William Symmes served in 1775 as a minute man at Danvers and Salem, protecting the artillery from the British and on April 19, 1775, marched to the battle of Lexington; he enlisted May 1, 1775, served as a private in Captain John Low's Company, Colonel John Mansfield's Massachusetts Regiment, served eight months, then reenlisted under same captain in Colonel Israel Hutchinson's Massachusetts Regiment, served one year and was discharged in New Jersey; reenlisted in that

state in January, 1777, in Captain Broderick's Company in the regiment commanded by Colonel John Cleves Symmes(soldier's brother), and was discharged April 3, 1777, at Westfield, New Jersey: after this, he went to Ipswich, Massachusetts, thence to New Hampshire, where he enlisted July 8, 1777, in Captain Peter Kimball's Company, Colonel Thomas Stickney's New Hampshire Regiment, marched to Bennington, Vermont, and was in the battle at that place where he was wounded by a musket ball which passed through his right arm between the elbow and the shoulder and shattered the bone: he was discharged as unfit for further military duty, but was unable to return to Ipswich, Massachusetts, until February, 1778.
After the Revolution, William Symmes moved to Washington (later Newfield), Massachusetts(Maine).
He was allowed pension from August 8, 1794, on account of disability resulting from the above noted wound. He was also allowed pension on account of his military service on his application executed May 6, 1818, at which time he relinquished his pension for disability. He was then residing in Newfield, York County, Massachusetts(Maine).
He died December 22, 1825, in said Newfield. He was a deacon of the Congregational Church for more than twenty years prior to his death.
The soldier married December 12, 1782, in Washington(later Newfield), Massachusetts(Maine), Mehitable Moulton. Both were then of said Washington. The date and place of her birth and the names of her parents are not stated.
Soldier's widow, Mehitable, was allowed pension on her application executed September 3, 1838, at which time she was aged seventy-five years and resided in Newfield, York County, Maine.
The names of two children are shown, as follows:
Daughter Austice or Anstice. . . . . in 1820, aged twentysix years; in 1846, Austice or Anstice Symmes signed as a witness to an affidavit, in York County, Maine. Son James Symmes. . . . . born in 1800, in 1846, living in Newfield, Maine

In 1819, Ebenezer Symmes made affidavit in York County, Massachusetts(Maine), in support of William Symmes claim for pensions no relationship between them was stated.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Mehitable Symmes, widow of William Symmes(W.25178), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
Mehitable Symmes, widow of William Symmes, Certificate No. 1046, issued July 31, 1848, rate $80 per annum, commenced March 4, 1848, Act of February 2, 1848, Maine Agency.
• • • • •
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

In Camp Chatham Feb 1 1777
These certify that when General Lord Howe was ordered to march from Pictou to the Jersey side the soldiers had orders to leave their baggage, all except a shirt, pair of Stockings &c. Accordingly the baggage was left behind. The Care of an Officer, till the first of Jan y the soldiers some then being expired a Num- ber of them went to the Officer for their Packs, the Officer not knowing every Individuals Pack, was not able to judge whether they took only what belonged to them or not, and so it was that a number of Soldiers have lost some of their Clothing, belonging to my Regiments, I have no reason to doubt but that a Number of my men also lost in my Reg t have lost the following Articles of Clothing (Viz)
1 Satchel Coat 1 Regimental Coat 1 Broad Cloth waistcoat 1 pair Deer Skin breeches 1 Silk Handkerchief 3 pair Stockings part worn
Moses Lillie Col

37 479 INVALID. By
1936-July 30-Shift to C.C. Symmes v. E.R.
File No. 37 479
Ebenezer Symmes Di Ver 1840
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 311
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Bureau of Navigation Training Unit, Room 207, Bancroft Hall, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland.
The Chief of the Pension Bureau, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C.
Sir:
Will you please forward to me a copy of the war records of the below listed men for use in connection with compiling data for a genealogy of my family. All the information that I have concerning them, which may aid you in locating these records, is as follows:
○ John Cleves Symmes (Date of birth unknown) Ebenezer Symmes Born 1755, at Ipswich, Massachusetts. William Symmes Born 15 November 1756, at Ipswich, Massachusetts.
John Cleves Symmes was a brother of Ebenezer and William, and it is said that he attained the rank of Colonel in the Revolutionary Army.
I thank you very kindly for your consideration.
Respectfully yours,
C.C. Symmes C.C. SYMMES, Yeoman 2nd class, U.S. Navy.