Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,521, for Jonathan Taylor, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Taylor, Jonathan
S. 21,521
CONTENTS

1888 July 19 H B Jay For History Pivot
written of a piece of affidavit, or upon the end of which must
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1857.
Recorded by not
Cler

Jonathan Taylor
22,361
Private Journal
1 year 9 mo 4 1/2 days
5 86
Apr 16 1835
350
70
Rev Geo. Greenfield Jr.
E. Alvord Esq
Greenfield Mass

BRIEF in the case of Sonathan Taylor of Ashfield in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In open court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy five 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. As a Gen.  
   In 1775 about 3 Substitute Col: Fellows Col: Webb   1776 1 " Col: Ward Col: Bartlett   1777 about 1 12 " Capt: Phillips   1777 2 as near as he can recollect Capt: Cranson   1778 about 4 Substitute Capt: Pomeroy  
July  5. In what battles was he engaged? None named  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? In Ashfield  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? A living witness and traditional evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Not as the regulations require 
A swearing that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Examining Clerk.
This applicant was a pensioner under the act of 1818 - His certificate for pay is enclosed N o 13.066 - was stricken off on account of property

District of Massachusetts, ss.
ON this eighteenth day of July 1819, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Western Circuit in the State of Massachusetts, which Circuit includes the Counties of Worcester, Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Berkshire, personally appears Jonathan Taylor a citizen of the United States, aged sixty two years, resident in Wilspeld
in the said District, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, 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;" That he the said Jonathan Taylor enlisted in Decr. 1775 in the state of Massachusetts in the company commanded by captain Samuel Root of the Regiment of Col. Jonathan Ward of the Massachusetts Line
that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States, until the last  when he was discharged from service  at  the  state of  Connecticut - that he has a small property, a small pension possibly  by reason of disability, inferiority is unable to labor that he was in the battles at the surrender of Boston, and Bunker's Hill, in the retreat from Bunker's Hill, and the taking of New York - and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services. And no pension has ever been allowed him by the laws of the United States. Sworn to and declared before me, the day and year aforesaid,  being first subscribed by him,  Jonathan Taylor.
Joseph H. Lewis Judge
To the Secretary of the Department of War.
I, Joseph H. Lewis Judge, &c. as aforesaid, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Jonathan Taylor did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy: and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court aforesaid, this eighteenth day of July A. D. 1819.
And I further certify that it appears to my satisfaction that said Jonathan Taylor by reason of his reduced circumstances in life is in need of assistance from his country for support.
Joseph H. Lewis Judge

Jonathan Taylor Ashfield
22301
Jonathan Taylor
17 1794

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
FRANKLIN COUNTY ss.
ON THIS sixteenth day of october A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Chancery Court of Common Pleas of the Probate said Commonwealth, now sitting at Greenfield within and for the said County of Franklin, Jonathan Taylor a resident of Ashfield in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy five years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of an 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.
I first entered the service of the United States as a soldier of the revolution in the latter part of June or for part of July A.D. 1775- and served as a substitute for one Zebulon Bryant for about two months but tell the precise time I served but according to my recollection I think it was about two months. The officers of our company were Col. Fellows. Lt. Col. Ayer. Maj. Lupper. The officers of our company were Capt. Webber. Lts Samuel Allen and Samuel Bartlett. I resided in Ashfield in the then County of Hampshire in the County of Franklin & State of Massachusetts when I entered the service. I was a substitute in the Massachusetts Militia. I left home from Ashfield and joined my company at Roxbury, and did duty there & at Dorchester. I was at Roxbury when Maj. Lupper at the head of a body of Americans went & burnt the light house below the harbor & brought off a number of British prisoners. General Washington had the Command at this time. I was relieved at Dorchester & came home. I also again entered the service of U.S. in A.D. 1776 & served one year. for which said time I have once been on the pension roll and have been struck from the same on the account hereby. The proof this one year's service will be found in the town I was a private in this service, and served in Col. Jonathan Taylor's company in Capt. Samuel Bartlett's company.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
R. E. Pownall Judge of Probate
Jonathan Taylor
WE, Henry Prof... Ephraim Williams
residing in said Ashfield hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jonathan Taylor who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy five 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.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
R. E. Pownall Judge of Probate
Ephraim Williams Henry Basset
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 Ephraim Williams and Henry Basset Esquires who have severally signed the preceding certificates are resident in the said town of Ashfield and are both Justices of the Peace for said county and credible persons; and that their statement is entitled to credit. And that the applicant was not able without considerable expense to procure the attendance a neighboring clergyman.
R. E. Pownall Judge of Probate
I, ELIJAH ALVORD, Register Clerk of the said Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jonathan Taylor for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, this sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
E. Alvord, Reg. Prob
Clerk

in Ashfield aforesaid and lived in the same place then I first made the application for a pension under the act of Congress A. D. 1818. The certificate of my service having been on the pension rolls for one years service is herewith transmitted. I also again about the first of July A. D. 1777, volunteered & entered the Massachusetts State service and served about full six weeks. I lived at this time at said Ashfield, and marched from said Ashfield with my company under the command of Capt. Benjamin Phillips direct to Moses Creek. We staid at Moses Creek two or three weeks, when Gen. Burgoyne's Army advancing upon us we retreated to Stillwater. Generals Arnold Schuyler & St. Clair were with us at Stillwater. After the arrival of the continental, at Stillwater we were disappointed and I came home. But I had not been home more than three or four days, before an alarm was given & soldiers called for, and I again with others volunteered as a soldier in the Massachusetts militia, and marched with our company from said Ashfield under the command of Capt. Elisha Branson, on or about the twentieth of August the same year (A. D. 1777), direct through Bennington Vt. to Saratoga N. Y. where we did duty as soldiers for two months - as near as I can recollect in this campaign I was in a skirmish with the enemy at Moses Creek, from there we marched to Fort Edwards to prevent Gen. Burgoyne's retreat, and while here Burgoyne surrendered, his whole army, prisoners of war. After the surrender of Burgoyne we all returned home. Gen. Gates had the command of the army at the time I recollect. Gen. Lincoln & Gen. Arnold were there.
I also again sometime in June (the day I can not tell) A. D. 1778 enlisted in the Massachusetts State service for six months. But we did not leave but about four months although I think we received pay for about five months. We were disappointed by Gen. Stark before our term of enlistment was out, at Albany, I went out as a substitute for one Barnabas Alden, I being enlisted for that purpose. I lived at said Ashfield at this time and went through Pittsfield to Albany N. Y. the place of our rendezvous. When we arrived at Albany, Capt. Daniel Powny of Northampton Mass. took the command of our company. There was but one other company there. Our duty was to guard the city & the publick stores & prisoners, under the command of General Stark. A general discharge was given to the soldiers by Gen. Stark and we came home. I never had any written discharges, nor have I any documentary papers as evidence of my service. For the three months service at Roxbury I do not know any living witness who served with me by whom I can prove that service.
For the four months service at Albany I do not know, but I could prove this service by going to Remont, 150 miles, to one Jonathan Lyon, if he is alive. I do not know whether he is alive or not.
Ebenezer Dyer

I Jonathan Taylor the within applicant for a pension do on this twenty fifth day of May 1833 depose and say that by reason of old age, lapse of time & consequent loss of memory I cannot swear positively as to the precise length of time service, but according to the best of my recollection I served not less than one year nine months & fifteen days in the whole time in the capacity of a private soldier for the whole time and at the times stated in the body of my declaration.
Jonathan Taylor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss. The above named Jonathan Taylor, who is known to me as the same person who subscribed and made oath to the within declaration, now on the twenty fifth day of May A.D. 1833 personally came before me Elijah Alvord a Justice of the Peace for said county of Franklin and Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the said Commonwealth for said county and made solemn oath that the foregoing supplementary declaration and statement is true.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said court at Greenfield in said
day of
thousand
eight hundred and thirty three
E. Alvord, Clerk and Justice of the Peace as aforesaid

HENRY B. TAYLOR & SONS, Mooers, Clinton Co., N. Y. Notary Public and Conveyancers, Obtain Pensions, Bounties, Increase Pensions, Arrears of Pay, Commutation of Rations, Restoration to the Rolls, Pay for Horses Lost in the Service, and all other claims against the United States, for legal fees and actual expenses. Special attention given to REJECTED CLAIMS, and to search for Military History of lost men.
V. S. Claim Agency,
Mooers, Clinton County, N. Y.
June 10th. 1888.
Dear Sir: - Your esteemed favor of May 31st. came duly to hand. Very much obliged. Probably both the Stephen Tay- lors of whom you write were of my ancestors, File No. 43,457. Being my grand father's brother, and No. 33,774. Being certainly his son. I have information that my uncle Stephen was married to Mindwell Taylor a distant cousin. The Col. Wright was a nephew, son of my aunt Thankful Taylor.

am thankful for the facts of Uncle Stephen's service, I was in doubt of that fact. Now it is certain that my grand father Jonathan Taylor of Ashfield was in the service of the U.S. in the Revolution, and his sons Jasher, Henry, Stephen, and Jonathan. Jasher married Dolly Carr, lived in Lenox till 1814., moved to Ohio, and died at Dover O. Henry died in the army. Jonathan was three times married. 1st. to Phoebe Hower of Ashfield. 2d. to Eunice Baker Mathews, of Dennis Mass. 3d. to Mrs. Jerusha Shepherd Lyon, of Ashfield. He had a pension and died March 19th. 1839. Any further information can give me of the service of grand father Jonathan, or uncles Jasher, Henry, or Jonathan will be gratefully receiv- ed.
Respectfully, Henry D. Taylor.

Production
21 521 INVALID.
File No. 21 521
Jonathan Taylor Pa. New York
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 21 521
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Jonathan Taylor AH

Joshua Welden of Richfield in the county of Franklin and commonwealth of Massachusetts being seventy five years of age, do depose testify and say that I have for a long time been well acquainted with Jonathan Taylor of said Richfield and that living at that time a near neighbor to said Taylor I well remember that some time in the month of June one thousand seven hundred and seventy five the said Taylor entered into the service of the united states in a company of militia as a substitute for Solomon Briant of said Richfield and marched as I understood at that time to Boston, and I likewise well recollect that some time about the first of July one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven together with said Taylor entered into the service of the united states in a company of militia commanded by Benjamin Phillips of said Richfield and marched from said Richfield to Moses Creek on Hudson River and having served together about six weeks were both of us dismissed. and that about the twentieth day of August in the year last mentioned at said Richfield I entered together with said Taylor into the service of united states in a company of militia commanded by Capt. Elisha Green of said Richfield and marched from said Richfield to Saratoga and having served together about two months were then both of us dismissed. - and I do likewise recollect that some time in the last of June one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight at Richfield aforesaid the said Taylor entered into the service of the united states as a substitute for Barnabas Nlden of said Richfield
Joshua Welden
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Franklin ss. on this sixth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two Joshua Welden above named personally appeared before me Henry Bassett Esq. one of the justices of the peace for the county aforesaid. and after being duly sworn made on the that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true and I hereby certify that the said Joshua Welden the deponent is a person of truth and veracity Henry Bassett, justice of the peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss. I Elijah Alvord, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the county of Franklin do hereby certify that Henry Bassett Esq before whom the within affidavit was made and sworn to is a Justice of the Peace for said county: And that his name subscribed to the same appears to me to be his true and proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Greenfield on the sixteenth day of October A.D 1832.
E. Alvord, Clerk

13.066
Massachusetts
Jonathan Gaylord
of Ashfield in the state of Massachusetts who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel S. Ward of the Massachusetts line, for the term of 1 year.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts, at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 10 th of February 1819.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 th of July 1819 and sent to Jonat h Leavitt Esq r Greenfield - Mass ts
Arrears to 4th of March 1819 - \frac{4}{31} \times 8 - 4. 17
Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 th Dec r 1819 40. 00
$52.17
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
C

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Sonathan Taylor which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? NO VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? exo XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? yes XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? XIV. †If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes XVI. †Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

War Department.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I CERTIFY that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th of March, 1818,
Jonathan Taylor late a private in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the eighteenth day of February one thousand eight hundred and nineteen.
GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this twenty six th day of July one thousand eight hundred and nineteen.
J. C. Calhoun
Secretary of War.

Jon. Taylor 430 1/2
Jon. Leavitt Judge Greenfield, Mass.
Rec. July 12. 1819.
Jonathan Taylor Col. Edwards Regt Mass. line 1776 - 1781 10 th Feb. 1819
Admired
430 1/2

I Eliab Perkins, of Ganaan in the county of Columbia and State of New York, of lawful age do testify and say that I served as a soldier, in the year 1776, in the company commanded by Captain Samuel Bartlett in Col. Jon d Wards regiment, in the service of the United States of America that I know, Jonathan Taylor Esq. of Ashfield in the county of Franklin, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts that he enlisted into and joined said company, about the first of January in the year 1776, for one year at Dorchester, and marched with the regiment to New York, and from thence to Peekskill and continued with and served said company as a soldier the whole year, and was honorably discharged therefrom at the close of the year at Peekskill aforesaid. And further this deponent saith not, dated at Ganaan the 21 st April 1819 Eliab Perkins
State of New York. Columbia County ss.
Eliab Perkins the bearer of the foregoing Affi- -davit, came before me and made oath that the facts therein set forth, are true. And I do certify that the said Eliab Perkins, is a man of truth.
This 21 st day of April 1819 Sworn
Before me Pyley Spencer Justice of the Peace

Columbia County Clerk's office - 3.
I certify that Mary Spencer is a Justice of the peace in the County of Columbia - Witness my hand & the seal of the County. Seal this 22 nd June 1819 -
Thomas Miller
East Jermyn

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - County of Franklin
Buckland February 17 th 1819
I Jedediah Smith Late from Hadley in the County of Hampshire Being of lawfull age do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Jonathan Taylor of Ashfield in the County of Franklin: and I well remember that said Jonathan was a Soldier in Capt Samuel Bartlett's Compeany at Dorchester some time in February in the year one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Six: and I was a Soldier also at that time in the Continental Service, and saw said Jonathan in said Service about the time that Boston was given up to the American army: and I also see said Jonathan at New York in said Service: and he and I was in the same Regiment under the Command of Coll o Jonathan Ward (of the County of Worcester) , and I remember that I see said Jonathan in the said Service a great number of times: and I well remember that said Jonathan was discharged with me at Peekskill on the last Day of December in the above said year; and said Jonathan and I returned together Home; I then lived in Northampton and further saith not
Attest Ephraim Williams
Jedediah his X Smith mark
Franklin ss
February 17 th 1819 Personally appeared
Jedediah Smith above named and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing instrument he being a man of truth & veracity.
Before me Ephraim Williams justice of the Peace
Subscribed July 15 th 1819 I hereby certify that the above named Ephraim Williams is a Commissioner of Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Franklin ss Asst. Clerk of Court

HENRY B. TAYLOR & SONS, Mooers, Clinton Co., N. Y. Notary Public and Conveyancers, Obtain Pensions, Bounties, Increase Pensions, Arrears of Pay, Commutation of Rations, Restoration to the Rolls, Pay for Horses Lost in the Service, and all other claims against the United States, for legal fees and actual expenses. Special attention given to REJECTED CLAIMS, and to search for Military History of lost men.
W. S. Claim Agency,
Mooers, Clinton County, N. Y.
M A Y 24th. 1888.
Dear Sir:
I am looking up the history of my ancestors with the purpose of printing some account of them.
I heard from my father that my grandfather, and three or four of his sons served in the Continental Army, and one of the sons died in the service. If you can, and will furnish me from the records of the Pension Office the facts of such service, it will be a great favor, and give pleasure to the de- scendants of those patriotic men, who did and suffered so much, to win liberty to their country.
Jonathan Taylor lived in Ashfield Mass. during the period of the Revolution. He and his sons Jasher Taylor, Henry Tay- lor, Jonathan Taylor, and probably Stephen Taylor, served the most, if not all the Seven years of the struggle.
Henry died in the service. Jonathan Jun. was wounded, and drew a pension therefor. Some, or all of them were in the same Regiment, in which Daniel Shays, noted after the close of the war for an insurrection in Western Massachusetts, served. My father was born Jan. 1876. so was too young to have a per- sonal recollection of the events of the war.
But he had a vivid recollection of his oldest brother Jashur

coming home after having been out with Capt. Shays, and having up his bucket, and saying that he should go no further with Shays, as he had become satisfied that Shays intentions were not good, or patriotic, and he should never use the bucket he had carried seven years to achieve his country's liberty, in an effort to overthrow those liberties.
Jonathan Taylor Sen. died in 1702. All of his children, and all of his grand children but myself and a daughter of his son Jonathan are dead, and as there is no possible claim, or chance for a claim to be made on the U.S. for the services of him or his sons, I hope it may be allowable for you to give me the facts asked for to be used in my little family history.
Respectfully, Henry B. Taylor.
Henry B. Taylor, Sen. died in 1702. All of his children, and all of his grand children but myself and a daughter of his son Jonathan are dead, and as there is no possible claim, or chance for a claim to be made on the U.S. for the services of him or his sons, I hope it may be allowable for you to give me the facts asked for to be used in my little family history.
Recd. May 31 1888
Henry B. Taylor

W. J. Davis  Passenger
1883 May 21 13 38
Hays: Enroute Colo Woodbridge night at 10 Hall (resigned Oct 1780) (Capt 2nd or 1776) Myrtle 1786-7 he went to St. Louis & died in 1812 Capt in 5th Inf. Colo. Rifles, P. U. M.