Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14960, for Matthew Hunt, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Hunt, Matthew Winefred
W. 14960
CONTENTS

Massachusetts 2042
Winefred Hunt, widow of Matthew Hunt, Dec d
who died on the 16 May, 1797; of Suffolk Co in the State of Massachusetts who was a private in the company commanded by Captain J. Bushnell of the ————— commanded by ————— in the Massachusetts line for 2 Years private. Mass.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 80 Dollars ————— Cents, per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of May, 1838; and sent to Elazer Holman, Boston, Mass.
Arrears to the 14th of March, 1838 $560:00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. 38 40:00
$600:00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 1, 1836, Section the 3 rd }
Recorded by S. S. S. Clerk, Book 1, Vol. 2 Page 51.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office, Boston Decemr. 27. 1837.
I hereby certify that from "An Abstract of pay due to the Officers and Soldiers of a Company for the defence of Castle and Governor's Islands, Commanded by the Hon. Thomas Cushing Esq. from the 25 Oct. 1781, to 24 th April 1782" the name of Matthew Hunt appears on said abstract as a private and to have served Six months in said capacity. And that the names of Moses Whitcomb and Samuel Wales appear as privates in the same Roll.
In testimony of which I have hereunto affixed the great Seal of the Commonwealth, the date abovenwritten.
John C. Dike Com
Secy of the Com th

5240 Winifred Hunt widow of Matthew.
Rolls.
Vol 25. p 2 - from 10 Feby 81. Div 50 3 " 1 Jan'y to 24 Oct 81 4 " 25 Oct 81. to 24 Apr 82
admd
2 years pri
80%
no deduction
Eleazar Homer Esq Boston Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By His Excellency EDWARD EVERETT , Governor and Commander in Chief in and over said Commonwealth.
To all whom it may concern:
Edward Everett
Know Ye, That Thomas Spring Esq r is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Plymouth; that Benjamin Richards Esq r is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Norfolk; and that Peter O. Stracher Esq r is Judge of the Boston Municipal Court for the County of Suffolk; (and they are at the duty of their several attestations) in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commission- ed, and that to their Acts and Attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court; that the within Attestations are in due form, and by the proper Officers.
In Testimony Whereof, I have caused the Public Seal of the Commonwealth to be hereunto affixed, this twentieth day of December, A. D. 1837. and in the Sixty second Year of the Independence of the United States of America.
By His Excellency the Governor.
[Signature] Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County, Hingham May 29/1837.
This may Certify to whom it may concern, That I Jas. S. Lewis do on Oath declare that I am Town Clerk of Hingham aforesaid, and that I have the custody of the records of said town that it appears by said records that Matthew Hunt and Winifred Simmons were joined in marriage by Rev. Ebenezer Gay, Pastor of the First Church in Hingham, April 27th 1778.
James S. Lewis, Town Clerk
Plymouth ss. Hingham May 29, 1837 Then personally appeared before the Subscriber James S. Lewis whose name is signed to the aforesaid affidavit and made Oath that the facts therein stated are true.
Before me,
Thos. Loring Justice of the Peace

I Moses Whitcomb of Randolph in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being in my seventy ninth year of my Age do testify and say that I was well acquainted with Matthew Hunt, who once lived in Randolph, Randolph was formerly a part of Braintree in said County of Norfolk, he afterward moved to Hull in Plymouth County with his family, said Matthew Hunt, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution and served at Castle William or Castle Island in the the harbor of Boston in the years 1780, 1781 & 1782. I was on the Castle with him I enlisted in 1780 and served three years, as a Private, I think he must have been there two years and upwards, he was there in the service in those years named above 1780-1781 & 1782 - I will not undertake to say how long he particularly served, at what time he enlisted or what time he was discharged - but he was there the greater part of the time I was and served in those years I have named above of which I am very positive, I understand said Hunt has been dead a number of years and has left a Widow - I was in the same room with him when he quarters on the castle while he was in the service as a Private with the Massachusetts troop stationed at the castle. I draw a Pension for my services at the Castle
Commonwealth of
Moses Whitcomb
Massachusetts, Norfolk County ss. October 9th 1837 Then the above named Moses Whitcomb, who is esteemed and reputed to be a person of truth and veracity and whose word may be relied on personally appeared and made Oath to the truth of the Above Affidavit by him subscribed -
Before Me Benjamin Richards Justice of the Peace

2 affidavits. M Hunt attorney. Whitechurch & Sars' Wales. —

I Moses Whitcomb of Randolph in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being in my seventy ninth year of my Age do testify and say that I was well acquainted with Matthew Hunt, who once lived in Randolph, Randolph was formerly a part of Braintree in said County of Norfolk, he afterward moved to Hull in Plymouth County with his family, said Matthew Hunt, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution and served at Castle William or Castle Island in the the harbor of Boston in the years 1780, 1781 & 1782. I was on the Castle with him I enlisted in 1780 and served three years, as a Private, I think he must have been there two years and upwards, he was there in the service in those years named above 1780- 1781 & 1782 - I will not undertake to say how long he particularly served, at what time he enlisted or what time he was discharged - but he was there the Greater part of the time I was and served in those years I have named above of which I am very positive, I understand said Hunt has been dead a number of years and has left a Widow - I was in the same room with him when he quartered on the Castle while he was in the service as a Private with the Massachusetts troops stationed at the Castle. I draw a Pension for my services at the Castle.
Commonwealth of
Moses Whitcomb
Massachusetts, Norfolk County ss. October 9th 1837. Then the above named Moses Whitcomb, who is esteemed and reputed to be a person of truth and veracity and whose word may be relied on personally appeared and made Oath to the truth of the Above Affidavit by him subscribed.
Before Me Benjamin Richards Justice of the Peace

I Samuel Wales of Sturminster in the County of Norfolk & State of Massachusetts being in my seventy eighth year of my age do testify & say that I was acquainted with Mathew Hunt who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution, that he served on Castle William or Castle Island in the harbor of Boston with me, I served three years, in 1780 - 1781 & 1782. I do not now recollect whether or not Hunt served the whole time I did - but he was there the greater part of the time - he lived in Braintree now Randolph I think in the time of the war - he was a private, I think, he had used to go  in a boat, and I believe he used to carry the Col. Barker and others up to Boston & back again, in his boat, he removed from Braintree now Randolph with his family and where he removed to I do not know - Samuel Wales
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk County ss, October 12th 1837
Then the above named Samuel Wales, who is considered and reputed to be a person of undoubted truth and veracity personally appeared and made Oath to the truth contained in the above Affidavit by him subscribed
Before Me Benjamin Richards Justice of the Peace

Wint

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Suffolk ss.
On this nineteenth day of December  June in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty seven personally appeared before the Honorable Peter O. Thacher Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston in the County & Commonwealth aforesaid. Winifred Hunt, a resident of Boston who being first duly sworn according to Law, does on Oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Acts of Congress of July 4, 1831. & March 3, 1837. That she is the Widow of Matthew Hunt who at the time of his death resided at the Town of Hull in the County of Plymouth of the said Commonwealth, who was a Soldier of the Revolutionary War, enlisted on the Castle in Boston Harbour, and served under Thomas Cushing Esq. Commander, and Will m Burbeck Captain Lieutenants.
That the said Matthew Hunt commenced his service in the Spring of 1780, and continued in the same service until the 24 th of April 1782, making the whole time as near as she recollects & believes two Years, perhaps for a longer time which on referring to the Castle Rolls will more fully appear, as she believes.
The said Winifred further declares that she lived at Hingham that her maiden name was Simmonds when she married to said Matthew Hunt in the 27 th day of April 1778, as appears by a Certificate annexed from James S. Lewis Town Clerk of said Hingham, and that he died on the sixteenth of May, 1797, at Hull, and that she has remained his Widow ever since. She further says that she never knew that her said Husband received any Pension & believes that he never did.
Witness to the signature of Winifred Hunt Peter O. Thacher.
Winifred Hunt mark
Signed & sworn to on the day & year first above written viz on 19 th December A.D. 1837 before me
Peter O. Thacher, Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston. I certify that Mrs Winifred Hunt the above applicant, by reason of infirmity cannot personally appear in court; & that she is a person of fair character in whom confidence may be reposed in truth & veracity. Peter O. Thacher, Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston.
Boston Dec 19, 1837

I Matthew Hunt of the City of Boston, Branch Pilot for the Port of Boston, being in the forty-fifth year of my age, do testify and say, that my Father Matthew Hunt, deceased, as I have always been informed and believe at Hull in the County of Plymouth of Commonwealth of Massachusetts, when I was in the 40th year of my age, leaving my Mother, Winifred Hunt, the foregoing applicant, a widow, and the said Winifred hath continued his widow, and without intermarrying with any person to this day. I further say, that from my youth upwards to this time, my said Mother has given the same account respecting my said Father's serving on the Castle in the Harbor of Boston, now called Fort Independence, as is contained in the application aforesaid, and that I believe the same to be true in all respects.
Matthew Hunt
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
In Suffolk. On this 19 th day of December A.D. 1897, the said Matthew Hunt made solemn oath to the truth of the above affidavit before me: and further certify that I have known the said Matthew Hunt for some years, that he is reputed to be a man of truth and veracity; and I fully believe the foregoing affidavit in all its parts. Peter A. Tracher, Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston.

March 19
11

Mrs Hunt says she knew her husband served under Col. Burbeck on the the Castle - Peter Thayer was with him in same service from Rensselaer
Seth Turner Rept, Braintree Apr. 3 1786. for an order on George Mackay, Boston Leon Dancum signed by his Father for a suit of clothes due to him
for services on Castle - Enlistment on a Hott. N. 3. The Cushing Esq. Capt. & Com. of the Castle from 25. Oct. 1781. to 26. Apr. 1782. entitled for other bills before & after arrival in Washington to Union Office where on application they will appear & make out a receipt of his services

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14960 Catherine Kent widow of Matthew Kent Prs New War
Act: July 4 th 35
Index:—Vol. a , Page 357
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Boston Dec. 22 1837.
Herewith is enclosed the Case of the Widow of Matthew Hunt that I have made out at the request of said Widow & her son - Matthew Hunt Jr. who I have known for many years serving in the business of Piloting in & out the Harbour of Boston, & has always been much esteemed for his faithful & good conduct, for which he obtained a Branch, and is worthy of being believed in his Affidavit herein annexed.
A Part of the service of Matthew Hunt is borne on a (duplicate) Castle Roll & V o 3. wherein it appears he served under Capt. Thomas Cushing from from October 25. 1781. to April 24, 1782. Six months. the other part of his service may be found on the other Castle Rolls, envelop'd together from N o 1 to N o 4. Last, that were delivered to you at Boston, and which may be refer'd to prove the service.
As she is dependent on her it will be gratifying for her to receive a Certificate of whatever may be decided for her as soon as convenient, as well as to Your
Humble Servant James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions.
Eleazer Homer J. S.