Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 21512, for John Kelton, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Kelton, John Rachel
W 21512
CONTENTS

Letter to S. L. Harkness 10/10/38 General Estate widow of John Harkness
who died on the 2nd February 1825 of John Harkness the son of John who was a Justice in the County of ... by ... of the ... by ... in the ... the ...
In witness whereof the said ... at the ... of ... to ... in the ... of ... 1838.
Witnesseth that the said ... ... ... ... ... ...
...
{ Revolutionary Claims, for ... 1826, ... }
Recorded by ... Clerk, Book ... Vol. ... Page ...
Letter to S. L. Harkness 10/10/38 Order to pay 17/6/38 Letter to B. J. S. L. Harkness ... 1838.

Massachusetts Rolls.
1312
John Kelton, Private, Massachusetts line July 1781. 3 years
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of $ 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 30. th of March 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30. th of June 1818, and sent to Jno. Hooker, Esq. Springfield, Mass.
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818.
5 months 2/31 4/30.
$ 41. 57
{ Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818 }
Northampton Massachusetts

Notification sent July 20th 1820 to Abiah H. Wright, Martha W. Humphrey, Mary

John Patton claims 30 March
John Patton filed claim April 11/77
Correct D. H. Gnee
The Hon ble John C. Calhoun, Secretary of the Department of War.
Chas. Full
Washington

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire ss
On this 30 th day of March 1818 before me John Hooker Esquire Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas within & for the Western Circuit including the County of Hampshire in said Commonwealth, personally came and appeared John Shelton a citizen of the United States resident at Northampton in said County of Hampshire, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith That in Feb y 1781 he enlisted into the Army of the United States then called the Continental Army, in the company commanded by Capt y Story. Col n Jackson's Regiment in the Massachusetts line for the term of three years. That he continued in said service against the common enemy to the close of the war, and received an honorable discharge from General Knox on the 31 December 1783. (of which is hereto annexed) And the said deponent further states that he is now seventy one years of age and by reason of his reduced circumstances in life stands in need of assistance from his country for support John X Shelton Nigrit
Elijah H. Mills member of Congress from Massachusetts being duly sworn saith That he has long known the above named Shelton. That his reputation for truth is good. and that he is, along has been, in reduced circumstances in life, and stands in need of assistance from his country for support - Elijah H. Mills

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
affidavit. March 30 th AD 1810 When the above named John Kelton Delegation H. N. Pillsbury appeared before me John Hooker Esq. of Justice as before men- tioned Generally made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavits by them respectively subscribed and it appearing to my satisfaction that the said John Kelton the applicant served in the revolution- ary war for more than the term of nine months in the Continental establishment & yet a resident citizen of the United States — and I do therefore hereby certify & transmit the above as the testimony & proceedings had in said application before me to the Secretary of the department of War of the United States —
John Hooker
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & have caused the seal of the said Court in the said County of Hampshire to be hereunto affixed the day & year aforesaid
John Hooker
X

A-78
John Kilton
1811

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
HAMPSHIRE ss.
At a Special Session of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Western Circuit, begun and holden at Northampton, within and for the County of Hampshire, on Wednesday, the fifth day of July, and de die in diem to the day of said month A. D. 1820 :
PERSONALLY APPEARED, in open Court, being a Court of Record, within and for said County, created such by the Laws of the Commonwealth, Isaac Tilton , aged seventy three years, resident in Northampton in said County, who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows :
As I enlisted into Colo Ponds Regiment in the Mass line in March 1776 and served through the year afterwards I served nine months. Then three years I was honorably discharged. The particulars are in my original application under which I received a pension in Connecticut No 1312 dated 30 June 1818 he made his application for a pension on the 30 day of March 1818
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an 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," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is mentioned in the following schedule to me subscribed
My property consisting a little farm house with out buildings & a few acres of land in Northampton a small house in Springfield & a small house in Northampton. My pension & even that has been insufficient & I have been obliged to contribute additional aid for myself & wife who is sixty eight years old. We have no children or any other person who lives with us. I am unable to write to you & have no occupation for my wife.
Isaac Tilton
I, Elyse, Chairman of the board of Censors of the Poor of Northampton certify that the above statement made by Isaac Tilton in relation to his income may be true.
Elyse
Sworn to, and declared, on the
sixth day of July 1820,
Attest, Isiah Dwight Clerk.
I, JOSIAH DWIGHT, Clerk of said Court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule which follows it, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is no dollars, and no cents.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this sixth day of July 1820.
Josiah Dwight

ms
W. Feb-2 Rachel Carlton Com. m. k. 36 1838 C. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington

Northampton 29 th Jan y , 1878
J. L. Edwards Esq r Commissioner of Pensions Sir
About four weeks ago, Elizabeth Granger, daughter of Rachel Kelton pensioner deceased, sent to Commonwealth Bank in Boston her power of Atty to William Clark Jr. for the (payment) receiving payment of the amount due to her. Some uncertainty existing as to Mrs Granger being the only surviving child of pensioner, the Bank refused to make payment till further instructions from your Department. I am requested by Mrs. Granger to inquire what disposition has been made of her claim & when, since the failure of Com th Bank, she must look for payment.
Anne Kelton, w o of deceased pensioner & concerning whom survivorship there is an uncertainty, when last heard from, some years ago, was in the army in Arkansas Territory - being Respectfully her M ty Son Sam l J. Hinckley.

1712
Rachel Kelton moor of John
Mass
old case - no deduction aid in 1828
adm d
2 yrs pue
80 $
Saml. Hinckley Northampton Mass

State of Massachusetts Hampshire County
April 4. 1837 I the undersigned being of lawful age testify I say that I am the son of the late Rev. Solomon Williams who was for many years the settled minister in the Town of Northampton in said County, & kept the Records of the Church in said Town, and I find in the records that John Kelton and Rachel Wait were married to each other by the Rev. John Harker who was the settled minister in said Town next previous to the settlement of Rev. Williams, and in the hand writing of said Harker, that said John Kelton and Rachel Wait were married on the fourth of June 1772." and further saith not
Elphalet Williams
State of Massachusetts
Hampshire Co. April 4. 1837 Personally appeared Elphalet Williams being known to me to be a credible & disinterested witness and made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth Before me Samuel Hinckley Justice of Peace
I John Elliot of Southampton in the County of Hampshire in the State of Massachusetts of lawful age testify I say I was in the Army of the Revolutionary war and in the years 1776 or 1777 I enlisted for three years during said three years service I frequently saw John Kelton who went into the Army from Northampton in said County whom I knew before he enlisted into the three years service as a private soldier, and as near as I remembered he was in Col. Jackman's Regt. said Kelton was a soldier nearly all of the war. I was a soldier for six years in the service of the Revolutionary war - after the close of the war said Kelton returned home - and further saith not, April 4. 1837
State of Massachusetts
Hampshire County ss.
April 4. 1837
Francis Elliot
Personally appeared John Elliot subscriber to the foregoing affidavit who is known to me to be a credible and disinterested witness and being by me examined to testify the whole truth made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is the truth the whole truth & nothing but the truth
Before me Samuel Hinckley Justice of Peace
State of Massachusetts
Hampshire County ss.
April 4. 1837 Personally appeared Samuel Clarke of Northampton in said County being known to me to be a credible and disinterested witness and being by me examined to testify the whole truth and being of lawful age testifies and says that he knew John Kelton when quite a young man that he was at his wedding in 1772 and saw him married to Rachel Wait by the Rev. John Harker then Minister of the Gospel in the Town of Northampton aforesaid. That said Kelton was then and long before a resident in my father's family in said Northampton - that he enlisted into the Army of the Revolutionary war soon after it com- menced - that he was a private soldier in the three years service - that after the war closed he came home and continued to live in said Town until he died in 1829 - leaving his wife said Rachel a widow and she has ever since been married - and further saith not
State of Massachusetts
Hampshire County ss.
April 4. 1837
Personally appeared Samuel Clarke being known to me to be a credible and disinterested witness and being by me examined to testify the whole truth made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is the truth the whole truth & nothing but the truth
Samuel Clarke
Before me Samuel Hinckley Justice of Peace

Declaration
State of Massachusetts } ss. Hampshire County }
On this fourth day of April 1837 personally appeared before the Honorable Court of Probate of Wills & being a Court of Record in and for said County Rachel Kelton of Northampton in said County of Hampshire aged 84 years in December last past who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4. 1836: That she is the widow of John Kelton late of said Northampton deceased who was a Private Soldier in the Army of the Revolutionary War, that he voluntarily entered the service at or nearly the commencement of the war, that he served nearly or quite through the war, that he obtained a pension for his services under the act of Congress of March 18. 1818 for ninety six Dollars a year, that his pension certificate was numbered 1312. and that the evidence of his services is, as she believes, filed in his application for a pension in the War or Pension Office in Washington. That she married said John Kelton on the 4 th day of June 1772. That he died of a consumptive complaint and old age on the 4 th of Feb y 1827 That she has remained a widow since his decease, as will appear by reference to proof hereto annexed.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day Rachel her Kelton mark said year above written Before me Ichabam Conkey Judge of the Court of Probate
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampshire ss. I, Samuel P. Lyman Register of of the Court of Probate in and for said County do hereby certify that Ichabam Conkey Esq r is Judge of Probate within for said County and that Samuel Hinckley Esq r is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said county that both are duly and respectively commissioned & qualified as aforesaid and that the above signatures purporting to be theirs above written are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said court & county this fourth day of April A.D. 1837 Sam l P. Lyman Reg d Prob.
If granted please to enclose certificate to Isaac Hinckley, Northampton Mass

BY THE HONOURABLE MAJOR-GENERAL K N O X,
Commanding the AMERICAN FORCES on Hudson's River.
John Kelton Soldier _____ in the Third Massachusetts _____ Regiment, being inlisted for Three Years, is hereby honourably DISCHARGED from the Service of the United States.
Given in the State of New-York,
the Thirty first Day of December
1783.
By the General's Command,
H M M c Neal
REGISTERED in the Books of the Regiment,
John B. Stafford Clerk
John B. Lock in City of New

21-5712 WIDOW, &c.
File No. 21012
Rachel Nelson Widow of John Nelson Decd.
Act: June 4 th 18
Index:—Vol. 1 Page 94
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Apr 15 1903 - Hasty Moss Kellum 1000 lbs

Sept 22
Mr. Grant
W.C.
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Passion Office
Washington D.C.

certificate bears date 12 th June last died a few days before the 4 th of Sept. She has left several children & some grandchildren, whose parents are dead. One son has been absent nearly 20 years in Missouri & has not been heard from for many years & it is not known whether he is living.
Will you have the goodness to inform me whether the signature of the son will be necessary to allow of ATTY to collect the money, or whether the other children can draw the pension on duly certifying to the facts of the long absence & unknown residence of the brother - also whether the grandchildren of

the pensioners are entitled to the proportion of the pension which their parents would have been entitled to if living.
The case seems to be an anomaly, and I cannot discover from the law, or regulations of the Office how one to have the benefit of the pension or how they are to proceed.
Any information you may give me relative to this matter will be thankfully rec d . by your obed t serv t very respectfully S. L. Hickley

Commonwealth Bank, Pension Department Boston, 11 th Jan y . 1808.
Sir,
Enclosed you will receive the wouchers of Rachel Nelson dec d on which no payment has ever been made. - Will you have the goodness to inform me if the statement contained in the Certificate of the Reg t of Probate respecting the death of Anna Nelson is sufficient to authorize payment of the whole amount due to Elizabeth Cranger or one half only.
I am very respectfully Your H ble Serv t W m Freeman Acting Pension Agent
L t S t Edwards Esq r Compt r of Pensions Washington D. C.

1907 Waltham April 3 rd
Mr B. F. Ware
Commissioner of Pensions
Lincoln
I have been informed that My Great Grandfather John Kelton from Northampton Mass Who served in the War of the Revolution Discharge paper was in the Pension Office in Washington that He served in the 3 rd Mass Regt Capt Story Col Jackson And S er John R. Buffum And Enlisted for 3 yrs in Feb 1781 And was discharged in New York Dec 31 1783 Discharge signed By Major General Henry Knox

I was told when it was that Her Discharge was sent on for
A pension for life because the pension and the discharge never came back. I would like to know if it is as I am making a family record.
I have the own Discharge paper which I paid very roughly
I serve from July 11th 1863 until Sept 18th 1865 and the S.O. 9th Mass. Cav. Btry.
And I am anxious to make my family record complete for my children hoping that I will receive a favorable reply I remain yours -
W. H. L. ... No 208 Saltonstall Waltham Mass
ps I wish to state that the first record and pension office has no correct record when they had the state of Massachusetts for I gave written to one and started up the other

John Kelton. Mass. 84/5 no. Oct 1818 when last fed.
G.M.C.
June 11. 1857.

St. He Edward, Esq. Carnegie of Cousins Washington

Northampton 13 th July 1858
Sir
I regret to say your letter of the 6 th inst. and one from the agent at Boston of the 10 th inst. both were received too late to enable me to retain the money, which was paid to the Agent of Mrs. Gouger and by him forwarded to me on the first day of this month to be paid to Mrs. Gouger. Mrs. Gouger resides at Pittsfield and I presume has already received of the money or a greater portion of it.
Respectfully yours &c.
Hon. J. L. Howard Customs Office Washington
J. L. Hinckley

Merchants Bank, Boston Feb. 12 1835
Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication under date of 7 th inst. — In conformity to your letter of the 17 th ult. I paid, on the 1 st inst. to the atty. of Elizabeth Granger the amount of the Pension ($517 30 / 100 ) due to Rachel Miller decd. — Since the receipt of your letter of 6 th inst. relative to said pension, I have applied to the Attorney to whom I paid it, and he having transmitted the amount to his principal, who resides in a distant part of the Commonwealth, is unable to refund the over payment until he shall have obtained the amount from her. He has taken due measures to obtain it, & will probably refund the amount in the course of a few days.
I am, very Respectfully, Your Obs. Servant,
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commrs. Pensions, Washington
Franklin Haven, Pension Agent.

Re-shar
10942 INVALID.
File No. 10,942
Amos Kelton
Priv. Rec. War
Act: June 7 1832
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 203
[Arrangement of 1870.]