Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 19134, for John Symonds, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Mass.
Dymond, John Susanna
NUMBER _____
N 19134
CONTENTS

5630 Massachusetts
Susanna Symonds , widow of John Symonds, dec d .
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the _____ in 1812 of Ebenezer in the State of Mass. who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Wheeler of the reg t commanded by Col. _____ in the Mass Militia line for 9 m. 3 days.
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass. at the rate of 30 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of July 1840 and sent to Hon. L. Saltonstall , House of R.
Arrears to the 14th of Mar 1840 $121.33 \frac{1}{3} Semi-annual allowance ending 4/1/40 15.66 \frac{2}{3}
$136.50
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by D. M. Lundy , Clerk, Book 4 . Vol. 1 . Page 131 .

I, Susannah Lefavre, of Salem in the County of Essex & State of Massachusetts, do on my oath testify & declare that I am in the Seventy-seventh year of my age: that I removed to the part of said Salem (called North Salem,) in which I now reside forty seven years ago come the twentieth of October of the present year of 1840 ; that I have lived in the same neighborhood with Susannah Symonds now the widow of John Symonds & an applicant for a pension - ever since that time; that said Susannah had three children living at the time I so removed to said North Salem ; & I do very well know & recollect that one of said children, named Susannah, is now living in Boston, County of Suffolk & is fifty three years old . My own daughter is fifty years old , & as they have been familiar from their extreme infancy - that is, my said daughter & said Susannah - I have been well acquainted with them ages, & well know that said Susannah is three years older than my said daughter . I was also acquainted with John Symonds, the late & last only husband of said Susannah, & I do well recollect that he belonged to the Port in said Salem at the time it was commanded by Stephen Webb - father of said Susannah - applicant aforesaid - in the time of the Revolution, but how long he served there I cannot depose.
Witness my hand Mary C Lefavre
Susannah Lefavre
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County of Essex ss. On this ninth day of June A.D. 1840, the above named Susannah Lefavre personally appeared & made solemn oath to the truth of the above affidavit & subscribed the same in my presence. And I certify that said Susannah is a credible witness. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & offered my Notarial Seal, the day & year herein written. James Gregory, Notary Public, S. of the Peace.

House of Representatives, Washington, July 14 th 1840. I certify, that James Grogan, whose Certificate is borne on the within affidavit of S. Lefarou is a Notary Public, is Justice of the Peace for the County of Essex, Massachusetts, & that his signature affixed thereto is genuine.
L. Nathan Hale { Representative from the District of Essex. South, Massachusetts.

Declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th July 1838 entitled An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows:
State of Massachusetts Essex County Is:
On this third day of August 1838 personally appeared before the Honorable David Cummins a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Massachusetts
Susannah Symonds, a resident of Salem in the County of Essex aged 73 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 7th 1838 entitled An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows"
That she is the Widow of John Symonds who served as a private in a Company of Massachusetts Militia under the command of Capt. Stephen Webb for the term of Eighteen months and performed Garrison duty from some time in Seven teen hundred and Eighty one to some time in Seventeen hundred and eighty three, as she believes, but cannot state the exact time when his service began and ended; that she believes and understands that said Company was a separate detachment and was raised specially for that duty, and was not under the command of a Colonel or any field officer;

She further declares that she was married to the said John Symonds, she thinks, in Seventeen hundred and Eighty seven, but is not certain whether 1787 or 1788; that she was married by Esq r Putnam a magistrate then residing in Danvers, a town adjoining Salem; that he has been dead 30 or 40 years; that she has made diligent inquiry but is unable to find his records of marriages and presumes the same are lost: that she and her husband resided together as man and wife in Salem the place in which both of them were born till the time of his decease: that they raised a family of children: that her husband the aforesaid John Symonds died in 1812: that she has not since been married; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January Seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz. at the time above stated. She has no family record of marriage.
Susanna Symonds
Sworn to & subscribed on the day and year above written Before The applicant being unable by reason of bodily infirmity to appear in Court.
David

I James Ropes, of Salem in Massachusetts aged 64 years, one of the Assessors of said City, on oath testify That in my youth, just before Peace, I visited the Fort in Salem Harbor, and there saw John Symonds, who had been a neighbor to my family, serving as a Soldier in the fort, in a Company of Militia stationed there. I distinctly remember that John Symonds was serving there.
I have long known him & Mrs. Susannah Symonds his widow. They were respectable people and lived together as Man & Wife and had a family and I have no doubt and never had any question but that they were lawfully married about 50 years ago.
James Ropes
State of Massachusetts Essex County Is: August. 4. 1838 Then said James Ropes, a credible witness, made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true Before
Rev. Merrill Dist. Peace

I John Symonds of Salem in Massachusetts aged 77 years on oath testify That I was well acquainted with John Symonds, whose Widow Susannah is now applying for a Pension, during all his life. He was not of any kin to me, as I know of.
He used to come up to town sometimes from the Fort: he was serving there as a Soldier for some time, I cannot say how long, before the Peace. Once at his request I accompanied him to the Fort to receive the Ensign halymards: this I distinctly remember.
I have no doubt he served there a long time, as I used to hear him talk about it.
I have no doubt that he and Susannah were lawfully married: I and all his neighbors always so understood. They were married in a few years after the Peace. He died more than 20 years ago.
John Symonds
State of Massachusetts Essex County ss: August 4th 1838 Then said John Symonds, who is a credible & disinterested witness, made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true - before Richd. Merrill Just Peace

I, Sarah Brown, of Salem in Massachusetts, aged 80 years, on oath testify,
That I was well acquainted with John Symonds, late of Salem, deceased, during all his life: he served as a Soldier Eighteen months ending with the Peace which terminated the Revolutionary War, in a Company of Massachusetts Militia, stationed as Coast Guards doing duty at the Fort in Salem Harbor: the company was under the command of Capt. Webb, and my husband Jonathan Brown was a non- commissioned officer in it: Mrs Susannah Symonds, who is now applying for a pension, was a daughter of said Captain Webb, and soon after the war was over she was married to said John Symonds; he died about 20 years ago, and she has never been married since his death.
During the eighteen months in which said John Symonds served as a soldier at the Fort I often visited my husband at the Fort and saw said Symonds there; and he also visited with my husband at the Farm house near the Fort where I resided, as he was

a particular acquaintance of my husband,
I well remember the marriage of said John Symonds to said Susannah Webb, as was her maiden name. They lived together as husband & wife ever afterwards till his decease, and they raised a family of children. I have always believed and now believe they were lawfully married, and it was universally understood so by all their neighbors - I never heard it doubted. They were always esteemed as worthy and respectable persons.
I cannot recollect how many years it was after the peace before they were married; but judging from the age of some of their children it must have been about 50 years ago, but it did not take place till after he had done serving at the Fort, Sarah her X Brown mark
State of Massachusetts Essex County ss: Aug. 2 d 1838 The above named Sarah Brown, a credible and respectable witness, made oath that the above affidavit by her subscribed, is true.
Before Benj. Merrill Just: Peace.

4835
Susanna Symonds
$ 30:33 per an
3639
53
James Gregory Marblehead Mass

Commonwealth of Massachusetts } 35. Salem. County of Essex . . . . . }
On this fourteenth day of June A. D. 1843, personally appeared before me James Gregory, Notary Public and Justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Essex, Susannah Symonds, a resident of Salem aforesaid, aged nearly seventy-nine 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 March 3 d 1843, granting Pensions to widows of persons who served "during the Revolutionary War."
That she is the widow of John Symonds, who was a Private in the Company of Capt. Stephen Webb, of the Sea Coast Service of the said State of Massachusetts, in the War of the Revolution.
She further declares, that she was pensioned for part of said Service, under the law of July 7 th 1838. (her said husband having served about eighteen months, while for want of proof satisfactory to the Department she was allowed for but about 9 months, or one half of the alleged term of 18 months,) — only — on the sixteenth day of July A. D. 1840, to the amount of thirty dollars and 33 cents per annum, — and that she is still a widow.
Witnessed by, Mary Adams
Susannah her X Symonds mark
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year first above
written before me the subscriber.
And I certify that said Declarant is personally well known to me the said Justice.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notarial Seal.
James Gregory, Notary Public, S. of the Peace.
Authentication next page.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston July 26. 1843
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation James Gregory was a Notary Public and a Justice of the Peace for the County of Essex,
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Isaac A. Dole
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Deposited Massachusetts 3639 Susanna Symonds born widow of John Symonds who was a Private
in the Massachusetts Militia
for 9 mo 13 days
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of Thirty — Dollars thirty three Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 th day of December 1843 and sent to
James Gregory Marblehead Massachusetts
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A Vol. 1 Page 53

J. Margaret Symonds of Salem in the County of Essex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, widow, aged sixty years, on oath testify & say - That I was present when John Symonds, was married to Susannah Webb - and to the best of my recollections, they were married soon after the Peace, or about seventeen hundred & eighty seven - I was then nine years of age - Margaret Symonds
State of Massachusetts Essex ss:
July. 23 d 1838 In the above named Mar- garet Symonds, a credible and respectable witness, made oath that the above affidavit by her subscribed is true Before me
John Dunchant Just Peace

Dec 30.
Miss. Addison
Shawnee Agency, D.C.
FREE
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.

Marblehead, December 25 th 1839.
Honored Sir:
I have been called upon by Mrs Susannah Symonds of Salem in this County - widow of John Symonds - & requested to take charge of her claim to the benefits of the act of July 7 th 1838.
Mrs Symonds stated to me that her claim was forwarded to the Department in July or August, 1838 , by Benjamin Merrill Esq r of Salem, & that it was upon his recommendation that she had called upon me. I thereupon called upon Mr Merrill before moving in the business & learned from him that Mrs Symonds statement was correct; that his engagements were such that it was his desire I should take charge of the claim . It is under these circumstances alone that I have been induced to take charge of it - always adhering to the rule of never interfering or meddling with the business of others without their request or consent.
I therefore have the Honor herewith to enclose the affidavit of Mrs Sarah Brown, who is pensioned for the service of her late husband, Jonathan Brown - performed in the Salem Garrison the latter part of the War, under Capt. Stephen Webb - the father of said Susannah Symonds - at the same time that Mrs Symonds' late husband also served there .
It will be seen from the affidavit that Mrs Brown deposes to the fact of the marriage

marriage & also the service of Symonds in Capt Webb's Company. It is therefore hoped the proof now forwarded, with that which is already on your Honor's files in this case, will be deemed satisfactory. Esquire Putnam, who married Mrs Symonds, has been dead for many years & his Books & Papers are all lost or destroyed. He appears I ought to say, to have been culpably neglectful of his Duties, inasmuch as he neglected to lodge the evidence of Mrs Symonds' marriage , & if I am correctly informed the marriages of others solemnized by him, with the town Clerk according to law. The marriage of Mrs Symonds, therefore, must of course be proved, if at all, by such evidence as that now forwarded.
I am, very respectfully, Your Honor's obt. servt. James Gregory
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.

Hm. L. Saltonstall. W.R.

Marblehead. July 10th. 1840.
Honored Sir:
You may recollect that on the 30th of January last you wrote me a letter - covering one from the C. of Pensions of the 28th of the same month - relative to the claim of Susannah Symonds, widow of John Symonds, late of your city of Salem - to the benefit of the law of July 7th 1838.
The Commissioner offers in his said letter to allow Mrs S. for 9 mos. & 3 ds. service, provided she can produce satisfactory proof that she was married before the first day of January '24 - by the ages of her children or otherwise.
It would exhaust your patience for me to detail all my efforts to obtain this proof since the receipt of your said favor, & as you are always friendly to short stories I shall not attempt it. I now have the honor herewith to forward you a strong affidavit - taken in haste - covering the proof required. Please to attest my authority to administer the oaths in the form on the back of it & send it to the Pension Office, & believe me to be, very gratefully & respectfully,
Hon. Leventr Saltonstall. Your obed. Servt. M. C. Washington. D.C. James Gregory

Mrs John Symond's
Prison
Courts Lett.

War Department
Pension Office
August 28. 1838.
Sir,
I have not been able to trace the name of John Symonds, deceased, upon the Massachusetts rolls, or to find any proof of his service, as set forth by his widow, Mrs. Susanna Symonds, in her declaration for a pension under the act of July 7. 1838. Further proof will be required both in support of the service and as to the date of the marriage. Record evidence, it is presumed, may be found.
I am, respectfully, your obt. servt. J. L. Edwards
Benjamin Merrill, Esq. Salum, Massachusetts.

James S. Edwards Esq l
Court Press

Salem, Mass'ts Aug. 7. 1838
James E. Edwards Esq r .
Sir,
I have the honor to inclose the applications in five cases, of Widows for Pensions,
viz: Mrs Rebecca Oliver,
Mrs Eliza: Orger,
Mrs Eliza: Wait, &
Mrs Susannah Symonds
} under Act of 7 July 1838
and of Mrs Abigail Roberts under act of 4 July 1836
I am very respectfully
W. H. Brown
Edw. Merrill
# not rec'd by me N.H.C.
Please address reply to me.

174 Susanna Dymonds
Mo of John
Mass
Ad July 7 1835
Manned 1787
died 1812
Allow 9 mo 3 d
$ 30.33 per ann
for Mass militia
6 of 10 1/2
Hn L Saltonstall
HR

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
ESSEX, ss.
I, JOHN PRINCE, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for the County of Essex, do certify, that Hon. David Cummings is Judge of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County. That
Benjamin Merrill & John Pynchard Esquires , are Justices of the Peace, within and for said County, and that their signatures hereon are genuine.
WITNESS MY HAND, and the Seal of said Court of Common Pleas,
August 6. A. D. 1838.
John Prince Clerk.

Mrs Symonds

I Sarah Brown of Salem in the county of Essex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Widow - on solemn Oath Testify & say - That I am eighty years of Age - That I was once acquainted with John Symonds, that he served as a Soldier in the Service of the United States - eighteen months - and was discharged when the peace took place; this service was performed at the fort in Salem, under the command of Stephen Webb - That said Symonds married to Susannah Susannah Webb a daughter of said Stephen Webb, to the best of my recollection, the year after the peace of 1783 but it may have been later - Further saith not
Sarah her Brown mark
State of Massachusetts Essex county ss: July 23 d 1838 Then the above named Sarah Brown a credible and respectable witness made oath that the above affidavit by her subscribed is true
Before me John Purnham Just Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
I JOHN PRINCE, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Essex, do certify that Hon.  is Judge of the Court of  within and for said County; that
John Pynchard Esquire is, and was a Justice of the Peace within and for said County; that his on the commission is dated 23 d day of July A.D., 1838 and will expire in seven years from that date; and that his signature hereon is genuine.
WITNESS my hand and the seal of said Court, at Salem, December 13 th A.D., 1839
John Prince Clerk.

174
Wid w Susannah Symonds
V 174
Susannah Symonds
wid. of John
Mass
Act 7 th July 1835
Buy M c Neil Esq r Salem

PEABODY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, PEABODY, MASS.
MAI 19 1898
To Quintessence of Pensions Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:
Could you and would you kindly send me any record pension which may be found of a Revolutionary Soldier John Symonds of Salem, Mass. I am told that his wife Mrs Susan Webb Symonds received a pension for his services in that War.
Will remit any price required for this information - very respectfully yours -
Mrs Lyman F. Osborn March 16-1898 55 Central St. Peabody Box 247 Mass

Susannah Symonds
Mother of John
Mass.
Ad July 7 1838
St. Mary's Merrimack Aug 28
1838 = Hon. L. Saltonstall
28 Jany 1840

John Symonds a. 1812 Savannah - m. 1787 1838 73 1781. 18 m. Stephen Ladd } 171.5 at the fort in Salem } 22 1787 See Mass. rec. Vol 30. p 50 para 18. 4
Wm. Sarah Brown. } John Symonds } Samuel Ropes. }
Note - In Sherry a past. alleged that he est. in 1782 & sit 5 m. at the fort. under Capt. S. Webb. - he was absent for John Brown. d. at Mass. John Brown. stated that he sit 18 m. from 1780, was all.

J. L. Edwards Esq.

A. Rapp July 14. 1840.
Dear Sir,
I send the sub- -led papers for your consideration & am very respectfully
Yr. Most Obedient Servt L. A. Stone

Mar 25 '98 Mrs Lyman P Osborn Peabody, Mass.
Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 191311
Susanna Symonds Widow of John Symonds Brn Rev. Mr
Act: Mar 3 - 1873
Index:—Vol. M , Page 260
[Arrangement of 1870.]