Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File O.W.Inv. 48636, for Levi Strong, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
War with France 1798-1800
Strong
Levi Catherine
02k Dev. 48636 02k Kid Ref 23156
CONTENTS
Rev - Mass

1 o 1813 war with France 1798 to 1800 Massachusetts
48 636
Levi Strong Marine in
Captain company of the the Navy of the Revolution Died April 24 1853
Ratio of disability,
Date of discharge,
Time of closing the testimony,
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at $12 Dollars per month, to commence on the 4 th of March 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 rd of August 1834 and sent to Hon. C. C. Bales of Northampton, Mass.
Arrears to 4th of Mar 1834 216.00 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Sept " 36.00
$ 252.00
Act of the 30 th June 1834 Book 2. Vol 2. page 27. Recorded.
10.270- 23 156
Adopted Aug 25 1834

Dept of the Navy 12 Sept 1871.

To the Hon. Lewis Cass Secretary of War of the United States of America
Humbly Yours Levi Strong of Northampton in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Esq. I have some time in the month of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight enlisted into the service of the United States of Amer- ica to serve as a Musician in a Company of Marines for the term of three years and was mustered at Springfield in this Commonwealth from whence we were marched to Providence in the State of Rhode- Island - Our first Officer was Capt. Samuel Collon and our second Lieut. Henry Caldwell - Our Company embarked at Providence on board the United States Ship of War George Washington - Capt. Stetson of Boston and sailed for the West Indies as near as I can recollect about the last of November or first of December 1798 immediately after a severe storm which had delayed our departure for several days - We arrived in the West Indies in seventeen days after leaving port and cruised off the coast of the Windward Islands about six or seven months convoying American Vessels out of the reach of the French Cruisers then infesting those seas - Our fleet was commanded as follows - Capt. Barry of the frigate United States - Captain of the Constellation - Sabbat of the Constitution and Stetson of the George Washington - The Brig Pickering commanded by - Preble was our tender - We remained in the West Indies six or seven months and on the day before we left St Pierre in Martinique for the United States I was seized with a putrid fever and was landed at Newport in the State of Rhode Island as near as I can recollect in the middle of the month of June A.D. One thousand seven hundred and ninety nine

on our arrival at Newport there were many of the crew and marines sick and we were put under the care of Mr Thomas Hornsby - I was carried to a private dwelling occupied by Miss Elizabeth or Mary Horrie a widow woman where I remained sick and discharged and in a very low state for about four months - The fever of which I was diseased produced large sores or ulcerations upon my back and hips and the flesh was cut away to the bone in attempting to cure them In February 1812 I was honorably discharged from the service of the United States on account of my being dis- abled in the line of my duty by the sickness and con- sequent inflammation and ulceration aforesaid - At this time I was furnished with a certificate signed by John Warner as Commander of the ship - By Henry Caldwell as Commandant of the Company of Marines and by Doct. Scatton who was the attending Physician while I was sick at Newport stating that I was an able bodied man when I entered the service and that I was honorably discharged therefrom on account of my extreme debility and ill health and the sores & ulcerations caused by my fever as aforesaid which disabled me from service - This Certificate I was told to keep as evidence of my claim for a pension as an invalid on account of my being disabled from duty while in the service of the United States - Our Ship Surgeon was Doct. Lee and I am not able to say whether he was present or whether he signed said certificate - This certificate I kept in my possession until December 1812 or January 1813 when in the removal of my effects to another residence it was mislaid or lost and I have never seen it since that time - I also received at the same time a written discharge signed by Henry Caldwell as Commandant of the Company Capt. Cotton having previously been taken ill and had returned to his residence - This discharge was also lost or mislaid with my certificate aforesaid

The sores and ulcers on my back and hips produced adhesions to the bone which have ever since been very troublesome preventing the regular action of the muscles especially in stooping and they are at all times so slightly heated over that the least chafing by my clothing will take off the skin when they remain open sores for a long time - They greatly affect my general health and are at all times so tender and painful as to prevent a halting in my walk and compel me to sleep on my right side or on my back.
I am now almost fifty three years of age and have always had an aversion to asking the aid of my country for my support but the loss of my property and my increasing infirmities occasioned by the disease & ulceration before described render me daily less able to labor and I now feel compelled both by a sense of duty & necessity to ask that aid which I believe I was justly entitled to receive when I was discharged from the service of the United States on account of said disability in February 1850. My family consists of myself my wife and seven children only three of whom now reside with me I am poor and in necessitous circumstances and truly stand in need of the aid of my country for which I have sacrificed my health for my comfortable support.
I do further declare that I am a citizen of the United States of America and was born in the town where I now reside
Your petitioner therefore prays that his name may be enrolled on the Invalid Pension list of the Navy on account of the disability above described which he was in the line of his duty in the service of the United States.
Dated at Northampton aforesaid this eighth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty one Levi Strong
In presence of us Winthrop Merrill Chester Clapp

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampshire County ss } On this eighth day of September A.D. 1831 personally appeared before me Samuel Wells to me of the notices of the Peguin in and for said County Levi Strong of Northampton to me personally known and subscribed and made solemn oath to the truth of the within declaration and affidavit and also that he is a citizen of the U.S. Samuel Wells to his Peace

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
HAMPSHIRE ss.
I, Samuel Wells, Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth, for the County of Hampshire, do certify that Samuel Wells Esquire, whose signature is affixed to the certificate on the paper hereto annexed, was, at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned, and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth; and that full faith and credit is, and ought to be given, to his acts and attestations, done in that capacity; and that I am acquainted with the handwriting of the said Samuel Wells and believe his signature to said certificate is genuine.
In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court, for said Commonwealth, this fourteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty three .
Samuel Wells Clerk

" Levi Strong, Jr., Male Died April 24, 1853 aged 73 years. — "
Attest H. F. Arnold Town Clerk Northampton Mass
I W. F. Arnold, Town clerk of Northampton aforesaid desire to say, that the foregoing is a true copy of the record of the death of Levi Strong Jr. taken from the town records in my custody H. F. Arnold "
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire County ss
Sept 15 th 1853 Then W. F. Arnold above named, known to me to be the clerk of the Town of Northampton aforesaid, made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition
Before me
Sam l L. Hinckley Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Amherst County ss
A.D. 1853.
On this sixth day of September personally appeared before the Hon. Stephen Conkey, Judge of the Court of Probate of wills & Catherine P. Strong a resident of Northampton in the County aforesaid aged Sixty eight years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed on the 3 d February 1853 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War; That she is the widow of Levi Strong who was a Marine of the Revolution and drew a pension of six dollars per month as will appear by the pension certificate accompanying this Declaration.
She further declares that she was married to the said Levi Strong on the twentieth day of April Eighteen Hundred & forty two that her said husband died on the twenty fourth day of April 1853; that she was not married to him prior to the second of January 1800, but at the time above stated she further declares she is now a widow
Catherine P. Strong
Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year above written
Before Stephen Conkey Judge of Probate

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
HAMPSHIRE ss.
I, Samuel Wells, Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth, for the County of Hampshire, do certify, that
Esquire, whose signature is affixed to the certificate on the paper hereto annexed, was, at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned, and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth; and that full faith and credit is, and ought to be given, to his acts and attestations, done in that capacity; and that I am acquainted with the handwriting of the said
and believe his signature to said certificate is genuine.
In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court, for said Commonwealth, this eighth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty three.
Samuel Wells Clerk.

I Samuel T. Dymond Register of Court of Mobile do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings before said court in reference to the appointment of Fred (Admiral) P. Strong for a Master.
Witness my hand of this seventh day of September and the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty three.
Samuel T. Dymond Reg. of Prob.

We Stephen Hopkins and Fanny B. Hopkins (the wife of the said Stephen Hopkins) and Alfred E. Lyman of Williamburgh in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth wealth of Massachusetts and being of lawful age on our oath do testify and say that we were all present at the house occupied by A. E. Lyman in said Wil- iamburgh and saw the said Fanny B. Hopkins then deceased and Mr. Catherine P. Smith joined in marriage by the Rev. David E. Goodwin, likewise deceased and that we have no doubt that it took place on the day and year that she states in her declaration and further there deponents say not Stephen Hopkins Fanny B. Hopkins Alfred E. Lyman Williamburgh August 26 th 1853
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampshire County ss August 26 th 1853 Then the above named Stephen Hopkins and Fanny B. Hop- kins and Alfred E. Lyman personally ap- peared and made solemn to the truth of the above declaration by them subscribed Before Me Salomon H. Clapp Justice of the Peace

TR 42 Levi Strong
Feb. 13. 1832
Ref d to Com ee Invalid Pensions
Mar. 2. 1832 - Bill reported 444
Dec r 22. 1832
Ref d to Com ee Invalid Pensions
Feb y 13 1833
Bill — N o 738
pension 3/4 disability Mumian Marine Corps.
Whole $8. 3/4. 6
Dec r 12 th 1833
Ref d to the Committee on Invalid Pensions
Dec r 17 1833
Bill reported N o 42
Muhlberg 30
W. State, Chap. 26. Inv. Pens.

No 3152
Catharine P. Strong, widow of Levi Strong Lit. S. L. Hinckley Oct 15/53 Rly
10270
Rev.
Act 3 rd Feb. 1853

Northampton Mass.
Sept. 16. 1883
Hon. Comm r of Pensions Washington D. C.
The application of Mrs. Story widow of Lieut Story late del. I transmit to you at her request. You can if you please communicate through me the result of her appli- cation
Respectfully y r etc
Sam l L. Hinckley

Pension Agency. Concord N.H. Jan'y. 16. 1845
Dear Sir.
Benjamin Stephenson an Invalid pensioner of the U.S. at the rate of fifteen Dollars per month has been paid at this Agency to the 1st of September 1844.
Very Respectfully
Isaac Hill Pa. Agent. By Minot
Mr. S. H. Edwards Comm'd. of Pensions Washington City D.C.

Mr Bates of Mch. took the Baptist in the case of his strong Jan 4 1832. J. C. Bates
Not Reqd but Served
Member of Congress
May 1798

State of Rhode Island & } ss. County of Newport. -
Be it known, that on this twenty-sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-one, before me, Dea. Ezra G. Gannett, a justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, personally appeared Edmund T. Waring, of Newport, in said county, Physician and Surgeon, and being sworn according to law saith that Levi Strong, a Marine on board the United States Ship George Washington, Capt. Mitchell, was admitted into the Marine Hospital in this place, in June of the year Seventeen Hundred and Ninety-nine, and was an inmate thereof for about ten Weeks, on account of Fever & Ague, deep ulcerations in his back and limbs.
Sworn and subscribed this 26 th day of August A.D. 1831. } before me, } E. G. Gannett Justice of the Peace. Edm: Tho: Waring Physician

Jim Strong is vice known to me & upon I left him at his request I saw the effects of his pen-works upon his body. Many accused him of having and that can be no doubt as to the degree of his ability. If the Committee doubt. I will state the particulars. J. C. Bates M. C.
Feb. 10. 1882. -

Series 1800 572
Payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September, at Boston Mass ts
by the Pres t U.S. Br Bank
No payment can be made on an original certificate, until the arrival of one or the other of the above dates after issuing the certificate.
Witness my hand and seal this 10th day of March 1800
Registered in Book Vol. 2. Page 27 by John D. Wilson Clerk.
Lieut. Colton Com d of Marines Elizabeth George Washington Capt. Fletcher

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Invalid Pension.
I certify, That in conformity with the Law of the United States, Act 30 th June 1834.
Levi Strong late a Marine of the Revolution is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of Six dollars per month, to commence on the fourth day of March one thousand eight hundred and thirty one.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this Twenty third day of August — one thousand eight hundred and thirty four.
Wm. Wilk
Acting Secretary of War.
Examined and countersigned,
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
(Handwritten note in upper right) 2 in John Forsyth

Off 1813
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
23,156
P. O. Catherine P. Strong Service: widow of Levi
Enlisted: in Mar with France , 18
Discharged: 1798 to 1800 , 18
Application filed: , 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Norhampton Mass
Aug. 18. 1834
Dear Sir,
Levi Strong of this place by act of Cong. last session, is intitled to a pension as an invalid at the rate of $8. a month beginning in 1831. Will you please send his certificate that he may get the money due him
Yours sincerely
J. D. Dabney
Mr Edwards
Pension Office

The Deposition of Thomas Hornsby of Newport in the county of Newport & State of Rhode Island &c. who being duly sworn, testifies and says, that in the year Seventeen Hundred and ninety nine, he was Purveyor of the Hospital Marine Hospital at Newport, and that Levi Strong, a Marine on board the United States Ship George Washington capt. Fletcher was was admitted into said Hospital on the 11 th of June A. 1799. and remained there, an Invalid and provided for until the 31 st of March A. 1800. on Account of Fever & bad ulcerations in his back and limbs.
Thos Hornsby
Sworn and subscribed this 30 th day of August A. 1831. at East Greenwich R. Island.
before me
Nathan Whiting Justice of the Peace

Very Obedient Servant Jan'y 5 th 1832
Sir,
I enclose herewith agreeably to your re- quest copy of a letter written by Secy A. P. Fane to Sam l Wells Mass. respecting the claim of Levi Strong to a pension.
I am very respectfully Eno. Marquis for Secy A. P. Fane
Hon. Isaac C. Bates
Ho: Rep s

To the
Hon. Com ee on Judicial Officers

To the Hon.
The Com ee on M o . Pensions.
A bill for the re- -lief of Mrs. Strong was reported & passed this House the last session for two thousand dollars and prospectively only. I know Mr. Strong then knew this was it - He is in a most deformed & wretched condition - & has been since his sickness. I think his pun- -ishment ought to be for a total disa- -bility; at any rate his pension ought to commence with his dis- -ability. Very respectfully,
J. C. Bates.
Dec 21. 1882 -

Northampton (Mass) Sept 8. 1821.
Hon Lewis Cass, Secy of War U.S.A. 3 d Div
At the request of Mr Levi Strong of this town I enclose to you his declaration and statement with the other affidavits procured by him to corroborate his declaration in his application for his name to be enrolled on the Invalid Pension list of the Navy.
Mr Strong is respectable in his character but his pecuniary misfortunes and increasing infirmities occasioned as he says by sickness & disease while in the service of the U.S. have brought him into necessitous circumstances - I believe him to be an honest man & do not think he would intentionally make a misstatement of his situation or the causes of it.
From his declaration he found defect in the accompanying affidavits incomplete or wanting further authentication of the papers he required to be transmitted to Mr Strong or to me an endeavour will be made to supply whatever may be needed.
I am Sir
Yours most respectfully
Samuel Wells

Southampton Dec. 7. 1881
Dear Sir,
Mr Louis Young has called upon me this morning requesting me to write you relation to his application to be placed on the Navy Invalid Pension List.
In August last I made out for him and forwarded to the Secretary of War an application stating briefly that he enlisted as a Musician in a company of Marines Oct 1798 for three years went with the Squadron to the West Indies - was there seized with a fever which caused ulcerations upon his back & hips of such malignity as to destroy some of the principal muscles - he was landed at Newport in June 1799 and was discharged from the Hospital and from the service on account of being disabled by his severe ulcerations in Feb 1800 - Enclosed with his statement was the affidavit of Elisha Chapin of West Springfield who was in the same company - Also the affidavit of Thomas Hornsby of Newport the purveyor for the sick & of Dr Warren or Warren Hospital Surgeon.
I received in answer for Mr Young that his case was not thought to come within the terms of the law granting pensions to sick & disabled men & that the lapse of time since his discharge was strong presumptive evidence that the injury was

not so direct in its consequences as to be pecuniary & be an absolute disabling while in the Service
I thought the testimony substantiating Mr Strong's statement sufficient but if more be required his Brother Joseph and the widow of Dr. Strong (son of Eleanor) can each make affidavits to the facts of his sickness and of the deep ulcerations & permanent injury caused by them
Dr. Warrent & Walker also have given a certificate of the degree of disability under which in their opinion Mr Strong labors which was also forwarded with the other papers all which will be found at the War Office
Mr Strong has a strong confidence that if your many avocations will permit a direct application at the Pension Office in his behalf he shall succeed in obtaining his pension and you having examined his pension will be able to make such a statement as carry conviction to those who have his application in charge
The ground is covered with snow and we have bitter cold weather - Sleighing is very fine and business a little better - This is the day for opening the Books once more for the Canal Bank at 11 AM

As the pressure on the money market is not eased we have many apprehensions as to the result which if adverse destroy our every hope of finishing this great enterprise -
A son of Edmund Dwight of Boston formerly a pupil at N.H. Scholes destroyed himself on the night of the 2 nd - P. A. Ridgway also died two days since in consequence of a blow on the head by a falling stick of timber in his factory.
Your family were all well yesterday afternoon as are all friends here -
I am Sir
Yours truly & affectionately
W. Wells

(Copy)
Navy Department April 10 th 1831
Sir,
In reply to yours of the 8 th inst. relative to the claim of Levi Strong, I must observe that the length of time through which the claim, if any has been permitted to lie dormant, seems to warrant some suspicion of its correctness. If Mr. Strong had been taken sick in the service of the U. States, he would have been entitled to a situation in the Hospital until his recovery. In addition to this I am inclined to think his case is not one of those contemplated by the Navy Pension Laws.
respectfully yr. ob t S t Everard Hall Secy N. P. Fund
Sam l Wells Jr. Northampton Mass.

I Elisha Chapin of West Springfield in the county of Hampshire and commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age depose and say that I was a sergeant in a detachment of marines commanded by Lt Diomel Polton and Lt Henry Baldwell which sailed from Newport in the state of Rhode Island in the frigate George Washington commanded by Capt Patrick Stetson in the fall of the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight that Levi Strong of Northampton and now resides in said town in the county of Hampshire and commonwealth aforesaid belonged to the said company and was with myself and that he served in the capacity of a musician that said Strong was taken sick of the yellow fever at Wilmington in the West Indies where our fleet was cruising to protect American vessels from French vessels which were cruising in the same seas that he continued very sick and much deranged from the time he was first taken sick until we again arrived at Newport in June 1799 I assisted in carrying him from the ship to a place provided for him in the town I then sailed with the fleet for the southern West India islands and again returned in December to Newport where I again saw Mr Strong who was still so lame as to be unable to walk without the aid of crutches when we carried him on shore his back and hips were covered with large sores which had eaten so deep as to expose the bones. I afterwards sailed with the fleet in the Essex frigate for the East Indies and never after heard from Mr Strong until I saw him in Northampton. On our return from the East Indies I saw Lt Henry Baldwell of the Meditteranean fleet in Hampton Roads who informed me that Levi Strong had been honourably discharged from the Navy in consequence of fever sores which rendered him unfit for service and that with his discharge he received a certificate to entitle him to a pension signed by himself (Lt Baldwell) Doct Isaac Centre as surgeon and by Lt John Sharpe commanding at Newport and I do further declare that I have this day seen and Levi Strong and know him to be the same person who served with me in the Navy of the United States as above mentioned In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at West Springfield aforesaid this twenty seventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty one and for the said deponent saith not Elisha Chapin

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Wampson ss
Be it remembered that on this twentyseventh day of April A.D. 1831 personally appeared before me the Subscribed justice of the peace in and for said county Elisha Chapin to me personally known and after being duly cautioned made solemn oath to the truth of the within affidavit by him subscribed before me - and I do further certify that in my opinion full credence may be given to his statement Henry Ely Justice of the Peace

We the Subscribers practicing Physicians and Surgeons of the Town of Northampton do hereby certify that after a careful examination in the case of Levi Strong of Said N. Hampton that his disability is in consequence of a long confinement and consists in a destruction of the flesh on both his thighs and back - which from the irritation of lying on the parts became diseased and sloughed off - so that the thigh & back bones were denuded of the flesh - and the skin now adheres to them impeding the motion of the thighs. - The parts are also very tender and one or more of them is constantly a running sore. - And further we believe that the disability under which he labors is equal to three fourths of a total disability. Northampton Sept 8th 1831 Benjamin Barnett Charles Walker
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampton ss. Northampton Sept 8th 1831 -
Then personally came before me Benjamin Barnett and Charles Walker above named and made oath to the truth of the above written certificate by them subscribed and I do certify that said Barnett and Walker are personally known to me that they are respectable Physicians and surgeons and full credence may be given to their statement in the premises.
J. Wells Jr. Justice of the Peace