Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6160, for Caleb Lapham, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Lapham, Caleb
R. 6160
Sarah
CONTENTS

Affidavits to support the claim of Sarah Lapham Widow of Caleb Lapham

I Adarn Lapham of Marshfield, in the county of Plymouth, and State of Massachusetts, in the seventy fifth year of my age, testify and say, that I was the brother of Caleb Lapham of Duxbury in said county, decd, whose widow Sarah Lapham has made application for the benefit of the act of congress of July 7. 1838, that while he lived at my father's, I well recollect, that he went to Roxbury Mass, in the spring of 1776 and enlisted in capt. Elijah Brooks's company of Artillery to go to New York, that he was gone till the winter following when he returned from the Army to his father's. Nathaniel Lapham went & staid with him at New York. In the spring afterward men were called for and Caleb Lapham, and Roger & Constant P. Dushman went to Rhode Island, and were gone I believe three months, and served there as I was told in capt. Sparrow's or Sparrell's company. After my brother's return from Rhode Island, he enlisted and served on the Gurnet a fort in Plymouth Bay, I believe he served six months there but am not certain, I do not know under what captain he served nor the time when he enlisted. But I recollect perfectly his going to Roxbury & enlisting in capt. Elijah Brooks's company, and have heard him repeatedly say that he (Caleb Lapham) served nine months at New York in capt. Brooks's company. Capt. Brooks was a Marshfield man and lived not more than a quarter of a mile from my father's, and I recollect his return from the Army soon after my brother got home.
Adarn Lapham
State of Massachusetts, Plymouth county ss
April 17. 1840. Then the above named Adarn Lapham made oath to the truth of the affidavit by him subscribed, and I hereby certify that he is a man of credibility.
Before me Anthony Collamore, Justice Peace

I Deborah Fish of Pembroke in the county of Plymouth, and State of Massachusetts, in the seventy fourth year of my age Widow of Isaac Fish late a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States do hereby certify and say, that I have often heard my husband say that he (Isaac Fish) enlisted in the Revolutionary Army to serve on the Gurnet in Plymouth Harbor for six months, and when he came home Caleb Sapham agreed to serve half the time, and preferred to serve the first three months, that before the first three months had expired he (Isaac Fish) enlisted for nine months in the Continental Service, and then went down to the Gurnet to see, if the said Caleb Sapham would serve the other three months, if not, he must procure a substitute to serve there, and that the said Caleb Sapham did agree to serve the whole six months, and that he did serve there for the whole term. The said Isaac Fish then entered the Continental service and served nine months in Capt Joseph Wadsworth's Company, for which service a Pension was granted him under the act of Congress of March 18. 1818.
Deborah Fish
State of Massachusetts, Plymouth County ss
May 22. 1840. Then the above named Deborah Fish whom I certify to be a person of credibility, made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by her subscribed.
Before me Anthony Collamore Justice Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Anthony Collamore Esq is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County and that the several signatures to the foregoing affidavits are his true and genuine signatures.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Probate Court for said County this second day of July 1840 Jacob H. Lord Register

Sarah Lapham (Widow of Caleb) suspended care from Mass.
23 R. W. Young att. March 22 1852

State of Massachusetts County of Plymouth } ss:
Be it known, that on the 1 day of October A. D. 1851, before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, personally appeared Caleb Lapham of Pembroke in said county and made oath according to law, that he is the child of Sarah Lapham late of said Pembroke deceased, widow of Caleb Lapham (who was an officer in the War of the Revolution, ) and an applicant for a pension on her services being filed  an applicant for a pension on her services being filed ; that he has reason to believe that the said pension ought to be granted ; and that he is directly interested in the same, and makes this affidavit to be filed by his attorney, with any additional evidence or arguments he may deem necessary in the prosecution of said claim.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year last above mentioned, before me, Caleb Lapham
Thos. Turner
Justice of the Peace.
State of Massachusetts County of Plymouth } ss:
Be it known, that before James Turner a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county, personally appeared Caleb Lapham of Pembroke in said county who being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say, that he is the child of Sarah Lapham late of said Pembroke deceased, widow of Caleb Lapham (who was an officer in the War of the Revolution, ) and an applicant for a pension on her services being filed  an applicant for a pension on her services being filed ; that he now makes this declaration to recover any increase and arrears of pension, that may be due, on account of the services of the said Caleb Lapham as aforesaid, for the benefit of himself as only surviving child of said Sarah under any acts or resolutions of Congress applicable to the case.
Sworn and subscribed this 1 st day of October 1851, before me, Caleb Lapham
Thos. Turner
Justice of the Peace.
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That I Caleb Lapham of Pembroke, Massachusetts only child of Sarah Lapham late of Pembroke, Massachusetts deceased, widow of Caleb Lapham deceased (who was an officer in the War of the Revolution, ) do hereby constitute and appoint Robert W. Young, Washington City, D. C., my true and lawful attorney for me, and in my name to prosecute my claim to any increase and arrears of pension that may be found due on account of the services of said Caleb Lapham as aforesaid; and I hereby authorize my said attorney to examine all papers and documents touching my claim, on file in the departments at Washington or elsewhere, and file any additional evidence or arguments he may think proper, to ensure the recovery of the same.
Witness my hand and seal this 1 st day of October A. D. 1851
Signed and sealed in the presence of
WITNESS, Ruth Lapham
WITNESS, Sylvanus Sturtevant
Caleb Lapham
{L.S.}
State of Massachusetts County of Plymouth } ss:
On this 1 st day of October A. D. 1851, before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, personally appeared Caleb Lapham of Pembroke in the county aforesaid and acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney to be his act and deed. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year last above mentioned.
Thos. Turner
Justice of the Peace.
State of Massachusetts County of Plymouth } ss:
Be it known, that on the 1 st day of October A. D. 1851, before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, personally appeared Ruth Lapham and Sylvanus Sturtevant two disinterested and respectable witnesses, and made oath according to law, that they were well acquainted with Sarah Lapham late of Pembroke, Massachusetts deceased, widow of Caleb Lapham late of said Pembroke (who was an officer in the Revolutionary War, ) and that Caleb Lapham of Pembroke in the county aforesaid is her only surviving child. And that she the said Sarah Lapham departed this life on the 30 th day of November A. D. 1846.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year last above mentioned, before me,
Sylvanus Sturtevant Ruth Lapham
Thos. Turner
Justice of the Peace.
I Wm. H. Whitman clerk of Supreme Court in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts do hereby certify that Thomas Turner before whom the foregoing papers were executed, was at the date of the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said county duly authorized by law to administer oaths; and his name thereunto subscribed is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal this 2 nd day of October A. D. 1851.
Wm. H. Whitman } Clerk.

V Sarah Lapham (2002)
Widow of Calib Lapham
abt 17 July '98
77-1800
6160

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of 4 th July 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows"
State of Massachusetts County of Plymouth ss.
On this sixteenth day of August 1838 person- ally appeared before Wilkins Wood, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County aforesaid Sarah Lapham, a resident of Pembroke, in the County of Plymouth, aged eighty seven 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 4, 1838 entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows," that she is the widow of Caleb Lapham, who being a resident of Scituate in the County of Plymouth, as she believes, enlisted in Capt. Elijah Brooks Company in the Winter of 1775-26 and served in said Company principally in New York nine months, or more, when he returned home. The Com- pany she is told belonged to Col. John Baileys Regt. She has no documentary or other evidence but the annexed, and must refer to the Rolls for proof, as she understands, all the soldiers who served in said Company from this vicinity are deceased.
She further declares that she was married to the said Caleb Lapham on the thirteenth day of March, seventeen hundred and seventy seven, that her husband the aforesaid Caleb Lapham died on the twentieth day of June eigh- teen hundred,
that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz at the time above stated.
Sarah Lapham
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written
Before me Wilkins Wood —

Plymouth Co. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Hon. Willes Wood is Judge of Probate for said County & that the within signature purporting to be signed by him is his true and genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this twenty fourth day of September 1838.
Jacob H. Lord
Jacob H. Lord
— Jacob H. Lord

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1878.
0160
P. O.
Sarah Sapham
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

2002
Sarah Lapham, widow of Caleb Mays
Hon. J. L. Adams Mich 1/39
Anthony Collamore 24 July 1820
Hon. H. Williams Apr 15 1844
Ab Collamore May 5 1845
Adl c Arthur 25 Nov 1854
Same Jny 5 1855
Same Feb 1 1855

Mass - V 12002
Set. Hon. J. Q. Adams
March 1 st 1839 -
Anthony Callamore
24 July 1840.
See to B. H. Williams
April 15 th 1844.
A. Callamore May 6 th '45
A. Callamore 25 Nov 1854.
Act - 7 th July - 1835

Revolutionary Sarah Leiphann widow Caleb

Caleb Nathan
75-6. Elyah Crocker Baily N.Y.
9 mo

Winington Dec 27 1852
Sir,
Pursuant to the requirement of your letter of the 25th ult o I forward inclosed the evidence upon which the Probate Court found that Sarah Lapham died on the 30th Nov r 1844 and that Caleb is her only surviving child. I also send as required the Certificate of the Secretary of Massachusetts, which shows that Caleb Lapham might not have served in the Militia or State Troops of Massachusetts. For evidence of his service you are referred to the original papers in the case of Sarah Lapham and to the rolls in your office, on which his name may be borne. The Department have, I believe, heretofore considered the the service in this case as proved and so reported at one time.
I am very respectfully Your Ob t Serv t
William M. Atkinson
Oliver P. Waldo Esq r , Comm d of Pensions Washington D.C.

+ Caleb Lapham d. 1800 Sarah m '77. S. Winter 75. 6. 9. Elijah Crocker to MS. Col. Bailey
Adam Lapham. m.
Sp 76 9. Ely Crocker to MS. (and fore tile winter '77) Sp 77 3. Sparrow R. G. Norrolls 6 Gurnet sub fa + Have Nuk. Capt Sampson + Mr or my ride

Pembroke Mass July 11
July 14. 1820
Dear Rev Friend Sarah L. Hume
James L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
 5 3 2   3 3  1 4 1  3 3 3  1 1 1 

Pembroke Mass. July 11. 1840.
James L. Edwards Esq r
Sir, I send you some affidavits in support of the claim of Sarah Lapham, widow of Caleb Lapham deceased, to the benefit of the late acts of Congress. The evidence is circumstantial to be sure, but the best that can now be obtained, and I hope it will lead to the discovery of proof on the Rolls which will be satisfactory. The term which Caleb Lapham served on the Quonsett, under Capt Andrew Sonson probably, in 1777 or 8 was as a substitute for Isaac Fish, and probably Isaac Fish's name and not the name of Caleb Lapham will be found on the Rolls; and the time can be ascertained by finding the time Isaac Fish enlisted in the continental Army under Capt Joseph Wadsworth, which no doubt the Mass. Rolls will show. As the Rolls are at Washington, I trust you will be disposed to examine them, and give the information contemplated by the Resolve of the Legislature of Massachusetts in April 1839.
I am respectfully
Your obt. Servt
Anthony Collamon

Livingston Nov 18 1857
Sir,
I herewith forward you the application of Caleb Lapham only surviving child of Sarah Lapham widow of Caleb Lapham dec d . who (said Sarah) died Nov 30 1844. Report of Comm ee of Pensions was that it was a case for the joint Resolution of January 23 1845 if she be alive and will make a short deposition availing herself of its provisions. She having died in 1844 never availed herself & her son, as sole surviving child, makes the application, at this late period, in compliance with the requisitions of the Department.
I am very respectfully Your Ob d serv t Arthur M. Arthur
John P. Waldo Esq ue Comm ee of Pensions Washington D.C.

House of Representatives April 11 1844.
Sir,
Please communicate to me the information desired in the enclosed letter & return the same to me.
I am very respectfully your obt. servt. H. Williams
J. L. Edwards Esq. Chair of Pensions

853
Sarah Lapham afft of Z. Fish Filed Nov 7. 524, J. S. Buel Regr

I Zadock Fish of Gombroke in the county of Plymouth & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby testify and say that I was personally acquainted with Sarah Lapham late of Pembroke in the county of Plymouth & Commonwealth of Massachusetts widow of Caleb Lapham late of said Pembroke who was reported to have been a soldier of the Revolutionary Army; that she was applicant for a pension & died at said Pembroke on the thirtieth day of November A D 1844 and that Caleb Lapham of said Pembroke is the only surviving child of said Sarah Lapham & Caleb Lapham deceased. Witness my Hand & Seal Zadock Fish
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth County ss On this twenty third day of October A.D. 1854 personally appeared the above named Haddock Gish -- to me personally known and who is a disinterested & credible witness and made solemn oath to truth of foregoing affidavit by him subscribed Before me Thos Gurney, Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Plymouth ss.
I Joseph S. Beal, Register of Probate within y s a said County of Plymouth, do hereby certify that the within affidavit of Ladock Fish and certificate of Thomas Turner a Justice of the Peace for said County are the identical, genuine original instruments and evidence used in the Probate Court of said County, held at Middleborough in said County, on the first Tuesday of November last, as proof that Sarah Lapham died on the 30 th day of November, AD 1844, and that Caleb Lapham is her only surviving child, as therein set forth. In testimony whereof I have here to set my hand and the seal of the Probate Court of said County this sixteenth day of December in the year one thousand eight hundred & fifty four. Joseph S. Beal

Ginnington January 23 d 1855.
Sir,
Your communication of 5 th inst. relative to Sarah Lapham's case was duly received, and in answer I will ask, which under the peculiar circumstances of this case, the Department, I think, will not refuse - That I may have a copy of so much of the original declaration as relates to the service asserted - and description of the proofs accompanying the same with their defects &c.
I am very respectfully Your Ob t Serv t Arthur McArthur Loren P. Waldo Esq r Comm r of Pensions Washington D.C.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston.
(Dec. 21. st 1854.
I Hereby Certify , That from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Caleb Washburn is not found on the roll in this office, as belonging to Pembroke.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
E. M. Wright Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County ss.
I William V. Whitman Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court, a Court of Record, do hereby certify that Thomas Turner Esquire, the person whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of acknow- ledgment of the declaration hereto attached, is, and was at the date thereof, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Plymouth & Commonwealth aforesaid, duly commiss- ioned & qualified to administer oaths and take acknowledgments, and that I am ac- quainted with said Turner's handwriting, and that the signature is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand and the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court this ninth day of November A.D. 1854.
Wm V. Whitman Clerk

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth County ss: On this twenty third day of October AD 1854 before me the subscriber Thomas Turner Esquire one of the Justices of the Peace within & for the county of Plymouth aforesaid personally appeared Caleb Sapham of Pembroke in the county of Plymouth & Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged Seventy three years who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the acts of Congress passed July 4 1836 July 7 1838, March 3 1843 & June 17 1844 & of the Joint Resolution of Congress passed January 23 1845 and of any Acts or Resolutions of Congress applica- ble to his case, That he is the only surviving child of Sarah Sapham late of said Pembroke deceased who died at said Pembroke on the on the thirtieth day of November AD 1844 & who was applicant for a pension & her papers on file in Pension Office at Washington & who was widow of Caleb Sapham late of said Pembroke & who died on the twentieth day of June AD 1800 & who was a soldier of the Revolutionary Army and served as set forth in the papers & declaration of said Sarah Sapham now on file in Pension at Washington in her application for a pension to which reference is to be had. And the said Caleb Sapham the declarant claims to have awarded

a pension Certificate for what might be due him as only surviving child of said Sarah Lapham for the services of said Col Ab Lapham his late father.
And the said Caleb Lapham hereby revokes any application for pension previously made or that may have been heretofore presented in his name at the Department and he does by these presents irrevocably constitute & appoint Arthur M c Arthur of Kinnington in the county of York & State of Maine his true & lawful attorney with power of substitution to prosecute the within mentioned claim and to receive for the benefit of this declarant upon this or supplementary applications the Certificate of Pension to which he may be entitled, whenever the same may issue.
Witness Hector Monro Galt Lapham
Sworn to, subscribed and acknowledged on the day and year first above written and I certify that I am not interested in the above claim nor am I concerned in its prosecution.
Thou Gurney — Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Plymouth County ss.
At a Court of Probate holden at Middleborough in and for said County, on the first day of November in the year eighteen hundred and fifty four, Being a court of Record:
Satisfactory evidence having been offered to the Hon. Aaron Hobart Judge of said Court, that the facts hereinafter mentioned are true, the same are ordered to be entered on the Docket of this Court, and the testimony pertaining thereto filed, viz:
It appears by the affidavit of Zadock Fish of Pembroke in said County on oath subscribed and taken before Thomas Turner a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, on the twenty third day of October, A.D. 1854, that Caleb Lapham, whose declaration is hereto annexed, is the only surviving child of Caleb and Sarah Lapham with all of whom said affiant was personally acquainted, that said Caleb Lapham deceased, was an inhabitant of Pembroke in said County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, who was reputed to have been a Soldier of the Revolutionary army, that said Sarah Lapham

was the Widow of said Caleb Lapham deceased and resided in said Pembroke, that she was an applicant for a Pension and died at said Pembroke on the thirteenth day of November A.D. 1841
Aaron Hobart Judge of Probate for said County
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County of Plymouth ss.
I Joseph S. Beal
Register of Probate for said County, hereby certify that Aaron Hobart whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Certificate, is the Judge of Probate for said County, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified, and that his sig- nature thereto is genuine.
Given under my hand this seventh day of November, A.D. 1854, and the seal of said Court. Joseph S. Beal

I Samuel Sapham of Pembroke in the county of Plymouth, and State of Massachusetts, a Revolutionary Soldier, aged seventy six years, testify and say, That I enlisted in Capt. Elijah Crocker's company in the 1775 and served in said company in Roxbury near Boston eight months; That near the close of said service, Capt. Elijah Crocker was appointed to enlist a company for a year's service; and my brother Caleb Sapham (then residing in Situate in the county of Plymouth) enlisted in said company in the year's service, and I always understood that he marched with said company to New York and that the principal part of the service was rendered there. I know the fact of his enlisting, that he was absent and that he returned the winter following, but how long he served I cannot say.
Samuel Sapham
State of Massachusetts Plymouth County ss.
August 7. 1838. Then the above named Samuel Sapham whom I certify to be a person of credibility, made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed.
Before me Anthony Collamore, Justice Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Plymouth Yrs. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Anthony Collamine Esq is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & that the signatures to the foregoing affidavits purporting to be signed by him are his true & genuine signatures.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this twenty fourth day of September 1838.
Jacob H. Lord

"March 13 th thirteenth Seventeen hundred seventy seven Caleb Lapham and Sarah Lish were Married by me Rev M c Thomas Smith"
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date which is expressed in the record in fair legible figures, as follows "March 13 th 1777"
Attest Seth Whitman Clerk of the Town Pembroke
I Seth Whitman above named depose and say, that I hold the Office of Clerk of the Town of Pembroke in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Town, with the exceptions above named as certified by me
Seth Whitman Clerk of the Town Pembroke
I further testify and say that the widow Sarah Lapham is now living in Pembroke and still remains the widow of the said Caleb Lapham
Seth Whitman
Plymouth ss. Sworn to this 15 th day of August A.D. 1838 The deponent being a credible witness!
Before me Anthony Collamore Justice Peace