Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4151, for Wilson Rawson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Rawson, Wilson
S. 4751
CONTENTS
carded

2219 Massachusetts
Wilson Rawson
of (Upton) in the State of Massachusetts who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Trafton, of the Reg t commanded by Col. Wheeler; in the Massachusetts line for 6 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 20 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Novem- ber 1832 and deliver'd to E. Holcomb of Worcester Mass. Bearer
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832 — $ 30 00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar 33 10 00
$ 40.00
{ Revolutionary Claim } { Act June 7, 1832 }
Recorded by John Cromwell Clerk. Book D Vol. 2 Page 79

No 9950 Charles Baker
Wilson Rawson of Upton Capt. Taft & others Col. Wheelock & others
6 mo $20
Gardiner Lawrence
Syracuse
Onondaga Co NY

W9950
BRIEF in the case of  Theder Baker of Constanter County of Oswego  in the State of  New York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Before a Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? Seventy three years 7.30
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Enlist. 20 - last of Jan or 1st of Feb In 1775. and served for 1. 10 — Private Gen. Capt Jonathan Crows, Lieut. Sylvanus Baker, Ensign Baker, Col. not recalled  
5. In what battles was he engaged?
Not any
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
at Yarmouth, Barnstable County, Massachusetts
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? His tradition is supported by the belief on the part of two respectable citizens of the same County, whose credibility is unimpeached.
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
No
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Chas. S. Wilson Examining Clerk.

Wilson Rawson

DECLARATION, in order to secure the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
COUNTY OF WORCESTER, ss.
ON this twenty eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty two - - - personally appeared in open Court, before Wm. Nathl Paine, Judge of the Court of Probate, now sitting, Wilson Rawson, a resident of Upton, in the County of Worcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832.
THAT he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
That he was born on the 22 d February, A.D. 1732, in said Upton, where has resided ever since; and the date of his birth is recorded in the Records of said town.
That on the news of the battle of Lexington, he marched the same night, April 19, in a company of minute men, from Upton to Cambridge, and thence to Roxbury, where he joined the company of Capt Robert Tapp of Upton, Regt of Col. Sela, Wheelock of Mendon. That he did not enlist for eight months, but was dismissed at the expiration of twenty days, returned home. That he was engaged in performing guard duty at Roxbury, & faithfully served the said term of twenty days. That he was drafted in Sept. 1776, at Upton, & entered the service under the command of Capt Benj. Gurne, Lieut. Benj. Greene, Ensign Francis Bowmer, Regt of Col. Sam. D. He marched in said Company to Tarrytown, where we were stationed to watch the British ships on the river. At the end of two months the term for which we were drafted, a request came from the Officers that the men would continue a few days after their time was out. He was one of those who complied with the request, & continued at least five days (as he fully believes) over his time. An extra allowance of wages was made for this additional service.
That in the month of July, A.D. 1780, he enlisted voluntarily at Upton for a term of three months, in a company raised in that & several adjoining towns, under the command of Capt Benj Reed, Lieut Robert Tapp & David Kelly, Regt of Col. Wheelock, of Westboro. He marched in said Company to West Point, and was stationed at that place & its vicinity during his term of service. When the time had expired for which he had enlisted, he continued several days, he does not recollect the precise number, but not less than five, by the request & desire of his officers, & was paid accordingly for extra service. And he is perfectly sure & positive, that his three terms of service exceeded in all the term of six months. That Daniel Fiske, of Upton, served with him during each of said terms; Silas Warren was with him one term of two months. He refers to Rev. Benjamin Wood, and Daniel Fiske, Jr. both of said Upton, for his reputation. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Before Nathl Paine Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester
Wilson X Rawson his mark.

We, Benjamin Wood , a Clergyman residing in the town of Upton , and Daniel Fiske, Jr. residing in the same town, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Wilson Rawson , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eighty years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Moses STARR JAMES Indp of Probate Benj m Wood for the County of Worcester Daniel Fiske Jr.
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Rev. Benjamin Wood , who signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Upton , and that Deacon Daniel Fiske , who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Moses STARR JAMES Indp of Probate for the County of Worcester
I Theophilus Wheeler Register, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Wilson Rawson for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand & affix the Seal of the said Probate Court this 5th day of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two.
Theoph l Wheeler Reg r of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester in Massachusetts
X

I, Daniel Tiske, of Upton, County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being seventy four years of age, testify & say, that I am well acquainted with Wilson Rawson of said Upton, & have known him for more than sixty years; that in the month of April, A.D. 1775, we were both then living & residing in said Upton, when intelligence of the battle of Lexington reached us. That we then belonged to two companies of minute men, who marched from Upton the same night, immediately after receiving the news, for Lexington; that we reached Cambridge Common the next morning, from whence we marched to Roxbury, where the said Rawson & myself were placed in the company of Capt. Robert Saps, of Upton, Lieut. Benj. Farrar, of Upton, and Regt. of Col. Silas Wheelock, of Mendon; that the soldiers in said company were dismissed from time to time, as new arrangements were made. Said Rawson did not return with me; I remained fifteen days, and have good reason to suppose that he remained several days longer. While at Roxbury, we were engaged in guard duty up to the time of our departure.
In the month of September, A.D. 1776, said Rawson & myself again entered the service together, being drafted, under the command of Capt. Benj. Farrar, of Upton, Lieut. Benj. Greene, and Ensign Francis Downes; Regt. of Col. Samuel Denny, of Leicester, in said County. We marched to Fairfield, Connecticut, & from thence to Tarrytown, where we were stationed for the purpose of watching the English armed ships, for two months & a few days. That when two months, our term of enlistment, had expired, we were requested by our officers to stay a few days longer; that some of the men were willing to remain, others refused to comply with the request; that said Rawson, Silas Warren, also of Upton, & myself, remained several days, the exact number I cannot state. I recollect distinctly receiving wages for a term exceeding two months, as an allowance for the extra service. We came home towards the last of November.
That in the month of July, A.D. 1780, said Rawson & myself enlisted voluntarily at said Upton, for three months, in a company raised in that & the adjoining towns of Uxbridge, Northbridge & Douglas, and commanded by Capt. Benj. Read, of Mendon, Lieuts. Robert Saps & David Kelly; Regt. of Col. Wheelock. We marched to West Point, by the way of Hartford, when a part of the company was detached to go up the river to Fishkill, & said Rawson & myself were in said detachment. There we returned to West Point, where we were when Arnold's treachery was discovered. We continued a few days after our time was out, how long I cannot state, and I am quite sure we received payment for more than three months, the term of our enlistment. We were dismissed in the month of October, & came home together.
Daniel Tiske

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mendon, Aug 28, 1832. Worcester ss.
Then personally appeared before me the abovenamed Daniel Fiske, of Upton, in said County, and made solemn oath that the statement above made & subscribed by him, is true. And I further certify that I am well acquainted with said Daniel Fiske, that he is a credible person, & that his statement is fully entitled to credit.
Wm S. Hastings. Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester, ss. I, Abijah Bigelow, clerk of the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Worcester, certify, that William S. Hastings, and Daniel Fisk Jr., Esquires, before whom the annexed Depositions of Daniel Fisk and Silas Warren, were signed and sworn to, are Justices of the Peace within and for said County of Worcester - and that the signatures of said William S. Hastings and Daniel Fisk junior to the certificates of the oaths of said Deponents appears to be in their own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand, and affix the County Seal, this twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred, and thirty two.
Abijah Bigelow, (Clerk)

I Silas Warren of Upton in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts yeoman being seven- ty eight years of age do testify before that I have been acquainted with Wilson Rawson of said Upton for more than sixty years, and hereby testify & say that the said Rawson, in the year seventeen hundred & eighty six in the month of September went to Tarry town in the state of New York, into the revolutionary war was a soldier in the company comman- ded by Capt. Benjamin  Farrar of said Upton in the regiment commanded by Col. Den- ny of Springfield in said County, and the said Raw- son was in the United States service at said Tarry town for the term of two months & upwards in the months of September October & November in the said year 1776. Was a soldier at the same time & place with the said Rawson in said war, and was personally knowing to his perform- ing the service as above mentioned. Silas his Warren mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Worcester ss.
Town of Upton August 22 d 1832.
Personally appeared before me a justice of the Peace, Silas Warren above named, and subscribed and made oath to the truth of the above deposi- tion  and I certify that I have known the said Warren many years, & that he is a man of veracity and a credible witness. Daniel Fish Jr. Justice of the Peace

Husen Hawson D. June 4. 751
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apr. 19, 1775 20 days Pvt. Robert Jeff Silas Wheelock Mass.   Sept. 1776 2 mo 5 das. Benjamin Farrar Samuel Denny   July 1782 3 mo 5 das Benjamin Reid Wheelock  
Battles engaged in,  Residence of soldier at enlistment, Upton, Worcester Co., Mass.  Date of application for pension, Aug. 28, 1832. His el was al.  Residence at date of application, Upton, Mass.  Age at date of application, Upton, Mass. Feb. 22, 1752 (O.S.)
Remarks: _____ _____ _____
Very respectfully,  _____  _____

1910, Dec 20. H. C. Mulligan
Rehr
4751 INVALID.
File No. 4751 Wilson Rawson Print Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index: Vol. M , Page 308
[Arrangement of 1870.]

$20 per ann.
J. L. Edwards, Esq. Pension Bureau, Present,

Washington Nov 17, 1832.
To J. L. Edwards, Esq. Pension Bureau &c. Sir,
In reference to the case of Wilson Rawson, claimant under the Act of June 7, 1832, I beg leave to make the following statement. Mr Rawson, & his witnesses, Messrs. Daniel Fiske and Silas Warren, are highly respectable inhabitants of Upton, Mass., where they also resided in 1776. Rawson & Fiske served together, three terms, and Warren & Rawson one term, in the Revolutionary Army. In reference to the term when they were all three together, they agree in stating under oath, that after the expiration of their term of enlistment, the soldiers were requested by their officers to remain several days longer, and that they were in the number of those who complied with this request. They do not recollect the precise number of days they remained; Rawson says not less than five, but does not pretend to recollect the exact number. They all agree that they remained several days as a favor to their officers; & neither Fiske nor Warren derive any benefit from this statement.

Their periods of service require no such slight addition to entitle them to the benefit of the Act.
Shall it be supposed that they have prepared themselves for the benefit of Rawson - to enable him to draw the pittance of $20. per year? No one who knows Mr Rawson, would believe him capable of such folly, for his own interest, even were he much more largely interested. His character is above reproach, so far as I have learned, and I have had good means of knowing it. Of Messrs Fiske & Warren, I have already spoken; they are worthy and respectable men.
Mr Fiske makes a similar statement respecting another term which he served in the same company

for rejecting the claim of Mr. Rawson. The main point - the request of the officers, & their having remained several days, is fully proved by him.
Very Respectfully Your Obedt Serv
Geo. Folsom.

HENRY C. MULLIGAN COUNSELLOR AT LAW TREMONT BUILDING. 73 TREMONT ST. ROOM 726. TEL. HAYMKT. 483 BOSTON
December 14, 1910.
Commissioner of Pensions, Pension Bureau, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:--
Will you kindly send me the military record of Wilson Rawson, who served in the Revolutionary War File 4751 from Upton, Mass., and who died when about eighty-five years of age. I believe he was placed on the pension roll in November 1832.
Very truly yours,
Henry C. Mulligan

DEC 16 1910