Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19765, for John Shelden, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Mass.
Shelden, John
NUMBER
S 19765
CONTENTS
carded

Massachusetts
John Sheldon
of Essex Co in the State of Massachusetts who was a private in the Coy - commanded by Captain Gray - of the Regt - commanded by Col. Stearns in the Mass. Militia line for 6 mos 27 days -
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 23 - Dollars - Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Nov 7 1844 and sent to R. Baldwin Esq. Boston Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of Feb 1844 $510.50 Semi-annual allowance ending Dec 1843 11.50
$522.00
{ Revolutionary War } { Act June 7 }
recorded by E. H. Stearns book E - Vol. 2 - Page 1
a corrected certificate is - - sent & sent to R. Baldwin on 30 November, 1844 ✓ see erroneous certificate within - see Col. to Pen. 11844 Nov 30. 1844 -

Boston, September 27 th 1844.
Sir
I transmit herewith the Supplemental Declaration of John Sheldon, accompanied by the Secretaries Certificate, stating his service. This case was referred to in your letter dated 23 rd April 1838. I would most earnestly entreat the Department to take up & decide thereon at the earliest practical moment, as the Applicant is apparently on the verge of the grave, & the expenses attending his nursing & sickness, his indigent children are unable to pay. I therefore cherish the hope that said Sheldon's case may receive a speedy decision - after these papers shall be received at the Pension Office.
Very Respectfully Sir I am John Obedient Servant
Reuben Baldwin
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions. Washington.

John Sheldon
34. 456
Master.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Essex County ss
On this sixteenth day of November in the year of Our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty seven Personally appeared in open court before the Hon Samuel Putnam one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts John Sheldon a Resident of Beverly in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged Seventy seven 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 provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7 1832; That He enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1776. for the Town of Danvers in said County where he then lived and served six months in Capt Samuel Pages Comp y of Militia on Noddles Island, and Nantasket in the Harbour of Boston, in the Summer and fall of that year and returned home late in the fall. Then again he enlisted a second time in Capt Samuel Pages Comp y and marched to Rhode Island and was stationed at Providence and Bristol in said State where he served three or four months, he does not recollect the Col o of the Reg t ; this service was just before the Enemy quit the Island, and may have been in Capt Whipples Comp y .
He recollects that during his last term of service at Bristol the British who were stationed on the opposite of Bristol ferry frequently fired upon the Americans and one morning a shot a cannon ball entered the building in which he others were stationed which struck a large beam of the house and shattered it and killed three of our Men, Joseph Peabody of Salem was a corporal in our company during the last mentioned service
He further declares that by reason of his retired mode of life he has not been in the way of procuring assist- ance to make application heretofore for a pension.
He hereby relinquishes every claim

whatever to a pension or annuity except the present; And he declared that his Name is not on the pension roll of any Agency in any State John Sheldon
Sworn to and Subscribed } Before Samuel Putnam Just the day and Year aforesaid } of the S.J.C. of Mass. s in open Court -
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatory prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states
Samuel Putnam one of the Just s of the Sup. Jud. Court of Massachusetts
I John Prince Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of John Sheldon for a pension. And I certify that I am acquainted with said Sheldon & that he is a man of } In testimony whereof I have hereunto respectability } set my hand & the seal of said Court November 16. 1837.
John Prince Clerk.

I John Chapman of Beverly in the county of Essex and commonwealth of Massachusetts Aged Eighty Seven Years, being duly Sworn do on Oath testify depose and say. That I was born and brought up in Marblehead and removed to Danvers in the time of the Revolutionary War in April 1775 and at Danvers I became acquainted with Mr John Sheldon whose son John then being a young Man enlisted as a private Soldier for Six Months in a Middlesex Company from Danvers commanded by Capt Samuel Page in 1776. and Served for said period of Six Months at Noddles Island, Nantasket and other places in the harbour of Boston, And the same John Sheldon has this day Visited me at my House and I know him to be the ident- ical person who Served as above stated in Capt Pages Compa- ny the said John Sheldon resides in the Town of Beverly
Attest Amos Sheldon
John his X Chapman Mark
Essex County ss Beverly 18 day of October 1837
Then Personally appeared the above named John Chapman, who is a respectable inhabitant of Beverly in said county and a person of the United States, a Man of truth and veracity and made solemn Oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed Before me Amos Sheldon Justice of Peace

I Jonathan Sheldon of Danvers in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged Seventy Years do on Oath testify and say That myself together with the family of my late Father John Sheldon Resided in North Danvers at the commencement of the Revolutionary War, that many of my Neighbours were called out to Guard the harbour of Boston after the British had evacuated the same in the Spring of 1776. Amongst the number was my brother John Sheldon Junr. who served one term of Six months as a private Soldier in the Company of Capt Samuel Page and were Stationed at Noddles Island, Nantasket and other places in the harbour of Boston and during their continuance at those places my Father John Sheldon frequently Visited the Troops and carried Supplies to my brother. My brother Said John Sheldon served one other term of Service in Rhode Island three months or more and according to the best of my Recollection under Capt Samuel Page of Danvers.  Jonathan Sheldon
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex Co. ss. Oct 19. 1837. Then personally appeared the above-named Jonathan Sheldon, an inhabitant of Danvers in said County of Essex, a credible witness, & made oath that the above-affidavit by him subscribed is true.  Before me Jos. H. Pierce. Jas. Pat.

I Ebenezer Goodale of Salem in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged Seventy three Years do in Oath testify and say That I was an inhabitant of Danvers in Said County in the time of the War of the Revolution. And knew the family of John Sheldon, they were near Neighbors of my Father's family in Danvers both before and during Said War, John Sheldon I sent the Son of the above Named. Served two tours of Service as a Soldier in Said War, the first of Six months under Capt Samuel Page in 1776, and was Stationed at Noddles Island and other places in the harbor of Bos- ton and its Vicinity after the British evacuated that Town, the Said John Sheldon performed one other tour of Service in Rhode Island, as I have always understood of four months, and was Stationed most of the time at Bristol in Said State under the above Mentioned Capt Samuel Page while the British were in possession of the Island, but the particular place I cannot now recollect. There was one incident at Bristol which Said John Sheldon always dwelt upon, viz that the Enemy frequently fired from a Fort on the opposite side of Bristol Ferry, and one morning a Cannon ball entered mid the building in which Said Sheldon and others were Stationed, which struck a large beam of the house and glanced and killed three men. I have seen and conversed this day with Said John Sheldon who served as above stated He resides in the adjoining Town of Beverly.
Ebenezer Goodale

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss. Salem Oct 14. 1837. Then personally appeared the within named Ebenezer Goodale, an inhabitant of Salem a credible witness, & made oath that the within affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me Jos. H. Prince. Jus. Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss.
I John Prince Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in said County do certify that Amos Sheldon & Joseph H. Prince are Justices of the Peace in & for said County & that their signatures hereon are genuine.
Witness my hand & the seal of said Court November 16. 1837.
John Prince Clk.

19465 INVALID.
19465 Bureau of Census File No. 11765
John Sheldon Sci Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

John Sheldon, Musstler.
Suspended.
let. to R. Baldwin, April 23, 1838.

34 456
John Sheldon
Maps
act 7 June 1832
Alm d . 6 11w 27 days private
$23 75 pr annum
$23 00
Reuben Baldwin
Boston.
Maps.

Supplemental Declaration
Salem, Essex County Massachusetts
September 27 th 1844
I John Sheldon a resident of Salem in the County and State aforesaid Aged eighty eight years; Being sworn I do on Oath depose and say, and make this further declaration in addition to my former one; That I was an Inhabitant of Danvers in said County of Essex at the commencement of the Revolutionary War. And That I performed two tours of Soldiers duty in the Army amounting in the whole to upwards of Six months duration. In my former Declaration I stated my service as having been performed under Captain Samuel Page, as said Page was a fellow Townsman of mine and a Revolutionary Officer; But after further reflection I believe I was mistaken, and that one of my Captains name was Gray, and one other one by the name of Adams. I now recollect that said Gray was an Officer and as near as I can remember he commanded the company I was in when stationed at Bristol Ferry in Rhode Island, at the time we had two of our Soldiers killed by an Enemies Shot, which shot was fired one morning at the House where we were lodged, and striking a beam glanced downwards and killed the two Soldiers, who had not risen from their Slumbers.
I am now Old and almost entirely helpless - my mind and memory almost entirely gone, and in all probability I shall not survive many months longer.
John Sheldon

County of Essex ss. Comm on wealth of Massachusetts
Be it Known, that on this twenty seventh day of September A D 1824, before me Joseph G Waters, a Justice of the Peace, in & for said County , personally appeared the within named John Sheldon, and made oath to the truth of the within affidavit by him subscribed. Thereby certify that said John Sheldon is now laboring under great infirmities, and is apparently near his decease. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, the day & year first above written.
Joseph G Waters Jus. Pa.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston September 27 th 1844
I hereby Certify , That at the date of the annexed attestation Joseph G. Waters was 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.
John G. Barron Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston;
Sept 26 1811.
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 John Sheldon of Danvers is to be found a pay roll of Capt James Gray, Col Marshall from July 25 1776 to Nov 20 days, and upon a pay roll of Capt John Adams, Col Wilcomb from June 29 1777 to Nov 1 1777 1 day. Matthew Whipple was 1st Lieutenant under Capt Adams & Samuel Page was 2nd Lieutenant under Capt Gray.
4-20 2-7 6-27

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the Commissaires letter of April 23. 1838  application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears ; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contains all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Parris Secretary of the Commonwealth.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office, 50.
November 21 1831
Sir:
Be pleased to inscribe on your roll the name of John Sheldon a Revolutionary Pensioner, at the rate of Twenty-three dollars and _____ cents per annum; commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, under the act of June 7, 1832, and pay his pension up to the time of the last semi-annual payment, if he should be still living; and, if not, you will pay the money due up to the day of his death.
Pensions under the above act are to be paid immediately on the production of the proper vouchers.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Inform the Agent that a new certificate XXXXXX in the case has been issued in consequence of an error in the original, and that he has been notified of the fact to prevent any misapprehension on his part. — A duplicate not in no case receivable unless the original has been lost, mislaid or destroyed To the Agent for paying Pensioners at Boston
Massachusetts.

Issue a new Cert. to the Court of Massachusetts notice the inst. the the back of the Papers & the transcription
Payment to be made at Boston by F. Haver Agent for paying Pension- ers, in the Agency of
of a copy of Calpate to Boston Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book & Vol. 2 Page 51 by Attorney Clerk.

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 7th June, 1832, John Selden — of the State of North Carolina who was a private in the Revolutionary War,
is entitled to receive Twenty three dollars and _____ cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually, on the 4th of March and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this — 24 th — day of November one thousand eight hundred and thirty forty- four
Examined and } Countersigned. }

Boston Massachusetts November 18. 1837
Sir
Herewith I transmit, Documents in support of the claim of John Sheldon to a pension under the Act of June 7. 1832. for services as a soldier in Capt. Page and Capt. Whipple's Companies in the War of the Revolution. If this claim should be admitted be pleased to forward the certificate in satisfaction thereof to me at this place
Respectfully
I am Sir Your Obedt
Reuben Baldwin
James L. Edwards Esq Comm'r of Pensions Washington