Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15,237, for Eleazer Read, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Read, Eleazer Elizabeth
W. 15, 237.
CONTENTS

Massachusetts Rolls.
1831
Eleazer Read, Private 4
Massachusetts Line 77 9 regts in the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 4 th of April 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th of June 1818, and sent to the Hon. Sam l C. Dana Boston, Mass. —
Arrears to 4 th of Sept r 1818.
5 Months 1/30 $ 40.26.
{ Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818. }
Dec. 13. 1833 sent copy of E. Reed's disch. to Sher- -man D. Fletcher in the same Dal at the city Post Office

Eleazar Read
Forest
Dana

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
BE it remembered, that on this Fourth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Eighteen before me, SAMUEL DANA , Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Middle Circuit, (comprehending the Counties of Essex and Middlesex, in the Commonwealth aforesaid) comes Eleazar Read of Westford in said county of Middlesex and on oath declares, that he served in the War of the Revolution for the space of four years, and five months - That having, on three several times, served twelve months , on the twenty fifth day of May , in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven hundred & Seventy seven , he enlisted, into the Army of the United States, upon the Continental establishment, under General Lewis Parker in the Company of Captain William Hudson Ballard , in the seventh Massachusetts Regiment , then commanded by Col. Isaac Doolittle after Col. Alson was slain at Cherry Valley , the Regiment was commanded by Col. John Brooks , and at West point, the 26th May A.D. 1780 he received an honorable discharge from Major Samuel Darby then Commanding the Regiment, & returned to his residence in Westford - He is now fifty eight years of age , is destitute of property, has no way to procure a subsistence, but by his daily labor as a husbandman, and his ability to work, will soon cease so that
he stands in need of assistance from his country for his support, by reason of his reduced circumstances in life
Thus, made, subscribed, and sworn to, at Groton in said county of Middlesex the day and year aforesaid.
Eleazar Read Sam d Dana

To the Honorable JOHN C. CALHOUN, Secretary of the Department of War of the United States.
I, the undersigned Samuel Dana , Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Middle Circuit, (comprehending the Counties of Essex and Middlesex) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being a Court of Record, duly established by Law, Do hereby certify, That on the fourth day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen  Ebenezer Read personally appeared and made and subscribed the declaration which is hereunto annexed. and at the same time he exhibited to me, the discharge therein mentioned
from which it appears to me, that the said Ebenezer Read did serve in the War of the REVOLUTION, against the common Enemy, upwards of nine months. Upon the Continental establishment-
Wherefore, in pursuance of the directions of an Act of Congress, made and passed the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," I have transmitted the said Declaration & the discharge aforesaid to you the said Secretary, that such further proceedings may be had in the premises, as the said Act may require.
In testimony of all which, I have caused the Seal of said Court to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand within the said Circuit, the fourth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen .
Sam l Dana

80
Eleazer Road
[Faint, illegible handwriting, possibly bleed-through from the reverse side of the page]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
MIDDLESEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit, began and holden at Concord, within and for the County of Middlesex, on the second Monday of June A. D. 182 0 .
Before the Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Esquire, Chief Justice, and
WILLIAM WETMORE, and } Associate Justices STEPHEN MINOT, Esquires, } of said Court.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Cleric. Head.
Westford in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 1054, now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
“ WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS ”
“ I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, Cleric. Head.  Private in the army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the fourth day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen .”
“ Given at the War Office of the United States, this fifteenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighteen .”
J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War.
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
SCHEDULE,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
  11 One cow and calf, . . . . . $ 25 00   Two sheep . . . . . 4 00   One wagg . . . . . 3 --   One loom . . . . . 7 00   Old lumber, . . . . . 2 00   One scythe & snaths . . . . . 1 00   Brooksh wagg . . . . . 1 20   Brown earthen wagg . . . . . 1 20   Pewee wagg . . . . . 1 00   Three tables, . . . . . 3 00   Eight chairs . . . . . 2 00   Three pails, . . . . . 1 00   Two wagg . . . . . 1 00   Glass wagg . . . . . 10 25   One pair of handiron, . . . . . 1 75 

   Two spinning wheels . . . . .  1 00    One stovet & strings . . . . .  1 -    One loom . . . . .  0 12    Two axes . . . . .  1 00     $37 52   
Ebenezer Read.
And the said Ebenezer Read having been first duly sworn state & declare that he served in the Revolutionary war on the Continental establishment, one term of three years beside other shorter terms, that he was in the Reg t commanded by Col Ichabod Alden and in the company of Cap t Wm H Bullard that he was at the capture of Burgoyne, in the battle at Cherry valley and at Phillips mans at White plains and at the expiration of the term, for which he engaged he was honorably discharged as will more particularly appear by his original declaration on file in the war office &c.
And the said Ebenezer Read further state and declare on oath that his family consists of his wife and two daughters, the youngest of whom is now ten years and eight months old, and that his said family are dependent upon his labour for support and maintenance his own age is sixty years last March the age of my wife is fifty four years in January last and the age of his daughter is twenty one years his occupation is that of a labourer.
Ebenezer Read

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Samuel Dana Esq. a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
11 I, Eleanor Read do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. So help me GOD.
Eleanor Read
Middlesex ss. C. C. C. P. June Term, A. D. 1820
Then the abovenamed Eleanor Read took and subscribed the aforesaid Oath before me,
Sam d Dana Judge of said Court. "
I, ABRAHAM BIGLOW, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is
Twenty seven dollars fifty two cents
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Cambridge, in said County of Middlesex, on this 20 th day of July 1820
Attr. Abraham Biglow

Massachusetts 2113
Elizabeth Read, widow of Ebenezer Read,
who was a pensioner under the Act of Mar 18 th '18 and who died on the 15 th Feby 1827 — of Worcester in the State of Massachusetts, who was a P vt  Mass in the 6 th  Regt commanded by Captain Ballou of the Reg t commanded by Alden in the Mass s line for 2 years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts, at the rate of 88 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 rd day of Mar '39, and sent to Solomon Strong Somerset Mass s
Arrears to the 4 th of Mar — $ 240 00 Semi-annual allowance ending 40 00 $ 280 00
{ Act July 7, } 1838.
Recorded by R. Burrows Clerk, Book A Vol. 1 — Page 126.

(1995) Elizabeth Read Mass at 7 July 38
M 86. d. 27
admo Tyrs pri 80
Node ducken
Solomon Strong Leominster Mass
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Weston, ss. I, Joseph G. Mendue, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Weston, do certify, that the within copy of is a true copy of said Court - and that his signature to the respective certificates hereto annexed, and by him signed, is in his own proper hand writing. In testimony whereof, I have set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, at Weston, this

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th July 1830 entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows"
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Worcester County ss
On this twenty ninth day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before Court of Common Pleas on the Solomon Strong one of the judges of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The same being a court of record Elizabeth Read widow residing in Fitchburg in said County aged seventy one 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 7 1830 entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" That she is the widow of Deacon Read late of Northfield in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth

of Massachusetts who was a private soldier in the Revolutionary War. The particulars of her service she is not able to state. She was married from her parent's residence but she knows the time of them years. She said her husband was just on the pension list. He did not like the pension to be paid in her pension. It was sent to Boston when the marriage of her husband's pension was allowed after his death. She has no other evidence to prove his service; other than what is in the pension office, and her which her pension was obtained. She further declares that she was married to the said Thomas Read at said Westport on the fourth day of March one hundred and sixty six, by the Reverend Mathew Doolittle then a settled and ordained minister of gospel. Then when she was there sent to the said Thomas Read his name was Thomas Read but my name before I was married was Elizabeth Fletcher. She further declares that her said husband died at said Westport on the fifteenth day of July eighteen hundred and seventy seven. That she was not married to him prior

to his leaving the union but the meeting took place pursuant to the first of January since last mentioned and until June 1842 at the time above stated. She further declares that she has never since the widow of the said Charles Read since her death never having before been married. She further declares that her said husband visited in said district when he went into the service and when he obtained his pension. Elizabeth Read.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Worcester County ss. On this twenty ninth day of August eighteen hundred and thirty eight personally appeared Samuel Strong one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the same being a court of record. Elizabeth Read above named first signed the above declaration in my presence. She also made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me. The said Elizabeth Read by reason of age and bodily infirmity is unable to attend court and I took her examination at the place of her residence in Fitchburg aforesaid. Solomon Strong Judge C. C. Pleas.

I Elizabeth Read of Fitchburg in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts agree forty one years testify and say that I am the daughter of Eleanor Read late of Westford County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Maine that I was present when my said father died. He died at said Westford on the fifteenth day of July eighteen hundred and twenty seven. My said father was on the pension list. My mother Elizabeth Read widow of said Eleanor Read has remained his widow ever since given living since her marriage. Elizabeth Read
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Worcester County ss. On this twenty ninth day of August eighteen hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before me Solomon Strong one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts the same being a court of record. Elizabeth Read above named and made solemn oath to the truth of the above affidavit. I certify that said Elizabeth Read is a credible person.
Solomon Strong Judge C. C. Pleas.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex County ss
Office of the Town Clerk Westford August eighteenth one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight
I John W P Abbot in the town County and Commonwealth aforesaid make the following ex- tract from the record of Marriages in said town now in my possession
11 Eleazar Read just to Elizabeth Fletcher both of Westford were joined in Marriage covenant before me May fourth one thousand seven hundred and eighty six
Mathew Smith Minister
Jonathan Keep Town Clerk
I certify that the above is a true copy of the record with exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows "4 th of May 1786"
I John W P Abbot above named depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the town County and Commonwealth aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the record of said Town with the exception above named as certified by me
John W P Abbot Clerk of the Town of Westford
Middlesex ss August eighteenth A.D. 1838
Sworn & subscribed
before John W P Abbot Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex ss. I Elias Thayer Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for said County of Middlesex, do certify that John Abbot Esquire is a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Middlesex, and that his name subscribed to the within Certificate is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court. The fourth day of September 1838.
E. Thayer Clerk

I Mary Adeline Safford of Tiltbury in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts age twenty eight years fully and say that I am the daughter of Olson Reed late of Worcester in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts that I was present when saying Olson Reed my father died. He died at said Worcester on the fifteenth day of July eighteen hundred and twenty seven. My said father Olson Reed was on the pension list. My mother Elizabeth Reed widow of said Olson Reed, has remained his widow ever since, never having since been married. Mary A. Safford
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Worcester County ss. On this twenty ninth day of August eighteen hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before me Solomon Strong one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts the same being a court of record Mary Adeline Safford above named and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit before subscribed. I certify that the above named Mary Adeline Safford is a credible person.
Solomon Strong judge C. C. Pleas.

195 Elizabeth Read Mass Oct 7 th July 1838
M 86. 6. 21
comp envelope
808
Mode du chien
Solomon Strong Leominster Mass
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worcester, ss. I, Joseph G. Kendall, clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Worcester, do certify, that the Honble Solomon Strong is Judge of said Court - and that his signature to the respective certificates hereto annexed, and by him signed, is in his own proper hand writing. In testimony whereof, I hereto set my hand, and affix the seal of said Court, at Worcester, this twenty fifth day of September, in the year 1838.
J. G. Kendall

Rev. & 1919 War Section.
October 4, 1928.
Mrs. Warren Anthony, 110 N. Y. Ave. Des Moines, Mich.
*Madam:
You are herewith furnished the history of the only Ebenezer Read, under any spelling of that name found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim,
w. 1837, it appears that Ebenezer Read was born in March 1760, place not stated, and name of father and mother not on record.
While living in Westford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, he enlisted and served for fifteen months in the Massachusetts Troops, officers and dates of service not given, and was in engagements at Phillips Manor and White Plains. He enlisted May 25, 1777 and served as a private in Captain William H. D. Ballard's Company, Colonels Ichabod Alden and John Brooks' Massachusetts Regiment. He was at the capture of Burgoyne's Army and the battle of Cherry Valley. He was discharged May 20, 1780.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 1, 1818, while living at Westford, Massachusetts, and he died there July 15, 1837.

He married May 4, 1786, at Westford, Massachusetts , Elizabeth Fletcher. He was then Eleazer Read, Junior. She was allowed pension on her application executed August 23, 1838, while living at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, aged seventy-one years. In 1820, the soldier referred to his two daughters aged twenty-one, and ten years and eight months, but did not give their names. In 1838 his daughters, Elizabeth Read, aged forty-one years and Mary Adeline Safford aged twenty-eight years were living in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
It is not stated whether the soldier had any brothers. and in order to make a proper search of the records the full name of the soldier is essential.
Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN, Acting Commissioner.

T HE Bearer hereof Eleazer Read — a Soldier in the Seventh-Massachusetts Regiment , having served as a faithful good Soldier in the said Regiment, the Term of three years being the full Term for which he inlisted, is hereby discharged from the same.
Given under my Hand, at West Point this 26 Day of May — 1780 —
Sam l Darby Major Comm d 7 th Mass t Regiment
Mass.
Read, Eleazer
N. 15,237
Discharge
7 th Mass.

1916 Sept 22. Hist. to George S. Stewart letter in Mr 823 James Stewart, Mass. p 1926. Col. 4, Hist. to Mrs. Warren Anthony. Aw.
Mass.
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 15237
Elizabeth Read
Widow of
Eleazar Read
Rev Rev War
Act: July 7 th 1838
Index:—Vol. Mr , Page 155
[Arrangement of 1870.]

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of _____ a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
    DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     ✓ 15 mos. ✓ W. H. H. S. S. S. Mass.       Aug 25 Aug 25 Private William H. Ballard Edward H. Harkness John B. Harkness Mass.     
Battles engaged in, _____
Residence of soldier at enlistment, _____
Date of application for pension, _____
Residence at date of application, _____
Age at date of application, Forty-eight years
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

War Dept. Pension Office,
I wish a copy of Eleazar Reed's discharge, which you will be pleased to transmit to me through the Post Office.
Yours Obt Serv Sherman D. Fletcher Washington Dec 5. 1833.

Comm. of Pensions Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
Kindly consult your files and send copy of Revolutionary record of Eleazer Reed who with his 3 sons enlisted from Westford with and served until Dec. 31, 1779 - Col. Eleazer Brooks Regt. Capt. Wm. Ballard's Company of Concord N.H.
If records show me would appreciate names of the 3 sons, also when Eleazer Reed was born & when he died, and pension record if he ever received one.
Thanking You,
Mrs Warren Anthony Vice-Regt. Captain Samuel Felt Chapter D.G.R., 310 N.Y. Ave., Dearborn, Mich. 8/19/26