Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19049, for George Read, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Read, George or Reed
S. 190 49
Carded
CONTENTS

7410 Massachusetts
George Reed Reads. and Mass. of Fall River in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Comp'y. commanded by Captain Fuller of the Reg't commanded by Colo. Durfee in the Mass line for
12 Months 25. days
Inscribed on the Roll of - - Mass at the rate of 42. Dollars 75 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20- day of May 1834 and sent to. A. Russell Esq. Taunton Mass
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1834 - $128.25 Semi-annual allowance ending 4th Sep " 21.37 $149.62
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 3 Page 73

30719 George Peck Fall River Mass
A. Basset Esq Taunton Mass

George Mird
Bristol Co.
Mass -

180 I, the undersigned of Fall River in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of the Massachusetts, being in the twenty third year of my age, do testify and say, that about the middle of July 1778 George Mead then of Newton, but then living in that part thereof which is now Fall River aforesaid, the said George was an inhabitant of said Newton) was called out with a company of Infantry in which he was enrolled as Capt. Oliver Mead the Captain of said company and marched from that part of said Newton, which is now incorporated as the Town of Fall River, to Howland's Ferry so called, in Rhode Island, and from thence was transported to the Island of Rhode Island, where he served as a private soldier under Capt. Mead at least forty days. — His service was rendered by him at the time of Sullivan's Expedition upon the said Island. After the retreat of Gen. Sullivan from said Island, with the American troops, Capt. Mead discharged the said George Mead with his company. — Said George and myself belonged to the same Regiment, but not to the same company, which was upon the Island at that time — I used to see the said George almost daily if not every day, during the time he was on the Island aforesaid, said George and myself being about the same age and being well acquainted with each other before going upon the Island, as we had before that time lived only about one mile from each other; but as frequently to see each other while we were soldiers together upon the Island aforesaid. — Soon after the retreat of Gen. Sullivan as aforesaid, the said George joined (I think in the early part of the month of September 1778) a company of Infantry commanded by Capt. Fuller (in which company I also was a soldier) and served therein until, I think, some time in the month of December of that year when the Rain, called the Snow, came upon the Bay, and Farmington River being frozen over, the company was finally discharged by Capt. Fuller. — The said George together with the company, during this period was stationed at Block Island so called which is now said River about one mile above the Village of Fall River so called. —
Early in the Spring and in the month of March 1779 the said George

again enlisted in Capt. Fuller's company, & he together with the company were again stationed at Old Point Ferry, from that time untill some time in December of that year 1778 & I think the latter part of 1778  1779 of that year, when the British troops having, in the month of October preceding (which in the latter part thereof) evacuated the Town of New Port and abandoned the Island of Rhode Island; & they not having made any demonstrations of an intent to return to it; Capt. Fuller discharged the said George, together with his whole company at Old Point Ferry. — The said George, together with the other soldiers under Capt. Fuller in the year 1778 and in the year 1779 were engaged in guarding the shores of Mount Hope Bay & Farmington River, from the invasions of British troops, who held the possession of the Town of New Port & the Island of Rhode Island. — I the said Deleg do further testify and say that the said George Read for whom, at whose request the above testimony is by me given, is the same person who rendered the aforesaid services in the American Revolution; and that he has and for nearly the whole period of his life, lived but about one mile from from from me, where he at present resides. —
Deleg Brightman
Bristol March 27 th 1834 Then personally appeared Deleg Brightman (a credible witness & entitled to credit) and made oath in due form of law, to the truth of the foregoing affidavits and statement by him subscribed — Before me, Nathaniel D. Catlin, Justice of Peace —

Abigail Reed of Fall River in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Spinster, being in the Seventy ninth year of my age do testify and say that I am the sister of George Reed of said Fall River, and know that in the summer of 1778 said George left home, and went as was then and ever since been said upon the Island of Rhode Island as a soldier in Capt. Oliver Rudes company of Infantry, for the purpose of expelling the British Troops from said Island - This was in Sullivan's Expedition so called. - I should think he was absent from home at that time about two months - I cannot however be positive as to the precise length of the time he was absent. - Immediately or very soon after he returned from the Island, and from Sullivan's expedition, my brother George joined Capt. Fuller's company, which was stationed at Sledge Ferry, so called, which crosses Taunton Great River & is situated about two miles from the place where I then lived. - George served in Capt. Fuller's company guarding the shores of Round Hope Bay, so called, & the shores of Taunton Great River until some time in the winter of that year, when the whole company of Capt. Fuller (as I then understood) was discharged & he came home to stay through the remaining part of the winter. -
Early in the spring of the year A.D. 1779 he again joined Capt. Fuller's company, & was again, with the company stationed at said Ferry until some time in the Autumn of that year when Capt. Fuller as I then understood having again discharged his company, George again returned home. - During the year 1779 I lived at the same place, I did in 1778. - George & myself both lived and then had our home at our mother's as our father was dead. - In 1779 the business of Capt. Fuller's company was the same, as was in 1778. - During the time George was a member of Capt. Fuller's company, both in 1778 and 1779, he occasionally came home, but stated at each time but a few hours, and then went to the Ferry where the company was to which he belonged. -
Abigail Reed
Sworn to before me this 15th day of April 1834. I then personally appeared Abigail Reed, a credible witness and entitled to credit, and made oath in due form of law, to the truth of the above affidavit and statement by her subscribed before me. Nathaniel P. Hathaway, Justice Peace -

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss.
I Anselm Bassett Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that Jonathan P. Hathaway is a Justice of the Peace for said County and that the signatures to the within certificates purporting to be his, are genuine —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this ninth day of May Eighteen hundred and thirty four — A Bassett

State of Massachusetts } Bristol County }
On this ninth day of May - A.D. 1834 personally appeared in open court, before Abdiel Baylies, Judge the Court of Probate in and for said County, Bristol now sitting at Dighton in said County, George Need a resident of Fall River in the County of Bristol and State aforesaid, aged Seventy two years, who first being 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 - To wit; In the month of July A.D. 1778, (he cannot be positive on what day of that month but thinks and believes about the middle of the same) he was called out, with of Infantry the company commanded by Capt. Oliver Need, in which company he the said George was then enrolled, and a private soldier, and marched from that part that part of Dartmouth which has since been incorporated & is now known and called by the name of the Town of Fall River (the station being his place of residence) thence to Rowlands Ferry so called in Dartmouth in the State of Rhode Island, and from thence was transported across said Ferry to the Island of Rhode Island, where he served under Capt. Need, as a private soldier, at least for ten days, and he thinks and believes some days longer - After he and the company landed upon the Island, Capt. Need marched them across the same within about three miles of the Town of Newport where the company were for the most part of the time upon fatigue duty, erecting breast-works & building intrenchments across the Island, during the period of about one month. - After being thus engaged, Capt. Need marched his company from thence, thence towards and near from said Ferry where they were stationed about a week or ten days, when the American troops commenced a retreat from the Island, and on the 30th of August of that year, near Quaker & Butts hills so called, a battle was fought between the American & British troops - The said George was a witness to the battle, being stationed with the company about one mile therefrom; and expected every moment to be called into the same, but was not. - Immediately after the battle Capt. Need, & company, with the said George were transported across said

Ferry to the mainland in Ithaca aforesaid, where, in one or two days after, left. Reed verbally discharged the said George & his whole company. — The said George says that he did not have a written, but a verbal discharge, and he has no doubt but that the whole company had the like and no other discharge. — William Eloba was the lieutenant and Boomer Eloba the ensign of the company under left. Reed. — Col. Josiah Whitney (I think) was the colonel of the Regiment to which left. Reed's company was attached and Col. Joseph Dunsbee was the major and Lt. Col. of the same — who the other field officers was the said George says he has forgotten — Capt. Henry Brightman commanded a company that was attached to the same Regiment. — He recollects in this period of his service, that Generals Sullivan, La Fayette, Marmion, and Glover were upon said Island. — He also recollects that the company to which he belonged, was one the companies which constituted Gen. Paton's Brigade. — He recollects that there were one or more Brigades of continental troops upon the Island during this period —
2 d and the said George further says, upon his oath aforesaid, that on the same day that he was discharged as aforesaid, by left. Reed he returned home, and in the course of one or two days thereafter, he enlisted as a private soldier in a company of Infantry, commanded by one Capt. Fuller. — said George's place of residence then being in that part of Ithaca which has been since (as before stated) incorporated as the name of Fall River. — He enlisted as aforesaid (at a place in said Fall River called Slade Ferry, which Ferry crosses Dannton Creek River) on or about the fourth or fifth of September 1778 (he cannot however be positive of the day of the month, and was there stationed with the company until some time in the month of December of that year, (he thinks & believes about the middle thereof) guarding the shores of said river and the shores of Church Hope Bay, from the invasion of British troops, when the river and bay being closed up with ice Capt. Fuller verbally discharged him and the company, as the term of their enlistment then expired; they having enlisted for the season, and for the express purpose of guarding the shores and the inhabitants in that neighborhood from the invasion of the British troops — He is positive that he served under Capt. Fuller as aforesaid, in 1778, three months at least , & he thinks & believes (3 mo) longer. — He recollects that during this period there were several other companies stationed not far from Slade Ferry, some of them above and some below said Ferry — Whether any of them were continental troops he is not now able to say — He recollects that Capt. Henry Bright-

man commanded a company of Infantry, which was stationed in the vicinity of Slade's Ferry and the village of said Fall River - Capt Benjamin Reed also commanded a company which was stationed in the vicinity of Slade's Ferry. - Col John Jacobs commanded the regiment to which Capt. Fuller's company was attached, and Col. Mann was the Hh. Col. under Col. Jacobs. Gen Cornell commanded the Brigade. -
3 d And the said George upon his oath aforesaid, further says, that as early as the month of March, and the first of that month in the year 1779 (he cannot however be positive as to the day of the month & is not certain but that it was in the latter part of February of that year) and as soon as the Great River & the mouth of Cape Bay was cleared of the Ice, he again enlisted as a private soldier at said Slade's Ferry (that part of Dartmouth which has since been incorporated as Fall River being his place of residence) in a company of Infantry commanded by the said Fuller, which company, with the said George were stationed at the mouth of the from that time to some time in November and he thinks about the middle of thereof, in that year at Slade's Ferry aforesaid, when the British Troops having a short time before evacuated the Town of at  at  the and abandoned the Island of Rhode Island, and not having made any demonstrations of their intent to return to the same; he the said George together with the whole company were then and there verbally discharged by said Fuller. He is confident that he served as a private soldier under Capt. Fuller in the year 1779, Eight and at least half months, if not longer - That during this period Capt. Fuller's company were engaged in guarding the shores of Dartmouth Great River and the mouth of Cape Bay from the invasions of British Troops. His enlistment in the year 1779 was expressly for the purpose of guarding the shores aforesaid & the inhabitants that lived in the vicinity from the British. - He has  has  no any in the company (to his knowledge) received a written discharge - During this period there were other troops stationed not far from Slade's Ferry - Whether any of them were Continental troops he is now unable  unable to state. - He recollects that there were several companies of Militia stationed at the village of Fall River, during some part of the Eight and an half months before mentioned, - He recollects, that Captains Brightman, Reed, and Benjamin Lawrence had each of them their company at said Fall River Village during some time in this period, guarding the shores of said River and Bay. - The Regiment to which Capt. Fuller's

company was attached during this period was under the command of Col. Joseph Dyer, who was then a Lt. Col. Commandant, - There was not at the said George thinks and believes any other field officer at that time, who visited and issued orders or took any command over Capt. Fuller and his company. - Gen. Cornell commanded the Brigade. - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ And the said George declares that all the foregoing mentioned periods of service, which amount in the whole to twelve months and twenty five days (at least) were rendered and performed (12 mo 25d) by him as a private soldier in the line of Infantry of the State of Massachusetts - Evidence of his rendering the same as herein stated will be found in the depositions of Abigail Brightman and Abigail Reed which are herunto annexed. -
And the said George for the purpose of more fully answering the Interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of War, says that he supposes he was born in that part of said Freetown, which has since been incorporated as Fall River aforesaid, as his parents so informed him and as he has always there resided from the time of his earliest recollections, except when he has been occasionally absent. - That he was born on the 18 th day of August A.D. 1761, - That he cannot find that his birth is recorded upon or among the records of births in Freetown where he supposes it should have been recorded although he has employed the Town Clerk of that Town to examine the records & has no doubt he has made a thorough examination for that purpose. - That he has however a Bible that he inherited from his father in which is a record of his birth and name, made in the hand writing of his father, which record corresponds with the statement above made of the time of his birth. - That his place of residence at the several periods when he was called into the service was in that part of said Freetown which is now incorporated & known by the name of Fall River aforesaid, where he has always resided since the Revolution - When  As soon as he was called into the service, and the names of his & of other officers and the circumstances of his service and the manner of in which he was discharged, are before herein stated in this declaration - He was not a substitute - The names of the persons who can testify to his veracity and service as a soldier are the same who signed the annexed depositions, and they are the only persons now living (to his knowledge) who recollect certainly  say that he was

being in the service of the United States in the War of the Revolution; but in addition to these he has no doubt that that the Rev. Philip Hathaway of said Freetown, and who resides but about four miles from the said Reed, and William Ashley Piquise, a resident in said Fall-River, can testify to his character for veracity and their belief, that he rendered the aforementioned and described services as a soldier of the Revolution —
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 —
George Reed Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid H. T. Darylie, Judge of Probate
We Philip Hathaway a Clergyman residing in the Town of Freetown and William Ashley residing in the Town of Fall-River, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with George Reed who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; and that we believe him to be twenty two years of age, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion —
Philip Hathaway Wm. Ashley
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid — H. T. Darylie, Judge of Probate
and the laws do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter; and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named Applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. — and the board further certifies, that it appears to them that Philip Hathaway, who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, residing in the Town of Freetown, and that William Ashley who has

also signed the same, is a resident in the Town of Fall River, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. —
H. V. Barlies, Judge of Probate
I Anselm Basset, Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of George Reed for a Pension —
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this ninth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty four —
Anselm Basset

May 12, 1937
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
RA-J/MCS
George Read, S.19049
Mrs. Jennie Hannum Knight Cordova, Apartment 210 Washington, D.C.
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your request for the Revolutionary War record of George Read who served under Captain Oliver Read.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S.19049, based upon the Revolutionary War service of George Read.
He was born August 18, 1761, in that part of Treetown, Massachusetts, which was later called Fall River. The names of his parents were not given.
He enlisted while living in Fall River, Massachusetts, and served as private with the Massachusetts troops as follows: from July, 1778, forty days in Captain Oliver Read's company in Colonel Josiah Whitney's regiment; from September, 1778, three months in Captain Fuller's company in Colonel John Jacobs' regiment; from February or March, 1779, eight and one half months in Captain Fuller's company in a regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Durfee.
George Read was allowed pension on his application executed May 9, 1834, at which time he was living in Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts.
In 1834 George Read's sister, Abigail Read, of Fall River, Massachusetts, aged seventy-eight years, stated that her father was dead at the time her brother served in the Revolution.
Reference was made to Captain Benjamin Read who commanded a company during the Revolution but it was not shown that either he or Captain Oliver Read was related to George Read and the papers contain no further data relative to the family of George Read.
Very truly yours
A. D. MILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     July 1771 42 mos Pt Oliver Lord James H. Tuttle Mass   Oct 1771 3 mos James Tuttle John H. Tuttle   Feb 1772 8 1/2 mos Tuttle Joseph Tuttle  
Battles engaged in, _____ Residence of soldier at enlistment, _____ Date of application for pension, _____ Residence at date of application, _____ Age at date of application, _____
Remarks: He is not entitled to a pension as he has not been honorably discharged. He was a member of the Massachusetts Militia at the time of the Revolution and served during the war. He was not a member of the regular army.
Very respectfully,

355 Thayer St Providence R.I.
11
Apr. 8, 1908
Bureau of Pensions -
Gentlemen -
I was ad- vised by Mr. Tilleys assistant in the R. I. state house (dept. of records) to state my in- quiry about George Read as I did in my first note because we know so little about him although his daughter, my

grandmother is still living. He survived his three wives and consequently left no widow. He was born Aug 14 1762. My grandmother sup- poses he was born in Coventry R.I. but her record and the record in his old Bible do not mention the place. He lived in Coventry as a boy and is still "of Coventry" in Mar 28, 1788 according to an old deed in my possession.
(2) Between 1831 when my Grand- mother was married and 1851 when she was went to Johnston to care for him and her step- mother, it is presumed that he lived in Johnston but I have no proof of his where- abouts. My grandmother was the daughter of the second wife and was brought up from the age of eight or nine by the third wife. She supposes that her father en-

listed in Country but she does not remember the names of any officers and only recalls that he told her that when he was about eighteen as nearly as she can remember he enlisted and served for a few months just at the close of the war. He showed her the old musket he had carried but beyond that she has for- gotten or never knew the facts. She does not know whether he ever had a pension.
(3) Will you then send me some- thing to prove that the R. I. pensioner who applied or received a pension in 1832 or there abouts (I have forgotten the exact date) was or was not my George Read. If you disprove that pension, will you send any other that is the right one if such is on record?
I am sorry to burden you with so many details but your communication of April

4th seemed to require it,
Very truly yours
Mrs. Lewis A. Waterman 350 Thayer St Providence R.I.
She remembers much talk on the subject in 1824 on the occasion of Lafayette's visit to the United States and remembers asking her father why he did not have a pension? She says that he replied that he did not think it right to apply for one when he served so short a time.
The R.I. record office has no enlistment of any George Read in Rhode Island but has one pension mentioned in which applicant is in Bristol Co. Mass but is called R.I. pensioner.

He appears to be a man of the same age as above George Read but we cannot prove or disprove the identity. As George Read's father is said to have come from Bristol County Mass and as George Read's first wife had property from her mother in Fall River it is not improbable that he may have resided for short periods among his Mass. relatives. Consequently he may have enlisted in Mass. or he may have applied for a pension there.
He is called "of Cranston" in a deed dated Mar 8, 1810 and in others up to Feb. 27, 1820 when he bought land in Johnston and is called "of Johnston" in a deed dated Dec 10, 1822. He was living in Johnston in 1857 when his third wife, Rebecca Wilhame died Dec 15. He was living in Cranston when his second wife, Catharine Perkins nee Bennett, nee Woodworth, died Apr. 8, 1820. His first wife, name unknown,

died Mar 17 and is buried with him and his other wives on the old farm in Cranston. She is called Annie as nearly as I can read the stone. I did not copy her death through an over- sight. George Read lived for a short time before his death with his oldest son "Archimedes" or "Archie M Read" in Mooseup Comm. He died there but was buried on the old farm in Cranston. He died Mar 17, 1856.

19019
Rev INVALID.
File No. _____
Read. sent
Act: _____
Index :—Vol. 1 , Page 328
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1908 Mar. 9. Aud. sub. for date of death as 1908 Apr. 16 Hist. to Mrs. Celia A. Wetmore
1937 May 12. Hist. to Mrs. Jennie Hanneum Knight. Ms. A. 9. 2. 20

Mrs. Jennie Hannum Knight Cordova apts Apt 210 Washington, D.C. May 19, 1937
requests the Revolutionary War record of George Read, S.19049, who served under Captain Oliver Read.

U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE MAY 13 1908 POLICE

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Washington, Mch 12 th 1908
The Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir: In reply to your letter of 9 th inst. in case of George Reed, Re: War Act 1832 Certificate 27.410 Massachusetts Agency, Roll, you are informed that, according to the latest account rendered by the U. S. Pension Agent, the records of this office show last payment to have been made at $42 25 per months to September 1837 in September 1837. The date of death is not shown. The pensioner was born and always lived in Fall River, Bristol Co. Mass.
Letter herewith returned.
Respectfully,
ROBERT S. PERSON,
Auditor
By
 Deputy Auditor

RECEIVED MAR 11 1908 1 2 4 P.M.

Case on desk. AW , Ex'r.
Division. Sur. File no. 19049. George Reed Rev. War.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C., Mar 9 , 1908
SIR:
For use in the above-entitled claim for pension, you are requested to furnish this Bureau with a report in the case of
George Reed pensioned under the Act of June 7, 1832, by certificate No. 21410 issued May 20, 1834 at Massachusetts Agency, showing date of last payment of pension, to whom paid, and date of soldier's death.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
THE AUDITOR FOR THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT,
Treasury Department.
o-2