Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7656, for Josiah Nichols, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
New York
Nichols, Josiah
R 7 6 5 4
Nancy Ann
CONTENTS

No
Harvey Ann Nichols widow of Josiah N.Y.
July 29. 1848

State of New York } ss. Cattaraugus County }
On this 28 th day of March A.D. 1886, personally appeared before the undersigned Nelson Cobb, County Judge, and Judge of the County Court within and for the County and State aforesaid, Nancy Ann Nichols, a resident of Napoli, in the County of Cattaraugus, and State of New York, aged ninety one years, who being duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress, passed July 29 th , 1848, and the provisions under the existing pension laws of the United States which relate to widows of Revolutionary Officers and soldiers, that she is the widow of Josiah Nichols, who was a private in the Company of light horse, commanded by Captain Samuel Delavan from 1779 to 1783 inclusive, in the War of the Revolution, that she was married to the said Josiah Nichols, in the month of June in the year seventeen hundred and eighty, for eighty one that her husband, the aforesaid Josiah Nichols, died on the twenty ninth day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty four, that she was married to him prior to his leaving the service, viz., at the time above stated. And she further states that the said marriage took place in Danbury in the State of Connecticut, and that Rev. Mr. Peck officiated at the same, that no record was made thereof to her knowledge. She further swears that she is now a widow and that she has never before made any application for a pension.
Nancy Ann Nichols mark
Sworn to, and subscribed on the day and year above written before me, and I certify that the above named applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity attend the Court.
Nelson Cobb County Judge

CATTARAUGUS COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE,
ss.
I, THOMAS MORRIS, Clerk of said County, do certify that Nelson Cobb Esquire, before whom the foregoing affidavit purports to have been taken, was on the day of the date hereof, a Judge of the County- Court in and for said County, elected and sworn and duly authorized to take the same; and further that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing of such Judge and verily believe the signature purporting to be his is genuine
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official Seal this 31st day of March 1856.
Thos Morris Clerk.

State of New York } ss. Cattaraugus County }
On this 26th. day of March A.D. 1856, before me the subscriber, a justice of the Peace, within and for the County and State aforesaid, personally came Timothy Sorrauce, a resident of Randolph, in said County and State, and being by me duly sworn according to law, says that he is seventy three years of age, that he was formerly a resident of the town of Henrietta in the County of Monroe and State of New York, that he resided there from the year A.D. 1812 and continued a resident there until the year A.D. 1824 when he came to reside in Randolph aforesaid, where he has continued to reside to the present time. And he further states that about the time that he came to reside in Henrietta (as he recollects) in the fall of the same year, Josiah Nichols, named in the foregoing declaration by Nancy Ann Nichols, came to reside in the near neighborhood of the residence of this deponent, about one mile distant therefrom, where he continued to reside until the day of his death, which occurred as he recollects in the month of August A.D. 1824. And this deponent further says that at the time the said Josiah Nichols came to reside at Henrietta he brought his wife Nancy Ann Nichols, who is now a resident of Napoli, Cattaraugus County, together with their children where they continued to reside as a family until his decease as aforesaid. And he further says that he was on terms of familiar and friendly acquaintance with the said Josiah Nichols and his family and was frequently at their house, and often associated with them, that the said Josiah Nichols and the said Nancy Ann Nichols, cohabited and lived together as husband and wife until his death as aforesaid, and as such read up a family. And this deponent further says that since the death of the said Josiah Nichols he has been well acquainted with his widow Nancy Ann Nichols.

who is now a resident with her son Daniel Nichols in the town of Napoli in said county, near to, and adjoining the town in which this deponent is now a resident. And this deponent further says that he did not see the said Josiah Nichols after his decease, but that he was at his house and saw him the day or two before he died, that this deponent was away two or three days and when he returned, was informed of the death and burial of the said Josiah Nichols, that this deponent's wife was at his funeral, And this deponent further says that the said Nancy Ann Nichols is now a widow, and further this deponent says not. Timothy Terrence
Sworn and subscribed before me on the day and year above written,
Spencer Scudder, Justice of the Peace.
State of New York } ss. Cattaraugus County }
On this 27th day of March A.D. 1856, before me Spencer Scudder, a justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid personally appeared Ralph Williams a resident of Hopewango in said County and State, aged seventy seven years, and being by me duly sworn according to law, says that in the year A.D. 1816 he became a resident of the town of Henrietta, in the county of Monroe, in the State of New York, where he continued to reside until the year A.D. 1824 when he came to his present place of residence and when he has continued to reside until the present time, that when he came to Henrietta to reside he found Josiah Nichols and his family to be residents there already, that he fixed his residence in Henrietta aforesaid, about one mile from the residence of the said Josiah Nichols,

that until he came to reside at Hennitta he had had no previous acquaintance with the said Josiah Nichols and his family. And he further says that whilst he continued to reside in Hennitta he was in friendly and frequent intercourse with the said Josiah Nichols until the time of his death, and the family of this deponent and the said Josiah Nichols family very frequently visited together and enjoyed the most friendly and intimate intercourse with each other. And this deponent further says that the said acquaintance has continued between the surviving members of both families until the present time.
And this deponent further says that in August before this deponent left Hennitta to reside at his present residence the said Josiah Nichols was sick, and about the last of the month or the first of September, and this deponent cannot say which, the said Josiah Nichols died at his residence, that he saw him after his death, and attended his funeral as one of the bearers. And this deponent further says that from his first acquaintance with the said Josiah Nichols until his death the said Josiah Nichols and Nancy Ann Nichols, who is now a resident with her son Daniel Nichols in Napoli N.Y. lived and cohabited together as husband and wife that they reared up a family together, and continued to reside together as aforesaid until the time when the said Josiah Nichols died. And this deponent further says that the said Nancy Ann Nichols is now a widow. And further this deponent saith not. Ralph Williams
Sworn and Subscribed before me this 27th. day of March 1856
Spencer Scudder Justice of the Peace.

State of New York } Cattaraugus County } 20.
On this 27th. day of March A.D. 1856, before me Spencer Scudder, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid personally came Otis Hitchcock, a resident of Randolph in the County and State aforesaid, aged sixty years, who being duly sworn according to law, says that he became a resident of the town of Hennetta in the County of Monroe in the State of New York in the year A.D. 1811, that he continued his residence in said town until the year A.D. 1823 when he came to reside in Randolph aforesaid where he has continued to reside to the present time, that after he became a resident of Hennetta aforesaid, Josiah Nichols with his wife Nancy Ann Nichols and their children came to reside as a family in the said town of Hennetta, within a half mile of this deponent's residence, that they continued to reside there until the time of the death of the said Josiah Nichols. And this deponent further says that during all said time this deponent was in the most friendly and intimate intercourse with the family of the said Josiah Nichols, visiting and associating upon the closest and most intimate terms. And this deponent further says that such acquaintance has continued with the surviving members of the said Josiah Nichols family. And this deponent further says that he was at the said Josiah Nichols house frequently during his sickness, that he was at his house the evening before he died, and that he saw him after he was dead, and attended his funeral. And this deponent further says that the death of the said Josiah Nichols occurred in the month of August in the year A.D. 1823 according to his best recollection, by referring to some other incidents occurring at about the same period. And this deponent further says

that the said Josiah Nichols and his wife Nancy Ann Nichols, who now resides with her son Daniel Nichols in Napoli, came with their children to reside in Henna, that they cohabited and lived together as husband and wife, and together reared up a family, and that the said Nancy Ann Nichols is now a widow, And further saith not this deponent
Otis Hitchcock
Sworn and Subscribed before me } this 27th day of March 1856 }
Spencer Scudder, Justice of the Peace.
State of New York } Cattaraugus County } ss
On this 27th day of March A.D. 1856, before me Spencer Scudder, a Justice of the Peace within and for the county and State aforesaid personally came Mearns H. Johnson, a resident of Randolph, in the county and State aforesaid, aged forty six years, who being duly sworn according to law, says that he was born in said county, that he has always been a resident therein, and a resident of Randolph for the past thirteen years, that he has represented said county two terms in the State Legislature, has held the office of County Treasurer, and that he now holds an appointment and commission under the Government of the United States, of United States Indian Agent for the New York Indians. And this deponent further says that he has been for many years personally and intimately acquainted with Ralph Williams of Conewango and Timothy Torrance and Otis Hitchcock of Randolph, who have subscribed the foregoing affidavits made by them respectively, that they are among our oldest and most substantial citizens, of the highest

respectability, and whose statements are entitled to the highest and most perfect degree of confidence and regard.
Marcus H. Johnson
Sworn and subscribed before me
this 27th day of March 1856
Stephen Scudder, Justice of the Peace.
day of March _____ witnessed my official 1856.
Thos Morris Clerk.

CATTARAUGUS COUNTY } ss. CLERK'S OFFICE,
I, THOMAS MORRIS, Clerk of said County, do certify that Spencer Scudder Esquire, before whom the foregoing affidavit purports to have been taken, was on the day of the date hereof, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, elected and sworn and duly authorized to take the same; and further that I am well acquainted with the hand-writing of such Justice of the Peace and verily believe the signature purporting to be his is genuine
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official Seal this 31st day of March 1856.
Thos Morris Clerk.

State of New-York, } COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.
Albany, September 27, 1855.
I hereby certify that on searching the record of audited accounts in this office, from May 22, 1782, to October 31, 1794, I find in Book A. page 177 of said record the following audited account therein recorded, to wit:
"Pay Roll from Cap t Samuel Delavan for his Comp y : of light Horse from 1779 to 1783 inclusive, consisting of one Cap t Two Lieut s . One Cornet. Three Sergeants, Three Corporals, One Trumpeter, One Serrier, & fifty one privates, amounting in the whole to the sum of £. 2789. 11. 2 "
And I further certify that the amount named in the annexed Certificate of this date forms a part of the above sum of £2789. 11. 2 as will appear by reference to Book 7. page 42 of Register of Certificates remaining in this office.
W. L. Vasall, Clk.
J. M. Cook Comptroller

State of New-York,  COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.
Albany, September 27 1855.
I Hereby Certify, That on searching the Records in this office for the Registry of Certificates issued in pursuance of a law, passed April 27, 1784, entitled "An Act for the settlement of the pay of Levies and Militia for their services in the late war, and for other purposes therein mentioned," I find the following, viz:
   NAMES. No. OF BOOK. NO. OF CERTIFICATE. DATE. £    S.    D. RANK AND NAME OF COMPANY OFFICER. RANK AND NAME OF FIELD OFFICER.       Josiah Nichols Private 7 32.942 July 3. 1780 17 " 6 Capt. Saml. Delavan Name of Field Officer not given                    
I have examined the Rolls for the items above set forth, and find them to be correct.
W. D. Gassull Clerk.
J. W. Cook Comptroller.

No 1442
Nancy Ann Nichols widow of Josiah New York
Letter to Mrs Nancy Ann Nichols, April 17. 1856 " D. Nichols, Aug. 26/58
7656
July 29. 1848

REJECTED
7656
P. O. _____
Nancy Ann Nichols
Service: Josiah
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

East Randolph Jan 22 o 1858
To Com of Pensions
Dear Sir some two years since we made an application to the department for Bounty Land for Nancy Ann Nichols Widow of Josiah Nichols a soldier of the revolutionary war and since then also for a pension for the same. But have not yet received any information what disposition was made of them. Will you please inform us and whether any further proof is needed &c
D Nichols for Nancy Ann Nichols
Please direct to East Randolph
Cattaraugus Co N York

Mrs. B. A. Nichols
NY. 4
Clamman Trent Valley NY

Pension Office, April 17. 1856.
Madam, -
Your application for a pension under the act of July 29. 1848, as the widow of Josiah Nichols, deceased, of N.York, has been examined and filed.
To sustain this claim it will be necessary for you to prove the date of your intermarriage with Josiah Nichols, by a town, church, or family record, if any such exists; and if not, by parol testimony of those who can state how they recollect the date. It will also be necessary to prove that your late husband was the identical man who served in Capt. Delevan's Troop of Light Horse as certified.
Very respectfully,
Brigad.
Comm d .
Mrs Nancy Ann Nichols, Little Valley, Cattaraugus Co., N.Y.