Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15198, for John Perkins, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Perkins, John Sarah
NUMBER
No. 15198.
CONTENTS

624.
Massachusetts Roll
John Perkins, 2 nd Private Massachusetts line - 1777-3 years in the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 11 th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 th of May 1818 and sent to Hon. Sam l Putnam, Galene, Mass.
Arrearages to 4 th Sept r 1818 4 months 24/30 $ 38.40
{ Revolutionary claims, } { Act 18th March, 1818, }
see letter within from Mr. B. Merrill, dated 26 May, 1818.
Vertical text (faint bleed-through): National Archives John Perkins Massachusetts 26 May 1818

Massachusetts
5057
Sarah Perkins, decd. who widow of died on the 15 July 1838 widow of John Perkins, decd. who was a pensioner under the Act of 18 March 1818 and who died on the 5th March 1825 of Essex Co. in the State of Massachusetts who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Woodhull of the regt commanded by Col. Bigelow in the Mass. line for 2 years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass. at the rate of 80. Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836 & end on the 15 July 1838.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of Feby 1840, to Sen. Hon. L. Saltonstall House of Representatives.
Arrears to the 15th of July 1838, $189.33 Amount at allowance out of Amount Payable to Hezekiah B. Perkins, Rebecca Perkins , Robert Perkins, and Mary Lindsey, children of said John & Sarah Perkins { Act July 7, } deceased. { 1838. }
Recorded by D.M. Curdy, Clerk, Book A. Vol. 1. Page 125

John Perkins
11 Apr
Correct JH
(Johnfield)
found in Hodgins
Co.
Bigelow (15 th ) Reg
Enlisted 21 st Apr
1799
discharged
Apr. 1780-

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Be it remembered, That John Perkins of Topsfield in the County of Essex in the Commonwealth aforesaid, doth make upon oath the following DECLARATION , to wit,
That in the year 1775 he enlisted as a private soldier for the term of eight months in Captain John Baker's Company of foot in Colonel Moses Lit- tle's Regiment in the Massachusetts line of the Continental establishment in the war of the revo- lution, and that he served faithfully the whole of said eight months -
That in January 1776 he enlisted again for a year in the same company, and served faithfully the whole of that term as a private soldier,
That in April 1777 he enlisted again for the term of three years in Captain Joseph Hodgkins company in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Timothy Bigelow of the Massachusetts line, on the continental establishment, and served faith- fully the whole of said three years as a private soldier, when he was honourably discharged from the service -
That he is sixty three years old and is a Citizen of the United States
His Certificates of discharge are not now in his possession, they being lost by time and accident
That the Declarant is infirm; that from his reduced circumstances in life he is now in need of assistance from his country for support; and that he hereby relinquishes his claim to every pension heretofore allowed him by the laws of the United States.
John Perkins

AFFIDAVIT.
I Joseph Hodgkins of Ipswich - in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, do  hereby do on oath depose and testify,
That in April 1777 I commanded a company of foot in Colonel Timothy Bigelow's Regiment, in which John Perkins, who has made the afore written declaration served as a private soldier. and to my knowledge the said Perkins served faithfully in that Company as he has declared from April 1777 to the year 1780. Joseph Hodgkins
Essex ss April 13 th 1818. Then Joseph Hodgkins above named made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true before me Asa Andrews Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
On this eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, personally appeared before me Samuel Putnam one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of said Commonwealth
the aforementioned John Perkins and in my presence severally subscribed and made solemn oath to the aforewritten Declaration and AFFIDAVIT , by him  them  respectively made as aforesaid:—And it appearing to my satisfaction, that the aforementioned John Perkins served more than NINE MONTHS, to wit, from the _____ day of April A. D. 1777 to the _____ day of April A. D. 1780 at one period of the Revolutionary War, on the Continental Establishment, against the common enemy, I do hereby cer- tify the testimony in the case, and the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the Department of War.
Given under my hand, and the seal of the Court a- foresaid, at eleventh  Salem , this Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
S. Putnam Just S. J. Court of Mass t }

Essex. I Ichabod Tucker (clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for said County of Essex aforesaid) certify that the Hon. Samuel Putnam is a Judge of said Court - that the signature within is his handwriting and the Seal affix- ed is the Seal of said Court
Att o Ichabod Tucker, Clerk

M rs Perkins 1 st
024
May 1818
John
Am
age 66
disav?
$2.92 worth
Sept 1818

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Salem, within and for the County of Essex, on the third Monday of June, A. D. 1820.
Present, Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Chief Justice.
Hon. WILLIAM WETMORE, and
Hon. STEPHEN MINOT, Associate Justices.
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, John Perkins 1 st resident in Topsfield — — in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 624 — now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
“WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
“I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, John Perkins 1 st — — — — — late a 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 eleventh “day of April — — — one thousand eight hundred and eighteen .
***** * L. S. * *****
“Given at the War Office of the United States, this twentieth day “of May — — — 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, he has no Real Estate
Old house furniture
Three iron kettles, four old chairs,
broken, old pine chest, pine table,
four cups & saucers, old shovel &
tongs, four wooden plates, two
earthen pots, three platters,
a tin dipper, an earthen mug. $ 2.92.
He declares he has no income except his pension. That he is sixty six years of age. has been a day-labourer since he left the Army — now is feeble by age and can earn very little. his wife is sixty six years of

age. He has no children living in his family - his wife is very infirm, and subject to frequent fits, which often deprive her of her reason, and before he had his pension he received alms from his native town toward his maintenance.
He served the first 8 months of the War - all 1776 in Capt. Baker's Company in Col. Little's Regiment in Massachusetts Line - and from 1777 three years in Capt. Hodgkin's Company in Col. Bigelow's Regiment in Massachusetts Line.
John Perkins, 1st

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon.
a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
I, John Perkins 1 st 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.
John Perkins 1 st
Essex, ss. C. C. C. P. June, Term, A. D. 1820.
Then the abovenamed John Perkins 1 st took and subscribed the aforesaid Oath before me
Stephen Minot , Judge of said Court.
I, ICHABOD TUCKER, 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
two dollars & ninety two cents
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Salem, in said County of Essex, on this 17 day of July A. D. 1820
Attr.
Ichabod Tucker Clerk

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Essex, ss. Probate office.
I, Nathaniel Lord junior, register of probate for said county, hereby certify, that John Perkins, late of Topsfield in said county, yeoman, deceased, intestate, was a pensioner of the United States; that he died on the fifth day of March, A.D. 1825, leaving a widow, viz. Sarah Perkins, who died on the fifteenth day of July, A.D. 1838; and further that said John Perkins deceased left five children, and no more, viz. Sally Lake, Hephzibah B. Perkins, Rebekah Harwood, Robert Perkins and Mary Lindsey; and that they all are still living, and of full age, as appears by the records in said office.
Given under my hand and seal of office this seventh day of January, A.D. 1840.
Nath. Lord Jr.

Map.
6595
Sarah Perkins widow of John act 7 July 1838.
Hon. L. Saltonstall H R

State of Massachusetts } ss. Essex County }
On this Seventh day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty, before the honorable Daniel A. White esquire, judge of the court of probate within and for said county of Essex, in open court, Hezekiah B. Perkins a resident of Topsfield in said county & state who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his Oath make the following decla- -ration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July 7 th 1838. "entitled an act granting half pay & pensions to certain Widows." That he the said Hezekiah B. Perkins is a son and one of the heirs at law to John and Sarah Perkins late of Topsfield, both deceased, That his late Father John Perkins afo- -said was a Soldier in the Revolutionary War, and served Three Years under an engagement for that period from 1777 until 1780. as a private Soldier in Captain Hodgekins Company of Col Bigelows Mas- -sachusetts Continental Regiment, at which time He was honourably discharged from the Army. For which ser- -vice, He the aforesaid John Perkins received a pen- -sion from the United States, under the Act of Congress passed March 18 th 1815, and that said John Per- -kins died at Topsfield on the fifth day of March in the year Eighteen hundred and twenty five. and left his said Sarah Perkins his widow, who continued to reside at Topsfield in an unmarried State until the fifteenth day of July in the year Eighteen hundred & thirty eight, when said Sarah died.
Hezekiah B Perkins
Sworn to in probate court at } Salem, January 7, 1840. } Before
D A White judge of probate.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Essex, ss. Probate office.
I Nathaniel Lord junior, register of probate for said county, hereby certify, that the honorable Daniel A. White, before whom the foregoing declaration of Herakiah B. Perkins purports to have been taken, is the judge of probate for said county; and his name, subscribed to the certificate thereon, is his genuine signature; and said declaration was taken in open probate court.
Given under my hand and seal of office this seventh day of January, A.D. 1840.
Nath. Lord Jr.

Town Clerks office Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts December 2, 1839. Extract from the records of the Town of Topsfield aforesaid -
"Mr John Perkins was married to Miss Ruth Lefavour both of Topsfield twen- tyeighth December One Thousand seven hun- dred eighty one"
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
I JOHN PRINCE, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Essex, do certify that Hon.
Judge of the Court of County; that
within and for said
Benj. C. Perkins
Esquire
is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County; that his commission is dated A.D., 18 and will expire in seven years from that date; and that his signature hereon is genuine.
WITNESS my hand and the seal of said Court, at Salem, this 13 th Dec r A.D., 1839.
John Prince Clerk.
State of Massachusetts } ss Essex County }
December 2 1839
Sworn to and subscribed before me
B.C. Perkins Justice of the Peace

Town Clerks office Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts, December 2, 1839. Extract from the records of the Town of Topsfield aforesaid -
"Mr John Perkins was married to Miss Ruth Lefavour both of Topsfield twen- tyeighth December one thousand seven hun- dred eighty one"
I certify that the foregoing is a true extract from the records of said Town of Topsfield with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows:-
"28 th December 1781"
Jacob P. Towne, Clerk of the Town of Topsfield, Essex County, Mass.-
I Jacob P. Towne, above named, depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk, in the Town, County, & state aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Town, with the exception above named, as certified by me.
Jacob P. Towne, Clerk of said Town of Topsfield -
State of Massachusetts } ss Essex County }
December 2 1839
Sworn to and subscribed before me
B. C. Perkins Justice of the Peace

I Ebenezer Burnham, of Ipswich in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby certify that John Perkins and Sarah Eliot both then of Ipswich, were joined in Marriage February 27 28 th the twenty seventh seventeen hundred and eighty six by the reverend Levi Fribbie, then minister of the Gospel in said Ipswich, as appears by the records of Marriages in the town of Ipswich. The following is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures, "Seventeen hundred eighty six Feb y twenty seventh John Perkins to Sarah Eliot both of Ipswich." The following is a true copy from the record in words and figures as it stands upon the said record in fair legible words and figures precisely as there written, "1786. Feb y 27 th John Perkins to Sarah Eliot both Ipswich."
Ebenezer Burnham.
I Ebenezer Burnham above named depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the town County and State aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the records of Marriages of said town with the exception above named as certified by me.
Ebenezer Burnham,
Clerk of the town of Ipswich.
Essex, ss. June 18, 1839. Ebenezer Burnham, clerk of the town of Ipswich, above named, makes solemn oath to the truth of the above by him subscribed. Before Charles Kimball, justice of the peace.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Essex, ss. Probate Office.
I, Nathaniel Lord junior, register of probate for said county, hereby certify, that Charles Kimball esquire, before whom the above written affidavit of Ebenezer Burnham purports to have been taken, is a justice of the peace for said county; and that his name, subscribed to the certificate hereon, is his genuine signature, to me well known.
Given under my hand and seal of office this eighteenth day of June, A.D. 1839.
Nath. Lord Jr.
before me
B. C. Perkins Justice of the Peace

O. W. & N. Division.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
F. S.
Bureau of Pensions,
M.R.C.
Washington, D. C., February 4, 1895.
Sir:-
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of ----- John Perkins ----- a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information 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. May 1775 8 mos. Pvt. John Baker Moses Little Mass. Jan. 1776 12 mos. Pvt. John Baker Moses Little Mass. Apr. 1777 3 yrs. Pvt. Joseph Hodgkins Bigelow Mass.
Battles engaged in, None mentioned. Residence of soldier at enlistment, Town not stated. Date of application for pension, April 11, 1815. Residence at date of application, Topsfield, Massachusetts. Age at date of application, 63 years.
Remarks:
Very respectfully,
Mr. William Perkins, Topsfield, Mass.
Commissioner.

Feb. 4 th , 1839, Paid Hist. to Mr. Perkins Hopsfield, Mass. M.C.L.
Mass.
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 15198
Sarah Perkins Widow of John Perkins Priv. Rev. War
Act: July 7 th 1839
Index: Vol. M , Page 122
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Mass. Act 1838 - 6595
Sarah Perkins widow of John - Hon. L. Saltonstall 24 Janz 1840

6595 Sarah Perkins da r Wid of John da r Mass
Alt July 7 1838
Married 1786
deed 1825
Allow $80 per ann
from March 4. 1836
cont. to
Hezekiah B. Perkins
Rebecca Harwood
Robert Perkins &
Mary Lindsey,
children of said John &
Sarah Perkins da r
upto July 15. 1838—
Asa Scamitt Saltmarsh H.R.

OLD... JAN 10 1895
2nd ... Apr 17 - 18 1st ... mass - May 16 - 18
624
10759 10759

TOWN CLERK.
Topsfield, Mass. January 11 1885
To the Hon. Commissioners of Pensions Washington D.C.
Will you please give certificate of service of John Perkins, of Topsfield, Mass., County Essex, who served in the revolutionary War, & was a pensioner. and if more than one give all,
Truly Yours
William Perkins,
Town Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF ESSEX, ss. PROBATE OFFICE.
I Nathaniel Lord junior register of said county, hereby certify, that John Perkins, late of Topsfield in said county, yeoman, deceased, intestate, was a pensioner of the United States under the act of congress of March 18, 1818; that he died on the fifth day of March, A.D. 1825, leaving a widow, viz. Sarah Perkins; that said Sarah died on the fifteenth day of July, A.D. 1838; and that Heremiah B. Perkins, Rebekah Harwood, Robert Perkins and Mary Lindsey are children and the only children of said John Perkins and Sarah Perkins; and that they are all now living and of full age;
as appears by the records in said office.
Given under my hand and seal of office, this fourth day of February , A. D. 1840.
Nath. Lord Jr.

War Department.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that in conformity with the Act of July 7 th 1838, Sarah Perkins, deceased, late of Massachusetts, who died on the 15 th July 1838, widow of John Perkins, deceased, who died on the 5 th March 1825, a private in the Revolution, was entitled to receive Eighty Dollars per annum commencing on the 4 th  day of March 1836 and terminating on the 15 th  day of July 1838, the day of her  the said widow's death; and that the amount due is payable to Hezekiah B. Perkins, Rebecca Harwood, Robert Perkins and Mary Lindsay, children of the said John and Sarah Perkins, deceased.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this eighteenth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and forty.
Secretary of War
Examined and Countersigned
Commission of Pensions.

M rs Perkins. d. 1825
M rs Ruth Lefavor 1781 s
M rs Sarah Elliot 1786. s
Sarah Perkins died July 15 1838
Children living at the time of
her death.
Sally Lake.
Hezekiah B. Perkins
Rebecca Harwood
Robert Perkins
Mary Lendrey

Ed The hon ble John C. Calhoun
Secretary of War
Washington City
Pens n -office

Salem, Mass ts , May. 26 th 1878
The hon ble Wm. G. Calhoun,
Sir,
A letter from the Pension Office, of the 20 th curr t , addressed by James L. Edwards in the absence of Geo: Boyd to Hon. Sam l . Putnam, the Magistrate before whom several Declarations for Pensions were made has been delivered to me from the Post Office. The object of the letter is to inquire whether the two Declarations made by John Perkins were made by one or by two persons.
Judge Putnam has been absent from this town, his usual residence, for a month, holding courts on the circuit in the interior of the State, and will not return for many days.
I therefore take the liberty to reply to your letter, and to assure you that the Declarations are by different persons, one residing at Topsfield, and the other at Braintree, both in this vicinity.
Impostors probably are practised in some instances; but as Judge Putnam is a native of this county, has always resided in it, and had for thirty years been extensively engaged in the practice of law here, his personal knowledge of the individuals who made Declarations before him enabled him to guard against impostors.
I have the honor to be Very respectfully,
Sir, Y our Serv t
Br d Merrill
Counsellor at law

To J. L. Edwards Esq.
Conmiss n in pending

A Piques June 21. 1830.
Sir,
I enclose certain papers which I have recd from Boston, & which I respectfully submit to you for consideration.
I am, very resp'd y- Obedient
L. Satterthwaite.

Feb 13 1840
Map.
Rev. Mr.
John Cummins on Marshall St. Edwards City of Washington.
Marshall St. Edwards City of Washington.

St Asaph Feb y 13. 1840.
Dear Sir,
I enclose a Probate certificate, which I trust will be satisfactory in the case of the claim of Sarah Perkins's heirs.
(Very resp)
Yr obed Servt Lewis Thomas