Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19,004, for William Nelson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental
Nelson William
S. 19.004
Mass.
Mass. Sea Service
carded
CONTENTS
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[Blank lined area for contents]

27450 Massachusetts
William Nelson
of Lear, in the State of Mass who was a private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Walbridge of the Reg t commanded by Colo. Brewin. in the Mass line for 4-Continental &
9 1/2 Months Mass Sea service mi
Dead - see letter to S. H. Reed, May 2. 1835 - do. same + P. A. J. Oct. 14. 1835 -
Inscribed on the Roll of at the rate of 31 - Dollars. 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 th day of May 1834 and sent to. Hon. G. N. Briggs. H. Re.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1834 $ 94 98 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Sep " 15 83 $110 81
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 2 Page 60

May 2 Room No. 404 of Hotel J. H. Radcliffe
Dear J. H. Edwards Comm. of Persons Washington City

Rose - Franklin Co. Mass ts April 28. 1832
Dear Sir
In the request of the Widow of William Nelson late of Gosh - a Pension under the Law of June 7. 1832 - I would respectfully ask you to forward to her a suitat le blank for her to obtain the Amnt. due her husband at the time of his death
As the Amnt. is small & she lives 25 Miles from Court - she wishes if possible to obtain it without witnesses attending Court to make the proof required
Respectfully
C. H. Reed P.M. Rose

31066 Wm Nelson application for a pension Perk. Gylant May 7. 1834
Wm 9 1/2 mi. Capt. Walbridge Colo. Brewer
Hon. G. N. Briggs H. R.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Berkshire ss.
On this fourteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty four personally ap- peared before Samuel Whitcomb  Whitcomb - Sec- -retary of the State of  Commonwealth of  Massachusetts within & for the county of Berkshire afo- resaid, William Nelson a resident of Deer embracing a small tract of land within the limits of the county of Berkshire, unincorporated & not belonging to any town, aged eighty years, who being first duly sworn, according to law , doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to ob- tain the benefit of the provision ma- de by the act of Congress passed Mar- ch 7. 1832. That he enlisted in the service of the United States on or about the first day of April 1775 with John Bishop, Daniel Belnap, & Daniel Thompson & others of South Brimfield in the then county of Hampshire, now county of Hampshire, as a private sol- dier, (a minute man as it was called) under Capt. Moses Walbridge of Sta- fford in the State of Connecticut, & into his company of foot in the continental line, for the term of eight months, & served in the regiment commanded by Col. David Brewer, & according to my present & best recollection, this regim- ent belonged to General Thomas Brigs - During the period of my enlistment I served under the following officers, (in order)

addition to Capt. Walbridge Col. Br- eer & General Thomas,) (viz) Lieut. Co- lonel Hanger, Ensign James Blackwell Lieut. Col. Rufus Putnam, Major Nathaniel Dancan, & the Surgeon of the regiment was Doctor Haver, whose mate was Doctor Scott.
When I enlisted into the army I resided in South Bromfield. I was a min- ute man as I have stated & was called out twice a week to exercise by Lieut. Col. Hanger while the company staid at Brom- field, till on the alarm in anticipation of a battle at Lexington the company was called out, on or about the nineteenth of April 1775, & then marched with the com- pany through the towns of Sturbridge, Ch- esterton, Spencer, Leicester, Worcester, Ash- bury, Northbury, Weston, Sudbury, Wat- son Watertown to Cambridge Mass.
Before we arrived at Cambridge the Lexington Battle had been fought & was over. We were stationed at Cambridge about one week, & were then ordered to march to Roxbury, at which place our company joined the regiment. I was stationed at Roxbury during the remain- der of the time I was stationed in the army. On or about the tenth of June 1775 my father John Nelson came to Roxbury to bring me some clothing & pay me a visit, & the small-pox having at this time broke out in the army his father concluded to take me back a short period, (as he had had that disease & I had not,) while I should go home & visit my friends which I accordingly did.

I was at home about a fortnight, & hearing of the battle at Burnside Hill I returned to the army at Roanbury, & found that Roanbury had been fired upon by the British. In my absence & while my father was supplying my place - While at Roanbury I assisted in throwing up several intrenchments against the enemy & in building the forts at that place - I also assisted in building the fort at Suckers Point - The persons I have named as having enlisted with me & Isaac Green & Abraham Rodgers & others were in the army with me during the whole period, but they are all dead as far as I can learn, having emigrated after their enlistment & returned for the purpose of procuring their testimony. My brother George Wilson then of South Brimfield now of Stamford in the State of Connecticut knows that I was in the army as I have stated, though he did not serve in the army with me he having been a soldier in the revolution at a later period - & my brother is the only person that I can find now living that has personal knowledge of my having been in the army.
At the expiration of the three  eight months for which I enlisted, my company was dismissed by word of mouth, no written discharges being given & most of the soldiers went home; but I was enlisted by Capt. Walbridge to stay until the lines were filled by the three years men, & I accordingly staid two months longer & was dismissed the first of March 1846 by word of mouth - not having had any written discharge, I immediately

returned home to S. Smith Brinsfield - My whole amount of service, including the two weeks my father served for me, embraces a period of ten months -
1846
Same time in Sept. August, upon my discharge (P.D. 1846 17/76) I returned to Providence to carry two daughters of Col. Hake a neighbor of mine to see Oliver Hake their brother who was sick, & while there I went to Boston & enlisted into the marine service for three years under Capt. Basilman Brown capt. of the marines, & having enlisted I immediately took the young women home to S. Brinsfield, where I still resided to make preparations for a voyage, & in two weeks returned, & went on board ship Boston a public vessel, commanded by Capt. Wm Brown, this voyage according to my best recollection was about the first of Oct. Nov. 17/76 - the names of the officers of this vessel were Capt. Wm Brown, 1st Lieut. Dean & 2nd Lieut. Wm Stanton - on board were the following officers of the marines, viz. Capt. Basilman Brown & Lieut. John Brown - In three days after I went on board, we set sail for the coast of Ireland, & got into the gulf-stream, & in a storm the vessel was dismasted, & was obliged to haul our course & star for a southern & calmer latitude, & after repairing we sailed for the coast of Africa - on which coast, about the middle of January.

1777, we had an engagement with a British Brigs loaded with Slaves & captured her, which having put Prison- ers on board sent her to South- Carolina - In about one week after this we fell in with a British Schooner loaded with slaves which we also took & sent as before - We then stood for the West Indies, & soon in sight of Antigua a British Island, we landed at St. John's for Dutch Port, & watered - Again we went to sea, & having heard of a three hundred ton British ship load- ed with slaves right from Africa, cru- ised a while to find her, but she did not be as in the first, & went to the West- Indies sold her slaves & took bills on gentlemen in England, & on her return began got into the Gulf Stream, & was injured after which we got in with her & took her without resistance, she be- ing badly scattered, & having taken the most valuable of her property released her & she stood for Antigua - The name of the last mentioned ship was Penguin - We cruised a while longer & fired a sail, & made for her, & when we came along side of her, one of her officers cried out "Smythton I know you, drop your mizen-peak or I will sink you" - Smythton fired away, & the British ship fired three broad sides
We had an engagement which lasted two & half hours, & she took the second & went off without doing us much injury & after this we returned to Bristol

the last of May 1877 - I had the small pox with sixty others, & was ill with its effects while I came on shore - I was sent on shore sick & had no other dis- charge - My engagement in the naval service was for three years, but con- tinued in the service from the first September 1876 to the last of May 1877 making a period of nine mo- nths - This is according to my best re- collection after so great lapse of time, though my brother George states that I enlisted in the latter for the term of six months only, & left the service in April
My brother George I believe then of South Bridge Hill now of Sta- ford in the State of Connecticut, came for me at Boston, & assisted in ge- tting me home, & knew that I had been to sea in the Naval service
  Under my first enlistment      I served in the army  10.  months    Under my second do  9  "    Total  19  "  
I was born in Brimfield in the then county of Hampshire. Some months after my birth, the place was afterwards called South Brimfield, in the year 1755 -
I do not know that any record was ever made of my age -
I was living at South Brimfield when I entered the service after the revolution I removed to Stafford Con- necticut where I lived five years, I then removed to Canons Patent in the State of New York on the Hudson River, where

I would now give you some news I received @ Dear when I was needed to the
I went out to the Army, & was called into actual service on the alarm in Antioch on the night of the battle of Little
I am already stated the names of some of the regular officers
There were Col. Almond, Col. Brown, Col. Davis Lt. Col. Douglas, Col. Lacy, & Col. the following officers on our side -
I was discharged on the 10th of March the names of Col. Brown is now in the
See letters on account the principal officers to whom I am known in my present neighborhood, viz. Col. Smith Lt. Col. Vegas, Colonel Clark. Gen. Dickinson, Col. Patten, who can testify to my character for honesty, & their belief of my services as a soldier in the war.
I never signed a commission document or resignation document.
I know of no person now living except Major Whipple & Col. R. who can testify as to my character, who has given me an opinion of my services as a soldier in the army & navy of the revolution.
I live forty two miles from any Court of record in the county of Berkeley where I reside, & have done, & was unable to procure the attendance of any witnesses on Court to testify to my reputation for truth, & sincerity.

in the event of the revolution & saw the war produced there with much at time
See the said William Nelson relin- quishes hereby every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, & he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State
William Nelson
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before the said Supreme Judicial Court
And the Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
that it appears that the applicant who has served the pensioned amount is a claimant reporting in the event of the death of the applicant, the amount of the pension to be paid to the applicant's heirs is in all cases to be paid to the applicant's heirs, and that they could not be produced in the Court without the same being produced to the applicant. S.S. Wilde for Sup. Jud. Court
Charles Sedgwick Clerk of the
Supreme Judicial Court within & for the County of Berkshire do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of William Nelson for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have unto set my hand & seal this fourteenth day of May A.D. 1834. Chas. Sedgwick Clerk
And I further certify that the Hon. Samuel J. Wilde is, presiding Justice of said Court & that the above signature purporting to be his, is genuine. Chas. Sedgwick Clerk

P 19004
INVALID.
File No. 19004
_____
Act: _____
Index :—Vol. 1 , Page 279
[Arrangement of 1870.]

We Wales Tilton a clergyman re- siding in Charlemont in the County of Franklin & have married the of Ma- sachusetts, & Eli Dutton & Amos Nugent both of Deer in the County of Berkshire in same have made oath hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Nelson of Deer who is making application for a pension, that we believe him to be eighty years of age, that he is resided & believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion -
And we do further certify that the said Nelson has a good character for truth & veracity
Wales Tilton
Eli Dutton
Amos Nugent
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Berkshire ss
Deer May 18 1834 personally appeared Wales Tilton Eli Dutton and Amos Nugent who have signed the preceding certificate and made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me
I do hereby certify that Wales Tilton is a clergy- man and resident in the Town of Charlemont adjacent to said Deer; and that no clergyman resides in said Deer; and that said Dutton and Nugent who have also signed said certificate are residents in said Deer and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. And I do further certify that said Nelson resides forty two miles from Deer (over)

-ox the residence of the Judge and Clerk of Probate and he is poor and it would in my opinion be inconvenient and perhaps impossible to procure the attendance before said Court of the persons who have signed said certificate or any other persons residing in said Town
Gadok King, Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Berkshire ss:
I Charles Sedgwick Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for said County of Berkshire do certify that Gadok King is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County of Berkshire duly commissioned & qualified as such & that I believe the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this fourteenth day of May A D 1834.
Chas. Sedgwick Clerk
(11)
The war is -
Robert R. Read

George Nelson of Stafford in the county of Tolland and State of Connecticut aged seventy-seven years, do prove, testify and say that according to the best of my recollection at this time some time in the months of April or May A 1775 my brother William Nelson who then resided in the town of South Brimfield in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts (but who now lives in the town of Loom in the county of Berkshire in said State of Massachusetts) enlisted as a private soldier under Capt. Jonas Wallbridge of said Stafford (who is now dead) and into his company of foot in the continental line in the American army for the term of eight months. I well know the fact that soon after my said brother enlisted as aforesaid he joined the said Capt. Wallbridge's said company and marched to Roxbury near Boston (Mass) I know that he remained in the service in the S. Capt. Wallbridge's company during said eight months as my father & his family frequently received letters from him while in the service during said eight months. I well remember that my father went to Roxbury once during said eight months and performed duty as substitute for my said Brother William Nelson for the term of a fortnight and my said brother William came home to his father's family and made a visit of about one fortnight & then returned to said Roxbury and joined said Capt. Wallbridge's company & his & my father then returned to his farm in said South Brimfield. I well know that my said brother did return home (except on said visit) until the expiration of said eight months. I never was in the service with my said brother William but from the facts above stated and many more which I could state I know that he served in the said Capt. Wallbridge's company as above stated. I further depose and say that some time in the month of October 1776 my said brother William Nelson enlisted for the term of six months in the naval service of the United States as a marine on board the ship Boston, commanded by Capt. Brown, which sailed on a cruise according to the best of my recollection at this time; some time in the month of April A 1777 I heard that said ship Boston had returned to Boston (Mass) from her cruise, and that my said brother William Nelson was then in said town of Boston very sick, I immediately repaired to said town of Boston where I found my said brother William Nelson who then was sick and very feeble, and after staying several days in said town of Boston on account of my said brother's feeble health I started with him & he made our horseback journey to his & my father's family in said South Brimfield, and I walked, my brother's health was very tender, and our journey home was very slow - and further the Department saith not - Stafford Jan 4 th A 1834
State of Connecticut, Tolland ss { Stafford April the 14 th A 1834 Personally appeared George Nelson of said Stafford who has subscribed the above & foregoing Deposition & made solemn oath to the truth of the same sworn before me Rodolphus Woodward Justice Peace I further certify that for more than thirty years last past I have been well acquainted with the character of George Nelson who has subscribed and sworn to the above deposition, he is a man of good character for truth and veracity, and his testimony is entitled to full credit - Rodolphus Woodward Justice Peace

State of Connecticut } ss } Tolland Tolland County
I Novatus Chapman Clerk of county Court of the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that Rodolphus Woodworth Esq is a Justice of Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified and that his signature to the within deposition is genuine
Given under my hand and the seal of said County this 15 th day of April AD 1834
Novatus Chapman Clerk

Oct 72
150- Relg. 110 Ms. A. 9. 2. 27
27450
Fla
Restating Claims
Rev. J. L. Edwards Com. of Pension Washington City

Boston Oct 7. 1835
Hon J. L. Edwards
Sir In June last I applied Mary Nelson the Wid. of William Nelson (a Pensioner under the act of 1832 - Certificate No 27450) to make the necessary proof to obtain the small amt. due her husband at the time of his death. The pension of Atty. of S o Mary Nelson to Sampson Reed was not paid on account of an error in a power of Atty. upon which S o W m Nelson rec d his money due March 1834 - The justice who alone could rectify that mistake has been absent since last week - That error is now rectified, but the Pension from the widow cannot be paid on account of being dated more than 90 days previous.
Under these circumstances the Agent at Boston thinks you would decline to pay money, as it has not been delayed for any failure on her part & would make considerable expense to send for a new Power - She being 115 Miles from this and 5 or 6 from a justice & being very infirm & poor - for the little sum I have ordered her I take nothing.
Very Respectfully
C. H. Reed Attorney Rome. Me