Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 42,629, William Bodwell, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Boothwell, William
NUMBER
S. 42,629
CONTENTS

9334
Ohio. — R
William Bodwell, Athens Co 4 in the state of Ohio, who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel H. Jackson, of the Massach ts . line, for the term of the revolutionary war.
Enrolled on the Roll of Ohio, at the rate of 8 — Dollars per month, to commence on the 30. of April, 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24. of March, 1819, and sent to Robert Linzee, Judge, Athens, Ohio.
Arrears to 4th of March, 1819. — 81.30. Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4. Sept. 2 48. 10 mo. 2-1 / 30 } 1819. $: 129.30 8 4 / 31 }
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Discontinued
Reinstated 23 Feb. 1820 See letter to pensioner
date of death not in agency Book
Application sent Sept. 11. 1820 to Henry Smith, Clk of C.C. Ohio Athens Ohio.

William Bodwell
borne by res. m. The judge certifi cal of indigent circumstances waiting

State of Ohio, Athens County ss
On this thirtieth day of April A.D. 1818, before me Robert Pierce Esquire one of the associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County personally appeared William Bodwell aged fifty nine years, now resident in the said County of Athens, formerly of Methuen in the County of Essex, State of Massachusetts, who being by me duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the act of Congress passed during its last session entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval ser- vice of the United States in the Revolutionary war,"
That he the said William Bodwell, on the 1 st day of March A.D. 1777, he entered into the service of the United States, in the company commanded by Captain John Wiley, in the Sixth Regiment of the Massachusetts line, of which regiment Michael Jackson was at that time Colonel John Brooks Lieut. Colonel and William Hull Major. That his the said Bodwell's enlistment was for three years during the war, and that from and after his said enlistment he continued in the faithful discharge of his duty as a private soldier, first in the Northern army where with his regiment he was at the capture of Gen l Burgoyne with his army, and that soon after and before the expi- ration of his said first term of enlistment, he re-enlisted in the same regiment during the war, and remained in the service of the United States, against the common enemy, until the army was disbanded at the peace in 1783, and received an honorable discharge, which has since been lost by time, and accident. That he served with his said regiment in various parts of the United States, was

engaged in Monmouth battle, was taken prisoner at White Plains with Col. Thomson, by the enemy, from whom he made his escape the same day; That he is in reduced and indigent circumstances, having been recently stripped of all his real and most of his other estate, by successive losses and misfortunes and stands in need of the assistance of his country. That the pension heretofore been allowed to or received by him, and that he doth relinquish and renounce every pension heretofore allowed by the laws of the United States or other than the law herein before specified. Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid
Robt Linnree Associate Judge
I Robert Linnree associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the said County of Athens do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction that the above named deponent William Bodwell did serve in the revolutionary war as a private soldier, on the Continental establishment for the term of nine months and upwards, against the common enemy as stated and sworn to in the preceding declaration or deposition, and comes within the provision of the act aforesaid. I do therefore transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me to the Secretary of the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the act of congress before mentioned
Robt Linnree Associate Judge
I do further certify that from my personal acquaintance of the above named applicant I know him to be in indigent circumstances
Athens March 5th 1819, Robt Linnree Associate Judge

William Bodwell
N o 9334
March 1819.
not entitled
Sep 19

Pleas at Athens in the County of Athens and State of Ohio, on the third day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred twenty, before the Honorable Ezra Osborn Esquire President, Ebenezer Currier, Silvanius Ames, & Robert Linnce Esquires, his Associates, Judges of our Court of Common Pleas of the County of Athens aforesaid —
William Bodwell. Pensioner
District of Ohio, Athens County ss. Court of Common Pleas.
On this 24 th day of July 1820, personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of record for said County William Bodwell, aged 38 years, resident in Alexander Township in said County, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows, I the said William Bodwell in the month of March 1777 enlisted under Lieutenant Frye in Methuen in the State of Massachusetts and in August or September of the same year joined the Company under Capt. Wileg at Stillwater State of New York, a few days before the capture of Burgoyne, was present in both of the Battles previous to the capture, soon after marched with said Company to Valley Forge, where we spent the winter, I was also present with said Company in the Battle of Monmouth. I served in said Company three years, William Hull was Major and Michael Jackson Colonel of the Regiment to which we belonged. Immediately on the expiration of the three years aforesaid, I re-enlisted in the same Regiment in the Company commanded by Captain Wade, in which I served until the end of the War, and received an honorable discharge at Newburgh, which has since been lost by time and accident.
I have received a Pension under the Act of Congress of March the 18 th 1818, the Certificate of which is numbered 93321, and have received the amount thereof to March the 24 th 1820. And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident Citizen of the United States, on the 18 th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, 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 to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the 18 th day of March 1818, 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.
Schedule of property of W m Bodwell

1 Cow 2 Yearling Calves 8 Sheep 8 Swine of 100 lb 4 Small Pigs 6 Fowls 10 Geese 1 Horse
1 Plough 3 Hoes 4 Axes 1 Hand Saw 1 Square 2 Chisels 1 Axe
One Tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres, the consideration of which was 280 dollars, which is mortgaged by me for 430 dollars, and interest thereon from March 10 th 1819, I having paid but 50 dollars for said land from the monies received for my Pension, and the land is mortgaged for the residue.
1 Kettle (Iron) of 10 Gallons 1 Iron Pot 1 1/2 Gallons 2 Bake Ovens 1/2 doz. Plates, Liverpool Ware 1/2 doz. Tea Cups & Saucers 1/2 doz. Knives & Forks
1 Trying Pan 1 Pair of Shovel & Tongs 4 Wooden Bowls 3 Bances
Debts due to me, Samuel Johnston, promissory Note, 50 dollars Martin Bobo, do. do. 4. 50 ct
of which I cannot expect to recover any considerable part. my debts due from me amount to 120 dollars.
My occupation is that of a farmer, I am in tolerable health, and am as capable of labour as most men of my age, my family consists of a Wife who is healthy and active, and 7 children, the eldest a daughter 14 years old, feeble and not able to give me much aid, the second a daughter of 11 years healthy and active, I have a daughter of 7 years who has continually for 5 years been under the care of a Physician (and her necessary expenses have consumed all the produce of my labour, I have 2 other Sons of 9 & 2 years old
W m Bodwell
Sworn to and declared, on the 21 st day of July 1826 before the Hon. Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County of Athens H. Bartlett Clk

The State of Ohio Athens County ss
I, Henry Bartlett Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County of Athens, do certify that the foregoing oath, and the Schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records 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 One hundred fifty seven dollars made fifty cents and that it was, to appear to the satisfaction of the said Court, that the debts due & owing by said Bodwell are to the full amount of his property.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Athens on the 13 th day of July A D 1820.
Henry Bartlett Clk of Athens Common Pleas

State of Ohio Athens County ss.
Personally appeared before me Eben D. Currie Esquire, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in said County of Athens on this 18 th day of January 1822. Joseph Paine of said Athens, who having been duly sworn by me according to law, on his oath declared,
That on the sixth day of February 1819 William Bodwell applied to the said Deponent to purchase for said Bodwell and one John Price, brother to said Bodwell's wife the North West Quarter of Section numbered 35 in Township Range 13. in the Ohio Company's purchase. That a contract was then made between the Deponent and the said Bodwell, a short memorandum of which, subscribed by the Deponent was then delivered to said Bodwell, also that a memorandum of similar import subscribed by said Bodwell was by him then delivered to the Deponent, both of which memoranda are hereto annexed and severally marked A and B.
That soon after, not more than two or three days from the first application aforesaid, the said Bodwell called on the Deponent without the said Price (with whom as the Deponent then understood the said Bodwell had not fully as to terms of purchase and division of between themselves) and the contract expressed in the written memorandum before mentioned was then put into the form of an article or mutual obligation containing the agreements and covenants of the said Bodwell and the Deponent respecting said land, and the Instrument hereto annexed marked C. was then subscribed and executed by the Deponent and said Bodwell, and delivered to said Bodwell, and

a duplicate thereof was executed at the same time and delivered to the Deponent and still remains in his possession.
That sometime after viz in September 1819 the said Bodwell paid to the Deponent the sum of Fifty dollars in part payment of said land and in discharge of the first sum stipulated to be paid excepting the interest thereof, and that no further payment whatever has since been made by the said Bodwell to the Deponent on the said contract, but the sum of Four hundred and thirty dollars and interest thereon still remains due and unpaid and that said Bodwell is further indebted to the Deponent in the sum of Thirteen dollars 40/100 for necessaries supplied to his family in December 1819 in which the Deponent has the said Bodwell's promissory note.
That although we are aware of the utter inability of said Bodwell to complete his contract, his power having failed on which said Bodwell proposed to rely for his means of fulfilment, and his personal property taken from him by his creditors, the Deponent has felt himself beyond from a sense of justice, and more especially from a consideration of the disappointments and misfortunes of the Bodwell, to indulge his request to remain for a reasonable term on the land contracted to him, for the purpose of enabling him to sell and dispose of the same for such an advance in price as might indemnify him for the labour and expense bestowed by him in permanent improvements on the land.
That on these terms the said Bodwell occupied the land until sometime early in the last summer, when the said Bodwell did voluntarily propose to relinquish his contract, (finding that from the peculiar security

of money, there was little prospect of effecting a sale on terms beneficial to himself) and requested the Defendant to assume the control of it, and to sell and dispose of it as if no contract had ever been made with the said Bodwell.
That the said land has accordingly since the early part of the last summer, and still is held for sale by the defendant, on the same terms on which it was formerly contracted to the said Bodwell, viz for 480 dollars.
The defendant further saith that the said Bodwell hath also voluntarily surrendered the papers hereunto annexed marked A. and C. without any other reservation and condition, except that the said Bodwell shall be exempted from all claim for rent during the term of his occupancy, for which the sum of fifty dollars paid as aforesaid is to be considered as a full discharge. That the said Bodwell has been legally notified by me to leave the premises, and will remain no longer than until a purchaser can be found, or until April when the land will be leased to some other tenant, as from the total want of force and farming implements the said Bodwell cannot reasonably be expected to realise much profit or to pay rent.
The defendant further saith that the said Bodwell hath not at this time in writing or parol any other right, title, or interest in the land herein described, than what may be derived from the bare possession under the circumstances above stated, and that the said Bodwell never had any Deed, bond, or other evidence of title whatever except the Instrument hereto annexed and

Sworn to and subscribed
before me the day and year first herein expressed Witness my hand and seal at Athens aforesaid.
Eleazar Gurreer { a Judge Court Common Pleas
B
I agree to purchase of J Dana the N.W. quarter of Sect 35 T. R. 13 on the following terms to give him 480 dols. as follows, 50 dols in hand fifty dols on the expiration of each year till the whole be paid interest from this date Feb 6 1819. Wm Bodwell
B
A.
I agree to sell to Mr W. Bodwell the N.W. quarter of Sect No 35 in the 4th Town 13 Range — on which Joseph Carpenter has an improvement for Four hundred & eighty dols, on the following terms viz fifty dollars in hand & fifty dollars at the expiration of each & every year from this date & on the full payment thereof to give him a complete title & warranty deed thereof Feb 6 1819 Joseph Denny
Atkins Freeman

42629
Rev INVALID.
File No. 42,629
William Bodwell Rev. Rev. Rev.
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 8, Page 54
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Ohio?
623
William Bodwell, (Spencer), Service - Oyer & terminer, 1777 to end of War
Age 58 years (that of wife not stated, but he states that she is healthy and active) he has 7 children, the eldest a girl 14 years old; some some healthy and others not so. -
Occupation - A farmer - healthy and able to labour
Property - According to the opinion of the court the value of the property exhibited in his schedule, dated 15 July, 1820, is $157. \frac{50}{100}
It appears that he was then in possession of a tract of land (160 acres) the consideration which was $480? - Some stock, farming utensils, working tools, household and kitchen furniture, and that he holds two promissory notes of $50 and $4. \frac{50}{100} .
It appears from said schedule that the land is mortgaged for the sum of $430. and that his debts at that time amounted to $120. -
The name of Bodwell was placed on the roll on the 24 March, 1819. The Mortgage given for the land
executed 6 th Feb y . 1819. - The prison from which the land was purchased states in his affidavit, dated 18 Jan y . 1822, that Bodwell has given up the same to him, not being able to meet the payments. - This affidavit appears to have been made before Eben t Currier, Esq r a Judge &c, but is not properly authenticated. - It appears from a petition (signed by the party) to Congress that the most of his personal property has been taken from him and from a statement which appears to have been made by the 3 Judges of the court that he has been dispossessed of the principal part of his property. - These last affidavits and statements have been deposited in the Office by Hon: Levi Barber, of Ohio, No: Rep t who requests a reconsideration of the case. - Feb y . 13. 1822
Re

This agreement entered into this sixth day of February AD 1819, by and between Joseph Danna of the one part and William Badwell of the second part both of the County of Athens and State of Ohio witnesseth,
Witnesseth That the said Badwell, in consideration of the Nor Quarter Section 35 (Thirty five) in Town 4, Range 13 of the Ohio company's Purchase hereinafter covenanted to be conveyed to the said Danna, doth hereby for himself his executors, administrators and assigns coven- ant and agree to pay to the said Danna the full sum of Four hundred and eighty dollars in manner fol- lowing viz: Fifty dollars on the day of the date of these presents. Fifty dollars with interest from this date at the ex- piration of each and every year from this date until the said sum of 480 dollars and interest thereon shall be fully paid and discharged.
And the said Danna on his part doth hereby covenant with said Badwell his executors, administrators and assigns, that on the full and complete payment of the said several sums of money and interest thereon by him or them at the time herein specified for payment thereof, he the said Danna will make or cause to be made and executed to the said Badwell, or his executors administrators or assigns a good deed of warranty of the premises in fee simple, free of all incumbrances.
Witness our hands and seal, the day and year first above mentioned.
Sealed and delivered in presence of
John White Ira Baker
Joseph Danna William Badwell

Sept 16 1819.
Rec d 50 dollars the amount of the ut payment nothing to be made, except the interest, which I have agreed to receive in the B'Wish -
J Dan
See James

com
Bodwell
recd:
Hon L. Barber, H.R.

To the Honorable. Senate, and the Honorable House of Representatives of the United States, in Con- gress assembled,
The petition of William Bodwell of Athens County in the State of Ohio respectfully represents,
That in March 1777, your petitioner, at Methuen in the State of Methuen Massachusetts, enlisted as a private soldier in the Regiment commanded by Col Michael Jackson, on the Continental establishment, for the term of three years, which he faithfully served; was present and assisting in the capture of Burgoyne, and in the two battles immediately previous thereto; and after the expiration of said term, immediately re-enlisted in the same regiment during the war; and at the close of the war received, at Newburgh in the State of New York, an honorable discharge, all which was fully proved to the War Depart- ment by the testimony by Major Jonathan Cass, a surviving commissioned officer of the same regiment, in consequence whereof your petiti- oner was placed on the Pension list under the act of Congress of March 18. 1818.
Your petitioner begs leave further to state, that in conformity to the Act of Congress passed May 1 st 1820. he preferred to the War Department a second Declaration of his services, and of his residence, with a just and true inventory or schedule of his property, subscribed and sworn to by your petitioner; accompanied with a certificate of the Honorable Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Athens, to all of whom the situation and circumstances of your petitioner were well known, stating that "The total value of your petitioner's property was One hundred and fifty dollars, fifty cents, and that the debts due and owing by him were to the full amount of his property;" a certified copy of which second declaration, schedule and certificate aforesaid, your petitioner herewith submits to your honorable body as part of his present appli- cation. Thus situated, your petitioner could not entertain a reasonable doubt but that the provisions of the laws of congress aforesaid, would by the Department of War be considered as clearly and unquestionably embracing the case of your

petitioner; yet his claim is, without any explanation, by that Department, declared "inadmissible, by which decision your petitioner feels deeply aggrieved; and has been involved in complicated embarrassment and distress from which he has no hope of relief but by an appeal to your honorable body: and he asks your indulgence to suffer him to state a few facts and circumstances in addition to those contained in his former application and in the papers accompanying this petition.
It will appear to your honorable body that the sum total of your petitioner's property before referred to, amounts to 150 dollars. 50 cents, included his supposed interest in a certain tract of land for which he had paid the sum of fifty dollars.
This tract, in consequence of the loss of his pension, your petitioner has been compelled to relinquish, and to suffer the loss of the sum paid for it, as well as the far greater loss of improvements made on it by your petitioner, labor for the term of two years.
Your petitioner would further state that the articles of personal property specified in his inventory aforesaid, excepting his household utensils, had been recently purchased on the credit of the future receipts of his pension. That they were, at the time of exhibiting his schedule unpaid for, that almost every article of his personal property has been since taken from him to satisfy the claims of his creditors, and that your petitioner is now left in his declining age, with his unhappy family, destitute of the means of livelihood, and with no other prospect but of dependence on fraternal charity, for the very necessities of life.
Your petitioner can never believe that the act of 1818, so benevolent in its aspect, will be suffered by your honorable body, to become an instrument of cruelty, or to aggravate the distresses of those who were invited to look to it for relief. He is not conscious of having abused or misapplied the bounty of his government: a large part of it has been consumed by severe and long continued sickness in his family; with the residue he had indulged the hope, after satisfying the few remaining claims of his creditors, by a rigid course of economy to realise the necessary means of subsistence and to enjoy a portion of the prosperity and happiness of

his country, which his sufferings and labors throughout seven years of the Revolutionary war had contributed to establish.
This hope, the only refuge of his declining age he humbly trusts your honorable body will still permit him to cherish; That you will permit him still to enjoy his pension, with the arrearages which have been withheld from him, or grant him relief in such other form as to your honorable body may appear just and reasonable, and as in duty bound shall ever pray. Athens, October 25 th 1821. Wm Goddard
We the subscribers, Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Athens, do certify that we are well acquainted with the Petitioner and his cir- cumstances, and are fully satisfied of the truth of the facts stated in his petition above. That we well know that for more than seven years last past, he has not at any time possessed property sufficient to pay his debts, and that the property specified in his schedule certifi- ed to the Department of War, including his interest in the land therein mentioned, has in consequence of the failure of his Pension been principally taken from him, and that no applicant within our knowledge, either at the time of his original application, at the time of preferring his schedule of property, or at the present time, from the indigence of his circumstances, has a higher claim to the aid of his country, or is more destitute of the means of subsistence. Athens October 26 th 1821
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, Athens County
Robert Linn Sylvanus Ames Eben F. Currier

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Godwin, Henry GRADE Private "in Moylan's Dragoons" LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 9029 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED November 5, 1789 To — not shown —
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Body Robert GRADE Drummer LINE Maryland
WARRANT NUMBER 11019 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED January 17, 1793 To John Wright, assignee of Samuel Davis, Adm re .
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.