Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 780, William Bent, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Bent, William Abigail
R. 780
CONTENTS

V2543 Abigail Bent Widow of William Bent dec.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex County ss - }
On this Seventeenth day of August, in the year of Our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty seven Personally appeared before the Hon Samuel P. Hays Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Middle- sex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Abigail Bent, a resident of Wayland in said County and Commonwealth, who being first duly sworn ac- cording to Law, doth on her Oath make the follow- ing Declaration in order to obtain the benefit thereby of the provision made by the Act of Con- gress passed July 4, 1836. - That She is the Widow of William Bent late of Wayland dec d that her late husband said William Bent, served in the War of the Revolution, from the commencement in 1775 until 1781 or 1782, First as a sergeant or corporal in Col l Brewers Reg t Stationed at Cambridge and in 1776, as Sergeant in Capt. Asa Wheelers Compt y of Col l Joseph Reads Reg t of Militia Stationed at Roxbury He was then promoted to Lieut. in said Reg t and Served in that Reg t and in Col l Richard Howes Reg t of Middlesex Militia by various tours of duty until the year 1781. As will more fully appear by Reference to various Documents accompanying this application including two several commissions
She further declares That She was Married to her Husband said William Bent on

The first day of December in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy eight, That her husband the aforesaid William Bent died on the twenty fifth day of April in the year Eighteen hundred and twenty Nine that she is Eighty two years years of Age and she has not married since the death of her late husband William Bent aforesaid but has remained a Widow ever since his death as will more fully appear by Reference to the proof hereto annexed, Abigail Bent
Subscribed & sworn to by said Abigail Bent at her residence in Weyland  Weyland , she being too infirm to attend court before me
J. P. Fay Judge of Prob for the County of Middlesex

I Edward Hammon of Natick in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Farmer. Aged Sixty Nine Years, being Sworn do on Oath testify and say That I know Lieut. William Bent Wayland late of said Natick dec. I have always lived in the near Neighbourhood of said William Bent and his family. And have always understood and believed that the said Bent served as a Soldier & Lieut in the War of the Revolution, the said Bent did at his home in Wayland, near the Town line of Natick, where I live and have resided all my days. He left his Widow Abigail who I am in the habit of visiting occasionally. And said Abigail has not re-married since the death of her late hus- band William Bent aforesaid. She is still living and resides in my Neighbourhood in the Town of Wayland, said William Bent died about Eight years since. Edward Hammon Middlesex ss: Aug. 17 th 1837
Personally appeared Edward Hammon known to me as a credible person & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him Subscribed J. P. Fay. J. P.
I Jason Bent of Wayland in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being Sworn do on Oath testify and say I am forty one Years of Age. That I am the reputed Son of William Bent late of said Wayland dec. that my Father was an Officer in the War of the Revolution and performed a variety of Services in the Middlesex County Militia
for

particularly in the Regiments of Col Read and Col How, this I have often heard from himself and others during his life time, corroborated by various Documents relating to his Military Service left by him at his death, My late Father Said William Bent died in Wayland on the twenty fifth day of April in the year Eighteen hundred and twenty nine and left Abigail, his Widow, who has lived with me ever since and has not married since the death of her husband my late Father William Bent aforesaid, and Said Abigail Bent is still living and resides with me in this Town of Wayland, — Middlesex ss. Aug. 17 th 1837 — Jason Bent Personally appeared Jason Bent known to me as a credi- ble person & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit, by me subscribed. upon me J. P. P. Day D.P.
Abigail Bent Widow of William Bent dec.
2543

Wayland 22 July 1837 - County of Middlesex. I hereby certify that I have in my posses- sion the Records of Marriages Solemnized by my late Father, Rev d Josiah Bridge pastor of the Church in Sud- bury, now Wayland, and find the Record, of which the following is a true copy vizp Marriages 1778
December 1 - William Bridge W m Bent & Abigail Bruce - Sudbury -
William Bridge
Middlesex ss. July 22 d 1837 Then personally appeared the above- named William Bridge and made oath to the truth of the foregoing Statement by him subscribed Before me
Edward Mellin
Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss. I Isaac Fisher Register of the Court of Probate now and for the County of Middlesex hereby certify that David D. O'Keay Esq is the judge of said Court duly commissioned & qualified, & that his signature subscribed on the paper hereto annexed are his genuine signatures!
I also certify that Edward Mellen Esq whose own proper signature is written on this paper is a justice of the Peace within and for said County duly commissioned & qualified.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this twenty first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven
Isaac Fisher Esq

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex County ss. On this 15 th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- dred and fifty one, personally appeared before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, George Bent a resident of Natick in the County of Middlesex aforesaid aged 57 years who being duly sworn doth on oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of existing Pension laws of the United States.
And this declarant states that he is one of the surviving children of Abigail Bent that his mother the said Abigail was the widow of William Bent, who was an officer in the Revolution. He states that his father was a resident of Sudbury Massachusetts in the time of the Revolution and he believes that he was in the Lexington alarm in April 1775 also with the army at Roxbury in the winter of 1775 & 1776, at least three months, and he believes more, and that he was not discharged till sometime in April 1776, and that he was in the service as set forth forth in the certificate hereto annexed in 1778 for the term of 3 mos & 3 days

and that this last service was performed in guard- ing the troops of Bangor as he set forth in his ap- plication for proof. The tradition in the family has been that his father served much more than is given in the certificate of the Secretary hereunto annex- ed. He states that his mother made application for a pension in her life time and he believes she adduced the testimony of living witnesses in sup- port of her claim, and that she proved the date of the death of her husband William Bent and also the date of her marriage to him. To that declaration and the evidence then in she refers the Commissioner of Pensions.
He further states that his mother Abigail Bent died on the 14th December 1843 and that the only surviving children are George Bent & Micah Bent.
George Bent
Then personally appeared the above named George Bent and made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him signed
Before me Nov r 18 th 1857
Moses Evans Just. Peace

Abigail Bent Wapashusets
Suspended
See letter 6 th Nov 1837 R. Baldwin do. 16 April 1838
Set G.C. Amer, March 12/52.
780-

Ex'r.
INVALID.
RECEIVED
Acts of July 14, 1892, and March 3, 1872.
Abigail
William Went
P. O. _____
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, November 21 1837.
W hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Joseph Butler was a Justice of the Peace for the county of Middlesex,
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and qualified; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Francis Jackson Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Know all men by these presents that I George Bent of Natick in the County of Mid- dlessex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts one of the children of Abigail Bent late of Wayland in said County deceased do hereby constitute & appoint Freeman Bradford of Portland State of Maine and George C. Ames of Washington City (D.C.) my true and lawful Attorneys in ev- ery thing for me and in my name and for my use, to present my claim for a pension due me as heir of said Abigail Bent under the laws of Con- gress passed on and since the 4th of July 1836 and for the purposes aforesaid my said Attorneys or either of them are authorized and required by me to obtain whatever proof may be necessary relative thereto, and they or either of them are authorized to examine any papers relative to said claim now in the Pension Office or any other department at Washington, and generally to do and perform any other act or thing in the same manner that I might do were I personally present.
Hereby ratifying and confirming whatsoev- er my Attorneys or either of them may law

fully do in the premises. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 22 d day of October A. D. 1851. George Bent
Witness. J. H. Harmon
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. County of Middlesex ss: October 22 d A. D. 1851 Then personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly authorized to administer oaths take acknowledgements of deeds Powers of Attorney and other instruments the above named George Bent and acknowledged the above power of Attorney by him subscribed to be his free act and deed.
Joseph Fuller Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Probate Office Middlesex County ss } Be it known That on this twentyeighth day of October A.D. 1851, it has been satisfactorily proved before me Judge of Probate for said County that William Bent died in Wayland Mass. on the 26th day of April 1829 and that Abigail Bent who was the widow of said William died in Framingham Mass. on the 13th day of December 1843 that she remained a widow from the death of her husband as aforesaid, and that Micah Bent and George Bent are the children, and only surviving children of the said William and Abigail Bent deceased.
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my name and caused the seal official of said Court to be affixed the day and year first above written.
J. A. Pay Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex Probate Office October 28. 1857
This certifies that S. P. P. Fay whose name is above written is the Judge of Probate for said County, that full faith is given to all his official acts in said office of Judge that he has been duly qualified & sworn as such that the seal annexed to his said certificate is the seal of the Probate Court for the County of Middlesex.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court the day & year above written
Howe V. Lynde Registrar

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, November 21 st 1851
W hereby C ertify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Misses Eames was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex,
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and qualified; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
William Lee Wilson Secretary of the Commonwealth.

William Bridge's Affidavit.

Wayland County of Middlesex Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I William Bridge do hereby certify, that it appears from the Records in my possession, that William Bent and Abigail Bruce, both of Sudbury were on the first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy eight, Married, by Josiah Bridge of said Sudbury, a Clergy man of the first parish and constitution legally authorized of course to solemnize Marriages there, and that I have the lawful custody of the said Records and that the said parish is now within the town of Wayland in said County of Middlesex.
And I further certify that the said Record is in the well known handwriting of the said Clergy man who is deceased and that the following is a true copy in words and figures.
On the top of the page is the word "Marriages" (being a continuation in chronological order)
"1778.
"Dec. 1 Wm Bent & Abigail Bruce Sudbury"
and that the words and figures are in a fair and legible hand writing Being a Son of said Clergy man, and an heir of his estate, this is the reason that the said Record, as well as all his papers and effects not in the hands of his Widow, came to my hands and possession.
William Bridge
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss. November 27 th 1837 Then personally appeared the above named William Bridge and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed before me. Edward Mellen Justice of the Peace.
Middlesex ss. Nov. 27 th 1837 I further certify that the aforementioned William Bridge, the signer of the above affidavit is a man of truth & veracity. And I further certify that the word "v" a part of another word, to wit, "an ordain" were erased prior to the execution of said affidavit. Edward Mellen Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston :
October 29. 1851.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of William Bent is borne on a muster roll of Capt. Joseph Smith's Co. marched from Sudbury Apr 19, 1775 "in pursuit of the ministerial troops," as a Sergt. 3 days.
On a roll of Capt. Asahel Wheeler's Co. marched from Sudbury, & joined Col. Reed's Regt at Roxbury Dec 10, 1775, as Lt. - return dated Roxbury Camp, Jan'y 19. 1776. - order passed to issue Commissions to the officers Feb'y 9. 1776. no roll of the service found.
On a pay roll of Capt John Horner's Co. Col. Reed's Regt guards at Winter Hill, as Lt. from Apr 1. 1778, 3 mos 3 days.
Also on a list of Commissions in 9th Co. 4 Regt Militia in Co. of Middlesex, as Lt. - no date.

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Isaac Newton Secretary of the Commonwealth.

To the Secretary of State Mass.
The undersigned George Bent one of the children of William Bent and Abigail Bent widow of said William respectfully requests the Secretary of State for a certificate of the Revolutionary services of his late father
He states that his father was a resident of Sudbury in the time of the Revolution that he served as he believes in Capt. Asa Wheeler's Company and others not known by your applicant and in the Regts. of Colonels Brewer Reed and Hovey in various periods of the war from 1775 to 1781. He believes that he first entered the service as a Sergeant and that he was promoted and served as Lieut. He believes and has heard his mother say that his father was at Lexington or Concord and that he was stationed at one period of the war at Winter Hill near Boston to guard the troops of Burgoyne. He also believes that his father was in the army in 1776. He therefore requests a certificate of all the services that may be found either as private non-commissioned officer or commissioned Officer - And for the purpose of this application I hereby appoint Freeman Bradford of Portland Maine my Attorney.
George Bent County of Middlesex ss Dec. 22 nd 1901 signed Before me
Joseph Tullen Just. Peace

To the Secretary of State Mass.
The undersigned George Bent one of the children of William Bent and Abigail Bent widow of said William respectfully requests the Secretary of State for a certificate of the Revolutionary services of his late father
He states that his father was a resident of Sudbury in the time of the Revolution that he served as he believes in Capt. Asa Wheeler's Company and others not known by your applicant and in the Regts. of Colonels Brewer Reed and Hovey in various periods of the war from 1775 to 1781. He believes that he first entered the service as a Sergeant and that he was promoted and served as Lieut. He believes and has heard his mother say that his father was at Lexington or Concord and that he was stationed at one period of the war at Winter Hill near Boston to guard the troops of Burgoyne. He also believes that his father was in the army in 1776. He therefore requests a certificate of all the services that may be found either as private non-commissioned officer or commissioned officer. And for the purpose of this application I hereby appoint Freeman Bradford of Portland Maine my Attorney.
George Bent County of Middlesex ss Dec. 22 nd 1901 signed Before me
Joseph Tullen Just. Peace

Washington Novm. 27. 1857 James E Heath Esq Sir,
I enclose herewith a power of Attorney, and a declaration from the children of Abigail Bent, widow of William Bent. Mr. Bent was an applicant for a pension under the act of 4 July 1836.
In support of this Claim I now present the Certificate of the Secretary of Massachusetts, which shows service credited to Mr. Bent's husband in 1775, under Capt Smith, also under Capt Wheeler of Col Read Regiment, and Capt John Stokes, Company of Col Read Regiment; He is further found on a list of Commission in the 9 th Co. of 4 Regiment, and it is stated also that he served a tour in Rhode Island.
The evidence here presented does not show clearly the amount of service rendered by Mr. Bent's husband, but as it is known that Col Read Regiment was kept in service until after the evacuation of Boston which was about the 11 th of March, there can be no doubt of his having been engaged more than 6 months.
In order to understand

the Case properly I ask the privilege of examining the papers now on file
Very Respectfully, Your Ob't Servt. Geo L Ames

Boston Massachusetts
December 8th. 1837
Sir
I herein enclose the Marriage certificate of of Mrs. Abigail Bent widow of Lt. William Bent, conforming to the late requirements of the Department.
I would respectfully observe in reply to your letter dated November 6th, that if the Series of Documents forwarded with the Declaration of Mrs. Bent do not furnish complete proof of her Husband's service in the War of the Revolution it cannot be expected at this late day that the memory of the aged and infirm Widow can supply any thing further, her claim is therefore Submitted without further observation, with the earnest request that an early decision will be made as the Widow is fast declining
I am Respectfully
Sir Your Obedt
James L. Edwards Esq. Commr of Pensions Washington
Reuben Baldwin

Sir
Boston Massachusetts August 23 1837
I enclose herewith Sundry Documents including a Series of Revolutionary papers from N o 1 to 24, in support of the claim of Mrs Abigail Bent, Widow of Sergeant and Lieut. William Bent to a pension under the Act of July 4, 1836
Be pleased to give this claim the usual course of examination and forward me the results to me at this place.
Very respectfully
I am Sir, Your Obedt for Reuben Baldwin
C.W. Appleton
James L Edwards Esq Comm d of Pensions Washington