Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 21,697, John Bouker, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Booker, John Elizabeth
NUMBER
W 21,697
CONTENTS

Let to Jane's Ward, July 6, 1837
934 Massachusetts.
Elizabeth Booker widow of John Booker Jr.
who died on the 10 June 1781 of Worcester Co. in the State of Mass ts who was a Lt. Col. in the Company commanded by Captain Holman & of the reg t commanded by Col. Doolittle in the Mass ts mile line for 18 months from 1775
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 266 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 nd day of May 1837 and sent to George Davis, Sturbridge
Arrears to the 4th of March 1837 $1600.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep 37 133.33
$1733.33
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 rd }
Recorded by Wm. H. Allen Clerk, Book Vol. 7, Page 45

Cont. 103 Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
WORCESTER COUNTY, SS.
On this  twenty eighth  day of  February
A. D. 1837, Personally appeared before the Court of Probate, for the said County of Worcester, holden by Ira Barton Esquire, Judge of said Court, ELIZABETH BOUKER, a resident of Petersham in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty seven years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision, made by the act of Congress, passed July 4, 1836.
That she is the widow of John Bouker, Jr. late of said Petersham, deceased, who performed the following services, in the Massachusetts line of the army of the revolution, viz.
That said John Bouker, Jr. was first Lieutenant of the company of infantry, under the command of Capt. Jonathan Holman, in Col. Ephraim Doolittle's regiment for the term of eight months, commencing about the first of May 1775, and ending about the first of January following, and that he was stationed in and about Cambridge.
That said John Bouker, Jr. was captain of a company of infantry in Col. Whitney or Whitcomb's regiment for the term of two (and she thinks three) months, commencing in February 1776 and ending in April following, and that he was stationed in Dorchester, near Boston. He was there, when Boston was evacuated by the British.
That he was Lieutenant in a company of infantry, commanded by Capt. Hamilton, in Col. Samuel Brewer's regiment for the term of four months, commencing in August 1776 and ending in December following, and that he was stationed at Ticonderoga.
That the said John Bouker, Jr. was in the army as a Lieutenant or Captain, during the summer and autumn of 1777. The length of time she cannot state, but thinks during the season. She is confident he was at the capture of Burgoyne, probably in Col. Sparhawk's regiment.
That said John Bouker Jr. was an Officer in the army, either Lieutenant or Captain three months, commencing in January 1777 and ending in April following. And that he was stationed in New Jersey or near New York. She cannot prove nor can she recollect the Officers he served under.
That her said husband was in the army most of the time for three years from April 1775 but she is unable to state all the periods of his services. At the expiration of his last term of service he returned home sick and never recovered from that sickness.
She further declares that she was lawfully married to the said John Bouker, Jr. on the twenty seventh day of April in the year seventeen hundred and sixty eight; that her husband the aforesaid John Bouker, Jr. died on the tenth day of June 1781; and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written, before
Ira Barton  Elizabeth Bouker Judge of the Court of Probate for said County

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
And therefore the Court do declare it as their opinion, after a full investigation of the matter that the witness named John Bouker Jr. was an Officer of the resolution, that he married the said Elizabeth, that he hath since deceased and that the now surviving as his widow, as she hath also in oath declared, she being a person of uncontroverted truth, and although very deaf, yet in my opinion fully competent in the obligation of an oath
John Bouker Judge of Probate Court of Probate

I Jared Weed, Town Clerk of the Town of Petersham, in the County of Worcester and Com- monwealth of Massachusetts, hereby certify, that the books, papers, records and public documents of said Town of Petersham are in my care and keeping; That under the head of marriages, I find the following record made of the return, made by the Rev d Aaron Whitney, viz, "John Bouker Jr. and Elisabeth Wilder, both of Petersham, were married April 27. 1758". . . And I further certify that the Rev d Aaron Whitney, was then the minister of the gospel in said Town of Petersham. —
Jared Weed, Town Clerk.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of P. July. 28. 1837 Then personally appeared Jared Weed above named, who is known to me as a man of truth, and made oath, that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me
J. W. Boston Judge of Probate for said County

I Ann Clark of Petersham in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty seven years, testify and say, that during the revolutionary war I resided with my father about three fourths of a mile from Capt. John Bouker Jr. who then resided in said Petersham - that immediately after the fight at Lexington, the soldiers in this town turned out and went to Cambridge - This was in the year 1775 - My oldest brother and Thomas went with the rest, - I recollect John Bouker Junr. went as Lieutenant, I understood, and I have no doubt, that John Bouker Jr. served in the Army at Cambridge eight months as Lieutenant in the Company, commanded by Capt. John Wheeler of this town, who is now dead - After the eight months - Lieutenant Bouker returned and enlisted men here for three months , - among others my father and one brother - They marched to Dorchester or some place near Boston - John Bouker Jr. was then Captain of the Company - and then staid there till after the Regulars left Boston, when they came home - Capt. Bouker was out a good many times during the war - but I can't state particularly - I think I had two brothers at the taking of Burgoyne - in the regiment of Col. Sparkhawk - whether Mr. Bouker was there or not I do not remember, but it appears to me he was there as an officer, but I will not say - - Soon after the close of the war, Capt. Bouker was sick - I watched

with him while sick - He died with consumption. I was at his funeral - I do not recollect the year but it was before Shay's war.
RAN Alex Br
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester ss. Be it remembered that on this thirty first day of January A.D. 1837 Ann Clark personally appeared before me and made oath in due form of law, that the foregoing affidavit, by her subscribed, is true. And I certify that I have been for a long time, per- sonally acquainted with the said Ann Clark and that she sustains an unimpeachable character for truth and veracity.
Jared Weed, Justice of the Peace.

I Lydia Pike, of Petersham in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachussetts, testify and say, that, My father, John Bouker Jr. of this town, died on the tenth day of June A. D. 1781 - I was then in the seventh year of my age, but I recollect the time of his death well - It was strongly impressed on my mind - Many years ago, and when I frequently heard conversations about the war of the revolution, the case of my father's services in the army was often the subject of remark. It was said that he was out a good deal, - I have heard them speak of his hard services in New Jersey, or the Jarsies, as it was called, and that he came home sick with a disease, contracted in the army, which was consumption, and died as I have above stated. My mother, Elizabeth Bouker, is his widow.
Lydia Pike
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Worcester. ss. February 28. 1837. Then personally appeared the above named Lydia Pike, who is well known to me, and whose character for truth and veracity is good, and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the above affidavit by her subscribed - Before me
Isaac Weed Jus: Peace

Rev WIDOW, &c
File No. 21697  am
Elizabeth Bonker, widow of John Bonker Capt Newmar.
Act: July 4 th 36
Index:—Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1457
admitted 14 mo 1866 4 mo. ckt. 80 200.00 on Roll St. Gno
Capt Jonathan Holmes Co. A 15 pgs 23
appoints Capt. 2 Feb 1862 vol 25 pgs 157
on roll Capt Nath'l Bunker Co. A 17 pgs 223 or 251
on roll Capt Wm Spooner Co. A 17 pgs 223 or 251 21 Aug 1877 on roll
died 10 June 1781
Geo. Davis Sturbridge Ms.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Worcester ss. Probate Office.
I certify that Ira Marton is Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester, and that his name subscribed, as such, to several of the Papers hereto annexed is in his own hand writing. And that Jared Wood is a Justice of the Peace for said County, duly Commissioned and sworn - and that his name subscribed as such to the several papers hereto annexed was in every case written by himself.
In testimony whereof I do hereunto subscribe my name and affix the Seal of the said Probate Court, this first day of March 1837.
Theoph n . Wheeler Reg d of the said Probate Court
Please to direct return of Papers to Geo. Davis Humboldt County of Worcester

I Sarah Wheeler, of Petersham, in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in the seventy eighth year of my age, testify and say, that I remember Capt. John Bouker of Petersham from my earliest recollection, that he died near the close of the war of the revolution; I was at his funeral - He lived near my father - He was in the service in the army several times during the war - He was eight months at Cambridge - about two months at Dorchester - I recollect his being at Ticonderoga - I am very certain that he was in New Jersey three months commencing with January 1777 - I recollect it from the circumstance that my father and one of my brother, Moses, who has been dead a good many years were there And I am very certain Capt. Bouker was in the army in the fall of 1777, at the taking of Burgoyne - My father was there I know and I have no doubt Capt. Bouker was there - He was sometimes Captain and sometimes Lieutenant - Never higher nor lower than these grades - I cannot tell what officers he served under - I knew his wife before she was married. Her name was Elisabeth Wilder. She has remained and now is his widow.
Witness, Jared Weed
Sarah her X Wheeler mark

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester ss. February 27, 1837 Then personally appeared the within named Sarah Wheeler, with whom I am well acquainted, and whose character for truth and veracity is good, and subscribed and made oath to the truth of the within affidavit,
Before me Jared Weed { Justice of the Peace.

I Jared Weed, of Petersham, in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, testify and say that I prepared the declaration of Ezekiel Bunker of this town, and the evidence in support of it, on which he obtained a pension under the act of Congress, passed June 7 1832; that while preparing his papers he frequently referred to his brother John the services of his brother John - His brother John, he said, was an Officer in the army, as Lieutenant and Captain more than two years in the whole: He said he was his water two or three terms of service, and stated to me the particular services of his brother - But not supposing that John's case would ever become a subject of investigation, I made no memorandum of the conversation, which was four or five years ago and I am now unable to recall the particulars of it to my mind. - Ezekiel is now dead, and so is every pensioner under that act, who resided in this town, except Thomas Wheeler, who has since removed to Dover, New Hampshire - In order to enable me to prepare the declaration of John Bunker Jr and to support it by evidence, I have made diligent enquiry for and near - And I have been able to find but two men viz. the said Thomas Wheeler and Richard Sawtell, who resided in Athol, who were in the service with him, - I then applied to aged females, who are more tenacious of life in old age than males, horseads - And I have learnt from them, what will appear in their affidavits - But then they are unable to state particulars, and especially the grade and the officers, under whom he served; Nor is Mrs Bunker, herself, who is very deaf, almost beyond

the possibility of hearing at all, able to render much assistance, as to the particulars of her husband's services. And in order to enable her to understand her declaration, I have caused it to be printed, or written in a very plain hand, so that she might read it. The muster rolls, I understand, have recently been transmitted to the War Department, and out of our reach, so that no assistance could be derived from that source - Under all these embarrassments, her declaration will probably be found imperfect, but it is as perfect as could be made under existing circumstances.
Jared Weed.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Worcester ss. Feby. 28. 1837 Then personally appeared Joseph Beebe above named, who is known to me as a man of truth, and made oath that the above declaration by him subscribed is true
Before me McClelland Judge of the Court of Public Justice

I Richard Sawtell, of Athol, in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged eighty five years Testify and say, that I was very well acquainted with Capt. John Bouker Jr. during the revolutionary war - He then resided in Petersham, in this County where he died soon after the establishment of peace. In the winter of 1776, and I think in the months of February, I enlisted and served two months, in the army of the revolution at Dorchester near Boston - John Bouker Jr. was my Captain, and we belonged to Col. Whitney's regiment - And I testify and say that Capt. Bouker served in the Camp there as Captain for the term of two months . We were there at the time the British left Boston.
I further testify and say, that some time in the same year, viz. 1776, and I think it was in August, I again enlisted in Capt. Hamilton's company of Infantry, in Col. Samuel Brewer's regiment, and for the term of four months , and served that time in the revolutionary army of the revolution at Tienderoga - John Bouker Jr. was the Lieutenant in said Company and served as such during the term of four months . I think the enlistment was in August, for I recollect that we were quartered at Barre, and are there had new potatoes for refreshment for the first time that season, and I recollect, as I was about leaving home, I gathered for the first time, I gathered a few ears of green corn, from the field - The above mentioned services in the army of the revolutionary war were performed in the Massachusetts line.
Witness Jared Weed.
This is Richard Sawtell mark.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester ss. Be it remembered that on this twenty seventh day of January A D. 1837. Richard Sawtell personally appeared before me and made oath, in due form of law, that the within affidavit, by him subscribed, is true. And I certify that I have been for a long time, personally acquainted with the said Sawtell, and that he sustains an unimpeachable character for truth and veracity. And I further certify, that from bodily and not mental infirmities, he is unable to write his name.
Jared Weed Jus: Peace.

Thomas Wheeler of Dover in the county of Strafford in the State of New Hampshire, and lately of Petersham in the county of Worcester in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, depose and say. That for many years I was well acquainted with John Booker Jr formerly of said Petersham, who died a few years after the close of the revolutionary war. — During eight months, that is from May 1775 to January 1776 said John Booker Jr was First Lieutenant of the company commanded by Capt. Jonathan Holman of Templeton Mass. in Col. Ephraim Doolittle's Regt, & Gen Sullivan's Brigade Stationed at Cambridge Mass. — I am positive as to the foregoing, because I was enlisted by said John Booker Jr, as a soldier in said Holman company, and continued in said company during said eight months, until our time expired, and we were discharged in January 1776. — Not long after our discharge, said John Booker Jr went again into the service, and, as I then understood, received a captain's commission — I have no distinct recollection as to where or how often he served afterwards. —
The widow of said John Booker Jr, I have always known. Her maiden name was Betsy or Elizabeth Wildes.
Th s Wheeler
State of New Hampshire Strafford, ss. February 9 th 1837.
Then personally appeared the above named Thomas Wheeler with whom I am acquainted and whose character for truth and veracity is good and subscribed and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit. Before me, John H. White Justice of the Peace.

State of New Hampshire Strafford county f
I Francis Cagnwell Clerk of the Superior Court of Ju- dicature for said County hereby certify that John B. White before whom the within affi- davit purports to have been taken is a justice of the Peace within and for said County of Strafford and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this ninth day of February Anno Domini 1837.
Francis Cagnwell Clerk

July 5 WASHINGTON D.C. 1884
Eliz Bonker No 934
Free
Hon. James L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Pension Office City of Washington

Petersham (Mass.) June 29 1837.
Hon. J. S. Edwards
Sir
I have received the pension certificate of Mrs. Elizabeth Booker, through the hands of Geo: Davis Esq: of Steerbridge, - sent to him probably, by mistake. The envelope enclosing the certificate to Mr. Davis containing the following remarks - "The papers, in the case of Mrs. Elizabeth Booker, widow of John Booker, have also been examined, and her claim admitted for the service, set forth, and which is corroborated by the rolls in this office. His name is found on Capt. Holman's company roll for eight months in 1775, as a Lieutenant. The rolls also show that he was appointed, as Captain 7 th Febry. 1775. Under said appointment four months service as a Captain is allowed, that length of service being proved by witnesses. Four months is allowed from August 1776 for services in Capt. Nathaniel Hamilton's company, as a Lieutenant, and 2 months, as a Lieutenant in Capt. Wing Spooner's company and Col. Stark's regiment from 21 August 1777 - during which time he was at the capture of Burgoyne" -

The annual pension as stated in the certificate is $266.66 and I apprehend there is a mistake in the computation - I understand that the pay of a Lieutenant is 30 dollars by the month or $360 by the year, and that the pay of a Captain is $40 by the month or $480 by the year.
  The foregoing statement gives 14 months service as Lieutenant or \frac{7}{12} of the compensation for the service of one year  } $710.    14 months service as a Captain is \frac{7}{6} of the annual compensation  } 80.  
  Amount of pension allowed  290-     266.66    Error  23.33  
If I am not mistaken in the amount of pay it appears to me there is an error in the computation as stated in the certificate. Can the mistake, if it be one, be corrected? If I am in error I have only to regret that I have needlessly trespassed upon your department. - The certificate is numbered 934 dated May 27, 1837 and recorded in the pension office in Book Vol. 1 Page 45.
I wish to enquire for information respecting the case of a worthy old lady in this town, who, I suppose, is entitled to a pension.

under the third Section of the law of July 4, 1836 - She is 92 years old - passed the stage of second childhood, and incapable of making her declaration personally - Is it competent for her son to make the declaration for his mother under the peculiar circumstances of the case? Instructions, as to this case, from your depart- ment, will confer a special favor upon
Your Humble Serv t
Sarah Weed
is compe-