Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17608, Josiah Chamberlain, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Chamberlain, Josiah Mary
W. 17608
CONTENTS

Windsor Vermont 1876
Mary Chamberlain widow of Josiah Chamberlain
who died on the 18th April 1879 of Windsor in the State of Vt
who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Parsons of the Regt. commanded by Col. Tupper in the Mass line for 6 months Mass
Inscribed on the Roll of Windsor Vt at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents, per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of March 1838 and sent to Phillips Marlton Vt
Arrears to the 4th of Mar '38 - $140.00 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept. - 10.00
$150.00
Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3.
Recorded by W. Addison Clerk. Book A Vol. 2 Page 33

V 34 Mary Chamblain by Small On fideiuss. certif a Vol 1 p 134 Col Tupper's Rep $40
Allow 6 mo $20 per ann. cons. 4 March 1831—

State of Vermont } On this Tenth day of November Marlboro probate } per AD 1837 Personally (District Ct) } appeared before the Probate court for the District of Marlboro upon her it being a court of record Mary Chamberlain of the Town of Marlboro County of Windham and State of Vermont aged Eighty Three years who being 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 the fourth AD 1836 and the act explanatory of said act passed March 3 d 1837 that she was married to Josiah Cham- berlain then of Peterham in the state of Massachu- setts who afterwards I think in the year 1781 or 1782 he enlisted in to Revolutionary Service of the United States for three years he then lived in New Marlboro Massachusetts I think he enlisted into Captain Parsons Company who then lived in Brook- field (Mass) into Colonel Dufresne's regiment and served in said Revolutionary war until he was regularly discharged I think he was in the service about two years I think he enlisted in the spring of the year and returned home in the latter part of the winter I had three children by him when he enlisted, he was stationed for the most part of the time at West Point he went from there to Washington with three regiments while he was stationed at said west point he came home once on a furlough
when he was at West point he had been gone more than a year when he came home on a furl- ough he had a regular discharge when he returned from the service I have frequently seen it but do not know where it is now he served as a private during said time I do not recollect the General he served under I was married to the said Josiah Chamberlain in the Town of Peterham Mass and

said West Point he came home once on a furlough
when he was at West Point he had been gone more than a year when he came home on a furlough he had a regular discharge when he returned from the service I have frequently seen it but do not know where it is now he served as a private during said time I do not recollect the General he served under I was married to the said Josiah Chamberlain in the Town of Newton Mass. and lived in said Newton at least one year when we moved to Marlborough Mass. where we lived when he enlisted after my husband returned from the war we lived in a number of different places, in 1804 we moved into the Town of Marlboro Vermont where I have lived ever since and that I have no documentary evidence in support of my claim but refers to the records of Massachusetts which are at Washington as I have been informed
I further claim that I was married to the said Josiah Chamberlain on the 19 day of June AD 1777 that my husband the aforesaid Josiah Chamberlain died at said Marlboro April the 18 AD 1819 and that I have remained a Widow ever since and was a Widow on the 11 day of July AD 1836 and still remain a Widow as will become fully apparent by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Mary Chamberlain
Sworn to and subscribed on the the day and year above written
Before me
Asa Wright
Judge of Probate

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Probate Court this tenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven.
Walter Clark Register

I Ebenezer Cheney of Newton in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do testify and say that Josiah Chamberlain late of Marlborough in the County of Windham, State of Vermont at the time of the revolutionary war resided in the town of New Marlborough, County of Berkshire and Commonwealth aforesaid, and while resident in said New Marlborough he enlisted as a common soldier into the Army of the Revolution for three years being the last three years for which enlistments were made - I believe he served for two years or more and until he was regularly discharged - I have been acquainted with said Chamberlain from the time he commenced his apprenticeship in the town of Newton, where I resided, at the trade of a Carpenter and have always understood and believed that he faithfully discharged his duty as a soldier according to the terms of his enlistment till he was regularly discharged - I further testify that said Chamberlain was married to my sister Mary Cheney then of Newton in the year 1777 - I was present at the wedding, and that said Mary Cheney, my sister, is the present Mary Chamberlain of Marlborough in the County of Windham and State of Vermont aforesaid, and that she is now the Widow of said Josiah Chamberlain, and that they lived together till the decease of the said Josiah Chamberlain Ebenezer Cheney
Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Middlesex ss. November 24. 1837 Then the above named Ebenezer Cheney personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed before me
Amos Allen Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By His Excellency EDWARD EVERETT , Governor and Commander in Chief in and over said Commonwealth.
To all whom it may concern:
Know Ye, That Amos Allen of Newton is a Justice of the peace and of the quorum for the County of Mid- delsex
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commission- ed, and that to his Acts and Attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court; that the within Attestation is in due form, and by the proper Officer.
In Testimony Whereof, I have caused the Public Seal of the Commonwealth to be hereunto affixed, this twenty fourth day of November A. D. 1837, and in the Sixty Second Year of the Independence of the United States of America.
By His Excellency the Governor.
John D. Sleeper Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Edward Everett

This may certify that I have examined a List of Marriages solemnized by Rev. Jonas Merriam found among the Records of the Town of Newton & among others I find the following, "1777. June 19 th Josiah Chamberlin of Peterham to Mary Cheney of Newton."
The above quotation is a correct Copy of Newton Records, hereby certified by the Subscriber Elyah F. Woodward Town Clerk
Newton 4 th August 1837.
Middlesex ss 3. Newton 7 th Aug. 1837. 3.
Then personally appeared the above named Elyah F. Woodward & made Oath that the above Certificate by him subscribed is true.
Before me Eben Cheney Justice of the Peace.

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 17608
Mary Chamberlain Widow of Jariah Chamberlain Pr. Rev. War
Date: July 4 th 86
Index: Vol. 24 , Page 131
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Sir, If the records, or Muster-rolls of the last three years men of the Mass. line in the Revolutionary war that was raised in S. D. State, are with you; There is but little or no doubt of the said Josiah Chamberlain's name being found among them I think probable there may be some mistake in naming the officers names under whom the S. D. Chamberlain served, and perhaps in the length of time that he served in the war of the revolution but it will be found to be not less than 18 or 20 months. — Your mod. ob. Ser. J. P.

May Chamberlain of Smith Vt.
Le M. Phillips July 19 1838

State of Vermont Marlborough Feb. 10 th 1838 Windham County)
Kind Sir
About two months ago I put a letter into the post office at Williamsville, in New Hampshire, Windham County, which enclosed the wid. Mary Chamberlain declaration with other accompanying evidence, relating to Josiah Chamberlain, her late husband, late of Marlborough, deceased being a soldier in the revolutionary army at West Point, and it was thought by good judges of law, that the evidence which was sent to Washington was sufficient to establish her claim to a small pension, but if the evidence is not sufficient, we think his name will be found on the muster-rolls of the last enlistment of the three years men in the Mass.
Sir The chief objects of writing to you are these. There is some doubt whether you have ever received said papers, and if you have not received them, we earnestly request that you would notify us as soon as may be convenient, and we have thought that thro' a multiplicity of business you might forget, or over look the old Ladies concerns until the last, But we would urge it upon your consideration to let us know in the course of this month what to depend on, for the Old Lady is very old and distressed, and will not be with us but a short time, and she is very anxious to know what will be done with her claim —
In times past there has been returns from Washington in eleven days from the time the letters were put into the post office — Sir you are requested to correspond with John Phillips of Marlborough (the signer of this) in Windham County & State of Vermont and to be left at the Post office at Williams, New Hampshire, county aforesaid.
Sir, with great respect I remain yours &c
John Phillips
Hon. James L. Everett Commissioner of pensions

Marlboro 8 th Feb y 1838 V. L.
Sir
yours has been rec d , we beg your patience while we make a few remarks, we are informed that the widow Chamberlains papers have been examined, and from the records in your office it is conclusively established that Mr. Chamberlain was neither a three years man nor during the war we should have been much pleased if you had informed us what corps he did belong to, for the widow is positive that he left her in the spring, and the winter following he came home on a furlough & and then returned to his duty, and she saw no more of him until just as winter was setting in, next fall and then he came home with a discharge from an officer of the army, said discharge has been lost and cannot be found, she is confident he her husband was in the army 18 months or more, It appears that on the final settlement Mr. Chamberlain rec d forty Dollars which was his wages for six months, and why it should be supposed that he had not rec d wages before that time, we do not know, Sir if it could be the case to review, or trace back the records in your office and find the time that the S d Chamberlain enlisted or entered into the service of the U.S.A. it is confidently believed you would find 18 months or more between the time of his enlistment and discharge There is all most a mystery remains to be remarked on you have it in evidence that Mr. Chamberlain did enlist in the three year service, and the record in your office informs that he was neither a 3 years man nor during the war man and how can your records & Esqr. Cheneys, and the widows testimonies be reconciled for they both have testified that Mr. Chamberlain enlisted for 3 years — In the first place, you have it in testimony, that said Chamberlain by occupation was a carpenter, and that he insted of doing military duty he worked at his trade, and when the regt. that he was first in was ordered to move off, the S d Chamberlain continued at work building barracks, and so was transferred to another Regt. and at last he was placed in a Regt. that was not for three years, and this is the reason of his not being found among the 3 years men

I think you have the substance of what is last written in evidence, We do not know the rules of your office, but you know in some cases congress do suspend the rules of the house and if you have any rules against reviewing the records in your office we hope they will be suspended and find how Mr. Chamberlain came to be in that Department which was not for 3 years
The widow cannot direct at present to have a pension certificate issued for only 6 months services of her husband in the revolutionary war because she recollects that she was left with 3 little children all of 18 months but she had rather have what you have proposed than not to have any thing
To Hon: J. L. Edwards Washington City (D. C.)
I am Respectfully Yours &c John Phillips
N.B. Sir since writing the above I have conversed with the widow Chamberlain she directs to have her pension certificate forwarded on as soon as may be, but she wishes you to let her have all the law will admit of, and please to send word whether she can get her money by sending to Windsor V.T. before next Sept. Spec but not to hurry the business, so as to exclude your reviewing the evidence in her case
Do the widows Justice, we ask no more

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By His Excellency EDWARD EVERETT, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over said Commonwealth.
To all whom it may concern:
Edward Everett
Know Ye, That Ebenezer Cheney Esq. is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex,
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commission- ed, and that to his Acts and Attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in out of Court; that the within Attestation is in due form, and by the proper Officer.
In Testimony Whereof, I have caused the Public Seal of the Commonwealth to be hereunto affixed, this Seventh day of August A. D. 1837, and in the Sixty Second Year of the Independence of the United States of America.
By His Excellency the Governor.
John P. Bigelow Secretary of the Commonwealth.

I John Phillips of Marlborough in the County of Windham and state of Vermont being seventy five years of age, do testify and say That in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hun- dred and four I became acquainted with Josiah Chamber- lain, and agreed with him to set me up a frame for a house, and he did the work, and the year following he moved in to this vicinity, (with his wife Mary, who is now claiming a pension for the services of her husband, when in the revolutionary war) and lived a bout Eighty rods from me, and continued there to live during his life, and as we had both been in the revolutionary war we frequently talked a bout it, I recollect, that he told me, he insisted for three years it being towards or near the close of the war, at the time he insisted he was living at New Marlborough (Mass) when he insisted he believe he told me he went to Springfield (Mass) to pass muster, and join a company or regiment and from there, he marched to West-point, where he spent the chief of his time while in the army but the army were at length disbanded, tho the last three years men were not discharged at that time, but those that were discharged went to congress, (who were in session I believe at Philadelphia) and demand- ed their pay for their services, while in the army and they were so fierce, and so determined, to have their pay that it was thought that Congress was in dan- ger, and ought to be protected by those troops, that were not discharged, and he told me, that he, the said Chamberlain that with others I should think a number of Regiments marched for to defend or protect Congress, and they arrived where congress was sitting and those insur- rectioners were still there, and after the troops had arrived Gen. Washington came out and delivered an address to those that were demanding their pay, and told them, that we had been engaged in a long and bloody war, and had gained that, for which we had been fighting, and that the country were so involved that they could not have their pay at present, but advised all those soldiers that had been discharged, to return to their several homes in peace, and to wait with patience, until the country was able, and then every one should have their pay, but they could not be paid at present.
then over

And the said Chamberlain, told me that those soldiers that Washington addressed & adhered to his advice and retired without further trouble, and he returned back to West Point, and continued there until he was discharged by proper authority, but the time he continued in the army I cannot exactly recollect, but I do recollect that it was not less than eighteen months nor over twenty-four that he told me. I would further state that after congress had passed a law granting to the indigent revolutionary soldiers a pension, that the said Chamberlain said he would see how those made out, that were engaged about 2 d pension and after it was known that they were like to obtain a pension, then the old gentleman began to look for evidences to prove his claim, and he told me there was one Andrew Grimes living about 4 miles from us that was with him at West Point, and I called on Mr. Grimes, and he told me "was with him at West Point, and would testify before any authority that the said Chamberlain was a soldier at West Point in the three years service and he was satisfied that he would get a pension. --- Mr. Chamberlain told me that he wanted to go and see his capt his captain which was about 80 miles travel; the capt. name I do not recollect Parsons But I have thought it was Parsons in Col. Phippers Regiment but certain, But in the month of March 1819 I think, Mr. Chamberlain left home I was told he was in pursuit of evidence to support his claim to a pension, and at that time there was an unusual hard frost on the road and as he was returning home, he had to descend a very long steep hill to get to his house, for his house stood in a valley, and he took a cross road where there was but little or no path, and as he began to descend the hill, and he began to slide and he continued to slide 40 or 50 rods and was taken up and carried into a house and went and saw him, soon after and then he was taken and carried to his own house, and he lived after being hurt I should think about twenty days, and then expired, and his wife Mary tended upon him thro' his sickness, and was a real mourner for the loss of her husband and is the same Mary that moved into this vicinity with him between thirty and forty years ago, and has remained since the death of her husband in this vicinity a poor disolate disconsolate widow, and now sir, her case is submitted to your wise consideration, hoping and believing that she will have a favourable return from you for it is beyond a doubt that he (Chamberlain) did the service as above stated, at least 18 months and that they were legally married and that she (the applicant) is the same Mary that was married in the year 1799 to said Chamberlain
John Phillips Please to direct your return to John Phillips of Marlborough in S d Windham County and to be left at the post office at Williamsville, Windham County, Vermont.
* said Grimes did not know his age

State of Vermont Windham County
Newfane Nov 20 1837
Personally appeared John Phillips and made solemn oath to the foregoing disposition by him subscribed to contain the truth whole truth and nothing but the truth Before me Wm L Williams
Justice of the Peace
This may certify that I have been acquainted with Dea John Phillips about 5 or 6 years and consider him a man of truth and veracity and of good moral character Newfane Nov 20 1837
Wm L Williams
Justice of the Peace
STATE OF VERMONT.
WINDHAM COUNTY COURT, CLERK'S OFFICE.
NEWFANE, November 21 A. D 1837.
I Marshall Miller Clerk of the County Court, for the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that William L Williams is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and that his signature above writ- ten are genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County Court, the day and year above written.
Attest Marshall Miller, Clerk

State of Vermont Windham County
Newfane Nov 20 1837
Personally appeared John Phillips and made solemn oath to the foregoing deposition by him subscribed to contain the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth Before me
William L. Williams
Justice of the Peace
This may certify that I have been acquainted with Dea John Phillips about 5 or 6 years and consider him a man of truth and veracity and of good moral character Newfane Nov 20 1837
William L. Williams
Justice of the Peace
STATE OF VERMONT.
WINDHAM COUNTY COURT, CLERK'S OFFICE.
NEWFANE, November 21 - A. D 1837.
I Marshall Miller Clerk of the County Court, for the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that William L. Williams is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and that his signature above writ- ten are genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County Court, the day and year above written.
Attest Marshall Miller, Clerk