Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 22819, Peter Colbeth, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Colbeth, Peter
N 22 8/9
Hannah
CONTENTS

N o 11,201 Maine
Peter Colbeth
of Wash o Co. in the State of Maine who was a Priv. Artill. in the company commanded by Captain St. Albee of the Reg't. commanded by Col. Allen in the Mass. Troops time for 1 year Priv. Artiff. $ 50.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 50 Dollars ————— Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 th day of April 1833 and for it to R. K. Porter Machias Me.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 100.00 Semisant. allowance ending 1st. Sep. 1833. 25.00
$125.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832, }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, Book H Vol. 1 Page 7

Maine 3409
Hannah Colbeth
widow of Peter Colbeth, who was a pensioner since June 1832 who died on the 26 th February 1834, of Washington Co. in the State of Maine
who was a Pr. of Artificers in the company commanded by Captain S. Allen of the reg't commanded by Col. Allen in the Mass. line for 1 year
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 50 Dollars ————— Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1834 27. February
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 th day of Sept r 1840, and sent to Peter Thatcher, Machias, Maine
Arrears to the 4 th of March 1841 350.69 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. " 25.00
$375.69
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3. }
Recorded by D. Burrows Clerk, C. 1. Page 3
Let to R.R. Porter Oct 19 1841

State of Maine Washington Co. ss
On this 28 day of August 1832, personally appears in open Court of Probate now held at Machias by Hon. John Dickinson Judge of Probate in & for said County,
Peter Colbath, resident at Machiasport formerly a part of Machias, in said County aged eighty one, who being sworn unadvised to law doth in his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following officers & served as herein stated: he resided at Machias & enlisted in a Company of Artillery commanded by Lieut. William Albee in a regiment or command of Col. John Allen, raised by Massachusetts & afterwards taken into the pay of the United States, & was one of the first who so enlisted, but he does not know recollect the time; he served as a private soldier under said enlistment & stationed at Machias, until near the close of the war of the revolution, when he was discharged at Machias, but he does not recollect the time nor by whom his discharge was signed - nor where his discharge now is; he had previously served under Capt. Izab West (to whom said Peter was Lieut.)  Lieut. Albee as a private by enlistment & joined said Albee's Company immediately after his discharge by said Allen - he thinks his first enlistment under said Albee was in a company commanded by Lieut. West : his service was all at Machias, in which place  where he had before & has ever since resided - and that he served in all one year - to wit six months under his enlistment in said Albee's Company & six months under said West: the only engagement he was in after his enlistment (he had before been engaged as a volunteer in the taking of the British Armed vessel Margaretta & in doing guard duty at sundry times) was in repelling an attack upon the fort & town at Machias by Capt. Drown in an armed brig the name of which he does not recollect.
And he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, & declares that his name is not on any pension roll.
Peter Colbath
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid John Dickinson Judge.
We William Albee of Machias aforesaid & Joseph Libby of Machiasport hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Peter Colbath above named, & are knowing to his having served as a regular soldier of the revolution one year, as he has above declared.
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid John Dickinson Judge
Wm Albee Joseph Libby mark

And the Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that William Albee and Josiah Libbey who have signed the foregoing certificate, are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
John Dickinson Judge of s d Court —
Washington Co.
State of Maine,
I Aaron S. Raymond Register of the Court of Probate within & for the County of Washington do hereby certify the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Peter Colbeth for a pension. —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this thirtieth day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two —
Aaron S. Raymond Register

State of Maine.
Washington
On this eighteenth day of June A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and thirty, personally appeared before the Sub  Subscribers of Probate, not the County of Washington  at Machias Port , within Sub the County of Washington, Hannah Colbeck, a resident of said Machias Port, aged eighty eight 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, entitled "An Act granting half pay to widows or orphans, where their husbands and fathers have died of wounds received in the military service of the United States, in certain cases, and for other purposes."
That she is the widow of Peter Colbeck, who served as a private in the company of Sabez West, during the Revolutionary War for the period of six months, and who also served as a private in the corps of artillery, under the command of Lieut. William Albee, in the Regiment of Col. John Allan raised during the Revolutionary War by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for the defence of Machias and neighbourhood, for a further period of six months, having been one of the first who enlisted in said corps of artillery - His term of service amounting in all to one year - that she cannot recollect certainly when the time of said services commenced or ended, but that she verily believes they were performed at some time during the years 1776 and 1777 - that she is unable to state the precise nature of the services which her late husband performed, nor the engagements, if any, in which he took part - but that he was a pensioner under the Act of Congress of July 7, 1832, and that to the papers supporting his claim as a pensioner, which she now believes, now to be in the Pension Office of the War Department of the United States, she refers for more particular information touching her late husband's services as a Revolutionary soldier. The said applicant further says that possibly she may be in error as to the companies in which her said husband served, inasmuch as the militia was frequently on duty at Machias during the Revolutionary War - and it is not improbable that her said husband served in other companies beside those under command of Sabez West and of Lieut. Albee

particularly in one or more of the companies occasionally on duty at Ma- chias, under command of Capt. Stephen Smith, Joseph Severy, Joseph Libby, John Scott.
that if Peter Colbeth did serve in either of these companies, her said husband was the person, who thus served.
She further declares that her maiden name was Hannah Libby, and that she was married to the said Peter Colbeth, at said Machias, by the late Jonathan Longfellow, Esquire, on the twenty ninth day of April, One thousand, Seven hundred and seventy one, but that she has no record of her marriage except a family record, which was made by her husband many years before his death, on a loose piece of paper, with the dates of the births of their children - which paper has since been copied into the family bible of her family, and accompanies this application - that she is unable to find any other record of her marriage in any quarter - that the Town records of Machias furnish no evidence of it as it took place previous to the incorporation of said Town - that she has made diligent enquiry respecting the papers of the late Jonathan Longfellow, Esquire, and has ascertained that no record of any marriages solemnized by him has ever been, or can be, found among said papers - and that she has reason to believe he may never have made any such record, as her marriage took place many years before the passage of the law of Massachusetts, requiring magistrates and others solemnizing marria- ges to keep a record of the same and return it annually to the clerk of the town or plantation in which he may live, the said Act not having been passed till the year 1786 - that she verily believes that she is the only living witness of said marriage - and that her late husband, the aforesaid Peter Colbeth, died on the twenty sixth day of February, One thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty four.
Witness -
Z. C. Tuller.
her
Hannah
Libby Colbeth
marks

On the day and year aforesaid The foregoing declaration was known to me a Subscribed before me, and the person therein referred to known hereto before signing or taking said oath, and to certify that the applicant by reason of bodily infirmity cannot well attend court, etc. etc.
J. C. Fullerton, Judge of Probate

Peter Colbath was Born in Scarborough octobr 12 th 1750
Hannah Colbath was Born octobr 14 th 1752 and was Married april 29 th 1771
Joel Colbath was Born March 6 th 1772
Abner Colbath was Born January 14 th 1774 Dec d
Ralphy Colbath was Born May 24 1776
Abigail Colbath was Born February 7 1779
Sarah Colbath was Born February 6 1782
Abner Colbath was Born March 14 1784
James Colbath was Born December 3 1786
John Colbath was Born November 5 1789 on Thursday
Hannah Colbath was Born December 12 1793 on Thursday

August 5, 1939.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/CG Peter Colbeth W.22819
Mrs. J.H.Slade 17 Edgemere Road, Quincy, Massachusetts.
Dear Madam:
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, W.22819, based upon service in the Revolutionary War of Peter Colbeth.
Peter Colbeth was born October 12, 1750, in Scarborough. The state in which he was born and names of his parents are not shown.
While a resident of Machias, Maine, Peter Colbeth was in the engagement at the taking of the British armed vessel "Margaretta" and assisted in repelling the attack upon the fort and town of Machias. He enlisted subsequently in the year of 1776, or 1777, and served six months as private in Captain Jabez West's Massachusetts company; enlisted immediately after discharge and served six months as private in a company of Artillery commanded by Lieutenant William Albee, Colonel John Allen's Massachusetts regiment, served at various other times in defense of Machias, under Lieutenant John Scott, and Captains Stephen Smith, Joseph Sevey and Joseph Libby.
The soldier was allowed pension on his application executed August 28, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Machiasport, (formerly part of Machias), Washington County, Maine.
He died February 26, 1834, in Machiasport, Maine, at the home of Joseph Warren Cole. No relationship stated.
Peter Colbeth married April 29, 1771, in Machiasport, Maine, Hannah Libbey (also spelled Libby), who was born October 14, 1752. Names of her parents are not shown.
Soldier's widow, Hannah, was allowed pension on her application executed June 18, 1840, while a resident of Machiasport, Maine.

Peter and Hannah Colbeth had the following children:
Joel Colbeth born March 8, 1772 Abner Colbeth " January 14, 1774, died date (?) Polley Colbeth " May 24, 1776 Abigail Colbeth " February 7, 1779 Sarah Colbeth " February 6, 1782 Abner Colbeth " March 14, 1784 James Colbeth " December 3, 1786 John Colbeth " November 5, 1789 Hannah Colbeth " December 12, 1793.
In 1832 Josiah Libby was a resident of Machiasport, Maine, His relationship and that of Captain Joseph Libby to soldier's wife, is not shown.
In 1840, Obed Libbey, cousin of Hannah Colbeth, was aged eighty-three years and a resident of Machiasport, Maine.
It is shown in the papers in this case that the surname was sometimes pronounced Coolbroth.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of Hannah Colbeth, widow of Peter Colbeth, you should address, the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
Hannah Colbeth, widow of Peter Colbeth Certificate #3409 Issued September 5, 1840 Rate $50.00 per annum Commenced February 27, 1834 Act of July 4, 1836 Maine Agency.
Very truly yours
G.H.SWEET Acting Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

Peter Colbeth
Sur W. Alice (2 nd Allen Station on Michus Hill clear of the water Cay Salaz West. man 1 f.
V 37 p 160 5-18
Sint Alice 78
36 h 1895 5 d case south 77
Wid 98 m on
lot 37-60- 4 m 22 h 100 77
 5 m 18 p  4. 22 "  5 lev  10. 15 

Hannah Colbelt M d f Peter Me Ad July 4 1836 Married 1771 died 1834 Allow $50 per am per 1834
E
Peter Thatchers Ex Machias Me

Respectfully referred to the Comm. of Possessions
A. N. P.
Oct. 19, 1840 }
Hannah Collett Mentally act.
Rev. 2 Oct.

Wadsworth Sep. 26. 1840.
Wm. Allin K. Parris,
Dear Sir,
Having assisted Mrs. Hannah Col- both in applying for a pension as the widow of Peter Col- both, her Certificate has been forwarded to us, (Porter & Thrasher) dated Sep. 5. 1840. By it, she is allowed $50. a year, commencing Feb. 27. 1834: but by the order or direction upon the back of the certificate, the first pay- ment is to be made, not till March 4. 1841.
Presuming upon your kindness I take the liberty of begging your assistance to have the arrears paid immediately. The old lady is now near ninety years of age, her descendants poor, & herself without means of support. Her health is de- clining, & unless she be put in a way to receive what is due of her pension, the object of the statute granting it will, as to her, be defeated, I fear, by death. In the mean time, no one can be expected to step for- ward to advance what is necessary for her comfort, except her descendants, & they have not the means.

I have somehow got an impression that payments of pensions in some way pertain to your bureau in the Treasury Department. Hence I am the more disposed to make this application to you. If it is consistent with your rules, to lend the aid which we ask, you will by doing so confer upon me a great favor & do an act of charity to a suffering old lady. The cause will, I trust, be a sufficient apology for my troubling you.
If you cannot yourself assist in the matter, will you do me the favor of laying the request before the proper officer? Whether that may be the Secretary of War, commissioner of Pensions, or some other person, I am ignorant; & only hope that my first impression may be corrected that my request is properly made to yourself.
I am
Dear Sir
With highest respect & truth
Yrs Rufus K. Porter

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 22,819
Hannah Colbeth
Wid. of
Peter Colbeth
Rev. Rev. War
Act July 4 th 1836.
Index: Vol A , Page 151
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1939-Aug 3-Nice to Mrs. J. H. Aladec (many VN Mkt)

1 Machias, Maine, 23 July 1840
Sir,
I have the honor herewith to transmit to you the Declaration of Mrs Hannah Colbeth of Machias-Port, made in order to avail herself of the provisions of the Act of July 4, 1836, "granting half-pay to widows" &c. together with certain documents substantiating her claim to a Pension.
The suspicion which might attach to the only record of her marriage, the paper appended to her Declaration, under other circumstances, is wholly removed by the fact, as appears from the deposition of William A. Palmer, that he copied this record into the family Bible of the late husband of the applicant, about 18 months before the passage of the Act under which she claims — The deposition of Dr. N. D. shows this record to be in the hand-writing of Peter Colbeth, the late husband of the applicant.
The time of the death of said Peter is fixed by the same witnesses & also by Obed Libby.
The reputable cohabitation of said Peter & said Hannah, as man & wife, is established by the testi-

many of Obed Libby & Jacob Longfellow.
The testimony of the latter shows that the person, by whom the applicant says she was married, was a magistrate, & with that of John S. Nelly accounts for the absence of any record of the marriage by this magistrate. The deposition of the latter also explains why the Town records show no evidence of the marriage. The testimony of Stephen D. Nason & Thomas D. Smith, on the files of your office in the case of Mrs. Sally Fitchell, will explain the absence of any such evidence from the church records.
Obed Libby also identifies the husband of the applicant with the Peter Colbeth who served in the Revolutionary War in the vicinity of Machias. — I would observe that the name is commonly pronounced, in this quarter, Coolbroth , & that it may be found so spelled upon the rolls.
Papers on file in your office will show the time of the death of said Peter, as his widow, the applicant, drew the residue of the Pension due him at the time of his death. — I would also take the liberty to refer you to the papers in your office substantiating his claim & to the record of his Pension certificate.

Begging your early attention to Mrs Colbeth's claim, & soliciting a reply as early as is consistent with your conven- ience, I have the honor to remain, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
Peter Thacher
Hon J. G. Edwards.

I, Joseph Warren Cole, of Machiasport, on oath testify & say that I was acquainted with Peter Colbath late a revolutionary pensioner, and am acquainted with Hannah Colbath his widow, now an applicant for a pension - that they were residing in my family at the time of his death, which took place in February, 1834, and I think it was on the twenty sixth day said February, am confident that was the day: that I have seen the paper which is annexed to said Hannah's application for a pension purporting to be an account of birth & of his marriage, and I found the same paper among the papers of said Peter Colbath, I know it to be his own handwriting, because I have seen a good deal of his writing & know the hand. I further testify that I was present when the same was transcribed into the bible.
Joseph W m Cole
State of Maine.
Washington ss: On this sixth day of Feb. A.D. 1840. personally appeared before the undersigned one of the Justices of the peace in said County, Joseph W. Cole above named & gave & subscribed & made oath to, in due form of law, the above deposition: And I certify that the said Cole is a credible witness & his deposition entitled to full credit.
Rufus K. Porter, Justice of the peace.

No 5138

State of Maine County of Washington ss
I Aaron L. Raymond Clerk of all the Judicial Courts of said County certify that John C. Tabbet named in the certificate of the annexed application was on the eighteenth day of June last & still continues to be Judge of the Probate Court of said County and that the signature to said certificate is his hand writing.
I also certify that Rufus K. Porter was on said eighteenth day of July and still continues to be one of the Justices of the Peace of said County and his signatures to the certificates of oath of the annexed depositions are all his hand writing. I further certify that no record of Marriages solemnized by Jonathan Longfellow or of any of his doings as a Magistrate is found in my Office.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court this twenty second day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty.
Miss
A. L. Raymond Clerk

I, William A. Palmer of Machias, on oath testify & say, that in the winter of 1833-4 I was keeping school in Machias, part in the district in which Peter Colbeth a revolutionary pensioner was living, and since Peter being sick I frequently watched with him: that some time in January 1834, as near as I can recollect, I was requested by him or some of his family I do not recollect which, to transcribe into their family bible a paper purporting to be a family record, & did so transcribe it: that I have now before me the same bible & have compared my recording with the paper which Mrs. Hannah Colbeth has annexed to her application for a pension, and find that they agree, except that in the bible it reads thus, "Peter Colbeth was born in Franklin October twelfth seventeen hundred fifty-
"Hannah Libby born October fourteenth seventeen hundred fifty two."
"Peter Colbeth married Hannah Libby Apr. twenty ninth seventeen hundred sixty one;" the numbers of years being expressed in figures instead of being written out at length as in this deposition: That as near as I can recollect said Peter died the latter part of February or first of March 1834: That I have no doubt the paper aforesaid attached to Mrs. Colbeth's application is the same that I was requested to transcribe as above stated.
Wm A Palmer

State of Maine. County of Washington ss: On this 21 day of July, 1840. personally appeared before the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace within the said County, William H. Palmer Esq. within named & gave subscriber & made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition. And I certify that the said Palmer is a credible person & his deposition aforesaid entitled to full credit & belief.
Rufus K. Porter, J. P.

I, Jacob Longfellow, on oath testify and say that I came to Machias to live in the year 1779, when I was thirteen years of age: That I was at Machias when only eight years of age and spent eight or nine months with my grandfather, Jonathan Longfellow Esq. who was then an acting Magistrate in this town: That soon after I came here to live I got acquainted with Peter Colbath and have been at his house & seen his wife, now his widow & an applicant for a pension: That when I first knew him & her, they were considered legally married, and I never heard an intimation to the contrary from that day to the present: That I have in my possession a book of my said grandfather's in which appears his record of about half a dozen or a dozen cases tried by him as a justice of the peace, - which book appears to have made use of by my father as an account book & in that way filed: That there is no record in that book of any marriage solemnized by my grandfather, and I have never to my recollection seen any such record of marriage by him: That my uncle David Longfellow commenced administration of his estate which was completed by John Kelly, now deceased, who married the widow of the said David & lived in the same house which my grandfather occupied in his lifetime & said David afterwards, & which since the decease of said Kelly has been occupied by John S. Kelly: And that if any such record is not found in said John S. Kelly's house, I only believe it must have been lost or destroyed as of no value.
Jacob Longfellow

State of Maine.
Washington ss. On this thirteenth day of June, 1840, appeared before the subscriber, one of the Justices of the peace within & for the County of Washington, Jacob Langfellow Esq. within named and on oath gave & subscribed the foregoing deposition. And I certify that the said Jacob Langfellow is a credible Witness & his deposition is entitled to full credit.
Rufus K. Porter, J. P.

4 I, Obed Libby, of Machiasport in the County of Washington, on oath testify & say that I am eighty three years of age, that I came to Machias to live when I was six years old; that Hannah Gobbeth now an applicant for pension is a cousin of mine & came to Machias to live about the same time I did; that I was well acquainted with Peter Gobbeth her late husband, and recollect when they were first reported to be married, which was before the revolutionary war; I recollect that immediately after they were said to be married lived together and from that time to the time of his death they were in respectable standing & known as husband & wife;
That I knew said Peter Gobbeth to be a soldier in the Company commanded by Lieut. Allen in the war of the revolution; whether he served under any other Commander I do not know, but if there was no other Peter Gobbeth in the vicinity of Machias in the war of the revolution, and if that name is found upon the rolls of any company in the service of the United States in the war of the revolution at Machias, he must have been the person: That said Hannah has not married again since the death of said Peter which took place about five years ago: That I was not present at the marriage of said Peter & Hannah, but always understood, by hearsay, that Elysee Longfellow married them. Obed Libby
State of Maine County of Washington ss: On this eighteenth day of June, 1840, personally appeared before the subscriber, one of the Justices of the peace in & for said County, Obed Libby above-named, & gave subscription & made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition. And I hereby certify that the said Obed Libby is a credible witness, & his deposition entitled to full credit & belief.
Rufus H. Porter, Just. of the peace.

I, John S. Kelley, on oath testify & say, that I am Town Clerk of the Town of Machias, and have carefully examined the records of marriages of said Town, and find that no marriages of a date earlier than November 15, 1772, are found upon said records; and no marriages solemnized by Jonathan Longfellow Esq. who was the first Justice of the peace commissioned at Machias, & the only one of the name of Longfellow until within twenty years last past, and who is reported to have solemnized many marriages, are found recorded in the records of said Town. And I further testify & say, that when I was about six years old my Father was married to the widow of David Longfellow, son of said Jonathan, & went to live in her house which was the residence of said Jonathan in his lifetime; and it impressed upon my mind, that my Father settled the estate of said David & completed the settlement of the Estate of said Jonathan, and that there were papers belonging to one or both Estates in the house when I was a boy, but what became of them I do not know. My belief is that all the books & papers of said Jonathan have been destroyed or of no value. My Father & Step Mother have both been dead one more than thirty, the other near thirty years.
John S. Kelley
State of Maine Washington ss: On this 23 day of June, 1840, appeared John S. Kelley above named & on oath gave & subscribed the foregoing deposition, before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace within & for said County. And I certify that the said Kelley is a credible witness, & his deposition entitled to full credit. Rufus L. Porter, J. P.

Peter Colbeth 5770. applications for Pension-
(Admitted)
1 year
Private of Artillery $60. -
R. H. Porter Esq Machias Maine

June 21/39
Pension Department Veterans Administration Washington D. C.
Dear Sir:
Have you on file any record of Peter Coolbrook of Mechias Me.
Will you please send me any information you have.
also has capt. Samuel Field born 1719 - died 1789 - (a soldier in 1756) any Revolutionary record Northfield or Deerfield.
Any information will be much appreciated.
1832 1815
Mary V. H. Slade
Mrs. J. H. Slade.
17 Edgemere Rd. Lunney Mass.

August 3, 1939.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mrs. J.H. Slade 17 Edgemere Road Quincy, Massachusetts.
BA-J/CC Peter Colbeth W.22819
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Peter Coolbroth of Machias, Maine, also to know whether or not Captain Samuel Field of Maine (1719-1789) who served in 1756, rendered any service in the Revolutionary War.
There is no claim for pension on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of the Samuel Field cited above, nor for service of a Peter Coolbroth, exact spelling. The record has been found of one Peter Colbeth of Machias, Maine which may be of interest to you. That record is furnished you herewith.
This office has no record of service rendered in the colonies prior to the Revolutionary War, hence no record of service of said Samuel Field in 1756.
It is suggested that information in regard to the military service of Samuel Field might be obtained from The Adjutant General, War Department, this city.
Very truly yours
G.H. SWEET Acting Executive Assistant to the Administrator.