Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 25397, John Caswell, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
nc
Mass.
Baswell, John Barnah
W. 25397
CONTENTS

4-153
Connecticut Roll.
John Caswell
Private - 4th Massachusetts Line
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 24 th of March 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 th of Novem r 1818 and sent to Calvin Goddard Esq r . Judge Chelsea } Norwich. Landings }
Arrears to 4th of Septem r 1818. 5 th  \frac{8 \frac{1}{4}}{31 \frac{3}{4}} - 43:12
Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 th March 1819 48: -
$ 81:12
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
.81 Three years continued on the roll under the Law of the 19 th May 1820 Norwich -
Notes: action sent to the Pensioner 5 July 1820.
Pensioner
Norwich

John Cassell March 4th 1845
St. Louis
Correct
Washington
Hon: Secretary of the Navy

To Calvin Fairchild Esq. one of the Judges of the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut.
The petition of John Canoece of Norwich in the County of New London State aforesaid, respecteth
That he resided in the Town & State aforesaid, that he served more than nine months in the war of the revolution upon the continental establishment as a private that he is by reason of his reduced circumstances in need of assistance from his country for support - that he never has received or been allowed any pension by the laws of the United States or any individ- ual State & hereby relinquishes all claim to any such except by virtue of the act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval services the United States in the revolutionary war" & to a pen- sion under which he is desirous of substantiating his claim & prays that the same may be done according to the provisions of said act.
Dated at Norwich this 24 th day of March A.D. 1818.
John Canoece
State of Connecticut
New London
mark
Be it remembered that on this twenty fourth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred eighteen before me Calvin Fairchild one of the Judges of the Superior Court in the State of Connecticut personally came John Canoece of Norwich in the County of New London State aforesaid & made oath to the truth of the following Declaration
1818

That he enlisted into the service of the United States in the Month of April D r 1781 for the term of three years upon the continental establishment in the war of the revolution & served during the whole of that time until the Month of January D r 1784 when he was honorably discharged therefrom That he belonged a company commanded by Capt. Jedediah Hing in the 7 th Regiment in the Massachusetts line That he has never received any pension under any law of the United States & that he is by reason of his reduced circumstances in life in need of assistance for his bodily for his support
John his X barrell mark Sworn before Calvin Goodard a Judge of Sup. Ct
To the Hon ble the Secretary for the Department of War.
It appearing to my satisfaction that the Applicant aforesaid served in the war of the revolution against the common enemy upon the continental establishment more than nine months I hereby certify the same to the end that he may obtain a pension according to the provisions of the Act of Congress above referred to In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day & year aforesaid
Calvin Goodard a Judge of the Superior Court

Thereby certify that a letter of ancient date from his Excellency Govr. Brooks of Massachusetts which I have no doubt of being genuine stating the intrestment of the foregoing applicant for the years Salem Judged Judge
[Faint, mirrored handwriting, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page]

John, Carew Norwich Conn.
N o 4153
5 Nov r 1818
(Signature)
Continue
to himself
5 July
Norwich, Conn.

District of Connecticut ss: City Court within & for the City of Norwich in New London County June Term D. 1820.
On this twelfth day of June D. 1820. Personally appeared, in open court, being a court of record for the said City of Norwi- ch, proceeding according to the course of the common Law, with a Jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount & keeping a Record of its proceedings.
John Casswell aged Fifty four years. resident in said City, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, declares that he served in the Revolution- ary war as follows, viz. from April 1781. to January 1784. in the Regiment comman- da by Col. John Brooks and in the company commanded by Capt. Zebadiah King in the line of Massachusetts in the continental troops all according to his original declaration made on the 24 th day of March D. 1818. and on which he has received a Pension as by his Pension certificate number 4153.
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 to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provision of an act of congress entitled, "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States"

in the Revolution any war." proposed on the 18 th day of March 1818. & that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts. Now to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, & by me subscribed: viz,
Schedule of real & personal property belonging to John Caswell of the City of Norwich in the County of New London & State of Connecticut on the 12 th day of June A.D. 1820.
A life estate in a house & fifty acres of land the whole estate being valued at $120.
His life estate therein @ $25. one cow $15. 2 pigs $4. 1 wooden wheel clock & case $4.50. 3 old tables $2. 12 old chairs $3. 1 canastado $4. one case & drawers $1.50. 1 old desk $1. 1 three pail kettle $2. 2 dish kettles 50 cts. 1 pan kettle 25 cts. 1 boiler pan & cover 50 cts. 1 pail pot 25 cts. 1 tea kettle 25 cts. one iron bacon 25 cts. 1 skillet 25 cts. 2 pr Andirons 50 cts. 1 pr sad irons 50 cts. 1 fire shovel & tongs 50 cts. 1 pr bellows 12 1/2 cts. 1 pr steel yard 12 1/2 cts. 1 Looking Glass $1.25. 1 small do 25 cts. 1 tea pot 12 1/2 cts. 8 cups & saucers 20 cts. 14 cream col d plates 42 cts. 4 oval dishes 40 cts. 1 sugar dish 12 1/2 cents. 1 cream pot 12 1/2 cts. 1 tea canister 8 cts. 14 knives & 10 forks 34 cts. 8 iron spoons 34 cts. 1 water pail 12 1/2 cts. 1 milk pail 25 cts. 1 swill do 12 1/2 cts. 1 churn 25 cts. 8 milk pans $1. 1 chopping knife 12 1/2 cts. 1 skimming bats 1 coffee mill $1. 1 griddle 25 cts. 4 stone pots 67 cts. 1 tin oven 75 cts. 2 stone jugs 34 cts. 1 vinegar cruet bats 1 salt bats. 1 coffee pot 17 cts. one wash board 25 cts. 1 stone pitcher 17 cts. 1 pint mug bats. 2 wash tubs 25 cents.

3 meat barrels 75 cts. 6 dry barrels 12 cts. 1 great wheel 80. 1 case 34 cts. 1 hoe 34 cts. 1 wooden bowl 25 cts. total amount $79.01 1/4
That his business has heretofore been that of a day labourer at farming but that he was wounded in the hip in the Revolutionary War, & in consequence thereof has become so lame as to be totally unable to labor & has not done a days work for more than seven years past, is in no way of earning any thing for his support but is wholly dependent therefor on his Pension & charity with the assistance of his wife Hannah now aged Fifty two years who enjoys good health & is as industrious as any other woman.
This John X Casswell. mark
Sworn to and declared this 12 th day of June AD 1820 in open Court before the Judges thereof Attest James Hledman Clerk
James Hledman Clerk of the City Court in and for the City of Norwich in the County of Middlesex do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the Record 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 said schedule is Seventy nine Dollars and one & a half cents.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said City this 27 th day of June AD 1820 James Hledman Clerk of the City Court in & for the City of Norwich.

Declaration. In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, of the 7 th July 1838. entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows".
State of Connecticut } ss. Probate Office District of Norwich County of New London }
On this 4 th day of August A. D. 1838. personally appeared before the Court of Probate for the District of Norwich in the state of Connecticut, Hannah Gaswell a resident of Norwich in New London county & state aforesaid aged sixty nine 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 7 th 1838. entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows". That she is the widow of John Gaswell late of said Norwich deceased, who was a private soldier in the army of the Revolution in the continental line, and is inscribed on the pension list, roll of the Connecticut agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, in conformity with the act of Congress of the 18 th of March 1818. she is unable to specify the service performed by her husband in the war, as it was done before she was acquainted with him, she would therefore refer to the declaration that he made of the same, at the time he obtained his pension, now on file in the war Department at Washington.
She further declares that she was married to the said John Gaswell on the sixteenth day of December in the year seventeen hundred and ninety-three, that her husband, the aforesaid John Gaswell died on the twenty sixth day of August eighteen hundred twenty eight, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four; viz, at the time above stated.
In presence of
Hannah her X Gaswell mark
Ebenezer Brainerd
Sworn to and subscribed on the 10 th day of August A. D. 1838.
Before me John Hoyle
Judge of the court of Probate for the District of Norwich in the state of Connecticut

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the applicant Hannah Coswell is the widow of the said John Coswell late of Norwich deceased who was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States, and that they the aforesaid John & Hannah were married at the time that she has stated in her declaration that they were, and that the said John died at the time therein stated and that she has not intermarried but has continued a widow from the death of the said John to this time
Attest John Flyde Judge of said Court
I William E. Tracy Clerk of the court of Probate for the District of Norwich in the state of Connecticut, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Hannah Coswell for a pension, and I do further certify that John Flyde is the Judge of this court and the signatures hereto annexed of his, as such, are genuine signatures and made by him in his own proper hand writing, and that the said John Flyde, before whom the depositions hereto annexed were taken of Nehemiah Waterman, Eber Barkus, Roger Huntington & Joseph W. Tracy, is a Justice of the Peace for the county of New London, and that the signatures hereto annexed to the certificates of their several oaths are genuine
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of office of this court this tenth day of August Anno Domini 1838.
William E. Tracy Clerk

December sixteenth, seventeen hundred ninety three I then married John Gaswell of Norwich to Hannah Wheat of Norwich
Neh. Waterman Jr. Just. of Peace.
I Nehemiah Waterman of Boxah in the county of New London & state of Connecticut do hereby certify, that the foregoing is a true copy of Record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair, legible figures, as follows; "Dec r 16 th 1793."
Nehemiah Waterman
I Nehemiah Waterman above named, aged seventy one years, depose and say: that I am son of Nehemiah Waterman Esquire late of Boxah deceased, who was at the time of the date of the above record, Nehemiah Waterman Jun. my grandfather Nehemiah Waterman being then living, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Nehemiah Waterman Jun. with the exception above named, as certified by me.
and he further deposes and says that his father the afore- said Nehemiah Waterman died in the year eighteen hundred and three and ever since his death, the record book from which the foregoing extract is taken has been in the possession of the deponent, that the deponent is one of the Executors of the last will & testament of his said father, and further the deponent says that the said Hannah Wheat lived in the family of his said father at the time she was married & had lived there for seven or eight years before, and continued to live there for six or seven months after she was married and the deponent further says that he knew the time that they were to be married, and expected to be at the wedding but was called from home, and did not arrive until the ceremony was performed, but did arrive soon after while the guests were present, and the deponent cannot now recollect, an individual, that was at the wedding that is living, he further says, that he was also well acquainted with the said John Gaswell, & was knowing of his death, & that he was a pensioner of the United States and that his widow the aforesaid Hannah Gaswell has not married again since the death of the said John Gaswell but has continued to be a widow to

this time, and has lived in the family of Eber Backus Esquire of Norwich where she now lives, and further the deponent saith not.
Nehemiah Waterman
New London County ss. On this seventh day of August A.D. 1838, personally appeared, Nehemiah Waterman Esq., well known to me, & I certify that he is a witness of credibility, and swore to & signed the foregoing deposition Before me John H. Hyde Justice of the Peace
Eber Backus of Norwich in the county of New London & state of Connecticut having been sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, depose & say that he was well acquainted with John Caswell of said Norwich, that he the said Caswell came to this town soon after the close of the Revolutionary War from the state of Massachusetts from that time the deponent was well acquainted with him until his death which happened on the 26 th day of August 1828. and he also has been acquainted with the widow of said John for many years before her marriage to the said John Caswell that he has a perfect recollection of their being married & of their commencing house keeping, and he further says that the said Hannah Caswell has not been married since the death of the said John Caswell, but has continued to be his widow until this time, that she the said Hannah kept up a family for about one year after the death of her husband the said John Caswell, when she broke up house keeping and resided in the family with the deponent where she has resided ever since, and further the deponent was well knowing that the said John Caswell was a pensioner of the United States, and further the deponent saith not, Eber Backus
Sworn to & subscribed this 7 th August 1838.
Before me John H. Hyde Justice of the Peace and I certify that Eber Backus Esq., the aforesaid witness is a witness of credibility Attest John H. Hyde Justice of the Peace

Roger Huntington of Norwich in the county of New London and state of Connecticut aged fifty four years, having been sworn, according to law, doth, on his his oath, testify & say, that he has read the declaration of Mrs. Hannah Caswell of said Norwich, the widow of John Caswell late of said Norwich deceased, who states that the said John & Hannah were married on the 16 th day of December 1793. which he the deponent has no doubt is the fact, for he knew them living together more than forty years ago, as man & wife, & down to the time of the death of the said John Caswell which was on the 26 th day of August 1828. The deponent further states that he was knowing that the said John Caswell was a pensioner of the United States, and that his widow the aforesaid Hannah Caswell, has not been married since the death of the aforesaid John Caswell, but has continued to be his widow until this time, and further the deponent says that soon after the decease of the said John Caswell he the deponent, took Administration of the estate of said John & settled the same, and further the deponent saith not. Roger Huntington August. 9 th 1838.
Personally appeared the Hon. Roger Huntington & made oath to & signed the foregoing deposition & I certify that he is a witness of credibility.
Before me John Hloyde Justice of the Peace
Joseph W. Tracy of Norwich in the county of New London & state of Connecticut aged sixty-five years, having been duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, depose & say that he has a perfect recollection of the courtship and marriage of John Caswell late of said Norwich deceased to Hannah Wheat and has no doubt but that it took place at the time stated in her declaration for a pension to wit, on the 16 th day of December 1793. The said Hannah is a cousin of the deponent, and the deponent remembers when they commenced house keeping and he thinks it must have been six or seven months after they were married, and he knew them to live together as man & wife from the time of their marriage until the death of the said John, & that the said Hannah has remained a widow ever since the death of the said John & is now a widow, and further the deponent saith not. Sworn to & subscribed this 10 th day of August 1838. & I certify the said Joseph W. Tracy is well known to me as a credible witness. Before me John Hyde Justice of the Peace Joseph W. Tracy

256 Hannah Caswell
Erastus Huntington of Norwich in the county of New London & state of Connecticut aged sixty nine years, having been duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, testify & say, that John Caswell late of said Norwich deceased, came to live in a house of his the deponent's father some sometime within a year after he the said John had been married to Hannah Wheat as he understood, that he the said John was a hired man to the deponent's father for many years & laboured on his Father's farm, his said wife Hannah living in a house near by, and after ward after the death of the deponent's Father he the said John continued to labor for the deponent until he became too lame & infirm to labor when he kept a boarding house & boarded the hands of a Factory that the deponent with others were carrying on until his death. The Deponent would further state that the said John was a Revolutionary soldier & was wounded in the war & a musket ball lodged in in his hip and was never extracted but remained there until his death, and at times was very troublesome to him so much that the deponent opened a correspondence with the late Governor of Massachusetts John Brooks under whom it was understood that the said Caswell had served in the war, but at any rate who was acquainted with the said Caswell & knew of his service & of his being wounded, with a view of having him placed on the Invalid Pension List but at about that time the Pension act was passed under which he became a pensioner, & nothing more was done about his invalid pension, & the deponent knew of the said John Caswell & wife the also said Hannah living together from the time they were married until the death of the said John and knows that the said Hannah has not married since his the said John's decease & that she has continued a widow to this time Further the deponent saith not
Erastus Huntington
Sworn & subscribed this 10 th day of August 1833.
& I certify the witness Erastus Huntington Esq. aforesaid is well known by me & is a credible witness. Before me John Hyde Justice of the Peace

2089. Connecticut Hannah Caswell widow of John Caswell who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private .
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of Sept. 1848. and sent to
John W. Houghton Norwich ct
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 274 Vol. 1.

Mch 15 th 1885
J. P. Jackson
(town committee)
with
personal history.
Rep.

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 25397
Heannah Caswell
wid. of
John Caswell
Priv. Rev. war.
Act Feb. 24 184 8.
Index: Vol. A , Page 122
[Arrangement of 1870.]

158 Connecticut
Hannah Caswell widow of John Caswell decd.
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1818 and who died on the 6th Aug. 1828 of New London in the State of Ct. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain King of the Regt. commanded by Col. Brooks, in the U.S. time for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Count. at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836
Certificate of Pension issued the 4th day of Sept. 1838, and said John Hyde Norwich Ct.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1838 $160.00 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept. " 40.00
$200.00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by M. G. Orm Clerk, Book 1/2 Vol. 156 Page 172

1678. Connecticut.
Hannah Caswell widow of John Caswell who was a Private in the M t line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 80 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 st day of August, 1843. and sent to John Hyde Norwich Town Con.
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A Vol. 1. Page 64.
Rep. Augt 31

John Caswell, Com. Act. March 18, 1818 to what time paid?
Pen Office
Sept: 3 rd 1838.
Died 26 th Aug. 1828 p er that period
114

Declaration. In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of the 3 d March, 1843, granting pensions for one year to certain widows who have received pensions under the act of July 7 th , 1838. State of Connecticut, New London County ss.
On this 27 th day of May 1843, personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in & for said county Hannah Coswell a resident of Norwich in said county & state, aged Seventy three years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed on the 3 d March, 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war.
That she is the widow of John Coswell who was a Private in the Revolutionary War & died on the 6 th day of August 1828. & served as is set forth in his Declaration for a pension under the act of March 18 th 1818, that under the act of July 7 th 1838. she the declarant received a pension of the annual amount of Eighty Dollars.
She further declares that she is still a widow.
In presence of Lewis Hyde Lucy Moore Lucy Marshall
Hannah her X Coswell mark
Sworn to & subscribed on the 27 th day of May 1843, before me, & I certify that the declarant is personally known to me
Lewis Hyde Justice of the Peace

State of Connecticut New London County } ss I, John D e Witt Clerk of the County Court in and for said New London County do hereby Certify that Lewis Hyde Esq before whom the within de- claration of Hannah Caswell was sworn Was on said 27 day of May 1843 a Justice of the peace in and for said New London County, and that his signature as written is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County this 7 th day of June AD 1843.
John D e Witt Clerk

Medford, Mass. Oct. 17. 1818.
Sir, In compliance with the request contained in your letter dated the 15 th instant, I enclose a certificate respecting John Caswell's services, such as my records enable me to make, & such as I presume will prove sufficient to substantiate his claim to a pension.
I have never verified a Certificate otherwise than by my signature.
I am respectfully your obed Servt
J. Bradburn
John Hyde Esq.

Medford, Mass. s Oct. r 17. th 1818.
This is to certify that John Caswell was a soldier in the late 4. th Mass. s Reg. t — That he enlisted on the 26. th of April 1781, for three years, & con- tinued in service until s. d Reg. t was disbanded in June 1783. The records of s. d Reg. t state that s. d Caswell was a native of Middleborough in the Co. of Plymouth, & that he enlisted for that Town.
J. Brooks Lt. Col. o Com. dt of s. d reg. t

State of Connecticut } p New London County }
On this 17 th day of June Anno Domini 1848 Personal appearance before John W Houghton a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of New London, Hannah Casswell, a resident of the said town of Norwich in said New London County aged Seventy Seven years who being first duly sworn certainly to Law, doth on her oath, make the following declarations, in order to obtain the benefits of the Provisions made by the act of Congress passed on the 2 nd day of February 1848, granting pensions to Widows of Persons who served, during the Revolution Now that she is the Widow of John Casswell late of the town of Norwich in said County (decd), who was a private in the Continental, and since 6 th August 1828; that she has recd a pension amounts to Eighty Dollars per annum under the acts of July 7 1838 & March 3 1843 June 17 th 1846 and she further declares she is still a Widow
Subscribed L. D. Wyde John W Houghton
her Hannah X Casswell Mark
all evidence and affidavits done before signing
Attest John W Houghton Just Peace

State of Connecticut p New Britain locust
June 14 th 1848 Dorothy Appone Hannah
Conner who signed the within declaration in my presence and made solemn oath that the same is just and true according to her best knowledge and belief
And I do hereby certify that I am acquainted with the said Hannah Conner and do say that her statements are entitled to credit
Before me John H. Houghton Justice of the Peace