Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2,578, Oliver Cummings, Mass.

SERVICE
Miss.
Cummings, Oliver Phoebe
NUMBER _____
R. 2578
CONTENTS

State of Maine County of Oxford. ) S.S.
On the twentieth day of July, One thousand, Eight-hundred and fifty three, personally appeared before me Reuben Chandler, a Justice of the Peace within and for said County and State aforesaid, Hepsibeth Fletcher of Peace, in said County, who being duly sworn according to law, gave the following testimony. She testifies, that she is Eighty seventy seven years of age, and that she was formerly a native and resident of Dunstable, in the County of Middlesex, State of Mass. And that she was a near Neighbor and well acquainted with Oliver Cummings of said Dunstable, and well recollects of his going into the United States Service in the war of the Revolution. Also, she remembers of his going on time from home to serve the United States, the 22 d , day of July, A.D. 1779. And she further believes, that he served a number detached of enlistments, in all, over three years. She further testifies that she, with the said Cummings and family, moved from Dunstable to Sumner, in the State of Maine, and she lived within fifty rods of the said Cummings over twenty years. She further states that the first wife of the said Cummings died, and he married in 1804 Phebe Churchill for his second wife, who still lives, and remains the widow of the said Oliver Cummings. She further testifies, that they were published in Sumner, and went to Hartford Me. for the purpose of being married; And when they returned from said Hartford they separated they were joined in marriage by Squire Hartford Justice of the Peace and no doubt remained in the minds of any of their neighbors

but what they avere legally married, for they lived together as Husband and Wife from March 1804 to July 1823 the year in which the said Cummings died, and they raised a family of Children. And further the deponent saith not.
her Hepsibeth X Fletcher. mark:
State of Maine
County of Oxford, ss. July 20th, 1853. I do hereby Subscribed before me the day and year above written, And I believe the above named Hepsibeth Fletcher to be a person of truth and veracity, and that she is of the age above stated.
Rufus Chandler, Justice of the Peace.

State of Maine, County of Oxford, Town of Sumner.
On the third day of Sept. One thousand, Eight-hundred and fifty three, personally appeared before me Reuben Chandler, a Justice of the Peace, within and for the County and State aforesaid, Oliver Cummings Jr. who being duly sworn according to law, gave the following deposition. The deponent saith he is sixty nine years of age, and that he is the lawful son of Oliver Cummings who deceased in the said Town of Sumner July 2 d , 1823. and has often heard his father say, that when he was young, he enlisted into the service of the United States, in the war of the Revolution, and have heard him tell of many incidents of said war, and that he was in battle; and Col. Benneroff encouraged his soldiers when they were intimidated in seeing the enemy march against them, and also, in one winter, the said Cummings caught the Small Pox which left scars on his face. And the deponent has no doubt but his father served the United States two or more years in said war. He also further testifies that the second wife of the said Oliver Cummings still remains the said Cummings Widow. Oliver Cummings Jr. Oxford J.P. Sept 3 d , 1853.
Personally appeared the above named Oliver Cummings Jr. and subscribed the declaration above made by him.
Before me. Reuben Chandler Justice of the Peace.

State of Maine, County of Oxford, Town of Sumner On the nineteenth day of March, One thou- -sand, Eight hundred & four, at the dwelling house of Arvide Heyford in Hartford, was solemnised the institution of marriage between Oliver Cummings and Phebe Churchill both of Sumner.
By Arvide Heyford. Justice of the Peace.
I certify that the above is a true copy of the records of the marriage of said parties, with the exception of the date which is expressed in the record in fair legible figures as follows, March 19, 1804. On the 19 th day of March, 1804. Reuben Chandler Town Clerk of Sumner I Reuben Chandler above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the town, county, and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy of the records of said town, with the exceptions above named as certified by me.
Reuben Chandler (Clerk of the) Town of Sumner
Oxford County SS. Subscribed and duly sworn to before me this twentysecond day of July, 1853
Elbridge G. Fobes Justice of the Peace

I, Allen Cummings of Dunstable in County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Enquire, one of the Senators of said Commonwealth for said County on oath depose and say, I knew Oliver Cummings late of Sumner in the State of Maine several years before his death. He was my father's brother. My father has been dead thirteen years. I have always understood by reliable and respectable old people in Dunstable, now deceased, and by common report that said Oliver Cummings served as a soldier in the Continental Army sometime during the Revolutionary War, & that he was in the battle of White Plains . From the information so obtained and from my belief in its correctness I have no hesitation in saying that I feel as sure that said Oliver Cummings did serve as a soldier as aforesaid as I do of the truth of any other fact well established by tradition.
September 20 th 1853
Allen Cummings
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss. Lowell September 20 th 1853
Then personally appeared the said Allen Cummings who is personally known to me to be the person described in the foregoing affidavit and subscribed and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit. Before me, who, in witness thereof, hereunto set my hand and official seal.
William A. Richardson. Notary Public

State of Maine County of Oxford
On this nineteenth day of July in the year Eighteen hundred fifty three per- sonally appeared before me Timothy Sudden Judge of Probate in and for the County of Oxford and State aforesaid Phebe Cummings a resident of Sumner in said County of Oxford aged Seventy four years who being sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the act of Congress passed February third eighteen hundred fifty three And your declarant states that she is the widow of Oliver Cum- mings late of Sumner deceased in the State of Maine, who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution and a private under Capt Reuben Butterfield from Dunstable in the State of Mass. enlisted April 19. 1775 and he was also in the Compa- ny of Capt Zadocus Wright as a private of Dunstable in Col Brooks Regiment at White Plains Oct 31. 1776 where he lost his coat blanket and knapsack in that battle And your declarant further states that

Said Oliver was also in the Regiment of Col Ebenezer Bancroft at another time who at the first was a Captain on the Hudson River and subsequently promoted. Col Bancroft was a native of Tyngsborough Mass. And your declarant further states that the said Oliver served at Cherry Valley and at West Point and was in the Army in Newfusey and that he had a regular discharge which your declarant has seen but which cannot now be found. and that his death took place on the second day of July year eighteen hundred twenty three
And said declarant further states that she was married to the said Oliver Cummings on the eighteenth day of March year eighteen hundred four at Hartford Summer in said county of Oxford by Sividia Hayward Esquire a Justice of the peace within and for the county of Oxford then resident at Hartford in said county and that her name before her said marriage was Phebe Churchill
She therefore claims a pension under the act aforesaid and declares that she is still a widow and has never before made application for a pension
Her Phebe & Cummings Marks

Then personally appeared in open court the within named and written Phebe Cummings and made oath to the declaration by her signed on the day and year first above written
Before me Timothy Suddden Judge
State of Maine ss. Elisha Winter Clerk of the Supreme Court of Offord Court of Probate in and for said
County of Offord hereby certify that the above written Timothy Suddden is, and was at the date of the above Judgement of said Court of Probate, that said Court is a court of Record, and that the above signature purporting to be his is his genuine signature.
Witness my hand and the seal of said Supreme Court this second  third day of September 1853 Elisha Winter Clerk

STATE OF MAINE.
OXFORD COUNTY, ss.
Clerk's Office of the Supreme Judicial Court.
I Hereby Certify, That Robinson Parlin Esq
was at the date of the annexed attestation, a Justice of the Peace , within and for the COUNTY OF OXFORD, in said State, duly commissioned and qualified to administer oaths, and take acknowledgements of deeds, and other instruments in writing, and that the signature to the certificate annexed, purporting to be his, is genuine, and that to his acts and attestations as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed the Official Seal of said Court, and subscribed my Nineteenth day of July A. D., 185 3
Elisha Minter Clerk of said Court.
STATE OF MAINE. } ss. OXFORD COUNTY.
CLERK'S OFFICE, SUP. JUD. COURT.
Elisha Minter Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, within and for the COUNTY OF OXFORD, and Keeper of the Seal thereof, hereby certify that
Reuben Chandler & Elbridge G. Hobbs Esquire, were on the 20 day of July 185 3 , ever since has been, and now are , Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly authorized to administer OATHS , and take the acknowledgement of DEEDS and other Instruments; and that I believe that the signatures to the instruments hereunto annexed, purporting to be his  their are their  his genuine, official signatures.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of our said Court, this Third day of September 185 3
Elisha Minter Clerk.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
2578.
P. O.
Phoebe Cummings
Service: wid. of Oliver
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

No 3475
Thebelunings, Widow Oliver,
Sit. topso: T. Neely, 29" Oct: /53, P.M. Peru. Oxford Co: Me 29" " "
2578
Oct /53

I Josiah T. Cummings of Dunstable in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Yeoman, on oath depose and say, I am fifty one years of age, and knew Mr Oliver Cummings late of Sumner in the State of Maine. He used to come to my father's house in Dunstable where I was, and I have heard him and my father talk together about their being in the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. My father's name was Josiah Cummings and he was a pensioner of the United States some years previous to his death. I have often heard my father say that said Oliver Cummings was a soldier in said army and was in the battle of White Plains. I have also heard other old people, now deceased, speak of said Oliver's being a soldier as aforesaid, and ever since I can remember such has been the common report in said Dunstable, where said Oliver, it was reported, was born and where he had relatives, among others, a brother now deceased. I have not the slightest doubt of the fact that said Oliver was a soldier as aforesaid.
Sept. 20 th 1853
Josiah T. Cummings
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss. Lowell September 20 th 1853
Then personally appeared the said Josiah T. Cummings who is personally known to me to be the person described in said affidavit and a credible witness, and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit and subscribed the same.
Before me, who hereto set my hand and affix my official in witness thereof.
William A. Richardson
Notary Public

Know all men by these presents, that I Phebe Cummings of Danmer, in the County Oxford, and State of Maine, do hereby constitute and appoint Geo. F. Noble Esq. of Washington, D. C. my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name, to prosecute my claim for a pension, and to demand and receive from the Commissioner of Pensions the amount of pension due me by an act of Congress giving a pension to all widows of Revolutionary officers and Soldiers, passed Feb. 3d. 1853. Hereby ratifying and confirming whatsoever my said attorney may lawfully do, or cause to be done in the premises.
Witness my hand and Seal, this twenty ninth day of July, One thousand, Eight hundred and fifty three: Signed and Sealed in presence of Reuben Chandler.
Phebe her X Cummings mark.
State of Maine, County of (Oxford) Ss. July 29th, 1853. Personally appeared the above named Phebe Cummings and acknowledged the above Power Attorney to be her free act Before me. Reuben Chandler. Justice of the Peace.

I Reuben Chandler of Sumner, in the County of Oxford, and State of Maine, depose and say, that I am Clerk of the town of Sumner aforesaid, and have the custody of the records of said town, and on examination of said record I find the death of Oliver Cummings recorded, July Second, One thousand, Eight hundred and twenty three.
I hereby certify, that the above is a true copy from said record, except the following, which is carried out on said record in fair legible figures Adid.
Oliver Cummings died, July 2 nd , A. D. 1823.
Reuben Chandler. (Clerk of said Town of Sumner
Oxford S.S.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
Before me, this eighteenth day of July A.D. 1853
Robinson Parlin Justice of the Peace

State of Maine County of Oxford Town of Sumner
(a)
The intentions of marriage between Oliver Cummings and Phoebe Churchill both of Sumner were entered February Second, One thousand, Eight hundred, and four. and the record of the marriage was as follows:
Publication
I Certify that the above is a true copy of the record of the Marriage of said parties, with the exception of the date, which is expressed in the record, in fair legible figures, as follows:— (b)
The intentions of marriage between Oliver Cummings and Phoebe Churchill both of Sumner, were entered Feb'y 2 d A. D. 1854. Rankin Chandler Town Clerk of Sumner
I, Rankin Chandler above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the town, county, and state aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy of the records of said town, with the exception above named, as certified by me.
Rankin Chandler } Clerk of the Town } of Sumner
Oxford County ss.
Subscribed and duly sworn to before me, this eighteenth day of July A. D. 1853.
Robinson Poole Justice of the Peace
(a) Here fill in an exact transcript of the record, except that, instead of copying the figures, the date must be written out in full.
(b) Here give the date exactly as it is in the record.

Washington DC Oct 13, 1853
Sir.
Enclosed please find the declaration of Mrs. Phebe Cummings widow of Oliver Cummings a Soldier of the Revolution from Mass. for a Pension under the Second Section of the Act of 3 rd Feb. 1853
Yours
Most Respectfully
M c Intire
To The Commissioner } Pensions }

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston:
May 27 1853.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name Oliver Cummings is borne on a roll of a Company from Duxbury under Capt. Reuben Buttefield, from Apr. 19. 1775. 3 days as private
On returns of Capt. Zacheus Knight Co., Col. Brooks Regt. as private of Duxbury, Camp at Mt. Plains Oct. 31, 1776. Lost Coat. Blanket & Knapsack in battle. No length of service given
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W. H. Wright Secretary of the Commonwealth.

I am now Seventy four years old, and my memory does not enable me to state the services more fully than above stated.
WITNESS my hand, this Eighteenth day of May , A. D. 1853. Phebe Cross Cummings.
Signed by said Phebe Cummings in my presence,
Richard Chandler, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. }
5280

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF REVOLUTIONARY SERVICES, made by the Widow of the party who rendered the service.
County of Oxford, State of Maine, Town of Sumner
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his office, of the service of Oliver Cummings who served in the war of the Revolution.
He was a native of the Town of Danstable, in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts,
He enlisted from the Town of Danstable, in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts in the year it is believed 1777, as a private in the Company commanded by Captain not known, under Col. Beneroft, Regiment not known.
and he served as follows,* viz: — It is believed he enlisted for the term of three years, and served his regular enlistment; apart, if not all, at White Plains New York, and that he had a regular discharge. Said discharge is lost, or mislaid. The claimant believes that the said Oliver Cummings served in Col. Ebenezer Beneroft's Regiment where at the first was a captain. On the Hudson River, at Cherry Valley and at West Point, the said Cummings served, and was in the battle of White Plains. The said Cummings served apart of the time in New Jersey.
* Here describe as fully as may be, the length of service, the rank, &c., of the claimant, or the capacity in which he served, and all other particulars known.

I am now Seventy four years old, and my memory does not enable me to state the services more fully than above stated.
WITNESS my hand, this Eighteenth day of May , A. D. 1853. Phoebe  X  Gummings , Cross
Signed by said Phoebe Cummings in my presence,
Richard Chandler , JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. }
5250