Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 38603, John Chester, Conn. Navy

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn. Navy,
Chester John
S 38603
CONTENTS

Connecticut 6,282 Massachusetts.
John Chester
of Boston in the state of Mass ts who was a seaman in the regiment commanded by Colonel Ship & Field of the Capt. Patten state line, for the term of ten months Conn Comv. & Navy
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass ts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 8 th of April, 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th of Jan y 1819 and sent to John Davis Esq r Boston, Mass ts
Arrears to 4th of Sept r 1818 and 2/4 39.20 Semi-ann. all ce ending 1 st Mar 1819 - 8.00 47.20
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued
May 22, 1835
8u
Holt
Publication and Author Act 1820 John M. Davis Boston, Massachusetts.

United States
Mass. Div.
Boston
I John Chester of Boston , a resident citizen of the United States, makes oath that he served as a seaman in the war of the revolution in the Continental navy in the ship Alfred, Captain Saltonstall, Commodore Hopkins, from the latter end of 1775 to the latter end of 1776; I entered Oct. '75 and left the Alfred in Aug. '76, having served ten months. Said ship while I was attached to her took the island of New Providence and made the Governor prisoner, & took all the guns & ammunition belonging to the fort. On her way home she captured a British brig, and had an action with a British man of war, named Glasgow, after which we went into old Providence & refitted. We lay at Warwick neck, when Independence was declared. At the end of the year 1776 I enlisted with Col. Sedgwick who commanded at Boston, Connecticut, a company of continentals and helped build the forts at Boston opposite New London, & served under him from November July 1776 to July 1777. I had a written honorable discharge from Commodore Hopkins in 1776, as also from Col. Sedgwick in 1777, but have lost both. My reason of my reduced circumstances in life

I am in need of assistance from my country for support, being at present in the almshouse at Boston. The first Lieut. of the Alfred while I was on board her, was Pitcher & the 2 d Lieut. the famed Paul Jones.
John Chester
Massachusetts District S. Boston 8. April 1818
Sworn to before me M c DAVIS
District Judge Mass Dist
This Applicant is in the Marine Hospital at Charlestown (Mass.) J.D.
John Chester decm
No 249
Ship Alfred Comn. D r
Hopkins, Sur d from
Oct r 28 th August 1816 -
Admitted

MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss.
Boston June 10 A. D. 1818
IT appearing to my satisfaction, that John Chester subscriber to the annexed declaration, sworn to before me, did serve in the revolutionary war against the common enemy, as stated in said declaration, I now transmit the testimony in the case, with the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the department of war, pursuant to the directions of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war;" the testimony and proceedings in the premises being the declaration aforesaid, with the accompanying documents marked together with this certificate.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the District Court of the United States for this District
MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss.
Boston 10 January 1819.
I AM satisfied that the above named, John Chester by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, is in need of assistance from his Country for support.
W. D. Davis
{ District Judge U. S. Massachusetts Dist.
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR.

John Chester
0282
Contnu Jan 7 1819

District of Massachusetts, ss.
ON this Eighth day of July 1820 personally appeared, in open Court, being a Court of Record, viz. A Special District Court of the United States for the said District, John Chester aged sixty two years, resident in Manner in the County of Suffolk, in said District, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows: that I entered in October 1775 on board the Continental Ship of War called the Alfred Commanded by Commodore Hopkins and served until August 1776 when I was honorably discharged. the date of my application for pension was on the 8 th day of April A.D. 1818 and my pension Certificate was dated the 29 th day of January A.D. 1819 and numbered - B. 182,
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th 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 so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons, engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
John Chester.
Sworn to and declared, on the Eighth day of July A. D. 1820 before
Ezra Davis,
{ Judge of the Massachusetts District Court.
I, JOHN WATSON DAVIS, Clerk of the Massachusetts District Court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule hereto 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 aforesaid schedule, is
Ten dollars and _____ cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this twenty fifth day of July 1820
John W. Davis
{ Clerk of the U. S. District Court, for the Massachusetts District.

Schedule of property belonging to the subscriber Real Estate I have none. —
Personal Estate an old boat and one or two pair of old pantaloons two Shirts valued at _____ $10.=
Family I have none. My wife occupation is a mariner but am unable to work in consequence of my Shoulder and my Knee having been broken; and other infirmities.
John Chester,

Application for a Transfer
State of Connecticut } County of Middlesex } ss. Middletown
On this 14 th day of August AD 1822 before me the subscriber a Notary for the State aforesaid duly appointed commissioned & sworn residing in said Middletown personally appeared John Chester who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly was a Seaman in the Navy of the Revolution in the United States Service - that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Massachusetts from whence he has removed - that he now resides in the State of Connecticut where he intends to remain & wishes his pension to be there payable in future.
John Chester
Sworn & subscribed to before me on the day & year aforesaid
Witness my signature & official seal
E. H. Parsons Notary Public

John Chester, Sur. File No. 38,603, enlisted in October 1775, as a Seaman on board the Continental ship "Alfred", commanded by Captain Saltonstall under Commodore Hopkins, and served until August, 1776, during which time they captured a British brig and had an engagement with the "Glasgow" a British man of war.
Enlisted in November, 1776, and served at Groton under Colonel Ledyard until July, 1777.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 8, 1818, while a resident of Boston, Massachusetts, and about sixty years of age. In 1822, he resided in Connecticut. The record is endorsed "died May 22, 1835."

sion on file in this Bureau.
John Charles Sur. File 38603
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Oct. 1775 August 1776 Mariner Saltonstall Commodore Hopkins on   Continental Ship Alfred, captured a British Brig. and had an action with the Glasgow, a British man of war.   Nov. 1776 July 1777 at Trenton under Col. Pidgeon  
Battles engaged in, See above Residence of soldier at enlistment, not stated Date of application for pension, Apr. 8, 1818 His cl. was at Residence at date of application, Boston, Mass. Age at date of application, 62 years old in 1820, *died May 22, 1835 Remarks: No further data.
* from Agency book.

aw Rev. War Section.
September 25, 1912.
Dr. F. D. Chester, 541 Boylston Street, Back Bay Station, Boston, Mass.
Sir:
In response to your card dated the 19" and received the 20" instant, you are advised that the place of death of John Chester, Rev. War pensioner Sur. File No. 38,603, who died May 22, 1835, is not on record in this Bureau.
The place of his death may possibly be obtained from the Auditor for the Interior Department, to whom you should apply, citing the following data: John Chester, Ctf. No. 6,282. Issued January 29, 1819, under Act of March 18, 1818, at the Connecticut Agency.
If it cannot be so obtained, there is no further suggestion that can be made by this Bureau.
Very respectfully,
J. P. Klavenport
Commissioner.

May 29, 1909.
Western Union Telegraph Co.
Collect.
Mr. J. Chester,
Middletown, Conn.
John Chester, Revolutionary pensioner, died May 28, 1835, place unknown.
Acting Commissioner.

The bottom of this slip was sent to me by Mr. Sept. 25, 1912
Bureau of Pensions.
M. P. Tingley found with me Answer by wire (collect) to Telephone Auditor if necessa- ry to get date from him and - to Mr.

THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
23,000 OFFICES IN AMERICA. INCORPORATED CABLE SERVICE TO ALL THE WORLD.
This Company TRANSMITS and DELIVERS messages only on conditions limiting its liability, which have been assented to by the sender of the following message. Errors can be guarded against only by repeating a message back to the sending station for comparison, and the Company will not hold itself liable for errors or delays in transmission or delivery of Unrepeated Messages, beyond the amount of tolls paid thereon, nor in any case where the claim is not presented in writing within sixty days after the message is filed with the Company for transmission.
This is an UNREPEATED MESSAGE , and is delivered by request of the sender, under the conditions named above.
ROBERT C. CLOWRY, President and General Manager.
  NUMBER  SENT BY  RECD BY  CHECK    77  Myrto   20 Paid 806a  
Post Office Dept. Bldg. RECEIVED at Cor. 7th & F Sts. N.W.
Dated May 28 1909
To U. S. Pension Bureau
Eutw  May 28 1909  FIRST DEPUTY COMMISSIONER MAY 28 1909 U. S. PENSION OFFICE.
Wash. DC  Kindly wire when and where John Chester pensioned seaman transferred 1822 Boston to Middlebury Died answer paid J. Chester

THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
INCORPORATED 23,000 OFFICES IN AMERICA. CABLE SERVICE TO ALL THE WORLD.
This Company TRANSMITS and DELIVERS messages only on conditions limiting its liability, which have been assented to by the sender of the following message. Errors can be guarded against only by repeating a message back to the sending station for comparison, and the Company will not hold itself liable for errors or delays in transmission or delivery of Unrepeated Messages, beyond the amount of tolls paid thereon, nor in any case where the claim is not presented in writing within sixty days after the message is filed with the Company for transmission.
This is an UNREPEATED MESSAGE, and is delivered by request of the sender, under the conditions named above.
ROBERT C. CLOWRY, President and General Manager.
  NUMBER  SENT BY  REC'D BY  CHECK    62  M. C.  23  Paid - 41 3/4  
RECEIVED at Post Office Dept. Bldg (May 28 th 1909)
Dated Norfolk Conn 28
To U. S. Pension Bureau Wash. D.C.
My inquiry related to John Sherer who served on ship Alfred and whose pension began in eighteen hundred eighteen and was

THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY.
INCORPORATED 23,000 OFFICES IN AMERICA. CABLE SERVICE TO ALL THE WORLD.
This Company TRANSMITS and DELIVERS messages only on conditions limiting its liability, which have been assented to by the sender of the following message. Errors can be guarded against only by repeating a message back to the sending station for comparison, and the Company will not hold itself liable for errors or delays in transmission or delivery of Unrepeated Messages, beyond the amount of tolls paid thereon, nor in any case where the claim is not presented in writing within sixty days after the message is filed with the Company for transmission.
This is an UNREPEATED MESSAGE , and is delivered by request of the sender, under the conditions named above.
ROBERT C. CLOWRY, President and General Manager.
  NUMBER  SENT BY  REC'D BY  CHECK     62.    
RECEIVED at _____ 190
Dated _____
To _____ 2 _____
collect  J Chester  Middleton Conn.

38603

MERIDEN HOUSE FRANK L. THOMSON, PROPRIETOR MAIN AND COLONY STREETS
D. 8.38603
Boston, Mass., MERIDEN, CONN., June 3rd, 1909. 190
U.S. Pension Comm'r, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir: I regret very much that you did not find the place where John Chester, Revolutionary Naval Pensioner died in 1835. There seems to be no trace of him in Middletown, Conn. He probably enlisted from Groton, Conn. the first time Jan'y 4, 1776, as per record on p. 600 of the book "Conn. Men in the Revolution".
If you should find any further data will you be so kind as to inform me?
I should like to know whether he was 76 yrs. old in 1818, or in 1834-5 when the List of Pensioners was made up for the Senate. And how he came to Boston (on the "Alfred"?). Thank you for the 2 telegrams.
Very respectfully yours,
F. Chester
541 Boylston St.

BACK BAY STA. W
THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS ONLY
U.S. Pension Agency, Washington , D.C.

Dear Sir :
541 Boylston St., Boston Mass.
Sept. 19, 1912.
I wish to find out in what town in Middlesex Co., Conn. John Chester , who died May 22, 1835, deceased. His pension was transferred from Boston Sep. 4, 1822 to the Middletown Ct agency district, which I suppose no longer exists.
Can you refer this to the Officer in charge of the records of 1822-1835 of Middletown, Ct.?
Respectfully,
J. D. Chester, Ph.D.
Read

Oct. 19-1902 D. A. Sims, Columbus Ohio 1909 May 29. Date of death (from agency book) to J. Chester Middleton Conn. by telegram. 1909 June 15 - Hist. to F. Chester 1912 Aug. 16 - To Rear Adm. C. M. Chester letter in W. File 17,611 Giles Chester, c 1912 Sept. 25: Dr. F. D. Chester info place of death not known and advised to apply to Aud. Int. Av
Invalid  WIDOW
File No. 38603 Navy  John Chester  Beaman  Ship "Alfred"  Revolutionary Act March 18. 1818 Index: Vol. _____, Page _____

Middletown August 15 th 1822
Sir I again forward the application of John Chester for a transfer of his Pension from the Massachusetts to the Connecticut agency - made out after the precedent sent on from the Pension office -
If consistent with the rules of the War Department Mr Chester is desirous that his transfer take effect from the 4 th of March last - so that he may receive at the Connecticut Branch the Pension which will be due to him on the 4 th of September next -
Very respectfully your obedient servant
E. H. D. Lord

John Chester's application for trans- fer from Massachusetts to Connecticut— Transfd 5 Sept. 1822.
Mar 19
Washington. D.C.
Secretary of War
General J. P. Jackson
Mr. Edwards
for Summer 1822. Aug. 1822.

John Chester's application for trans- fer from Massachusetts to Connecticut
Transf. 5 Sept. 1822.
Mar 19
Washington D.C.
Secretary of War
J. G. Calhoun
Mr. Edwards
Recd Aug. 1822.
Mr. Chamber