Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 34,280, John Danforth, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Danforth, John
NUMBER _____
S 34, 280.
CONTENTS

Massachusetts.
2016
John Danforth, Capt Wiley private, Mass. Line - 1780. War In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 - Dollars per month, to commence on the 3 rd of April, 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 st of July 1818. and sent to Stephen Minot, Esq. Haverhill, Mass.
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818.
Special allowance
5 mo. 2/30. $: 40,53.
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818 }
Continued Billings, Abidaseen Esq.

Notification sent October 26. 1820 to Abraham Bigelow, Cambridge, Mass.

John Danforth
April 3. 1818 —
correct

I, John Danforth of the age of 61 years declare & say that I am a resident citizen of the United States: that I reside in and belong to Billerica in the County of Middlesex, in the Middle Circuit, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: — I further say that in the year 1779 I enlisted in to the Army of the Revolutionary war; as a private soldier for the time of nine months: I entered the service in Sept r 1779 in Capt. Wiley's company in Colonel Michael Jackson's Reg t being the 8 th Reg t of the Massachusetts line, & according served therein, under Capt. Wiley & afterwards under Capt. Pierce, till sometime in January 1780 & then I enlisted for during the war in the same company, & served accordingly in the same company untill June 1783 and was then honorably discharged about 9 miles North of West Point, by Col. Michael Jackson, & have since left the service. I have lost the discharge by length of time. I also say that I am, by reason of my reduced circumstances in life, in need of assistance from my country for support: and that I never had any pension allowed me by the laws of the united States. John Danforth
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Middlesex ss. April 3. 1818 Then the above named John Danforth made solemn oath that the above declaration by him subscribed is true, before me.
Stephen Minot, { Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit.
I, Russel Mears, of lawful age, depose and say that I am acquainted with the above named John Danforth; I served in the revolutionary war in the same Regiment above mentioned, & do know that the said Danforth served in the army as above mentioned by him; I was well acquainted with him then, & was since: — I also say that he is very poor & in need of assistance for support.
Teste Stephen Minot.
Russel his Mears mark
Middlesex ss. April 3 d . 1818 Then the above named Russel Mears made solemn oath that the said deposition by him subscribed is true before me.
Stephen Minot, { Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit.

Whereupon, it appearing to my satisfaction that the said John Danforth did serve in the Revolutionary war, as stated in his declaration aforesaid, against the common enemy, I now certify & transmit the testimony in the case & the proceedings had thereon to the secretary of the department of war, in aid of his country for support.
Stephen Minot
Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit.

71
John Danforth
Leiden 2016
July 18
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
MIDDLESEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Concord, within and for the County of Middlesex, on the second Monday of June A. D. 1820
Before the Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Esquire, Chief Justice, and
WILLIAM WETMORE, and } Associate Justices STEPHEN MINOT, Esquires, } of said Court.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, John Dausfortte resident in Billerica in said County Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 2016, now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
"WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM."
"I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, John Dausfortte late a Private in the army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the
"Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the third day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
"Given at the War Office of the United States, this twenty first day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War,"
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
SCHEDULE,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
  1 Cow 15   2 pigs 8 weeks old 2 50   2 axes & 2 hatchets 1 50   1 scythe 0 30   1 pitch fork 0 15   1 hoe 0 12   3 knives, 3 forks 0 20   1 iron pot 0 90   1 dish kettle 0 75   1 tea kettle 0 25   Crockery ware 1 00   Glass ware 0 25   Pail & tubs 0 35   Spoons 0 15   Looking glass 0 12   Iron cradle 0 40   23 94 
John Dausfortte

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Stephen Minot a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
7 I, John Davenport do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, 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 eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, 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. So help me GOD. and that the schedule & statement above by me subscribed are correct & true. So help me God
John Davenport
Middlesex ss. C. C. C. P. June Term, A. D. 1820
Then the abovenamed John Davenport took and subscribed the aforewritten Oath before me,
Stephen Minot Judge of said Court.
I, ABRAHAM BIGLOW, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and 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 aforesaid Schedule is
Twenty three dollars & ninety four cents
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Cambridge, in said County of Middlesex, on this 20 th day of July 1820
Attr.
Abraham Biglow

The said John Dausfortt's family consists of himself aged sixty four years, Mary Dausfortt wife of John Dausfortt aged sixty one years, and John Dausfortt Jr a grand child aged nine years whose parents are deceased.
His occupation is that of a farmer or husbandman but from age and infirmities, he is unable to perform half the labour of an able bodied man
John Dausfortt."

O. W. & N. Div. L. W. B. I. 34280.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 2nd, 1896.
Madam:-
Replying to your request for information concerning the military record of John Danforth, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, I have the honor to advise you that he made an application for pension on April 3rd, 1818, at which time he was residing at Billerica, Mass., and 61 years of age, and his pension was allowed for actual service as a private in the Mass. troops, Revolutionary war: a part of the time he served under Capt. Wiley and Col. Michael Johnson. He enlisted September, 1779, at which time he was probably residing in Middlesex County, Mass.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Mrs. Florence D. Stamp,
Adams Basin, Monroe Co., N. Y.

34280 Rev  INVALID.
File No. 34280
John Danforth His Rev Mr
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 108
[Arrangement of 1870.]

May 2 1896 Doed pursed to Mrs Y D Stamp, Adams Basin, NY
SWB 1912 Feb 1 Hist. to Mrs. Nellie A. D. Whitmarsh
1912 Feb 7 Mrs. N. A. D. Whitmarsh wife to apply to Auditor for dates of payment and

To the Secretary of the department of War.
Sir, please to transmit the Certificate of Allowance of my pension, under the late law, to Stephen Minot,
Esqr. of Haverhill Ms. who will forward it to me. Billerica April 3. 1818 John Sargent

D
Adams Basin. Monroe Co. New York
Apr 27
Officer in Charge.
Will you kindly give me the military record of
ens. John Danforth. of Middlesex Co. Mass. a Revolutionary pensioner and oblige
Yours truly
(Mrs) Florence D. Stamp.
If your records give the name of his wife please state it.
C

# 5 Suss St., Binghamton N.Y.
Jan. 19, 1912
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:— For a good many years I have been trying to find out where my Grandfather (John Danforth, of Billerica, Mass., a Revolution War soldier) settled after he left there.
Now please understand that I am not looking for any thing in the way of pensions but it is to clear up two or three different stories that I want the information I am asking for as there is a good deal of confusion regarding him.
Upon the advice of the Adjutant General of the War Department, I wrote the Secretary of State of Massachusetts, asking for a service record of two different John Danforths and he gave me the names and residence, so far as is known, of six.
The two that seem to be the ones that so much confusion exists about are:

1- John Danforth served as a sergeant in Shaw's Co. 4th Massachusetts Regt. commanded by Col. William Shepard, Revolutionary War.
Appointed or Enlisted Apr. 1, 1777 to serve during war. No information relative to termination of service.
S. 34,280 2. John Danforth served as a private in Capt. John Wiley's Co. 8th Massachusetts Regt. commanded by Col. Michael Jackson, Revolutionary War. He enlisted Aug. 18, 1779. His name last appears on a muster roll for December, 1782, date January 21, 1783 which shows that his enlistment was for the war. No later record found. Can these two be the same man? Were these two regiments ever merged together & or the 4th or 8th regt. divided to make two?
Have you any record of land grants given Revolutionary soldiers, for services to their country, during the war, in your office if not, where can I find such a record?
Did either of these men or their wives receive a pension during their lives? Hoping to hear from you soon, I am,
Your respectfully (Mrs) Nellie A. Danforth Whitmarsh.

#5 Kruse St.,
Binghamton, N.Y.
Feb 5, 1912.
Hon. J. C. Danforth, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D. C.
Dear Sir:— Your communications of Feb. 1 st inst. received. From information in my possession there is a possibility that John Danforth, Inv. File #34, 280 and John Danforth to whom Bounty Land Warrant #2,428 was allowed one and the same man. A John Danforth who married Mercy Wait at Billerica, Mass May 6, 1779, and another that his wife given name was Mercy or Marcy, his de- scendants do not exactly know which, or his surname have become sadly confused and have caused a good deal of trouble and searching after records. Can you tell me where or at what agency, if in Billerica Mass, Liverpool, or Salina, Onondaga Co. N.Y. pension Inv. File #34, 280, was part of or if John Danforth received his

his pension papers at those last named places. The descendants of one John Danforth living in St. Joseph, Mich. claim their great grandfather was a Revolution soldier, that he lived for a time at Liverpool and Salina, Onondaga Co., N.Y. and received a land grant from the government - and that his wife's name was Mercy or Mary, so if I am entitled to this information I believe it will prove these two men are one and that I belong to another branch of the family. Thanking you for past favors, I am,
Yours respectfully, (Mrs) Nellie A. Danforth Whitmarsh

information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
John Danforth S.F. 34280
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Sept. 1779 June 1783 Pvt. { Wiley Pierce Michael Jackson 8 th Mass.                                     
Battles engaged in, ✓
Residence of soldier at enlistment, ✓
Date of application for pension, Apr. 3. 1818. His el. al.
Residence at date of application, Billerica, Middlesex Co. Mass.
Age at date of application, 61 years old
Remarks: In 1820 Soldier's wife Mary was 61 years old and John Danforth Jr. a grand-son was nine years old. The names of his parents are not stated.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Rev. War.
February 7, 1912.
Mrs. N. A. D. Whitmarsh, # 5 Kress Street, Binghamton, N. Y.
Madam:
In response to your letter dated the 5" and received the 6" instant, you are advised that for information relative to the payment of the pension of John Danforth. Sur. File No. 34,280, you should address the Auditor for the Interior Department, U. S. Treasury Department, citing the following data: John Danforth, Certificate No. 2,016, issued July 31, 1818, under the Act of March 18, 1818, at the Massachusetts Agency.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.