Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 13383, John Colson, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Colson, John
R 13383
CONTENTS

The State of Ohio
Guadalupe County } On this the 21 st day of March A. D. 1844
Personally appeared before me Ezra Wright an Assistant Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in the County of Guadalupe and State of Ohio John Colson a resident of Troy in the County of Guadalupe and State of Ohio Age 80 years last October who being first duly sworn according to law, states on his said oath that the follow- ing Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of Congress approved June 7. 1832. That he was a private in the several army that on three tours of service that he lived at the time of the Revolutionary War in the County of Hampshire and went into the service from said Hampshire the first time he went with his father and others from said Hampshire and the second time being appointed in the time of an alarm and went to Bristol in Hampshire and was in the service at that time about fifty days the British was on blockade -island at the same time that his father John Colson and John Colson was in the service of the company other names not recollected that his next tour of service was in the militia that went from said Hampshire to Rhode Island said Company was made up of militia of Hampshire and other towns in Hampshire and was stationed on Rhode Island and he served at that time five months he thinks he served under Capt. Barker or Babb from Milford and that a man by the name of Richard from Bridgewater held some office in the Company he was in and that Philip of Bridgewater Buckland was a private in said Company also John Thomas and Cyrus or Elias Alden was privates in the same Company that after this he went a tour in the militia from said Hampshire to Bristol in the State of Massachusetts he went in Company with three or four ex- teurs that was a learning for the army that a man by the name of Colson was the Capt. or commander on the road march to Fishkill  and he served six months he went in the Spring and returned in  the Fall being discharged Philip Buckland and he thinks that Cyrus or Elias  Alden was in the company with him and he thinks that he was employed  some of the time in getting timber and wood and some of the time on  the river in rowing the officers from one place to another that owing  to age and bodily infirmity he cannot remember all the events that  took place, when he was in the service nor many of the names of the  officers that he served under nor but a few of the names of privates  that served with him that some time after his last named service  he moved from Hampshire to Cummington in Hampshire County  the State of Massachusetts where he lived till 1813 when he

John Colson's Declaration

And in the year 1813 he moved from said Camerington to Troy in the County of Georgia where he now resides he refers to the annexed proofs and prays that a certificate may be granted him To draw said Pension (of Bridgewater interlined before signed) That he further states that Samuel Bates and John Morris was privates in the service with him at Bunker Hill
John Colson
The above and foregoing Declaration was sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written and I hereby certify that from personal knowledge that the said John Colson is a person of truth and morality and that from bodily infirmity unable to attend Court
Neri Wright Jr. Judge

Walhalla O. May 1/70
May
Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

Dec. 14. 1853
Rec: to claim of John Goodwin
FREE
For all that and every Chamber Street
Hambley from
Hon J. E. Heath Clerk of pension Washington City D. C.
John

No. John Colson Ohio
Letter to Messrs Elliott and Hathaway. 10. May 1845.
Rejected
James Hathaway July 9/53 J. d. Colson 6 th Augt. 1853.
act 7 June 1832
1832 76 56

No 37. 0011.
John Colson Rich Ohio
act 7 June 1832

Hampden Geauga Co. Ohio } March 21 st 1845.
Hon J. L. Edwards, Comm. of Pensions.
Dear Sir.
We have the Honor to herewith, transmit to your office, for adjustment, the Declaration and Proofs of John Colson, when acted upon, Please to make return to us. Respectfully Your O.B. Servant.
Elliott & Hathaway.

May 21/53
Rel. susp. case
John Colston
Mrs. L. Colston Troy Greene Co., Ohio.

Some years ago, the Revolutionary pension claim of John Colson was presented to the Department, But as he was employed as teamster, a portion of his time, the claim was suspended, As there has been some laws passed since, and more favorable constructions given to others, I suppose the claim will now be allowed, I wish you to examine the evidence which is now in the possession of the Department and if any thing is lacking let me know it, if the evidence is sufficient, and the claim will be allowed, let me know it,
Direct your letter to Troy, Geauga Co Ohio
Troy May 17 th 1853,
Respectfully yours
John L Colson

Chardon Geauga Co. Ohio February 8 th 1853.
Sir
In the Revolutionary claim of John Colson, I rec d your report under date of May 10 th 1845, stating that his alleged service as a teamster which was supported by the affidavit of Seth Edson, who served with him afforded no grounds of a pension, please inform me if said service is not now available by some act of Congress or by a decision of the department. Seth Edson testified that the service was under Capt Elisha Wales & General Coggswell, Mr Edson's affidavit is on file with Mr Colson's application & other papers.
Most Respectfully your Obedt Servant
James Keathaway
Hon J. E. Heath, Com r of Pensions, Washington City, D. C.

13383
P. O. _____
John Colson Service: Rev. _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

THE STATE OF OHIO, GEAUGA COUNTY, ss.
I, Reuben St. John, Clerk of the Court
of Common Pleas, in and for the county of Geauga, in the State of Ohio, do by these presents certify and make known, that Merrill Wright Esquire, before whom the annexed and foregoing Declaration
was  then taken, and who has thereunto, in his own proper hand-writing, subscribed his name, was at the time of taking such Declaration and now is an Associate Judge of the
Court of Common Pleas in and for said county, duly commissioned and sworn, agreeably to the laws of the State of Ohio, and to all whose official acts as such, full faith and credit is, and ought to be given throughout the United States, and elsewhere.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, at Chardon, in said county, this 22 d day of March in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty- five
Reuben St. John, Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston; Feb y 11 1845.
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 no Capt n of the name of Elisha Wales, under whom John Colson is alleged to have served, in the annexed application, is shown upon any of the records in this office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Sawyer;
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Paid 25
Secretary of the State of Massachusetts Boston City
Not recorded

Secretary of the State of Massachusetts
Dear Sir agreeable to your request we herewith send a certificate of the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas showing that James Heathaway is a justice of the peace, we left at your office on the 17 th day of Dec r last a number of Applications for proof of Revolutionary service and among them one for proof of Revolutionary services of Seth Wakepeace and one for proof of Revolutionary services of John Colson we have since received certificates that was made out at your office Nov r 19. 1844 The reason of the second application is that the first was sent and as the proof had not been forwarded it was presumed that the first had not been sent to your office therefore the applicants made their second applications, the proof in the Wakepeace case is sufficient but the proof in the Colson case is not what we wished it might be but it may be all that the rolls in your office show we have since learnt that said Colson served one tour as he was there he did that is not in your certificate in his case he Enlisted under Capt Elisha Wales of Randolph, about the first of April and about the first of June after he started from Boston with truely three or four or teams and went directly to Fishkill and discharged their load consisting of leather & shoes for the army at Westpoint the service was nine month from the time of enlistment till discharged and at the expiration of said term was discharged by said Capt Wales, Philip Packard, Abner Brown, B. Kent, Whitcomb Pratt, Samuel Laddam of Randolph, Samuel Blackman of Houghton (now Canton) John Harris of Abington, was in the same company There was about thirty in the company the above is information that we got from Seth Edson a Revolutionary pensioner in Houghton Mass who says he knew said John Colson and served with him at Fishkill which agrees with the statement of Colson said Edson says he served as above stated with said John Colson at Fishkill now Sir we wish you to make further search for proof of John Colson's service at Fishkill and if found forward it to us and if not found we wish a negative certificate in regard to the alleged service at Fishkill Respectfully your obedient servant Elliot B. Heathaway

State of Massachusetts } Norfolk County ss }
Deposition of Seth Edson of Houghton in said County of Norfolk taken before me Elijah Atwater a justice of the peace in and for said County and State aforesaid on this the 28 th day of February A.D. 1845 Being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his said oath depose and say that he is aged 83 years and that he is a Revolu- tionary pensioner and that he served in the Revolutionary war one tour at Fishkill in the State of New York under Captain Elisha Wales of Randolph in said County of Norfolk and General Goswell and that John Colson and John Harris of Hington was in said nine months service with him at Fishkill N. Y. also that the following persons was in the same service from the Towns adjacent to Hington that he now well recollect to wit; Philip Packard, Abner Brown, B. Hunt, Philcond. Pratt, Samuel Ludden, Samuel Blackman, and that they enlisted under said Captain Elisha Wales in the Spring, he thinks it was in the year 1782 and that about two months after they enlisted as aforesaid under Capt Elisha Wales they started from Boston in company with a number of ox teams and went to Fishkill N. Y. and discharged their loads which consisted of Cloathing Shoes &c for the army then at West Point there was about thirty in said Company but did not all have teams they were then employed the most of the time in getting timber plank and wood as was wanted for the use of the army and drew their rations from the store house at Fishkill and that at the expir- ation of said nine months which they had enlisted for they was discharged by said Captain Wales and that he knew said John Colson in the said service at Fishkill during the whole time that he served at Fishkill and that the said John Colson was a good and faithful sol- dier and served till discharged by Capt Wales as aforesaid and that he the said Seth Edson & John Harris, & Samuel Ludden drew a Pension on account of said nine months service and that soon af- ter said nine months service said John Colson went to reside in Brimington Hampshire County & State of Massachusetts and he has

Since learned that said Colson has moved to Ohio he further states that said company was paid for nine months service
signed in presence of us Elijah Atchison Enos Talbot
Seth Edson
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written and I hereby certify from my own personal knowledge that the said Seth Edson is a person of truth and veracity
Elijah Atchison Justice of the Peace

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK ss.
Ernest Sampson I, JAIRUS WARE , Clerk of the Judicial Courts, being Courts of Record, within and for the County of Norfolk, hereby Certify that Elijah Atherton Esquire,
is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Norfolk aforesaid, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified to discharge the duties of said of- fice, and that his signature to the annexed certificate is genuine and true.
In Witness Whereof, I have subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid at Dedham, this Sixth day of March A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty  forty five  Ernest Sampson Clerk

Col. Hattaway Sir
Since you left here, my father has recollect d several more names and supposing they would be of use to you in your search I thought I might as well mention them — at North river or Fishkill were Oliver Brown, Benoni Hunt, Whitcomb Pratt and Seth Colson — and on Rhode Island was Isaac Stetson
Respectfully yours, Nathaniel Colson
Chardon March 22 d 1845
I James Hattaway a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Geauga and State of Ohio being first duly sworn according to law do on my said oath depose and say that I am acquainted with John Colson a Revolutionary soldier who is a resident of Troy in said County of Geauga, and that I was present when he made his Declaration for a pension which was made before Rev d Wright an Associate Judge on the 21 st day of March 1844 and that the said John Colson was so feeble in mind that he could not call to mind but a few names of persons that served with him and that in regard to his service at Fishkill he said that he could not tell how long he served but it was as long as six months that he went in the Spring and returned in the fall being discharged, that said John Colson, son Nathaniel Colson was present when said Declaration was made and said that his said Father could at some times recollect more names of soldiers that served with him in the Revolutionary war and that in the month of April 1844 I received the above statement forwarded to me by Nathaniel Colson above named which is above signed in the said Nathaniel's own hand writing I further state that the said John

Colson is considered by his neighbours and acquaintances to be a person of truth and veracity. James Heathway
Edward Colson of John Colson Letter dated 1844 April
The State of Ohio } Geauga County } Sworn to and subscribed before me
Reuben H John Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County and State aforesaid this the 22 d day of March A.D. 1845 and I hereby certify that the said James Heathway Esq is a per- son of truth and veracity
In testimony whereof I have here Subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court, at Chardon in the County aforesaid the day and year last above written Reuben H, John Clerk

Application for certificate of Revolutionary services made By the party who rendered the service
State of Ohio Geauga County Town of Troy The secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his office of my service in the war of the Revolution I went into the service from Abington Plymouth County State of Massachusetts and was in the service on three different tours of service and went from said Abington each time in company with others from Abington and the Downs during the first tour I went on an alarm as a volunteer to Bristol Rhode Island State when the British had possession of Rhode Island my Father John Colson and Nehemiah Voys was in the same company I stayed about fifty days at Bristol and then returned home to Abington and after the British left Rhode Island I went a tour of five months and was stationed on Rhode Island I think that Capt Barker or Baker commanded the company that I was in and that a man by the name of Packard of Bridgewater held some office in the company and that Philip Packard of Bridgewater John Harris & Cyrus or Silas Alden served as privates with me and after said five months tour I went again in a small company to Fishkill on the North river in the State of New York I went out in company with three or four ox teams that was in the Continental service a man by the name of Wales was the Captain or conductor on the route and march to Fishkill I was on different duty at Fishkill the tour was six months was some times getting timber and wood at other times on the river a rowing the officers to Newburg and other places I went in the Spring and was discharged in the fall Philip Packard of Bridgewater Samuel Bates & John Harris was privates with me in the service at Fishkill I am now 80 years old and very feeble and my memory does not enable me to state my services more fully than above stated Witness my hand this 21 st day of March A. D. 1844
John his Colson mark
Signed by said John John Colson in my presence.
James Hathaway Justice of the peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston;
Nov 19 1844.
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 of John Colson is borne upon a pay roll of Capt Elijah Baker Nathaniel Packard Lt. from July 27. 1780 to R. D. 4 mos 6 days; upon a pay roll of Capt James Allen from Apr 27/ 25 days.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Golson, Joseph GRADE Private LINE Massachusetts
WARRANT NUMBER 3910 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Feb. 14, 1793 to Joseph Jones, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.