Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14611, Thomas Dean, Mass. Privateer

SERVICE
NUMBER
No ass. Privateer
Dan Thomas Martha
N 14611
CONTENTS

West Cambridge Sept 2 nd 1838.
I, Frederick Williamston of West Cambridge Aged Eighty eight do hereby certify that I knew Thomas Dean from a Boy say from the time he was eight years old, (and he lived with my Neighbor Locke at Harvard of West Cambridge) he was a play mate of mine being about my age When he was fourteen years old he went to Boston to live with his Uncle (his Father being dead) and there he was put to a trade. He lived in Boston until the War of the Revolution commenced then he went into the U.S. Service as I have heretofore stated on oath. He continued in the Army after the Revolution some time, he then returned home & was married to Martha Low and I am certain that after he was married which was I think in 1777 or 1778 he went again into the Army, continuing there some time. After he left the Army he came home & entered in the Naval Service & there he died.
I was always intimately acquainted with him up to the time of his death.
I was well acquainted with Martha Low before she married & now have been and do

= do firmly believe that there can be no doubt of the fact of his continuing in the Army or navy after his marriage until the Army was disbanded
The means by which I arrived at the knowledge of these facts as regards his being in the Army after marriage was that whenever he returned home he always related to me the particulars of his service &c &c.
I am now a Revolutionary Pensioner as will be shewn by the papers at Pension Office and by reason of a recent lameness am unable to write my name.
Witness to Signature
Jeduthan his S. Wellington Mark
Eleazar Homer Junr,
William H Homer
Middlesex S.S. Sept 2 nd 1838. Then personally appeared the before named Jeduthan Wellings Esquire and made oath to the foregoing Statement that its true in all its parts according to his best knowledge & belief.
Before me Thomas Clark Justice of the Peace

I certify that the aforementioned Nathaniel Wellington has been a Representative to our General Court from this town for many Years and has been an acting Justice of the Peace since 1812 and now holds the Commission of Justice for the County of Middlesex
West Cambridge Sept 2 d Thomas Glascy Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office. Sept. 6. 1838.
I hereby certify that the above Thomas Clark is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, & was such at the date of the above attestation.
Witness my hand & the Seal of the State.
John P. Bigelow
Secy of the Commonwealth

Massachusetts-23320
Martha Dean, widow of Thomas Dean, deceased
who died on the _____ 1780. of Scituate in the State of Mass. who was a Col. S t & G t in the County commanded by Captain _____ of the Reg t commanded by _____ Dean in the Mass t line for 22 m th & 7 d ys
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 319 Dollars 49 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 th day of Sept. '38, and sent to and sent B. Dean, Boston, Mass t
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. $ 2376.17
Semi-annual allowance ending _____ 159.75
$2,535.92
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 }
Recorded by R. Burdick Clerk Book A. Vol. 2. Page 44

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Suffolk ss.
On this sixteenth day of November in the Year of our Lord one thous and eight hundred & thirty seven, personally appeared before The Hon ble Peter O. Facher, Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston, in the County & Commonwealth aforesaid, Martha Dean a resident of Boston aforesaid, aged Eighty three years, who being first duly sworn according to Law does on oath make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Acts of Congress of July 4 th 1836 & March 3 rd 1837.
That she is the Widow of Thomas Dean late of Boston deceased, who was a Lieutenant in the Army in the War of the Revolution, she declares that the said Thomas Dean informed her, that on the 18 th day of April 1775, he with two other persons had engaged to go an express in a boat across Charles River & proceed to Concord or Lexington to give information to Gen l John Hancock & Samuel Adams, from some of the Committee of safety, that the Regulars were mustering some of their troops to go & take them & all the Stores &c deposited there, but they were stop d by the Guard, & not permitted to proceed, but he got away soon after & went to Cambridge & join'd the Army there, and was soon appointed an

or through his influence recommended an Officer by W m Hancock, who knew him when in Boston. She further declares, that she believes that Col o Crane was the Com- manding Officer where he was stationed; but she does not recollect his Captain, but says that, the said (Thos. Dean) she knew he had a Commission, as she made a case to put it in, with a string, which he wore hanging to his neck. That he entered in the eight months service & was in Bunker Hill Battle & was stationed on Prospect Hill.
That he afterwards went with with part of the army to follow the British to New York & she thinks under the command of Col o Crane she recollects a N o Joseph Clark being a Serg t she thinks in the same Regiment as he was quite intimate & the only person she knows of being in the Army with him, but he is dead.
He had a furlough & came home the first of March 1778 and he was married to me on the 11 th day same month as per Certificate, and went off to Quarters in the Army about the first of May of that same year.
After he left the Army in the fall of 1778 he went on board in a Privateer & returned and then entered on board of a Merchant Vessel and was taken & he was carried to Barbadoes, where there was a Hurricane that destroyed a number of Prisoners that was in Goal. & he among them, this occurred in the month of March 1780.
She further says that she has remained a Widow ever since. — she has no documentary evidence and would refer to the rolls of the Massachusetts line of revolutionary soldiers which she is informed are now in the custody of the department of war

in the city of Washington
Subscribed in presence of } Martha X her Dean Peter O. Thacher } mark
Subscribed and sworn to on the day and year first before written viz on 16 th November A.D. 1837. before me, Peter O. Thacher Judge of the Muni- cipal Court of the City of Boston.
I certify that Mrs Martha Dean, the Plaintiff, by reason of her great age and infirmity, is unable to attend personally in Court, but that she is worthy to be credited with ————— Peter O. Thacher, Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston —
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk ss: I, Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston, hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Martha Dean, for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Municipal Court, this twenty seventh day of November, A.D. 1837. teen hundred & thirty seven.
Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk

Commonwealth of } Massachusetts } City of Boston Sept. 21 st 1837.
This certifies to whom it may concern, that Thomas Dean and Martha Low, were married by the Rev. Samuel Stillman, on the eleventh day of March A.D. one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight. as appears by the Registry of marriages within the Town now City, of Boston.
Samuel F. M c Cleary, City Clerk.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Suffolk, ss. Boston, October 26 th , 1837. Then the above-named Samuel F. M c Cleary, City Clerk of the City of Boston, personally appeared, and acknowledged made oath that foregoing certificate by him subscribed is true. Before me,
W m Hayden - Justice Peace

Sept 11
Ms. A. 9. 2. 22
Martha Dean,
J. L. Edwards Esq 77 . Commissioner of Pensions. Washington. D. C.

Sept 11
Miss ass't Martha Dean,
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions. Washington. D. C.

Boston Sept r 7 th 1838.
J. L. Edwards Esq r .
Sir.
Your letter addressed to my brother (now necessarily absent from the city for a short season) was rec d . You there say that "it is asserted in general terms that Lieut. Dean was in the army after he was married, but by what means he (Col. Wellington) arrived at a knowledge of the fact is not stated." Accordingly we requested him to make a more particular statement, in order to meet the above objections. I enclosed is his affidavit. You will perceive that he was acquainted with the said Thos Dean from boyhood, & gives the statement of his early acquaintance with some particularity, & that after marriage he (Thos Dean) when he returned home related the particulars relating to the service.
The inability of Col. W. to write his name, is satisfactorily accounted for, by the testimony of his Physician, a gentleman of high standing, & considerable repute in his profession.
From the affidavit of the Selectmen of Cambridge , you will perceive that Col. W. has been a gentleman of considerable influence, has held various offices, & that the utmost reliance may be placed in any statement made by him.
What corroborates the statement of Col. W. is, that the accounts related by him of Thos Dean coincide with those given by Mrs. Dean his widow. I further the descendants & friends of Mrs. Dean have for many years been accustomed to listen to a recital of events which happened when her husband was in the army. Which aside from every other proof is sufficient to convince one that she is the wife  the  wife of the said Thos Dean.
She Mrs. Dean relates that she was married in March '78, & that in company with a Capt. Brown he returned to the army, the latter part of April or first of May. Upon returning to the city register, there was her marriage noted. 11 th of March '78.

In a letter bearing date of June 8. th 38. you say, "if it can be shown by satisfactory proof, that he continued in the service until after he was married March 11. th of March 1778. all objections will be removed." We trust the accompanying documents have removed the objections.
Yrs Very Respectfully, J. L. Edwards Esq. J. Dean.
P.S. Please direct Sam l to B. Dean.
Boston.

Dear
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Mid. J. 14611. Thomas Dean , a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     On April 18, 1775, he with others was engaged to go as an express across Charles river to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams, but was stopped by the guards, he got away and joined the Army at Cambridge and was soon appointed Capt Lieut under Col. Greene and served 8 mos. from the Committee of Safety   In the fall of 1778 he went on a cruise on a Privateer, name not given; then went on a merchant vessel, was captured & carried to Barbadoes and was killed while in jail there.  
Battles engaged in, Bunker Hill
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Nrd Cambridge, Mass & Boston Mass
Date of Widows application for pension, Nov. 16, 1837. Her claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Boston, Mass
Age at date of application, 83 years
Remarks: He married Martha Tower March 11 1775, as shown by the records of the town of Boston. No other Thomas Dean or Darr, Mass Service
Very respectfully,
Mrs Mary H Harris
Nashua,
Commissioner.

To whom it may concern:—
The Subscribers Selection of the Town of West Cambridge in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby certify, that we have been acquainted with Colonel Jonathan Wellington an aged gentleman of this town, being now as we believe about ninety years of age, from our youth up to this time; That the said Jonathan Wellington has sustained divers municipal offices in this Town as well as in the Town of Cambridge before the separation of this Town from said Cambridge; That he has been a Representative in the General Court from said Town of Cambridge and a Magistrate in the said County and now holds the office of Justice of the Peace as we believe; That although extreme age has somewhat impaired his mind, yet any statement of facts made by him, we fully believe is entitled to credit, and may be relied upon as true, especially when such statement relates to

Things which happened many years ago.
Walthambridge Sept. 3 1835.
James Russell Schutman Leonard Grant of Walthambridge

West-Cambridge Sept. 6 th 1838
This may certify that I have been well acquainted with Col. Jeduthan Willington for the last forty years. He is a man of strong mind and good education. In the prime of life he had much influence in this neighborhood was entrusted with the most important town offices, and has represented this town in the state Legislature - At present he is 87 years old, and his limbs are enfeebled by a paralytic affection. his memory, as it regards, recent transactions, is much impaired; but he still continues to relate circumstances of his early days, especially those of the revolution in which he was deeply interested, with as much accuracy as ever.
Jeduthan Willington Physician in West Cambridge

Boston, 9 th Dec r 1837.
Sir,
I herewith enclose the application of Mrs. Martha Dean Widow of Thomas Dean dec d for a pension under the Act of 4 th July 1836.
The Captain's name under whom her husband served, tho' not stated in her Declaration, is supposed to have been Abijah Brown of Watertown, Mass. —
I am, sir, very resp t .
Your ob t Serv t
L. M. Stone
J. L. Edwards Esq r Comm r of Pensions Washington D.C.

Om. June 23.
Mss: Add: p Martha Dean
John H. Edwards Esq. Pioneer of Pioneer Washington D.C.

Om June 23.
Mss:
Add: p
Martha
General Committee of Pensions Washington D.C.

Boston June 19 th 1838
Sir I have received your favour of the 8 th Inst. & have endeavoured to find some living witness who could testify to the fact of Thos. Dean having been in the army after his marriage, but have not been successful in finding any one except Sedathian Wellington. whose deposition was forwarded in the first instance, but not knowing whether he mentioned the fact of his having been in the service after his marriage. I ascertained from him that he was knowing to the fact, and have by the advice of Mr. Homer obtained from him his deposition to that effect, which I enclose to you. Since he gave the first deposition, his strength has failed so much that he is unable to write, which will account for his not signing his name, hoping that this testimony will be found sufficient. I remain respectfully your Obedt Servt.
S. L. Cummings Esq. Washington D.C.
Samuel D. Dean.

West Cambridge Mass
June 17 1838
I Jeduthan Wellington of West Cambridge aged eighty eight do hereby certify that I was a near neighbor to Thomas Dean and was knowing to the fact of his marriage to Martha Sow & that I have heretofore stated on oath to his being in the Army of the Revolution and that he was in the Army as above after his marriage to the said Martha Sow. I do further certify that said Martha is now living in Boston.
Attest to the signature & the declaration above written was made in our presence & hearing.
Eleazar Homer Jr Peter Clark J G Clark W H Hooper
Jeduthan Wellington mark.
Middlesex June 17 th 1838
Then appeared the above named Jeduthan Wellington & made oath before me that the above declaration is true in all its parts. Before me, Thomas Clark Justice of the Peace.

Mr Lyle
1861 MAY 26
May 29
J. L. Badger Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.
1 2
100000

May 29
Mr. Lyle
[Faint, illegible handwriting]
J. H. Putnam Esq. Committee of Pensions Washington D.C.
1 2
100000

Boston May 25 th 1838
Mr S L Cassan
W or Sir
I had an interview a few days since, with Mr Stone the Perkins Clerk of this city, who shewed me a letter he received from you respecting the claim of Mrs Martha Dean to a pension from the U.S. on account of her husband having been an officer in the army of the Revolutionary war. I am aware that the papers in support of her claim were not entirely clear on some points, but the long time which has elapsed since the war, & the difficulty of procuring living witnesses prevent her from furnishing that evidence, which she otherwise would of the justness of her claim, after reading your letter I asked her if her husband had any other title than Lieutenant, she said he was always called Capt d Lieutenant, but she did not think the word Capt d of any consequence & therefore said nothing about it. I called on the Secretary of State & shewed him your letter, he immediately referred me to Mr Homer, who I have employed from the beginning to forward the claim, he being the appointed agent to examine the records; & I believe he forwarded to you what information he was able to obtain from the records in his case; he informs me that the greater part of the records are at Washington, & of course the most important evidence in regard to the case is to be

obtained from them. I do not know that there can be any further evidence furnished that the Thos s Dean who you speak of, as being recorded as Capt Lieutenant of Col Cranes regiment was the husband of Mrs Martha Dean: than that her statement made on oath, appears to agree with the records in your custody; her father Mr Jonathan Loom, was an artificer or house carpenter in the company of Capt Mills. he was in the army two or three years & went to New York with that part of the army which went from that vicinity. Thos s Dean entered the army at the same time with John & Richard Mc Clure, Nathan Simons, John Abial: who was a sergeant; John Sawyer, & Sp t Clark, who was a sergeant in the same regiment with him, (Thos s Dean) your letter does not mention the date at which Thos s Dean name is found on the records: he entered the army at the commencement of the 8 Mo th service in 1775 as Lieutenant; and did not leave until after his marriage in 1778; consequently he was in the service over three years as Mrs Deans declaration & Wellingtons deposition testify: but I will not trouble you with a longer communication, but will leave the case in your hands, hoping that you may be able to find such proof (from the records & other sources) of the justness of Mrs Deans claim, as will justify you in allowing her the pension she asked for.
I remain respectfully your O bt Serv t .
Samuel B Dean.

O. W. AND N. DIVISION.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Dec. 19, 1906.
Searched by Mill
Original No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant _____
Soldier, Thomas Dean or Dane
Service, Mass. Service
Rev. War
Remarks: _____
no claim as above except wid. 14,611.
Chief of Division.

Martha W.H.
36 Orange St.
To the Commissioner of
Pensions
Can you tell me if our Thomas Dean or Deane drew a pension for service in the Revolu- tionary war? Or if his wife drew one after his death. A Massachusetts man perhaps from Burlington Mass.
Should be very grateful for this information. Yours - Mrs Mary S. Harris

Medford. Mass. 104 Salem Street.
Dec. 13 th 1894.
U. S. Pension Bureau. D. C. Washington D. C.
The writer respectfully asks for information concerning her great Grandfather .
Thomas Dean of Boston or Ipswich. Mass. He was born August 6 th 1753. (the son of Thomas & Abigail Dane or Dean.)
Thomas Dean was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and in U. S. service until his death; in the summer or fall of 1778 he went to Red in a government vessel, and the vessel never was heard from.
He had married in March 1778. Martha (Patty) Low and their child (my grandfather)

was born Jan. 1779. My great grandmother - Martha Low Dean of Boston was given a pension on account of her husband Thomas Dean's services - she died in fall of 1839. had received the pension but a few years - although full pay was given her.
The pension was gotten through the influence of John Etheridge of Washington, (a family friend) also the statement of Col. Wellington then of Cambridge Mass. who served with Thos. Dean, in same Co. in the Revolution, and who was still living in the thirties of this century!
We shall be grateful to learn to what Company or Companies my great- grandfather Thos. Dean belonged, what was his rank &c - and the name of vessel he was lost in, also any

date or fact regarding him which may be recorded,
Alas! those are long dead who could tell us - and there must be certain records upon which the pension was based.
With sincere thanks for the research -
Very truly yours -
(Mrs.) Adelaide E. Bordis. 104 Salem Street. Medford. Mass.

X 3,013 Martha Dean widow of Thomas
Mass On bill Nov 14th 53 Capt. 1 mo. 21 d Sergt. h. 1 d. — Capt. First Regt 1-77 Bons Ref. 16 March 15 th 1778
Ad o Capt 1 mo 21 d 6.00 Sergt 1 d 6. 1 30. 16 Capt First Regt 14. 15 283 33 22.07319.49
Sam d B Dean L. M. Dean Boston

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By His Excellency EDWARD EVERETT, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over said Commonwealth.
To all whom it may concern:
Know Ye, That Peter O. Shacher Esq rs is judge of the Boston Municipal Court, and William Hayden Esq rs is a justice of the Peace (an both for the County of Suffolk, — and that Thomas Clark is a justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex; (and they were so at the date of their several attestations) in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commission- ed, and that to their — Acts and Attestations, as such, full faith and credit are, and ought to be given in and out of Court; that the within Attestations are in due form, and by the proper Officers.
In Testimony Whereof, I have caused the Public Seal of the Commonwealth to be hereunto affixed, this twenty ninth day of November, A. D. 1837; and in the Sixty second Year of the Independence of the United States of America.
By His Excellency the Governor.
John D. Sleeper Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Edward Everett

J Wellington offi ce J Dean

I Jeduthan Wellington of West Cambridge Massachusetts being Eighty Seven Years of age, do testify and say that I knew Thomas Dean when a Boy living within eighty rods of him for five or six years. After this he went to Boston as an apprentice. In the year 1775 while the British made Boston a Garrison Town, he quit Boston & came to Cambridge during the summer, and entered the Service of the United States in eight months service. He entered an ensign or lieutenant.
The British Army evacuated Boston in March 1776. — Gen Washington moving his Army to the South he went with them. Some time in the summer season of seventeen hundred & seventy eight he left the Army to go to sea.
He had previously in seventeen hundred & seventy eight married to Martha Low who then resided at West Cambridge. He died at sea leaving her a Widow in said Town and she has remained a Widow ever since and is in very indigent circumstances. And further the deponent saith not. West Cambridge October 18 th 1837
attest Edome Low
J. H. Spring
West Cambridge October 23 rd 1837 Then the above named Jeduthan Wellington appeared and made oath that the above deposition is true in all its parts before me
Thomas Clark Justice of the Peace West Cambridge Oct 23 1837 I certify that the said Wellington is known to me as a man of veracity and his statement is worthy of credit Thomas Clark Justice of the Peace