Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 14813, Gershom Graham, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Graham, Gershon Esther
W 14813
CONTENTS

3361.
Massachusetts.
Esther Graham, widow of Gershom Graham,
who died in the year 1811. of Berkshire - in the State of Mass. who was a private in the Comp'y. commanded by Captain Williams of the _____ commanded by _____ Mass. in the Mass. for Militia for 8 mos. 8 days.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts. at the rate of 2 1/2 Dollars 55 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 th day of June 1840. and sent to John Whiting Great Barrington, Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1840 $ 247.95 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept: 40. 13.75
$261.72
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 rd }
Recorded by Wm C. Yantzinger Clerk Book C Vol. 1 Page 55.
Duplicate certificate issued this day Oct. 18. 42 & sent to J. Whiting
Letter to G N Briggs Jan 31. 1843
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 16 th April 1838 to from 4. Sep r 1840 to 4. Sep r 1841. age Notified 4 th March 1843.
✓

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Berkshire County ss.
On this thirteenth day of August in the year eighteen hundred & thirty nine, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable William P. Walker, Judge of the court of Probate within & for said county of Berkshire, Esther Graham, a resident of Great Barrington in said county of Berkshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty six years & upwards, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 4 th 1836.
That she is the widow of Gershon Graham, who was a soldier in the war of the revolution, a soldier in the Militia — that, at the time of the services performed by him, he was an inhabitant of Stockbridge in said county — that he marched for Boston at the time of the alarm caused by the battle of Lexington in April 1775, in the company of Captain Dibble of Lanes in said county, as she understood, & returned in October or November of the same year. He was what was called a minute man in the militia, & was at the battle of Bunker hill — he was also at the battle of Bennington & served in that campaign — he was also at the battle of Saratoga & at the taking of Burgoyne, in which service he was in the company of, & marched under Lieut. Isaac Ball of Stockbridge. He was also in the service

2 Fishkill on the North river in the state of New York in 1776, under the command of Capt. Nash of Stockbridge.
He was also at the battle of White Plains in 1776, under the command of Capt. Thomas Williams of said Stock- bridge, as I understood. He was absent from this last mentioned service several months & was gone during the winter following. She cannot state the length of his services in the different years, as it was a matter she did not lay up in her mind, but she knows he was absent in the whole a long time, & she should think as much as about two years in all. She was a housekeeper at the time & well remembers she was put to great straits in his absence & had to attend to out-door labor which belonged to her husband, as well as to her ordinary indoor work, while he was gone.
I was informed & understood that my husband was under the command of the different officers I have named, & that Capt. Dibble's company belonged to Col. Patterson's regiment in 1775, but of these facts I cannot be positive; nor can I be positive of the whole length of his service, for the reason I have stated above. But when he last came home I well remember he brought with him a written discharge from the army, which was read by old Deacon Whelpley, a near neighbor, & was called an honorable discharge. Our house was afterwards burned by accident, & that paper & all my husband's books & papers were burned up at that time as I suppose & verily believe.
I further testify that I was lawfully married to the said Gershom Graham on the 10 th day of October 1769 at Kensington parish in the town of Berlin in the state, then colony, of Connecticut, by the Rev. Samuel Clark then the minister of said parish, & that my said husband

died in the year 1811. & that she has remained a widow ever since. She states she is now poor & desires to procure a pension from the United States according to the provisions of the human laws of Congress. She is unable to furnish particular evidence of her said husband's services after so many years have elapsed & his companions are dead. But what evidence she can now find is hereto annexed, to which she wishes to refer the Honorable Secretary of War & humbly trusts it will be satisfactory.
Witness present, John Whiting
Esther her X Graham mark
Subscribed & sworn to
William P. Walker Judge of Probate
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Berkshire County ss. I Henry W. Bishop Register of the Court of Probate within & for the County of Berkshire do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Esther Graham for a pension. That the Hon. William P. Walker is the Judge of said Court & that the annexed signature purporting to be his is his genuine signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this thirteenth day of August A.D. 1839 Henry W. Bishop Register Probate

Asa Markham, Senior, of Great Barrington in the county of Berkshire Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy Eight years, & more, Do testify that in the time of the revolutionary war I was a soldier in the militia at different times - And I testify that I was personally acquainted with Gershon Grahame, then a resident of said Great Barrington - he was a small man in size, but Spiritly & active - I think he was a weaver by trade - I testify that I know that said Grahame was in the service of the United States at the time the battle at Bennington took place in Vermont - He was in a Company of militia in which Isaac Ball of Stockbridge in said county of Berkshire was a Lieutenant - I frequently saw the said Gershon Grahame in the service at the northward in that Company at that time, & also before & after the battle of Bennington - at one time I know Col. Brown of Pittsfield commanded the Regiment - I cannot testify how long in the whole, said Grahame was in the service - But I well remember him at different times, & that he acted as a Baker in the Company to which he belonged - I also testify that said Grahame was in the northern campaign when Burgoyne was marching down from the northward & was afterwards captured, But I cannot say how long he was in the service, it is a matter I should not be likely to recollect after so many years have elapsed. But I knew said Grahame well & saw him often.
Dated at said Great Barrington this 8th day of February A.D. 1839.
Asa Markham
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Berkshire ss. Great Barrington February 8th 1839. Then the said Asa Markham, to me well known, came personally before me & made oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed contains the truth, & nothing but the truth. And I certify he is a man of veracity. Attest: John Whiting, Just. Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Dukeshire County ss.
I Henry W Bishop Regisr of the Court of Probate for said County do Certify that John Whiting before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken was at the time of the taking thereof a Justice of the Peace within said County duly Commissioned and qualified and that his signature thereto is genuine Witness my hand & the seal of said Court this thirteenth day of August AD 1834
Henry W. Bishop Regisr of Probate
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original document.]

4973- Esther Graham
Mass.
abt 4 July '86
M 69. d 11-
Nov 13-1644- age 75- William 8/13/47 16. 66- May -
4973 Wid Esther Graham, Pension Papers

I Daron Graham of Hunter in the County of Greene in the State of New York do testify and say that I am now in the seventieth year of my age and that I will remember my Father Gershon Graham formerly of Great Barrington County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where he died in the summer of Eighteen Hundred and Eleven. And although I was young I will remember his going into the service of the United States as a minute man in the Massachusetts Militia upon the alarm being given of the battle of Lexington. This was in the Spring of 1775 at that time I saw him march with his arms and knapsack for Roxbury & Boston in company with other soldiers & I will remember that he returned again to his family in the fall of that year, having served his country well (as it was then said) in that campaign & at the Battle of Bunker Hill for about six months. afterward when the alarm was given of the British marching upon Bennington, Vermont, I know that the said Gershon Graham again left his home & marched with others to the relief of Bennington & it was always said that he was in the service of his country in that campaign when Burgoin was taken. Also I will remember his leaving home to go with the militia at the time of the Battle of the White Plains in the State of New York and at the Campaign at Fishkill & the Highlands in said State. In the Northern Campaign he belonged to a company (as it was said) commanded by Lieutenant Isaac Bell of Stockbridge, and in the Campaign at the White Plains he belonged to a company commanded by Capt. Thomas Williams of Stockbridge. I cannot of course state the exact length of his service, but from the time my Father was absent in the northern Campaign at Bennington & Saratoga it must have been as much as six months or more. In the Campaign

at Fishkill & the White Plains his term of service must have been as much as a year or more as I know he was absent from home at that time over our own line The Vt was said that he wintered with the army at or near the Highlands in the State of New York at the Campaign at Fishkill it was said he served under Captain Marsh of Stockbridge. — Dated at Cairo Greene County State of New York this eighth day of April 1839.
Aaron Graham
Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year above written
R. C. Field Justice of the Peace in & for Greene County State of New York
I do certify that I am and have been acquainted with the above named Aaron Graham for five years past and believe him to be a man of truth & veracity R. C. Field Justice of the Peace
State of New York. Greene County ss. I certify that Robert C. Field Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit was sworn was at the date of the same a Justice of the Peace of the said County duly elected & qualified and that his signature thereto is genuine.
Witness my hand & the seal of the said County the sixteenth day of April 1839.
William T. D. Mannance Clerk
I have been acquainted with Aaron Graham for several Years, & have had dealings with him — I consider him an honest & an upright man, whose word may be relied on — Cairo April 20 th 1839
Horace Austin

Berlin (Kensington) Conn. April 1 st 1839
I hereby certify that in a List of Marriages kept by the Rev. Samuel Clark in the Kensington Church Record Book, during his ministry in Kensington the following Record is made viz. "Seventeen hundred sixty nine Oct. tenth, Gosham Graham & Ester Pattison, Kensington," with the exception that the dates, instead of being written out as above, are in fair, legible figures, in said Record.
Royal Robbins Pastor of the Congregational Church in Kensington
State of Connecticut Hartford County ss. Be it remembered that before me Luther Beckley a Justice of the Peace in & for said County, personally appeared Royal Robbins who subscribed the foregoing certificate in my presence & made oath in due form of law to the truth of the same. Dated at Berlin this 1 st day of April 1839. Luther Beckley Just. of the Peace

ROYAL B. HINMAN, Secretary of the State of Connecticut, and keeper of the Seal thereof, do hereby certify and make known to whom it doth or may concern,
THAT Luther Buckley Esqr is
and for more than six months last past, has been a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Hartford in said State, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified, having full power and authority, by the laws of said State, to take the acknowledgment of Deeds and to certify the same; also to administer oaths to witnesses and to take Affidavits and Depositions out of Court, and to give certifi- cates thereof; and that full faith and credit may and ought to be given to the official acts and attestations of the said Buckley
in Court and Country.
In testimony whereof, I have, in my capacity of Secretary as aforesaid, hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of said State, at the City of Hartford, in said State, the 16 th day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and 39
And I certify that the signature of said Justice hereunto annexed is genuine.
Royal B. Hinman
Secretary.

In reply to your request of _____, received _____, for a statement of the military history of Gershom Graham a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
Wid. File 14813
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apl. 1775 2 years. Sibley March Thomas Williams Patterson Aug Brann Mass.                                                   
Battles engaged in, White Hill. Aug 77  Bunker Hill  Bensington  Saratoga + rev. Burg.
est. out
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Stockbridge, Mass.
Date of application for pension, Aug 13. 1839 - by widow her attorn.
Residence at date of application, Great Barrington, Mass.
Age at date of application, 86 yrs.
Remarks: 1st mar. Kensington Parish, Berlin Conn. Oct 10. 1769  "Ester Patterson", he died June 1811.
1839 son Aaron age 70 testified.  69  Auditor for death of widow.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

50 Walnut St. New Britain Conn.
Sept. 19-1911.
To Record Div. of Dept. of Interior only one N. 14813 Bureau of Pensions.
Sir:-
Will you please send me the military record of Gershon son of Gershon? Graham, a Revolutionary Soldier of Great Bar- rington. Berkshire Co Mass. He was a private in Capt. Thomas Williams Co. Minute men, John Patterson's Reg. Think he enlisted Apr 22. 1775 perhaps at Stockbridge, marched to Cambridge and was in battle at Ticonderoga - Married Hannah Dickinson. When? where? probably before 1776. Did they apply

for pension? when? and from where, and if so where paid.
Dates of death of both if possible
Any information you can give will be thankfully rec'd
Yours Truly
Mrs W m R Kilbourn 56 Walnut St New Britain Conn.

Esther Graham Wid of Gershon Mass.
Act July 4 1836 Marr'd 1769 died 1811
Alleged 8 mo 8 days p.m. 27 55. 1 inch Multia. (by M. Miller) No deduction
M c Whiting Esq Great Danington Mass.

V 4973
Mass.
Suspended
Let to Geo Whiting Ap.
27 th 1840.
act 4 July '36

U. S. Commissioner of Pensions Rev. War Dept. Washington, D. C.
Friendly send me record of pension paid to Esther "Patterson" Graham, Widow of Gershon Graham, Col. John Pattersons' reg't. Stockbridge, and St. Barrington Mass.
Gershon Graham was my Ancestor and if you can suggest any sources of further information concerning him I shall appreciate it.
4/9/15
Respectfully, Mrs. N. A. Phippeney Waterville, Conn. #9 Sampson Ave.

21 74 1/2

Jershon Graham d. 1811.
Esther m. 1749. 5.
75. 13 Battle Lexington
" 7. 25 The William Vol 16 p 66
77 8 " 6 " Pennington I. Ball. P.
" " Saratoga
76 " Tishkila, Capt. Marsh.
" " White Plains, " Williams
Vol 37-78 Sept 77 to May 78 not a
2h 11
88
27. 5 4
27 1 1

June 13. 1876
Hon. J. L. Edwards. Com r of Pensions.
Ans r Mr. S. J. G.
Washington City.

Great Barrington June 9. 1840.
Hon. J. L. Edwards, Comr. of Pensions.
Sir,
Your letter of the 27 th ult o was duly rec d . respecting the claim of Mrs. Esther Graham for a Pension - Since which I have endeavored to ascertain if there were any new facts capable of being proved in her case - But so many of the Old Soldiers of the revolution are dead that it is not probable any new evidence can be furnished. She too is so old & infirm that it seems out of her power to communicate any new facts in her case. It is not surprising that she was mistaken in the name of the Officer under whom her husband served - She supposed he served under General, as she knew he was out on several alarms. If I remember right, she stated in her application, that she could not be certain who his Officer was: But she stated them as well as she could remember.
This old Widow is one of the many persons who ought to be aided by the benevolent law of 1831 - She is not only very old, but very infirm, & poor - She has not only outlived her husband, but also all her relations who are able to support her & nurse her in her old age. She is now actually the tenant of the poorhouse in this town. As it is certain her husband was a soldier of a glorious revolution, & fought for his country, I am sure you will be disposed, as an Officer of the government, to allow her as much as you can, upon the evidence she has presented. If you will have the goodness to look at her papers again, I think you will be satisfied that she has furnished probable evidence, at least, of more service than appears by the rolls. But she must abide your decision. She hopes you will decide as

7 favorably as you can, & forward her pension Certificate for as large a sum as her evidence will allow.
I am, Sir, respectfully,
Your friend, John Whiting

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
January 16 th 1843.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the 3d section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, Esther Graham — a Pensioner on the Roll of the Boston Mass. Agency, at the rate of Twenty seven — Dollars and 55 Cents per annum, under the law of the 4 th July 1836 , has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1840 , to the 4 th Sept. 1841 .  Bespectfully, yours,
William L. Gass Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

Grant Bannington Mass.
Oct 14/42.
John Whiting
Enc. application of Esther Graham for renewal of her pension cer- tificate. —
W. B. G. See Oct 17/42 Pension office
Esther Graham Dorchester for new cert.

MS.A.1.1.1
Great Bennington Oct: 14. 1842,
Hon. John C. Spencer, Sec'y of War of the U.S.
Sir,
I have delay'd, till this time, forwarding the inclosed application for a renewal of Mrs. Esther Grahams Pension Certificate, in the hope of finding the original amongst the papers in my Office; But not being able to find it, Mrs. Graham is anxious to receive from your Office a renewal of it, so that she may draw the small sum now due on her pension, of which, in her old age, she is much in need. Please to have it directed to me, per mail, as soon as the business in your Office will allow.
Respectfully, Sir, Your Obedt. Servt.
John Whiting

Feb. 18. 1840
4973
FREE
Hon. W. Edwards. Comr. of Pensions for the U. States. Washington City.
Ms. A. 9. 2. 20
1836
Other G. ...

Great Barnington, Berkshire County, Mass. Feb 7 12 th 1840.
For W. Edwards, Com: of Pensions for U. States.
Sir, I herewith send you the application of the widow Ether Graham of this town for a Pension. It is hoped that you will find the Papers correct. The pension to which she may be entitled, tho' it may be small, is greatly needed by her in her poverty & old age .
If necessary, please to write to me on the subject; &, if a Pension certificate should issue, it is her request that the same should be sent to me.
With great respect, I am, Sir,
Your obedt. Servt.
John Whiting

1911 Sept 23. Hist. to Mrs. William R. Kilbourn &
1915 Apr 16. History to Mrs. W.A. Phippney, M.B.H.
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14813
Esther Graham
Widow of
Gershom Graham
Priv Rev War
Act: July 4 th 1836
Index:—Vol. a , Page 389
[Arrangement of 1870.]

MB09

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Berkshire County ss. September 7 th 1842.
To the Hon. John C. Spencer, Secretary of War of the United States. Esther Graham the Widow of Gersham Graham late of Great Barrington in said county of Berkshire, Decd. —
Humbly represents to your honor, that she has heretofore received from the late Secy of War of the United States, an original Pension Certificate to her as the Widow of the said Gersham Graham, Decd who was a Soldier in the war of the American revolution — which Certificate she supposes will appear recorded in the War office of the United States. She testifies that on the day when her agent or Attorney John Whiting Esq. of Great Barrington aforesaid paid over to her the money he had obtained for her at the Pension Office at Boston, (viz) on the 12 th day of October A.D. 1840 — She the Deponent left in the office of said Whiting at Great Barrington her original Pension Certificate & upon her application to him since for the same in order to draw more of her pension money, he, the said Whiting has informed her, that it is lost or mislaid, & that he has not been able to find it. She therefore prays your honor to forward to her another Certificate in lieu of the original one lost as aforesaid.
And as in duty bound prays.
Signed in presence of John Whiting E. Graham
Esther Graham, mark.
Berkshire ss. September 7 th 1842, Then the said Esther Graham personally appeared & subscribed the above petition, & made oath that the facts therein stated are true — Before me John Whiting, Not. Public.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Berkshire ss. September 7 th 1842. I John Whiting of Great Barrington in said county of Berkshire, Esq. do testify that I know that Esther Graham, who has this day made a sworn to the truth of the foregoing deposition, who is a very aged person of over eighty years of age, is the identical person to whom the original pension certificate was granted as the widow of the said Gershon Graham, & the deponent verily believes that the facts stated by her in her foregoing deposition are true; & that he has made much examination amongst the papers in his Office to find her said original pension certificate, & that he has not been able to find it. In consequence of which she has not been able to draw any of her pension money since Sept. 5 th 1840, as he verily believes. I also testify that for many years past I have been well acquainted with the said Esther Graham, while she lived with her said late husband Gershon Graham, & since, up to this time; & I have understood she has uniformly enjoyed the reputation of a woman of veracity. And I think she ought to have another pension certificate granted her for the one lost or mislaid.
John Whiting
Berkshire ss. Since September 21. 1842
Then personally appeared the said John Whiting & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit. By him subscribed before me
Ch. Sedgwick pro. Clerk,

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Berkshire ss.
I Charles Sedgwick Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for said County of Berkshire do certify that John Whiting Esq before whom the foregoing Declaration of Esther Graham was made & sworn to was, on the seventh September instant a justice of the Peace within & for said County & that the foregoing Signature purporting to be his, are genuine & I further certify that Charles Sedgwick before whom the foregoing affidavit of said Whiting was subscribed & sworn to is a justice of the Peace within & for said County. In witness whereof
I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 21 st day of September 1842. Charles Sedgwick Clerk Sup d Jud l Court for Berkshire County