Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14898, Pellatiah Herring, Mass

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Herring, Pellatiah Katherine
W. 14898
CONTENTS

Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 th April 1838 from 4 Sept 1837 to 30 th Oct 1837 the day of her death. Age 70 years 21. June 1839
Massachusetts 1288
Katherine Herring widow of Pellatiah Herring
who died on the 31 st March 1807 of Norfolk Co. in the State of Massachusetts who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Guild of the reg t commanded by Col Greateon in the Mass ts line for 11 months & 11 days Mass.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 37 Dollars 88 Cents per annum. to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 th day of August 1837 and sent to William Ellis Esq. Dedham.
Arrears to the 4 th of March 1837 $ 227.28 Semi-ann l . allowance ending 4 th Sep 1837 18.94
$ 246.22
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 rd . }
Recorded by J. M. Allison Clerk Book A Vol. 2 Page 51

I Richard Ellis of Dedham in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts hereby certify and say, that I am the Clerk of said town of Dedham at this time, and have in my custody and keeping the Books and Records of said Town, and on said records the marriage of Peletiah Herring Jun., and Katherine Gay is entered or recorded in the following words—viz
“Married by Jonathan Metcalf Esq. Justice of the peace for the County of Suffolk, Mr. Peletiah Herring Jun. and Miss Katherine Gay, both of Dedham Jan y . 27 th 1774—”
Dedham January 4 th 1837-
A true copy of Record Richard Ellis { Clerk of the Town of Dedham
State of Massachusetts County of Norfolk ss January 11 th 1837. Then the above named Richard Ellis a credible witness, subscribed to, and made Oath That the matter of Record set forth in the foregoing Certificate is true—
Before me Richard Ellis Justice of Peace

I Seth Gay of Dedham in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts being in the fifty seventh year of my age hereby testify and say, that I was personally acquainted with the late Pellatiah Herring of said Dedham for the term of twenty years previous to his death which took place according to my best recollection, in the spring season, of the year A.D. 1807; he lived in my neighborhood, and for many years (for a part of the season) labored for us on the farm -
And I further say That I well recollect hearing him the said Pellatiah Herring state at sundry times that he performed Solliers duty for some time at Dorchester Hill near Boston in the month of March in the year 1776, and describe the mode and manner that Dorchester Hill was fortified by the use Fashenes and other materials with much stillness and secrecy in the night time, but how long he served I do not recollect; he the said Herring often mentioned the name of Capt Guild, but as there were Capt Joseph Guild and Capt Aaron Guild in Dedham at that time, I can not say which of them he referred to, whether to both - I also recollect that he the said Herring stated that he served in the first eight months service in the year 1775, when the Enemy had possession of Boston, and that he mentioned the plans of Lord Howe and Vonasket on Boston Bay.
And I the said Seth Gay further say. That I have been, from my youth up; well acquainted with Katherine Herring, now the Widow of said Pellatiah Herring, that she still resides in my neighborhood, and that she the said Katherine Herring, has remained unmarried from the time of the decease of said Pellatiah Herring her late husband till the present day. & at the time I first knew said Pellatiah Herring he had a father living by the same name, but the father died I should think fifteen years before Pellatiah the Husband of Katherine -
Seth Gay
State of Massachusetts County of Norfolk ss
January 10 th 1837, Then the above named Seth Gay known to the subscriber as a man of veracity and a credible Witness, subscribed to, and made Oath, that, the matter set forth in the foregoing Statement is true -
Before me J. H. Ellis Justice of Peace

V1050. 3. m.
M rs Edmords is respectfully requested, whatever the result of the within Application may be, to direct it to the subscriber at Dedham Massachusetts
Yours "Ellis" Katherine H. Brown Mass
not a roll for 19 cts the 1775
in roll of Cash Guild for 8 mo 1775
not a roll Capt Fairbank & Lt Ellis in 1776
not a roll for 2 mo in the fall of 1776 in Cash of Guild Co
not a
allow 8 mo 1775
1 mo Feb 1776
$37.88 2 mo 11 da 1778
100 11. mo 11 days,
M rs Ellis Dedham Mass

Application of Katherine Herring for a Pension under the Act of Congress, passed July 4 th 1836.
State of Massachusetts County of Norfolk ss
On this third day of January A. D. 1837, personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable Sherman Leland, Judge of the Court of Probate, now held at Dedham in and for the County of Norfolk, Katherine Herring, a resident in the town of Dedham in said County, aged seventy seven years, who being first sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the Act of Congress, passed July 4 th 1836. —
I Katherine Herring of Dedham in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, being in the seventy eighth year of my age declare, that I am the widow of Pellatiah Herring late of said Dedham dec. who rendered military services to the United States, during the revolutionary war in the capacity of a soldier or private as herein after described; when this military service was rendered my husband was called Pellatiah Herring Jun r , he having a father then living of the same name. —
I perfectly recollect that for several months before the revolutionary war began my said husband Pellatiah Herring Jun r had engaged in a company of soldiers called minute men, commanded by Capt Joseph Guild and Lieut John Gay my late father, and that he often turned out for drill duty; and I well remember, that on the nineteenth day of April A. D. 1775, when the alarm of Hostilities arrived, at Lexington the said Pellatiah Herring Jun r instantly turned out and went in said Capt Joseph Guild's company to the scene of action, and I think had a skirmish with the enemy at west Cambridge, on his return from Concord, that he remained on duty under arms for the term of ten days, was then discharged and returned home to Dedham, and it is fresh in my memory, that when my husband the said Pellatiah arrived at home, he informed me he had, several days before, enlisted into the first eight months service. —
He the said Pellatiah Herring Jun r then immediately left home, and proceeded to the camp in said Capt Joseph Guild's company in Col. John Greaton's Regiment, and at Cambridge and the neighboring towns of Boston, performed soldiers duty for the term of eight months and was then honorably discharged about the first of January A. D. 1776. and returned to Dedham during this eight months term of service, the Enemy had possession of Boston. —

Service -
He the said Pellatiah Herring Jun n then immediately left home, and proceeded to the camp in said Capt Joseph Guild, Company in Col. John Greaton's Regiment, and at Cambridge and the neighboring towns of Boston, performed soldiers duty for the term of eight months and was then honorably discharged about the first of January A.D. 1776. and returned to Dedham during this eight months term of service, the Enemy had possession of Boston -
Again I think toward the latter part of February A.D. 1776, there was a call for men to go to Dorchester Hill, the said Pellatiah Herring then turned out as a soldier and marched from Dedham with a detachment from the standing company of this part of the town, of which David Fairbanks was then Captain, but on account of said Fairbanks ill health, this company of soldiers were re commanded by Lieut William Ellis most of the first year of the war, and at Dorchester Hill performed military service for the term of one month and was then discharged and returned to Dedham, and when he my said husband returned from this tour of service at Dorchester Hill, I well remember he brought with him the blade of a broken spade, which he got fitted up for a fine shovel & which was used as such for many years afterwards
Again in the latter part of summer and fall A.D. 1776 the said Pellatiah Herring Jun n , left Dedham with a company of soldiers and marched to Nantasket or some place on Boston Bay, and in that tour performed military service for the term of two months was then discharged and returned to Dedham, according to my belief this term of service was rendered in a company of soldiers commanded by Capt Aaron Guild but am not positive of this fact, and I have not been able to find any papers or living evidence to confirm this service under Capt. Guild.
Again in the month of August or September A.D. 1778 Capt. Abel Richards who lived in our neighborhood raised a company of soldiers and my said husband, Pellatiah Herring Jun n , engaged in this company under said Capt Richards, to whose Regiment it belonged I have forgotten, and marched in this company I think to Fort Hill in Boston and there, and in that vicinity performed military service as a soldier for the term of three and a half months, was then honorably discharged and returned to said Dedham making the amount of military service thus rendered by said husband Pellatiah Herring Jun n - Fourteen months and twentyfive days -
I have no other documentary evidence or personal testimony at my command to offer in support of my claim but that herewith exhibited & I believe my said husband performed all the above services as a volunteer, and never received any Pension or gratuity from the Continent or any State - and at the beginning of the last term of service of my said husband we had two children -
And I the said Katherine Herring further declare, that my maiden name was Katherine Gay that I was lawfully married to the aforesaid Pellatiah Herring Jun n on the twenty seventh day of January A.D. 1774, by Jonathan Metcalf Esq. That my late husband Pellatiah Herring died at said Dedham on the thirty first day of March A.D. 1807, and that I have remained a widow ever since that Period, as will more fully appear by reference to the Proof herunto annexed.
Sworn to, and subscribed on the day and year first above written. Before me
Katherine Herring mark A. Leonard Judge of Probate

V1050. 3. m.
M c Edwards is respectfully requested, whatever the result of the within application may be, to direct it to the subscriber at Dedham Massachusetts.
Yours Katherine Brown Mass.
not on roll for 19 Oct 1775
no roll of Capt. Gould for 8 mo 1775
not on roll Capt. Franklin & Lt. Ellis in 1776
not on roll for 12 mo in the fall of 1776 in Capt. Gould's Co.
not on
allow 8 mo 1775 1 mo Feb 1776
#37.88 2 mo 11 da 1775 100 11. mo 11 days,
M c Ellis Dedham Mass

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office,
March 6 th , 1839.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6 th 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," Massachusetts.  Connecticut The children of Katherine Herring, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Connecticut Agency, at the rate of Thirty Seven Dollars and eighty eight Cents per annum, under the law of the 4 th July, 1836, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1837, to the 30 th October, 1837, the day of her death.
Respectfully, yours,
Wilson S. Parrish Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
1288.

Mass.
Re WIDOW, &c.
File No.
14898
Katherine Herring
Widow of
Pellatiah Herring
Brn Rev. War
Act:
July 4 th 1836
Index:—
Vol.
a
Page
311
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Katharine Herring Massachusetts.
Suspended 608 Apr 37 W. Ellis.

No. 2 =

Dedham September 23 rd 1778
Received of Ichabod Gay the sum of Nine pounds advance pay having Engaged to Do the Duty of a soldier for the third Precinct in D r Town until the first Day of January unless sooner Discharged.
£ 9
Pellatiah Herring

No 3-

Dedham January 4 th 1779
Received of Ichabod Gay the sum of forty pounds twelve shillings in full for Doing Soldier Duty for the third Precinct in Dedham
40:12:0
Pettatish Herring

To whom it may concern
I Lewis Colburn of Dedham in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts being eighty years of age hereby testify and say that I was personally acquainted with Pellatiah Herring Jun r before and during the Revolutionary war and afterwards, that I was knowing to the fact, that the said Pellatiah Herring Jun r belonged to a company of Soldiers called minute men some months before the war began, that the said Pellatiah did on the nineteenth day of April 1775 when the alarm of Hostilities at Lexington arrived in Dedham, turn out as a Soldier and marched to the scene of action at or near West Cambridge in a company called minute men, commanded by Capt Joseph Guild. John Gay Linn and in that quarter performed Soldiers duty more than one week and then returned home to Dedham. I was in the same service and I believe, was allowed for thirteen days service, that said Pellatiah Herring Jun r was allowed the same number of days.
And I the said Lewis Colburn further testify and say, that immediately after the above mentioned service was performed, I think about the first of May 1775, the said Pellatiah Herring Jun r entered as a Soldier the first eight month service, in a company commanded by said Capt. Joseph Guild in Col. John Greaton's Regiment and marched to Cambridge or Roxbury and in these towns and others in the neighborhood of Boston performed military services as a Soldier for the term of eight months, and was discharged about the first of January A.D. 1776. and the reason why I know the above facts is, because I served in Capt Guilds company at the same place and for the same term of service with the said Herring.
Lewis Colburn
State of Massachusetts County of Norfolk ss - January 11 th 1837. Then the above named Lewis Colburn, known to the subscriber as a man of sound memory and a credible Witness, subscribed to, and made Oath that the matter set forth in the foregoing statement is true.
Before me Wm Ellis Justice of Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Norfolk County ss.
Jonathan H. Cobb Register of the Court of Probate for the County & State aforesaid hereby certify that Sherman Leland is Judge of the Court aforesaid & that William Ellis is a Justice of the Peace within & for the County aforesaid, & that their several respective signatures to the papers annexed are genuine & true. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & caused the seal of said Court to be annexed this eleventh day of January A.D. 1837
Jonathan H. Cobb Reg Probate Co. of Norfolk

Leah Herring 8 April. W m Ellis

I Joshua Whiting of Dedham of  in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, being seventy nine years of age hereby testify and say: That I served as a Soldier in Capt. Aaron Guild's Company in Col. Robinson's Regiment, at Dorchester Hill near Boston, for the term of two months, that this service began about the first of February February A.D. 1776 and ended about the first of April the same year, and according to my best recollection and confident belief, that Pelatiah Herring Jun. of said Dedham, whom I knew at that time, and long afterwards, served at Dorchester Hill for the term of two months, as a Soldier during the months of February and March A.D. 1776, and that said Pelatiah Herring Jun. performed this service either in said Capt. Aaron Guild's Company wherein I served; or in some company stationed near by it. I recollect that the soldiers called the said Herring by the nick name of Floating Battery, in allusion to something, as I understood; that was said or done by said Herring at some of the alarms, during the eight months service at Cambridge or Roxbury, the year before.
Joshua Whiting
State of Massachusetts County of Norfolk, ss -
May 8 th 1837. Then the above named Joshua Whiting, for many years Chairman of the municipal board of Dedham, and a credible witness, subscribed to, and made oath, that the matter set forth in the foregoing statement by him subscribed, is, according to his recollection and confident belief, true in every part thereof.
Before me affirms W m Gellis Justice of Peace

1. said det. etc. Herring's Claim (In aid of Katherine Herring's Claim)
I Olive Smith of Dedham in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts being seventy three years of age, hereby testify and say; that I was personally acquainted with Pelatiah Herring Jun r . and with Katherine Herring his wife, in the year 1775—, that the reason I was thus acquainted with them was, that they were married a little before the Revolutionary war broke out, and moved into, and occupied a part of our house in the westerly part of said Dedham, where I then lived with my mother who was then a widow, that I distinctly recollect on the first day of the war, I think in April 1775, a short time after the alarm of Hostilities at Lexington arrived; the said Pelatiah Herring Jun r . left our house to go, and I suppose did go to the scene of action near the Enemy's lines at Boston or Cambridge, and I also well remember he was then called a minute man. And I further say that said Pelatiah Herring was absent in the war most or all the of that year or till some time in the winter following, and I recollect of often calling in to said Katherine Herring's room, while her husband was absent in that service, that I recollect that said Katherine was anxious about her husband when absent, and at the time of the alarm this first year of the war, she for many times left our house and went to her mother's house, and returned back the same day or a day or two afterwards, altho' I remember said Herring went into the war as above stated, yet being only in the twelfth year of my age, I can not state with certainty, how long the said Herring served in the first year of said war, altho' I know he was absent from his wife the a considerable time in the year 1775 as aforesaid, nor can I state the officers he served under— The said Katherine Herring now (now the widow of said Pelatiah Herring Jun r —now deceased) is still living, and resides in the west Parish of said Dedham—.
Olive Smith
State of Massachusetts County of Norfolk ss— June 12 th 1837. Then the above named Olive Smith, known to the subscriber as a credible Witness, subscribed to, and made oath that the matter set forth in the foregoing statement is true.
Before me Wm G. Clisby Justice of Peace

I Lewis Colburn of Dedham in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, being eighty four years of age hereby testify and say, that I was personally and intimately acquainted with Pelatiah Herring Jun r , late of said Dedham dec d . from some time before the the year A.D. 1775. till the the time of his death about thirty years ago, and also acquainted with his wife (now his widow) from the same period to the present time, she being still living in my neighborhood, and one reason why I was thus acquainted with said Herring and his wife, was, because we lived in the same neighborhood, the said Pelatiah Herring Jun r and myself, both married our wives just before the war of the Revolution broke out, and we with our wives & families lived in the same house together, nearly two years, from the latter part of the autumn of the year 1775. I was knowing to the fact that said Pelatiah Herring Jun r belonged to Capt Joseph Guild's Company of minute men some months before Hostilities commenced, and marched with said Company on the 19 th of April 1775, that in a few days after this war began; the said Herring engaged in said Capt. Joseph Guild Company & Col. John Greaton, Regiment in what was called the first eight month's service, and that he the said Pelatiah Herring Jun r - did perform the duties of a Soldier in said Company for the term of eight months, a part of which was rendered at Roxbury, a part at Dorchester, but the greatest part was rendered at Cambridge fall near Boston, I am positive that said Herring rendered the services both as a minute man, and as a soldier in said eight months service, served as a soldier with the said Herring in said Capt Joseph Guild's Company, both as a minute man, and through the said eight months service; one circumstance freshly occurs to my mind, viz. for considerable time in said eight month's term of service, Capt Guild's Company with others of the same Regiment, were stationed at the Spot in Cambridge, where where the late Chief Justice Dana's House now stands, and one night late in the fall after the Ice began to make in the Creeks on the bay, there was a sudden alarm, caused as was then said, by the noise made by the floating cakes of Ice in the adjacent creeks by the ebbing or flowing of the Tide. I turned out with the other soldiers and and went some distance when this alarm began , I also recollect that said Herring

was one of the Piquet guard that night, and was quartered at the guard and was not on duty  House when the alarm began, but I perfectly remember, that at some distance from the guard House, I fell in with said Herring and discovered he was bare footed, whether he left his shoes by accident or otherwise I do not recollect, but the soldiers made considerable sport with him for being barefooted in so cold a night and rough travelling, - The alarm was soon over, and after returning to our quarters, it perfectly occurs to my mind, that Gen l Washington came there, and enquired of said Col. Greadon the cause of this alarm, and that this was the only time in my life, I ever heard General Washington converse -
Lewis Colburn
State of Massachusetts County of Norfolk ss. June 8 th 1837, then the above named Lewis Colburn a Pensioner of the United States a man of sound mind and memory and a credible witness, personally appeared, subscribed to, and made Oath, that the matter set forth in the foregoing statement is true -
Before me W m G Ellis Justice of Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. County of Norfolk ss.
I Jonathan H. Cobb Register of the Court of Probate for the County & Commonwealth aforesaid hereby certify that William Ellis is a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Norfolk & that his signa- tures to the affidavits annexed are genuine & true.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this seventeenth day of June A.D. 1839.
Jonathan H. Cobb Reg. Prob. Co. of Norfolk

14.898
Maps
Katharine Herring widow of Peletiah - Muster roll with drawn from this case to be put on the files of "Rolls - C o of Capt Richards Map C o H reg

Dedham June 17 th 1837
M c Edwards Sir
Your Note to me of the eighth of April last, in relation to some more Explanatory evidence in the case of Katharine Herring, was duly rec d and its contents communicated to her at the time, soon afterwards, she came and stated before me and stated the same services of Pelatiah Herring jun r . her late husband, as described in her declaration at the war department, and has since procured the inclosed Affidavits, which I hope will confirm that part of the military services in the case, to which they refer.
I did not perceive by your Note, whether the evidence of the said Herring's service, rendered in Capt a Abel Richards's Company in the year 1778, was, or was not, deemed sufficient for that tour of service, and I know not whether any further personal testimony can be procured that would be serviceable on that point, there is however, a man by the name of Enoch Wilson living in the westerly part of our County, who claims to have served in the same term of service under said Capt a Abel Richards in the year 1778, but understood said Wilson belonged to Needham six or seven miles from Dedham where s d Pelatiah Herring belonged, and has not yet recollected said Herring's services so as to testify in this case.
As soon as convenient, I hope to be informed of the result of the Claims of - Lydia Rhoads - Sarah Tilden - and Relief Dunbar - now pending at your Department -
I will only add, that a few days since, I took the liberty to forward you the late Centennial Address of our Town and hope the same has been received -
Respectfully
Your humble Servant W m Gellis
James L. Edwards Esq. Washington City

Documents Numb - one to three, in aid of Katherine Herring's Application for a Pension under the U.S. act of July 4 th 1836
Jonathan H. Cobb Reg. Probate Co. of Norfolk