Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4903, William Henshaw, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Henshaw, William Mary
Q 4903
CONTENTS

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th July 1838 entitled "an act granting half-pay and pensions to certain widows"
State of Massachusetts
County of Bristol ss. On this Eighth day of March 1845 personally appeared before the Subordinate Judge of the Court in and for said County, Mary Henshaw, a resident of New Bedford in said County, aged Eighty five years in March 1845, having been born in 1760, 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 7th 1838, entitled "An act granting half-pay and pensions to certain widows". That she is the widow of William Henshaw, who was a Soldier and Officer in the war of the Revolution, that he probably served as an officer in the revolution; that he resided at that time in Milton, Massachusetts, entered the service from there, went with the Northern Army to Lake Champlain &c. serving six, nine or twelve months; on his return he still continued in service and from having heard her said husband often speak of Col Vose, she is impressed with a belief that he served at least a part of the time under him, or under Capt Vose as there was probably two of the same name; that he was at some part of the time a Warrant Officer (enlisted), a sergeant; and that he was also a commissioned officer, Ensign or Lieutenant; that she has seen his commission, which was lost in 1815, in the Great Gale of that year; that he may not have served under those officers and commissions in the war of the revolution; that he served in all, in the war of the revolution several years. She further declares that she was married to the said William Henshaw, on the 23 d day of February 1783, Seventeen hundred and eighty three; by Rev. Samuel West; that her name before marriage was Mary Mitchel; that her husband the aforesaid William Henshaw, died on the 17 th day of March 1826, eighteen hundred and twenty six; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, Seventeen hundred and ninety four, at the time above stated.
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before me
Mary Henshaw
Oliver Prescott Judge of the Court of Probate in the said County.
I certify that the above named Mary Henshaw is a respectable person; that I consider her to be of the age represented by her, and that she cannot from bodily infirmity, attend the court to make her application -
Oliver Prescott Judge of Probate

2 State of Massachusetts,
County of Bristol S.S. Personally appeared before the Subscribing Justice of the peace in and for said County Seth Tallman of New Bedford in said County, aged eighty seven years, after being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he has been for sixty or seventy years personally acquainted with Mary Henshaw of New Bedford and her late husband William for whom revolutionary service she is applying for a pension; that this deponent was present and a witness to the marriage of the said parties in February 1783, seventeen hundred and eighty three; that the said William Henshaw, was during the revolution a resident of Milton in said State, and a soldier in the war of the revolution; that he was the identical person and soldier who served under that name; and that the present applicant for a pension Mary Henshaw, is the identical person and widow of the aforesaid William Henshaw; that the said William Henshaw, died in 1826, eighteen hundred and twenty six, leaving as his widow the said Mary Henshaw, who still remains his widow -
Subscribed and sworn before me this Eighth day of March 1845
Seth Tallman
Oliver Prescott Justice of the Peace
I certify that the above named Seth Tallman is a respectable person,
O Prescott. Justice of the Peace
State of Massachusetts,
County of Bristol S.S. Personally appeared before the Subscribing Justice of the peace in and for said County Cornelius Grinnell of New Bedford in said County, aged eighty seven years, after being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he has been acquainted with Mary Henshaw of New Bedford and her late husband William Henshaw, sixty to seventy years; that he was acquainted with the late husband during the war of the revolution; that he was of Milton in said State, and that he was a soldier in the war of the revolution; and that he was in service at New Port, Rhode Island as well as in other places; that the said William Henshaw, the late husband of the said Mary Henshaw, who is applying for a pension was the identical person and soldier who performed the revolutionary service under that name, and that he died in 1826, eighteen hundred and twenty six, leaving as his widow the said applicant for a pension the said Mary Henshaw, who still remains his widow -
Subscribed and sworn before me this Eighth day of March 1845
Cornelius Grinnell
Oliver Prescott Justice of the Peace
I certify that the above named Cornelius Grinnell is a highly respectable person, & entitled to the fullest credit.
O Prescott Justice of the Peace

State of Massachusetts County of Bristol ss. Personally appeared before the Subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said County, William Tallman of New Bedford in said County, aged eighty three years, after being duly affirmed  sworn according to law, deposes and says that he has been for sixty years a Society personally acquainted with Mary Hen- shaw, who is applying for a pension, and her late husband Will- iam Henshaw; that her late husband was during the war of the Revolution a resident of Milford in said State, and that he was a soldier in the war of the revolution, and the identical person and soldier who served under that name in the war of the revolution and that the present applicant for a pension, Mary Henshaw, is the identical person and widow of the identical person and soldier the said William Henshaw, this said deponent having known the said him from the time of and during the revolution down to the present time; that the said William Henshaw, died in 1826, eighteen hundred and twenty six; leaving as his widow the said applicant Mary Henshaw, who still remains a widow and his widow
Subscribed and affirmed  sworn before me this Eight day of March 1845 the word "affirmed" in testified  sworn O'Prescott J.P.
William Tallman Oliver Prescott Justice of the Peace
I certify that the above named William Tallman is a highly respectable person O'Prescott J.P.
February Twenty third one thousand seven hundred eighty three William Henshaw was married to Mary Mitchel, both of Dartmouth. By Samuel West Minister
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date which is expressed in the record in plain legible figures as follows, February 23 d 1783.
Attest Joseph Gifford Clerk of the town of Dartmouth Joseph Gifford Above named deponent says that I hold the office of clerk of the town of Dartmouth in the county of Bristol and common- wealth of Massachusetts & that the above is a true extract from the records of said town with the exception above named as certified by me. Joseph Gifford Town clerk
State of Massachusetts Bristol County ss. Sworn and subscribed this Eighth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-five. Before me Henry S. Packard Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Bristol County ss. I Anselm Bassett Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County, do hereby certify that Oliver Prescott whose signature is affixed to the certificates  pages on the first page of this sheet, was at the date  thereof was, at the date thereof, & still is Judge of said Court of Probate —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this eleventh day of March eighteen hundred and forty five — A Bassett
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
9th March 1845. I Aaron Sprague Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that Henry S. Packard Esq. whose signature is affixed to the within certificates, is a Justice of the peace in said said County duly qualified to administer oaths —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at Taunton this eighteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty five — A. Sprague

Mary Henshaw Mass
Seth Claimant Oct 11 '43. " Arad Jay 10 May 1845. " Do 23 June '45 " Ditt Feb 12th '47 act 7 July 1838

Aug 198
Valley V Henshaw, Hedgesville, W. Va.
REJECTED
4903
P. O.
Mary Henshaw
Service:
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contra
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

New Bedford Sept. 12 th 1843
J L Edwards
As some time has elapsed since I made application for a pension, & not hearing from it, since the certificate was sent on to your department, I hope as I am advanced in years, & infirm, & dependent on a niece, & sister coming on, that it will be sufficient excuse for my impatience, in requesting of you if it does contain proof enough of my claim, that as early attention to it as practicable would be considered a great kindness, & if it should not contain proof though if you would (& not be giving you too much trouble) inform me, as my memory of particulars has failed me & my connections are all deceased, that knew of my husband's being in the war of the revolution, I must rely on the letter that has been has been forwarded, the only relatives of my husband living (that I know of) is David Henshaw of Boston, formerly collector, & a nephew now a clerk in Washington in some public office, the former being a distant connection & the latter much younger, they would not likely know any thing of my husband, I do not know as there is any further proof I can obtain. The ensigns commission of my husband I recollect seeing, many times Mary Henshaw but was lost with his other papers in the great fire of 1815 please direct the letter to the care of Joseph Saben New Bedford Ms

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston;
May 10 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 the name of William Henshaw is borne as a Corporal, upon a Muster roll of Capt. Seth Sumner, in Col. Benj a Gills' reg t . of militia, marched to R.I. — time of service, 25 days; — roll dated at Dorchester June 2 d 1777; — Upon a pay roll of Capt. Thomas Newcomb, in Col. Eben r . Thayer's reg t . of new levies raised to reinforce the Continental Army, as a private from July 31 to Oct. 28, 1780, including allowance of 3 days for travel, — 3 months, 1 day; * — and upon a pay roll of Capt. John Armstrong, for service at R.I. on "the forty days expedition" in 1781, — 27 days, as a private. The name is not found upon any rolls of any officer of the name of Vose, and no one of the name is found upon any other rolls in this office as serving in any capacity, whose services can be identified as belonging to the individual under whom the claim is made in the present case.
* a part of this comp y . was stationed at R.I. and the other at the north.
, 27
44 - 23

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Pease; Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Application for Certificate of Revolutionary Service by the widow, State of Massachusetts, County of Bristol town of New Bedford - The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the rolls in his office of the service of my late husband William Henshaw - He enlisted in the year _____ from the town of Milton in the County of Suffolk - and State of Massachusetts in the company of Capt _____ in _____ Regiment and served as an officer to _____ until _____ We were married in the year 1783. He died in the year, 1826.
The only other facts which I recollect are as follows - Vis- He went on his first trip to Lake Champlain with the Northern Army serving probably 9 mo or a year, on his return he entered the service again & went to Rhode Island I think, he served under Capt or Col. Vose or under both, as then voluntary officers of that name - Further that he was Corporal or Sergeant, or a warrant officer & promoted from that to be Ensign or Lieut. under which officer officer he served, performing in all said capacities several years service, how long in each capacity she is unable to state, & he may not have served in all of them, but she had seen a commission of her late husband, & often heard him speak of his service; -

1066 11
I am now 85 years old and my memory does not enable me to state any thing further material to the March required - I have empowered Abad Joy of orld, Seneca County New York, to act in the premises as my attorney -
Witness my hand this 4th day of March AD 1845 Signed in my presence by said Mary Henshaw By her atty. Mary Henshaw By Abad Joy her Agent
James Foster Justice of the peace The said Abad Joy appears by documents, exhibited before me to be the lawful agent of Mary Henshaw -
James Foster Justice of the peace

New Bedford September the 28 th 1843
J L Dole
I received a letter from you on the 15 th of this month, informing me that a pension certificate had been issued for me on the 9 th of Sept. & forwarded to J P Frothingham Esq r Newburyport Massachusetts. I sent on there to the Postmaster & the following is a copy of the information received.
Post office Newburyport Sept 26 th
Yours respecting the pension certificate of Mary Henshaw was duly rec d . J P Frothingham Esq r received it as attorney for the widow of Peter Henshaw, formerly widow of Isaac Howard and for Howard's services, Mrs Henshaw now resides in this town, so that it would appear the direction of this certificate was right
J W Hale P M
As there appears to be some mistake you would much oblige me by giving me the information I requested in my letter of the 12 th of Sept. as I am in some suspense about it, as early as convenient, I am the widow of William Henshaw of Milton, & I now reside in New Bedford, where I should like to have the certificate directed, to the care of Joseph Taber, for further particulars I refer you to the certificate, sent to me by the Secretary of State J D Dole, & sent on to Washington about the 27 th of June 1843
Mary Henshaw

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, July 10 1843
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 W m Newshaw of Milton is borne upon the Pay Roll of Capt John Armstrong's Company in Col. Gills Regiment, as a private, and was detached from said Company March 3. 1781 to go on an expedition of forty days to Rhode Island; the rolls do not mention the time of his enlistment. The name of W m Newshaw, is also borne upon the Pay Roll of Capt John Armstrong in Col. Gills Regiment August 13 1782.
There are no other rolls in the office showing further service with regard to said Newshaw.
And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this

Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone: and that said application and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances which tend to satisfy me of the identity of the party described in the application with the individual who rendered the service.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Joseph P. Tillinghast Esq. Jno. A. Bolles Secretary of the Commonwealth.

I Mary Henshaw, aged 84 years, widow of William Henshaw formerly of Milton, Massachusetts, do hereby request a certificate from the Secretary of State of the service of my said husband in the Revolutionary war. He entered the army, I believe, as a volunteer from said Milton, at the age of sixteen. He went to Lake Champlain, & was also at Newport R.I. in service when the French were there. Sometime during his service he held an Ensigns Commission. We were married in 1782. & he died seventeen years ago. My memory does not enable me to state any other facts
Witness my hand this 26 day of June A.D. 1843. Mary Henshaw
Bristol S.S. New Bedford 6 Mo 26 th 1843 Signed in my presence by the above named Mary Henshaw, who I have known for many years Joseph Scillinghart Justice of the Peace
P.S.
All the information I have been able to obtain farther, is that a number of men, were drafted from Milton as soldiers, who were, commanded by William Babcock, & a number, were under the command of Colonel Robison or Colonel Grayton

Hedgesville, W. Va.
June 24-1898
Hon. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir: -
I wish the military record from the Revolutionary Rolls of Col. Rawlings and Lieutenant William Henshaw of Berkeley Co. Va., who enlisted in June 1775- under a resolution of Congress in a regiment raised by Col. Hugh Stephenson they marched to Boston in July 1775. Before the expiration of its term of service Gen. Washington recommended to Congress the raising of a rifle regiment, which accordingly organized. Col. Stephenson died and was succeed in command by Col Rawlings . On 4th of October 1776 the company was stationed at Bergen Point opposite N. York city and on the 12th of November. same year they were engaged for three successive days in severe skirmish at King's Bridge.
Yours respectfully
Valley V. Henshaw.

March 29. 1885. Adair to can May Harkness.
Miss J. E. Edwards Room 4. Peterson Washington D. C.

Ovid March 25. 45
Dear Sir
I enclose formal application for May Hensham, with proof of identity & certificate of her marriage to her - you have some papers on file in your office, as per your letter of Oct 6th 1843 in relation to this case, the case appears to be very clear, but if it appears to you otherwise, I ask only justice not to deny or grant a pension -
Hon. J. L. Edwards Comd. of Pensions Washington D.C.
Respectfully Yours Most Ob d Serv t Abad Joy

May 19. 1845.
Adal tes com
May Newhaw.
Hon J. L. Edwards Comm. of Pensions Washington D.C.
FRID

Died May 16th 1845
Dear Sir
I enclose Secy. Cuff for the revolutionary Service of Mr. Henshaw, if you consider it, as Service performed by the late husband of Mary Henshaw, will it not, when you include the other proof on file, entitle her to a pension
Hon J L Edwards
Comm: of Pensions
Washington
D.C.
Yours Respectfully
Most Obt Servt
Amad Joy

Quebec N.Y. Jan'y 18. '47
Sir
I have had my attention called to the case of Mary Hunsam of Mass - on looking over my papers, I find a copy of a letter from you, or a purporting copy, dated Oct 8 1843, together with yours of May 10. 45 & June 23 rd 1845 - from them all, I judge that the Secretary's Certificate of the service of Mr Hunsam, mentioned in the letter of Oct 8 - 1843 may not have been taken into the act or recoring in yours of the 10 th May 1845 - or June 23 rd '45 if I mistake not the service is 4 M th 23 days, over & above the term in 1782 - how long that was I do not attempt to say; at all events it may be well to get both of the certificates together & determine the case - the widow alleges service in '75 or '76 at the North Lake George, you may have rolls of that service; justice to the widow & equal justice to the Government is my object, you are the judge as to the service
Hon J. L. Edwards
Comd. of Pioneers
Respectfully Your Ob dt Servt Abad. S op

9521
Mary Seahaw William Mass.
act 7. July 38
4903

New Bedford July 19 th 1863
Respected Friend
Enclosed is a certificate in the case of Mrs Henshaw, from her widower, who being far advanced in life, would be glad to have the case attended to as soon as may be convenient. She is not only aged but in circumstances which renders it very desirable that she should receive immediate attention.
To J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
I am Respectfully Joseph S. Lillington

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Henshaw, William GRADE Private LINE Virginia
WARRANT NUMBER 12194 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED July 6, 1792 To Francis Branes, 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.