Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4215, William Graves, Mass. Mass. Sea Service

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Graves, William.
A. 4215
Mass. Sea Service
CONTENTS

State of New-York } on this 25 th day of February 1798 Columbia County } hundred twenty five before me, Robert H. Beckman, James Barton & Reuben Morris Justices of the West Court of the City of Hudson in the County of Columbia & State of New-York personally appeared William Graves resident in the said City & Hudson County and State aforesaid, who being by me first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the pro- -vision made by the late act of Congress entitled an act to provide for Pension persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war. That the said William Graves enlisted in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six; that he was enlisted by Lieutenant Frost who then resided in Andover Mass- -achusetts that he enlisted in the Town of Lynn Massachu- -setts, that he served in the Company, by Captain Wilk- -ison in Wilcoxson, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Webb, that said Graves continued to serve in the said Corps in the service of the United States, for the time of nine months from the time of his enlistment. That he was honorably discharged from service at Albany State of New-York, that he served at P'keepsie, That after said discharge from the Land service, he enlisted at Boston in the Naval service. That he was enlisted in said service by Captain Thompson in January seventeen hundred and seventy seven, on Board the Ship Rising States That he sailed from Boston in said Ship & after being out about three months & when in the French Channel was taken by the British ship Seville, That he remained with the British a prisoner three years - That I have now no wife or Family - That I was Eighty one years of age - On the twenty second day of October last past, and am in very reduced Circumstances, by trade am a Shoemaker but by reason of blindness am unable to support myself - That I have no property Real or personal nor decent clothing and stand in need of the assistance of my Country for support, That I have now no further Evidence in my power than now

exhibited of my services aforesaid - That I reside and have for twenty eight years past in the City of Hudson, that previous thereto I resided in the Town of Lynn aforesaid, which place was my residence when I enlisted, the residence of my Captain & Lieutenant was the Town of Dover in the State of Massachusetts.
William Graves
State of New York Columbia County } I, William Graves of the City of Hudson County of Columbia and State of New York do solemnly swear that I was a President Citizen of the United States on the eighth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever disposed of my property, or any part thereof with intent thereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled an Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war passed on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts, or debts due to me, nor have I any in common other than that is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
Sworn to in open court before me the Justice above named this 25 day of July 1825
William Graves
 Jamies Barton  Fletcher M. Beckman  Timothy Mearns 
Subscribed to the State of William Graves of the City of Hudson in the County of Columbia State of New York in pursuance of an Act of the United States to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval service, and in pursuance of an Act of the said Act passed the eighteenth day of March Eighteen hundred and eighteen -
Real Estate not any Personal Estate not any

Note of New York to the Hon. Col. Benjamin Linsley Boston Members of the Justices of the Peace Court of the City of Hud- son as aforesaid do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfac- tion that the within named William Graves did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding deduction against the Common Pleas, and that the value of his property contained in the above schedule does not exceed the sum of one Dollar and we transmit the proceedings and testi- mony taken and had before us to the Secretary for the Department of War pursuant to the aforementioned act of Congress - Hudson February 25 th 1825
James Barton Sketcher M Beckman Stephen Morris
I Edward C. Thurston (Clerk) of the Justice Court of the City of Hudson (which Court is a Court of Record created by an Act of the Legislature of the State of New York, called "An Act to establish a Justice Court in the City of Hudson") do hereby certify that the signatures of Benjamin Linsley James Barton Sketcher Beckman above the Justice of the Peace Court of the City of Hudson on the 25 th day of February eighteen hundred and twenty five, that I am well acquainted with their hand writing, and that the signatures of the said Justices to the above affidavit or declaration of William Graves are genuine. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court aforesaid this 25 th day of Feb- ruary in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & twenty five
Edward C. Thurston Clerk Justice Court

State of New York
Volume of the Country - 37
22. p. New York In County - 32 William Graves of the City of Hudson County and State of said, Do further solemnly swear that I have now no further evidence of my service against the enemy nor know, that the persons with whom I served, & who were privileged to my service were residents of the towns of Hudson & Lapeer in the State of Massachusetts, that I have made due diligence for to obtain further evidence, and find that no further evidence can be procured, that nearly all those persons who would and could testify to my said service, as I am informed and verily believe to be true are now dead and the rest are not to be found by me whether dead or alive, that by reason thereof I am left in this destitute and helpless situation, I do further testify that the reason why I have not made application before for the of my Country assistance is be- cause, I thought I would not ask for its assistance as long as I could see to look at my trade, although possessed of no property, Hudson 25 th 1825.
William Graces
Sworn to in Open Court this 25 th day of Feby 1825 before me
James Barton Fletcher M. Beckman Stephen Morris
Fletcher McBeckman
Stearns & Moore
William Gros, Esq. Solicitor

The within named William Graves in pursuance of the directions from the War Department makes this further declaration or supplement to his first declaration under his oath first that the Regiment commanded by Col. John Cobb and in which he served belonged to the Massachusetts line - That he the said William Graves since the 18 th March 1818 and for some years before has not disposed of any property directly or indirectly Real or personal in trust or otherwise, that at that time, or since, he has not been possessed or the owner of any kind of property, but a few Shoe Making Tools - That he has no relations in the state except as fol- lows - Two Sons, one a Priest and in the Almshouse of this City the other a Shoe Maker by trade and has followed the seas and exceedingly poor - A Daughter Married and in poor circumstances - all are unable to assist him - That the reason why he has not applied before for a pension is that till he had been health able to work and maintain him- self till lately, when age and loss of sight has entirely dis- abled him and can now do nothing & he had made up his mind not to apply for a pension, so long as he could support himself - that he has now no kind of property - and he further states that for more than six months previous to his application for a pension has made use of every means in his power to obtain from persons in Massachusetts who knew of his service, for further proof of the same that he engaged an attorney at Hudson to write on and who did write on a number of letters to his friends there to look up & obtain the affidavits of such persons - But from the an- swers to those letters received those persons were either dead or gone to parts to your applicant unknown - That he is convinced that it is out of the power of your applicant to find any person now living who was with him in the service to prove the fact - That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, except the present - That his name is not on the roll of any state except that of Massachusetts
Sworn in Open Court this 3 18 th day of April 1825 James Boston Fletcher D. Buckman Attorney
William Graves

I Edward C. Thurston Clerk of the Justices Court of the City of Hudson (which Court is a Court of Record by an act of the Legislature of the State of New York passed April eighteenth, eighteen hundred and twenty two, to establish a Justices Court in the City of Hudson) Do hereby certify that Fletcher M. Beckman, James Barton & Benjamin Moore were the Justices of the Justices Court of the City of Hudson on the 18 th April 1825 - That I am well acquainted with their hand writing, and that the signature of the said Justices to the within Supplement to William Greaves Declaration is genuine. For in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court aforesaid this 18 th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight & twenty five
Edward C. Thurston Clerk Justices Court

10/10/10
March 25, 1925
E. Lorenzo King 1209 Grove St., Boise, Idaho
Sir:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. 4215 it appears that William Graves was born October 22, 1743.
While living in Hudson, Columbia County, New York he applied for pension February 25, 1825 and stated that in 1776, while a resident of Lynn, Massachusetts, he enlisted and served nine months as private in Captain Wilkinson or Wilcoxon's Company, Colonel John Webb's Massachusetts Regiment.
Also, that in January 1777 he entered on board the ship "Rising States", Captain Thompson, and after being out three months was captured by a British ship and held a prisoner for three years.
His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish sufficient proof of the alleged service as required by

the pension laws.
At the date of his application his wife was not living, and he referred to two sons and one married daughter, no names stated.
Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.

hon- Resided Elizabeth Richardson Ind.
8765
Let to Mr. R. & Owen Jan'y 4. 1844
Act 4 July 1836

Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions.
Please advise me if William Graves, of Hudson Town, Columbia County, New York, who died in 1828 drew a pension for Revolutionary War Service?
Yours truly
E. Lorenzo King 1209 Grove Street Boise, Idaho.
Feb. 6, 1925.

War Dept. - Pension Office Apr 21-1825
Edw. A. Frazier, Esq. Hudson, May - Sir
The claim of Mr. Graves to a pension on account of Revolutionary service, has been examined - There is no evidence in this Dept. that Colonel John Webb, under whom he states to have served, belonged to the Mass. Line or Continental Troops, and as the law of the 18 th of Mch. 1818, under which Mr. Graves claims, provides for those only who served in the Continental Establishment, his claim cannot be allowed -
The papers in the case will remain on our Files agreeably to the regulations of this Dept.
J.L.E.
(A Copy) mmor Mar 25-1925
Mr. Graves claim found on printed records

425.
P. O.
William Graves
Service:
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: Cause of rejection not on printed list of 1852
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .
1925-mch.15-Hist.15 E. Lorenzo King, MMATF.

Samuel Lewis Affid

State of New York Columbia County ss Samuel Lewis of the City of Hudson County of Columbia State of New York of lawful age being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with William Graves of the City of Hudson that he was knowing to the said Graves serving on Board the Ship Rising States in the year last past was that he was taken a prisoner from said Ship by the British & so remained a prisoner for about three years according to his best recollection as the said Graves has stated in his affidavit or declaration - Samuel Lewis
State of New York Columbia County ss - Hudson October Nineteenth nineteenth 1824 personally appeared before me  Stephen Mowry one of the Justices  Stephen Mowry one of the Justices of the City of Hudson in the County of Columbia Samuel Lewis the signer of the above affidavit and made solemn oath to the same & I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the said Samuel Lewis & believe him to be a man of truth and veracity the competent witness
Stephen Mowry Justice of the Peace one of the Justices of the Justice Court

I do hereby certify that Richard Morris Esquire before whom the within affidavit is made was one of the Justices of the Peace for the City of Hudson on the nineteenth day of Novem- ber 1824 and that his signature to the within affidavit is genuine Febry. 25. 1825 at Hudson
Edward Hueston Clerk Justice Court

Jane Coffins Daffin
Martha Coffin Widow
Spencer the 26 th day of Feby 1825 at 7 o'clock

State of New York - Schen via County of
Canajoharie

State of New York
David Van Nef of Hudson being duly sworn, deposes and saith that he has known William Jones within said city to have resided in said city for about 28 years and during all said time has been a his neighbor to him & well acquainted with him. That said Jones is a shoemaker by trade & has worked at it since he knew him. That he is now a very aged man, and is indigent. Inasmuch as, and in the opinion of this deponent is unable to support himself. That said Jones since this deponent has known him has maintained the reputation of a man of truth and veracity. That this deponent knows the statement said Jones has written made for the purpose of obtaining a pension is true and correct.
from circumstances within my own knowledge & further saith not - Hudson February 25 th 1825
David Van Nef
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 25 day of February 1825
Stephen Moore one of the Justices of the Justices Court of the City of Hudson

I Edward P. Meurston Clerk of the Justice Court of the City of Hudson, a Court of Record, County of Columbia State of New York, do certify that Richard Morris of the said City on the 25 th February 1825 was one of the Justices of the Justice Court of the City of Hudson and that the signa- ture of the said Justice to the within affidavit of David Van Ness is genuine; In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court aforesaid this 26 th day of Feb y 1825 at Hudson
Edward P. Meurston Clerk

State of New York.
I Alexander Jenkins of the City of Hudson being duly sworn depose and say that I have known William James within named to have resided in said City for about 28 years and during all said time has been a very neighbor to him & was acquainted with him. That said James is a Shoemaker by trade & has worked at it since he knew him. That he is now a very aged man & in indigent circumstances, and in the opinion of this deponent, is now unable to support himself. That said James since this deposition has known him has maintained a respectable character, and is in the opinion of this deponent a man of truth and honesty. That this deponent believes the statements said James has written made for the purpose of obtaining a pension is true and correct. Hudson Feb 1825
Subscribed and sworn to before me This 26 th day of February 1825
Alex d Jenkins
Stephen Moore one of the Justices of the Justice Court in the City of Hudson I also have known William James about thirty years and believe him to be a man of truth and veracity. S Moore

I, David P. Houston Clerk of the Justice Court of the City of Hudson County of Columbia & State of New York, which Court is a Court of Record, do hereby certify that Reuben Moores Esquire was on the 26 th January 1825 one of the Justices of said Court, that I am well acquainted with his handwriting, and that the signature of the said Justice, to the within  to wit of the said Justice, is genuine. I am Clerk, whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court at Hudson this 26 th Feb y 1825
David P. Houston Clerk

State of New York, Columbia County ss.
Sared Coffin of the City of Hudson being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he has known William Graves within named to have resided in said City for about 28 years and during all said time has been a near neighbour to him and well acquainted with him. That said Graves is a Pipe maker by trade & has worked at it since he knew him that he is now a very old man and in indigent circumstances and in the opinion of this deponent is now unable to support himself that said Graves since this deponent has known him has maintained a reputable character and this deponent is in the opinion of this deponent a man of veracity, that this deponent believes the statement said Graves has written make for the purpose of obtaining a his pension is in every respect true & correct
Subscribed and sworn to before me This 25 th day Feb y 1825
Sared Coffin
Stephen Mason one of the Justices of the Justice Court of the City of Hudson

I Edward C. Newton Clerk of the Justices Court of the City of Hudson (which Court a Court of Record) County of Columbia, State of New York, do hereby certify that Mellen Moore Justice was on the 25 th Feb 1825 one of the Justices of the Justices Court of the City of Hudson, and that the signature of the said Justice to the within affidavit of and Coffin is genuine. In witness whereof, I have here unto set my hand & affixed the seal of the Court aforesaid this 26 th day of Feby 1825 at Hudson
Edward Newton Clerk.
Edward Coffin

rec d April 21. 1825 19,577
William Graves Hudson New York
4215
Edward A. Fraser Hudson New York
Rejeald April 21 st 1825 - see letter to Agent last of April
Washington City
Hudson Office
Spokane
Yule
1825

Sir
I enclose a Supplement to the Declaration of Mr Green pursuant to your direction, I hope they will be satisfactory. I beg leave to state that I have been for six months past engaged in making  the  particular proof of his having written a number of Letters for Mail to his friends in Massachusetts to seek out & obtain affidavits from a number of persons named by Green. From the answers to those Letters and examined those persons are dead or gone to parts unknown. I hope therefore for the sake of other old distressed men the evidence may be deemed sufficient considering the lapse of time. I have not thought it necessary to multiply the affidavits of citizens of Hudson to establish the validity of Green's out-of-the-ordinary to state that from my experience I do believe that all persons in Hudson who have known him since he has lived there would testify to the same as has been testified to by him, Paul Coffin & David Van Geld.
Hudson 18 th April 1820
Yours Most Respectfully
Edward A. Duse
To Mr Edwards Esq r
P.S. you will find the Supplement Declaration of Mr Green annexed to the original one -