Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14,559, Francis Goss, Mass Mass Sea Service Privateer.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass Mass Sea Service Privateer
Goss, Francis Colley, Elizabeth Former widow
W.14.559
CONTENTS
[Blank lined area for contents]
[Blank lined area for contents]

Set to James Gregory x Pan. Ag t (drop) March 26, 1840 Set to James Gregory April 25, 1840. Jas Gregory 27 June '40
Massachusetts 1753
Elizabeth Colley formerly widow of Francis Gop dec d .
who died in the year 1778 { Mass of Essex Co. in the State of Mass a . { Mass Sea Ser who was a Pr t of Inf ty in the Company commanded { Provision by Captain Follenplane of the _____ commanded by _____ in the Mass a . line for 6 mos & 26 days Pr t of Artillery " " " " " Inf ty .
Increased from $26:38
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass a - at the rate of $19 Dollars 27 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 36 th day of July 1838 and set James Gregory Marblehead Mass a .
Arrears to the 4th of March 1835 $346.89 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. 24.63
$371.52
{ Revolutionary Claim, { Act July 4, 1836, { Section the 3 d Act { March 1837 }
Recorded by N. Addison Clerk, Book 17. Vol. 2. Page 17

Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss. Marblehead County of Essex
On this fourth day of October, A.D. 1837, personally appeared before the Court of Probate of the said County of Essex, Elizabeth Colley, a resident of Marblehead in the said County of Essex & State of Massachusetts, aged Eighty years, 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 acts of Congress, passed July 6 th 1836 & March 3 d 1837. — That she was first married to Francis Goss on the fifteenth day of January 1775 as will appear by the certificate hereto annexed, that her said husband was lost at sea while on his passage from Bilboa, in Spain to the West Indies in the year 1778. That after being a widow about eight years she was again married June 30 th 1786 to William Colley - now written Colley, & lived with him till December 1829, when he died, & she further declares that she has not married since.
That her said first husband, Francis Goss, enlisted in the "Marblehead Regiment" commanded by Colonel John Glover, late of this town, afterwards Brigadier General in the Continental Army — in the Spring of 1775 — a few months after her marriage — & she believes the first part of the month of May. That he served in that company of said Regiment which was commanded by Captain Bacon; that he enlisted for eight months in said Regiment, & marched with it to Cambridge, & there served out his full time — around Boston — was discharged & returned home the last day of the year (December the 30 th ). Of this last date she is positive & certain on account of some circumstances connected with her peculiar situation at that time.

That as she was sick, in distressful pecuniary circumstances at that time her said husband staid at home that winter & like some time in the spring of 1716, when he entered the State Proops Service that was raised to guard the Coast, that he served in the Port in this town, & as she believes in the Company commanded by Captain Edward Kellyston late of this town, that as there was also two other companies located here - one commanded by Capt William Hooper, the other by Capt. Thomas Felton, & nearly all made up of town citizens, she thinks it possible that her said husband might have served in one of the latter, that she cannot recollect the precise period of service for which he entered said State Proops, nor the exact length of his term of service, as she has no Documentary evidence to determine the fact, she states from the best of her recollection that it was more than six months & less than a year.
She further states that after her said husband finished his service in the State Proops, in the Port of this town as aforesaid, that he went two cruises Privateering - the first in a Schooner out of Cape Town commanded by Captain Jeremiah Webband - name of the Schooner not remembered - & after an absence of 9 months - During which they captured several prizes & carried them into Balboa in Spain - this returned home. That after this he went another cruise in a Brig - she believes - called the Franklin - out of Salem - was retaken & carried into Corrunna in Spain - how it happened that said prize could have been retaken & carried to said Port of Spain she cannot tell, but she is nevertheless certain of the fact from good information which she afterwards received. After this he proceeded to Balboa - took passage for the West Indies, & was lost on said passage as above stated in the year 1718.

The further Declares that she was born & brought up in said Marblehead, & has resided here nearly ever since her birth, that said Francis Goss also resided in Marblehead when he enlisted, also at the time of his death. She hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity, except the present, & declares that her name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State.
Witnessed by James Gregory Nathan Bowden.
for Elizabeth T. Colley mark
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid before,
J. H. White Judge of Probate for the said County of Essex.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant is the widow of the said Francis Goss - her said first husband, & that the said Goss was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as such States.
I, Nathaniel Lord Jr. Register of Probate for the said County of Essex, in the said State of Massachusetts - do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of the above named Elizabeth Colley for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this fourth day of October, A.D. 1827.
Nathaniel Lord Jr. { Register of the said Court of Probate.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Essex, Marchland October 20th 1827.
I, the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace within & for the said County of Essex, do hereby certify & declare, that since the execution & subscription of the within Declaration of Elizabeth Colley & the annexed Affidavit of William Harris no alteration, interlineation, or erasure of any kind has been made to them or either of them, & that this certificate shall & will hold true, in all respects, up to the time of depositing them into the custody & keeping of the Post Office for the purpose of being transmitted to Washington.
Attest, James Gregory , Justice of the Peace.

From Clerk's certificate of the marriage of Elizabeth Coal (now Colley) to P. Goff.
2836

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Town of Marblehead October 3 d 1837 Town Clerk's Office.
I, Richard Hooman do on oath declare that I am clerk of the Town of Marblehead, in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and that I have the custody of the records of said Town, and that it appears by the said records that Francis Goss and Elisabeth Goss, both of Marblehead, were joined in Marriage January 15 th 1775 by Rev. Isaac Story. That said Goss married William Colley June 30 th 1786. Rich d Hooman
Essex ss.
October 3 d 1837.
Then personally appeared Richard Hooman a credible witness, and made solemn oath that the certificate signed by him is true.
Before me,
James Gregory, Justice of the Peace.
Town Clerk's Office, aforesaid, Marblehead Oct. 20 th 1837. I, Richard Hooman, the above named Clerk of the said town of Marblehead having understood - since executing the above affidavit - that the new regulations of the Purvis office require that the date of the marriage of widow applicants, must be written out in full. Do hereby depose & say, that the above is the true date of the marriage referred to, & that the first date, according to the aforesaid records, is exactly & truly represented in the following words, to wit, January fifteenth  seventeen hundred & seventy-five . Known to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. before me, James Gregory, J. of the Peace. Attest, Rich d Hooman { Town Clerk of the aforesaid town of Marblehead.

not on roll Cape
Museum
on roll page 268
vol 35 Cape Edward
Fittipaldi for 20 ha
to 1 June 1776 6-3 mo
10 days matrop.
do. Cpt Fittipaldi
3 m for 1st June 1776
page 330
admitted 6 mo 10 days matrop $26.38 3/4
James Gregory
Marblehead
Mass.

I, William Harves, of Marblehead, in the County of Essex, & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being sworn according to law, do on oath testify & declare, that I am in the eighty-fourth year of my age; that I performed various services at different periods of the war of the Revolution. - That while I was engaged in the service I was acquainted with Francis Goss, late of this town, & I have understood that he belonged to the Marblehead Regiment under Colonel John Glover, & also that he belonged to the State troops who when stationed in this place, & I further have no doubt in my mind of the fact, but as I never changed my mind particularly with it I cannot state it for a positive fact.
I am & always have been well acquainted with his widow, now Elizabeth Colley.
After Goss' death - the circumstances of which & the time of which I cannot state any thing in particular about - she married
William Colley late of this town, who has now been dead a number of years, & I know that said Elizabeth Colley whose first husband was the said Francis Goss, has not married since. I am entitled to state that I am now in the receipt of a Pension for part of my revolutionary services.
Witnessed by,
William Harves
Thomas P. Bassett James Grogan

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
October 3 rd 1837
Essex ss. Then the within named William Harris, a credible & undoubted witness, personally appeared & made solemn oath to the truth of the within affidavit, by him subscribed, before me,
James Gorgory, Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss.
I John Prince Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in said County do certify that Hon. Daniel A. White is Judge of the Probate Court in said County - that James Gregory Esq. is a Justice of the Peace in said County & that their signatures hereon are genuine. Witness my hand & the seal of said Court of Common Pleas October 18. 1837
John Prince Clerk

Massachusetts 1.73
Elizabeth Colley formerly widow of Francis Goss dec d
who died on the year 1778 of Essex Co in the State of Mass a who was a Matrop in the Company commanded by Captain Tilton & Land the _____ commanded by _____ in the Mass a time for 6 months & 18 days 26.38 6.26 d. pr. m th 22.88 Increase to 49.26
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass a at the rate of 26 Dollars 38 Cents, per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 rd day of Feb y 1838 and sent named Gregory Marblehead Mass a
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1837 $171.47 Semi-annual allowance ending June 38 - 13.19
$184.66
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 rd }
Recorded by H. H. Addison Clerk, Book 7 Vol. 2 a Page 47

Marblehead, February 7 th 1840.
Honored Sir:
I have the Honor herewith to enclose a Supplemental Declaration of Mrs Elizabeth Colly, formerly widow of Francis Goff . It will be seen that she is already Pensioned for part of Goff's Revolutionary Services, & that she states that by reason of defective memory, &c she omitted to state in her original Declaration certain Naval Service alleged to have been performed by him after his Land Service
Mrs Colly's Pension Certificate is forwarded also herewith.
I have the Honor to be, very respectfully,
Your Mt. servt.
James Gregory
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions. Washington, D.C.

FREE
E. Cady
Ms. A. 9. 2. 36 v. 1
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.

Marblehead, June 18 th , 1840.
Honored Sir, -
Your favor of the 25 th of April last, in answer to my letter of the 13 th of the same month, relative to the claim of Elizabeth Colley of this town, under the law of July 4 th 1836, was duly received. It was only at the earnest solicitation of the poor old lady that I consented to take charge of her Supplemental claim for the alleged service of her former husband, Francis Goss, on board the Brig Mary-Ann, inasmuch as no record of it was known in this quarter, & no living witness could be found, as far as I could ascertain, in proof of it; but as scarce a doubt can exist that most of these aged applicants would be entitled to full Pensions, if they could furnish the naked truth to the Department of all the meritorious Public Service Honorably performed by their late husbands, I felt myself bound to do whatever I honorably & justly might do in an effort to obtain for her the full benefit of the law in that behalf made & provided.
In the pursuit of this object I am sure your Honor will be among the last to deny that the pensions both warranted & justified the course pursued.

From the answers of your Honor to this application of the 26th of March & 25th of April, you take it for a certainty that the Gof's found on the Roll of the Brig Massachusetts marked as a Deserter must have been her late husband, & therefore give me to understand that she must be cut off from the amount already allowed her for the service already acknowledged to have been previously & honorably performed.
I had hoped that a liberal view of all the circumstances of Mrs Colley's case - as detailed in my letter of the 13th of April - in the absence of all positive proof that it was her husband, none other that deserted, (although as a mere matter of belief I myself have no doubt it was him) - that these considerations - aided by the liberal administration of the Pension Laws , sanctioned by the Department - which have ever construed doubts in favor of applicants - would at least have restored to her the original pension certificate.
I have as yet foreborne making known to the poor & penniless, but worthy & virtuous old lady, the fate which appears but too plainly to await her claim; for from her great age & delicate health I do not doubt the intelligence will

as certainly be death to her as the axe of the executioner would be - though possibly more tardy in the operation.
Under all circumstances, therefore, if your Honor should, upon a review of the evidence in the case, decrease it as proved to your satisfaction that it was Mrs. Colley's former husband & none other who is marked as a deserter from said Brig, & that the proof is strong enough to your mind to deny her title to the small pension previously allowed her, I do most respectfully beg that your Honor will state the fact in so many words, & this in a letter direc- ted to the widow herself. Such a letter whenever received I must hand over to her Pastor, & desire 12 his good offices to communicate it to her in company with such religious consolations as he might command. Should the old widow survive the intelligence I must of course refer her & her friends to Congress as the only power that can by any possibility restore her to the Pension List again.
I am, with the highest respect, Your Honor's ob't. serv't. James Gregory
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, (D. C.)

Payment to be made at Boston Mass a by Franklin Haven Esq. Agent for paying Pen- sioners, in the Agency of Massachusetts
Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book A Vol. 2 d Page 17 by M c H. Addison Clerk.

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that, in conformity with the 3d section of the law of the United States, of the 4th July, 1836, Elizabeth Golley of Massachusetts, formerly widow of Francis Goff, dec d who was a Private of Infantry and Artillery in the War of the Revolution
is entitled to receive Forty Nine — dollars and Twenty Seven cents per annum, during the time she may remain unmarried, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September. {This certificate is issued in lieu of one dated February 3 d 1838 for $26.38 which has been} Cancelled
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 26 th day of July one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight
S. Cooper Acting Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned. §
J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions.

Payment to be made at Boston Mar. 6 th by Franklin Haven Esq. Agent for paying Pen= sions, in the Agency of Massachusetts
Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book 1. Vol. 2 d Page 4 by H. H. Addison Clerk.

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that, in conformity with the 3d section of the law of the United States, of the 4th July, 1836, & the law of March 3 d 1837 Elizabeth Colley of Massachusetts, formerly widow of Francis Gop deceased? who was a Major in the war of the Revolution is entitled to receive Twenty Six — dollars and thirty eight cents per annum, during the time she may remain unmarried, commencing on the 4th of March, 1837, and payable semi-annually, on the 4th of March and 4th of September.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 3 d day of February one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight
J. R. Poinsett
Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned.
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.

Apr 18. 1840
Mass.
E. G. Gally
FREE
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.

Marblehead, April 13 th , 1840.
Honored Sir:
I duly received your favor of the 26 th ult. relative to the claim of Mrs. Elizabeth Colley formerly widow of Francis Goff deceased, late of July 24 th , 1836, as alleged in her Supplemental Declaration forwarded on the 7 th of February last.
Your Honor states that the name of her said former husband is not found on the Rolls of either of the vessels mentioned by her, (the Schooner Warren, Capt. Bush, is not mentioned in your favor, though referred to by her,) except the Brig Massachusetts, on the Roll of which vessel the name of Francis Goff is borne & marked with three others as having Deserted . It is then in substance stated that by reason of said Desertion she is not entitled to the benefit of the Pension formerly allowed her &c.
In answer I beg leave to observe, that, without undertaking to say the Francis Goff mentioned on said Roll as a deserter might not have been Mrs. Colley's former husband, (for I believe if the one on said Roll hailed from Marblehead it could have been none other than him,) it is rather singular, if Mrs. Colley's oath can be believed, affirming that he actually went on said cruise & returned home in the "Light Horse Brig" prize - that he should under such circumstances have Deserted , when he must have known the cruise was

was well nigh ended, & when he must have had every inducement to stay by the Prize with the view of securing both his Prize money & his Wages.
But waving all considerations of the improbability of the desertion of Goff under such circumstances, & even admitting it as undoubtedly true, - I will submit to your Honor whether his widow ought on that account even to be deprived of the benefit of other distinct & separate periods of service honorably performed on the Land . I humbly conceive that the liberal construction given to the Pension Laws by the Department - constructions so liberal that the Attorney General appears to have decided against deducting even the arrears of Defaulters from the sums due them under said Laws - I humbly conceive & submit, that, under such liberal & benevolent constructions, the Department will never break the poor old widow's heart, and deprive her of the few more days - perhaps hours - allotted to her hereby depriving her of the small pittance previously allowed her.
Mrs Colley's case is at best a very hard one. Goff, it is agreed on all hands among the old folks in Marblehead, was in much service in the Revolution, & that too of a Public Nature , & there is little room to doubt that the good old widow (she is in her 84th year,) would be in the enjoyment of a full Pension , if she could find the necessary proof of all her Public Service honorably performed . Her second husband too, William Colley, was active in the Revolution - was captured & kept a close prisoner in Edinburgh Castle for the long period

period of four years - the effects of which both he & his Partner - the present widow - most severely felt in after life.
Under all circumstances, therefore, may I not be permitted to hope - if Mrs. Colley cannot have the benefit of Goff's services on board the Brig Massachusetts - that her old Certificate may be returned?
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your Honor's ob. servt. James Gregory
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.

Reidy
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14559
Elizabeth Colley Widow of Francis E. Eves Pre Gen War
Act: July 4 th 86
Index:—Vol. A , Page 148
[Arrangement of 1870.]

for proof of service in 1775 in the City of New York in the War of the Revolution of Mass.
Oct 27
cl. 32 lat. 42.35
Mass
July 36
Sec
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington City. District of Columbia.

Thomas L. Sanders Esq. Common Pleas of Pennsylvania Washington City District of Columbia
Mass Oct 27
July 36
Cl. 32 latem ab.
For proof of service in 1775. See Art of Secy of State in the paper of Lydia Dennis of Mass. H.H.

Marblehead October 21. st 1837.
Honored Sir, - I shall this day deposit in the Post Office of this place the Declarations of Sarah Roundy, Elizabeth Colley, & Robert Pierce - Sometimes written Peirce & sometimes Pearce - for the purpose of claiming Pensions or annuities - the two first under the third section of the acts of Congress of July 4 th 1836 & March 3 d 1837, & the latter under the law of June 7 th 1832.
You will perceive that the two widows claim through their first husbands, & of course would not thus have claimed under the third section of the act of July 4 th '36 before its amendment by that of March 3 d 1837.
I am fully aware, honored Sir, that any remarks which I might make appertaining to these claims can be considered by yourself as merely informal, & cannot be of any weight except so far as they may tend to elucidate anything incidental thereto, & not contrary to the naked & unstrained evidence which the Declarations & Documents appended support or affirm. Entertaining these views I will observe

that no one can know better than yourself the difficulty, &c. in some instances, rather impossibility of obtaining living witnesses to identify Revolutionary services, although tradition & incidental circumstances appertaining to the applicant, may make it even more than probable that the services set forth were truly performed. With regard to the services of John Dupan (formerly written Duppan ) through whom his widow, now Sarah or Sally Roundy now claims - She cannot find a single individual living who belonged to the Gloster battery at the time of the accident by which he was wounded & driven from the service, & therefore cannot, with absolute certainty, swear to the precise length of his service, but it is probable that an event, of so much importance as the results of the accident referred to, must have a date & place upon the records of the Army in your possession. If therefore those records should not show six months service before the wound (which can be proved traditionally by a number of witnesses) it would appear probable that the hope of his widow for pecuniary relief must eventuate in disappoint- ment, unless the existing laws & regulations will allow for the time of confinement by wound as well as imprisonment . I will barely add to this that his widow is a professor of Christianity & unspotted moral character, & believed by those who know her to be incapable of intentional misrepresentation.
With regard to the service of Francis Goff, & the consequent

claim of Elizabeth Colley - in the fort of this place & the State Troops, it is understood that these services can now be ascertained with the same facility as that of the Continental Troops, inasmuch as the Rolls of the Massachusetts State Troops are now in your Department. It is therefore hoped & expected that the services of said Goff will be there identified, & determined, as no person, in either this town or vicinity, is known to be living - by the party - who was a member of the Company of Feltz place referred to.
With regard to the claim of Robert Pierce I would observe that it will probably have to rest entirely upon such evidence as the Rolls of your Department will furnish. No one is at present known in this quarter - by him who now knows or would be likely to know (except as mentioned in his Declaration) of his services. Those who know him well have no doubt of his performing as much service as he states, but he has "broken down" so much within the last few years, (now 88 years of age) that it is quite probable that he might be mistaken as to the officers under whom he served.
I have known him as a man of character & integrity for nearly 40 years. During all which no slave has probably performed more labor & fatigue - & I have no doubt of his Revolutionary services, whatever might be the fact as to the corps in which, or officers under whom he served.
I will briefly add that the next day after the papers herein referred to were authenticated, I learned that the Pension Office had adopted new regulations with regard to marriage certificates - requiring them to have the dates & written out in full, & believing that a new certificate of the Town Clerk attached to those already sworn to - would under the circumstances of the case be deemed satisfactory I procured it accordingly.
Begging your indulgence & pardon for the intrusion of these remarks permit me to subscribe myself
J. L. Edwards Esq. Yours respectfully, James Gregory C. B. Washington D.C.

vol 39 p 4 76-17 aug - Mass. Brigg 12.3 - in 77. X
Vol 39 p 4 - Mass th Brigg - 17 aug 76 - desuted

I, Elizabeth Colley, of Marblehead, in the County of Essex, & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do on my oath testify, and declare, that I am in the Eighty-fourth year of my age, that I was formerly the widow of Francis Goss, & am now the widow of William Colley: that I am a Pensioner under the law of July 4th, 1836, with the explanatory act of March 3 d 1837, to the amount of $49 27 per annum, for want of the Revolutionary Services of my said first husband, Francis Goss : that by reason of old age & consequent defect of memory, when I made my legal Declaration, October the 14 th , 1837, I omitted to state & declare that at the time my said first husband, Francis Goss, left the Marine Service of Capt. Edward Pettipiece's Company, in August or September, 1776, he, with about forty of his fellow townsmen, also of said Pettipiece's Company, immediately entered the Public Naval Service on board the State Brig Massachusetts , Daniel Souther commander, & that he served in said Brig as a Seaman for several months, but the exact number of cruises or months I cannot recollect. I do however distinctly recollect that he came home in a Prize Brig, commonly known as the Light Horse Brig , captured by said Brig Massachusetts, into the Port of Beverly, & that he took me over to that place in a Chaise to see her.
And I do further testify & declare, that my said former late husband was several other cruises in several other vessels after he so served in the Brig Massachusetts; & that he might have been in either the State Brig Independence , Capt. Jonathan Harnadee, the State Brig Freedom , Capt. Thomas Clouston, or the Continental Schooner Warren , Capt. William Burke - one or the other if not in all these vessels . I well know that the crews of these vessels were made up to a large extent of Marbleheadmen, & that my said late former husband served mostly where his fellow Marbleheadmen did; and as I do not know of a single soul living who served in the last named vessels, & have no documentary evidence of either, I do therefore beg that the Rolls of all said vessels may be examined for the name of said Francis Goss. And I do further declare that no other man of that name lived in said Marblehead in the said War of the Revolution.
Subscribed by James Borden
Elizabeth her X Colley mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ss. Marblehead, February 7 th , 1840. County of Essex.
Then the above named Elizabeth Colley personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the above affidavit, & subscribed the same in my presence.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand, & affixed my Notarial Seal, the day & year last above written.
James Gregory, Notary Public.