Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14915, Amos Howard, Mass. Navy

SERVICE
Mass.
Navy
Howard, Amos
Mary
NUMBER _____
W. 14915
CONTENTS

5511. Massachusetts. Mary Howard, widow of Amos Howard,
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the in February 1796 - of Suffolk, in the State of Mass tts - who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Crafts - of the Reg t commanded by Col: Gridley in the Mass: Arty. time for by - for 18 mos. -
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts. at the rate of 80 - Dollars 83 - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of June 1840. and sent to Alexander Homer - Boston, Mass:
Arrears to the 4th of March 1840 $ 323.32 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept r 40. 40.41
$ 363.73
{ Act July 7, 1838. }
Recorded by Wm C. Gantzinger. Clerk Book a. Vol. 1 Page 96

THE NEW TESTAMENT OF OUR LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST,
Newly Tranflated out of the
Original Greek:
And with the former
TRANSLATIONS
Diligently Compared and Revised.
By His Majesty's Special Command.
Appointed to be Read in CHURCHES.
L O N D O N,
Printed by the Affigns of His Majesty's Printer, and of Henry Hills deceased. M DCC XXXI.

Boston August the 19 - 1736 Given to his Grand Son Amos Howard - February 1784
Bolly, Frank Howard, born Dec. 6, 1784 Elizabeth Howard Born October 23 1785 Nancy Howard born August 20 1787 Patty Howard born June 19 1789 Clarissa Howard born August 1 1791
Nancy Howard died Sep. 2 1792
Amos Howard and Judith Howard Given to his Grand son Amos
Mary Walker Amos Howard and Judith Howard March 4th 1787

Declaration.
State of Massachusetts } ss. County of Suffolk. }
On this first day of April, one thousand eight hundred and forty, personally appeared before me William Simmons, one of the Justices of the Police Court, within & for the City of Boston — Martha Howard, aged fifty years, daughter of Mary Howard, an insane person, aged eighty-one years, a resident of Boston, in the county aforesaid, who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain for the said Mary Howard, the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows;" That the said Mary Howard is the widow of Amos Howard, who was a Carpenter's Mate on board the United States Brig General Gates, John Skimmer, Esq r commander, from the latter part of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven, till September, one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight.
She further declares that the aforesaid Mary Howard was married to Amos Howard on the fourth day of March in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty one; that the aforesaid Amos Howard, the husband of Mary Howard died in February, seventeen hundred and ninety 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, viz: at the time above stated: and that she was never afterwards married.
Martha Howard
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year above written, Before me,
Wm Simmons, Justice of the Police Ct.

I, Micah Orcutt, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being eighty three years of age, do testify and say that I was well acquainted with Amos Howard of Boston, and served with him on board the Continental Brig General Gates, John Skimmer Esq, Commander, where I believe he entered as Carpenter's Mate in the latter part of the year 1777 and continued till September, 1778.
Micah Orcutt
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } Suffolk County ss }
Be it known That on this sixth day of March A.D. 1840 personally came Micah Orcutt above named & made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true - said Orcutt being a credible witness as I believe
Franklin Hovey Justice of Peace

I, Luke Rogers, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged forty-seven years, do testify and say, that I am well acquainted with Martha Howard of Boston, and know her to be the daughter of Mary Howard, the widow of Amos Howard; and that said Mary Howard is now insane, and has been so for eight years past.
Luke Rogers
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk ss. April 1st. 1840. Then personally appeared the above named Luke Rogers and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true before me John D. Dake Justice of Peace

Map - Act 1838 - 6928
Mary Howard, widow of Amos - Let to E - Homer 11 May '40

Mass.
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14915
Mary Howard Widow of Amos Howard Rev. Rev. War
Act: July 7 th 1838
Index:—Vol. a , Page 346
[Arrangement of 1870.]

6928
Mary Howard widow of Amos Napp.
Act 7 July 1838

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, April 1. st 1840.
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the within attestation, William Simmons was a Justice of the Police Court, and Franklin Haven and John C. Park: Jus- tices of the Peace, all for the County of Suffolk
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to their acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John F. Bigelow
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

No. 1781 d. 1794
James L Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.

James L Edwards Esq. Boston April 3 rd 1840
Sir,
Herewith is the Case of Amos Howard who was a Carpenter, Mate on board the United States Brig Genl Gates John Skimmer Esq. Commander and Micah Orcutt's evidence of the fact.
This is the third case I have sent you since you was pleased to confirm the Character of said Brig, and I now beg the favor of you to inform me of the result thereof, if you will much Oblige Your Respectfull
P.S.
I have annexed further evidence viz The old original family Bible Records of Deaths & Marriages, Preserved Copy in the place of it Martha Howard the Daughters Declaration Doct rs Luke Rogers, evidence of the Widow's insanity Legally authorized & signed by the Sec y of the Commonwealth of Mass a
Servant Eleazer Homer
E. Homer

Mary Howard child of Amos Mass At July 1838 (Mama 1781 area 1797 Allan 18 m p . Carpets made US Navy & for Artillery Map. - On roll $ 80.83 per annum
Eliza Howard Es Boston Mass

Ama Howard d 1796
Mary m 1781
1775 + 8 m. Capliff. Gndly ①
1778 10. Bryn Gwyd. ②
C. Malt.
① on rdl
② on rdl
+ Vol. 14 p 55. May 1.
See Micah Orcutt
as paper Jan 7. Mass
No 10. 178
10 Carpenter Rd 47.50
8 Malt. — 33 33
 $80.83

Honored Sir,
Boston June 1 st 1840.
I have received your favor of the 11 th ins, relative to the claim of Martha Howard, widow of Amos Howard under the law of July 7 th 1838 & stating "we have not the Roll of the Brig Gen l Gates nor any date by which to ascertain the exact duration of the Cruise in 1777 & 1778. The witness merely states that the service began the later part of the year 1777 & terminated in September 1778."
In answer I would respectfully observe that the only Roll of the Gen l Gates Brig Jn r Skinner Esq r , Commander, that I recollect to have seen, is what is called a "Bounty-roll" which merely gives the names of her Officers & Crew with their "stations, Shares, advance wages & number of men" dated 1778. an exact & sworn copy of which is forwarded herewith.
In respect to the length of the cruise or cruises of the General Gates, all I can refer you to is the Affidavit of Mr. Orcutt, which was forwarded in the case, together with the the proof (which it is presumed must be full & ample) on your files - furnished by those of the Crew who both claimed & received the benefit of the law of March 18 1818 when it is well known that they had to prove at least nine months service all at one time before they could obtain the benefit of said law.
The very Mr. Orcutt whose testimony accompanies Mrs. Howards claim, was pensioned under the said law of 1818, for this identical Gen l Gates Service, & was afterwards dropped from the Roll on account of the property qualification of the law of May 1 st 1820. he is now a pensioner under the law of June 7 th 1832, for the same service. - Under all circumstances, therefore, it is hoped that the claim of Mrs Howard will not be prejudiced by any doubt which may arise in your Honor's mind relative to the precise & exact length of her late husbands service on board of said Brig.
The Department must have received undoubted proof in 1818 that the said service could not have been less than 9 months as there were at that time abundant living test testimony.

testimony within its reach & it is hoped you will deem the proof in Mrs Howards case sufficient to establish as great a length of service as has been allowed in any other. Mr Orcutt in a conversation recently had, stated that he had no doubt Howard served as long as any one else, by reason of the fact that he was Carpenters mate. - he stands N o . 25 on the Roll, & his Office required his earliest attention.
Since the Papers of Mrs Howard were forwarded it has been discovered that the husband was in the eight months service in 1775, which would undoubtedly have been declared for in the original declaration by the widow had it not been for the fact - that she had lost her mind, & her daughter Miss Martha Howard had to make the declaration for her.
A Supplemental declaration of the daughter, claiming for this omitted 75 service is accordingly forwarded herewith.
I have the Honor to be with high respect
Your Obedient Servant
Eleazar Homer
James L d Edwards Esq re
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.

Vol 14 p 55
May 1
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, May 26 th 1840.
I hereby Certify, That Charles W. Lovett is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk,
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John P. Bigelow Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, May 25 th 1840.
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 Amos Howard is borne on "a Return of Capt. Edward Crafts Company of Artillery in Col. o Richard Gridley's Regt. " as a Matross from Boston, the return is dated "French Lines October 12 th 1775." and Signed "Edward Crafts Capt. " His name also appears in an order dated "6 th November 1775" for a Coat due him as a Soldier in Capt. Crafts Company, Col. o Gridley's Regt. " the order is signed by Amos Howard and forty eight others.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John D. Sleeper Secretary of the Commonwealth.

I, Martha Howard, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, aged fifty years, do, on my oath, testify and declare, that I am the daughter of Mary Howard, an insane person, resident of said Boston, who is entitled to a pension under the Act of Congress passed July 7, 1838, for the revolutionary services of her husband Amos Howard, deceased; part of which pension, I, as a near relative of the said Mary Howard, have already claimed for her in a former declaration; since which, I have ascertained that the said Amos Howard performed the following named service in the war of the Revolution, for which there has never been any pension claimed, and which it is the object of this Supplemental Declaration to claim, viz; eight months in the vicinity of Boston, in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five as a Matross in the Company commanded by Captain Edward Crafts in Colonel Richard Gridley's Regiment of Artillery.
I further declare that I have not been able to find any person living who served with the said Amos Howard in said service, and have no other documentary evidence than that which is hereto annexed.
Witness John B. Lane.
Martha Howard
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss. County of Suffolk }
Boston May 26-1840.
Then the above named Martha Howard personally appeared and made oath in due form of law that all the statements made in the above Declaration by her subscribed are true.
Before me,
Chas M. Lovett J. P.