Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,874, John Holden, Continental Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Continental Mass.
Holden, John
S 18874
Carded
CONTENTS

28997 Vermont 28.99.
John Oldalden of Franklin in the State of N.H.
who was a P. & M. in the by Captain [blank] of the [blank] by C. Prescott in the [blank] line for 19 mo: 22 days -
Date of death from Eperay, Berk.
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 68. Dollars 67 Cents per ann. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 rd day of Sept. 31 and Supt. W m Bridges St. Albans - Vt.
Arrears to the 4th of March 206.01 Pension allowance ending Sept. 1. 34.33 240.34
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Chas. Rice Cr Book E Vol. 3 Page 72
died Aug. 27, 1839

Sally Bird, afft in support of John Holden's claim to a Pension

I Sally Bird of Franklin in the County of Franklin and state of Vermont aged sixty eight years do testify and say that in the forepart of the Revolu- tionary war, I lived in the family with John Holden in the town of Shirley Massachusetts and well recollect that so Holden enlisted as a Fifer and went to Cambridge near Boston, where he stayed a short time. Why I know he was stationed at Cambridge is from this circumstance. Soon after he left home news came that the Troops were ordered to N. York, and were to leave Boston in a few days, the mother of so Holden (with whom I then lived) was extremely anxious to have his Father go and see if he could not get him the so John released. his father went to Boston and saw his sons (there being two older brothers with the so John,) and when he returned he said the troops were to leave in a short time, and according to my best recollection they did not return until spring or forepart of summer. I should say they were gone nearly or quite a year. Again in the year in which so many men were raised in Massachusetts to go to Rhode Island (the year I do not recollect) he again enlisted under one Capt Smith with whom I

was well acquainted and left home in a short time after his enlistment, I was then living at his Fathers house and well recollect of preparing and getting his clothes in readiness for him to march I should say he left home early in the spring and march to Rhode Island as I was informed he was absent nine or ten months and when he returned he was dressed in uniform a red coat faced with blue this circumstance I well recollect, I also have a perfect recollection of hearing him relate about the Battle of which he said he was in while on Rhode Island. Again in the year in which Lord Cornwallis was taken the S d John enlisted and went to Rhode Island, I should say he left home in the summer and return home the same fall after, do not recollect how long he was absent at this time but should say two or three months, and further saith not
Sally Bird
State of Vermont } Franklin County }
St Albans Sept 17 th 1833
Personally appeared before me the subscribing authority Sally Bird a credible witness and affirm that the above affidavit by her subscribed is true. Before me William Bridges Justice Peace

State of Vermont } Horace James clerk of Franklin County } Franklin County Court, do hereby certify that W m Bridges who has affixed his name to the within, is a Magistrate duly qualified, and that the same is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said Court, at St. Albans this 18 th day of September A.D. 1833
Horace James clerk

John Holden ms.
John Holden's Declaration
31.579
Brigs Diary

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
State of Vermont ) On this 17 th day of September Franklin (county) ) 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate now sitting, John Holden a resident of Franklin in the County of Franklin and State aforesaid aged sixty nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the follow- ing declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated.
At Shirley in the County of Worcester & State of Massachusetts, (his native place) in the month of May or June 1776, he enlisted (with two older brothers) for one year as a Piper, & marched from Shirley to Cambridge (near Boston) and served in a company com- manded by Capt Derby, Lieut John Williams & Ensign Jenkins in a Regt commanded by Col Prescott and Major Sampson Hood. Stationed at Cambridge a short time, when the Regt was ordered to New London, and from thence by water to the City of New York, and was there stationed until the last of August or first of Sept. according to the best of his recollection. Knows it was a few days after the Battle on Long Island, when the Regt to which

he belonged was ordered to a place called South Castle, where they lay till after the Battle at White Plains, from thence to West Point where he remain'd till June and was then dismissed having served one full year.
Again at Shirley in the month of January 1778, he enlisted as a Fifer for one year under Captain John Smith, does not recollect the names of his Lieut & Ensign, marched from Shirley to Boston, about the first of February and was stationed at Castle William and Boston till Spring, doing the duty of a Fifer, march'd from thence to Rhode Island where he was attach'd to Col Jacobs Regt. stationed a short time at Greenwich and from thence to Bulls Hill Fort, where he was stationed most of the time while he remained on the Island near a place what was call'd the lines near Newport.
Shortly after he went on to the Island the troops experienced a most violent storm of Wind & Rain which blew down their Tents and wet their provisions and disheped the Army very much. Soon after the French Fleet left the Harbour, when Col Jacobs Regt moved towards Newport and made a stand and intrenched themselves in the night. The next morning they were attacked by the enemy and drove towards the north part of the Island, where they were reinforced, and the enemy drove back; a retreat was soon ordered and (he believes) the Americans left the

Island the night following; about the first of September, and retreated back to Greenwich & and was there stationed untill the last of Nov r or first of December, when he was discharged on account of ill health and returned home having served a few days over Eleven months, according to the best of his recollection.
• Again (he believes) in the year 1781, in the month of July he enlisted as a Fifer for three months, under Capt Bowker, & served in Col Webb's Regt.
Soon after he enlisted he was called for and march to Rhode Island & joined said Regt at Newport and served as a Fifer untill his three months time expired, but at the solicitation of Capt Bowker he stayed a short time untill the recruits came in, he believes he stayed fifteen or twenty days and was then dismissed.
The applicant states that he was born in Shirley in the state of Massachusetts in the year 1764.
Has no record of his age. He remained in Shirley about twenty years after the close of the Revolutionary war, when he moved to Franklin in Vermont where he now resides. Rec d no written discharge at the close of either of his campaigns.
He is acquainted with the following named persons residing in Franklin with whom he is acquainted, who can testify to his character for

for veracity and their belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution viz Samuel Hubbard, William Felton, Doct Ira Lushman, Ebenezer Hart, Phillip S. Gates Esq., Elisha Bascomb Esq., Charles Pirkham, Artemus Holden, and Paul Gates.
He has no documentary evidence.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed } The day & year aforesaid }
John Holden
We Samuel Hubbard and Ebenezer Hart residing in Franklin, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Holden who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed } The day & year aforesaid }
Samuel Hubbard Ebenezer Hart

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, & served as he states. And the said court further certify that it appears that Samuel Hubbard who has signed the preceding certificate, is a respectable citizen and that Ebenezer Hart who has also signed the same is a clergyman both residents of said town of Franklin and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Saron S. Beeman clerk of the court of Probate, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Holden for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at St. Albans in said district this 30 th day of Sept. A 1833
Saron S. Beeman Clerk

18874 INVALID.
File No. 18874
John Holden
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 181
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Sept 16 '96 soed found D J E L Hogan Shirley Mass 1893

[Handwritten flourish]
W m Bridges Esq r .
St. Albans Franklin County
[Handwritten flourish]
C. D. Bangs Certified in support of John Haden's Claim to a Pension

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Jan y 20 th 1834.
* 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 John Holden is borne on a Muster Roll of Capt. Nathan Smith's Company, in Col. John Jacobs' Regt. where he is allowed from Feb y 1 st 1778, eleven Months . . . . . m d 11=
John Holden's name, as a Fifer, is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Daniel Bowker's Company, in Col. Webb's Regt. where he is allowed from August 15 th to Nov r 30 th 1781, for services and travel, three Months and twenty-two days. . . . . 3-22
Ex d . M.
John Holden claims for services, as a Fifer, under Capt. Smith. Col. Jacobs' Regt. in 1778, but it is not stated on the roll in what capacity he served.
John Holden claims for services as a Fifer under Capt. Derby. in Col Prescotts' Regt in 1776 but the rolls he describes are not found in this Office.
Edward D. Damp Ls

FREE
Aug 27
66
Hon. S. H. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington City
26.66. New private 92.07 8 m 22 days  Mexican 68.67
W. Bridges Esq St Albans Vt

State of Vermont } St. Albans august 18 th 1834. Franklin County } Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within and for the County aforesaid. John Holden, who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that in the year 1818, he applied to the late Judge Wetmore to assist him in procuring a pension under the act referred to in your letter of the 31 st July, and was examined relative to his Revolutionary services. But his pecuniary situation in life was such that he could not swear that from his reduced circum- stances he was in need of the assistance of his country for support, and therefore could not substantiate his claim to a pension
Sworn to and subscribed } the day and year aforesaid }
John Holden
Before me
William Bridges Justice of the Peace
I further certify that the deponent is a credible witness
W m Bridges Justice Peace

State of Vermont } I Stephen S. Brown Georgia District } Judge of the court of Probate within and for the district aforesaid, hereby certify that William Bridges who has affixed his name to the within, is a Magistrate duly qualified, and that I know the same to be his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said court at St. Albans in said district this 20 th day of August A.D. 1834.
Stephen S. Brown Judge

JOHN E. L. HAZEN. SHIRLEY, MASS.
Shirley Mass. August 29 th 1896.
Mr. Frank A. Warfield Pension Office Washington D.C.
Dear Sir,
I wish to obtain a record of 2 Revolutionary soldiers (if possible) and have been referred to you by Mr. Walter Davidson Secy. of the Worcester Society of Antiquity Worcester Mass.
First of John Holden of Shirley Mass. Born May 21 - 1765 } said to have died 1847 He is said to have been a fifer and enlisted several times and to have applied for a pension from Franklin, Franklin Co. Vermont 1833. Can you give me his deposition and any and all records which you have of him
Second of (Capt) Samuel Hazen or Hazzen or Hazin of Shirley Mass. (Born May 24 th 1740 died May 6 th 1815 at Shirley Mass.) who as a private was called out on the alarm 19 th April 1775 - marched to Cambridge Mass. in Capt Henry Haskell's Co. Col. Jas. Prescott's Bgt. afterward became a Captain (1776) in Mass. Regt. - I do not know if he was a pensioned if he was please give me what record you have of him I understood from Mr Davidson there was no charge for this service but if there is I will remit the same to you
I am Very Respectfully Yrs. John E. L. Hazen Shirley Mass.

I David Hoare of Sheldon in the county of Franklin and State of Vermont, aged seventy eight years, a pensioner of the United States, under the act of March 18 th 1818. Testify and say, that at the commencement of the Revolutionary War, I was a resident of the town of Townsend, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, and was personally acquainted with John Holden, then a resident of Shirley, adjoining to town of Townsend. I lived a neighbour to S d Holden for many years, previous to the commencement of the Revolution and in the spring of the year (Shelburne) in the month of May 1776. Said Holden and two of his brothers enlisted for one year in the service of his country under Capt Derby, as a Fifer, & march d from Shirley to Cambridge Ms. While S d Holden was at Cambridge aforesaid I saw him, soon after S d Holden left for N. York as I was afterward informed and (Shelburne) before S d Holdens time expired I had entered the service myself and according to my best recollection I did not see S d Holden again till after the close of the campaign of S d Holden and others that enlisted at the same time, but understood that

That he served his time out. I have a distinct recollection of his going into the service at the time of an account of his age which was about twelve years, much was said about his going, but being a good fifer and acquainted with many of the company, and two older Brothers with him and having the consent of his Father who enlisted him, he left home in high spirits, and I have always understood from him that he was well pleased with the Army. at the close of the war we again lived neighbors and I have often conversed with S r John Holden about the war, and in particular about his first campaign in 76, and also at Rhode Island in the year in which Gen Sullivan was compelled to retreat; one circumstance I have often heard him mention that when the action began on Rhode Island he stood near the entrenchment, and a Cannon shot struck in to the bank of sand and gravel and knocked him down and nearly covered him up; he also said that the Regt to which he belonged suffered more than the others, that was engaged in the action, and from frequent conversation which I have held with him since the war I have no doubt of his having been in service

two or three campaigns but cannot say how long he served only from so Holden's own story and common report in the neighborhood where we formerly lived. I have from my youth to the present time been acquainted with the so Holden and believe him to be an honest upright man and further say not
his David H Sloane mark
Attest Elisha Bescom
State of Vermont } St. Albans this 4 th day of March Franklin County } ss } D 1831 Then personally appeared before me the undersigned authority David Sloane and made solemn oath that the above and foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is true Before me William Bridges Justice of the Peace
I further certify that the above named deponent is a credible person and entitled to credit W m Bridges Justice Peace

State of Vermont } I Charles B Jones Clerk Franklin County } of Franklin County court court, do hereby certify that William Bridges who has affixed his name to the within, is a Magistrate duly qualified, and that the same is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at St. Albans this 11th day of April D 1834
Charles B Jones Clerk
Daniel Stone's att in support of John Hodkins claim to a Proviso