Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L.Wt. 21,824-160-55, William Holmes, Mass

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mae
Holmes, William Judith Eoss
B. L. Wt. 21, 824-160-55
CONTENTS

116,673.
Act- Mar. 3/53
Set. Clement. Jan'y 14/56, " gas. Draper, Feb: 14/56
Rec May 3/53
Judith Goss Holmes widow
William Holmes Esq.
Sept. Hoagland, Granger, Dexter
cols. Cushing, Warner, Leavitt
Ent. July 27, 1877 - Dis. Aug. 29, 1877
Ent: Apr 19 1785: Dis - - - -
War of the Revolution
Map: Mil:
Yrs / few Papers
ad: 16 Oct. 1862
Boston.
Blainant - R Spencer Mass.
Vol. No 2. — 58. —

I Daniel Gould of New Braintree in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, being eighty one years of age do testify, depose and say that I am a native of the town of New Braintree aforesaid; and have always known William Holmes, who was also, a native of said New Braintree and was also, a soldier in the war of the Revolution, as I have often heard him relate of being in the battle of Bunkerhill and other services in said war, and I also, know that the said William Holmes was the identical man who was the husband of Judith Goss Walker who I understand has applied for bounty land under the late act of Congress. The said Judith Goss Walker lived at my father's house when I then lived, when she and the said Holmes were married I saw them ride away together to the Rev. Mr. Hartsoo to be married and saw them return to my father's after they were married and they have always lived together as man and wife until his death, that they brought up a large family of children and were always considered and reputed to be husband and wife as much so as any other husband and wife in said town. I do not recollect the year nor day of their marriage; but I do know that the said William Holmes who was revolutionary soldier is the identical man who was the husband of the said Judith Goss Walker Holmes. Daniel Gould
State of Massachusetts } ss
County of Worcester } January 30th 1856
Subscribed and sworn to, and I certify that the said Daniel Gould is a man of truth and veracity I further certify that the word "Walker" was erased before the signing thereof by me
before me
James Draped Justice of the Peace

I Mary Bartlett of New Braintree in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts being seventyfive years of age do depose and say that I am the widow of Luke Bartlett, late of said New Braintree deceased, and that my name previous to my said marriage was Mary Gould and brother sister to Daniel Gould whose depositions I have seen and heard read, that I have always known William Holmes who was a native of said New Braintree and a soldier in the war of the Revolution as I have often heard him relate of his services in said war. That the said William Holmes was the husband of Judith Goss Walker, that they were married while she lived at the house of my father in said New Braintree where I then also lived, that I well recollect of seeing them ride away together to the Rev. Daniel Forsters to be married and also saw them return to my fathers house after they were married, and have always known them both until his death, that they were always reputed to be husband and wife, always lived together as husband and wife and raised up a large family of children, and I do know that the said William Holmes, who wife was a revolutionary soldier was the identical man who was the husband of the said Judith Goss Holmes who I understand has applied for bounty land under the late act of Congress
State of Massachusetts
County of Worcester ss January 30th 1856
Mary Bartlett
Subscribed and sworn to, and I certify that the said Mary Bartlett is a person of truth and veracity, and I further certify that the words "brother," and "who," were erased, and the words "sister," and "who," were interlined before the signing thereof by me.
Before me
James Draper Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
WORCESTER COUNTY, ss.
I, Joseph Mason Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court , which is a court of record for the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, do hereby certify that
James Draper Esquire, whose signature is affixed to the Certificate on the paper hereunto annexed, was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified and authorized by the laws of this Commonwealth to take the acknowledgement of deeds and administer oaths, that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to his acts and attestations done in that capacity, and that his SIGNATURE to said CERTIFICATE is genuine.
Given under my hand, and the seal of said Court, this seventh day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty- six .
Jo. Mason Clerk.

I Henry M. Daniels of New Braintree in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts depose and say that I am clerk of said town of New Braintree and have the custody of the books and records belonging to said town, and I find on said records that William Holmes was son of Adams Holmes and Hannah his wife and was born in said New Braintree November 23, 1755, and I also find that said William Holmes on the 19th of April 1775, enlisted into a company of minute men commanded by Captain Grainger in Col. Jonathan Waver's Regiment and that he served in said company one week and six days, and that he had by his wife Judith G. Holmes, several children born in said town and recorded in said town records and that he always lived in said town and until his death October 4th, 1831, and the name of no other person by the name of William Holmes appears on said records and that according to my best belief, no other person of that name ever lived in said town of New Braintree.
Henry M. Daniels. Town Clerk
State of Massachusetts County of Worcester
February 25, 1856
Sworn and subscribed, and I hereby certify that the above named Henry M. Daniels is a person of truth and veracity.
Before me
James Draper Justice of the Peace.

No. 1 Form of Declaration
To be made by the widow of a deceased person who has not received a land warrant,
State of Massachusetts County of Worcester } ss.
On this twenty third day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty five personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid Judith Goss Holmes aged eighty three years a resident of Spencer in the State of Massachusetts who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of William Holmes who was a Sergeant in the company commanded by Captain Edmund Hodges in the regiment commanded by Col. Job Cushing in the Revolutionary War that her said husband enlisted at New Braintree in the County and State aforesaid on or about the twenty seventh day of July A.D. one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven and continued in said service that is actual service in said war for the term of one month and seven days, and also, other services in said war as is more fully set forth by the certificate of the Secretaries of the State of Massachusetts, hereto annexed.
She further states that she was married to the said William Holmes in said New Braintree sometime in the month of July A.D. one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine, and that no public or private record exists of such marriage, but that other evidence of the fact of such marriage is hereby adduced which hopes will prove satisfactory, that she was married by the Rev. Daniel Foster who was then minister in said New Braintree, that her name before her marriage was Judith Goss Walker, that her said husband died at said New Braintree on the fourth day of October A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty one. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the County land to which she may be entitled under the act approved March 3. 1855, that she is now the widow of William Holmes and has not married
Judith Goss her Holmes mark
since his death State of Massachusetts } ss. County of Worcester }
Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year above written, and I certify that I have no interest in the above claim and am not concerned in its prosecution, also that the applicant is the identical person she represents herself to be
James Draper Justice of the Peace.

State of Massachusetts } County of Worcester } ss
We Hosea Tuckerman and Alfred E. Hatch residents of Spencer in the state of Massachusetts upon our oaths declare that the foregoing or within declaration was signed and acknowledged by Judith Goss Holmes in our presence and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that she is the identical person she represents herself to be
Hosea Tuckerman
Alfred E. Hatch
The foregoing affidavit was sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written, and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, that I have no interest in this claim and they also swear that they have no interest in this claim
James Draper Justice of the Peace
N. B. When the warrant is issued, please transmit the same to me at my residence, Spencer, Massachusetts
James Draper Justice of the Peace

I A. A. Randall town clerk of the town of New Braintree certify as follows This may certify that the following are extracts from the town records of the town of New Braintree in the county of Worcester and state of Massachusetts.
"Mr William Holmes died October fourth, one thousand eight hundred and thirty one aged seventy seven "Mr William Holmes died October 4. 1831, aged 77."
"The intention of Marriage between William Holmes & 11 Judith Goss Walker both of New Braintree was openly 11 published and declared as the law directs. 11 New Braintree P. Hall Town Clerk 11
"July 6th. 1789
I further certify that I do not find a record of the marriage of the above named William Holmes & Judith Goss Walker, but I do certify that they lived and cohabited together as man and wife in New Braintree for more than forty years and in that time several children born to them as appear upon said records viz:
"Born to Mr William Holmes & Mrs Judith his wife 11 "Decem. 22d. 1789 a Daughter named Lucy 11 "Decem. 3d. 1791 a Daughter named Betsey 11 "Jan'y. 27th. 1794 a Daughter named Nancy 11 "Feb'y 1st. 1796 a Daughter named Melissa 11 "April 16th. 1798 a Son named William Augustus 11 "Sept. 20th. 1799 a Son named Jonathan Nelson 11 "Augst 10th. 1801 a Daughter named Sally 11 "Augst 16th. 1803 a Son named William Henry 11 "Octr 6th. 1805 a Son named James Loyd 11 "Octr 28th. 1806 a Daughter named Caroline 11 "Jan'y 9th. 1809 a Son named Samuel Walker 11 "Sept 16th. 1812 a Daughter named Mary Jane 11 That the above record of the death of William Holmes is a true copy of the
record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as is expressed above.
I A. A. Randall above named depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk of the town, county and state aforesaid and that the above are true extracts from the records of said town with the exception above named as certifying by me.
Worcester J. April 17. 1855
Sworn to before me
A. A. Randall, Town Clerk of New Braintree,
James Draper Justice of the Peace

I Amasa Bigelow of New Braintree in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, a Justice of the Peace within and for said County do depose and say that I have been well acquainted with Mr William Holmes and his wife Judith Goss Holmes for more than thirty years. That they lived and cohabited together as man and wife in said New Braintree until the time of his death. That they had several children during said term and that they were always reputed to be husband and wife and I have no doubt were so as they were reputed. And I further testify that I am seventy seven years of age.
Amasa Bigelow
Worcester, April 17. 1855
Sworn to before me the subscriber, and I certify that I am acquainted with the above named deponent and that he is a man of truth and veracity.
before me
James Draper Justice of the Peace

v
21.824
S New York

I am inclining to admit this claim, see what the J. Clerk, of New Braintree says. Feb, 14 75 B Dyer

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
WORCESTER COUNTY, ss.
I, William A. Smith assistant Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court , which is a court of record for the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, do hereby certify that
James Draper Esquire, whose signature are is affixed to the Certificates on the paper hereunto annexed, was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified and authorized by the laws of this Commonwealth to take the acknowledgement of deeds and administer oaths, that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to his acts and attestations done in that capacity, and that his SIGNATURES to said CERTIFICATES are genuine.
Given under my hand, and the seal of said Court, this seventh day of February in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty- six .
W. A. Smith . Asst Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
WORCESTER COUNTY, ss.
I, Joseph Mason
Clerk of the Judicial Courts
for the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, do hereby certify, that James Draper on the seventeenth day of April A.D. 1855 was, ever since has been and still is
a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and authorized by the laws of this Commonwealth, to take the acknowledgement of deeds, and administer oaths, and that his signatures to the certificates of oath upon the declaration and affidavits hereunto annexed are genuine.
Given under my hand, and the seal of said County , this thirtieth day of April , in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
J. Mason Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston :
March 9 1853.
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 in addition to the service given in the within certificate the name William Holmes is borne on a roll of Capt. Graingers Co. raised in New Braintree & Worthington Col. Warner's Regt. from Apr. 19. 1775. 1 month + 13 days as private.
The above roll has been filed in this office since the date of the within certificate.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
E. H. Wright Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston;
May 4. 1846.
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 Holmes of New Braintree, is borne upon a Muster roll of Capt Samuel Dexter's Company, in Col Leavards' Regt, for travel "from H s home" as a private, — no service named — number of miles travel against his name is 136 — said Roll is dated "Roxbury, Camp! January 1776" Upon a Pay Roll of Capt Edmund Hodge's Company, in Col Job Cushing's Regt, for service at the North, as a Sergeant, from July 27 to August 29 1777, including allowance of 90 miles travel, 1 Month & 2 days. — No evidence of any one of the name, as Quarter Master.

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. Parris,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Application of Judith Holmes of Spencer in the County of Worcester for certificate of Revolutionary service by the said Widow.
State of Massachusetts County of Worcester Town of Spencer 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 Holmes. I have good reason to believe that my said husband was out in the war of the Revolution, and I believe in the capacity of Quarter Master. I do not know who were his superior officers nor how long he served. He went from the town of New Braintree in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, and from there through Worcester to Concord and was in the Battle of Bunker Hill June 17, 1775.
I am now seventy four years old and my memory does not enable me to state any thing further relative to the matter. I have empowered Joseph D. Sargent Esq. of Leicester in said County to act in the premises as my attorney.
Witness my hand this ninth day of January A.D. 1846. Signed in my presence by said Judith G. Holmes
Judith G. Holmes
James Draper Justice of the Peace
5152
Ms. B. 2.14 V. 19. 226

Spencer (Mass) March. 8. 1856
J. Minot Esdaile Commissioner of Pensions Sir. In yours of the 12th of February last, you say "It is probable the town records of New Braintree may contain something of evidence relating to the service of Wm. Holmes. They will undoubtedly show whether there was more than one person of that name a resident of that town during the war of the Revolution." The enclosed deposition of the town clerk of New Braintree, as you will see, has very fully given the wished for evidence, and as this woman is very poor and has been at considerable expense for three journeys to New Braintree I hope this additional evidence will prove satisfactory. Yours, with much respect
In behalf of Judith Goss Holmes James Draper

- Spencer (Mass) February 8. 1856
Josiah Minot Esquire Commissioner of Pensions.
Dear Sir. In behalf of Mrs. Judith Goss Holmes, widow of William Holmes, who has applied for bounty land under the late act of congress, and also, in answer to the requisition of Mr. C. H. Pabst in his letter dated January 14. 1856. I hereby transmit to you further evidence to establish the claim of Mrs. Holmes for bounty land, hoping this additional evidence will be sufficient for that purpose.
Yours respectfully
James Draper