Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 13491, Joshua Howard, Mass

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Howard, Joshua Lydia
W. 13491
CONTENTS

4385 Massachusetts
Lucia Howard widow of William Howard deceased who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 10 August 1792 of Essex Co in the State of Mass. who was a private in the Co. commanded by Captain Barry of the regt commanded by Col. Dinsdale in the Mass. line for 12 months 10 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass. at the rate of 67 Dollars 55 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of Oct. 1839 to Sarah A. Howard Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1839 $67.55 Semi-annual allowance ending Mar 4th 23.94
{ Act July 7 } 1838
Recorded by D. M. Curdy, Clerk, Book 1. Vol. 1. Page 96.

323 V
Sydia Howard widow of Joshua 239 Mass. act 1 July 1838
adm 14 mo. W-aspri $47.85
No deduction
Aaron Lemmens Lynn Mass.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
ESSEX, ss.
I, JOHN PRINCE, Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court, & of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for the County of Essex, do certify, that Hon. Samuel Putnam is Judge of the Court of  Supreme Judicial Court within and for said County. That
Alvan Lummus Esquire, is a Justice of the Peace, within and for said County, and that their signatures hereon are genuine.
WITNESS MY HAND, and the Seal of said Court of Common Pleas,
November 16, A. D. 1838,
John Prince Clerk.

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress, of the 7th. July 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, } ss: County of Essex, }
On this Sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared before the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the same being a court of Record, Lydia Howard, of Saugus, in the county and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy eight 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 act of congress, passed July 7, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows:" That she is the widow of Joshua Howard, late of said Saugus, (formerly called "The West Parish of Lynn") deceased; who, according to her best knowledge and belief, was a private soldier in the Massachusetts Line of the Continental Establishment in the war of the Revolution; that he first enlisted in a company commanded by Captain James Barry, and she thinks served under that enlistment, as the waiter of said Captain Barry, three months or more; that he afterwards enlisted in a company commanded by Captain John Pool; that he afterwards enlisted under a Captain from Danvers, whose name she has forgotten; that he was in the army at the taking of Burgoyne, and was one of the guard that marched to Cambridge or Boston, with Burgoyne's family; that he was at another time in the service with William Tuttle of Chelsea, (afterwards of said Saugus,) and said Tuttle saw said Joshua Howard take a musket from the enemy, the

owner of which had just fallen in an engagement, said musket being better than said Howard's, he kept the same, brought it home, and it has remained in her family ever since; that her husband, the said Joshua Howard, was in the army under various enlistments, thirty two months, or more; that at the several times of his enlisting as aforesaid, he resided in Langus aforesaid; that she thinks he was a volunteer; that she does not know the dates of his several enlistments, the regiments to which he belonged, nor the companies, except as before mentioned, and she has forgotten the names of all the officers under whom he said he had served, except those above mentioned; that she has not any documentary evidence in support of her claim.
She further declares that she was married to the said Joshua Howard, by the Reverend Joseph Roby, on the seventeenth day of July, in the year seventeen hundred and eighty one; that her husband, the aforesaid Joshua Howard, died at said Langus, on the tenth day of August, in the year seventeen hundred and ninety two; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz. at the time above stated: all of which will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
the Lydia X Howard mark
I sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before.
Samuel Putnam one of the Just s of the Sup d Court of Massach ts .

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss. Lynn Sep. 21. 1838
Joshua Howard & Lydia Ramsdell was married by Mr. Roby, on the seventeenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one.
I Thomas Bowler Clerk of the Town of Lynn being duly chosen and sworn hereby Certify that the above extract from the Records of said Town, is a true copy of said Record with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures as follows.
[July 17 th 1781]
Thomas Bowler Town Clerk of Lynn
I Thomas Bowler of Lynn in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, depose and say; that I hold the office of Clerk in the County, town, and State aforesaid, and that I have the custody of the Records of said Town, and that the above extract from said Record is a true copy thereof, with the excep- -tion above named, as Certified by me.
Thomas Bowler Clerk of the Town of Lynn
Sworn before me Sept. 21. 1838, Aaron Lummus Justice of the Peace.

I, John Sweetser, of South Reading, in the county of Middlesex, and commonwealth of Massachusetts, on oath depose and say, that I was stationed at Winter Hill, so called, in Massachusetts, guarding Burgoyne's men, who were then prisoners of war, in the year seventy hundred and seventy eight, and that I then and there saw Joshua Howard of Lynn West Parish, now called Saugus, that said Joshua Howard then belonged to the American Army, I think in Colonel Gerrish's Regiment, and Captain Hews's company; I think said Howard was then serving under a six months enlistment; I believe said Howard served under several other enlistments, but I cannot state state positively when or where he so served, except as above stated.
John Sweetser

Essex ss. September 21st. A. D. 1838, Then person- ally appeared the within named John Sweetzer and made oath that the within deposition is true, before me; and I certify that he is a credible witness.
The word "stated", in the within deposition was erased before signing.
Aaron Lummus Justice of the Peace.

I, Caleb Lewis, of Saugus, in the county of Essex, and commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged about seventy nine years, on oath depose and say - that I was well acquainted with Joshua Howard, late of said Saugus, deceased - I knew him from his childhood, and we were playmates together, he being about two years older than myself; that between the years seventeen hundred and seventy five and seventeen hundred and eighty, the said Joshua served in the American Army under three different enlistments - twice I believe he served on a six months enlistment, and the third time I do not know how long; he served once under Captain Zadock Buffington, of Salem, once under Captain John Pool, of Lynn, and once under Captain James Barry of Lynn; that in the year Burgoyne was taken I saw him in the Army at Winter Hill, and I believe he was at in the battle at Ticonderoga; that in the year seventeen hundred and eighty, the said Joshua Howard and myself belonged to a company commanded by Captain Ebenezer Richardson, of Salem, in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Wade, and our General at that time was Benedict Arnold - we were at West Point three months, and after said three months service at West Point, the said Joshua Howard and myself returned home together.
Caleb his X Lewis mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Essex ss. October 24th. A.D. 1838. Then personally appeared the above named Caleb Lewis and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true, before me: and I certify that he is a credible witness: the word "at" in the above deposition was erased, and the word "how" was interlined before signing.
Aaron Lummus, Justice of the Peace.

I, Ezekiel Howard, of Lynn, in the county of Essex, and commonwealth of Massachusetts, on oath depose and say, that I was well acquainted with my uncle Joshua Howard of Saugus, in the county and commonwealth aforesaid, (formerly the West Parish of Lynn) - that my father, Ezekiel Howard, of said Saugus, served in the American Army during the war of the Revolution, and I have frequently heard him say that my uncle, the said Joshua, was with him in said Army, at different times and in different places - that I frequently heard my father, and my uncle, the said Joshua, converse together about their adventures and sufferings together in the said Army - that I recollect distinctly their talking of having been together in the battle at Bennington - that from their conversations as aforesaid I should think my uncle, the said Joshua, must have been in said Army between two and three years - that said Joshua was drowned in Saugus river, in said county, and died in the month of August or September, in the year seventeen hundred and ninety two - that his widow, Lydia Howard, now resides in said Saugus, and since the death of her husband, the said Joshua, has not been married, but has remained his widow.
Ezekiel Howard
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Essex ss. November 20. A. D. 1838. Then personally appeared the above named Ezekiel Howard, and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true, before me; and I certify that he is a credible witness.
Aaron Lummus, Justice of the Peace.

I, Abigail Newhall, of Lynn, in the county of Essex, and commonwealth of Massachusetts, on oath depose and said say that I knew Joshua Howard, late of Saugus, in the county and commonwealth aforesaid, deceased - that said Joshua was drowned and died about the year seventeen hundred and ninety two - that his widow, Lydia Howard, now resides in Saugus aforesaid, and since the death of her husband, the said Joshua, she has not been married, but has remained and is now his widow - that said Joshua was always reported and believed to have been a soldier in the American army in the war of the Revolution. Abigail Newhall
commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Essex ss. November 2d, A.D. 1838, Then personally appeared the above named Abigail Newhall and made oath that the above deposition by her subscribed is true, before me:
And I certify that she is a credible witness.
The word "said" in the above deposition was erased before signing.
Harmon Lummus, Justice of the Peace.

I, Elizabeth Brown, of Lynn, in the County of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy six years, on oath depose and say, that I was well acquainted with my uncle, Joshua Howard, of Saugus, in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, who was a soldier in the American Army in the war of the Revolution - that at the time he first enlisted in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five, I lived in the same house with him; he was then living with his mother, who was my grandmother - that said Joshua made his home at his mother's until about the year seventeen hundred and eighty one, during the whole of which time I lived in the same house - that according to the best of my recollection the said Joshua was absent from home, and to the best of my knowledge and belief was in the Army, as much as two years, or two and a half years - that I recollect hearing my uncle, the said Joshua, relate a great deal about his sufferings and trials in the army, his being present at the taking of Burgoyne, and many other particulars which I have forgotten - that he brought home a gun which he said was taken from the enemy, which gun he kept many years, set much by it, and would not lend it - that said Joshua was drowned in Saugus river and died about the year seventeen hundred and ninety two - that Lydia Howard, the widow of said Joshua, now resides in said Saugus, and since the death of said Joshua, has not been married, but has remained his widow.
Elizabeth her X Brown mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Essex ss. November 2, 1832. Then personally appeared the above named Elizabeth Brown, and made oath that the above deposition by her subscribed is true, before me; and I certify that she is a credible witness.
Aaron Lummus, Justice of the Peace.

I, Joshua Howard, of Saugus, in the county of Essex, and commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged about forty six years, on oath depose and say, that William Tuttle, late of Chelsea, in the county of Suffolk, and commonwealth aforesaid, has many times told me that my father, Joshua Howard, late of said Saugus, deceased, was in the Army with him, in the war of the Revolution, at different times, and in different places - that Joshua Danforth, late of said Saugus, deceased, frequently told me he was in the American army with my father in the war of the Revolution, and in particular he mentioned their suffering much from hunger on a particular occasion - that Ezekiel Howard, late of said Saugus, deceased, often told me that he was in the Army, as aforesaid, with my father, and in one or more battles; said Ezekiel told me my father was in the Army less than three years, and I think but a little short of three years - that said Tuttle told me he was with my father when he took a gun from one of the enemy who had just fallen in an engagement, and said he took it because he thought it better than his own - that I have in my possession an old gun, of French manufacture, which I recollect distinctly has been in our family forty three years, and is said to be the one taken as aforesaid from the enemy, in the war of the Revolution - that according to the best of my knowledge and belief, the said Tuttle, Danforth, and Ezekiel Howard, were pensioners in consequence of their Revolutionary services. Joshua Howard
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Essex ss. November 20. A. D. 1830. Then personally appeared the above named Joshua Howard, of Saugus, and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true, before me; and I certify that he is a credible witness.
The word "late" in the above deposition was interlined before signing.
Baron Lummus, Justice of the Peace.

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No.
13491
Lydia Howard Widow of Joshua Howard Priv. Mass. Line
Act:
July 7 th 1838
Index:—Vol.
a
Page
346
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Sydney Howard widow of Joshua Mass
act 7 July 1838
Let to Aaron Lummus
20 March 1839. To same
2 Aug t 1839

Oct 15. In at
map Hon. J. L. Edwards - Com. Pensions.
Washington - D. C.

Lynn, Oct. 10, 1839.
Sir - under date of Aug. 2, 1839, you in- form me "If no further proof can be adduc- ed in the case, the widow Lydia [Howard] may receive a pension certificate for 14 months and 10 days as private", and that "her claim will remain suspended until her wishes are made known".
Aug. 5, her wishes were communicated by me to the Department, and she anxious- ly awaits the result.
Yours respectfully -
Aaron Lemmer, "

75 3 mo. 77 3.17 Vol. 17 p. 43 Buffum 78 3. 2 " " 124 Brown 79 4. 21 " 3. 73 Putnam 80 14. 10 Peabody June 80 md on Vol 22 p. 80
Dear Needham
78 3 mo. 79 6 " 80 3.
W Mansfield
80 3m West part

Howard.
Jan 1/2
War Department of the United States Pension Office
D.C. for att.
Washington,
D.C.

Lynn, Aug. 5, 1839.
Sir - I believe we have proved by the Depositions of Caleb Lewis and William Mansfield that Joshua Howard was in the army at West Point, on a three months enlistment; but not having reserved copies of their Depositions, the precise amount of their testimony does not occur to me. Colonel Mansfield (the said Wm. Mansfield) is an officer and a gentleman in whose character as a witness I think implicit confidence may be placed. I have no doubt Lewis saw Howard at West Point - but if he names the company to which he belonged, I should rather think he might err in that particular, if Howard's name is not on the Roll of said company.
It is the wish of the widow, Lydia Howard, that the Department act on the case, according to the evidence now before them.
Yours very respectfully
Aaron Leavitt.
Hon. J. L. Edwards -
War Department - Pension Office
Washington D.C.

Further Proof in aid of the Application of Widow Lydia Howard for a Pension.

I, Daniel Needham, of Lynnfield, in the county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in the eightieth year of my age, on oath depose and say, that I was well acquainted with Joshua Howard, late of Saugus, in the county and Commonwealth aforesaid, deceased - that I saw said Howard in the American Army at Winterhill in the year 1778: he then belonged to Colonel Gervick's Regiment, and Captain Brown's company: I was then a Sergeant in the same Regiment: I am very positive that said Howard was also with me in the army at West Point, three months, in the year 1780, and at Rhode Island six months in the year 1779: on Rhode Island we belonged to Colonel Tyler's Regiment, and Captain Jeremiah Putnam's company: at West Point we belonged to Captain Peabody's company, and Colonel Wade's Regiment.
My age is the seventy ninth instead of the "eightieth" year, as mentioned above.
Daniel Needham
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Essex ss. June 21, 1839. Then personally appeared the above named Daniel Needham, and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true, before me: and I certify that he is a credible witness
Aaron Lummus,
Justice of the Peace.

Hon. J. L. Edwards, -
This within Deposition, so far as respects the service of Joshua Howard - on Rhode Island, agrees with a List of Captain Putnam's company this day shown to me by the Widow of the late General Amos Hovey, of Salem, Mass. Howard's name is on said List - Hovey was sergeant of said company - and often, in his lifetime showed the List to those who went to him for information relating to Revolutionary services. These remarks are not offered as legal evidence; but they would, if put in proper form, if I were not satisfied the Department would believe the claim of Widow Howard clearly made out already.
Your ob t lea t  A. L. Cummings June 22, 1839.

Depositions in aid of the Application of
Widow Lydia Howard.
for a Pension.

I, William Mansfield, of the city of Salem, in the State of Mansfield Massachusetts, on oath depose and say; that I was well acquainted with Joshua Howard, late of Saugus, (formerly the West Parish of Lynn,) in the County of Essex, and State aforesaid, deceased: that I saw said Howard in the Army at West Point, in the year 1780, at which time he served, as a private soldier about three months: that while we were at West Point, as aforesaid, said Howard told me he was in the Army on Winter Hill in the year 1777, and was one of those who guarded Burgoyne's troops: he also told me about his having killed a Hessian Lieu- tenant at Winter Hill, who passed the guards without "Pass", and on being hailed refused to stop; for which he told me he was tried and acquitted by a court Martial: I had before heard of the above occurrence at Winter Hill, and on enquiring of him at West Point I received the particulars from him: that it was always believed and never doubted in said Lynn, that said Howard did serve in the American Army at Winter Hill, as above stated. Said Howard while at West Point belong- ed to Colonel Wade's Regiment, Captain Richardson's company, the same Regiment and company to which I belonged at that time.
W Mansfield
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Essex ss. June 4th. 1839. Then personally appeared the abovenamed William Mansfield, and made oath that the above Deposition by him subscribed is true, before me; and I certify that he is a credible witness.
Baron Lummins , Justice of the Peace.

I, Nathaniel Mansfield, of Saugus, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being in the seventy third year of my age, on oath depose and say - that I was well acquainted with Joshua Howard of said Saugus, at the commencement of the Revolutionary War in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five, and afterwards until the time of his death: I lived within about one mile of the home of said Howard, during said War, and he occasionally worked for my father - that my father, Benjamin Mansfield, of said Saugus, was drafted to give serve in the Army sometime during said War, and he hired said Howard to serve in his stead - said Howard did serve as a substitute for my father, but how long, or in what year, or under what officer, I have forgotten - I saw said Howard before he went as my father's substitute as aforesaid - my father supplied him with a blanket, which I saw said Howard bring back to my father, on his return from the army: and further deponent saith not. Nathaniel his X Mansfield. mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Essex ss. June 12 th . 1839. Then personally appeared the above named Nathaniel Mansfield, and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true, before me; and I certify that he is a credible witness.
Aaron Lummus, Justice of the Peace.

I, William T. Parker, of Saugus, in the county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being in the seventy sixth year of my age, on oath depose and say, that I was well acquainted with Joshua Howard, of said Saugus, in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six, and from that time until his death, which occurred about forty five years ago - that in the year 1777 I saw said Howard on Winter Hill, - he then belonged to the American Army, and was guarding Burgoyne's troops, he was away from home at that time all Winter, and I believe served at least six months in the army at that time; but I have forgotten the names of his officers, except that John Battle was Lieutenant of the company to which he belonged at that time - that I saw said Howard march off from home at four different times during the Revolutionary War, to serve under different enlistments in the Army; on one of these occasions he was to go to West Point; I think he was at the taking of Burgoyne, in captain John Pool's company, under another enlistment; I know that he never served more than about six months under one enlistment, and I think he served as much as twice, six months at a time - that I lived about a mile from the home of said Howard, and he worked for my father, (with whom I then lived) six months, before he went into the Army; and after he left the Army he often worked for me; and further deponent saith not.
W. T. Parker
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Essex ss. June 14th. 1839. Then personally appeared the above named William T. Parker, and made oath that the above deposition is true by him subscribed, is true, before me; and I certify that he is a credible witness.
Aaron Lammer - Justice of the Peace.

Hon. J. L. Edwards - Sir: Yours of March 20th re- quires "further proof" of the services of Joshua Howard. Three Depositions are herewith sent. I have not thought it would be required to have my signature and official capacity certified anew by the Clerk of our C. C. Pleas; but it having been done so often and so recently; but if that is necessary, I beg these papers may be re- turned to me for that purpose.
Yours very respectfully,
Aaron Lummus.
Lynn, Mass. June 14. 1839.
Deposition of the Plaintiff