Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 11085, Asa Graves, Continental Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental
Graves, Asa
W. 11085-
Mass.
Roxenena
{ P.L.W. 802-150-Ensign Issued Apr. - 1790 No papers.
CONTENTS

Albany New York 19 Roscena Graves of Oneida in the State of New York who was a in the  comm Captain of the  commanded by in the the service of Asa Graves late an Ensign in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 240 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 day of Nov  1836 and Seat S. J. E.  Johnson Home N.Y.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1836 $1320.00 Semi-annual allowance ending Feb 1837 120.00 $1440.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. H. Agassiz Clerk Book Vol.  Page  130

New York Rolls.
(N o 1655)
"Asa Graves, Col o Smith Ensign,
4
Massachusetts line 1781 to close of war in the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on the 2. d of April 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30. of June 1818 and sent to Joshua Hatheway, Esq. Rome, Oneida Co. N. York.
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818.
4 months 33/30. $102.00
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. } ny
July 81 - Nixon
Rome Oneida continued
Asa Graves Col o Smith Ensign Massachusetts line 1781 to close of war in the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Asa Graves

correct
1894
Hubbard
1894

State of New York } 8 County of Oneida } ss.
Asa Graves of the Town of Rome in the County & State aforesaid, on the second day of April in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & eighteen came before me Joshua Hatheway one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County, and being Duly Sworn did depose declare & say That he entered the service of the United States, in the forepart of the Revolutionary War as a private & served for eight Months, at the end of which term he enlisted for one year which term of one year he served as a private, at the close of which period he enlisted as a Sergeant for during the war, & in that Station he served until the date of the annexed commission which was on the Seventeenth day of May Seventeen hundred & eighty two when he received the annexed commission & took rank as therein specified from the Sixteenth day of June 1781. & that he served as ensign in the Company of Captain Peter Cloyes in the Sixth Massachusetts Regt.

until the close of the said Revolutionary War & that he was discharged therefrom at Newburgh N.Y. when the Army was disbanded
And the said Asa further declares that he is not the Owner of any Real Estate and very little personal property That he is in reduced circumstances and has to support his family by his daily labour
Sworn to & Subscribed } Asa Graves this 20 th Day of April } 1818 before me } J. Hatherway
State of New York } & County of Oneida }
Bill Smith & George Huntington being duly sworn deposed & say that they & each of them are personally acquainted with the above named Asa Graves and well know him to be the person described in the above affidavit, & know him to be in reduced circumstances
Sworn to & Subscribed Bill Smith this 20 th Day of April Geo Huntington 1818 before me
J. Hatherway one of the Judges of Oneida Common Pleas

I Asa Graves wish to have my Name placed on the Pension list of the United States as an ensign in the Revolutionary War & to receive my Pension in the District of the State of New York Asa Graves

Asa Graves
No. 1655
June 18

Munda Com Pleas September Term 1820
State of New York On this 8 th day of September 1820 personally appeared Asa Graves aged 65 years a resident in Home in said County who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows. He enlisted in 1775 in Capt Hovey's Company & Col Brewster's Regt for eight months, and when time was out enlisted in Capt Hovey's Company & in Col Whitecomb's Regt for one year. And before that time expired I enlisted during the war as first sergeant in Capt Hovey's Company & in Col Edward's Colchester Regt - and did duty as such sergeant till the Regt was reduced & then joined the 6 th Mass Regt & acted as sergeant major, and in 1781 in June I Recd an Ensign Commission in 6 th Mass Regt in Capt Peter Cloyes Comp y & Col Saltonstall's Regt & served until the close of the war under that Commission & was discharged in 1783 at New Burg in this State - My Original Application was made the 2 nd day of April 1818 & my certificate is N o 1.655 -
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land & Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the 18 th March 1818 and I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts, due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed & by me subscribed -
Sworn to & declared the 8 th day of September 1820 before me Th H. Hamilton Judge
Asa Graves
Inventory Real estate None
   personal     One Cow value $ 15 - Two pail $ - 87 1/2   One Hoe 4 - Two tubs & barrel 1 - 00   one Shovel 2 - 1 Hoe - 25   One Table 4 -   One Candle Stand 2 00 one Bible one Psalm book and   One pr Bed Saws 1 00 Parson Stebbins Military work   One Blacking Box 1 00 Asa Graves  

one Shovel & p-tongs 1 50 Six knives & forks — 75 Two platters — 50 Six plates — 25 one Tea Set — 1 00 one 3 pail kettle 2 00 one Pot & one Spade 1 50 one Tea Kettle — 1 00
97 25
12 12 3/4 $ 39 37 1/2
Given to & acknowledged the 8 th day of September 1820 before
H. H. Hamilton Judge
I am 65 years old formerly of Ossipee and have a wife 39 years old. She is smart for her age but I am infirm & unable to labor for subsistence. Dora Graves —
Hale of New York, Onida Common Pleas
September Term 1820
Being a Court of record by State
The whole of these proceedings were had in open Court & in the opinion of the Court the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the above schedule is thirty nine \frac{37\frac{1}{2}}{100} dollars & no more
I Francis A. Woodgood Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Onida do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the re- cord of the said Court: And I further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is thirty nine dollars thirty seven and a half cents —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this eighth day of September 1820.
Francis A. Woodgood G.R.

In the matter of Roxenena Groves
Madison
Under act of July 1836
B. P. Johnson
Ques. Rome N.Y.
See act Oct 8. 1836 to B. P. Johnson
14.6
on Rolls
2 yrs Ensign
Admitted Ensign 2 years
B. P. Johnson Esq. Rome N.Y.

State of New York Oneida County ss.
On this 12 th day of September 1836 personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Oneida. Rose anna Graves a resident of Rome in said County, aged 75 years, Sup re qua, 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 1831 passed July 4. 1831 - That she is the widow of Asa Graves, who was an Ensign in the Revolutionary army - and was a pensioner under the act of 1818, and his commission was sent on to the War Department when his pension was granted. That a refused  decree will show his service - the marriage  marriage took place before the close of his service. She further declares that she was married on the 16 th day of July in the year 1781 according to her best recollection, at Mendon, Massachusetts, by the Rev Mr Ashley - That her husband the said Asa Graves, died on the 6 th day of October 1823, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof herewith annexed.
Roseanna Graves
Sworn to and subscribed
this day and year aforesaid
before me. Roseanna Graves
John D Leland Clerk

Missouri County ss Benjamin Johnson of Roane County Atty at Law being duly sworn deposes and says that he is well acquainted with Rosena Graves within known and has been acquainted with her for nearly twenty years past - That she is the widow of the late Isaac Graves, who was, a prisoner of the United States at the time of his death, that he died according to this deponent's best recollection in October 1823 and that the said Rosena has remained his widow ever since -
sworn before me this 12 th Sept 1870 in open court
B. Johnson
John D. Leland Clerk

State of New York Oneida County p. 3
Jonas Graves Being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is personally acquainted with the Widow Roxena Graves formerly of Sunderland Massachusetts now of Rome Oneida County State of New York Also deposeth and saith, that he was formerly personally acquainted with the late Asa Graves (deceased) of Sunderland Massachu- setts. Also deposeth and saith, he (this deponent) was present and knows the above named Roxena Graves was lawfully married by the Rev. Mr. Ashby of Deerfield Massachusetts to the above named Asa Graves of Sunderland at Deerfield Massachusetts about the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one, and further this deponent saith not
Jonas Graves
Subscribed and sworn before me this 27th day of August 1836 Merritt Menden Justice of the peace
Oneida County p. 3 Benjamin P. Thompson Sup Court One in said County Certify that I am well acquainted with Jonas Graves who has signed the above affidavit and that he is a man of credibility and veracity Sept 5th 1836 T. S. Johnson Sup Court One

West Camden N.Y. August 27 th
6
Properena Insects From Freida Co. St. Louis

State of New York Oneida County ss.
Jonas Graves Being duly sworn deposeth and saith
That he is personally acquainted with the Widow Roxena Graves, formerly of Sunderland Massachusetts now of Rome Oneida County State of New York Also deposeth and saith, that he was formerly personally acquainted with the late Asa Graves (deceased) of Sunderland Massachu- setts. Also deposeth and saith, he (this deponent) was present and knows the above named Roxena Graves was lawfully married by the Rev. Mr. Ashley of Deerfield Massachusetts to the above named Asa Graves of Sunderland at Deerfield Massachusetts about the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one, and further this deponent saith not.
Jonas Graves
Subscribed and sworn before me this 12 th day of August 1886 Merritt Menson Justice of the peace
Oneida County ss. Benjamin Johnson Sup Court Clerk in said County certify that I am well acquainted with Jonas Graves who has signed the above affidavit and that he is a man of credibility and veracity. Sept 5 1886 T. S. Johnson Sup Court Clerk

State of New York Oneida County ss John D. Seland Clerk of the County of Oneida do hereby certify that the foregoing papers were from a in open court and further certify that Merritt Minton is a Justice of the Peace & Benjamin P. Johnson is a Supervisor of the town of said Co, and that their signatures to the foregoing affidavit is in their proper handwriting. In testimony whereof I have hereunto my hand & the seal of said County this 12th day of September 1887 John D. Seland Clerk.

State of New York Oswego County
Roxanna Church of Oswego in said County being duly sworn, deposes and says that she is daughter of Roxanna (now) of Rome Oneida County, who is the widow of Asa Graves That her father the said Asa Graves died in the year 1823 - and that after his death her mother lived with witness at Rome - and this deponent further says that in the family Bible belonging to said Asa Graves, was entered the marriage of the said Asa Graves and Roxanna, as having taken place in July 1781 at Deerfield Massachusetts and also a Register of the births of all the children of said Asa & Roxanna, and also the marriages & deaths in the family - That about a year after the death of said Asa Graves and in the year 1824 said Family Bible was stolen from the house of this deponent - and was some time afterwards found very much defaced and torn to pieces, and all that part of the bible containing the Family records was torn out and entirely destroyed and this deponent has never seen or heard any thing of it, from that day to this. And further says not.
Roxanna Church
Personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the Peace the above named Roxanna Church a person of truth and veracity made oath to above affidavit October 24th 1836. William Lewis Dr. of Peace

I certify that Wm Lewis in before when the miller Affidavit was taken is an acting Justice of the Peace in the town of Oswego D county of Oswego State of New York. and has been an acting Justice for more than one year
Oswego Oct 24 th 1836
J T Merrill
Member of Congress

State of New York Oneida County
Ansel Graves of Rome in said County being duly sworn deposes and says that he is son of Asa and Graves named in the annexed affidavit. That he remembers perfectly well that the marriage of the father of this deponent Asa Graves with Asa's mother, sometime in the year 1781 was entered and contained in the family bible together with the record of the births and deaths in the family, and that said record has often been seen by this deponent in said family Bible for more than thirty years ago - and that said Bible has been lost about the year 1824 as this deponent has been informed and hereby believes as he has not seen it since that time.
Ansel Graves
Sworn and subscribed before me this 28 th October 1836. And I certify I know the said Ansel Graves as a man of truth & veracity. B. P. Johnson Sup Court Comr

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED
(Greeting)
To His Excellency General Washington
We Reposing special trust and confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO by these presents constitute and appoint you to be an Major General in the Sixth Continental Regiment in the Army of the United States, to take rank as such Major General from the twelfth day of June, 1775. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Major General by doing and performing all manner of things thereinunto belonging. And we do hereby charge and require all Officers and Soldiers, under your command, to be obedient to your orders as Major General . And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time as you shall receive from the Continental Congress of the United States or Committee of Congress for the United States appointed, a Committee of the States or Commander in chief for the time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your superior Officer, according to the rules and discipline of War, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in force until revoked by this, or a future Congress, the Committee of Congress beforementioned, or a Committee of the States.
Witness His Excellency John Hancock President of the Congress of the United States of America at Philadelphia the twelfth day of June A.D. 1775 and in the fifteenth Year of our Independence.
John Hancock
By Order of Congress G. Lee Secretary at War

Mass.
Re: WIDOW, &c.
Feb. 17/4 Unit Church to James M. Crafts, Orange, La. 4017-4
File No. 11085
Roxanna Graves
Will
Graves
Ensign Rev.
Act: Jan 7 th 1832
Index: Vol. 9 , Page 288
[Arrangement of 1870.]

44.174
Key INVALID.
File No. 44.174
Adla Edwards
Ensign Her End
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 8 , Page 205
[Arrangement of 1870.]

on June
44174
file

File on Ina
4417X
Orange, Mass. 2-16-94.
Hon Mr Lochren,
Pension Commission
My dear Sir:
I wrote Sec. of War Lamont, Jan. 6 th for information relative to Pension of Asa Graves, of Sunderland Mass, who served for some time in 13 th Mass. Infantry in the war of the Revolution, I want to know, the date & amount of Pension, also the date of his death and whether his wife Roxana Graves, succeeded to his pension. They lived then at Rome, N.Y. It is claimed that he was an officer in the army & was on the staff of Gen. Washington. I need these facts for historical purposes. I recd. a postal from the War Dept. saying that it (my letter) was received and referred to the Commissioner of Pensions, — If convenient I shall be glad to hear from you soon.
With kind regards to you, I am your friend
James M. Crafts.

1.
Orange, Mass. Jan. 6, 1894.
Hon. Daniel Lamont,
Sec. of the War Dept.
Dear Sir:
I am anxious to ascertain the date of the pension granted to Asa Graves, who was a member of the 13 th Mass. Regt. of Infantry, in the War of the Revolution. Before the passage of the pension act in 1818 he had removed from Sunderland Mass. to Rome N.Y., where he died at some date that we fail to discover as yet. But his widow, Roxana Graves succeeded to his pension.
If your records disclose the amt. of his pension and the date of his being enrolled on the pension rolls, and of the close of his drawing it I shall be glad to get these dates. But as our Rep. in Congress are of the opposite party, I prefer to write direct to you.
Respectfully Yours, - James M. Crafts.

NY. Adolphus 4 July 1836
War Department Hon. J. V. Edwards Commissioner Pensions Washington

NY. Addl-pst No 10 4 July 1836.
War Department Hon J. S. Edwards Commissioner Pensions Washington

Rome, Ohio.
Nov. 9 th 1886
Dear Mr. Edwards Sir.
Enclosed I find you the affidavits of Mrs. Groves as to the destruction by fire of the record of her marriage, and also the affidavits of Ansel Groves & Roxanna Church two of her children to the same fact, which I presume will be entirely satisfactory. She has no recollection that there was any record of her marriage other than what was contained in her Family Bible. Return as most respectfully requested to the subscriber.
I am most respectfully Your obt. Servt.
J. B. P. Johnson

Hon. J. L. Edwards.

Home Oneida Co. N.Y.
Sept 13. 1886.
For N. Edwards. for.
Enclosed I find you the papers of Madam Roseanna Graves under act 4th July 1886. She was the mother of Asa Graves who was an Ensign in the Revolutionary War as will appear by his commission and papers on file in Pension office. She was married 18th by Rev Mr Ashley July 1781.
Proof. Jonas Graves who was present and knows she was lawfully married to Asa Graves . Asa Graves died in 1823 and she has remained a widow ever since. Aff d B. P. Johnson.
These papers it is presumed are sufficient to obtain her pension.
Return are most respectfully requested to the subscriber.
I am most respectfully
Your ob t Servt
B. P. Johnson

Lena Graves at Hiram's E.H.O.

State of New York Oneida County ss.
Rosanna Graves of Rome in said County being duly sworn, maketh oath and says that the record of her marriage with her deceased husband Asa Graves was contained in their family Bible, together with a register of the birth of all their children, and the other family records - That after the death of her husband she resided with her daughter Rosanna Church in the village of Rome Oneida County - That about a year after his death and as she believes in 1824, the said family Bible was stolen from the house of my said daughter Rosanna by some person unknown - That some time after it was stolen, a part of the bible was found, but the whole of the New Testament was gone together with all the family records contained therein - and that this deponent has never since that time seen the said records or any part of the same - That she well remembers the entering of said marriage in said record in the Bible as having taken place in 1781 - And further says not.
Sworn before me this 12th day of October 1836. and I know the said Rosanna as a woman of truth and veracity.
J. B. Johnson Sup Court Comr.
Rosanna Graves