Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14914, Whitney Hill, Mass

SERVICE
NUMBER
mass
Will, Whitney Rachel
W. 14914
CONTENTS

let to Hm. J. Davis, Mar 24. 1838.
Massachusetts 1871
Rachel Hill widow of Whitney Hill deceased
who died on the 26 th July 1800 of Middlesex in the State of Mass a who was a Sgt Capt n in the Company commanded by Captain King of the Regt. commanded by Whitney in the Mass a line for 8 mos Sergeant 10 days Corporal " " Private
Inserted on the Roll of Mass a at the rate of 42 Dollars 78 Cents, per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 th day of March 1838 and sent Hon. Mr. Harris Senate N. J.
Arrear to the 14th of March 1838 $299.46 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept. 4, " - 21.39
$320.85
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1838. Section the 3 d }
Recorded by W. Davis Clerk, Vol. 2 Page 51

V 2204
Rachel Hill widow of Whitney Mississippi Mass
Married Aug - '73
Allow.
Provis 14ds - 1.55
Carp l 10ds 1.22
Seig t 8mo 40 -
for ann $42 77
cermony 4 March 1837
M rs Melick
base King
on Whitney
Attn M c Davis
MS 5

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex Co. ss.
I Silas Stone do upon oath testify and declare that I am the Clerk of the town of Sherburne and that I have the custody of the records of said town and that it appears from said records that J o Whitney Hill of Holliston and Rachel Daniels of Sherburne were married August the 5 th 1813 by the Rev d Elijah Brown,
Silas Stone Town Clerk of Sherburne
Middlesex Co. ss March 7 th 1837 Then the above named Silas Stone personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above written deposition by him subscribed Before me Isaac Whitney Jus: of Peace
I hereby Certify that the above named Silas Stone is Clerk of the town of Sherburne and is a credible and respectable witness
Isaac Whitney Jus: of Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss. I Elias Thayer Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for the County of Middlesex do certify that Isaac Whitney Esquire is a Justice of the Peace in said County of Middlesex, and that I believe his name subscribed to the above Certificate to be his genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the twenty fourth day of June 1837.
E. Thayer

Rachel Hill widow of Whitney Hill
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
On this twenty eighth day of June in the year eighteen hundred & thirty seven, personally appeared before the judge of the Court of Probate for the county of Middlesex Commonwealth aforesaid at her residence in Holliston in said county, she being quite blind & too infirm to go from home - Rachel Hill of said Holliston, widow aged eighty three years & two months - 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 4 th 1836. - That she is the widow & was the lawful wife of Whitney Hill formerly of Holliston aforesaid, who died on the twenty sixth day of July in the year eighteen hundred & that her maiden name was Daniels, That she was married to the said Whitney Hill on the fifth day of August in the year seventeen hundred & seventy three, at Sherburne, an adjoining town to Holliston by the Rev d Elijah Brown at his house - She at that time belonging to Sherburne & her husband to Holliston - Her said husband was a native of said Holliston & always lived there until his death, except for a bout three years that he lived in Sherburne & except the time he was absent in the service -
That her said husband enlisted into the military service in the spring of 1776 as orderly Sergeant in the company of Capt King, & as she thinks in Colo. Whitney's regiment, & left home according to the best of her recollection about the first of April 1776 - & went as she understood to Nantasket in or near Boston Harbour & continued there until about the first of December of the same year - He was absent on this service according to her remembrance & belief as much as eight months - He came to Holliston Sherburne once in June & once in August of that year

year for the purpose of enlisting soldiers & was in Sherburne & neighboring towns a day or two each time on that service.
* In 1775 when the news arrived of the British troops going to Concord in April her husband was a minute man, so called, in a company in Sherburne commanded by Captain Benjamin Bullard, or Captain Joshua Leland, she thinks the latter both those officers having commanded the company - and he marched on the same day with said company & was ab- sent till the 29 th day of said April, when he returned - He also served a week or two at some time after the year 1776 - upon a sudden call for troops to go to Rhode Island in the company of Capt. Ezra Ganes - He served as orderly sergeant in the company on that occasion - she thinks he was out at that time eight or ten days - as to time she cannot pretend to be accurate to a day, but states her impressions according to the best of her memory and is very confident that those impressions are right.
She has remained a widow ever since the death of her said husband -
Rachel her Hill
Subscribed with her mark mark known to before me by said Rachel Hill - J. P. Pay Judge of Prob.
And the said court does hereby declare the opinion, after investigation of the investigation of the matter, that the statements of said applicant contained in the foregoing declaration, are true & entitled to credit. She being a credible person, and that she is unable by rea- son of age & infirmity to attend court. J. P. Pay J. Prob.

I Isaac Whitney I Isaac Whitney aged, fifty three years, of Sherburne in the county of Middlesex, do depose & say, that I have been well acquainted since my earliest years, with Whitney Hill formerly of Holliston in said County & Rachel his wife - that he died in the year eighteen hundred & left his said wife his widow, who now resides in Holliston & has remained unmarried since her said husband's death.
Isaac Whitney
Middlesex ss. June 28 th 1837. Then personally appeared Isaac Whitney, a magistrate for said county to all known to me as a credible person & made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed.
Before me - J. P. P. Day J.P.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss. I Isaac Foster, Register of Probate in & for said County of Middlesex hereby certify that Sam d P. P. Day Esq. is the Judge of said Court of Probate & that the signatures of him said Gray in three places written on the foregoing paper are his genuine signatures.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court of Probate this twenty eighth day of June A.D. 1837.
Isaac Foster Reg.

Holliston March 3 d 1837 I hereby certify that Whitney Hill Son of Isaac & Lydia Hill was born May 13 th AD 1748 and that he died July 26 th AD 1800 all of which appears by the Records of S t Holliston
Attest Elisha Cutler { Town Clerk Holliston

I, Abel Greenwood of Framingham in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged eighty one years, a revolutionary pensioner, do testify and say that in the spring of 1776 Whitney Hill of Sherburn was a Sergeant and he enlisted me to serve in the war of the Revolution, and the said Whitney Hill served six months, and I think some over, as a Sergeant in Capt. Hings Company and Col. Whitney's Regiment at a place called Nantasket near Boston in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and I served as a private and worked at my trade part of the time, which was a carpenter, in said Company during said term. - It was in the spring of the year 1776 That Mr. Whitney Hill joined Capt. Hings Company, I think it was in the month of April. - And further I say not. - Abel Greenwood
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss. February 27th A. D. 1837.
Then personally appeared the above named Abel Greenwood, who is personally known by me to be a man of truth and a credible witness, and made solemn oath that the above affidavit, by him subscribed, contains the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth relative to the transaction therein stated, according to the best of his recollection and belief.
Before me.
Matthew Metcalf. Justice of the Peace for said county of Middlesex
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss. I Elias Thumey clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for said County of Middlesex, do certify that Matthew Metcalf Esquire, is a Justice of the Peace, within and for said County of Middlesex, and that his name subscribed to the above Certificate is his genuine signature. -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the twenty fourth day of June 1837
E. Thumey

Adam Bullard of Sudbury in the County of Norfolk & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Eighty four years of age do testify & say that in the month of August in the year 1776 Whitney Hill of Sherburne then a Sergeant enlisted me to serve in the war of the Revolution as a private & carpenter for the term of three months to go to Nantasket near Boston & on the third day of September I marched for that place and on my arrival there I found said Hill doing duty as a Sergeant in a company. The Captain's name I do not recollect.
After I had been at Nantasket about two weeks I was taken sick, obtained a furlough & went home. Said Whitney Hill continued to do duty all the time I was there. I left him in the service when I went home. After my return home & during my sickness said Hill once called to see me & again called after the expiration of the three months & paid me for my services. and further I say not.
Adam Bullard
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk Js. April 11. 1887 Then personally appeared the above named Adam Bullard who signed the above instrument & made oath that the above declaration by him subscribed is true.
Before me.
Brother Matthew J. Lott, of the Peace for the County of Norfolk.

instrument & memorandum the above here subscribed is true
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK ss.
Ernest W Sampson
I, JAMES WARE , Clerk of the Judicial Courts, being Courts of Record, within and for the County of Norfolk, hereby Certify that Luther Metcalf Junior Esquire,
is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Norfolk aforesaid, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified to discharge the duties of said of- fice, and that his signature to the annexed certificate is genuine and true.
In Witness Whereof, I have subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid at Dedham, this twenty Sixth day of June A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty Seven
Ernest W Sampson Clerk

O. W. & N. Division.
P78.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.,
May 28, 1895.
Sir:
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of WHITNEY HILL a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     April, 1775 10 days Corpl. Bullard ----- Mass.   April, 1776 3 mo. Sgt. Samuel King Whitney "   ----- 1780 14 days Pri. Rames ----- "  
Battles engaged in,
None mentioned.
Residence of soldier at enlistment,
Holliston, Mass.
Date of application for pension,
by widow, June 28, 1857.
Residence at date of application,
of widow, Holliston, Mass.
Age at date of application,
of widow, Eighty-three years.
Remarks:
He married Rachel Daniels August 5, 1778, and died July 26, 1800.
C. A. Woodruff, Esq., War Department.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Nash
Mass.
Rev WIDOW, &c.
Ms. draft H.
File No. 14914
Rachel Hill
Widow of Whitney Hill Sergt Rev War
Act: July 4 th 86
Index:—Vol. a , Page 335
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1894 Jan 27 to S B William Rochester
May 28/93 Hist. C. G. War War Dept.
Dec. 18-1901 Hallett E Jones Arlie mass

Unionville Ms. March 13
free
Hon. John Davis Member of Congress City of Washington D. C.

Unionville March 13th. 1838
Hon. John Davis.
Dear Sir,
2204 I wish you would look at the case of Mrs. Rachel Hill's application for a Pension and inform me why a Pension Certificate has not been sent to her. Mrs. Rachel Hill is the Widow of Whitney Hill and lives in Holliston in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and sent her declaration and proof to obtain a Pension Certificate in June last; she not being able to attend Court, Judge Gay went to the house where she lived and prepared the declaration himself, and all that I recollect of doing for her was to take the Deposition of Abel Greenwood who testified to his service in Capt. Thing's Company. In the month of August following, Mr. Fiske, our Register of Probate, sent me a letter which he received from the Commissioner of Pensions, which gave information in a number of cases in which I was engaged, and among other things was the following information viz. In the case of Mrs. Rachel Hill, widow of Whitney Hill, deceased, the Christian name of Capt. Thing, under whom a service of eight months in 1776 is claimed should be given. The term of 10 days as corporal under Capt. Bullard in 1775 and 14 days as a private in 1780 under Capt. Eames are also established by the Rolls. And I notified her of what I had received and she immediately sent a man to engage me to take charge of the business; and I went to Mr. Greenwood but he said he could not be positive what the Christian name of Capt. Thing was, and I could not find any person that did know. I then went to the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and was informed there that a large number of papers relating to the service in the Revolutionary War had been found there after the papers had been sent to Washington, and on examination there I found a pay roll of Officers which gave an account of Capt. Thing's services in 1776 which agreed with the statements made by Mr. Greenwood; and I procured a certificate under the hand of the Secretary of State, stating that the Christian name of Capt. Thing was Samuel (if I recollect right) and I enclosed the same in a letter and directed it to the Commissioner of Pensions at Washington and requested him to send the Pension Certificate to me, or if the proof was not now sufficient to inform me what more was wanting and I would try to forward further proof if necessary. And I have waited a long time and have not received any certificate nor any information why one has not been sent. Mrs. Hill has lately become blind and her property has all been expended in her support, and she is now dependent on her son-in-law, who is a man of good character, and although his property is small he supports her, and if she is entitled to a Pension she is anxious to receive it soon, that she may enjoy the benefit of it now, in her forlorn condition. I suppose there can be no doubt but
Mr.

Mr. Hill served as stated in the declaration or very nearly so, it being impossible for a person so long afterwards to state exactly the term of service as some soldiers were left after the terms for which they enlisted had expired and some who enlisted a little after the commencement of the term were discharged a little before their term expired and if the roll of Capt. Thing's Company cannot be found Capt. Thing's service must very nearly establish the service of Mr. Hill. I looked for Capt. Thing's Roll among the papers at Boston but was not able to find it. Mr. Greenwood who has lately deceased was a respectable man and one that no man who was acquainted with him (I think) would attempt to impeach his evidence here in a court of justice and his faculties remained good till a little before his death, and for a long time being intimately acquainted with Mr. Hill (I think) could not be mistaken as to his service. - If there is a doubt as to the term of the service and Capt. Thing's roll cannot be found I think there can be no doubt from the evidence in the case that Mr. Hill did not serve more than six months and Mrs. Hill wishes for a certificate for such term as is satisfactorily proved if it is less than the whole time claimed.
I am very Respectfully Your Obedient Servant
Matthew Metcalf

Sanitary Whisky
June 76 Harduck
Vol 25 - Sept 76 3 mo
p 101 1 mo 19 d. on
July 76 Adv pay Sept 48/ on a Hull
1 Oct - 1 Nov 76 2 mo on Sat.

277 579 820
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
12. 154
25 101
Secretary's Office. Nov r 7. 1827.
I hereby Certify that the name of Samuel King is borne on an original Roll remaining in the Off ce of the Secy. "A Return of the officers in Colonel J t Whitney's Esq r . Reg t for rations, from the 11 th of April to the 1 st of June 1776." That portion of the roll which relates to the said King is as follows:
   No. of days How much per day Total due     Sam l King. Capt n 62 8 1/2 £ 2. 3. 11 22  
Witness my hand, and the Seal of the State. John D. Sleeper Secy of the Com ee

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Whitney Hill , a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you will please find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apr 1775 10 mo Corpl Whitney Russell Mass   Apr 1776 8 mo Sgt Samuel King Whitney "   1780 4 mo priv Eames "  
Battles engaged in, None mentioned Residence of soldier at enlistment, Holliston Mass Date of application for pension, (by widow) June 28, 1837 Residence at date of application, (of widow) Holliston Age at date of application, " " 83 yrs. Remarks: Married Rachel Daniels Aug 5 1773 and died July 26 1800.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

H
War Department, Office Commissary-General of Subsistence,
Washington, D. C., May 21 st , 1895-
Judge W m Lachum Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D. C.,
Sir:-
I have the honor to request to be informed as to the services in the Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783 of Whitney Hill ; his widow, Rachel Daniels Hill, was a pensioner due to services to his services.
Very respectfully C. H. Hadduff

Natick Mass
December 5-1901.
To The Pension Department Interior - Washington D.C.
My dear Sir
Will you kindly inform me if the name and service of Whitney Hill of Natick Mass. on account of his service in the Revolutionary army is correct? I am informed his widow was a pensioner and desire to confirm therein in order to perfect this claim of my ancestor, David Abel.
Very truly Hallet E. Jones.

14914 and
Whitney Hill
June 28, 1837 - 83
Holliston Mass.
mar. Rachel Hill Daniels
Aug 5, 1773. Sherburn Mass
Died Aug 26, 1800
Holliston Mass
abt 76 Holliston Mass.
Capt King
Col Whitney
Sergt - 8 Mass
apl. 75 - Capt Roy Bullock
Capt Jno. A. Teland
to Col -
To 292 apl. 71 -
Corps - 10 days
- Capt Ezra Gaine
Col -
Ord Sgt. 1 or 2 wks  2 or 3 wks
Served in R.I.
abt Abiel Greenwood
Greenham
Adam Bullard, Midshipman
Born May 13, 1748
Holliston Mass

Return to CITY TREASURER, ROCHESTER, N. Y., If not delivered within 10 days.
14914
John S. Paine
Pension Bureau.
Washington D.C.

11-203-Comp 1001
17. 195
75. Benjamin Ballard or Joshua Leland few days - Serf
76. X King Whitney Abel Greenfield Mass. 8 mo
— Ezra Eames - 2.9 in 1481 — 1089 —
x 12 = 149
Abel Greenfield about Mass.
Whitney Hill
Vol 25 p 101.
dat July adv pay $8. Serf.
Aug to Nov 76 3 mo Serf
to Aug 76 1.19
Comp 1001 Ballard
pm 14 d. Eames
12 King from 11 Aft. 3.06

Jan'y 22/94 Respectfully Off'd to Hon Commr of Pensions, with paper request that request be filed to take its turn with other like applications on file.
Very respectfully John L. Paine
TO CHF. _____ DIV. _____ ACTION _____ JAN 1894 COMMISSION R.

CITY TREASURER'S OFFICE, ROCHESTER, N. Y. S. B. WILLIAMS, TREASURER.
Jan 18
1894
John L. Paine Wash D.C. Dear Sir Herewith,
In order to perfect application for membership for the organization known as the "Daughters of the Revolution" my wife desires information from the Pension Dept. If you cannot give the same, please advise me where to address. Sincerely
Yours Truly Sam B. Williams
Name of party - Whitney Hite or wife Rachel Daniels Hite Residence - Massachusetts - Pension for War of the Revolution.

If you find any thing in the records - please note same on enclosed sheet & return to
Yours Truly Sam
I think the resistance was of a similar nature

Weston Ms June 30th
July 5
L. Edwards Esq
Mrs H. M. St 30 St.
Emmerson J
Pensylvania
Washington
2204 Rachel Hill room of W. H. St. St. Mary's Church

Commonwealth of Mass.
Wheathurst Co. East Cambridge June 30, 1837
J. L. Edward Esq., Inclosed is the application of Rachel Hill for a Pension, for your recommendation & disposal,
I am respectfully yours Isaac Brock.

15
Mar 24
Rachel Hill
See her Adr.
maniprison of Prisoners
L. Edwards
David Knapton

Sir you forwarded to me a certificate for Rachel Hill. Will you oblige me so much as to give me the address of the person who wrote to me to apply for it & whose letter was sent to you - I know not to whom to address it without better intelligence - At least you can give me Mrs Hills address
Your obed servt J Davis
Mar 22. 1838

May 19 Mr. H. Ken: att:
For the Commission of the W. B. L.
H. Davis Senat N.S.

Sir The enclosed will express to you what is desired
With great respect I am
Your Obedient
J Davis
March 17.
J. L. Edwards Esq