Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24443, Nathaniel Griffin, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Griffin, Nathaniel Hoove, Sarah
W. 24443
CONTENTS
Former widow

6042.
Rep.
Concord, N. Hampshire
Sarah Howe, who was formerly widow of Nathaniel Griffin who was a Private in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 32 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29. day of August 1844 and sent to Solomon K. Livermore Milford, N.H.
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A.
Vol. 1. Page 251

9999
Sarah Hove former widow of Nathan Griffin N.H.
Act 3 July 1838
m. 78 ago

Sarah Howe's Declarations.

State of New Hampshire? Hillsborough County ss.
On this fifth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three personally appeared before the Court of Probate of said County of Hillsborough Sarah Hove a resident of Milford in said County, aged eighty four years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the acts of Congress, passed July 7, 1838 and the 23d of August 1842, granting pensions to widows of persons, who served during the revolutionary war.
That she is the widow of Nathaniel Giffin, who was a private in the revolutionary army of the United States. On hearing the news of the Concord fight he enlisted immediately from the town of Bradford in the County of Essex in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for eight months in the Company of Capt. Nathaniel Gage. She cannot tell whose Regiment. He was in the battle of Bunker hill. At the expiration of eight months from his enlistment he came home and made a visit but soon returned to the army in Cambridge, and remained till the British army retired into Boston. She thinks he did not leave the army to remain at home till the month of March next after his enlistment. He afterwards enlisted for the expedition against Burgoyne, but met him and his army on their way to Boston after their surrender and turned about and came to Boston with them. The facts above stated she knows in part only, except by information from him. She and he were both born and brought up in Bradford and were engaged to each other before his enlistment. He wrote several letters to her while he was in the army, but she destroyed them a long time ago. She knows that he was absent from home at the times above mentioned.

He was at home several times on parole during the eight months for which he first enlisted, when she always saw and conversed with him. She is certain that he was absent from home from the time of his enlistment till the expiration of eight months, except short visits, made on parole, as above stated. —
He was stationed about thirty miles from home.
She also declares that she was married to the said Nathaniel Griffin on the thirty first day of December in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight; that her husband, the aforesaid Nathaniel Griffin died on the second day of June in the year seventeen hundred and ninety; 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. She further declares that after the death of the husband aforesaid she was married to Isaac Howe on the _____ day of _____ in the year seventeen hundred and ninety three; that he died on the twelfth day of May in the year eighteen hundred and sixteen; and that she is still a widow.
She further declares, that she cannot now tell from her own recollection the precise days of her marriages and the decease of her husbands; but knows that they occurred long since past and as near, as she can recollect, of the dates above mentioned.
marked out - Attest S. K. Livingston his Sarah H. Jones mark R
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year before written in open Court before me. L. R. Woodbury - Judge of said cause

I, Lemuel N. Patten Register of the court of Probate for said County of Hillsborough do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Sarah Howe for a Pension.
Lem d N. Patten Register
State of New Hampshire Hillsborough County } Set
I, Lemuel N. Patten Register of the court of Probate of the County, and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Luke Woodbury is an acting Judge of the court of Probate in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified; That his commission was dated on the first day of January 1836, and under the Constitution of this State has several years yet to continue. That said court of Probate is a court of Record within and for said County, having an unlimited jurisdiction in the settlement of Estates; and that the signature of said Luke Woodbury before written is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said court this Seventh day of September 1843.
Lemuel N. Patten Register

Copy of Record of Mr. Griffin's marriage

11 One thousand seven hundred and seventy eight December thirty first Nathaniel Griffin and Sarah Runnels both of Bradford were married by Rev. William Williams."
A true copy of record with the exception of the date which is expressed in fair legible letters and figures as follows "1778 Dec 31 st "
Nathan Fletcher Town Clerk of the Town of Bradford Essex County and State of Massachusetts,
I Nathan Fletcher above named, depore and say that I hold the office of town Clerk in the County, town, and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town, with the exception above named as certified by me,
Nathan Fletcher, Clerk of the town of Bradford aforesaid
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
On this September 2 nd 1843 then before me the Subscriber Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared the above named Nathan Fletcher and made solemn oath to the truth of the above affidavit, by him subscribed.
before me Charles White Justice of the Peace
JG

Copy of record of Nathl Giffin's death - also affidavits of Isaac Rowe and others

I, Isaac Howe of Milford in the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire forty seven years of age, depose and say, that Isaac Howe, late of Milford aforesaid deceased, was my father; that I lived in the same house with him at the time of his decease, which was May 12. 1816; that my mother, Sarah Howe is now living in the same house; that she was the wife of said deceased; and since his decease has remained and is now a widow and unmarried. - Isaac Howe
State of New Hampshire: Hillsborough Co. ss. August 16. 1843 - Sworn and subscribed Before me, Solomon H. Livermore, Justice of the Peace
I, Ezekiel Gooden of Milford in the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire forty seven years of age testify and say, that I am well acquainted with Sarah Howe of said Milford and was well acquainted with her late husband Isaac Howe. I am also well acquainted with her children, as well those by her first husband Nathaniel Griffin, as by her second husband, the said Isaac Howe. I further say that the said Isaac Howe died in the year 1816: that his widow, the said Sarah Howe is now living in said Milford, that she has been a widow and unmarried ever since the decease of the said Isaac Howe and is maintained by her son by her said second husband by the name of Isaac Howe and that a daughter of hers by the name of Hannah Griffin, a

a daughter of her first husband Nathaniel Griffin, as I have always understood and believed, is a member of the same family, and is maintained chiefly by the last named Isaac Howe, who is himself poor. Ezekiel Goveless
State of New Hampshire: Hillsborough County ss. -
August 22 nd 1843 Sworn and subscribed
Before me,
Solomon K. Livermore, Justice of the Peace
Extract from the records of the Town of Temple in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire -
"Mr. Nathaniel Griffin departed this life June 2 nd 1790."
A true copy attested
Martin Heald Town Clerk of Temple
I, Martin Heald depose and say, that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the town, County and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy from the records of said town as certified by me
Martin Heald Town Clerk of Temple
State of New Hampshire - Hillsborough ss
Sept r 2 nd 1843 -
Sworn and subscribed
Before me, Solomon K. Livermore, Justice of the Peace

I, Daniel Searle of Temple in the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire, eighty years of age, lacking a few days, depose and say that I was acquainted with Nathaniel Griffin, who formerly lived in said Temple, that the said Griffin died thirty years ago and I attended his funeral. I cannot now tell the precise time of his death. —
Daniel Searle
State of New Hampshire ~ Hillsborough ss.
Sept. 2nd 1843 — Sworn and subscribed
Before me, Solomon R. Livermore, Justice of the Peace

O. W. & N. Div. L. V. B. W. 2442
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS, WASHINGTON, D. O.,
September 24th, 1896.
Sir:-
Replying to your request for information concerning the military record of Nathaniel Griffin, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you are advised that Sarah Howe, former widow of Nathaniel Griffin, made an application for pension on September 5th, 1843, at which time she was 84 years of age and residing at Milford, N. H., and her pension was allowed for the actual service of her husband as a private in the N.H. troops, Revolutionary war, for a period of nine months and twenty-one days; a part of the time he served under Capt. Nathaniel Gage and Col. Frye. He enlisted at Bradford, Mass.
Very respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.
Mr. John P. Forbes,
Taunton, Mass.

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 24443
Sarah Howe formerly Miss of Nathaniel Griffin Brn New War.
Act: Mar 3 rd 1843
Index:—Vol. A , Page 352
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Sept 24 '96 Sold Purchased by J P Forbes Garnet Mills

Milford N.H. Dec. 19. 1843
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commr. of Pensions,
Sir,
I herewith send the declaration of the widow, Sarah Howe, made for the purpose of obtaining a pension, on account of the services of her first husband, Nathaniel Griffin in the revolutionary army of the United States, together with such evidence of his services, as I have been able to find. The documentary evidence shews services at two separate times, in the aggregate falling three days short of six months. I have not been able to procure any other testimony in relation to his services, except the widow's own statement. It appears that there were six commissioned and non commissioned officers, musicians and privates in the company, of which he was one. All from the town of Bradford Me. In reply to a letter, which I wrote to the present town clerk of Bradfords, he wrote, "I have taken pains to ascertain if any of the men, who were enrolled in the company, were living and cannot find ones. I used to know some of them, when living, but they are all dead."
If I did not suppose that you have long since adopted a principle, by which you govern yourself in such cases, viz. to allow, or disallow the circumstances of the case and the widow's statement to be sufficient to authorize the presumption, that he served the whole of the eight months, for which he enlisted, I might offer some arguments in favour of such presumption. —

The copy of the record of Mrs. Howe's first marriage, to which is annexed the certificate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Justice White's magistracy, was procured by an agent, employed by Mrs. Howe, who did not understand the directions in relation to such copies. Apprehending that it would not be considered sufficient in consequence of its deviation from the directions, I sent and procured the other accompanying copy, but supposed the manifest identity of the Justice, who administered and certified the oath to the town clerk with the one, who administered the oath in the former case, would obviate the necessity of procuring another certificate from the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I did not procure a certificate of my official authority, because I was not without apprehension that all my labor and expense would prove unavailing. If I am happily mistaken in this apprehension, and you think further evidence of my authority to administer oaths necessary, if you will return the affidavits taken by me, I will procure the requisite certificate.
If you will inform me of the result of your examination of this case as soon as your many avocations will allow, you will much oblige
your most respectful
humble servant
Solomon K. Livermore

Taunton Mass.
Sept 19. 1896.
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D. C.,
Dear Sir, -
Sarah Howe of Milford, N. H. was allowed a pension about the year 1846, because of the services of her former husband, Nathaniel Griffin , in the Revolutionary War.
Will you kindly fur- nish me with a record

of his services as shown by his pension papers?
Thanking you in advance for your favor, I am
Respectfully yours,
John P. Forbes,
Taunton
Mass.

9999
Sarah Stone primary Mdm of A. Griffin N.H.
act 7 July 1838
Adm o 9. Mo 21 st p er vale #32 33
Adm o 3 March 1843 #32 33 6374
E
Solomon H. Livermore Milton Milford N.H.

August 14 1843
State of Massachusetts
I Nathan Fletcher of Bradford, Essex Co., do certify that the following is a true copy from the Record of Marriages, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures, as follows.
One Thousand Seven hundred and seventy eight December, Thirty first, "Nathaniel Griffin and Sarah Runnels both of Bradford were married" by Rev. W m Williams
I Nathan Fletcher, above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the Town of Bradford, Essex County, and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Town with the exception above named, as certified by me
Nathan Fletcher, Town Clerk,
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Essex, August 14 th 1843. Then personally appeared before me the subscriber a justice of the Peace within and for said City, Nathan Fletcher above Named and made solemn Oath to the truth of the above Affidavit, by him subscribed.
before me Charles White Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office Boston August 24 th 1863
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Charles White was a justice of the Peace for the County of Essex
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Wm. A. Dole
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Application of Sarah Howe to the Secretary of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts and his Certificate -

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, August 21 1843
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 Nathaniel Griffin is borne upon the eight months rolls as a private in the company of Capt Nathl Gage, in Col Frye's regiment; and that he enlisted from Bradford April 19. 1775, and is returned to Sept 6 1775, there are no other rolls of Capt Gage's eight months service in this office
8. 12.
The name of Nathaniel Griffin is also borne upon the rolls of the said Capt Gage from Sept 30 to Nov 6. 1777 - 1 month 9 days.
1. 9 9. 21
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 which tend to satisfy me of the identity of the party described in the application with the individual who rendered the service.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Jno: A. Bolles Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Ezekiel Gooden Esq Milford A. 16 -

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF REVOLUTIONARY SERVICES BY THE WIDOW
State of New Hampshire County of Hillsborough Town of Milford
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 Nathaniel Griffin
He enlisted in the year 1775 from the town of Bradford in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts in the Company of Capt. Nathaniel Gage in I cannot tell what Regiment, and served as a private until March 1776 We were married in the year 1778 He died in the year 1790
The only other facts which I recollect, are as follows, viz:—
The said Nathaniel Griffin enlisted immediately on hearing the news of the Concord fight for eight months. He and I were both natives of Bradford. We were engaged to each other, before he enlisted. He was in the battle of Bunker Hill. He was at home on parole several times during the above mentioned term of his enlistment when I always saw and conversed with him. He came home at the expiration of eight months, but soon returned and remained at Cambridge till the British army returned into Boston. He afterwards enlisted

for the expedition against Burgoyne; but met him and his army after his capitulation on their march to Boston and returned with them. All his services were performed under Capt. Nathaniel Gage. A Mr. Herrick was a Lieutenant in the same company, but was never heard of after the battle of Bunker Hill. A Mr. Hardy was also a Lieutenant in the same company. The facts I here state in relation to his services I heard from him. He wrote to me frequently, when in the army, but I destroyed his letters some time ago. He died in Temple in the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire, where I was married again in the year 1793 to Isaac Howe, who died in Milford aforesaid May 12. 1816. Since his death I have always been and am now a widow and unmarried. My maiden name was Sarah Runnels. I now bear the name of Sarah Howe.
I am now 84 years old, and my memory does not enable me to state any thing further material to the search required.
I have empowered Ezekiel Gooden of Milford aforesaid to act in the premises as my Attorney.
Witness my hand, this nineteenth day of August A. D. 184 3 .
Signed in my presence } by said Sarah Howe Solomon K. Livermore JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
Witness Isaac Howe Samuel Griffin
her Sarah Howe mark

Ref.
N. Hampshire 8626
Sarah Howe, who was widow of Nathaniel Griffin
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 2. June 1790 of Hillsboro' Co. in the State of N. Hampshire who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Gage of the regt. commanded by in the Mays. line for 9 mos. & 21 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Concord at the rate of 32 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of August 1844 and sent to Solomon K. Livermore, Milford, N.H.
Total amount, $
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by D Brown Clerk, Book 2. Vol. 1. Page 31