Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-06-23
DEctARhTf1S


mont, in the 10Th year Of my age, depose'
testify, ard declare;
That in the month Of April A. u.
1775, I was one Of those called minute
men, in the county Of Hampshire then a
province Of Massachusetts, that regi
ment OF such minute men was regularly
formed in the towns Of Northamtou, Hat
field and the adjacent plantations. nsar
the borders Of Connecticut river, and com.
manded by General Seth pamroy, that
vas eldest sergeant under Captain Israel
| Chaplin Of Hatfield, belonging to the said
| regiment and that on the morning Of
the said Goth Of April, 1775, about two
o'clock, three alarm signals were gwen |;
that the said minute company were FORM
ed. equipped and en- their march before
the sun arose, and arrived opposite Bos-
ton, distance Of lo2 miles, Oh the morn
ing Of the Sd day ai:er.
further state, that acted and did
the duty of quarter master OF said regi.
ment until some time in May following !;
when my regiment with another were 10.
eosporatsd under the command of Col.
Jehn Fellows, in which ! vas commits
stoned second Lieutenantby the corti-
mental congress. Having served during
the campaign, ! vas commissioned Lieu
tenaat in the years service Of l776, with
William King, in Massachusetts, regi-
ment commanded by Colonel Jonathan
Ward, aud had charge Of said company
the captain being chiefly absent at Bos!
ton, New.York, Long-l;land, New-Jer-
sey, Sc) On the establishment Of the ar
my in l777, for the duration Of the war.
I vas appointed a lieutenant in the 9th
Massachusetts, Regiment. Nahub Ward,
captain; James :Wesson, Col. aud after
the reform OF the line, commanded By
Col. Henry Jackson. In the year 1878,
received warrant as captain from the
state OF Massachusetts,, but was not com.
missioncd as such by congress, until the
year 1880; although all the care, expense
and responsibility Of a captain had. de.
voIvpd on me for four years previous
At the clsse of The year l7s2, another
reform taking place, | was 'ranferred to
the third Massachusetts Regiment. Col.
Creation +; from which | was honorably
dismissed, on the happy return Of Peace,
OIL the cath day Of June, 1888, and haV.
ing served excepting two short furlCughsl
eight years, two months and four days.
further state, that led the company
with good report through three seiges, Sc
ven pitched Battles, and (beins light it,
fantry) above fifty skirruishes. that was
FIVE times wounded, was struck down by
the explosion Of a piece Of artillery, at
the battle Of Long Island, and had num-
Der of bones crushed by desperate fal!
when Oh duty that Maj. Pettingil, the
brave. being wounded, | commanded ard
led on the troops which stormed the
German Lines at Beamis's heights, near
Sarat 60, N. Y. and seized Col. Brsh-
man the commanding officer, which deter
mined the fate Of Burgoyne.
further state that my constitution is
so lar debilitated, That nothing bat the
most powerful astriugents have enabled
me to be comfortable or to do any labour
for several years, and that unavoidable
misforiunes have reduced me TO a state
of Indulgence. Also, that might have
been enrolled with ihyalids at the close
Of the revolutionary war, and continued
under pay till this time, had g.! chosen it
that my name is to be found on every
roll and return of the above specified
companies, regiments, &c. all Of which
are written, certified ard signed 10 my
hand writing.
And I further declare that am in such
reduced circumstances, as to need the
assistance Of my country, &c.
WILLIAM WATSON.
Poultney, Vermont, .aprii, 6. 1918.
From the Baltimore .9msricnn: