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Pension Records:
Soloman Fletcher
Selected documents from Series
M804,
Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files,
National
Archives
Service:
Mass.
Pension No. 16259
National
Archives
Transcribed by Bob Oliphant, 5 March
2003
[12 April 1841]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary’s Office, April 12th 1841 .
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 Solomon Fletcher is borne on an account in the Army books, as a drummer
from Westford, in the Colonel’s Company, Colonel Marshalls Regiment, and there
found credited by his Services from January 2d 1777 to December
31st 1779, being 35 months 29 days at 44 S per month.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal
Of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
[signed] John P. Bigelow
Secretary of the
Commonwealth
[The following is a completed form. Italics represent
written portions.]
[13 April 1841]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary’s Office, April 13th 1841
I hereby Certify, That, Nathan Brooks,
Nehemiah Ball and Jonathan Prescott Esqre – are
Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex (and they have been such for
the month last past)
In the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to their 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.
{Seal} [signed] John P. Bigelow
Secretary of the Commonwealth
And I do further testify & say that my said late brother was formerly
a resident of said Westford & was born in said town & that he was in the
Army of the Revolution more than three years, and that there was no man living
in said Westford during said war of the name of Solomon Fletcher but him.
Witness
her
[signed] J. Gregory
Johanna
X
Clarter
mark
State of Massachusetts
Middlesex County SS
Westford, November 3d 1841
Then the above named Johanna Clarter, who is a credible witness,
personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by her
subscribed –
Before me,
[signed] Luther Prescott Justice of the
Peace
[Transcriber’s Note: Vital Records of Westford Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849 gives the death record of this woman as follows:
“Clatter, Joanna, wid.
[w. Jacob, pauper, p. r. 2], d. Ebenezer and Joanna Fletcher, old age,
Mar. 30, 1847, a. 91 y. 9 m. 12 d. [a. 94 y. p. r. 2]”]
[3 November
1841]
Commonwealth
Office of the Town
of Massachusetts County of
Clerk of Westford November third
Middlesex
eighteen hundred and forty one
I John W P Abbot Town Clerk in the town County and Commonwealth aforesaid
make the following extract from the record of publishments of an intention of
marriage in said town now in my possession
“Solomon Fletcher of Westford and Abigail Melvin of Concord
were intend in order for marriage February twentieth seventeen hundred and
eighty-two.”
I certify that the above is a true Copy of the record with the exception
of the date which is expressed in fair legible figures as follows “Feby 20 1782”
I John W P Abbot above named do depose and say that I hold the Office of
Town Clerk in the town County and Commonwealth aforesaid and that the above is a
true extract from the records of said town with the exception above named as
certified by me.
[signed]
John W P Abbot Clerk of the Town
of Westford
Middlesex SS Novr 3d 1841
Sworn & subscribed
Before me
[signed]
John Abbot Jus. Peace
[30 December 1841]
State of New York.
County of Washington SS.
On this thirtieth day of December in the year eighteen hundred and forty
one personally appeared before John McLean First Judge of the County courts of
said County.
Abigail Fletcher a resident of Greenwich in the County and
State aforesaid 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
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 Solomon Fletcher, formerly of
Westford, in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, who enlisted as
a Drummer in Captain Philip Thomas’ Company in Colonel Marshall’s Regiment,
about the first part of the year 1777, and served three years, at the end of
which time he was honorably discharged.
She further declares that she was married to the said Solomon Fletcher in
Concord in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts in the first part
of the year seventeen hundred and eighty two; that she has formerly been under
some misapprehension with regard to the date of her marriage; That she with here
husband the aforesaid Solomon Fletcher removed to the said town of Greenwich
more than fifty years ago, but the exact time she cannot now recollect; That her
husband the aforesaid Solomon Fletcher died on the twenty fifth day of July
in the year eighteen hundred and twenty five; that she was not married to him
prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the
first of January seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz.: at the time within
stated; and that she has remained a widow ever since his death.
her
Abigail
X
Fletcher
mark
Sworn & subscribed on the day and year first above
written before me.
{seal}
[signed]
John McLean First Judge Wash. Co. Courts
And I the said Judge do further certify that the aforesaid Abigail
Fletcher is from age & infirmity unable to attend the court of the said
County of Washington.
Dated Decr 30th 1841
[signed]
John McLean
State of New York.
County of Washington SS.
On this thirtieth day of December in the year eighteen hundred and forty
came before me, Smith Barber a resident of the town of Greenwich in said county
and after being duly sworn by me deposeth and saith he has been acquainted with
Solomon Fletcher and Abigail Fletcher for fifty years or more and verily
believes they were actually husband and wife and that they have been so reputed
up to the death of the said Solomon Fletcher and have lived as husband and wife
since my acquaintance up to the said Solomon’s death; And that Abigail Fletcher
the widow of the said Solomon has remained a widow ever since the death of her
husband.
Subscribed and sworn on the
day and date above named
[signed]
Smith Barber
before me Nathaniel Rood
Justice of the Peace
State of New York.
County of Washington SS.
On this thirtieth day of December in the year eighteen hundred and forty
came before me, Zeduthun Gilbert a resident of the town of Greenwich in said
county and after being duly sworn by me deposeth and saith, he was acquainted
with Solomon Fletcher and Abigail Fletcher while they resided in Cavendish
(Vermont) for some few years and since they removed to this county above named
for fifty years or more and during the whole of his acquaintance with them they
have been reputed as husband and wife and they have so lived; And [so] been
considered up to the time of the said Solomon’s death; And furth[er] that the
said abigail Fletcher has remained a widow ever since the death of her said
husband.
Subscribed and sworn
on the day and date
[signed]
Zeduthun Gilbert
above named before
me Nathaniel Rood
Justice of the Peace
[30 December
1841]
State of New York.
County of Washington SS.
On the thirtieth day of December in the year eighteen hundred and forty
one Abigail Fletcher came before me and being by me duly sworn deposeth and
saith that four of her children were born on the following dates Viz Sally
Fletcher was born June 2 AD 1784, Josiah Fletcher was born December 12th AD 1786 Isaac Fletcher was born May 9th 1789, and
Simeon B. Fletcher was born March 11th 1792.
–
Subscribed and sworn before me
her
Me this 30th day of
December
Abigail
X
Fletcher
1841 Nathaniel Rood Justice
mark
of the Peace.
[The following is a completed form.
Italics represent written portions.]
[1 January 1842]
State of New York
Washington County SS. I H. Shipherd Dep Clerk of said county, Do certify that Nathaniel Rood Esquire, whose name is subscribed to the certificate of acknowledgment of the annexed Affidavits was, on the day of the date of the said certificate, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, dwelling therein, duly qualified, and authorized by law to take the proof and acknowledgment of deeds, &c. And that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Nathaniel Rood and verily believe the signature to said certificate to be genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I
have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said county, this 1st day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and forty two
{seal}
[signed]
H. Shipherd Dep Clerk
[The
following is a completed form. Italics represent written portions.]
[8 January 1842]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary’s Office, January 8th 1842
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 Solomon Fletcher is borne on a “list of Men engaged in the Continental Army for the town of Westford for three years, or during the War” where it appears that he enlisted under Capt. Thomas in Coll Marshalls regiment, and there is but one Solomon Fletcher on the list. The name also appears on “a Cloathing Return drawn in Capt. Phillip Thomas’ Company in Coll Thomas Marshall’s Regt for the Year 1777 and 1778” Soln Fletcher, Drummer of Westford in the Coll Company, Coll Marshall’s Regt. By his Services from January 2d 1777 to Decr 31st 1779 is 35 months 29 days @ 44 S per Month.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal
Of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
[signed] John P. Bigelow
Secretary of the Commonwealth
[The following is a completed form. Italics represent
written portions.]
O. W. and N. Division. 3-525.
ISC. [?] DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Wid. File 16259 Bureau of Pensions,
Rev. War. Washington, D. C.,
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Solomon Fletcher , 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.
Son of Ebenezer & Joanna Fletcher
|
Dates of enlistment
or appointment. |
Length of
service. |
Rank. |
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM
SERVICE WAS RENDERED |
State. | |
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Captain. |
Colonel. | ||||
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Jany. 1 77 |
3 yrs. |
Drum. |
Philip Thomas |
Marshall |
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Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Westford, Mass., born there Dec. 27, 1760
Date of Wid. application for pension, Mch. 30 1841 - allowed.
Residence at date of application, Greenwich, Washington Col, N.Y.
Age at date of application, 83 yrs.
Remarks:
Sol. mar. (Published intention) Abigail Melvin
Feby. 20, 1782 Concord, Mass.
He died July 25, 1825
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Sally b. June 2, 1784 Josiah Dec. 1786
Isaac May 9, 1789 and
Simeon B. Mch. 11, 1792
[15 January
1842]
Boston, January 15th 1842
Sir,
Herewith enclosed are the papers relating to the claim of Mrs. Abigail
Fletcher widow of Solomon Fletcher for a pension under the Act of June 7,
1838. She made
an application in April last, (at which time no evidence of marriage could be
found) under the Act of July 4, 1836. I have since discovered evidence of their
publishment in February, 1782, which was after the close of his service. This, with the
depositions now forwarded, and those now in the Pension Office, will, I trust,
be considered as sufficient evidence of the marriage.
As, in your letter of April 24, 1841, proof of identity is required, and
as no person who served with him can now be found, I have availed myself of a
suggestion made in your letter of February 1, 1841, to the Committee of the
Legislature of this State, respecting the withdrawal of the Rolls, and made the
enclosed deposition that a statement of his service was submitted to me before
any search was made for the name. This, with the fact that but one Solomon
Fletcher can be found, will, I trust, be considered as proof that the one in
Capt Thomas’ Company Col Marshall’s Regiment, was the husband of the
claimant.
The reason why Solomon Fletcher never applied for a pension, I give in
the words of his son, Isaac Fletcher, in a letter written July 5, 1841. “The reason was
because my father was, in his life-time, abundantly able to do without such a
pension, as he was in possession of quite a large freehold, besides a numerous
stock, goods and chattels, and money at interest.”
Please, inform me of your decision as soon as convenient.
Yours, Respectfully,
[signed]
Eleazer Homer
J. L. Edwards, Esqer
Washington D.C.
[14 February
1842]
State of Massachusetts
Westford
Feby 14th
1842
Middlesex SS
Office of the Town Clerk
I John W P Abbot Town Clerk in said Westford do hereby certify that the
following is a true extract from the Records of the births and deaths of said
town now in my care and keeping to wit
“Solomon Fletcher son of Ebenezer Fletcher and Joanna his
wife was born December twenty seventh seventeen hundred and sixty”
except the following to wit
“December 27 1760” which are in plain and legible
figures
[signed]
John W. P. Abbot Town Clerk
Middlesex SS. Feby 15th 1842
Sworn to before me
[signed]
John Abbot Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary’s Office February 23, 1842
I
hereby Certify that at the time of the within Attestation John Abbot was a
Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex
Witness the Seal of the State
[signed]
John P. Bigelow
Secretary of the Commonlth
[24 February
1842]
Boston, February 24th 1842
Sir,
In the case of Abigail, widow of Solomon, Fletcher, I trust the papers
now forwarded, with the following explanation of facts, will suffice to remove
all doubts which the Department may have with regard to her claim.
On the 17th of March 1841, Isaac Fletcher
of Greenwich, N.Y. came to my office, and stated that he thought his mother
Abigail Fletcher, was entitled to a Pension, as the widow of Solomon Fletcher
formerly of Westford, Mass. who served three years in Capt. Thomas’ Company and
Col. Marshall’s Regt, and that they were married
in the winter following the date of the Battle of Bunker Hill. He requested me to
act as agent in the case, and I furnished him with a declaration, stating such
facts as were known to him, leaving the remainder to be filled up by the
Judge. This,
with a number of depositions, was received by me April 12th and forwarded to the War Department. Upon the receipt of
your letter of April 24th, I wrote to the Town
Clerk of Westford, requesting him to examine the record of births, and he
informed me that Solomon Fletcher, son of Ebenezer and Joanna Fletcher was born
Decr 27th
1760. I then
knew that the widow had made a mis-statement, and decided to do nothing more in
the case until record evidence of the marriage could be found. This occurred in
November last when the entry on the town records was found, as certified by the
Clerk on the 3d of that month. A Declaration was
then made under the Act of July 7, 1838, and forwarded to the Department with
such evidence as could be procured.
As in your letter of January 21st the age
of Solomon Fletcher is required, I wrote to the son of the claimant to that
effect, but did not inform him of the entry on the town record. He returned the
deposition herewith enclosed, which, as will be seen, were made on the same day
that the Certificate of the Town Clerk was sworn to.
It is probably known to the War Department that most of the musicians in
the army were quite young. In one regiment of ten companies, I find
fourteen musicians, out of twenty, who were under twenty one years of age, and
the ages of these fourteen averaged less than seventeen years.
If there is now in the War Department, any roll of Capt. Thomas’ Company,
which shows the ages of the men, I have no doubt that the age of the claimant’s
husband will be found to correspond with that of the Solomon Fletcher in said
Company.
Please inform me of your decision as soon as convenient.
Yours, Respectfully,
[signed]
Eleazer Homer
J. L. Edwards, Esqer
6576
Albany, N. York
Abigail Fletcher
widow of Solomon Fletcher
who was a pensioner under the Act of
and who died on the 25 July 1825
of Washington Co. in the State of N. York
who was a Drummer in the company commanded
by Captain Thomas of the regt. Commanded
by Col. Marshall in the Mass.
line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll
of Albany
at the rate of 88 Dollars Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension
issued the 9th day of Mar.
1842 and sent to Eleazer Homer, Boston, Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1841
$44.00 [?]
Semi-annual allowance ending
Act July 7, 1838
Recorded by D. Brown
Book A. Vol. 2. Page 77
Agent no[tif]ied
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