Pension No. W21,314 -- Ephraim Heald and Sarah or Sara
Selected documents from Series M804,
Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files,
National Archives
Transcribed by Bob Oliphant, 20-21 February 2003
Note: Documents placed in chronological order, dates in brackets added after transcription
 

 
 I Ephraim Dutton of Ludlow in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont do depose and say, that I am a pensioner of the United States under the Acts of 1818 & 1820 and 1823, that I was a resident in the Town of Westford in the state of Massachusetts in the year 1775 that I was called out, and was in the Battles of Lexington and Concord and that I, immediately after, that is, on the last of April 1775, enlisted at Cambridge Mass. and that I continued in the Army which was in the vicinity of Boston till the last of December 1775 when I was discharged.

 That I further testify and say that Ephraim Heald now of Ludlow in the County of Windsor & State of Vermont, was, in the year 1775 a neighbour of mine in said town of Westford, that he was with me at the Battles of Lexington & Concord and that he enlisted with me in the Revolutionary War at Cambridge and was in the same Company with me and continued with me in the Army till the last of December 1775 & that he was then discharged with me, and that I know said Heald did actual service in the Army in the year 1775 for the term of Eight Months.  We were in the Company commanded by Capt Parker, & in Col. Prescotts regiment. --

      [signed] Ephraim Dutton

State of Vermont
Windsor County SS

Ludlow June 29, 1832 Personally appeared the above named Deponent Ephraim Dutton and made oath in due form of Law that the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed contains the whole truth & nothing but the truth --

 I certify that the said Ephraim Dutton is a credible witness

      [signed] Stephen Cummings Justice Peace

State of Vermont
Windsor County SS 

Woodstock County Clerks Office July the 5th 1832 -- I Benjamin Swan Clerk  of the County County Court for said County of Windsor, Do hereby Certify that Stephen Cummings is one of the Justices of the Peace within & for said County, and that the within is his signature. --

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of said Court, and subscribe my name the day and year above. --
    {Seal}

             [signed] Benjn Swan

 
I Stephen Reed of Weathenfield in the County of Windsor & State of Vermont, do depose & say, that I was a resident in the Town of Westford in the State of Massachusetts, in the year 1775 that I was called out, & was in the Battles of Lexington & Concord, and that I, immediately after, that is on the last of April 1775 enlisted at Cambridge, Mass. and that I continued in the Army of the Revolution which was in the vicinity of Boston, till the last of December 1775, when I was discharged. --

 And I further testify and say that Ephraim Heald now of Ludlow in the County of Windsor aforesaid, was, in the year 1775 a neighbour of mine in said Town of Westford that he was with me at the Battles of Lexington and Concord and that he enlisted with me in the Revolutionary War at Cambridge, and was in the same Company with me, and continued with me in the Army till the last of December 1775 and that he was then discharged with me and that I know that said Ephraim Heald did actual service in the Army in the year 1775 for the term of Eight Months --  We were in the Company commanded by Capt Parker & in Col. Prescott’s Regiment.

      [signed] Stephen Reed

State of Vermont
Windsor County SS

Ludlow July 17, 1832.  Personally appeared Stephen Reed above named and made oath in due form of Law that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed contains the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

 I certify that the said Stephen Reed is a credible witness --

      [signed] Stephen Cummings Justice Peace

State of Vermont
Windsor County SS 

Woodstock County Clerk’s office. May 31st 1833 -- I Benjamin Swan, Clerk of the County Court for said County of Windsor, Do hereby certify, that Stephen Cummings is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County, and, that the within is his signature --

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of Said Court, and Subscribe my name the day and year above written --
        {Seal}

   [signed] Benjn Swan

 I Joshua Reed of Stodard in the County of Cheshire & State of New Hampshire do depose and say, that I volunteered and enlisted in an expedition in the Autumn of 1777 to take Burgoyne I joined the Army at Fort Edward and continued with the Army till Burgoyne surrendered, and was then sent as one of the Guard to take the prisoners to Charlestown Mass.  I was in the Army in this expedition Forty days.

 I further testify, that Ephraim Heald of Ludlow in the County of Windsor & State of Vermont, who was in 1777 a resident at Westford Mass. enlisted & joined the Army with me, and was in the same company with me, and that I know he was in actual service in the Army in the year 1777 for the space of Forty days.  We served in Col. Jonathan Reed’s Regiment and Capt Lawrence’s Company --

      [signed]  Joshua Reed

Stoddard July 27, 1832

Cheshire SS. on the 27th Day of July AD 1832 the said Joshua Reed personally appearing made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true before me.

      [signed]  Isaiah Reed Justice of the Peace

I Certify that the above named Joshua Reed is a credible witness.

      [signed]  Isaiah Reed Justice of the Peace

Stoddard July 27, 1832

Cheshire SS. July 29, 1832 

I Solma Hale clerk of the Judicial Courts in said county certify that Isaiah Reed is a Justice of the Peace in and for said county & I believe that his name herein subscribed on the foregoing page is in his own hand writing In testimony whereof I hereunto affix the seal of our Superior Court of Indenture

               {Seal}

    [signed] S. Hale

State of Vermont
Windham County SS

On this sixth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Probate Court for the District of Windsor now sitting Ephraim Heald of Ludlow in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont aged 78 years who first being duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.             That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.

 That he was in the year 1775 a resident in the Town of Westford in the County of Middlesex in the State of Massachusetts, that on the alarm of the British’s coming to Lexington, he turned out to meet them and was in the Battles of Lexington and Concord on the 19^th of April 1775 and that the next day he marched to Cambridge, where he immediately enlisted a volunteer, for #Eight Months, and served the whole of said Eight Months in the vicinity of Boston and was discharged on the last of December 1775 -- That during the said Eight Months he served in the Company commanded by Capt. Joshua Parker and in Col. W^m Prescott’s Regiment.

 And the said Ephraim Heald further says, that in the year 1776 on the 15^th of August he volunteerd and enlisted at said Town of Westford under Capt. Joseph Minot and in Col. Lyon’s Regiment for three Months, that he served the full time for which he enlisted and was discharged on the 15th of Nov. 1776 -- that during the said three Months, he was stationed at Dorchester heights, and that he with his company was employed the whole of the time in repairing the Castle which had been blown up by the British --

 And the said Ephraim Heald further says, that on the 10^th of September 1777 he was drafted in said Town of Westford to go on an expedition to take Burgoyne, that he marched immediately under Capt Asa Lawrence of Col. Jonas Reed’s Regiment, through Vermont to Fort Edward in New York, was there at the surrender of Burgoyne, and was one of the guard to take the Hessian Prisoners to Winter Hill in Charlestown Mass. --
That he was in the service on this last expedition forty days -- that he has no documentary evidence of any of his services -- and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service in his second enlistment, that is, his term of three months service at Dorchester Heights --

 He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State --

He was born at Westford in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, on the 26^th day of November 1753.  Has a record of his age in his Bible, which he copied from the record of his age in his father’s Bible, and was informed by his father, that his birth was recorded in said Town of Westford, but has never seen the record himself.  He lived in Said Westford, when called into the Service, and continued to reside there, except when out in the Service, till February 1815, when he moved to Ludlow in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont, where he has resided ever since.  He never received any written discharge --  He states the names of the Revd Peter J. Nichols and Stephen Cummings, as persons, to whom he is known in his present neighbourhood, and who can testify, as to his Character for veracity, and their belief of his Services, as a Soldier of the Revolution.

      [signed] Ephraim Heald

 Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.

      [signed] Jabez Proctor Judge

          We Peter J. Nicholds a Clergyman of Ludlow in said County of Windsor and Stephen Cummings of said Ludlow hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ephraim Heald who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy Eight years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where re resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

      [signed] Peter John Nichols, Clergyman
      [signed] Stephen Cummings

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

      [signed] Jabez Proctor Judge

          And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories, prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them, that Peter J. Nichols, who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, resident in the town of Ludlow aforesaid, and, that Stephen Cummings, who has also signed the same, is a resident in the said town of Ludlow, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

      [signed] Jabez Proctor Judge

          I Reuben Washburn, Register of the Probate Court within and for the District of Windsor in the State of Vermont, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Ephraim Heald for a Pension. 

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, this sixth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.

{Seal}                        [signed] Reuben Washburn

         I Reuben Washburn, Register of the Probate Court within and for the District of Windsor in the State of Vermont, Do hereby again Certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Ephraim Heald for a Pension. 

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, this sixth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.

{Seal}       [signed] Reuben Washburn No. 5072

Vermont……… 18,651
 

Ephraim Heald of Windsor co. in the State of Vermont, who was a private in the compy commanded by Captain Minot, of the Regt commanded by Col. Lyon in the Mass. ma. [militia]line for 12 mos. 10 dys.            Died Novr 6th 1834. ==================================== Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont  at the rate of 41 Dollars 10 Cents per annum,  to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. ==================================== Certificate of Pension issued the 23d day of Sept, 1833, and sent to Stephen Cummings, Ludlow, Vt. ==================================== Arrears to the 4th of 4 Sept ’33             $102.75 Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar. ‘34    20.55                                                              $123.30 {Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.} Recorded by Ele Brown, Clerk, Book E,  Vol. 3,   Page 69. Order to pay arrears 24 March 1838. --

 

Vermont……… 1361.
 

Sarah Heald,  widow of Ephraim Heald, dec’d, Mass.  who died on the 6th of November, 1834; [at] Windsor co. in the State of Vermont,  who was a  private in the compy commanded by Captain Minot, of the Regt commanded by Col. Lyon in the Mass. ma. line for 12 mos. 10 dys. private.   ==================================== Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont (Windsor) at the rate of 41 Dollars 10 Cents, per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831 6th of Novr 1834. ==================================== Certificate of Pension issued the 31st day of August, 1837, and sent to Sewell Fullam, Esq., Ludlow, Vermont. ==================================== Arrears to the 4th of March ’37 =         $95.78 Semi=annual allowance ending 4 Sept   20.55                                                             $116.33 {Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3d.} Recorded by S. A. Elliot Clerk,  Book A, Vol. 2, Page 37.

 
State of Vermont
Windsor County SS

I Thomas Bixby of Ludlow in said State and County aforesaid do testify and say I was born in Westford Mass. and Ephraim Heald lived in Westford and heard Ephraim Heald and Sarah his wife published and after saw them (and a number others with them when they went to be Married) in Westford and have known them ever since that they have lived together till the Day of his Death and I attended his funeral, and further state I think the Old lady by reason of age and infirmity I think she is not able to attend any Court of record in the District.

      [signed] Thomas Bixby

State of Vermont
Windsor County SS

I Ephraim Dutton of Ludlow in said State and County aforesaid do testify and say I lived in Westford before the Revolutionary War and afterwards, and was well acquainted with Ephraim Heald and Sarah his wife and heard them published in Westford Mass. and have live in the Town where they have lived ever since, and have been well acquainted till the Day of his Death and attended his funeral. --

I further State that I think the Old lady by reason of age and infirmity is not able to attend any Court of record in the District.

      [signed] Ephraim Dutton

State of Vermont
Windsor County SS

Ludlow September 2^d 1836
This may certify the above named Thomas Bixby & Ephraim Dutton personally appeared and made Oath to the above depotitions which they have Subscribed too.  I further certify that the above deponants are creditable witnesses

     [signed] Artemas Spafford Justice of the Peace

I Artemas Spafford further testify that the within claimant in my opinion is not able to attend any court of record in Said district.

     [signed] Artemas Spafford Justice of the Peace

State of Vermont
Windsor County SS 

I Benjamin Swan Clerk of Windsor County Court, Do hereby Certify, that Artemas Spafford is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly commissioned & qualified, and that the within is his signatures -- In Testimony whereof I hereto affix the Seal of said County Court, this Sixth day of September Eighteen hundred & thirty six {Seal}                       [signed] Benjn Swan

 

      Westford May 29th 1837

Mr. Sewall Fullam jr.

         Sir yours of the 5^th instant came duly to hand.  In answer I inform you that it is a law of this State that marriages Shall be recorded in the town books by the Clerks of the several towns.  I have examined our books but I cannot find a record of the marriage of Mr. Heald.  In short I cannot find any marriages recorded which were solemnized during the year 1776 or about that time.  It was at the commencement of the Revolution and I presume from some cause marriages which were solemnized at that time were never recorded in the town books.  I thought possibly the marriage might have been solemnized at Groton, accordingly I requested the Town Clerk to search his records.  he says there are no marriages recorded which were solemnized in Groton in the years 1775 ’76 & ’77 except three at the commencement of ’75.

 I find the intention of marriage between Ephraim Heald and Sarah Hardy recorded.  It was entered April 6^th 1776.  Should I chance to find a record of the marriage I will immediately inform you And will cheerfully give you any other information in my which you request.

      Respectfully Your Obt. Servant
      [signed] Henry A. Prescott} Town Clerk
          of Westford
          Mass.

                         Ludlow  Windsor County Vt
      August 3^rd 1837

Sir – Enclosed I send you a certificate of the publishment of Ephraim Heald and Sarah hardy as entered on the Town Records of Westford Mass. which shows they were published as early as Apl. 6, 1776, and also that no records of marriages were made about that period.

I also enclose the old family record of Heald which shows that they had children born as early as Feb. 28, 1777 --

I think this will be satisfactory evidence that they were married as stated in Mrs. Healds declaration, especially when there is proof of cohabitation for about sixty year.  Mrs. Heald has neither brother nor sister living as I understand, nor can I learn that any person that was present at the marriage is now living --

The fact of a cohabitation for fifty or sixty years would be sufficient, I apprehend, in all courts of law to prove a marriage, in order to charge the parties, or for almost any other purpose.  I therefore hope it will be satisfactory to the War Department, when connected with the other testimony in the case – should this be the case please direct a certificate to me, or to Mrs. Heald.

            Repty Your Obt. Servt
      Sewall Fullam Jr.

Hon. T L Edwards
Washington

 
Ephraim Heald   Born November    26^th   1753 Westford, son of Gershom & Hannah
[Sa]ra Heald       Born october         12     1757
[S]ara Heald       Born febuary         28     1777 Westford, dau of Ephraim & Sarah
Thomas Heald    Born December     12     1779 Westford, son of Ephraim & Sarah
Rebaka Heald  Born December        17     1784 Thomas m. Rebekah Smith April 7, 1808
Ephraim Heald   Born April               24    1782 Westford, son of Ephraim & Sarah
             Died  January                       24     1784 Westford, son of Ephraim & Sarah
Ephraim Heald   Born march             20     1785 Westford, son of Ephraim & Sarah
[Su]sana Heald   Born march              2     1788 Westford, dau. of Ephraim & Sarah
             Died  April                             7     1789 Westford, dau. of Ephraim & Sarah
[I]saac Heald      Born August          17     1791 Westford, son of Ephraim & Sarah
Thomas Smith Heald  Born July        30      1808 Westford, son of Thomas & Rebekah
   …Illegible name and date…                   1809
   ?? Heald          Born  ??                  ??      1812
[R]abecah An Heald Born July           4      1814
  ??lia Maria Heald Born                    ??        ??
Anna Augusta Heald Born December 30   1830
Sophia Carolina Heald Born August    6    1822

[The birth of Thomas Smith Heald is the most recent Heald birth in the Westford Vital Records to 1850.]