Revolutionary War Record: John Bivins
National Archives, microfilm series M804, roll # 249 for John and Hannah Bivins #R875
Pension Record of John Bivins: Served in the Massachusetts Continental Army as a fifer and
applied for pension (#13367) while residing in Wayne Co. Ohio, being listed with the Pittsburgh
agency. Stated that he served in the company commanded by Captain Allen, of the Regiment
commanded by Col. Brewer in the Massachusetts line for two (2) years. Pension was granted in
the amount of $83.00 per annum commencing March 4, 1831. Certificate of pension issued July
6, 1833.
Abstract of affidavit of John Bivins taken March 21st, 1833 in order to qualify for a pension
authorized by Congress June 7, 1832.
John Bivins a resident of Mohican township, Wayne County, Ohio. He entered as a fifer in the
army of the United States (for nine months) about the last of March 1775 under Capt. Allen,
Whipple was the General, Jonathan Brewer, Colonel. During this service period, the army was
"in the neighborhood of Boston, sometimes at Cambridge, but principally at Prospect Mill". He
was also on the march from Cambridge to Bunker Hill, but not arriving in time to participate in
the battle. John Bivins was discharged the last day of December 1775. He enlisted again
immediately at Prospect Mill, near Boston, Massachusetts for service of one (1) year under Capt.
Aaron Haynes. John Bivins mentions Joseph Williams, as his half-brother and that Joseph
Williams was a 1st Lt. in the Continental Army. John Bivins company was under the command of
Col. Asa Whitcomb and served out his one year, being discharged in December 1776 at
Ticonderoga. John Bivins further states that he was in the Militia, entering at Worthington,
Massachusetts early in August 1777 to march to Bennington, VT under Capt. Webber, then
marched to Stillwater, New York where he was in a battle (with the rank of private) in
September of that year. He states that he was discharged "but a day or two before the surrender
of General Burgeyone. This was his only battle.
John Bivins was also drafted (as a private) at New Lebanon, New York in the fall of 1779 to go
with the militia to Fishkill, NY, under Capt. Gideon King, serving about three (3) months.
Applicant stated that he was born in Middletown, CT September 15, 1760, but stated that he had
no record of his age. He states that he was living at Northampton, MA when first entering the
army, and then at New Lebanon, NY when drafted into the militia at 1779, from where he
removed to Ballston, (Saratoga) New York for about two (2) years, then about one (1) year at
Middletown, CT, then back to Ballston, NY for two (2) years, then to Otsego County New York
for about thirty years, then to Clarence, near Buffalo, NY remaining there about two (2) years.
From there he moved to Mohican, Wayne Co. Ohio, being there about 13 years.
John Bivins signed the affidavit, spelling his name Bivins.
Abstract of widow's pension application (under act of Congress July 7, 1838) of Hannah Bivins, residing at Marietta in Fulton County, IL October 6, 1840 in the circuit court of McDonough Co. IL, stating that she was 77 years of age. She was applying for the entitlement of half-pay and pensions to certain widows. It appears from the file that this application was rejected.
National Archives, microfilm series M804, roll # 249 for John and Hannah Bivins, #7453
Affidavit of Hannah Bivins given October 6, 1840 in which she declares:
That she is the widow of John Bivins who was a private and a fifer in the army of the revolution.
That she was married to John Bivins on the 18th day of September 1779.
That her husband died on the 24th day of February 1839.
That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but that the marriage took place previous to the first of January, 1794.
Hannah Bivins signed the document
Affidavit of James Harrey given October 6, 1840 at the circuit court of the County of
McDonough stating that he was personally acquainted with John and Hannah Bivins from 1824
until the time of his death which took place at Marietta, Fulton Co. IL on the 24th day of February
1839.
Also contained in the file for John and Hannah Bivins is a Certificate of death and heirship from the State of Illinois, Fulton County by Judge Erasmus D. Rice, dated April 15, 1852, providing that satisfactory evidence was provided to him as to the death of John Bivins at 1839. This document also states that Hannah Bivins died in the County of Lorain in the State of Ohio in the month of November 1843, leaving the following married children only:
Benjamin O., Mary, John, Fanny, Ira, Henry, Harriet, Lorenzo, and Milton Bevans and stating
that these are the only children of the said Hannah who are living. The document further certifies
Milton Bevans of Fulton County was duly appointed and qualified as administrator of the estate
of Hannah Bevans.
Another affidavit of Hannah Bivins, dated March 31, 1843 given in the Supreme Court, McDonough Co. IL.
Stating that Hannah was of Marietta, Fulton Co., IL, aged 79 years on the 18th day of June last. That she was the widow of John Bivins, a private and a fifer in Capt. Allen's company.
That she was married to him sometime in the fall of 1779
That her husband died February 24, 1839.
Signed by Hannah Bivins
There are also several letters on file as follows:
1. from Souise Finney Stone: showing lineage - John Bivins md. Hannah Owen; Ira Bevans md. Julia Ann Hatch; Agnes S. Bevans md. Jonathon Finney; Souise Finney md. Stone. Her return address was 1410 Sebarry St., Caldwell, ID. She stated in her letter that John Bevans was born Ireland and came to America with his parents when an infant, settling in CT (however, the pension application states that John was born in Middletown, CT). It further states that he married Hannah Owen, from Scotland.
2. from Ida S. Tobias, historian of the Peoria Chapter of the DAR, Peoria, IL, dated July 2, 1917 requesting confirmation of Hannah receiving a pension. (Noted that the word "rejected" is stamped on a card in the file).
3. 3 letters from Nathaniel Pope Causin(?) as agent to Mr. George Whiting, Commissioner of Pensions regarding the pension of Hannah Bivins dated September 1857, at Washington, D.C. In one of the letters it states that John Bivins lived near Lewistown in Fulton Co. IL.
4. from James King(?), U.S. House of Representatives for IL, dated December 1854 requesting information as to any arrears in pension monies due to John Bivins heirs.
5. from Milton Bivins, dated December 24, 1842 at Marietta, Fulton Co. IL, inquiring of the Commissioner of Pensions as to whether there was an Act subsequent to the July 1838 Act providing pensions on behalf of his mother Hannah Bivins and her application filed with the pension office. (He signed his name as Bivins).
6. from Senator Richard M. Young to J. L. Edwards, Esq., Comm. of Pensions, dated December 13, 1842 from the Senate Chamber, Washington, at request of Mrs. Hannah Bevans residing in Fulton Co. IL to inquire as to whether she is entitled to a pension. It states that she is in indigent circumstances.
7. from Milton Bivins, Marietta, Fulton Co. IL, dated April 1st, 1843 to J. L. Edwards, Comm. of
Pensions sending papers to substantiate his mother's claim to a pension as widow of John
Bivins. The letter also requested that any necessary forms and instructions be sent.
Affidavit of J. G. Hull, taken in the Circuit Court in McDonough Co. IL, March 31, 1843.
That he became acquainted with John Bivins and Hannah Bivins in the year 1817 and that he continued to be intimately acquainted with them both.
That they were both of excellent character.
That he was also acquainted with the relations and family ? of the said Hannah who were highly respected.
That he was acquainted with their children and that he has been acquainted with the oldest of their children at least ? years, allowing him to verify that "his age is correctly stated by the said Hannah in the foregoing affidavit" (not clear as to what this means). He also states that this person was a representative in the legislature of the State of New York and that one other of their children is a respectable attorney at law, another is a physician of considerable ?, two of them are ? , and another is a farmer.
Signed by J. G. Hull
According to other researchers, Hannah Bivins was granted a pension with the help of Stephen Douglas. However, found not record in the revolutionary records file. Perhaps such record was destroyed?
Residences:
1780-1782 Ballston, Saratoga, NY
1782-1783 Middletown, Middlesex, CT
1783-1785 Ballston, Saratoga, NY
1785-1818 Milford, Otsego, NY
1818-1820 Clarence, Erie, NY
1820-1833 Mohican, Wayne, OH
1836 Found in Plattesville, WI per other researchers
1837-1839 Lewistown, Fulton, IL