sahel5 Landers (Thomas4,
Ebenezer3, Thomas2-1),
born ca. 1765, died at Lenox 27 March 1842 ae 76 (The Lenox
Church Record calls him "Capt.", the Pittsfield Sun
7 Apr. 1842, calls him a "Revolutionary soldier").
He married at Lenox July (or August) 1788 Mercy Goodspeed (his pension records show "at the House of Revd Mr. Manon" [probably Munson]; D.A.R. Lineage Book 55:283).
In 1781 he served as a private in the Third Berkshire Regiment; in 1782 in the 5th Mass. Regiment, and also in 1783 (Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors in the War of the Revolution; Revolutionary War Pension Records, National Archives - Pension record W-15001; D.A.R. Lineage Book 55:283). His pension record shows that he had land (200 acres) in Maine, granted to him 30 Jun 1784 for his war service.
Asahel Landers was head of a family consisting of 1 male over 16, two under 16, and one female at Lenox in the 1790 Census. The will of Thomas Landers, dated 24 Jan. 1798, gives: "To my son Asahel Landers, all my real estate in Lenox and one-sixth of my personal estate." Asahel was the only one of his father's five sons who remained in Lenox; he evidently prospered there, as the deeds show him as grantor in 14 conveyances and grantee in twelve, and that he owned property in Lenox, Lee and Washington (Berkshire County Deeds, Pittsfield). In one of these, dated 13 June 1812, he conveyed Lenox land to his son James Landers, his wife Mercy, in consideration of 1¢ releasing her dower right. The instrument was witnessed by Caleb N. Landers and Harriet Landers (op. cit. 51:127).
Asahel Landers was admitted to full communion in the Lenox Congregational Church 14 May 1815, and his wife Mercy on 3 September following.
The will of Asahel Landers of Lenox was presented for probate 3 May 1842. In it he bequeathed to his beloved wife Mercy, to two daughters - Lucy, wife of James Thompson, and Harriet Landers; also a daughter Almira. In an accounting, George, Harriet, Marshall and Edwin Landers are named as children of the deceased son, Marcellus Landers (Berkshire County Probates, docket #6422). The pension file (op. cit.) contains two pages from Asahel Landers’ family Bible [Page 1, Page 2] and a memorandum drawn up, evidently by a pension clerk, giving a resume of the data the pension agency had obtained. [Lydia B. (Phinney) Brownson and Maclean W. McLean, "Thomas1 Landers of Sandwich, Mass.," NEHGR 124:279]
Deposition of Asahel Landers:
I, Asael Landers of Lenox County of Berkshire &
State of Massachusetts do hereby declare that I enlisted in the
continental Line of the Army of the Revolution for the Term of
Three Years or during the war & continued in its service
until its termination at which period I was a private in the
American Regiment of the Massachusetts line. That I enlisted
according to the best of my recollection in the month of April
1782 in the fifth Regiment commanded by Capt. Benson & that I
was transferred to the light Company commanded by Capt. John
Mills in the first Regiment of the Massachusetts Line to which
said first Regiment I belonged in 1783. That I was a, I verily
believe entitled to the Reward of eighty Dollars under a Resolve
of Congress pass. May 15, 1778. That I have no recollection of
receiving a certificate for sa reward but that 200 Acres of Land
has been awarded to me in the State of Maine to which I am now
entitled & I further declare that I was not on the 15th of
may 1828 on the Pension list of the United States. Witness my
hand this 27th day of September 1828.
[National Archives - Pension record W 15,009 - declaration of
Asael Landers dated 27 Sep 1828]
Deposition of Asahel Landers:
Asael Landers of Lenox in the County of Berkshire & State of
Massachusetts... That he enlisted at Lenox aforesaid in the month
of April 1782 for three years. That after his enlistment he went
to Springfield in Massachusetts where he was mustered & that
afterwards in the month of may or June of the same year he joined
the army at West Point where he entered the fifth Regiment of
Infantry of the Massachusetts line commanded by Col: Newall. That
he served during the war & was discharged by order of Brigad.
Gen. Jackson on the 30th day of June 1784. That he served in the
Regiment aforesaid in the Company commanded by Capt Benson or
Capt [Groffe?] & which he cannot recollect his memory being
imperfect until the Close of the war & that at that peroid
having enlisted for 3 years he was transferred to the first
Massachusetts Regiment & served in the company commanded by
Capt Mills only a part of the time & a part of the time the
company he belonged to was commanded by Capt Bolles. That he was
with Genl Washington in New York after the City was evacuated by
the British & then he was in the company of Capt Bolles or
Bowles. That he is not & never had been on the pension Roll.
That he applied for a pension under the law of May 1828 &
that his claim was rejected... The said Landers is in the sixty
ninth year of his age. [National Archives - Pension record W 15,009
- declaration of Asael Landers dated 1 Aug 1832]
