sahel⁵ Landers (Thomas⁴, Ebenezer³, Thomas^2-1), 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]

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