Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16848, John Harper, N.H.
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N.H. Harper, John S.16848
[Carded]
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New Hampshire John Harper of Strafford [handwritten] in the State of N H [handwritten] who was a Private [handwritten] in the company [handwritten] commanded by Captain [squiggle line] of the [illegible] commanded by [illegible] Poor [handwritten] in the N H [handwritten] line for 7 months [handwritten]

Inscribed on the Roll of N H [handwritten] at the rate of 23 [handwritten] Dollars 33 [handwritten] Cents per annum.
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of January
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DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
State of New-Hampshire, County of Strafford
Mr Daniel G. Atkinson
}ss. At a Court of Probate holder before  Judge of Probate for said County at Samborn
On this 23rd day of August 1932, personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Court of Probate, now sitting, John Harper a resident of New Hampton in the County of Stafford and State of H. H. aged 77 years, who being first 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, 1982. 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated-
[handwritten] That he entered the service of the United State in the Revolutionary army in the month of August A D. 1775 at Winterhill in Capt Moses Leavitts Company in Col Poors Regt as a substitute for Ebenezer Tilton ^of Hamilton NH for four months. and did serve the full term of four months and was honorably dismissed. That he enlisted again at Brentwood in the County of Rockingham and State aforesaid in January 1774 for three months under Capt Jarvis Sinclair in Col. Waldron Reg and marched to Charlestown Mass and was stationed on the Temple Farm (so called) untill the Brittish army left Boston or Bunker Hill then marched to the fort in Bunker hill and there served the rest of the three months and dismissed. have no written discharge from either of the above services. 
~ That he actually served in the two above enlistments seven months~ That he has no documentary evidence that he knows of no Person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except the affidavits annexed
that he was Born in Brentwood in the County of Rockingham state of New Hampshire AD 1755
that he knows of no record if his Birth except a family record that he resided in Brentwood when called into service
Since the Revolutionary war he resided in New Hampshire in the County of Stafford state of New Hampshire fifty two years and now resides in Same place
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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. 
 [handwritten] John Harper
Sworn and subscribed, the [handwritten] day [illegible] before me Daniel C. Atkinson Judge of [paper torn]
We, [handwritten] Thomas Perkins residing in New Hampton and [handwritten] Nicholas M Taylor residing in [handwritten] New Hampton hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [handwritten] John Harper , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [handwritten] 77 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a sol-
dier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed, the [handwritten] day [illegible] before me Thomas Perkins Nicholas M Taylor Daniel C Atkinson Judge of Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their [their is crossed out] 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 certifies, that it appears to them [to them crossed out] that [handwritten] Thomas Perkins who has signed the preceding certificate, is a [handwritten partially illegible] Clergman resident in Newhampton and that [handwritten] Nicholas M Taylor, who has also signed the same is a resident in [the is crossed out] Newhampton and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. [handwritten] Daniel C. Atkinson Judge of a[paper edge]
I, [handwritten] James Bartlett Rege[illegible] of the [handwritten] Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [handwritten] John Harper for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this [handwritten] 23rd day of [handwritten] August AD 182[illegible] James Bartlett Rege[illegible]
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12,172
John Harper
Private 
7 Mos
[illegible]
$23,33
Han . J M. Harper
HR
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12,172
BRIEF in the case of [handwritten] John Harper of New Hampton [crossed out] of [handwritten] Strafford Cy in the State of [handwritten] N.H.
Act 7th June, 1832.)
1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  [handwritten] A Court
2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  [line]
3.  How old is he?  [handwritten] 77
4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period 
August '75 
Duration of Service 
4 Months 
Rank
 As a Substitute 
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served 
Gen Capt Leavitts Col Poor
Period 
January '76
 Duration of Service 3 months
 Rank private 
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served Capt Sinclair Col. Waldron
5.  In what battles was he engaged?  [handwritten] none mentioned
6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service? [handwritten] Brentwood NH
7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? [handwritten] 2 living Witnesses
8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? [handwritten] no Clerk: Said on affidavit to the 1st period of Service
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Wm. C. Easton
Examining Clerk
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12,172
John Harper
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of [handwritten] John Harper which require further proof or explanation.
I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  Yes
II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  Yes
III.  If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? [line]
IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  Yes
V.  Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes
VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  Yes
VII.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1932?  Yes
VIII.  Has the Court given their opinion?  Yes
IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?  Yes
X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be dstinguished from any other seal?  Yes
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2
XI.  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
Yes
XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
~
XIII.  If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
~
XIV.  [cross mark]If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Yes
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
No
XV.  Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
Yes
XVI.  +Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
Yes
XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
Yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V.  In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recol-
lection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:
For _____year_______months and ________days, I served as a __________. For __________months and ___________days, I served as a _______________; and for such service I claim a pension."
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  It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, the pensioner and the length of his service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
+QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
  In the case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate who may adminis-
ter the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under the seal of office.
+QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
  In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being im-
properly attached to the certificate.
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[handwritten]
for John Harper
Levi Robinson
[handwritten]
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[handwritten]
I Levi Robinson of New Hampton in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire of Lawful age do testify that I have Been acquainted with John Harper of New Hampton formerly of Brentwood in the state of New Hampshire for Sixty years past and know that the said John Harper was a Soldier in the United States Army at  Winter Hill in the year 1775 in Capt Moses Leavill
Company in Col. Poors Regiment he the said John Harper entered the Company in which Been a Soldier or a Substitute for Ebenezer Tilton which had enlisted for seven months the said John Harper served out the remainder of Tiltons time of enlistment which I Believe was about four Months
Levi Robinson

state of New Hampshire
Strafford SS Be it known that on the fifteenth day of August AD 1832. Before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared Levi Robinson who has this day Subscriber the foregoing affidavit and made oath in due form of Law that the same is Just and true Before me
Nicholas M Taylor Justice of the Peace
I certify that Levi Robinson who has Submitted the foregoing affidavit is a man of good Morales and his testimony is entitled to credit
Nicholas M Taylor Justice of the Peace
I certify that Nicholas Taylor is a Justice of the Peace and that the above is his signature
[illegible] 20th 1833
J. McGuifer
M.C.
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I Benjamin Sanborn of Bristol in the County of Grafton and state of New Hampshire  of [illegible] that I have been acquainted with Joh  Harper of New Hamptons and formerly of Brentwood in said state for sixty years past and do Know that the said John Harper did enlist into the United States service in Brentwood in said state of New Hampshire for three Months in the year 1776 in the Month of January under Capt. James Sinclair and Marched Directly to Charlestown the state of Massachusetts and Joined Col Waldrons Reg I was a Solider in the same Company with Harper for the said time of three Months and were both stationed a part of the time on what was called the Temple farm and when the British troops left Bunker Hill we were stationed in the fort on Bunker Hill and at the end of the said three Months were both honorably dismissed and stayed about three weeks longer
[signature] Benjamin Sanborn

State of New Hampshire
Strafford Ss

Be it Known that on the fifteenth day of August AD 1832 Before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County personally appeared Benjamin Sanborn who has this day subscribed the foregoing affidavit and made oath in due form of Law that the same is Just and true
Before me
Nicholas M Taylor Justice of the Peace

I certify that Benjamin Sanborn who has subscribed the foregoing affidavit is a man of good character and that his testimony is entitled to credit
Nicholas M Taylor
 Justice of the Peace
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State of New Hampshire
Secretary's Office August 15, 1832
The within named Nicholas M Taylor
is a Justice of the Peace for our County of
Strafford duly constituted and sworn and 
 his signature as such genuine   In
testimony whereof I have hereto set the Seal of State. 
[signature]
Ralph Metcalf Secretary

[illegible]
for John Harper
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16.848
INVALID.
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File No.  16.]
John Harper
Pri   Rev War
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Act: June 7''39
Index:--Vol.  1,  Page  165
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[Arrangement of 1870.]