Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18742, John Bridgham, Continental Mass.
Page 1

Continental
Mass.

Bridgham, John

S. 18742

carded
Page 2

[Left side page illegible faded handwriting] name of John Bridgham

The letter to Joshua Wingate 
Aug 22, 1832
let & [illegible] G. Evans Jan. 3 '46

[Right side page]

10,183
MAINE
John Bridgham a [illegible] in the State of Maine who was [illegible] in the company comma [page cut off] by Captain           of the Rgt. comman by Col. Bailey in the [illegible] Mass. line for 13 months ensign
                         8 months sergeant }
Mass & Continental
_______________________________
Inserted on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 170 Dollars            Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of May 1833 and sent Freeman Bradford Portland Maine
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $340.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 [illegible] " 
85.00  [total] $425.00
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by [illegible] Clerk,
Book  E  Vol. 1st Page 3
Page 3

UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
MAINE DISTRICT SS.
At a Special District Court of the United States begun and holden at Minot ["Portland crossed out] within and for said District, on the fourteenth day of August A. D. eighteen hundred and thirty-two before the Honorable Ashur Warr, Judge of said Court.
On this fourteenth day of August -- aforesaid, personally appeared in open Court before said District Judge John Bridgham a resident of Minot in the county of Cumberland in said Main District aged seventy eight 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 provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.  That he the said Bridgham entered the service of the State of Massachusetts in the town of Plympton on the first of February A. D. 1775 in the company commanded by John Bridgham my father which company belonged to the regiment commanded by Col. Cotton.  That he continued to serve as private in said company for the term of three months.  That during the three months he was [illegible] to Plymouth to stop the proceedings of the Court that was about to convene there.  That the said Bridgham well recollects while at Plymouth of hearing a patriotic address from Doct. Freeman of Sandwich.  That soon after this expedition to Plymouth he was called again with the company and marched to Plymouth on an alarm.  That about the time of the Lexington fight he with the regiment to which he belonged marched to Marshfield for the purpose of taking the British troops that were stationed at Ray Thomas's House.  Said Thomas was a Tory and had fled to Boston.  That he was on said last mentioned expedition to Marshfield four or five days.
That he the said Bridgham then afterwards enlisted ["for eight months" inserted] on the first of May A. D. 1775 and served as sergeant in the company commanded by John Bridgham aforesaid in the regiment commanded by Col. Cotton and served said eight months in Roxbury near Boston as a sergeant.
That he the said Bridgham again enlisted on the first of January A. D. 1776 at the expiration of his eight months service and served as an ensign and held a commission from John Hancock President of the Continental Congress which commission is now at the War Department in Washington.  That the company to which he belonged was commanded by Capt. John Bridgham aforesaid in the regiment commanded by Col. Baily.  That he enlisted for and served one year in capacity aforesaid, and was stationed the first part of said year at Roxbury and the last part of the year in New York.
That at the expiration of the year aforesaid he again enlisted for one and a half at Trenton in New Jersey and served as ensign in the company commanded by Capt. Crooker in the regiment commanded by Col. Baily aforesaid.  That at the expiration of said one month and a half he was discharged at Chatham in New Jersey aforesaid.  That he the said Bridgham served at above for the term of 2 years and 2 weeks.  That while in his year's service he was in the engagement at Harlem and also in the battle at Frog's Week so called between the city of New York and the King's Bridge and also in the battle at Trenton when the Hessians were taken, and also in the battle at Princeton.  That he the said Bridgham further declares that he was on the pension roll under the Act of Congress A. D. 1818.  That he was dropped from the same on account of property and that he served 13 1/2 months as an ensign and that his present place of residence is Minot aforesaid.
he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on any pension roll of any agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the agency in the State of Maine.
John Brigham
Signed by holding the pen
Attest F. Bradford
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.  Before,
Ashur Warr  {U. S. Judge for the 
                      District of Maine
Page 4

And he the said Bridgham further declared that he was a resident in Plympton in the county of Plymouth in the State of Massachusetts when  he first entered the service as aforesaid. That for fifty two years last past he has resided in t he town of Minot, County of Cumberland, State of Maine, where he now resides.

That he was a native of Plympton aforesaid and was born in the year A.D. 1754 and has resided in the Town of Minot aforesaid for more than fifty years last past.
John Bridgham

Signed by his holding the top of the pen
Attest F. Bradford
Ashur Warr
Judge of the C : L : f ltr
Dist. of Maine

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.

I, John Mussey, Clerk of the District Court of the United States for Maine District, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Bridgham for a pension. And that Freeman Bradford Esquire who took the annexed depositions of William Barrows & James Dunham is a Justice of the Peace duly qualified that his official attestations are entitled to full faith & credit.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this twentieth day of August A. D. one thousand eight hundred thirty-two.
John Mussey {Clerk of the U. States District Court for Main District.

The Pension certificate of the applicant is herewith transmitted.
Page 5

Claim of the late Capt. John Bridgham, deceased,
Act of 1832
=====
STATE OF Maine }
COUNTY OF Cumberland } SS
Be it known, that on this fifth day of May A. D. eighteen hundred and fifty one, before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Garish Bridgham a resident of Minot in said County, and made oath according to law that he is the Son of the late John Bridgham who was a Revolutionary Pensioner under the Act of the 7th June 1832 at the rate of one hundred & seventy Dollars per annum; that he has been informed that the said Pension ought to be increased; that he is directed interested as a claimant in said Pension, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence and argument as his Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Garish Bridgham
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. before me, Joshua Parsons, J. Peace. }

I, Joshua Parsons, Justice of the Peace, do hereby certify that Garish Bridgham who has executed the foregoing affidavit before me, is a respectable resident of this County, and is, I believe, directly interested in said claim as therein set forth.
Joshua Parsons, J. Peace.

I, Charles C. Harmon, Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court in the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Joshua Parsons before whom the foregoing affidavit was executed, was, at the date of the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly authorized by law to administer oaths; and his name thereunto subscribed, appears to me to be his usual signatures.
In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the Seal of said Court, this sixth day of May A. D. 1851.
C. C. Harmon, Clerk.
Page 6

POWER OF ATTORNEY:--Revolutionary Pension Claim.
-----
Know all Men by these Presents, that I, Garish Bridgham of Minot, in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine do hereby constitute and appoint Mr. D. D. Addison of Washington to be my true and lawful Agent and Attorney, to prosecute the Claim of my late Father John Bridgham, deceased, for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or Increase of Pension, that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Agent to examine all the papers and documents of every description, in relation to said claim, that may be on file in the Departments at Washington City, or elsewhere; to file any additional evidence or arguments that can be obtained; and to receive the Certificate which may be issued for said Claim, which Certificate I wish made payable to The Bank at Portland, in the Agency of Maine; to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed; and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
WITNESS my hand and Seal this 5th day of May A. D. 1851.
Garish Bridgham
Signed and Sealed in the presence of }
Gideon Beard }
Solomon Parsons }

STATE OF Maine }
COUNTY OF Cumberland } SS.
On this fifth day of May A. D. 1851, before me,  a Justice of the Peace in and for said County aforesaid, personally appeared Garish Bridgham and acknowledged the foregoing Power of Attorney to be his act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned.
In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and seal, the day and year aforesaid.
Joshua Parsons J. Peace.
Page 7

P 18742
INVALID.
-----
File No. 18,742
John Bridgham
Ensign Rev War
-----
Act: June 7" 32
Index:--Vol. 1, Page 446
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 8

IN CONGRESS
The DELEGATES of the UNITED COLONIES of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Suffex in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South-Carolina to John Bridgham, Junior, Gent.
WE reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO by these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be Ensign of Captain John Bridgham's company in the 23d Regiment of Foot in Commanded by Colonial John Bailey in the Army of the United Colonies raised for the Defence of American Liberty, and repelling every hostile invasion [illegible] before carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of Ensign by doing and performing all Manner of Things thereunto belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldier under your Command, to be obedient to your Orders as Ensign. And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from Time to Time, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United Colonies, or Committee of Congress, for that Purpose appointed, or Commander in Chief for the Time being of the Army of the United Colonies, or any other your superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in Force until revoked by this or a future Congress, Jany 1, 1776
By Order of the Congress,
John Hancock President.
Attest. Chas. Thomson[illegible]
Page 9

left column
see let. to Pension
Agent Portland claims
July 15th 1833

right column
10183
Maine
=====
John Bridgham
of Minot in the State of Me
who was an Ensign in the company commanded
by Captain ----- of the Regt commanded
by Col Bailey in the Maine
line for 13 mos Ensign
8 Mo. Sergt.
Mass & Cont.
=====
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine
at the rate of 170 Dollars ---- Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
=====
Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd day of Mar
1830 and sent Freeman
Bradford Portland Claims
=====
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1830 $340--
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Apr " 85--
$425--
=====
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by T. H. McBlair Clerk
Book E. Vol. 1st Page 3.
Page 10

7426
Maine
===== 4
John Bridgham
of Minot in the Dist. of Maine
who was an Ensign in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Bailey of the Masstts
line, for the term of 13 months & Continental
=====
Inscribed on the Roll of the Dist. of Maine
at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 19th of May, 1818.
=====
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th of May 1819
and sent to AK Parris, Esq.
Paris, Maine
=====
Arrears to 4th of May 1819 9 moth 190.96
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4th Sept 1819 120.00
$310.96
=====
{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.}
Page 11

I, John Bridgham, a resident citizen of the United States in the Tow of Minot and County of Cumberland and Commonwealth of Massachusetts on oath declare that on t he first day of January in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and seventy six I entered the service of the United States with enlisting order to enlist soldier for said service to serve in the Revolutionary war for one year from t he said first day of January, acting in the capacity of Ensign in said Service. Soon after I entered said service, I recd. a commission from the delegates of the United Colonies in Congress bearing date January first AD 1776 as aforesaid, constituting and appointing me ensigned in the Company commanded by Capt. John Bridgham, in the Regiment under the command of Col. John Bailey, being the twenty third Regiment sixth Massachusetts line on the Continental establishment, in the Army of the, then, United Colonies, in which capacity I served in said Company and Regiment in the Revolutionary war during the term of promotion month and a half from t he said first day of January and was then honorably discharged by a verbal order of Col. Bailey aforesaid and left the service having been during said term in the battles of Frog Point, [Harlem] Heights, Trenton & Princeton.
I do further on oath declare that I am not borne as a pensioner on any pension roll of said United States, and that by reason of reduced circumstances in life I stand in need of assistance from my County for support wherefore I pray that this application may be transmitted to the Secretary at War to the end that I may be placed on the pension list of the United States
Page 12

[agreeably] to an Act of Congress passed March 18th 1818 entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war."
John Bridgham

I, Francis Sturtevant, of Hebron in the County of Oxford and state aforesaid on oath declare that I was in the continental service in the revolutionary war with the above named John Bridgham, and served in the same company during eleven months of his year's service above mentioned, which term he served as Ensign, when he was detached from said Company as Ensign to march to Trenton and I gave nothing more of him in the service but said eleven months, which was from January AD 1776, to December following, to my certain knowledge he served as Ensign agreeably to his declaration by him above subscribed.
Francis Sturtevant
Page 13

John Bridgham
Ensign
Col. Bailey 3d Mass Regt.
'76 13 months
May 19, 1818

See the Judges certificate on file
[illegible]
Page 14

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
=====
MAINE DISTRICT, SS.
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the nineteenth day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, personally came John Bridgham the applicant named in the papers hereunto annexed, and after being duly cautioned and examined, made oath that the several statement by him made in the annexed application, signed in my presence, are wholly true.
And the said applicant further offered in evidence his commission dated January 1, 1776 signed by John Hancock President and Charles Thomas, Secretary and also the deposition of Francis Sturtevant, a soldier in the revolutionary army which was taken and sworn to before me and is hereunto annexed.
And it appearing to me in the examination here had, that the several persons above named are credible witnesses, I do hereby admit the annexed declarations as evidence, and certify the same as being satisfactory proof to me that the said John Bridgham the applicant, served as a commissioned officer in the revolutionary war, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months and upward in continuation on the continental establishment. And I do further certify, that from the declaration of the applicant made before me, under oath as aforesaid, it does appear that in consequence of his reduced circumstances in life, he is in need of assistance from his county for support; all which I do hereby certify and transmit to the Secretary of the Department of War, agreeably to the provisions of an Act of Congress, passed March 18, 1818, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war."
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused my official Seal to be affixed the day and year first mentioned.
Albion K. Parris
Judge of the United States in and for the District of Maine.
Page 15

John Bridgham

Payable semi-annually--the first payment on this certificate will be made on the 4th of September next, at the Cumberland Bank.
Portland, Maine

Recorded
Page 16

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.

I CERTIFY That, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th of March, 1818, John Bridgham late an Ensign in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the District of Maine Agency, at the rate of Twenty dollars per month, to commence on the nineteenth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this fifth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen.
J. C. Calhoun
Secretary of War.
Page 17

Declaration of
John Bridgham

Ensign - 13 Months
Sergt. - 8 Months

$170--
Freeman Bradford
Portland Maine
Page 18

I, William Barrows of Hebrons County of Oxford State of Maine aged seventy six years on oath depose and say that in the first part of January AD 1775 a company of volunteers was raised called minute men in the town of Plympton, County of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts. The officers of the company were chosen on the first part of February of the same year and John Bridgham of Plympton aforesaid was chosen Capt., and John Bridgham the second now of Minot County of Cumberland who makes application for a pension was a private in said company. I further testify that the said John Bridgham served with me in said company for three months.
And the deponent further saith that the said Bridgham again enlisted in the same company and entered the service on the first of May AD 1775 and served eight months as a Sergeant in the regiment commanded by Col. Cotton and was stationed at Roxbury Mass. And the said Bridgham was afterward commissioned Ensign and served in a different company from myself, but serving the term of his service which was one year. I often saw him the said Bridgham at Roxbury, Dorchester and New York and have good reason to believe that he the said Bridgham served his one year out. I further say that at the expiration of the one year he the said Bridgham tarried six weeks longer, and was dismissed about the  middle of February at Chatham in New York. I further say that the said Bridgham is the identical person who served with me.
Wm. Barrows

Cumberland SS. August 1832. There personally appeared the above named William Barrows and made solemn oath to the truth of the [foregoing] affidavit by him subscribed. Before me
Freeman Bradford Just of Peace
I hereby certify that the abovenamed William Barrows is well known to me as a man of truth and that he sustains an irreproachable character. The signature purporting to be his is genuine.
Freeman Bradford Just. of Peace
Page 19

I James Dunham of Hebron in the County of Oxford State of Maine on oath depose and say that I am seventy eight years of age and served in behalf of the State of Massachusetts in the revolutionary war. That sometime in the spring of 1775 I entered the service in the company commanded by Capt. John Bridgham of Plympton State of Massachusetts in the regiment commanded by Col. Cotton. I well know John Bridgham of Minot in the County of Cumberland. That he served under the forementioned officers for three months in the following manner. Said Company was raised for the purpose of exercise and met once or twice a week for that purpose. During the said three months it was called out and marched to Plymouth to put a stop to the proceedings of the Court. That it was again called there on an alarm of the Lexington Battle. I further say that I was called out with the regiment to march to Marshfield to take the British troops that were stationed to guard the House of Ray Thomas Esq. who was a tory and had fled to Boston. That the said Bridgham was with me in all these expeditions. I have lived for many years in the neighborhood of said Bridgham and know him to be the identical person who served the said two months.
James Donham

Cumberland SS August 14th 1832. Then personally appeared the above named James Dunham and made solemn oath to the truth of the affidavit by him signed.
Before me Freeman Bradford Justice of the Peace
Page 20

10,183.
County of Cumberland SS
On this twenty second day of May in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty three before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Cumberland personally appeared John Bridgham who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain John Bridgham of Plympton and also the Company commanded by Capt. Crooker in the Regiments commanded by Col. Baily and Cotton, as by his declaration made on t he 14th day of August last past and now in the War Department at Washington will more fully appear, which companies were in the service of the United States. That his name has been placed on the pension roll of the State of Maine under the Act of the seventh of June AD 1832. That a Certificate under said Act has been issued under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War which Certificate on or about the twenty second day of March AD 1833 was directed to
Page 21

F. Bradford Esq. my Attorney at Portland. And I further state that from the deposition of my said Attorney said Certificate has never been received by him nor has said Certificate been received by me. I further testify that [diligent] and strict inquiry has been made at all the post offices in this quarter but said Certificate cannot be found.
John Bridgham

Sworn and subscribed to Before me the day and year aforesaid.
Joshua Parsons Justice of the Peace
Page 22

I Freeman Bradford of Portland agent and Attorney of John Brigham of Minot hereby testify that the pension certificate of said Bridgham whose name is borne on the roll of the Pension agent for the State of Main has never been received by me. That I have made frequent inquiry for the same at the Post Office in this city but could not find it and I have reason to believe and do believe that the same has been lost or destroyed.
Freeman Bradford

Sworn to and subscribed the 31st day of May AD 1833}
Before me John Mussey Clerk U.S. Court for Maine District
Page 23

I Stephen Atwood of Minot in the County of Cumberland aged 55 years on oath depose and say that I have been acquainted with John Bridgham of Minot whose deposition is hereunto annexed and can certify that he is the identical John Bridgham whose name I have understood to be on the pension roll of the agency of this State. I have lived near neighborhood to the said Bridgham for 32 years.
Stephen Attwood

Sworn to and subscribed this 22nd day of My AD 1833 }
Before me Joshua Parsons Justice of Peace

Application of John Bridgham for a new Certificate

Maine District SS
District Clerk's Office May 31, 1833
In testimony that Joshua Parsons is a Magistrate as above & within & that the signatures thereto purporting to be his are genuine. I have hereto set my hand and seal of office the day and year last above written.
John Mussey Clerk U.S. Courts
Page 24

ENVELOPE-

STAMP-
[ILLEGIBLE]

J. B. Revolutionary Claims

Hon. Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
Washington D.C.

Less 25

Old Case
Page 25

The pension Certificate may be returned to the subscriber.
Freeman Bradford
Portland
Maine
Sept. 14 1832
Page 26

ENVELOPE-

STAMP-
PORTLAND ME
[ILLEGIBLE DATE]
FREE

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.
Page 27

Portland August 12 1833
Sir
I saw by a letter from the Pension Department addressed to the Pension Agent of the State of Maine that a pension Certificate bearing the name of John Bridgham was addressed to me some months since; and further, that the name thus sent on was intended to be for John Bridgham and if the former Certificate had been offered & said how the difference could be reconciled. In answer to those inquiries I would state that I have not seen any Certificate having the name of Bridgham upon it, or any name that resembles it. In behalf of the applicant John Bridgham I am requested to call your attention to his claim and again beg of you that his pension certificate may be forwarded without delay
Page 28

owing to the infirmities of age he feels as though this would be the last application he can shall be able to make, and he hopes that his certificate may be forwarded to him in season to enjoy what he has anticipated so long.
Very respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
Freeman Bradford

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 29

Washington May 22nd 1851
Dear Sir,
I enclose herewith a Power of Attorney and application for an increase of Pension in the case of John Bridgham who was a pensioner under the act of 1832 on the Roll of the state of Maine and have respectfully to request an early examination of the same.
I am very respectfully
Your  most obedient servt.
D. D. Addison

Jas. E. Heath Esq.