Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14240, Thomas Bassett, Mass. Mass. Sea Service
Page 1

service    number
Mass. Bassett, Thomas  W.14240
Mass. Sea Service  Lydia
Page 2

10235
Massachusetts
Thomas Bassett
of Plymouth in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain ------of the Regt commanded by Col Sprout in the Mass line for 3 mos Seaman 11 mos 11 Days Private 
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 49 Dollars 88 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25th day of March 1833 and Sent J F Loud Plymouth Mass
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $99.79
Semi-Anl. allowance ending 4 Sept " 24.94
_______
$124.70

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7th, 1832.} Recorded by J F P Blair Clerk, Book E. Vol. 2 Page 4.
Page 4

No. 1
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Plymouth } Ss.
On this third day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared before the Court of Probate holden at Rochester within and for said County of Plymouth, one Thomas Bassett, a resident of Rochester in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, in the seventy fourth year of his age having been born on the nineteenth day of June in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty nine: who being first sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That the later part of 1775 or first part of 1776, but he thinks the former, he enlisted as a private in the company of Militia raised by Massachusetts in the war of the Revolution. The company assembled at Col Sprout's tavern in Middleborough, and we then made chair of Stephen Wing of Rochester, captain Barnabas Bates of Wareham and Judah Seves of Rochester, subaltern. The term of enlistment I think was three months, but it might have originally been for two months and at the expiration of that time and enlistment for another month of this I am confident that the term of service was then three months. The company proceeded from Middleborough to Roxbury when it joined the army. I am unable to state the regimental officers or the commander of the brigade. Our part of the company quartered in a house on the road leading from Dorchester to Roxbury meeting house, The other in a house in the corner where the roads leading from Milton and Dorchester to Boston unite. I was in the house last named till our troops took possession of Dorchester Heights after which I quartered on the heights. While I was with the army frequent cannonading occurred, but no close engagements took place. The company in which I served remained in Roxbury and on Dorchester Heights untill after the evacuation of Boston by the enemy
Page 5

Sometime after that event, how long I am not able to say, the company to which I belonged were dismissed. I had no written discharge, nor had any of the company that I remember. I am confident that I cannot be mistaken that the term of service was three months. At this enlistment I resided in Wareham in the County of Plymouth.

The winter following the above named campaign, but whether after or before the commencement of the year 1777 I am unable to state I enlisted at Rochester or Wareham, I am not certain which, in a company raised by Massachusetts, Jabon Cottle of Rochester Captain, Joseph Bassett and Ebenezer Chubback subalterns, Prenis Burgen, might have been a subaltern a part of the time but I do not remember Prenis as such. The enlistment was for three months and I served that term and was dismissed at Bristol, Rhode Island, at the close of it. I am told the company was mustered at the house of Elnathan Harkell in Rochester, but I do not remember it. The company marched to Bristol, at which place and its vicinity its term of service was performed. We ever engaged in no battle. Col Hall, I think commanded the regiment and General Weit the brigade. At the time of this enlistment I also believe I resided in said Wareham.

In the month of June or the beginning of July in the year 1780 I enlisted for the term of six months in the continental army at Rochester, but by whom I was enlisted I have forgotten. Several others, among whom were Benjamin Clapp, now of the state of Vermont, Elnathan Pope of Rochester and I presume Ebenezer Ellis of Rochester enlisted at
Page 6

the same time and started with me for the army.  At Springfield in Massachusetts we were mustered; from which place we proceeded to West point where we joined the army.  In a very short time I was transferred to the armourer's department. Stephen Tobey of Sandwich foreman, Oliver Hancock and Aaron Glazier assistants We were attached to the Reg't of Col Greaton and Gen Nixon's brigade. We had a travelling forge which moved with the regiment. In the course of the time we went into the Jerseys, but the routs we pursued and the places we were in I cannot name. I was engaged in no battle during this period of service nor was the army or at least the regiment to which I belonged. I was in view of the place and about a mile from it where Major Andre was hung. His execution was expected the day before it took place, and I wanted to attend it but it was deferred and I did not go a second time to watch his death. I served out the time for which I enlisted and was discharged. I probably received a written discharge from Col Greaton but I do not remember it and if I had one I have lost it.  Benjamin Clapp now of Vermont & David Dexter of New York, then of Rochester, left the camp at West point with me in January 1781 - I presume my name is to found in the Roll for this last named service. At the time of this enlistment I resided in Rochester aforesaid.

In the warm part of the year, but I am unable to state the month it was the latter part of the spring or early in the summer I entered on board the Brig Rising Empire in the service of Massachusetts, primed for and carrying sixteen guns. Richard Whelden then of Rochester Captain and John Kendrick of Wareham first lieutenant
Page 7

I am unable to state for what time I enllisted, but I was on board of her three months. She was lying in Acushnet river after Dartmouth near New Bedford at the time I enlisted. I assisted in fitting her out and she sailed on a cruise in the sound and back of Cape Cod and went into Plymouth. She took no [illegible]. In Plymouth the whole crew was discharged and paid. She was a poor sailing vessel, and I understood at the time she was taken to Boston & used for a prison ship - Calvin Howard now of Wareham and was one of her crew. I think he belonged to her when I entered the service on board till the crew were discharged at Plymouth. At the time of this enlistment I resided in Rochester aforesaid.

I was born in Rochester in the County of Plymouth as above stated in 1759. My birth is recorded in the hand writing of my father in the Family Records. I have always lived & do now live in said town of Rochester except a portion of time when I lived in Wareham as an apprentice. I am know to Elnathen Pope Ebenezer Ellis, Lot Thatcher & Timothy Hiller all of said Rochester & Jesse Briggs of Wareham all in said County. I have no documentary evidence to produce other than the Depositions hereunto annexed. I am also known to Charles J Holmes Esq a Magistrate for the County of Plymouth & to the Reverend Jonathan Bigelow, both of Rochester aforesaid.
Thomas Bassett
I am not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any state and I hereby relinquish every claim what ever to a Pension or annuity except the present
Thomas Bassett
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Attest Jacob H. Loud Register
Page 16

599
Lydia Bassett widow of Thomas
Mass
Act 7 July 38
5 years married 1781
aomd
3 mo Seaman
11. 11 days pri
49.88
no deduction
A Bassett Tauton Mass