Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 23,614, Abel Billings, Mass.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Mass.
Billings, Abel
Elizabeth
NUMBER
W.23.614
CONTENTS
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Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832

State of Maine
Hancock Ss.
On this [nineteenth] day of September A.D. 1832 Personally appeared in open Court, beffore the Hon. Job Nelson, Esquire, Judge of the Court of Probate within & for the County of Hancock now sitting Abel Billings a resident of Sedgwick in the county of Hancock aforesaid aged seventy six 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 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated - First time at Sedgwick aforesaid then in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where he then resided in July 1776 as a volunteer in the Militia in a Company commanded by Capt. William Read, Leiut. Luxford Goodwin, Ensign Ebenezer Buck marched to Machias State of Maine where he was stationed six weeks to protect the town of Machias which had been taken by the British & partly burned, That his company was not attached to any regiment, he thinks the only field officer there was a Major, his name he does not recollect. His company while there paraded by itself, he served at this time six weeks, that he entered the service the second time at Lincoln Massachusetts where he then resided in October 1779 as a volunteer in the Militia for three months, was marched at Concord Massachusetts, where he joined the regiment which was commanded by Col. [ ___ ] Butrick the Lieut. Col. & Maj. he does not recollect, in the company of Capt. Butters. Lieut & ensign not recollected, marched from Concord aforesaid, through Albany N. Y. to Schenectady, remained there about four weeks returned to Albany New City, where he was discharged in December the same year, the regiment was not
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Rev
WIDOW, & c.
File No. 23614
Elizabeth Billings
Widow of
Abel Billings
Pri Rev War
Act July 4th 36
[illegible] ex: Vol. A Page 64
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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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 Abel Billings
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?
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 amout 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, 1832? 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 distinguished from any other seal? yes
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the
applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a 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 administer 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 his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates 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 ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of
office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

At his name cannot be found upon the will
of Bailey's [illegible] he must produce proof of service. see Quere 14 above-