Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16417, Simeon Howes, Mass. N.H.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Mass.
N. H.
CONTENTS
Howes, Simeon
NUMBER
S.16417
carded
CONTENTS
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1602
New Hampshire
Simeon Howles
of Swanzey in the State of N H
commanded
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain
of the regt commanded
by Col Evans
in the N H & Mass
line for 12 May 20 
Inscribed on the Roll of N H
at the rate of [?]
Dollars 22 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
---
Certificate of Pension issued the 7th day of Nov
1832 and sent to
Edward Keene
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832
$63.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 03- 21-11.
Recorded by
Book D.
$84.44
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
McBain Cler
Vol. 1st
Page 160.
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Simeon Hawes
no 9888.
fmr
T. M. Edwards
Stum
NYC
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Brief in the case of Simeon Haws (Hawes) of Swanzey in the State of N. H. (Act 7th June, 1832)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge. does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 82 1/2 Years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and field Officers under whom he served. Years, Months, Days. As a   Gen.
July In 1775, " 5 "  Private   Capt. Hambleton
July 1st 76  " 4 "  "  Capt. Gray
Jan 1st 77  " 3"   "   Capt. Hedges
Oct. 1 77   " "  20  "  Capt. Kelball [Kimball] Col. Evans
5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Yarmouth Mass
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? no witness  proof ~ evidence
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
D [Daoorson] Examining Clerk.
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Declaration of Simeon Hawes
Swanzey Chesh Co. N.H.
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Declaration, In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, COUNTY OF CHESHIRE.
On this ninth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court. Before the Hon. Aaron Matson Judge of Probate for Said County of Cheshire now sitting, Simeon Howes a resident of Swanrey [Swanzey] in the county of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire aged eighty three years next Apl. who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth in his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
1. In July 1775. at Yarmouth Mass - on the cape, enlisted for 5 months in Capt. Hambletons Company, Joseph Griffith [illegible]. do not recollect the name of any Col - The Regt. was not assembled - was employed in guarding the coast to prevent the enemy from landing to plunder - Served through his term and was dismissed at Eastham on the Cape Cod, in Dcm. - 
2. In 1776 - enlisted for four months on my way from Yarmouth to Boston - first of July - served on Long Island in Boston Harbour, building a fort - in Capt James Gray's Co - Luih [Lieut] Thomas - remained there during the [illegible] & dismissed there in October last part, -  
3. In 1777 - enlisted at Falmouth for three months - commencing 1st of January in Capt Elisha Hedges Compy., Liut [Lieut] Anthony Howes - went to Bristol R. I. - this was after the place was burned by The British thinks very soon after, - stationed there - kept guard - The British lay on R. I - Their Shipping lay off in the channel so near that we could hear the sentries - served this the term & dismissed there. 
4. After the last service came immediately up to Surry N.H. where I now live. on the alarm from the Northern Army in 1777 about the first of October started from said Swanrey [Swanzey] and when about half way to Stillwater joined Capt. Kimball Compy. in Col Evans Regt - arrived at Still water [Stillwater] the day of the battle - and in the night the British retreated to Saratoga - marched the next day in pursuit - was there when Burgoyne surrendered - and then dismissed absent from home about three weeks. - never had any written discharge - Doynot [Do not] know of any proof that he can obtain to the three first [services] my residence there [illegible] is about  140 miles distance -  
1. was born in Yarmouth in 1750 - supposes there is a record of his birth there but does not know - no continental Regts. in the same service with him as he recollects except at the north - & day not remember their na [names] has lived in said Swanrey [Swanzey] ever since the war - was a volunteer in all the services. - Nathaniel Hills, and Elijah Graves my nieghbours [neighbors] can testify as to my veracity and their belief of my services. - There is no Clergyman in Swanrey [Swanzey] who has been there more than 5 or 6 years.
He hereby relinquished every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 
Simeon Howes
Simeon his signature - before me 
Aaron Matson Judge of Probate
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We, Nathaniel Hills and Elijah Graves of said Swanzey haveing lived in the same town with said Simeon Howes above fifty years. - hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with s'd Simeon Howes who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Eighty two years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
/s/Nath'l Hills
/s/Elijah Graves
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
/s/Aaron Matson Judge of Probate
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. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that it appears to the that Nathaniel Hills and Elijah Graves who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the Town of Swanzey aforesaid and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
/s/Aaron Matson Judge of Probate 
I, Asa Parker Register of the Court of Probate for s'd County of Cheshire do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Simeon Hawes for a pension. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this ninth day of August A.D. 1832
/s/Asa Parker {Register of the Court of Probate
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16,417
INVALID.
File No. 16,417
Simeon Howes
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index: - Vol. A, Page 181
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Simeon Haws (Howes)
no 9888
12 Mo & 20 days
admitted
$42.22
T. M. Edwards
Keene N.H.
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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 Simeon Hawes (Howes) 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? [blank] 
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 other 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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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? no
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? yes.
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? yes. XIV. +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? [blank]
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? [blank] 
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 recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For ______year______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, 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.

*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 tie 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.

**QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.

In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer w2ho 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 of 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 improperly attached to the certificate.