Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,817, Micah Gates, Mass.
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Service                                     NUMBER

Mass.      Gates, Micah             S. 29.817
                                           B.Lo.Wt.11418-160-55
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[left side] 71  Hampden

[Right side]
21.009
Massachusettes
================
Micah Gates
Hampden in the State of Mass who was a private in the Company commanded by captain Brown of the  Regt commanded by Col Bigelow in the Mass line for 13 months and 18 days
Anu
===========================
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusettes at the rate of 42 dollars -33- Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of march 1831.
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Certificate of Pension issued the 15th day of Aug 1833 and ( ) Claremont
Palmer Massachusettes
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Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $90.66
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sept 22.67
                                                        ====
                                                      $113.33
                                                ========
            {Revolutionary Claim,}
              Act June 7,1832
Recorded by DD Addison Clerk
Book E   Vol () Page 24
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[left side edge vertical]
May 28/56 Lett: of James W. Boynton Amhurst Mass April 26-........of said land office and written to in inform

[Right side]
97.244 Act Mar 3/35
     April 24/35
[bottom] Vol. G.4.
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Micah Gates, priv,
Pensioner
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[crossed out - Capt Brown Col Bigelow () Mass]
Mass Contl Line,Rev War
(written on above: No 11418)
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Mass June 32-21009
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AO:160A- Dec 4/55
(signed)Boynton

C.W. Bennett
Washington
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State of Massachusetts
County of Hampden

On this eighth day of August A.D. 1832
personally appeared in open Court before Oliver Morris Judge of the Probate for the county of Hampden now sitting at Springfield withing that said County of Hampden Micah Gates a resident of Palmer in the County of Hampden and State of Massachusetts aged sixty nine 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 and served as herein stated.
In the month of June 1779 I entered for the term on none months as a soldier by contract with the town of Stowe in the County of Middlesex and the state aforesaid and with others we immediately marched from said Stowe to Peekskill in the State of New York and there formed the company of Capt Joshua Brown in the Regiment commanded by Col. Bigelow in General Glovers Brigade of the Continental Army. The Lt Col. of the same Regiment was Peters. Joseph Brown was Lieutenant of the same company Adjutant Stowers was adjutant  of the same Regiment which was the 15th and I continued in the same service until some time past the middle of december (sic) then crossing.  I was in pressing want of clothes & shoes for winter and the officer who was nine months [illegible} and in want of clothes I there was discharged from the service in december (sic) aforesaid before the time of our enlistment wad expired.  In was in no engagement of battle during my service being very young.  I was mostly employed for guard service and fatigue duty.
When I entered the service I reside in said Stowe which was my native town.  I was a volunteer. Mr. Marchand promised Stowe to Harford in Connecticut there in [illegible] the Country to Peekskill & from there we marched to Blander point and crossed the river to Haverstraw then crossed to the state of New Jersey to Delaware River the order of that service was mostly n the state of New Jersey untill we went into muster quarters on Budder (Butter)  highland's just above West point. Of the regular officers I recollect Col. Voss, Col. Smith, Col. Shepherd & Col. Bigelow who commanded Regiments also Capt. Smith, Capt. Phipps, Capt. Pope, Capt. Seth Bannister of Brookfield Mass.  Capt Morris & Capt. [illegible] pf--of the fourth Regiment of Massachusetts.  Also Lt. Snow & Eugene Wood Yeoman's.  I have no documentary evidence- my written
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discharge having been at Morristown in New Jersey in 1780 secretly taken with my pocket book and that I know of no known person whose testimony I can procure who  can testify to said service.

Also in the month of Jun 1780 I enlisted for six months by contract with said town of Stowe and in July following. I marched with others to Springfield in Mass & on the 23d of the same month we passed muster [illegible] last plan and immediately we marched to West Point & from there to Peekskill aforesaid and joined the company then called Major Ball's company but commanded by Col. [illegible] John Yeoman's in the Regiment commanded by Col. [illegible] in Genl Glo[illegible] Brigade & I continued in kind last service untill the eleventh day of december 1780 when I was discharged therefrom.  When I entered said service I resided in the town of Stowe aforesaid and was a volunteer.  we marched from Peekskill to Stony Point there across the Hudson river & went to Morristown bay and to  Orangetown then to Elisabethtown  Arrive to Penola Plains. the residue of the service was in various parts of New Jersey untill we went into winter quarters at West Point.

The Regiment was commanded by the [illegible] Colonels (as man as I can recollect) when I returned to West point. The last service Col. Shepherd went into the command of the Infantry Lt. Col. Sproat of the same Regiment was promoted to the office of adjutant general,  Soon after I arrived at West point Major Ball took the command of the Regiment after that Capt Pope was in the command when Ball went away.  Capt Seth Bannister took the command of the Regiment & when I left gave me my discharge.  In addition to the above officers I recollect [illegible] the officers Genl Washington, Genl [illegible], Genl Patterson Genl Nixon Genl  Gross, Genl Wayne & Col. John Brooks of Massachusetts & Capt. Hugh Dang of the Infantry. I was at Orangetown when Major Andre was captured who was afterwards executed at Tappan in New Jersey.  I have no documentary evidence (except this discharge of Seth Bannister, Capt. Corndt at 4th Reg't which accompanies this declaration) & that I know no person whose testimony I can procure who can testify to the service. I was born in the town of Stowe in the County of Middlesex aforesaid and lived ther untill I went into service and otherwise in 17[illegible] I moved to Palmer.  Where I lived for the most part of the time [illegible] I have no record of my age and know not that any record of my age exists. I have only resided at the town of Palmer for  a short time.  The Rev. Samuel Bachus and Phillip Lamb are the persons I am know to where I am known in my neighborhood and who can testify to my character for truth & veracity and their belief of any service as a soldier of the Revolution.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the pursuit and declaration that his name is not on the Pension roll the agencies of any state.
Micah Gates (signature)
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Mr. Samuel Backus, a Clergyman residing in the town of Palmer in the County of Hampden and Phillip Lamb residing in same Palmer do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Micah Gates, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age; that he is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.  Sam'el Backus (signature) Philip Lamb (signature)

Sworn subscribed this day and year aforesaid.

And this said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigation of the matter, and after vetting the interrogations presented by the War Department, that Micha Gates the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies that it appears to them than Samuel Backus who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident in the town of Palmer in the County of Hampden and that Phillip Lamb who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same Palmer and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I Justin Willard Registrar of this Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Micah Gates for a pension. In testimony whereof I have unto set my hand and seal of office this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty two.  Justin Willard Registrar
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State of Massachusetts
County of Hampshire
On this sixteenth day of April A. D. 1855 before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace duly authorized by law to administer oaths within and for the County ad State aforesaid, personally appeared a Micah Gates aged 91 years, a resident of Palmer in the County of Hampden and State of Massachusetts who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Micah Gates who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Brown in the regiment of 5th of Mass & 4th of Mass commanded by Col. Bigelow Col Shepherd in the War with Great Britain.
That he enlisted or entered the service at Stowe Mass about the ____day of June A. D. 178- for the term of Eight months and continued in actual service in said war, for the term of between 7 and 8 month in all. And that on account of said service he has been placed upon the Pension roll and is paid at the rate of Forty Five Dollars and Thirty Three Cents per year at the Massachusetts Agency at Boston Mass.
That he cannot file herewith his Certificate of discharge for the reason that he gave it up at the time he applied for his pension & supposes it is at Washington.

In addition to the above described actual service he claims for ten miles from Stowe at which he was enlisted to Concord Mass where was mustered into service and for 170 miles from West Point at which he was discharged to Stowe the said place of his enrollment.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining ____________Bounty Land in which he may be entitled on account of said service and mileage under the Act passed March 3 1855.  He also declares that he has not received a Warrant for Bounty Land under this or any other Act of Congress nor made any other application therefor.
He hereby appoints C.W. Bennett of Washington D.C. his true and lawful Attorney, with power of substitution, to prosecute this his claim for land, to receive the Certificate of Warrant when issued, and to do all other acts necessary and proper in the premises.
Micah (his mark) Gates
Sworn to and Subscribed before me, on the day and year first above mentioned and I hereby certify that said deponent Micah Gates to be the identical man who served as is above stated and that he is of the age above state, and further that I am not interested in this his claim as Attorney or otherwise.
S. T. Spaulding Justice of the Peace
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State of Massachusetts
County of Hampshire
Town of Ware
On this sixteenth day of April A.D. 1855 before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Pease in and for said County, duly authorized to administer oaths, personally came Asa Strickland aged 59 years and George H Strickland aged 27 years whom I know to be residents of Hampden of the County and State aforesaid, and person whom I certify to be respectable and intitled to credit, and who, being duly sworn, say that they were present and saw Micah Gates execute the foregoing affidavit by making his mark to the foregoing declaration, and making oath thereto in due form of law, and they further swear that they are acquainted with the said Micah Gates now present, and have every reason to believe from the appearance of the applicant that he is the identical person he represents himself to be; and further, that they, deponents, do reside in the county of Hampden aforesaid.
Witness: S. T. Spaulding (signature)
Asa Strickland (signature)
George H. Strickland (signature)

Sworn to and subscribed before the this sixteenth day of April A. D. 1855
S. T. Spaulding (signature)

State of Massachusetts
County of Hampshire
I hereby certify that Samuel T. Spaulding Esq. before whom the foregoing Declaration and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged, and who has thereunto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature thereunto is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Judge Judicial Court, for the County aforesaid, this seventeenth day of April 1855.  Samuel Bells
Clerk of the Judicial Court for said County

Seal affixed
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9983
Micah Gates
Private 13 mo 18 day
5-06
March 21, 1855

4533
 2
Claimant at
Palmer Mass
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9983
BRIEF in the case of Micah Gates
County of Hampden in the 
State of Massachusetts

(Act 7th June 1839)
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?  69
4. State his services, as directed in the form annexed.

Period -- Duration of Service -- Rank --Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.

Enlisted in 1779 June - Served until some time past the middle of December then ending --Private --Capt. Joshua Brown, 15th Reg'mt Continental Army, Col. Bigelow, Lt. Col. Peters, Gen'l Glover

Enlisted 1780 June (on role col [illegible] Regt enlisted 29 July 1780  for 6 mo [illegible] 11 Oct 1780)- 4 mo 18 d -- Private-Ensign John Yeoman, Major Ball, Col. Shepherd, Gen'l Glover Capt. Pope, Lt. Col. Sproat, Capt. Seth Bannister, 4th regmt.
5. In what battles was he engaged? None
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Middlesex County Massa:
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence or by the rolls?  Traditionary & Documentary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  Correct

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Examining Clerk  F. Waugh (signature) Feb. 9.1833

(Random dots and numbers)
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Totally blacked out except for "Gates"
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Micah Gates a soldier for the months hereby appeared this 11th day of Sept in the entries 22d July from the [illegible]

seal
Seth Bannister 
Comd't 4th  Regt
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Blank image
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Prn: Act 32, Mass
Boynton
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Pension Office
November 29' 1855

Sir:
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Check Mark
11.418

160 acres
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hamden 

I Micah Gates of Palmer in said County an applicant for a pension under the late Act of Congress for Revolutionary servers of lawful age do testify and say that since the return to me of my application for a pension I have endeavored to find living witnesses of my entering the service & the term & manner of leaving the nine months service and of the time which I belonged therein by travelling into various towns when old soldier have lived who were in service with me & upon enquiring after them I am informed that death has removed all witnesses except one old infirm man by the name of Joseph Pratt now living in the town of Enfield in the state of Massachusetts.  He could not recollect his age or me - his memory seems almost have gone. He could not State what part of the army he belonged to or the names of any of his officers.  The land he had recently hass writing an application to furnish [illegible] for his commander in the army & can recollect nothing which would [illegible] to the widow to satisfy the requisition of the  Secretary of War.  The nine months I served as stated in my declaration I have actually performed to the time of my discharge and am informed that my name is not borne upon the Roll of Col. Bigelow's Regiment. My name was on the Roll as supposed having time called by the Roll Call twice a day unless I was upon guard duty
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It is impossible I believe to furnish the widow acquired from any living witnesses - A few years ago I could have readily procured the necessary [illegible] .
The said Pratt I will recollect that I have seen when in the said service in the Revolutionary War. I have in this affidavit call this said service the nine months [illegible] because that was the length of term of my contract this the whole service was no performed on account of having been discharged I told in my declaration.
Micah Gates (signature)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampdens
There personally appeared before me James Stebbins the under signed A Justice of the Peace within and for the said County.  The said Micah Gates well known to me to be entitled to full credit and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed.
Before me James Stebbins, Justice of the Peace
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Hampden
Town of Palmer May 15th 1833

This may certify that Micah Gates of said Palmer who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing affidavit is fully entitled to credit in his declaration for Revolutionary Services with the Secretary of the War department, said Gates having been well know to each of us for good number of years.
Amos Hamilton Postmaster of Palmer
John Frink, Coroner for the County
Elisha Carwell
Leonard Davis - Selectmen of Palmer

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Hampden

I Justice Willard Clerk of the Probate Court, being a Court of Record within & for the County do hereby certify that James Stubbins before whom the foregoing affidavit of Micah Gates was sworn to & subscribed, is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County of Hampden & that I believe the same James Stubbins subscribed to the foregoing certificate thereof to be his true signature and proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand affixed the seal of said Probate Court at Springfield this eighteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three. Justin Willard Clerk