Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,213, Thomas Haszard, Mass.
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Mass
Haszard, Thomas.
S29.213.
Hazard or
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10,900 10
Massachu
Thomas Hazard 

of Shirley in the State of Mass
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain unknown of the Regiment commanded by Col. Sprout in Mass
time for 2 years.

Inscribe on the roll of Massachusetts 
at the rate of - 80 - Dollars (no) cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 4th day of May1833 and Sent Samuel Dana, Groten Mass.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $ 160.00
Semi-ant, allowance ending 4 Feb. 40.00
$200.00

Revolutionary Claim
Act June & 1832

Recorded by D. D. Aooson
Book E, Vol.  2, page 32
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts

County of Middlesex: At the Supreme Judicial Court at Cambridge October term 1839.

On this sixteenth day of December 1830, personally appeared in open court, being a court of record for the county of Middlesex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Thomas Haszard,  a coloured  man, resident in Shirley in said County, aged sixty five years, who first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his path, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of 18 March 1818, and the 1st of May 1820, that he, the said Thomas enlisted for the term of three years.  The day and year of said enlistment he cannot state precisely, but answers that it was more than one year after the battle of Mommouth, and in the fall of the year, probably 1779 or 1780, and was at Taunton in the state of Massachusetts, when he enlisted to serve for the term aforesaid, as a waiter to Col. Ebenezer Sproat, in the line of the state of Massachusetts on the Continental establishment; that he continued to serve as a waiter to Col. Sproat until he was discharged from the service at Newburg in the state of New York, which he thinks was in the year 1783, but cannot testify positively  to the time, and knows that it was when many of the army was discharged at Newburg, and after peace was proclaimed, that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, except the present, that his name is not on the roll of any state except And that the following are the reasons for not making an earlier application for a pension, viz - Soon after the acts of Mar. 18, 1818 was passed, he applied for a pension and failed for want of satisfactory proof, as he understood, that he is and always has been very poor, and did not know till recently, that the persons who have given their dispositions were acquainted with his services in the Revolutionary war; and though he has inquired much and travelled on foot many miles in search of proof, he has not been successful till lately in finding additional evidence.  And in persuitance of the act of the 1st May 1820.  I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident
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citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner dispose of my property, or any part thereof,  with intent thereby, to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of the act of Congress, entitled, “An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval services of the United States in the Revolutionary War,” passes on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not, now has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained the the schedule here annexed, and by me subscribed.  That since the 18th of March 1818, the following changes have been made in my property ~ viz. that I have since that date and now do own a lot of land in said Shirley of four acres, as near as I can judge, on which is a small poor house, that I have lived there within the period in question, or since 1818 and cultivated the said land which is barren and very sandy ~ that I have had fourteen children, eleven of whom are living, that I have supported myself and family by said land, by making baskets and laboring for others, that I have owned one cow since March 18, 1818, which I killed in 1826 and sold the hide for a price that I do not now recollect, that I sold two bushels of beans the present year (1830) and also sold a few husks & stalks when I killed said cow and that the above are all the changes I can recollect, and must be nearly all, for I have as I aver always been very poor, and had little but the fruits of my daily labor, that I am advanced and under the usual infirmities of age and can get about half as much wages as I formerly could - have a wife aged 63, and one child aged 21, who constitute my family, and said child does not now, and will not aid in his fathers support, but will leave him - and that my wife is industrious and able to labor, but is advanced in years.  
Thomas Haszard 
Sworn to and declared on the 16th day of December 1830. Before Semuel Shaw Chief Justice of said court.  
Att. A Biglow Clerk.
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Thomas Hazard
Declaration
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I Abraham Biglow, clerk of the Supreme Jusdicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the county of Middlesex do hereby certify, that it appears, to the satisfaction of the Court, that the said Thomas Haszard did serve in the Revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy for the term of nine months, under one engagement on the Continental establishment. I also certify, that the forgoing oath, and the schedule there to annexed, are truly copied from the record of the ____ ____ ____ and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is fifty six dollars and sixty five cents.  In testimony where of I have here unto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court on this sixteenth day of December 1839.  Abrm. Biglow.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts county of Middlesex.  On this eighteenth day of August A.S. 1832  personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate now sitting at Concord within and for the County of Middlesex.  aforesaid, Thomas Haszard of Shirley aged 69 years.  Who being 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 7th 1832.  That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That is to say, that he served on the continental establishment three years at the time and manner stated and declared in the annexed declaration, heretofore made subscribed and sworn to us.
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And now, He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity, whatever except, the present, and ____ that this name is not on the pension roll, of the agency of any Stat, subscribed the day and year aforesaid  We Hope Brown, J. P. Fay, _____ Commonwealth of Massachusetts a Clergyman residing in the town of Shirley  Thomas Haszard in the county of Middlesex and Joseph Brown of the same Shirley hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Haszard who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be sixty seven years of age, that he is _____ and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and  that we concur in that opinion.  Sworn and subscribed Hope Brown, Joseph Brown.  Middlesex fr before me Sam Dana Justice.  And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that after the investigation of the matter, and putting the inventories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was in Revolutionary Soldier, and _____ he states.  And the Court further certifies that it appears to them, that who has signed the preceding certificates is a clergyman resident in the town of Shirley. Hope Brown, Deacon Joseph Brown of same Shirley are credible persons and that their _____  _____  ______  J. P. P. Fay ____.  I ____  _____  or Probate in and for the county of Middlesex .  Hereby certify, that the foregoing contains, the original proceedings, of the said Court, in the matter of the application Thomas Hazard for a pension testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty _____  _____
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Declaration of Thomas Hazard  This case contains _____ papers ____ from 16 _____ 15151  Please to send my _____ to my _____ Saml. Dana ___ ___
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex, to wit, 
At the Court of Probate [handwritten]
begun and holden at Concord [handwritten]....within and for the County of Middlesex
on the eighteenth [eighteenth]......day of August [handwritten] A.D. 1832
On the application of Thomas Hazard [handwritten] claiming to be a Solider of teh Revolution, the following
Interrogatories were propounded to him to wit:
1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Answer, 
In Boston Ms. January 18th A.D. 1763
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it?
Answer,
I had a record in Fathers bible, when my house was burnt in Brookline that was burnt
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? Answer,
In Norwich, Ct. After the war I lived with my
Colonel in Boston 4. mo. then at his cadmons in Boston 18. Ms. 
then in Lincoln 6 Mo., then to Shirly where I have since and moved 
[illegible]
4. [Illegible] were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute
for whom? Answer,
My services were voluntary and by enlistment.
5. State the names of some of the regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served, such Continental,
and Militia Regiments, as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service?
Answer,
Gen. Cobb. Col. Sprouts. Col 6 [illegible]
Gen Washington at Class - [illegible]
6. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your
character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution?
Answer,
Caps. Thomas Whitny. Dr. Hartwell, Samuel Dana [illegible]
of Croton., Hon. Joseph Kindall of Leominster. Rep. in Congof
Col. Abel Tarbell of Croton
7 Did you ever receive any discharge from service? Ans: I do not
remember that any written discharge was given to me  Thomas Haszard  JPPFay M
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Thomas Hazard
15.151
Private 2 years

Saml. Dana 
Groton Mass
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Brief in the case of Thomas Hazard, a colored man of Shirly in the State of Massachusetts 
(Act 7th June, 1832.) 
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In open court  
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disable by bodily infirmity?  
3. How old is he?  Sixty Seven  
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. In 17  
States he was enlisted in 1770 or 1780 as a waiter to Col. Ebenezer Sprout Massachusetts line, for three years - that he continued to serve as a waiter until he was discharged, which he thinks was 1783.  The above is the substance of his declaration made in and for the pension in 1830.  
5.  In what battles was he engaged?  None named.  
6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  In Norwich, Conn.  
7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Three living witnesses and traditionary evidence.  
8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  Correctly authenticated — 

Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.  

Examining Clerk.
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29 213 
Ray INVALID  
File No. 29,212  
Thomas Hazard 
Pri  Rev War  
Act: June 7th 32  Index: Vol. 2, Page 171 [Arrangement of 1870.]
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BRIEF objection to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to claim of Thomas Hazard, colored man which required further proof or explanation.  
I. Does the declaration he 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 served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?  No __ See short brief  VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  
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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-2-  
XI.  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and other respectable citizens to their belief respecting his age and general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Yes  
XII.  If the clergyman’s affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  
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?  XIV.  If the applicant’s name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?  Yes  
he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?  Yes  
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?  Yes  
XVI.  Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  Yes  
XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answer 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, deposit and saith, that by reason of old age, and 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 _____ For ______ months and ____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.
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-3- 
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 declaration is highly objectionable.  It must in every case be clearly shown 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 services 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 tie and manner of his leaving the dame, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, un 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 certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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Samuel Nutting
Deposition in the case of Thomas Hazard
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I Samuel Nutting of Townsen in the county of Middlesex and commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age testify & say that I am well acquainted with Thomas Hazard my first acquaintance with him was in the arm at the battle of Rhode Island he belonged to Colonel Smiths regiment Colonel Smith’s was in the first division in the action and ____ I was in the second division and Hazard joined our company as we advanced and met the retreating troops and fought like a brave soldier during the action.  I belonged to Colonel Buttniks regiment while at Rhode Island.  I afterwards knew Hazard while at West Point he then belonged to Colonel Sprouts regiment and I belonged to Colonel Jorsan regiment.  As near as I can recollect Hazard was at West Point about eighteen months while I was there.  Hazard had his house burnt while he lived in Peppernell and I understood all his furniture & paper were burnt with his house.  Same. Nutting  Middlesex Mass.  On the twenty fourth day of July in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty the aforesaid deposition made solemn oath that the aforesaid deposition by him subscribes contain the truth the whole truth and nothing but the  truth. Before me Paul Ernsish Justice of the Peace.
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Commonwealth Massachusetts   Middlesex 

I Abraham Biglow Clert of the Supreme Judicial Court within and for the county of Middlesex do certify that Paul Gerrish is the Justice of the Peace within and for said county, and his name set to the written certificate is his own proper signature.  

In testimony whereof I have here to set my hand and affixed the seal of said court this sixteenth day of December 1830. 

Abrm Biglow
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Middlesex .p. December
30.1S30
I certify that I reside in the town of Townsend within named an aquainted with the said Tamnel Natting know that he sustains an ... moral character tis a man of truth-
Aaron Keyes Jus. Pierce
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex: p.
I Abraham Biglow Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court, within and for the said County of Middlesex, do certify that Aaron Keyes is a justice of the peace within and for said county, and his name set to the above certificate in his own proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have here to set my hand, and affixed the seal of said court this sixth day of January 1831.
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Samuel Searbs (illegible) in the care of Thomas Haszard
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I Samuel Searls of Townsen in the county of Middlesex and commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful agde testify an say that am sixty seven years of age and that I am acquainted with Thomas Thozan of thirty in said county of middlesex my first acquaintance with him wasin the army at West point think in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two he was in the second regiment belonging to the state of Massachusetts commanded by Colonel Shrout ... a soldier in the army at the same in the fifth regiment belonging to Massachusetts commanded my colonel Rufus Putman  Thomas Thozan was a waiter to to Shrout absent a year after my first aquaintance with Thozan I saw him at esewburg with Colonel Sprouts Reginment
Middlesex. p.
On the twenty fourth day of July in the year of of our ... one thousand eight hundred and thirty the afore said defendant made solemn oath that the afore said deposition by him subscribed contains the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Before me Paul Gurish Justice of the ...
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December
30.1S30 - I certify that I reside
in the crown of Townsend and well acquainted with the within 
named ... that he retain a good man
cry and in a man of hath integrity

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I Abraham Biglow Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court within and for this said County of ..., do certify that Aaron Keyes is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, and his name act to the above certificate is his own proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the deal of said court this sixth day of January 1831.
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3
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex: p
I Abraham Biglow Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court within and for the said County of Middlesex, do certify that Paul Gerrish is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, and his name set to the certificate on the first preceeding [sic] page is his own proper signature.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court this sixteenth day of December 1830. 

[signature]
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Thomas Hazard.
Payers-
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Thomas Hazard
Jon a Wheelock (illegible) in the case of Thomas Hazard.
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I Jonathan Wheelock of lawful age twenty
and say that I was (illegible) with
 one Thomas Hazard, a black man
 in the years 1781, 1782 and 1783
said Hazard was attached at that
time to the (illegible) Massachusetts
Regiment commanded by Col.
(?) and served as a
waiter to said (?)  at that time.    Jwheelock
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex & Concord March 23 (?)
 Then personally appeared
the above named Jona Wheelock &
 made oath that the foregoing af-
fidavit by him subscribe is 
true.
Before me
Johnthuyes Just. of
Peace & (?)
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I have known the (illegible) Dr (illegible) Jonathan Wheelock for many years and do hereby  (illegible) that he is a (illegible) witness and that as such (illegible) (illegible) may he given to his (illegible) Jonathan Hayes justice of the peace.