Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29238, John Holbrook, Mass.
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Service: Mass
Holbrook, John 
S. 29238
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15857
Massachusetts
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John Holbrook
of Worcester in the State of Mass.
who was a Private in the Company of Capt. Willcut of the Regt. commanded by Col. Holman in the Mass line for 7 months 145 days
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Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 25 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
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Certificate of Pension issued the 2d day of Aug 1833 and sent Geo. Davis, Sturbridge
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Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $50.00
Semi-anal. allowance ending 4 Sept " 12.50
----------------------------------------$62.50

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by D.D. Addison Clerk,
Book E Vol 2d Page 34

(on right side of document)
Letter to George Davis Esq, Sturbridge Mass to Nov 28th 1842.

Dead

Paid at the Treasury under the Acti of the l6 April 1838 A.D. Draw 4 se3pt 1838 to 31 Janu 1839. Agt. notified 25 Febey 1843.
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8394
John Holbrook
Private 7 mos 15 days

7 ob

March 20, 1833

P 303

George Daves 
Subridge
Mass
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BRIEF in the case of John Holbrook
of Stubridge in the State of Mass
Worchester 

ACT 7TH JUNE, 1832

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge ?  Open Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he? Eighty years

4. State of his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period/Duration of Service/Rank/ Name of General and Field Officers under whom he served.

Enlisted In 1776 July 1/5months/Ct Jno Wilcott, Col Holmon

Substituted 1775/1/2 month/Capt Martin
(?) Holbrook

enlisted 1776 Jan/ 2 months/ Capt Ellis

5. In what battles was he engaged? White Plains, Harlem Heights

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Sturbridge

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof by traditionary evidence by incidental evidence. or by the rolls? Saml Shumway 5 moth service.
Caleb Allen 

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. Kuiz  Examining Clerk.
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT
SEOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE

Dec. 20th 1842

Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United State." and the 3d section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the tie within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, The children of John Holbrook decd. a Pension on the Roll of the Massachusetts Agency at the rate of Twenty five Dollars and----cent s per annum under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department from the 4th of Sept 1832 to the 31st January 1839.

Respectfully yours
Albion K. Parris
(signature)
Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions, 
Present
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Worcester } SS -

On the fifth day of September [crossed out] personally appeared before me[/crossed out] in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred thirty two personally appeared before me in open court before the Hon. Thomas Paine Esquire, Judge of Probate with & for the County of Worcester.
John Holbrook Esq. a resident of Northbridge in the county and commonwealth aforesaid ages 80 years who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7 - 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in a company of militia commanded by Capt. John Wilcott & regiment commanded by Col. Holmon, the first of July 1776 for five months & that he served during the term of enlistment, that he was stationed a part of this time in & about the City of New York was in the battle of White Plains - & in other parts of the state of New - York - was in the battle of Harlem Heights, [illegible], was dismissed about the first of December of the year aforesaid, but cannot recollect the day. He again enlisted as a substitute for his brother Amaziah Holbrook, the latter part of September in year 1775 for half a month, & served out said half a month in company commanded by Adam Martin, was at Roxbury in Massachusetts during this half of a month [illegible] the chief of the time in building forts & [illegible] worker Gen. Ward was at

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Possibly during this time - He than enlisted the fore part of January 1776 for  two months & served till this period expired. Was in the Company of Capt Samuel Ellis of said Wintridge was at this time Roxbury forsts & breastworks.  Was stationed all this time in Roxbury.  He has no evidence of the two last times.  There is no person now living that he can recollect who was personally knowing this service.  
John Holbrook
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesd.
Before Nath'l Paine Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester

I was born in Brimfield an adjoining town to Hartridge on the first day of November 1751.  I have a record of my age in my bible, & suppose it is also on the town records in Brimfield. I was living in Sturbridge when called into service & have been in Sturbridge all times since the revolutionary war, where I now live.  I volunteered in in [sic] all the cases aforesaid. I served half a month as a substitute as before stated.
The names of the officers I have before stated.  I served all the aforesaid period in the militia.  I never received in any case, written discharge.  The Rev. Joseph S. Clark, one of the clergymen in said Sturbridge & David Wight Esq of said Sturbridge can testify as to my character for veracity & their belief of my services as a soldier of the
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Mass.

Holbrook, John

S29238
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and the said Court herby 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 Joseph S. Clark who signs the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the town of Sturbridge aforesaid: Twenty Miles from court and that David Wright who has also signed the same is a resident in said Sturbridge, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
Nath Paine Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester

J. Holbrook papers 8394.

I Theophilus Wheeler Register for the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester in Massachusetts is hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Holbrook for a pension and that George Davis before whom the annexed affidavits were made is a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Worcester in full credit, and that the signature is his genuine signature. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court of Probate this sixth day of September in the year of our Lord 1802. 

Theophilus Wheeler Reg. of said Probate Court
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29 238
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8396
John Holbrook

Goerge Davis Esq
Sturbudgo Map
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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 the claim of John Holbrook which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicat resides?
II. Die the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
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 he served?
V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grardes in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amou[n]t of pension he is entitled?
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XI:  Yes

XII: unanswered

XIII: unanswered

XIV: Part 1: Yes
Part 2: Yes
Part 3: Yes

XV: Yes

XVI: Yes

XVII: Answered
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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, providing the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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I Samuel Shumway of Sturbridge in the County of Worcester Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful of [illegible] say that Mr. Holbrook Esq. of said Sturbridge enlists into a company of militia to which I belonged about the first of July 1776 commanded by Capt. John Willcot & regiment commanded by Col. Holmon for the five months. We were in about the city of New York a great post [illegible] this [illegible] of service. [Crossed out] Said Holbrook was with us in the battle of White - plains - He served at this time four months to my knowledge  - 
Samuel Shumway

Month.  Aug. 11- 1832 I have the above names Samuel Shumway person only offered & made oath to the truth of the above offered by [illegible] [illegible] - I certify that he is person of veraicty. Before me George David Justice of the Peace
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I Caleb Allen of Sturbridge in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of law - such age testify that I have been well acquainted with John Holbrook Esg. of said Strubridge from his youth & that I am personally knowing to his inlistment [enlistment] into the army of the United States.  The fore part of July in the year 1776, into a company commanded by  Capt. John Wilcott of Brookfield & Regiment commanded by Col. Jonathan Holman of Shutton in said county for five months.  That he to my knowledge served out this period of his inlistment [enlistment] & was dismissed at Cortland Manor so called in the state of New York. He was in the cit of New-York a few days at Harlem Heights at White Plains & other places in New-York - was in the Battle of Harlem Heights and White Plains.   Caleb Allen

Worcester Fr. Aug 23 1832 Here the above named Caleb Allen personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed.  I hereby certify that the above named Caleb Allen sustains a good character for truth.
Before me Georege Davis Justice of the Peace
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I John Holbrook of Sturbridge in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts - within named, having omitted by mistake in my declaration henceforth made to relinquish every claim to any other pensions do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or the present  & declare that my name is not on the pension rolls of the agency of any state.

John Holbrook (signature)

Sworn to & subscribe this nineth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three --

Before me Theophs Wheeler Register  of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worchester ss

I Theophilius Wheeler Register of the Court of Probate for the county of Worcester a Justice of the Peace for said County hereby certify that said Court appointed to beholden of Brookfield in the aforesaid County of Worcester. John Holbrook  am well  known as a man of truth, made solemn oath to the truth of the above declaration - the honorable Judge of Probate being absent by reason of sickness is the reason of the oath not being made before him  -

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the law. Probate Court this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & thirty three.

Theophs Wheeler Register of said Probate Court -