Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18408, Zephaniah Frost, Mass.
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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
Zepheniah Frost Tewksbury Mass
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
he is entitled? 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? no
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832? No
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 a
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.
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[This image is the back of previous page 1 in reverse. It has two stamps, a U.S. Pension Office stamp dated May 1, 1897, and an Old War & Navy Files stamp dated May 1, 1897]
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Lowell, Mass., April 26, 1897.
Hon. H. Clay Evans,
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D. C.
Dear Sir:
Will you kindly furnish me with a Certificate of Service of Zephaniah Frost of Massachusetts, Private in the Revolutionary Army.
He was entitled to a pension from the 4th of March, 1831, $30.00 per year; his pension papers were made out March 9, 1833, and signed by Lewis Cass, Secretary of War, examined an countersigned by J. L. Edwards, recorded by Daniel Boyd in Book D., Vol. Page 51. Trusting this information will simplify the matter, I am, Respectfully yours,
Mrs. Emma F Estee,
82 So. Walker St., Lowell, Mass.