Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31122, Zadok Hearsey, Mass.
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Mass 

Hearsey Zadok
"Zadock"

S 3112.2
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8.283
Maine
Zadock Hearsey
Washington in the State of Maine 
was a Private in the Company command
Captain Cushing of the High command
Col Grayton in the map
for 14 mo.
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine
at the rate of 46 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of Aug
1833 and Sent to
Ben R. Jones, Dennysville
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $93.32 ┃
Semi-anl. allowance ending (illegible) 23.33
$116.65
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
recorded by W. L. Wilen (illegible) Clerk,
Book E Vol. 1 Page 21
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[Mass.] Hearsey, Zadock S 31122

Application for a pension 
Probate Court of Washington
County Maine
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State of Maine

County of Washington ss. 

On this Twenty Sixth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Judge of the Court Probate - now sitting at Pembroke in and for said County, - - Zadok Hersey - a resident of Pembroke in said County, aged Eighty one 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 7th, A. D. 1832.

THAT he was born at Hingham in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts on the sixteenth day of January A. D. 1752, and that there is a record of his birth in the Town Clerks book of said Town as he believes, that he was in the United States service for the later part of April A. D. 1775, to the latter part of December A. D. 1775 as a private in the infantry
: that he was residing at Hingham
when he entered the service, that he marched in a company of volunteers, soon after Lexington [illegible] to Roxbury, he enlisted for eight months - - - and the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Jotham Loring at first, and afterwards, Captain Charles Cushing, who took the command on Captain Lorings promotion
: that he marched from Hingham to Cambridge where the Read [illegible] of the army then was
: that he served with 
of the regular troops, and CaptWilliam Heath, Colonel Grayton & Lieut Colonoel Rice - regular officers were known to him: that he was in battle
and at the end of his service received a discharge 
Cambridge : that he left the service on or about the last of December 1775 and that since the Revolutionary War he has resided at Hingham until the month of November 1788, and since that time in the place where he now resides - 
ALSO: that he was in the United States Service from the nineteenth day of December A. D. 1776, to the nineteenth day of March A. D. 1777 as a musician in the infantry
that he was residing at Hingham aforesaid
when he entered the service; that he enlisted from the term of three months
and served for the period aforesaid un the command of Job Loring
: that he marched from Hingham to Morristown in New Jersey
: that he service with
of regular troops, and
regular officers were known to him : that he was in battle
that at the end of his service he received a discharge in New Jersey and left the service on the expiration of my term of service.
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(?) Theodore Lincoln, Benjamin R Jones, Esquire, (?) Warner Gardner, all residing for many years in my neighborhood can testify to his character for veracity and (?) knowledge or belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution

That he received the pay for services in Continental paper money one hundred and fifty seven dollars of which is now in his possession and the (?) money was assessed for military service & has been in possession ever since the revolution
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We Herman Nickerson  A Clergy man residing in Pembroke and Jonas Farnsworth, Postmaster residing in the same Place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Mr. Zadok Hearsey of Pembroke who was subscribed and sworn to a Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832. that we believe him to be Eighty one years of age, that his is respected and believed, in the neighborhood where he resided, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion

Signatures of Heman Nickerson and Jonas Farnsworth Postmaster of Pembroke

State of Maine
County of Washington ss

On the 3rd day of June A.D. 1833, personally appeared before the Subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the said County of Washington, the Reverend Heman Nickerson and Jonas Farnsworth Esquire and made oath to the truth of the preceding Certificate by them signed in my presence and it appears to me the said Justice that the said Heman Nickerson is a clergyman resident in the town of Pembroke and that, the said Jonas Farnsworth is a (?) and Post-master in the same Town and their statement is entitled to credit

Signature of Benjamin R. Jones, Justice of the Peace

I Jacob Dunbar of Pembroke aged ninety one years, do testify and say, that, I have been personally acquainted with Zadok Hearsey now residing in said Pembroke for the most of the time since the year 1775 that we were both (?) the same town & have lived in the same town ever since his birth except from 1733 to 1797. That we both enlisted in the same company for eight months, and served from April to December in the year 1775, at Cambridge in Massachusetts, as privates of Infantry in the Army of the Revolution, That I knew him well during the whole of said term of service, in Capt (?) and (?) company. 

Signature of Jacob Dunbar

I hereby Certify that Jacob Dunbar the signer of the above certificate is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to full credit

Signature of Benjamin R. Jones, Justice of the Peace
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I, Theophilus Wilder of Pembroke in the County of Washington and State of Maine. Aged Sixty seven years do testify and say, that, I have been well acquainted with Mr Zadok Hearsey of Pembroke, from my earliest recollection I well remember that my Father Theophilus Wilder of Hingham then a Captain of Militia in that place, marched his company to Rhode Island at the time the French Squadron lay at that place, I also well remember that Zadok Hearsey was then a private in his company and marched with the company towards Rhode Island, I went with the troops a part of the way, and assisted in bringing back the Baggage teams, I was then twelve or thirteen years old, I remember seeing Mr Hearsey with the company as a soldier, I have no certain recollections for how long a time he served, but have no doubt that it was as long as three months, I have lived in the same town with Mr. Hearsey ever since the Revolution and always heard my father, during his life time speak of to Mr. Hearsey as one of his old soldiers

Signature of Theophilus Wilder

Subscribed and sworn to the 3 day of June AD. 1833
before me Benjamin R. Jones  Justice of the Peace; well known in this

State of Maine, Washington County ss. 
I hereby certify that I have been well acquainted with Mr. Theophilus Wilder, the signer of the above certificate for more than thirty years, that I have always known him as the oldest son of Captain Theophilus Wilder deceased formerly of Hingham Massachusetts well known in this neighborhood as a Militia officer of the Revolution that he is considered as a person of strict veracity and that his statement is entitled to credit

Signature of Benjamin R Jones Justice of the Peace

State of Maine
Washington ss
I Aaron L Raymond Clerk of the Judicial Courts for Washington County certify that Benjamin R Jones is a majistrate as he has in this paper & subscribed his name in his capacity and do that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his, is genuine - 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set this Seal of the Court and subscribed my name this Fifth day of June A D 1833
Signature of Aaron L Raymond Clerk of the Court Wash
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The following interrogatories were (?) to Zadok Hearsey ( an applicant for a Pension under the Act of Congress of the 7th day of June 1832) by the Honorable Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Washington; at a court of Probate held at Pembroke on the 26th day of January last past, and the answers, in substance, were their embodied in the declaration of said applicant, and they are now written in full, in the presence of said Hearsey, in compliance with notes & regulations of the war Department. 

1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Answer - In Hingham Plymouth County, Massachusetts, on the 16th day of January A.D. 1752

2.  Have you any record of your Age, and if so where is it.
Ans. I believe there is a Record of my age in the Town Books of Hingham. I have no other

3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live? 
Ans. I was living in Hingham when I entered the service. I resided in Hingham from the close of the Revolutionary War until the month of November 1788, since that time I have constantly resided in this place which has been called Pinnaquan, in the Town of Dennysville; and last year incorporated into a separate Town by the name of Pembroke. 

4. How (?) called into service &c? 
Answer.  The first Term, I marched from Hingham to Roxbury in a minute company to which I belonged (?) on the alarm of the Lexington Fight, and enlisted voluntarily for eight months two or thee days afterwards - the next term I enlisted for three months as a volunteer to go to the Jerseys the third time I  volunteered for three months to go to Rhode Island

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 services
Ans.  I know General William Heath; Colonel Grayton was commander of the Regiment   I served in at Cambridge; I saw also General Washington & General Putnam at Cambridge -    I served in New Jersey in Captain Job (?) Company. I recollect of seeing General Lincoln at New Jersey by conversing with him, as he was my Townsman, I also saw General Washington then, but is is so long ago that I cannot name any other Regular officers that I saw these with certainty. There was no (?) where I was during this winter campaign - I marched to Rhode Island with a considerable body of Militia, I think it was understood that we were to assist in protecting the French Squadron, then lying there, we assisted in building several Forts on the Island, there was no attack made while I was there, I served in Captain Theophilus Wilder's company, Colonel Thayers Regiment  I do not recollect that there were any Continentals at Rhode Island at the time

6.  Di you ever receive a discharge from the service?
Answer.  At the end of every term for which I enlisted, there whose terms had expired were called together and dismissed by word of mouth, I never knew any militia soldier to received any written discharge, as I remember. 

7.  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 service as a Soldier of the Revolution
Ans.  The Honorable Theodore Lincoln, son of Major General Benj Lincoln of the Revolutionary Army, Ebenezer C  Wilder Esq & Mr. Theophilus Wilder, sons of apt Theophilus Wilder, Mr. Warren Gardner, all between 60 and 70 years of age, residing the most of their lives in my neighborhood and can testify if called on,
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The following interrogatories were (?) to Zadok Hearsey ( an applicant for a Pension under the Act of Congress of the 7th day of June 1832) by the Honorable Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Washington; at a court of Probate held at Pembroke on the 26th day of January last past, and the answers, in substance, were their embodied in the declaration of said applicant, and they are now written in full, in the presence of said Hearsey, in compliance with notes & regulations of the war Department. 

1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Answer - In Hingham Plymouth County, Massachusetts, on the 16th day of January A.D. 1752

2.  Have you any record of your Age, and if so where is it.
Ans. I believe there is a Record of my age in the Town Books of Hingham. I have no other

3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live? 
Ans. I was living in Hingham when I entered the service. I resided in Hingham from the close of the Revolutionary War until the month of November 1788, since that time I have constantly resided in this place which has been called Pinnaquan, in the Town of Dennysville; and last year incorporated into a separate Town by the name of Pembroke. 

4. How (?) called into service &c? 
Answer.  The first Term, I marched from Hingham to Roxbury in a minute company to which I belonged (?) on the alarm of the Lexington Fight, and enlisted voluntarily for eight months two or thee days afterwards - the next term I enlisted for three months as a volunteer to go to the Jerseys the third time I  volunteered for three months to go to Rhode Island

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 services
Ans.  I know General William Heath; Colonel Grayton was commander of the Regiment   I served in at Cambridge; I saw also General Washington & General Putnam at Cambridge -    I served in New Jersey in Captain Job (?) Company. I recollect of seeing General Lincoln at New Jersey by conversing with him, as he was my Townsman, I also saw General Washington then, but is is so long ago that I cannot name any other Regular officers that I saw these with certainty. There was no (?) where I was during this winter campaign - I marched to Rhode Island with a considerable body of Militia, I think it was understood that we were to assist in protecting the French Squadron, then lying there, we assisted in building several Forts on the Island, there was no attack made while I was there, I served in Captain Theophilus Wilder's company, Colonel Thayers Regiment  I do not recollect that there were any Continentals at Rhode Island at the time

6.  Di you ever receive a discharge from the service?
Answer.  At the end of every term for which I enlisted, there whose terms had expired were called together and dismissed by word of mouth, I never knew any militia soldier to received any written discharge, as I remember. 

7.  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 service as a Soldier of the Revolution
Ans.  The Honorable Theodore Lincoln, son of Major General Benj Lincoln of the Revolutionary Army, Ebenezer C  Wilder Esq & Mr. Theophilus Wilder, sons of apt Theophilus Wilder, Mr. Warren Gardner, all between 60 and 70 years of age, residing the most of their lives
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Zadock Hearsey
Washington Maine
14 mos
46.66

Benj. R. Jones
Denneyville, Washington Maine
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WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Pension Office 
188

Sir: 
The evidence in support of your claim under the act of July 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. ON comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your [illegible] 

[the next line is heavily smudged with black ink]  Text showing the Service of Zadok Hearsey [illegible text]  Maine
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832

The following regulations have been adapted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army and to (/) under the terms "Continental Line." "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafter, or who volunteered and were bound to military service, but set these who were eventually employed with the army upon civil contracts such as Clerks to [illegible] and to Store Keepers, vis. [illegible text] who served on board of [illegible text] are subscribed from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as  [illegible], or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service. 

Four general classes of cased are embraced in this law:
1.  The Regular Troops. 
2. The State troops, Militia, and Volunteers. 
3.  Persons employed in the Naval service 
4.  Indian Spies. 

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by  transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record. 

DECLARATION, 
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June , 1832.

State, Territory, or District of County of_____}ss.
On this _____day of _____personally appeared (s) before _____
A.B. a resident (b) of_____in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of ____aged(e) _____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 provion made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832.  That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____(e) regiment of the _____line, under the following named officers:  

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the services; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank  and maes of his officer;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he joined the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the county through which he marched. [Illegible text] as to apply to the (?) of officers and persons who belonged to the militia [illegible text to end of line]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is set on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____

Sorn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do herby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, abd served as he states. 

I______ourt of the Court of ______ do herby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of  the application of ________for a pension.

In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this ____day of _____ &c.

If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. 

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia , will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(k) WE, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C.D. residing in(the same)  hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be ____years of age; that he is reputed 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 the day and year aforesaid. 
(And then will follow the certificate of the Court.)

And the said Court do hereby declare their wishes, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed the the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he stated. And the Court further [illegible text].
Who has signed the proceeding Certificate is a clergyman, resident to the ____ and that C.D., who has also (?) the same is a resident in the _____and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 

I, _____Clerk of the Court of _______do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of ________for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal _____ this ___day of ______&c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at lease one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction. 

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the Investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged services, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the servces of each person
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts state: I will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the position, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, on the of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. 

The Court will prepend the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension in account of service to the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the state of Virginia. 

1.  Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where ist it?
3.  Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live?
4.  How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5.  State the names of some of the Regular Officers, where with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. 
6. To a Soldier{ Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
To an Officer{ Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7.  State the names of persons to whom you are know 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.
   The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
   The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, is the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons - one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in the opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving each certificates.
   The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. 
___________________________________________
9a0  The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented form doing so by reason off bodily infirmity; which even the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
(b) the declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should ail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule. 
(c) the age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned 
(d) The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served. 
(e)  Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with presiden, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language as definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. 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 that the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades -For____ years _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____months and _____days, I served as a _____; and for each service I claim a pension."

     It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rand he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his services. The use of the phrase about "three or four" months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying experiences are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars regarding their service. This form of a 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 late 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 [illegible]
[next four letters - h, i j, k are illegible} and it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other (seal?)  or if he has no probable public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, (?) the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers. 

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 either papers 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. 

Proof of Service. 
(j) 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 claimant's entering the services, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as (?) in the regiment, company, and time to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oath 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. 
(?) The notes from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by note (?) applies to continental troops only
(?) This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases. 
(?) I f a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the [illegible].
(?) The answers to the interrogatories must a be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration. 

Signature of Joseph Rowen
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No text; blocked out.