Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29005, Nicholas Bessom, Mass. Mass. Sea Service
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State of Massachusetts
County of Essex SS Marblehead
On this 10th day of August AD 1832, personally appeared before me David Cummins esq. a judge of the court of Common Pleas, and a court of record within and for said county of Essex. Nicholas Bessam of Marblehead County and state aforesaid, aged seventy seven years who having 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 1832.  That he was a soldier and Mariner in the revolutionary war, and that he removed from Marblehead to Lanesborough in the county of Berkshire, in said State of Massachusetts and there enlisted in a company of Militia commanded by Jonas Fielder in Col Baldwins Regiment of Infantry sometime in the month of August seventeen hundred seventy six, for the term of three months; and marched in said company, from Lanesborough to join the American Army under Genl. Washington then near to New York, and while in said company was frequently employed in a scouting party in the vicinity of the enemy in removing or destroying, cattle, stores, or whatever belonging to the enemy could be taken or destroyed.  And he was in the Battle of White Plains, about the latter part of October; and that he continued doing duty in said company, until some time in November seventeen hundred and seventy six, when he was discharged.  That he has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to the foregoing service.
And your Declarant further saith, that about the middle of March, seventeen hundred, and seventy seven, he entered on board the Armed Brig Tyrannicide, Jonathan Haraden of Salem Commander, and sailed from Boston in said Brig on a cruise; and while outward bound, took several prizes in the English Channel, and afterward was chased by a British seventy four, and hove overboard
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our guns, and then sail’d to Bilboa in Spain, and from thence to France about the month of June, and at the latter place was supplied with every necessary for proceeding on our passage home and were ordered to proceed without delay to Boston, haven taken on board warlike stores, and other necessaries for the American Army.  We arrived at Boston about the middle of October, seventeen hundred and seventy seven, and was then discharged.
(Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.)  Crossed out.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity excepting the present, and declares, that his name is not on the pension roll of the  agency of any State.
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
(Nicholas Bessom) crossed out
D Cummins
Mr. John Bartlett – a clergyman resident in the town of Marblehead and Benjamin Knight esq. also a resident in said town of Marblehead, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nicholas Bessom who had subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration; that we believe him to be, seventy seven years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier and Mariner of the revolution; and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and Subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
D Cummmins
John Bartlett
Benjamin Knight
And the said Judge doth hereby declare his 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 Seaman, and served as he states.  And the said Judge further certified that Rev John Bartlett – who has signed the preceeding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the Town of Marblehead, and that Benjamin Knight esq? who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Marblehead, and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.  And the said judge further certifies, that the above named applicant is unable to appear in court, by reason of bodily infirmity.
D Cummins
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I John Prince  Jun Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and a court of record, within and for the county of Essex, do hereby certify that the Hon. David Cummins esq. is a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and that the within signature is his genuine signature.  And that John Prince of Marblehead is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County of Essex, and that the signature annexed is his signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court of Common Pleas at Salem this thirteenth Day of August, Eighteen hundred and thirty two.
John Prince, Clk
I Nathaniel Phillips of Marblehead, in the County of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, Blockmaker, aged seventy three years, on oath depose testify and say that in the Revolutionary War, in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven, I was an apprentice at the Blockmaking business in the Town of Boston and that my master at that time contracted with the Government of the State of Massachusetts to do work in the line of his business, for the Brig Tyrannicide and I do well know and remember from this and other circumstances which then occurred, that the said Brig Tyrannicide was a Public Armed Vessel in the service of the State of Massachusetts, and I do further testify from my personal knowledge that the said Brig was employed in cruising against the common enemy.
Nath Phillips
Essex SS April 26th 1833  Then personally appeared the above named Nathaniel Phillips, and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit and I further certify that he is a credible witness.
Before me.  John Prince Nathan
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Essex   ___      I  John Prince Clerk of the court of common Pleas being a court of record do hereby certify that John Prince Jun is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and that his written signature is genuine.
In testimony Whereof I have hereto set my hand, the seal of said Court at Salem this 29th day of April AD 1833
John Prince, Clk