Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,730, James Josiah Coffin, Navy (Mass)
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SERVICE: Navy (Mass)
Coffin, James Josiah
NUMBER: S. 29,730
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Left side:
27208 
Navy Massachusetts 
James Josiah Coffin 
of Falmouth in the State of Mass 
who was a Seaman in the Frig'e Alliance commanded 
by Captain Paul Jones of the --- commanded 
by --- in the Mass line for 9 months 

Inscribed on the Roll of Mass
at the rate of 36 Dollars -- Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of Mar 1834 
and Sent to Hon John Reed HR 

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1834 - $108 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 34 18 
[=] $126 

{Revolutionary Claim,} 
{Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by George Taylor  Clerk,
Book E Vol. 2 C Page 14 

Right side:
Copies of papers sent to Hon J Reed H.R. Jan 27 
1836 - See letter to Hon M.H. Sibley Jan. 11. 1838

(faintly) 79 [illegible]
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26158
James Josiah Coffin
Petition for Pension

Deficiency supplied
Adm'd 9 m. Seaman
Cap Paul Jones
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts - 
County of Nantucket ss. - On this thirteenth day of December in the year of our Lord One Thousand, Eight Hundred & Thirty two, personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable Judge of the Court of Probate in and for said County, James Josiah Coffin a resident of Nantucket in said County aged Seventy Seven 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 1832 
That he was born at Nantucket on the Eighteenth day of March 1755 - that he was in the naval service of the United States, during the war of the Revolution, and make[s] the annexed & following statement of facts, touching his service aforesaid -
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In the year 1779 I was taken by the Brutus privat Ship of war from London, Samuel Hill, Commander, and carried prisoner to England In January 1780 I got over to Amsterdam & finding no Vessel could leave for America for A long time, on Account of See [sea?], I was advised by Mr John Dunnavel, who was then Agent for American affairs, to go by land to Lorient where was lying the Alliance Frigate John Paul Jones Esqr Commander, myself & some others left Amsterdam for Paris, ^In Paris we waited on Doctor Franklin, who supplid [sic] Us with money enough to get Us on to Lorient, where we met Capt Jones & the Alliance, I went onbord [sic] the Alliance as Volunteer and lived in the wardroom with the Officers, After being Onbord the Alliance four months, Capt D. Landis came onbord & took the Command of the Ship, I then left the Alliance and went onbord the Luzearn of 20 guns Capt Bell for Philadelphia
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state - 
[Signed] James Coffin 
Sworn & subscribed to, the day and year first aforesaid - 

We, Martin T. Morton, Collector of the District of Nantucket, Seth F. Swift a clergyman in the town of Nantucket, George W. Ewer, Postmaster of said town of Nantucket and Benjamin Bunker and Albert Gardner citizens residing in
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said town, do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with James Josiah Coffin who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing 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 an officer in the naval service of the United States in the war of the Revolution:- and that we Concur in that opinion 
Sworn & subscribed as aforesaid -
[Signed] M.T. Morton
[Signed] S. F Swift 
[Signed] Geo. W. Ewer 
[Signed] Benjn Bunker 
[Signed] Albert Gardner 

And, the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary officer in the naval service of the United States, and served as he saith-
[faintly "begin here"] And the Court further
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Certify, that Martin T. Morton who is also Collector of the District of Nantucket, Seth F. Swift who is a clergyman in Nantucket, George W. Ewer who is Postmaster, and Benjamin Bunker & Albert Gariner who are residents of Nantucket, are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
[Signed] Isaac Coffin Judge of Probate 

I. Timothy Hussey, Register of the Court of Probate, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of James J. Coffin for a pension- 
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day & year first aforesaid 
[SEAL]
[Signed] Timothy Hussey} 
Regr of Probate}
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26158
James Josiah Coffin
Mass

Letter 7 Nov 1833
10 of [?]
Jany 30 1833
Letter 16 Augt 1833

p-227
Adm'd. 9m. Seaman
Cap Paul Jones

Hon. J. Reed
Yarmouth Mass
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BRIEF in the case of James Josiah Coffin 
County of Nantucket in the State of Massachusetts
(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? 77

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
Period | Duration of Service (Y-M-D) | Rank | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served
In 1776 he entered on board the Sloop William, Josiah Buckner Comr. in the employment of UStates [?] - went to France upon coming home - prisoner in England and gone in whole 11 mo
In 1778, he entered for a Cruise on board the Sloop Providence, John A Rathbon Captain - served 5 mos.
1779 entered for 4 mos. onboard the Frigate Alliance Paul Jones 
in his different Cruizes served as a Seaman $10 per month

5. In what battles was he engaged? Several Battles and some Captures - and prisoner
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Nantucket Mass 
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditionary 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers are not attached agreeably to the regulations

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
[Signed] George Taylor 
Examining Clerk.
[SEAL]
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Invalid
Revy Navy
File No. 29730
James Josiah Coffin
Seaman
Frigate "Allison" [s/b Alliance]
Rev War
Act June 7 1832
Index: Vol. 2d, Page 14
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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A
I, Isaac Coffin, of Nantucket, Judge of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Nantucket and State of Massachusetts, make oath & say, 
That I have been during more than twenty years Judge of the Court of Probate, within and for the County of Nantucket, appointed by virtue of a Commission under the hand and official Seal of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
I further make oath, that there is no seal of a distinguishing Character from other Seals, as to mark or device, of the Court of Probate in this County. But it has been the custom to apply the common wafer stamp in cases requiring the seal of this Court.  
[Signed] Isaac Coffin Judge of Probate
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State of Massachusetts} 
Nantucket County} ss.   On this fifteenth day of March AD 1833 before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, came Hon. Isaac Coffin, know to me as Judge of the Probate of Wills &c - and made oath to the truth of the matters contained in the affidavit on the other side written - 
[Signed] Charles Bunker Just Peace 
I further certify, that during many years I have had occasion to be conversant in the Court of Probate and to receive papers & documents therefrom,
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and the only seal ever used to authenticate the papers of that Court has been and is the ordinary wafer or letter stamp.
[Signed] Charles Bunker Just.
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[faintly] begin here
In the matter of James Josiah Coffin's 
Petition for a pension, 
his papers are deemed satisfactory at the Pension office, except in the following particular: viz, 
"That the seal of the Clerk has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished or any other Seal" 
This deficiency is supplied by an affidavit from the Honorable Isaac Coffin, Judge, and by the certificate of Charles Bunker, a Justice of the Peace in paper marked A
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State of New York} 
Columbia County} ss. 
On this 27th November 1832 Personally appeared before me Isaac McCogg one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County of Columbia Timothy Bunker who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath or affirmation say that he is Seventy Six Years of age and that in the month of February 1776 James J Coffin and myself engaged to go a Voyage in the Schooner William, Joshua Bunker Master. From Nantucket to some part of Europe we took in a part of our Cargo at Nantucket which port we left same time in the month of March and proceeded to Old Town (Now Edgartown) in Marthas Vinyard where we took in some Oil and proceeded to Dartmouth (now New Bedford) where we completed our Lading and sailed from Dartmouth the fore part of April and bound for Billo [?] but over run our port and went to Bordeaux where our cargo was Disposed of and we took on Board a Cargo of Powder Arms Woollen Cloth &c &c we did not sail from Bordeaux until about the first of October when the nights began to be longer than the days the better to escape the enemy Nothing occurred worthy of notice after leaving Bordeaux until we were nearly up
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with the Bermudas when we were taken by the Ship Galitia Thomas Jordan Esqr Master. Captain Bunker, James J Coffin, Ephram Gardner & myself were taken on board Galitia Not long after being on board James I Coffin was ordered aloft to up[?] Topsails which he refused as being a prisoner which availed him nothing he was severely Floged and put on duty   the Galitia bore up for Bermuda where we arrived in the Course of a day or two, from there we proceeded to New York then in the possession of the British when Ephram Gardner and James J Coffin who had performed the Voyage with me in the Schooner William were put on board of a Prison Ship. Capt Bunker was sent a shore at Bermudas
[Signed] Timothy Bunker
Subscribed }
and affirmed to}
before me the day}
& year first above mentioned} 
I. McCogg J.P.
 
I certify that I am acquainted with Timothy Bunker who has subscribed and affirmed to the above affidavit that he is a credible person & Entitled to Credit
[Signed] I McCogg J. Peace
 
State of New York}
Columbia County} ss.  I, Joseph D Monell, Clerk of the said County do certify that Isaac McCogg Esq before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Justices of the Justices Court for the City of Hudson, and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit, to be his proper hand writing and Signature. 
Witness my hand and Seal of Office this 27th November 1832
[SEAL]
[Signed] J. D. Monell
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A Statement of Facts 
In the year 1776 in February I engaged to go A Voyage in the Schooner William, Joshua Bunker, Master, we took in part of our Cargo at Nantucket, which Port we left some time in March & proceeded to Oldtown now (Edgartown) in Marthas Vinyard, where we took in some Oil and proceeded to Dartmouth, now (New Bedford) where we Compleated [sic] our Lading which was furnished by Messrs Rolch[?] & James, under the direction of Messrs Nicholas & John Brown, of Providence, Agents for the Government, our Vessel & Cargo was on Government Account, we saild [sic] from Dartmouth the forepart of April Bound for Bilbos but we overrun our Port and went to Bourdeaux where our Cargo was disposd [sic] of and we took onbord [sic] A Cargo of Powder, Arms, Wooling [sic] Cloaths &c &c on Account of Government we Saild [sic] from Bourdeaux abought [sic] the first of October when the nights began to be longer then [sic] the days the better to escape the Enemy, Nothing Occurd [sic] worthy of notice after leaving Bourdeaux til we were nearly up with Bermudas when we were taken by the Ship Galitea, Thomas Jorden, Esq Commander, Our Captn myself and too [sic] others was taken onbord the Galitea, in A short time after being onbord, I observed our Captn. A very respectful Old Gentleman, Kick'd of the Qua[r]ter deck, I then was ordered Aloft to Reef topsails which I refused, I obeservd [sic] I was A Prisoner, But that excuse avald [sic] me nothing, I was Sevearly  [sic] flog'd & put on duty; the Galitea bore Up for Bermuda where we arrived in corse [sic] of a day or too [sic], our Captn was there permited [sic] to go on Shore, from Bermuda we proceeded to New York, which was then in posession [sic] of the English, when I was put onbord the Whitbey Prisonship, where I worried away A miserable life til after the takeing [sic] the Hessians at Trenton, when with others I was exchanged, some time in the month of January 1777. -- we were landed at Newhaven [sic] and my not being well able to travle [sic] I did not reach Dartmouth, the Port we Saild [sic] from, til the last of January, my wages in the William was Ten dollars pr mounth
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My term of service during this period may be stated at Elven [sic] months.
[Signed] James J. Coffin
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A Statement of facts 
In the Year 1778 in June I engage to take A Cruise as Volunteer in the Government Sloop Providence, John P. Rathbone, Esqr Commander, then lying at Dartmouth now (New Bedford) which Port we left Some time in June, and proceded [sic] to Oldtown Marthars [sic] Vinyard, which place we left some time in July, and made the first part of our Cruise along the court of Novascotia, and when near the Isle of Salles, we fel [sic] in with A fleet of Ships from England, the first was the Caloden 74 which we Saild past & soon lost sight of her, the next was A large Ship full of Troops, we engaged her favor[?] 6 OClock in the Afternoon, til nearly 12 at night, when the wind Came on to blow Strong and we had got into shoald water, Capt Rathbone thought it not prudent to continue the Action any longer, we Could not make them Strike we hauld [sic] our wind of shore, in the Action we had A number of men wounded, three or four days after we fel [sic] in with & took A large Snow [schooner?] Cald [sic] the Katy[?], Captn Havey from Port Glasgo, for New York, with A full Cargo of Stores for the supply of the English Army, I was orderd [sic] on bord to take Charge of her, & Conduct her into some Port in America After haveing [sic] Charge of the prise [sic] 6 or 8 days I was taken by the Greyhound frigat [sic], Captn Dickson, & carried Prisoner to Halifax where I was kept til November, when with others I was exchanged and sent Up to Boston in A Cartel, In Boston I met Captn Rathbone, he had then the Command of the Queen of France and requested me to Accept the Appointment of Master But my health would not permit, Capt. Rathbone orderd my wages paid for the time I was engaged in the Servis [sic] and volunteerd & Acting Lieutenant from June to November, Whil [sic] in Halifax I lernt [sic] that the Ship we engaged went on Shore the night we left her & was lost, she had nearly three hundred Scotchmen onbord, some of which was brought Up to Halifax while I was there, by them I learnt that in the Action, we kild [sic] & wounded 70 or 80. The term of this part of my service may be stated at five months. [Signed] James J. Coffin
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begin here
Supplementary Affidavit  - 
I James J Coffin of Nantucket in the State of Massachusetts, petitioner for a pension under the act of Congress of June. 7, 1832, in addition to my former statement, make oath and say, 
that the schooner William, on board which vessel I first served, although fitted out by individuals, was equipped and armed by them as agents for the government, and for the public, & not private service - She was not a privateer, nor was she owned by private individuals, but the vessel and cargo were on government account. I always considered that I was in the Government service at that time. 
In regard to my capacity
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on board the Alliance frigate, I state, that I was under the command of the officers of that ship, during the time stated in my declaration  - I did not enter my name on the books of that vessel, but I considered myself under command of her officers, & should have deemed myself under an obligation to take part in any active service demanded of me. 
[Signed] James J Coffin

Nantucket ss.}
December 6 1853} Before the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Nantucket came James Josiah Coffin above named, and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him signed 
[Signed] Charles Bunker Jus.Peace
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Nantucket ss.}
Dec 7, 1833} 
[SEAL]
I, Benjamin Gardner, Clerk the Court of Common Pleas, a Court of Record in and for the County of Nantucket, do hereby certify that Charles Bunker before whom the foregoing affidavit has been made, is a Justice of the Peace, within and for the County of Nantucket, and that his signature to the certificate of the oath administered is genuine.
Witness my hand as Clerk and the seal of said Court this Seventh day of December AD 1833.
[Signed] Benj Gardner Clk 
CC Pls
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J.J. Coffin
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Nantucket 4th February 1834. 
Hon. John Reed,
My Dear Sir 
In A Note to You from J.L. Edwards, Esqr of 23th December 1833, respecting claim for Pension, he observes that the Schooner William was not Enrold [sic] Amongst the Commissioned Vessels belonging to the Government of America, Early in the year 1776 their were not many Commissions Issued But the Schooner William Captn. Bunker, was commissioned by the Government, and was when Taken returning from France with A Cargo of Warlike Stores for Government, and aught [sic] to have been Enrold as A Component part of the Navey. 
Respecting the frigat [sic] Alliance Captn Jones, as to my Name not being Enrold, It was not Customary in that day to Call on A Gentleman Volentear [sic] Immediately to Sign the Ships Articles, But when in Amsterdam I engaged with John Dunnaveal Esqr who was then Agent for American ^Affairs to Join the Ship Alliance, and he furnishd me with money to git me On to Lorient for that purpose. I Joind the Ship, and Considerd myself as much bound to perform the dutys [sic] assigned me as any man on bord.
Please have the goodness to try Once more to git somthing [sic] for me, Only further with great respect
I have the honour to be 
Your Mo Ob Humb Servant
[Signed] James J Coffin
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House of Representatives
Feb 20th 1834

Sir 
I have receivd a letter from Mr. James J. Coffin Esq. an Applicant for a Pension. His letter seems to me to be written in a manner to entitle it to consideration & I have always understood he is a man of good character 
I herewith enclose the letter & beg you will reexamine his case 
Your Obt Servt 
[Signed] John Reid
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Washington City 
House of Reps Jan 14, 1836 

Sir
There is a Petition now pending in the House of Representatives in favor of James J. Coffin who now receives a small pension 
The Committee want the Papers in your Office in support of his Pension &c. Will you send them to me .

Yr Obt. Servt.
[Signed] John Reid 

James L. Edwards Esq. 

N. B. Coffin of Nantucket Masstts.