Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12975, Elisha Barns, Mass. N. H.
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(3-1776)
[column headings: SERVICE|[blank]|NUMBER|]
Mass.|Barns, Elisha|S.12975|
N.H.|[blank]|[blank]|
[end of columns] 
carded
CONTENTS
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5831.
New Hampshire
Elisha Barns of Merrimac(k) in the State of NH who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain [blank] of the reg't commanded by Col. Ward in the NH & Mass. line for 2 years
______
Inscribed on the Roll of NH at the rate of 80 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
______
Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of Feby 1833 and sent to Hon J M Harper H of Reps
______
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $120
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33 40
$160
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by J. H. McBlair Clerk,
Book D. Vol. 1st Page 144.
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Elisha Barnes
13.423
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DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832
State of New-Hampshire
County of Merrimack}ss. 
On this 29th day of August 182, personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Court of Probate for said County, now sitting, Elisha Barnes a resident of Henniker in the County of Merrimack and State of N.H. aged 76 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 7, 1832. 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated - that he entered at Marlborough in the Commonwealth of Mass. the last of April A.D. 1775 for eight months as a substitute for Abraham Gould under Capt. Barnes, Lieut. Robbins in Col'o Ward's Regt. in Massachusetts line. Wm Boyd was quarter Master Wm. Rice was drummer. Marched to Dorchester near Boston there served the full term of eight months, and dismissed but did not take a written discharge, 
That he enlisted at Dorchester on the ground for four months under Capt Gates in Col'o Ward's Regt, Mass line stationed there and served out the full term of four months and honorably dismissed but did not take a written discharge
That he entered at Marlborough aforesaid the first of June AD 1776 for six months under Capt Gates, Lieut Trowbridge in Col'o Reed's Regt in the ['New Hampshire' crossed out] Massachusetts line marched to Ticonderoga directly and there served out the full term of six months, and honorably dismissed but did not take a written discharge
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That he entered at Marlborough aforesaid in Dec'r AD 1776 for four months under Capt Brooks, Gates was orderly Sergeant in Col'o Fisk's Regt in Mass. line Marched directly to Boston Stationed near the great Tree near the Common and there served out the full term of four months and honorably dismissed but did not take a written discharge.
That he entered at Henniker County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire about the Month of August AD 1778. for three months under Cap Bowman, Lieut Pope, Ens Taggert, Marched directly to Providence from there to the Island in Rhode Island. Served there the full term of three months and honorably dismissed but did not take a written discharge - 
That he actually served in the above five enlistments twenty five months - that he has no documentary evidence and knows of no Person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service - 
That he was Born in Marlborough Mass 1755 lived there about eight years from thence moved to Henniker in the County and State aforesaid lived there about ten years from thence to Marlborough untill he entered the Service of the United States and since lived in Henniker for fifty years last Past and now resides in same place - And he further names Hon Joshua Darling Robert M. Wallace Esqr Isaac Rice Abijah Hildreth and Artemas Rogers Esqs as persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood and who can testify as to his character for veracity
Her hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
/s/Elisha Barns
Sworn to and subscribed, the 29th day of Aug. A.D. 1832
We Isaac Rice residing in Henniker and Abijah Hildreth Jr residing in same Henniker hereby certify, that we are well  acquainted with Elisha Barnes, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 76 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
/s/Isaac Rice
/s/Abijah Hildreth Jun
Sworn and subscribed the day and year above written
And the said Court do hereby 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 certifies, that it appears to them that Isaac Rice who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in ['the' crossed out] said Henniker and that Abijah Hildreth Jr, who has also signed the same is a resident in the same Henniker and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
/s/Boswell Stevens Judge of Probate 
I, H. B. Chase, Register of the Court of Probate for said County of Merrimack, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the  matter of the application of the said Elisha Barns for a pension. 
[court seal affixed] In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this 29th day of August, A.D. 1832
/s/H. B. Chase, Register of Probate.
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I certify that the within Declaration is in the hand writing of Joseph C. West, who is agent for sundry applicants, is a man of truth and veracity. I have no doubt the whole was transacted in open court as they purport to be and are entitled to full credit
July 18th 1833 /s/J. M. Harper M.C.
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13,423
Elisha Barns
Private 2 years
adm'd
$80
J. M. Harper HR
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13,423
BRIEF in the case of Elisha Barns of Merrimack Cy in the State of N.H.
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? [blank]
3. How old is he? 76 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
[column headings: Period.|Duration of Service.(Years, Months, Days.)|Rank. As a|Names of Generals and Field Officers under whom he served. Gen.]
last of Apl '75|([blank]|8|[blank])|Substitute|Capt. Barnes-Col. Ward|
at end of above term|([blank]|4|[blank])|private|Capt. Gates do|
1 June '76|([blank]|6|[blank])| " | -do- Col. Reed|
Dec 76|([blank]|4|[blank])| " |Capt. Brooks-Col. Fisk|
Aug't 78|([blank]|3|[blank])| " |Capt Bowman -- |
[end of columns]
5. In what battles was he engaged? none ment'd
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Marlborough Mass & Henniker NH
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? no Clergy's certificate - no witnesses - Tradition only
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? papers not properly authenticated
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
/s/W. C. Easton
Examining Clerk. 
12 Feby 1843
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12975
Rev War INVALID. [initials: own]
File No. 12,975
Elisha Barns
Priv Rev. war
Act: June 7th 1832
Index: - Vol. [blank], Page [blank]
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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13,423
Elisha Barns
J. M. Harper HR
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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 Elisha Barns 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? [blank] 
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? 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 amount of pension he is entitled? Yes 
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes 
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the other under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes 
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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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? no
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? Yes 
XIV. +If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? [blank]
If he has produced direct proof as to service,  has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witnesses? [blank] 
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? [blank]
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? [blank] 
XVI. ↕Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? [blank]
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
*QUERE V. 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 than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For ______year______months, and______days______, I served as a______; and for such service I claim a pension.”
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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 papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which 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.