Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,572, Jonathan Adams, Mass.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Mass. [Massachusetts]
Adams, Jonathan
NUMBER
S29.572

CONTENTS
B [Born] in Braintree (Quincy) Mass.  Nov. 27, 1752
Res [Resident] at enl [enlistment] & [and] in 1832, Holliston, Middlesex Co. [County] Mass.
Page 2

21.316
Massachusetts

Jonathan Adams of Middlesex in the State of Mass. who was a Corporal in the Company commanded by Captain Miller of the Rgt [Regiment] commanded by Col Doolittle in the Mass. line for 14 days Private
11 mos [months] Corporal
[illegible initials]

Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 41- Dollars-89- Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of Sept. 1833 and sent Isaac Fiske Esq Cambridge Mass. 

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833
$103.95
Semi-anl. [Semi-annual] allowance ending
4 Mar 34 20. 17
[total] $124.12

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832. 

Recorded by D.D. Addison Clerk,
Book E  Vol.  2   Page 2
Page 3

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex ss.  At a Probate Court Framingham
On this twenty ninth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court, before the Honourable [Honorable] Judge of the Court of Probate, in and for the County of Middlesex aforesaid, now sitting, Jonathan Adams a resident of Holliston in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, aged seventy nine years, Nov.  27th 1831 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, A. D. 1832: That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: 

He was a minute man in the company of Capt. John Leland of Holliston on the 19th of April 1775. Saml [Samuel] Burbank was lieutenant and Oliver [illegible] [illegible] on that day about noon the news of Concord fight arrived and the company was instantly mustered and  they marched that night- stayed that night at Newton and arrived the next day at Cambridge, where the company was stationed. In a few days after enlisting for eight months into the Continental Service under the same officers, shortly after Bunker hill battle Capt.  Leland left the service and Capt. Jacob Mil [Miller] took command of the company. Before the eight months had expired Capt. Miller was promoted to a Major and Lieutenant Burbank was made Captain. He served out his term of eight months and he enlisted or engaged for another month to work as a carpenter on the barracks at Winter hill in Charlestown-- after that service was ended he went home-- of this last month he has no evidence as his company were dismissed and went home at the end of the eight months service and he cannot find any person living who remembers it-- the regiment to which Capt. Leland's company belonged was commanded by Col. Doolittle, the Lieut. Colonel's name was Holden ---

In the [1778 crossed out] last part of the year 1777 enlisted into a company commanded by Capt. Saml. {Samuel] Burbank of Holliston, for three months to go to Rhode Island, and in the beginning of the year 1778, he marched with said company to North Kingston and was stationed there or in that neighborhood to protect the inhabitants in that coast and the company was billetted in houses along
Shore in squads ---  our company belonged to the Regt. of Col. Abner Perry also of Holliston, Asa Bullard of Sturbridge and Oliver
Leland of Holliston, whose affidavits are annexed, were members the same company and are yet living - the applicant served 
as a corporal in both his tours of service and  served out his full tour

In answer to interrogatories, he answers that he was born in Braintree in that part now Quincy the 27th Nov. in 17 [remainder of year is illegible] supposes there is a record of his age in that town but does not know-- lived in
that town till about the age of 16 moved to Holliston and has lived there since the year 1769 or '70 [1770]. He enlisted into the service as stated and remembers no more about officers or his services than he has stated.
Does not know that he ever received a discharge. He is well known to the citizens of Holliston, among others to Elias Bullard Esq.   John Fairbanks both of Hollister to Timothy Leland of Holliston and to Josiah Adams Esquire

[continues on next page]
Page 4

[continued from previous page]
of Framingham. He is known also to Isaac Smith who was a member of the same company with him during the eight
months service whose affidavit is annexed-

He further states, that there is now no clergyman in the town of Holliston -

He also states what he omitted
in the rights place, that upon an alarm in July 1780 he belonged to Capt. Chamberlain's company of militia which was ordered to Rhode Island, he marched with said company  to some place in Rhode Island and was absent as he believes 14 days when the company returned-- Another Company in Holliston under Capt.  Ezra [James?] went on the [illegible] 
Service- [struck through text illegible]
They were in the Regiment of Col. Abner Perry

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state, 
Jonathan Adams 

We, John Fairbanks there being no clergyman, residing in the town of Holliston and Isaac Smith and Timothy Leland all residing in Holliston, hereby certify, that we are well
acquainted with Jonathan Adams -- who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; -- that we believe him to be eighty
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
John Fairbanks [,] Timothy Leland [,] Isaac Smith
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Y.P.P. Fay J Prob [Judge Probate]

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 further certify, that it appears to them that John Fairbanks [,] Timothy Leland [,] and Isaac Smith who have signed the preceding certificate, ["is a clergyman" is marked through] are resident in Holliston
--- and that they are ["who has also signed the same, is a resident in and is a" marked through] credible persons; and that their statement is entitled to credit. and that there is at this time no settled clergyman in said town
Y.P.P. Fay J Prob [Judge Probate]

I Isaac Fiske Register of the Court of
Probate in and for the County of Middlesex, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jonathan Adams for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office of on the day and year first aforesaid.
Isaac Fiske
{evidence of paper seal with ribbon in scan]
Page 5

I Oliver Leland of Holliston in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Yeoman, do hereby 
certify and declare that Jonathan Adams of said Holliston. Gentlemen, in the beginning of the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight the said Adams being then an Inhabitant of said Holliston inlisted [enlisted] into the Militia Company commanded by Capt. Burbank and marched from Holliston aforesaid to Providence in the State of Rhode Island and thence to North Kingston, and the said Adams served in said Company three months guarding the shores, during all of which time I [,] the said Leland [,] was in said Company with said Adams and that he was regularly dismissed, and that said Adams served during all said time as Corporal in said Company
Oliver Leland

Middlesex SS. [silicet]
August 11th A.D. 1832 
Then personally appeared the above named Oliver Leland and made Solemn Oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me
Elias Willard Justice of the Peace
Middlesex S.s. Commonwealth of Massachusetts

I Isaac Fiske Register of the Court of Probate
in and for the County of Middlesex I hereby certify that Elias Bullard whose genuine signature is set to the above certificate and  also to the Certificate on his deposition of Isaac Smith and Asa Ballard hereto [ammend?], is a Justice of the Peace within said County.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty ninth
day of August AD 1832
Isaac Fiske

Middlesex SS May AD 1833. I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Oliver Leland that he is a creditable person and entitled to relief in his statements
Elias Ballard Justice of the Peace

[artifact of paper seal left of certifications]
Page 6

I Asa Bullard of Sturbridge of in the County of Worcester [illegible capitalized word] - hereby certify that Jonathan Adams of Holliston in the County of Middlesex Gentleman in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred and seventy eight then being an Inhabitant of said Holliston, enlisted into the Militia Company commanded by Capt. Burbank and then marched to North Kingston in the State of Rhode Island and served in said Company three months guarding the shores and also in the year seventeen hundred seventy five, the said Adams enlisted in the minute Company commanded by Capt. John Leland and on the nineteenth day of April in the said year marched to Cambridge in said County of Middlesex, and there afterwards immediately enlisted under him the said Leland for the term of eight months, in the regiment commanded by Col.  Doolittle and served until the term of enlistment expired, and was then duly dismissed; as nearly as I can recollect from the lapse of time since-
Asa Bullard

Middlesex SS. [Scilicet] July 28, 1832 Then personally appeared the above Asa Bullard named as aforesaid and Solemn Oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me - Elias Bullard, Justice of the Peace

Middlesex SS. [Scilicet] May 21. AD 1833. I hereby certify that I am acquainted with the above named Asa Bullard that he is a creditable person and his statements entitled to relief 
Elias Ballard Justice of the Peace
Page 7

I Isaac Smith of Holliston in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Yeoman do hereby testify
and say that Jonathan Adams of said Holliston, Gentleman, in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred and seventy five, the said Adams then being an Inhabitant of said Holliston, enlisted into the minute Company commanded by Capt. John Leland and on the nineteenth day of April in said year marched from Holliston aforesaid to Cambridge in said County, and there afterwards immediately enlisted under him the said Leland for the term of eight months, in the regiment commanded by Col.  Doolittle and served as a Corporal in said Company until his term of enlistment expired when he was duly dismissed-
Isaac
Smith

Middlesex S.S. [Scilicet] August 23d AD. 1832 then personally appeared the above named Isaac Smith and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me
Elias Bullard Justice of the Peace

Middlesex S.S. [Scilicet] May 21. A.D. 1833. I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Isaac Smith that he is a creditable person and his statements entitled 
to relief-
Elias Bullard Justice of the Peace
Page 8

7370 [7376?]
Jonathan Adams
Corporal     11 months
Private        16 days
                   11-16 days
16.1606 [?]
May 9 1833

P. 386

Isaac Fiske
East Cambridge Mass.
Page 9

9376
Brief in the case of Jonathan Adams 
of Middlesex Ss [Scilicet] in the State of Mass [Massachusetts]
(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?  79

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[Table has the following columns: Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Following transcription is by rows across columns.]

[first row] Period. 19 Apr [April] 75 [1775] a few days after enlisted. Years, [blank]  Months, 8  Days, [blank].  Rank. As a minuteman Corporal. 
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Capt. Leland Capt. Miller  Capt. Burbank  Col. Doolittle

[2nd row] Period. afterwards. Years [blank] Months, 1 [crossed out with slash], Days, [blank]. Rank. As a carpenter. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.  [blank]

[3rd row] Period. last part of '77 [1777]. Years, [blank] Months, 3  Days, [blank]. Rank. Corporal. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Capt. Burbank, Col.  Perry.

[4th row] Period. 1780 in an alarm went to Rhode Island.  Years, [blank]  Months, [blank] Days, believes 14. Rank. private. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Capt. Chamberlain-- do [ditto reference to Colonel Perry from 3rd row]
[end table]

5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Holliston

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  3 living witnesses

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.
W.C. Easton
Examining Clerk.
16 Feb. 1833
Page 10

Rev. War Section.
Sept. 6, 1932.

Hon.  George H. Tinkham,
House of Representatives.

In re; Jonathan Adams- War of Revolution, 
S. 29572

You are advised in behalf of Mr. George F. Partridge, of 48 St. John St., Jamaica Plains, Mass. whose letter is herewith returned, that from the papers in the pension claim, S. 39573, it appears that Jonathan Adams was born at Braintree, Mass. November 27,  1752, and while living at Holliston, Mass., belonged to Capt. John Leland's Company of Minutemen which marched to Cambridge after the alarm on April 19, 1775, where he enlisted a few days later and served for eight months under Captains John Leland and Jacob Miller, in Col.  Doolittle's Regiment. He then served one month as a carpenter in the barracks at Winter Hill. He also served three months, late in 1777, in Capt. Samuel Burbank's Company, Col. Abner Perry's Regiment, and in July
1780, for fourteen days in Capt. Chamberlin's Company.
Page 11

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 28, 1832, while living in Holliston, Mass. 
There is no data on file as to his family.

Owing to the great pressure of current work and the lack of a clerical force available for such a purpose, this Bureau had not yet been able to take up for consideration the letter of Mr. Partridge, dated August 3, 1922.
Very truly yours,
Washington Gardner
Commissioner.
Page 12

[upper left of document]
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES U.S.
PUBLIC DOCUMENT.
FREE.

[main portion of document]
George Holden Tinkham
Sept. 5, 1922.
[postmark] 
SEP 6 1922
U. S. Pension Office M
[end postmark]

REFERRED TO
Commnr. [Commissioner] of Pensions
For Information, Compliance and Return
George Holden Tinkham, M.

[bottom right of document]
BOSTON, MASS.
Page 13

29.572
[Rey?] INVALID.

File No. [Number] 29,572
Jonathan Adams
Corp. Rev. War

Act: June 7th 32 [1832
Index: -- Vol. 2, Page 3

[in brackets] Arrangement of 1870.

1922 Sept. 6. Sent to Hon. G.H. Tinkham [illegible]
Page 14

9376
Jonathan Adams
Sherber
---
[appear to be monetary calculations]
33--
 7.53
_______
40.53

       44
          3.67

40.33
  1.56
________
41.89
[times] 2
________
83.78
20.17
________
105.95


Isaac Fiske
East Cambridge
Mass.
[illegible] [illegible]
Page 15

[page 1 of 3]
B R I E F objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Jonathan Adams 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? [scroll indicating blank]

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  Yes

V. *[See footnote at the bottom of page 2] 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 [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 one 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

[page 1 of 2]
Page 16

[page] 2 [of 3 pages]

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?  Yes

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? [scroll indicating answer is blank]

XIV. [single dagger] 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?  Yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? No
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? Yes

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?  Yes

XVI. [double dagger symbol] Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  No

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.
*[Footnote for asterisk before Question V on first page of this document.}
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, etc.
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 __________________ For _______ months and ________ days, I served as a ______________; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 17

[page] 3 [of 3 pages]

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 [start italics] about three or four months [end italics] 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, etc., 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 [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 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.

[single dagger symbol referencing Question XIV on page 2 of this document] 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.

[double dagger symbol referring question XVI on page 2 of this document] 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.

[Pointing hand, or manicule]  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.
Page 18

Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir:
Will you please send me a statement of the 
military service of my great grand father Jonathan Adams of Holliston or Midway (Norfolk
Co.) Mass. for which he received a U.S. Pension?
He died in 1849.
Respectfully
Geo. [George] J. Partridge
48 St. John St [Saint John Street]
Boston 30
Mass. 

[Postmark bottom left] 
U.S. Pension Office F
Aug 8 1922

Answered to Hon [Honorable] G. H. Tinkham
Page 19

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51-
12-5-41
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
Archives
Division of Veterans' Administration
NAME Adams Jonathan 
GRADE Private in Moylan's Dragoons
LINE Pennsylvania

WARRANT NUMBER  8904
ACREAGE  100
ISSUED  January 28, 179- (torn)
To _____not shown---

also 
B.L. Wt. 301-60-55

* [Referencing the title of the card] 
[begin italic] The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.
Page 20

Conn
[small stamp of solid star in white pentagon on top of black square]

Adams, Joseph 
B.L. Reg. 1268665
Revolutionary War

1776 THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
BOUNTY LAND FEES 

ACT of 1855 [appears to be 'Rejected' but what would be the second 'e' has a dot over it to imply an 'i'] At 268665

VETERAN  Joseph Adams

GRADE  private

SERVICE  Capt. Wylis Clift
Conn Hill

CAN NO. 1795   BUNDLE NO  188
Page 21

268.665
Act Mar. [March] 3, '52 [1852?]

Rebecca Adams, wid. [widow]
Joseph Adams. pri. [private]
Capt. Wyllis Clift
Col. Durkee
[Comm.?] Ma.
Revy [Revolutionary] War.

[Vt?] {Sns?} Feb 53
Special, by Chief Clerk
S. Cole.  Feb 14, '57 [1857]
C.C
L. G. Brandebury
Present.
Page 22

Rebecca Adams
widow of Joseph Adams [illegible]
Application for Bounty Land
268.665
For proof of Marriage, death
of the husband continued widowhood of the applicant to the Comm [Commissioner] of Pensions is respectfully referred  to the application on file for a Pension.
L. G. Brandebury
Present.
Page 23

APPLICATION OF A WIDOW WHO HAS HAD A WARRANT.
STATE OF Vermont
COUNTY OF Grand Isle

On this twentieth day of January A.D., 1857 [form printed as 1855 but overwritten as 1857], personally appeared before me, a Justice of the peace, within and for the County and State, aforesaid Rebecca Adams aged seventy seven years, a resident of the County of Clinton
in the State of New York-- who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the
widow of Joseph Adams deceased, who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Wyllis [Willis?] Clift, she thinks in the Connecticut Regiment of [blank] militia, commanded by Col. Durkee, Huntington's Brigade in the Revolutionary War; that she was married to the said Joseph Adam on the 22nd of July in the year 1824 -that her maiden name was Rebecca Hyde that her said husband died in the year 1835- and that she is now a widow.

[Following text is marked out:] For the proof of these facts she refers to her application for Bounty Land under Act of September 28, 1850, upon which she has obtained a land warrant for [blank] acres, No. [blank] which she has legally disposed of and cannot now return. [end marked out text]

She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the additional bounty land to which she may be entitled under Act of March 3rd, 1855, never having received nor applied for bounty land under this or any other Act of Congress except as above stated and appointed L.G. Brandbury her attorney
to prosecute her claim receive her warrant
sign-  Rebecca Adams L.S. [Locus Sigilli,]

AFFIDAVIT OF TWO WITNESSES.
Personally came Samuel Adams and Elijah Haynes and residents of the County of Gran-Isle in the State aforesaid, who upon oath declare, that they are personally well acquainted with Mrs. Rebecca
Adams -- and saw her sign (or make her mark to) the foregoing declaration, that they know her to be the identical person therein represented, and that she is [illegible].
sign  Samuel Adams L.S.[Locus Sigilli]
sign Elijah Haynes L.S. [Locus Sigilli]

State of Vermont
Grand Isle County
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me, this twentieth day of January A. D. 1857; and I certify that I believe the claimant to be the identical person she represents herself to be, that the witnesses are credible persons, and that I have no interest in this claim.
Nelson S Hill J. P. [Justice of the Peace]

STATE OF Vermont
COUNTY of Grand Isle
I hereby certify that Nelson S Hill Esq., before whom the foregoing declaration
[illegible- covered by faint stamp] is and was, at the time of taking the same, an acting justice of the peace within and
[illegible- covered by faint stamp] to aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that his signature above is genuine. In testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office, this 20th day of January 1857.
---
Jed P. Ladd
Clerk.