Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15737, Samuel Bass, Mass.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Mass.
Bass, Samuel 
Number
S.15737
Contents
Carded
Page 2

17.386

Vermont
Samuel Bass
of Randolph in the State of Vermont
who was a Sergent in the Company commanded
by Captain of the commanded
by  in the 
line for 8 months Massachusetts

Transcribed in the Roll of Vermont
at the rate of 40 Dollars 00 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of August 1833

J. K. Parish Randolph

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833    $80.00
Semi-amount allowance ending   20.00

     $100.0

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by W. L. Williams, Clerk,
Book Vol. 3 Page 53
Page 3

Samuel Bass 2nd Declaration

State of Vermont
District of Randolph. On this 10th day of June AD 1833 personnally affirmed in open court before the Honor the Probate Court now siting at Randolph in Orange County D. Samel Bass of Brandon in who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make this additional declaration in order to service the benefit of the act of June 7, 1832.

He states that he served the full 8 months in 1776 and 1777 as stated in his declaration August 10, 1832 as an orderly Sergt and during this said 8 months he was not employed in any civil and cannot state that he was under the command of any Colonel immediately in service. 

Jona Bass was Col. of militia, he also states that it is not in his power to furnish any particular evidence of service other than that of Seth Hunt herewith sent 

He was born in Braintree Mass in 1747. expects his age is recorded in town Clerks office also in the bible of of his father & Grand father, which are in his possession. He lived at Braintree Mass when called into service & during the Am Revolution in Braintree Ms. Volunteered when he entered into service, cannot be more particular about officer when he was out-- he never had a written discharge - in answer to the 1st question he refers to Rev. E Nichols Daniel Waite Jona Bass David Smith ---
Samuel Bass 

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Calvin Blodgett Judge 

We, Annie Nichols a Clergyman, residing in the town of Braintree and Jabez Smith residing in the same Braintree hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Bass who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him tdo be 86 years of age; that he is reputed and believd in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion 
Ann Nichols Minister 
Jabez Smith 

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Calvin Blodgett Judge
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No 4045 

[crossed out: I William Hebard Clerk for Register of the Court of Probate said do hereby certify that the foregoing contains original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of application of mind Bass for a pension & In testimony whereof I have in unto set my hand and seal this 10th day of June AD 1833 of Office]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed in the war Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Amie Nichols who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Braintree, and that Jabez Smith who has also signed the same is a resident in the same Braintree and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit
Calvin Blodgett Judge of Probate 

I William Hebard Clerk or Register of the Court aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Samuel Bass for a pension 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 10th day of June AD 1833 W Hebard Clerk or Register
Page 5

State of Vermont
District of Randolph on this 10th day of August AD 1832 personally appeared
in open court before the Hon the Probate Court for said district now
setting at Randolph in Orange County Dist. & State aforesaid being a Court
record Samuel Bass a resident of Brainton in said district County &
aged Eighty-five 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 U.S. in the Mass State Troops in the
spring of 1776 thinks in April,
for the term of eight months as an orderly
Sept in Capt. Isaac Thayers company.
he resided in the town of Brainton Mass 
when he enlisted & was born in said town of Brainton he was stationed 
at Nantucket & Dorchester Heights-- that he served the full
time of 8 months
He herby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity [illegible]
the present and declares that his name is not on the
Pension Roll of the agency of any State. 
Samuel Bass
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Frederick Griswold Judge of Probate
And the said Court is of the opinion that the above named
applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states.
I J.K. Parish Clerk an Reg of the Court of Probate aforesaid
do hereby
certify
that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Bass
for a pension
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand &
seal of office this 10th day of August 1832
J.K. Parish Clk or Reg
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[handwritten]
4045
Samuel Bass
Admitted
8 mos Sergt.
J K Parish
Randolph
Page 7

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
25 April 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned.
your case in a tabular form.
The following is a statement of
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 shew 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
claim.
A Statement, showing the service of Samuel Bass
Period when the service was rendered 
1776 & 7
Duration of the claimant's service
┃ 8 ┃[months]
Rank of
claimant.
Sergt
Names and rank of the Field officers
under whom he served.
Cannot State
Age at present,
and place of abode
when he entered
the service.
┃ 86
┃ Brainton Vt
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Seth Hunts Affidavit
& traditionary evidence
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant
J. L. EDWARDS.
Commissioner of Pensions.
Mr. Samuel Bass
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[printed]

2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia" and "volunteers, all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular
Four general
places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
classes of cases are embraced in this law:
The Regular Troops.
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 claim
ing the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians 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.
Sate in
County of
On this
day of
A. B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
of
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)
served in the
(e) regiment of the
with
line, under the following named officers:
and
Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he servunder
more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
of the Court of
do hereby 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 whereof, 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
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
and C.D. residing in (the same)
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
who has
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.
-
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
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 certifies, that it appears to them that A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
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
of office, 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 least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowl
ledge 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 service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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[printed]

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted
; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be exexpected
. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1
Where and in what year were you born?
2. ┃
Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is 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, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it giv-
6.
ren, and what has become of it?
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
To an officer, has become of it?
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 services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the 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, in 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 that 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 such 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.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure
, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will
low the rule laid down for his guidance.
The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
conforming to the rule.
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
rivery 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 clamant must state, 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. 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 . Formonths
and --- days, I served as a
-- and for such 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 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 that 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
tion. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement
where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent
thority; 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.
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no pubseal
of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving 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 other 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.
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 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 thee the witnesses
, and the official character and agnature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under the office.
The notes from to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
note Lil applies to continental troops only.
This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 10

December 1, 1939.

Nellie E. Thompson
727 East 23" Street
Paterson, New Jersey

BA-J/ady
Samuel Bass
S. 15737

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter relative to soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land based upon military service of soldiers in that war.

A careful search of the records fails to show such a claim on file on account of the services of any Timothy Bayliss, all spellings of the names searched.

The record of the only Samuel Bass of Vermont that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office is furnished you herein as found in the papers on file in pension claim, S. 15737, based upon his military service in that war.

Samuel Bass was born in Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, 1in 1747, day, month and names of his parents are not shown.

While a resident of Braintree, Massachusetts, Samuel Bass enlisted in April 1776, and served eight months as orderly sergeant in Captain Isaac Thayer's Massachusetts Company.

He was allowed pension on his applicatino executed August 10, 1832, at which time he was living in Braintree, Randolph District, Orange County, Vermont.

In 1832 Johnathan Bass was a Justice of the Peace for Orange County, Vermont, his age and relationship not stated. There are no further family data.
Page 11

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of persons paid and possibly the death date of soldier, you should apply to the Comptroller General, General Acounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., and cite the following data: Samuel Bass, Certificate No. 17386, issued August 20, 1833, rate $40.00 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Vermont Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 12

Mass.

Bass, Samuel

S. 15737

Carded
Page 13

I Samuel Bass of Braintree in the County of Orange
and State of Vermont do  this testify and say that in the
year 1776 some time in the spring I think in the month
of April I enlisted into Captain Isaac Thayson Company
of the Massachusetts State troops for the term of eight
months as an Orderly Seargent and did the duty of
Orderly Sargent in said Company for the term of eight
months, the service performed by said Company was
to watch the shores, we were stationed first at the
North
parish in Braintree now called Quincy, then
at Nantucket and then at Dorcester
Heights [crossed out line]
the service was performed at those
three places and in the vicinity on the shores
State of Vermont
Secretary of States office
Montpelier Augt. 13. 1832
I hereby certify that Jonathan Bass is
Justice of the Peace within & for the County
of Orange in said State & to his acts
and attestations as such, full faith &
credit ought to be given.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of office this 13th
day of August AD 1832-
Timothy Merrill
Secretary of State

Samuel Blass
Page 14

I Seth Hunt of Braintree in the County of Orange & State of Vermont, aged 71 years, testify & say that I am well acquainted with Samuel Bass formerly of Braintree in the County of Norfolk & State of Massachusetts now of Braintree in Orange County & State of Vermont, and I was knowing of his serving in the War of the Revolution in the Massachusetts State troops in Capt. Isaac Thayers Company I think he was the Orderly Sargent in said Thayers Company it was in the year 1776 that he served in said Company as I now recollect and the term of Service eight Months, the seven was performed on the Shores we were stationed at the North parish in Braintree Nantucket and Dorchester Heights and further the Deponent saith not
Seth Hunt

State of Vermont ⎬
Orange County ⎬ ss
Braintree August 8th 1832.
Personally appeared Seth Hunt signer of the foregoing Affidavit and made oath to the truth of 
Before me Jonathan Bass Justice of the Peace
Braintree August 8th 1832
Thereby certify that Seth Hunt the above Deponent is considered a man of truth and veracity in the place where he resides
Jonathan Bass Justice Peace
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[stamp on top of text]
[ILLEGIBLE]
NOV 16 1939
MAIL SUB-DIV.
Reader No.
VETS ADM

Paterson, N.J.
727 E. 23rd St.
Nov. 14 1939.
Pension Bureau
Revolutionary Vets
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir,
From a D.A.R. record I
find the name Samuel Base
(1750-1828). His first
wife is given as Elizabeth
Brackett; his second as
Abigail Baylies.
Are those facts correct?
If so, I need material
showing the name, or
names of the issue
of Abigail Baylies & Samuel Bass,
dates & places of birth.
Some how, I feel Abigail Baylies
married a younger Mr Bass,
& perhaps the D.A.R. record is incorrect.
You can help me
Page 16

with this problem know,
because those people
lived so long ago
in Vermont.
Yours,
Nellie E. Thompson.
Item 2 -
May I also have family
genealogical material
for Timothy Baylies (1763-1853)?
He served in Capt. Benj. Reed's
company; Col. John Rand's
Mass. Regt - He was born in Uxbridge,
Mass.; also lived in Vermont; 
died in Darien, N.Y
My mother belonged to the same
large Bayler family. I'd
like you to send names,
dates, places. etc, to help me
with my family book
N. E. Thompson