Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1,111, John Boynton, N.H.
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SERVICE  N.H.

Boynton, John

NUMBER  R.1,111
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I am acquainted with the within named  John Boynton and believe him to  be a man of truth and have heard him reputed a soldier of the revolution 
[signed] Geo. Grennell Jr  M.C
Washington Dec 25 1833

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss.  On this 17th day of December A.D. 1833 in open Court before the Court of Probate now sitting at Greenfield within & for said County of Franklin
I John Boynton signer of the within application for a pension do on this seventeenth day of December A.D. 1833 in open Court as aforesaid make the following additional declaration for the purpose of obtaining a pension; and depose and say, that by reason of old age, the lapse of time, and the consequent loss of memory, I cannot swear positively as to the precise length of my service, but according to the best of my recollection I served not less than six months in the whole time.  I served three months at the two separate periods mentioned in the body of my within declaration, and I did the duty of fife major (not having commission) for the whole time of said six months. And for such service I claim a pension. I further depose and say, that I can not recollect the names of my Colonel and superior officers. But it is my belief that either Col. Coffin, Col. Mead or Col. Barrett was colonel the Regt. to which our company was attached. I can not tell which of them was our colonel.  From the confusion of the times and the constant alarms, I do not know that I ever distinctly understood the name of our colonel and our other Regimental officers except our major whose name was Peabody.   
At this present time I do not know of any living witness by whom I can prove my services, and I have no documentary evidence of my services. I was born in East Windsor Ct. the 4th day of June A.D. 1754.  I have no record of my age, it was burnt, at the time my house was burnt. I would refer the department to Dr. Alpheus F. Stone, Hon. Richard E. Newcomb, Elijah Alvord Esq and Hon. Geo. Grennel Jr. persons to whom I am known in my present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to my character for veracity and their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution. I would again state that I performed the service aforesaid in the New Hampshire State line, and that I believe my name will appear on the New Hampshire Rolls in the War Office.
There is no minister in Greenfield sufficiently acquainted with me, to make a certificate for me, two of them being recently, within about one year, been settled in town. And I live in a remote part of the town, and have little or no intercourse with the public being old & feeble.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid [signed] John Boynton
[and] R. E. Newcomb Judge of Probate

We Alpheus F. Stone a practicing physician and William Grennel  both residing in Greenfield aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted John  Boynton who has subscribed & sworn to the above declarations; that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the 
neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution  and that we concur in that opinion 
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
[signed] Alpheus F. Stone  [and] William Grennel [and] R, E, Newcomb  Judge of Probate

[along left edge] Greenfield

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 Alpheus F. Stone and William Grinnell who have respectively signed the preceding certificate are residents in said town of Greenfield and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to full credit. And that the reason of the said applicants not producing a clergyman to attest to his reputation and tradition of his services is truly stated in the above supplementary declaration.
[signed] R. E. Newcomb Judge of Probate

[upside down] John Boyton
[along lower right edge]  Hon. Wm. Grennel
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I Elijah Alvord Register of said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of the said John Boyington (supplementary to his original declaration) for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court this Seventeenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
[signed] E. Alvord Reg. Prob
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
FRANKLIN COUNTY SS.
ON THIS twenty ninth day of August A. D. 1832, at a Probate Court personally appeared in open Court, before the Hon. Richard E. Newcomb of Probate Court of the said County in the said Commonwealth, now sitting at Greenfield within and for the said County of Franklin John Boynton a resident of Greenfield in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy eight years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of an 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.
I first entered the service of the United States in the fore part of April A.D. 1777 - I can not tell the day - as a volunteer in the New Hampshire State service.  I resided at this time in Gilsum in the County of Cheshire. & State of New Hampshire. The officers of our company were Capt. Elisha Mack & Richardson was our Lt. in first place & then Lt. Field.  We marched from said Gilsum to No. 4 Charleston N.H. thence to Picket Fort in Rutland Vt. thence to Ticonderoga, where we Staid some time. Genl St. Clair had the command at Ticonderoga.   The Fort Ticonderoga was evacuated by us and we retreated but we were pursued by the enemy to Castleton Vt. when the rear of our army had an engagement with the enemy. Our retreat became general and our army broke & scattered in every direction. I recollect of seeing on our retreat Colonel Warner - Our army being scattered abroad I  with others returned home; After having performed a service as a soldier of the revolution of a few days over three months.  After remaining at home about two weeks, I again in the month of July A.D. 1777, I  think, volunteered as a soldier of the revolution in the New Hampshire state service, and served something more than three months.  I went from said Gilsum where I then resided to Manchester Vt. thence to Bennington under command of the same Capt. Mack & Lt. Field. I was present at the battle of Bennington under Genl Stark. After the battle we marched directly down to Stillwater under General Stark, when we had another battle. I was present when General Burgoyne surrendered[,]  his whole army prisioners [sic] of war. After which I was dismissed and returned home in November following after performing the service last above stated of something more than three months.  I was a fife Major in the service.  I had a written discharge, but it was burnt about twenty years ago when my house was burnt. My name will be [illegible] on the N.H. roll & Militia of Mass.

He 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.
[signed] John Boynton
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[signed]R E Newcomb  Judge of Probate

[The following section is not filled in]
WE,___residing in___hereby certify that we are well acquainted with___who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be___ 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 day and year aforesaid.

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 - crossed out] 
[signed] R. E. Newcomb  Judge of Probate

I, ELIJAH ALVORD Register of the said Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Boyington for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, this 29th day of August in the year of our LORD one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
[signed] E. Alvord Reg. Prob
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February 6, 1937.
BA-J/ ady
R. 1111
John Boynton
Mr. Ralph M. Stoughton
R. F. D. Gill,
Turners Falls, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter relative to John Boyington, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The data contained herein were obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim, for pension, R. 1111, based upon the military service of John Boynton in that war.

John Boynton was born June 4, 1754 in East Windsor, Connecticut. The names of his parents are not shown.

He applied for pension August 29, 1832 while a resident of Greenfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, and stated that while a resident of Gilsum, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, he enlisted in April 1777 and served over three months as a fife major in Captain Elisha Mack's New Hampshire Company; that he enlisted in July 1777, served over three months as a fife major in Captain Elisha Mack's New Hampshire Company and was in the battles of Bennington and Stillwater.

His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of six months military service as required by the pension laws.

There are no family data.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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John Boynton
Massachusetts
Act June 7, 1832
Rejected vide
Letter to Hon Geo. Grennell 26th Decr 1833
Act June 7 1832
1111
Massachusetts
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June 10. 1897
History to Mr James Kerr, Clearfield, Pa.
1931 Feb. 2. Hist. to Mrs O. C. Peterson, a.d.y.
1937 Feb 6. Hist. to Ralph M. Stoughton a.d.y

Ex'r.
INVALID.
1111
John Boynton
service:  N.H.
[the rest of the form is blank]

[along right side] REJECTED
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John Boynton
28951
Massachusetts
On Roll Capt Macks Compy 
enlisted 28 June 1777 & served 13 days 
as Fifer to Capt Macks Company 
enlisted 22 Sept 1777 & served 2 mos & 1 day 
as Fifer


Hon Grennell
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 John Boynton, 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? No

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? No

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
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[Page] 2

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? No

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

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in 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? Yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 1, 2, 7.

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 _______, For _____months and _____days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.”
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[page] 3

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 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 services 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 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 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. 
  [hand symbol pointing]  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.
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"The Lodge" Maxwell Court, Rockville, Conn. January 10, 1931
The Pension Office, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sirs:
In tracing my lineal descent from John Boyington, I find in the History of Greenfield, Mass. VII by Francis M. Thompson, that in writing of John Boyington he makes this statement  "Boyington was a Revolutionary Pensioner." I also find in old records in Greenfield Mass. that he came there from Lunenburg Mass. and
acquired land in 1790. His name was spelled Boyington, Byington Boyionton. Could you give me his War Record?
I will enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Should there be other expense kindly inform me.
Thanking you for your trouble I am
Sincerely yours
[signed] (Mrs. O.C.) Grace E. P. Peterson
"The Lodge" Maxwell Court, Rockville, Conn.
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[stamp]
OLD WAR & NAVY FILES
MAY 1 1897
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JAMES KERR.
CLEARFIELD, PA.
April 24, 1897   -   B
Hon. H. C. Evans,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
My dear Sir:
I am anxious to know as to the pension record of John Boyton, if the same is enrolled in the Pension Office. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and enlisted from Vermont.
Will you kindly give me a copy of his record if the same exist in the Pension Office, and oblige,
Yours very respectfully,
[signed] James Kerr
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[stamp]
RECEIVED JAN 27 1937

Gill,
Massachusetts,
26 January 1937.

Veterans Bureau.
Washington, D. C.

According to an entry in the records of Saint James Episcopal Church in Greenfield,
Massachusetts, John Boyington, a Revolutionary War pensioner, died January 28, 1842, aged 87 years.
Will you please send me the personal data concerning the above pensioner contained
in the pension files, for which information, I beg to thank you.
Yours truly,
[signed] Ralph M. Stoughton


Address:
Ralph M. Stoughton,
R. F. D. Gill,
Turners Falls, Mass.
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February 2, 1931.
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section. ADY

Mrs. O. C. Peterson,
"The Lodge " Maxwell Court,
Rockville, Connecticut.

Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R.1111, that John Boynton was born June 4, 1754 in East Windsor, Connecticut.
He applied for pension August 29, 1832 while a resident of Greenfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, and stated that while a resident of Gilsum, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, he enlisted in April 1777 and served over three months as a fife major at in Captain Elisha Mack's New Hampshire Company; that he enlisted in July 1777, served over three months as a fife major in Captain Elisha Mack's New Hampshire Company and was in the battles of Bennington and Stillwater.
His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of six months military service as required by the pension laws.
There are no family data.
Very truly yours,
E. W. MORGAN,
Acting Commissioner.
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Rej. 1111.
June 26, 1897.
Sir: Replying to your request for information concerning John Boynton, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you are advised that he made an application for pension on August 2[3?], 1832, at which time he was 78 years of age and residing at Greenfield, Mass.  In his application for pension he alleges that in April, 1777, while residing in Cheshire County, N.H. he enlisted in a company of New Hampshire troops commanded by Capt. Mack and served a tour of duty of three months; that he again enlisted in July, 1777 and served mother tour of duty under Capt. Mack.  His claim was rejected however on the ground that he did not serve six months as required by the Act of June 7, 1832, under which the claim was filed.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

[Mr.?] James Kerr,
Clearfield, Pa.