Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29953, for Nathan Knowlton, Massachusetts
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Service  Mass.
Knowlton, Nathan
NUMBER  S. 29953
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[no image]
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss.
On this thirtieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable Judge of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Middlesex aforesaid, now sitting, Nathan Knowlton a resident of Framingham in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy two years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following named officers, and served as herein stated:  In the month of August 1777 I enlisted to serve for three month in the Massachusetts militia as a musician on Samuel Bullard, Colonel, - Joseph Winch was my captain Fisk of Hopkinton was first Lieutenant and Abel Fisk of Natick was 2nd Lieut  _ I was marched to the neighborhood of Ticonderoga and thence to the North river in N. York to take General Burgoyne, and I was present at his surrender - I was engaged I served three months and  twenty one days in this expedition

In 1778 --I think in the month of April I enlisted for three months in the service of the Massachussetts militia and served six weeks of the time in Cambridge, where I was stationed - near Boston - The officers were all strangers to me and I cannot be positive of their names - The Capt. of my company came from a place called Squiretown 
He had an odd name that I cannot recollect - I was employed in [paragraph ends]

In the same year I enlisted in the militia of Massachusetts for three months years I enlisted in the militia of Massachusetts and marched to Albany - and Cranston was Captain of my company - I cannot recollect the names of the other officers of the Company or regiment.  I served in this tour three months. Our troops were inactive there and did no other duty than to high ground -

In 1779, I was hired as a substitute for Jesse Lovering of Holliston who was drafted in the militia Service of  Massachuesetts, I was marched to Rhode Island in the spring of that year I served six weeks under Thomas Mellen of Holliston, Major Amos Perry Captain of my company but I do not recollect the other officers names- I was stationed at [end of paragraph]

In October 1779 I enlisted in the Massachusetts militia service was marched to Castle Island [end of image]
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as a private soldier- near Boston - I served there one month and was employed in procuring turf  said repairing the fort on the Island - We had not much discipline and I do not recollect the names of the officers that were there - In my said tour
service at Albany was wounded by a musket ball  above my knee I bear the mark of the wound still - this was near Lake George landing in a skirmish in which we took five hundred prisoners, British & Canadians
I was born in Holliston in the County of Middlesex in 1760 -
The record of my age 
When called into the service I lived in [illegible] -
since the revolutionary war I have lived in said Framingham & in Hopkinton an adjoining to.
and now live in Framingham -
entered the service as a volunteer & as princess [p?] except when I served for Lavering as a substitute
I never received any written discharge
I am personally acquainted with Col. David Brew.
Jana Maynard esquire Joel Coolidge and
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 any state,
Sworn Subscribed the
day & year aforesaid Nathan Knowlton
We, Charles Fram and [illegible] a clergyman, residing in the town of Framingham
and William Buckminster residing in said Framingham hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Nathan Knowlton who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; -that we believe him to be seventy two years of age; that he is reputed and found in the neighborhood [illegible] to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Charles Train of Bennington
A. P. Pray J Prob
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 Charles Train who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in said Framingham and that Josiah [illegible] she 
who has also signed the same, is a resident in said Framingham and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
L. P. P. Pay JProb
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 Nathan Knowlton for a
pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Isaac Fiske Reg
I also certify that Elias Bullard & William Buckminster whose own proper signatures are written to the papers hereby annexed are Justices of the Peace within said County of Middlesex -
Isaac Fiske thy
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Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
July 9, 1929
Mrs. T.F. Phillips
4427 Luverne Street
Duluth, Minnesota
Madam:
I advise you rom the papers in 
the Revolutionary War pension claim,
S. 29953, it appears that Nathan Knowlton
was born in 1760, at Holliston, Middlesex County Massachusetts. While reading at Holliston, Massachusetts, he enlisted and served with the Massachusetts Troops as follows:
From sometime in August 1777, three months
and twenty one days as a musician in Captain
Joseph Winch's Company, Colonel
Samuel Bullard's Regiment, was at the
surrender of General Burgoyne, and at Lake George Landing, where wounded
above the knee by a musket ball; from 
sometime in April, 1778, six weeks as
a private and guarded prisoners at
Cambridge, no officers given; from the 
spring of 1779, six weeks as a private in
Captain Amos Perry's Company,
under Major Thomas Mellen; from
sometime in October, 1779, one
month at Castle Island, officers not 
given; from sometime in
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November, 1779, six weeks as a private in Captain Cranston's Company.
After the Revolution he lived in Holliston, Massachusetts, in Framingham and Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and was a resident of Framingham, when he was allowed pension
on his application executed August 30, 1833.
There are no data as to his family.
Respectfully,
EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner.
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
3 -- 525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., 19___
In reply to your request of                   , received
                   for a statement of the military history of                     a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.  |  LENGTH OF SERVICE.  |  RANK.  |  OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  | STATE
-  |  -  |  -  |  CAPTAIN.   COLONEL  |  -
1 [illegible]  |  3 mo. 21 days  |  [illegible]  |  [illegible]  |  [illegible]
2 [illegible]  |  [illegible]  |  [illegible]  |  [illegible]  |  [illegible]
3 [illegible]  |  [illegible]  |  [illegible]  |  [illegible]  |  [illegible]
4 [illegible]  |  [illegible]  |  [illegible]  |  [illegible]  |  [illegible]
5 [illegible]  |  [illegible]  |  [illegible]  |  [illegible]  |  [illegible]
Battles engaged in, [illegible]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, [illegible]
Date of application for pension, [illegible]
Residence at date of application, [illegible]
Age at date of application, [illegible]
Remarks: [illegible]
Respectfully,
* [illegible]
Commissioner.
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I Oliver Leland of Holliston in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts yeoman do hereby certify and declare that Nathan Knowlton now of [illegible] Labourer in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and seventy nine, then being an Inhabitant of said Holliston enlisted into the service of the United States and in the last of August within the same
year, as near as I can recollect marched on
the Castle now called Fort Independence and performed service there two months under the command of the Officer of the Castle, whose name I do not now recollect, performing what was called Boat service on the sailing of seas from Dorchester point to the castle until he was regularly dismissed, and that I the said Leland was with the said Knowlton on said Castle during all this time performing the same service and was discharged about the last of October A.D. 1779 -
Oliver Leland

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex S.S. August 15 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 Bullard Justice of Peace
For certificate of credibility of Deponent, see the
next deposition.
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I Oliver Leland of Holliston in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy two years do testify and say that I was in the Army of the Revolution and that Nathan Knowlton was of Framingham in said County. on the first of August AD 1777 enlisted into the militia at said Holliston commanded by Capt Joseph March and the Regt commanded by Col Samuel [illegible] and marched from said Holliston to Bennington in state of Vermont, and 
from thence to Lake George Landing, and then to Lake George forty miles to Diamond Island, from there he returned to [illegible], from there to Lexington, there to Albany, then [illegible], from there to White Plains where he was discharged having served in said campaign a term of four months, and I further testify and say that the said Leland was with said Knowlton in said Company during the [illegible] said term of four months.
And I further testify and say that [illegible] on the fourth of December AD 1779[?] enlisted into the [illegible] company commanded by Captain [illegible] and marched from said Holliston to the State of New York and there remained for about Six weeks until I was dismissed, and that the said Leland enlisted with said Knowlton [illegible] and was with the [illegible] the whole of [illegible] about six weeks and further sayth not
Oliver Leland 

Commonwealth of Masachusetts
[illegible] 10 AD 1839 [illegible] personally
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[illegible] Oliver Leland who subscribed the
following Deposition before me [illegible] a Justice of the Peace within Bridgewater the County of Middlesex, and made solemn oath  that the [illegible] and true in all its particulars to be his [illegible] and [illegible] 
Elias Bullard
Middlesex ss October 24 1852 - I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the said Oliver Leland that he is a truth and justice a good moral character
Elias Bullard Justice of the Peace
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I Nathan Knowlton of Framingham make this further declaration in addition to my former our sworn to before the Hon Saml. P. P. Fay as to my services in the war of the revolution
In my first term of service I was a musician and enlisted & acted as such - I was with the troops 3 months & 21 days but I was absent from home on the expedition four full months.
I 1778 I was employed at Cambridge to guard the prisoners of war taken with Burgoyne - 
my term of service here was six weeks as
private soldier -
In 1777 I now recollect Reuben Eames was my Lieutenant at the Island - here I served six weeks
as a private soldier
I have no documentary evidence. I am personally acquainted with Wm Buckminster esqr of Framingham who witnessed my first
declaration. I know of no person living who
was with me during my service at Cambridge
six weeks in 1778 nor at Rhode Island in 1779
when I also served six weeks as a private Soldier
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At Castle Island in 1779 I served two months - I see it is written one month on my formal
declaration, but that was a mistake either of mine of the writers . - for I certainly served at that
time two months.
I served as a private in each tour except the first when I served as a musician
Nathan Knowlton
Middlesex ss.
June 20. 1833
Then the above named Nathan Knowlton personally appeared and made oath to the
truth of the above statement signed by him - he then said Knowlton being personally known to me & I hereby certify also that he the said Knowlton is a credible witness
Wm Buckminster
Just. of peace
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Please release
this letter will -
your reply

[two round stamps]
U.S.
PENSION
M
MAR
23
1917
OFFICE.

U.S.
PENSION
M
MAR
23
1917
OFFICE.
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Spirit Lake, Ia.
March 13, 1917.
Bureau of Pensions
Rev. Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Will you please send
certificates of pensions of
Daniel & Nathan Knowlton,
of Holliston, Massachusetts.
Respectfully,
Mrs. L. Quackenbush

[round stamp]
U. S.
PENSION
[illegible]
MAR
15
1917
OFFICE.
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according to Knowlton Genealogy
Nathan Knowlton was a Rev soldier
Pension No. 29953. He made application
Sep. 6, 1832 aged 72 years. Residence
Framingham, Mass. Service (actual)
as private 6 mos. 24 days, service as
Musician 3 mos. 20 days. Under Col.
Bullard and Capt. Urich, Enlisted
at Holliston Mass
I know nothing of pension certificates. 
These facts were found in
Knowlton Genealogy and thinking
I might obtain information enabling
me to become a D.A.R. wrote for
same to the Pension Bureau,
The Knowlton Genealogy also states,
"Daniel Knowlton, private, Holliston
Capt John Stone's Co. Oct. 27 - Nov. 23, 1777.
Discharged, Dec. 11, 1780, Served in Lexington Alarm Cambridge, defense
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of Northern Dept. and elsewhere."
Respectfully,
Mrs. L. Quackenbush
Spirit Lake, Ia.
Mar. 21, 1917.
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3--094. 23
6--3364 Cert Div.  E. A. W.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C., March 17 1917,
Respectfully returned to
Mrs. L. Quackenbush,
Spirit Lake, Iowa,
the enclosed letter with the request
that she endorse thereon the
soldier's full name and service, and
if possible, the certificate number
to enable the Bureau to identify the
claim to which she refers.
Also state if the pension certificate 
has been lost or destroyed, and
return the enclosed letter with your
reply, using the enclosed envelope
which requires no postage,
G M Saltzgaber
Commissioner.
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[left side of page]
3 mos 21 d Man
1 " 12  P
1    12  "
3
The omissions are supplied
as far as can be & the
application again forwarded
for further proceedings; -
Please let communications
herein be made to Isaac 
Fiske, East Cambridge
Mass.
3 - 21 Mr
1   12
3
1    12
1

[right side of page]
19.496
Nathan Knowlton
Mass.
Musician 3 mos 21 days
Private  6 "   24
9 - 24
Col
Capt [illegible]
Colonel Bullards Regt
Mass
3.67
333
67
2.66
20
267
11.00
2.59
36.26
Isaac Fiske Esq
East Cambridge
Mass.
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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 Nathan Knowlton 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?
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 amout of pension he is entitled?
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Some of them
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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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? Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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? Living witness
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? 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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct?  No
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. +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.
+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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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 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 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.
- 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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DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE
DULUTH CENTRAL OF SCHOOL [both lines crossed out]
T. F. PHILLIPS, Assistant Principal
Head, Physics
ALICE MERSEN, Chemistry
AUGUSTA G. ZIEGLER, Biology, German
FLORENCE K. KLAUS, Physics
W. H. BENSON, Physics
ELEANOR ABBETT, Biology
HAZEL A. SEGUIN, Biology
G. C. SAYRE, Physics

4427 Serverne St
DULUTH, MINN.
March 10, 1929
U. S. Pension Bureau
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sirs:- Please send me all available information concerning these three men who fought in the War of Revolution:
only
Nathan Knowlton only 1760 - 1857
Lt. Josiah Pomeroy 1741- 1821
Col. Phineas Wright 1710 -1795
Very truly yours
Ethel R. Phillips
(Mrs. T. F. Phillips)
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29953
Revy INVALID.
File No. 29953
William Knowlton
Pri Rev War
---
Act:  June 7th 1827
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 225
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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June 2, 1896 Sold.
pens'd to C. H. W. Stocking
N. J. East Orange See Jnn. 13667
LH  aw
1917 Apr 4 Hist to Mrs. L. Quackenbush
1929, July 9. Hist to
Mrs T. F. Phillips -EEL