Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 418, John Baker, Mass. N. H.
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SERVICE
Mass.
N.H.

Baker, John

NUMBER
R.418.
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State of Pennsylvania 
Susquehanna County} ss.

  On the third day of September A.D. 1834 personally appeared in open Court before the Hon. Edward Herrick President and William Thomson and Davis Dimock his associate judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Susquehanna aforesaid now sitting John Baker a resident of Clifford township in the county of Susquehanna and state of Pennsylvania aged eighty years who being first duly sworn according to law doth , on his oaths make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
   That he entered the service of the United States and served as herein stated to wit: that on the first of September 1776, at the town of Petersham in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts he entered the service as a volunteer in a company of militia commanded by Captain Howe, which company belonged to a regiment commanded by Colonel Sparhawk, Lieutenant Colonel Grout of General Warner's Brigade for the term of two months.  And immediately marched with the company through Connecticut to Peaksills where they remained three days - went on from Peaksills to a place called "Croton's Manor" and was there stationed with the company to guard a continental store.  That he remained stationed at that place until the expiration of his term of enlistment.  he was dismissed in the forepart of November and returned home.  And the said John Baker on his oath further states that on the first of December 1776 at the town, County and State aforesaid he volunteered and went in a company of militia under the command of Captain Howe of Colonel Sparkawk's regiment for the term of three months, and marched with said company to Peekskill passing thro. Hardwick, Litchfield and Danbury - and from Peekskill to Croton's Manor where he
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where he remained with the company as a guard to the Continental Stores until the expiration of his term of enlistment and was discharged on the first of March 1777 and returned home.
   And the said John Baker on his oath further states that on the first of June 1777 at the town of Westmoreland in the County of Hampshire and State of New Hampshire, he volunteered in a company of militia commanded by Captain John Cole, Lieutenant Holton for the term of two months, which company belonged to a regiment commanded by Colonel Ash or Ashley.  He marched with the company - crossed Connecticut River at or near Walpole, and from thence to Rutland in order to join the Continental Troops under General St. Clair.  That a great part of the way lay thro. woods.  They met General St. Clair with a body of troops in the woods on their retreat with many wounded men with them.  The Americans having been defeated by a detachment from Burgoyne's army, it was said, at or near Hubberton.  The regiment under Col. Ash (or Ashley) then went to Otter Creek taking along with them many of the wounded of General St. Clair's troops.  The regiment then returned to and crossed Connecticut River and returned to Westmoreland where they were immediately discharged from any further service at that time.  he having been in active and very hard service for the term of one and a half months.
   And the said John Baker, on is oath further states that about the middle of July 1777 soon after his return from the aforementioned tour of service at the town of Westmoreland in the County and State aforesaid, he volunteered in a company of militia commanded by Captain Holton for a further term of two months which company belonged to a Regiment then under the command of Captain Aldrich then acting Colonel, and immediately marched
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with the company to Connecticut River crossed over into Puttney, marched from thence to Battleboroughs and from thence to Bennington where they joined the American troops under General Stark. They remained at that place three or four days when a battle was fought between the Americans under General Stark and a detachment of Burgoyne's army. That during the engagement he with others were detached from the regiment and placed as a guard over the prisoners as they were brought in and put into a meeting house. The Americans remained masters of the fields; taking many prisoners and stands of arms.  The battle took place about the middle of August. He remained stationed at Bennington about two weeks after the battle, then marched with the company back to Westmoreland and was there dismissed from further service having been in active service one and a half months.
  And the said John Baker in answer to the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department on his oath saith---
1st. That he was born at Acton near Boston on the twenty fourth of March 1754 according to the account given him by his parents.
2nd That he has no record of his age; but is confident that he was twenty one years of age at the commencement of the ward in 1775.
3rd That he was living in Petersham in the County of Worcester Massachusetts when called into service in his two first tours of service at Croton's Manor and in Westmoreland, Hampshire County, New Hampshire when called into service in his two last tours at the North. That he lived in Hampshire about eight years after the close of the war, removed from thence to Vermont where he resided about eighteen years and removed from Vermont to his present place of residence in Susquehanna County.
4th  That in his four several tours of service he was a volunteer in the Militia.
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5th  That in addition to the names of the  regular officers already stated he states the name of General Poor who was with General St. Clair and whom he knew.  That the general circumstances of his service were as set forth in the foregoing declaration.
6th. That he received a written discharge from Captain Howe which he retained in his possession upwards of twenty years after the war, but he does not now know what has become of it.  He does not now recollect of receiving any other written discharge. As his duty was done in the militia, they were generally dismissed without a written discharge.
7th. That in addition to the names of Timothy Warner to whom he is known in his present neighborhood who have testified as to this character for truth and veracity, and their belief of his service as a soldier of the Revolution he states the names of William Hartly Esquire,Marck Hartley, Issac Douds, John Douds, James Halstead and Charles Miller, all of whom he verily believes would testify to the same.  And, the said John Baker, on his oath further states that he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services.  And that the reason of his not having a Clergyman to testify as to his character for veracity is that the officiating Clergyman of his neighborhood is absent from home and therefore could not attend the Court at this time.
 He hereby relinquishes every claim 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 to his knowledge.
[signed] John Baker
Sworn and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid.
[signed] Asa Dimock, [Protem?]
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(Copy) Pension Office
May 20th 1853
Sir
  In answer to your inquiries reflecting the claim of John Baker of Penn. for a Revolutionary pension I have to inform you that the claim was suspended in February 1835 on the ground that the claimant did not service six months, the  shortest time for which he could obtain a pension.
  The claimant alleged service amounting in all to eight in Massachusetts & New Hampshire. If he service for the time alleged evidence of his service probably exists in the Office of the Secretary of War, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  
(signed) L. P. Waldo  Comm.
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Ex'r.    INVALID.

No. 418

REJECTED

John Baker

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Hon. J. A. Heath
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, DC

Rejected 32.762
PA
See letters to
Hon. J. Laporte
24, Feb 1835
Wm. J. Turrell May 20, 1853
R. H. Gallagher Mar 31/55

418

Act. 7th June 1832
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32.762
Pennsylvania 
John Baker
Pension Application

Sept8, 1834 declaration read in open court and necessary certificate ordered to be made. A.Dmock 

Rejected did not (illegible)
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WE Timothy Warner and William Hartley of Susquehanna County Do certify that we are well acquainted with John Baker who has sworn and subscribed to the foregoing declaration (having resided in his neighborhood for a number of years).  That we believe him to be Eighty 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 fully in that opinion
[signed]   William Hartley  Timothy Warner

Sworn & subscribed in open Court Sept 3d 1834
[signed] Asa Dimock Prot.

And the 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 William Hartley, Esqr and Timothy Warner who have signed the preceding Certificate are residents of Susquehanna County and are credible persons and that their testimony is entitled to full credit. The Court also certify that it appears to them that the Clergyman residing in the neighborhood of applicant is now absent from his residence. By the Court
[signed] Asa Dimock Prothonotary

State of Pennsylvania
Susquehanna County ss. }  I Asa Dimock, Clerk of the Court of Common pleas of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Baker for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set [my hand and the]  seal of Office, at Montrose the Eighth day of November AD 1834,
[signed] Asa Dimock Prothy
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Montrose, Pa.
Dec 27" 1852
(Susquehana Co)

Hon. Commissioner of Pensions

Sir-- Mr. John Baker a Revolutionary soldier
made application some year since, for a pension which was not then granted.
Believing the case to be reached by Subsequent acts of Congress & Resolutions, I am inclined to ask you re-examine the case & if found entitled, please forward certificate & if not please say what further is now required
Your obt Svt
[signed]  Wm  J. Terrell
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Washington D.C.
March 29/ 55

Hon L P Waldo
Com of Pensions
Dr Sir  I enclose herewith Certificate of service in case of Jno [John] Baker of the Mass service
Revolutionary War, which [does not show?] service of said Jno Baker for 6 months and upwards -I  [?] fully that the case may be taken for examination, and if possible, allowed under act 1832-
I enclose herewith copy of letter from Pension Office in regard to said case
Very Respectfully
[signed] R. H. Gallaher

N.B-
I am employed by Mr. W. J. Turrell the atty & attend to the case for him.
Respectfully, G
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Certificate of
Secy of State of Mass.


Service of Jn Baker

Mass Service
upwards of 6 mos

Act 1832
Pa

Cole

Filed March 29/ 55
By R. H. Gallaher
Atty
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston,
June 15th 1854
I Hereby Certify, That from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department it appears that the name of John Baker is borne on roll of Capt Cyprian Howe's Comp. Col. Jonathan Ward's Regt on alarm of April 19, 1775 (6 days as private from Marlborough.
Also on roll of Capt. Daniel Barne's Comp. Col. Jonathan Wards Regt on return of 8 mos men. return not dated.  Roll shows that a man died Sept. 29. and nothing appears that the men did not serve through the year.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
[signed] E M Wright
Secretary of the Commonwealth.