Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13163, Seth Godfrey, Mass. Privateer
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Mass. Privateer

Godfrey Seth

S./3/ 63               

carded
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Massachus Seth Godfrey Conway in the State of Map was a Propt it in the Company comm Captain King of the comm Col Walker in the Massa line for 8 mos & 29 days Private 13 " Corporal 5 " 28 day Sergean Massen Private Recordsand  ┃ and Incribed on the Roll of Massach husetts the rate of 70 Dollars 56 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831 Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Oct and Sent S. F Dickinson Amherst Mass Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 to Semi-ant. allowance ending March 352 28 $211.68 - Recorded by Book E Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 832. Addison C ler Page 30 Vol. 82 Franklin
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
FRANKLIN COUNTY SS. 

ON THIS fifteenth appeared in open Court, before the day of August A. D. 1832, personally Court of Common Pleas of the said Commonwealth may sitting at Greenfield within and for the said County of Franklin, a resident of Conway in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged eighty one 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. Immediately the the battle of Lexington, which was on the 19 April 1775, on the alarm then given, our whole company turned out meaning the Militia company in Taunton in the County of Bristol, then I then [illegible], & marched to Newbury, Ebenr Dean of James (?) Capt  of the Company remained the about three weeks the men on , & enlisted into a company commanded by Capt King, Lt Noah Hall and Ensign A Hathaway all of Raynham, for eight months, & return again to Roxbury -- stationed at Roxbury & (?) our Regimt  was commanded by C. Walker, Lt. Col. Nathan Leonard & Mitchell.  I stayed out the (?) term.

In Sept 1776 I enlisted as a marine on board a Privateer, of 30 marines & (?) men in all, at Newport in Rhodes & Capt. Jno Neman commanded the Marine & Capt. Godfrey & Lt. Savett commanded the vessel, or took a ship of 200 tons, carried it into Boston & have the proceeds out in this town 6 weeks. 

In the spring of 1778 the British having taken Newport [illegible] to Providence --  then to Warren guarded the shore between Providence & Warren -- remained there six weeks, making these months this [illegible] Campt James Macomber commanded our company. 

After having been here but a few days, we were again called on & drafted to go directly back to (?) and Capt. H. Leddy, stayed there two months, when we were (dis ?)  We were immediately called o again twenty (?) of us formed a volunteer Company [last line difficult to transcribe.]
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& drafted as dirty back to 2 the 7th --- writen under Capt. Retcheddy, stayed the two months then dismissed. We criminally all in again twenty five of as formed a volunteer his 3 on Apt. & St cut to Zion again, & stayed the that vicint, four weeks, at the houses & In December 1775 enlisted of an as a marine in before former, 1 Dartmouth, Isaac Sume aptain Chilver lay in the harborn at New Bedford, the the deftim, thank our full, injured eight men, Lillian to the ingad stayed the books sent to he took a full & and into action was at the months & dismissed in the spring of 1779 during this is or are Martin wich I have come to support have facts now in living Nokes the fact born on Sept 22 1757 lined them till forty he moved to the of 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. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Sorby Joseph Gawold & Womans Heny Ellis & Seph fild with of any person ℗ in hereby certify that we are weaned in the believe him to Eighty who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revoluion, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Elijah my Filly 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 Elijah Free and Henry Allis who have signed the preceding certificate are resident in Conway and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Alvord Clerk I, ELIJAH ALVORD, Clerk 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 Seth Godfrey for a pension. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, this fifteenth in the year of our LORD one thousand eight hundred and thirty two E. Alvord Clerk
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I Seth Going within named do further declare, that I believe my birth record at Taunton;  that I never had any written discharge, at any time of  9/0 I was out as a soldier. that I am well acquainted with most of the people in said Conway & I am (?),  not only to Major (Sandlovland?), but arms, & the Rev. M. Murphy, his testimony is with my papers but I (?) to Col. Henry P. Billings - William Billings Esq. the Hon John Ames Esq. one of the County Commissioners & Darius Stevens Esq., one of the representatives of the town of Conway in our State Legislature for my general character for truth & [illegible] of my having been a soldier of the Revolution - they may not have known of my revolutionary services, as they were performed : I lived in Taunton, about one hundred miles distant.

I further say that by year (?) of age & loss of memory  I cannot state all the terms of service I performed in the Revolutionary war.  I know I was out all the time.  I have within stated, & I am confident I was out  much more. I now remember being out as a Corporal eight days or more at Tiverton in July 1780, under Capt James mqcomber - I also  remember being out three month, campaign in the fall of 1776, & winter of 1777. I can not state the precise time of my enlistment, but the time was three months [illegible]  Captain John Doggett, Col of the Regiment, J Hathaway Lt. Col was stationed at Tiverton in Rhode Island  & that vicinity our business was guarding the Coast, I issued subsequent (?)  during this term holding that then in the I further say that during all this time in the Company.

I further say that during all this time of three months of 1777 under Capt Macomber I (?) of the Corporals, & discharge the duties of that office and that in the two months under Capt. (Pelatial?) [illegible] in the same year. I was ordered by Sergeant, & performed the duties of that office and also, that in the service of four weeks immediately following, I was again on duty Sergeant during all that time & that in this service (?) Williams & Joseph WIlliams, Lt. and the [illegible] I did not state in my declaration that I was  Sergeant & Corporal, as above stated because I did knot know that it made any difference in the sum of the Pension (?).  But I now claim the Pension due to those offices, as for as I served in those capacities. 

I further state, that I may have mistaken (?) , in months, or years of enlistment or discharge though the loss of my memory; but I am certain That I served as much in time as I have above written & stated.
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as I (?) in these capacities.

I further state that I may her mistaken dates , in months, or years of enlistment or discharge
through the loss of my very often called out in (?). many times, for short memory; but I am certain that I (?) as much, in time as I have above & within stated.

I was a minute man, & was constantly in (?) , & 
very often called out in (?). many times, for short reviews. (?) I have not stated, & which I can (?) particularly state; in addition to that I have stated. 

I do not know of any witness living, can testify to any of the previous stated within & above -- though have lately heard of John Presbrey who 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampshire July 6. 1838. Then personally appeared before me Seth Godfrey subscribed to the above declaration & well known to me asa credible witness & a man of (?) integrity & made oath to the truth of the (?)
Signature of  Samuel F. Dickinson Justice of the Peace
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Seth Godfrey
Conway
17429
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[Text on left side]
26.67
3.22
_____
29.89
11.00
25.00
4.67 [16.66 off to left side of page]
_____
70.56
2
_____
141.12
35.28
_____
176.40

[Text on right side]
1742.9
Sergt Godfrey
5 Mo 28 days
Corporal 3 " [mo]
Private 8 " [mo] 29 days
_____________________
17    27
13 & 16 of
Mar 15 1833
S.F. Dickinson En
Amherst
Mass

Ha Geo Grummell for [this name crossed through]
Greenfield [name crossed through]
E Alvore Clk Count [this name crossed through]

Franklin Co 
Mass
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BRIEF in the case of Seth Godfrey
County of Franklin in State of 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?

3. How old is he? 81 years

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 

Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
 | Years, Months, Days. | As a | Gen.
Enlisted In 17 - | - 8 - | private | Capt [name crossed through illegible] King
CG Walker
1776 | - 1-15 Onboard a privateer | Capt Newman
1777 | - 3 - | private | Capt Macomb 
draft. | - 2 | private | Eddy
 |  - 1 - |  | same
Enlisted 1778 | - 3 - | seaman | Capt Freeman
" [Enlisted] 1779 | - 1 - 15 |  |  not stated

5. In what battles was he engaged? Some skirmishes at sea

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bristol, Co, Mass

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

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication/ and if so, in what respect? Not properly attached,

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence n the case above mentioned.
MC Russell Examining Clerk.
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O. W. and N. Division.

[Test on left of document]
M.R 
Inv. File 13163
Rev War

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C., Sept. 26, 1925

Sir:
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Seth Godfrey 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.
Apr 1775
Few days after above
Sept. 1776
Fall 1776
Spring 1778
Few days after above
Immediately after
Dec 1778
July 1780


LENGTH OF SERVICE.
3 weeks
8 mis. 
6 weeks
3 mos. 
3 mos
2 mos
4 weeks
3 mos
8 days

RANK.
Private
Private
Marine
Sergy
Corporal
rRdly. Sgt. 
Ordly. Sgt.
Marine
Corporal




OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Ebenr Dean or James Macomber
John King
Jno Newman Godfrey
Ebenr Dean
James Macomber
Pelatiale Eddy
Thomas Williams
Isaac Freeman
James Macomber

COLONEL>.
Timo Walker
On Privateer
John Daggett
Mitchel

STATE.
Mass
Mass.
R.I. [crossed out]?
Mass
Mass.
Mass
Mass.
Mass
Mass.



Battles engaged in, assisted in capturing two vessels

Residence of soldier at enlistment, Taunton, Bristol Co., Mass.

Date of application for pension, Aug. 15, 1832

Residence at date of application, Conway, Franklin Co. Mass.
.
Age at date of application b., Sept 22, 1757 at Taunton Mass

Remarks: his claim was allowed.

Very respectfully,
Francis S. Godfrey
Waterloo, New York
Commissioner
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PENSION OFFICE
USA
OCT 4 1905
WASHINGTON D. C.
OCT 3, 1905

The Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington D.C.

OLD WAS & NAVY
OCT 5 1905
FILES
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Waterloo. N.Y.
 Oct. 2. 1905

Commissioner of Pension
 Washington D.C.

Dear Sir
 Statement of military history of Seth Godfrey, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, received. Accept thanks very truly yours.
Francis S. Godrey
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Waterloo, N.Y.
 Aug. 14. 1905

Department of Interior
Washington, D.C.

OLD WAS NAVY
AUG 16 1905
FILES

Dear Sir

We are desirous of securing information concerning Seth Godfrey, and will consider it a great favor if you will send at your earliest convenience full information concerning the pension of Seth Godfrey, who was a Sergeant in the Army of Revolution . The Revolutionary Claim was given at the U. S. War Office on Oct. 26, 1833. Recorded in Pension Office in Book E,
Vol. Q (  2 ), Page 30. Trusting we may soon receive this information,   I am
                                        Yours Truly
Francis S. Godfrey
PENSION OFFICE
USA
AUG 15, 1905
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[Left side of document]
Sept. 26, 1905 History to Mr. Francis S. Godfrey,
Waterloo, N.Y.- MR.

[Right side of document]
INVALID
File No. 13163
Seth Godfrey
Marine  
Sergt. Rev. War

Act: June 7th 1832
Index: - Vol.1   Page146

[Arrangement of 1870.]

Mass. and Privateer
Records completed January 27/06
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Times of Service
as declarer.

New evidence
Certificate of Secretary
of State
Deposition of 
Jn Presbrey
Needs to enter the certificate if allowed to
Sam F Dickinson
Amhurst Massachusetts
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Seth God Declaration as amended

1. 1775 April Roxbury. Capt. Dean
November $23.  __m 2 d

2. Soon after day 1 Jan same year [illegible]
Caot King  Col. Walker  $8.00

3. Sept. 1776  Privateer  (?) & Boston
Capt. Newman  6 weeks   no  1 42

4.  1776  Fall & Winter of 1777 Pribateer
Capt. Ebner Dean  Col. Daggett    3.
Sergeant

5. 1776 Spring  Providence (?)
Capt. Macomber  - as Corporal   3.  

6.  1776 after then Caapt 3 mos out at Tiverton 
Capt. Pedatial (?) or Orderly Sergeant    2

7.  Same year (?) - Capt. Thow WIlliams
as orderly Sergeant  4 weeks  20

8.  Dec  same year - Privateer - Capt. Freeman  3
[illegible]

9.   1780 July  old (?)  Capt. Macomber    8
Months 22.9
6 corporal 3 mos  8 days
Sergeant  5 m. 28 days


No  objections, as to autthenticating the papers &c -- all supposed to be removed

The evidence direct & circumstantial, (?) from the Secretary's Certificate & the depositiojn of Jno Presbrey, it is proper, will, with the character of the applicnt, (?) all --
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Certificate of 
Secretary of State - 
Massachusetts
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Secretary' Office, August 6th 1833.

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 Seth Godfrey is found on a Muster Roll of Capt. John King's company in Colonel Jim Walker's. Regiment, where he is allowed from May 3nd to 
August 7th 1775. for services and travel, three
months and five days    mo 3  = dys 5

Seth Godfrey's name is borne, as a corporal
on a Muster Roll of Capt. James Macomber's
company, in Col Mitchel's Regt. marched to Rivertown August 2nd. 1780, where he is allowed, for services and travel eighty days.  
Seth Godfrey claims further services under  8
  3=13
Capt. King, Dean, and Macomber, in 1770, also under Capt. James Macomber and Eddy in 1777, the rolls are not found in this Office.
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Jn Presbrey's 
Deposition
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I John Presbrey of Taunton in the County of Bristol and Common wealth of Massachusetts aged Seventy Three years, do testify and say, that in the month of December Seventeen hundred and Seventy six, I knew Seth Godfrey then of Taunton aforesaid and as I am informed, new a resident of Conway in said Commonwealth, when he was a soldier with me in a company commanded by Capt Ebenezer Dean in a Regiment commanded by Col John Doggett. And we served in said company together three months, keeping guard in the coast in Tiverton in the State of Rhode Island_
I further testify that in search among the papers of the said Ebenezer Dean, who has been dead many years, I found an old manuscript Book, which appears to have been a record of a part of the names of the company & its proceedings during that time - Said book is now in my possession before me - and I find therein on the fourth page the name of said Seth Godfrey in the list of those who are said to have drawn cartridges & in the first page his name is in the list of those who are stated to have returned cartridges - this stated to have received fifteen & to have returned eleven.The date of teh receipt of them is under the 3d of Jany, 1777.
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The date of their return is not in the book.
John Presbrey

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss. Sept. 20, 1833 - John Presbrey made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him signed.
Before me A Bassett Just. of the Peace. 
I further certify that John Presbrey above mentioned is a respectable and credible witness. 
A Bassett [illegible].

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol Ss. I Anselm Bassett Register of the Court of Probate in for said county, do hereby certify that Anselm Bassett before whom the foregoing affidavit [word blocked by paper] herein is a Justice of the Peace for said county and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my had & affixed the seal of said court this twentieth day of September Eighteen hundred and thirty three. A Bassett
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COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Hampshire ss.
I, SAMUEL F. LYMAN, Register of the Court of Probate within and for said County of Hampshire, do hereby certify that Samuel F. Dickinson, Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition was taken, was, at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly and regularly appointed, and that the signature thereto annexed purporting to be his, I know to be genuine.
IN testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court, this twenty fifth day of July A.D. 1833.
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Asa Howland &
Ch. Arms 
& Daniel Crosby
Depo. for
Seth Godfrey
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I Asa Howland of Conway in the County o Franklin & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Esquire, aged forty four years, do testify & say that I am a native of said Conway, & from my youth been acquainted with Seth Godfrey of said Conway, an applicant for a Pension; that I consider him a man of unimpeachable integrity & his statements entitled to full credit.  I further certify, that I have lately held the office of Major General of the Militia of Said Commonwealth. 
                                         Asa Howland

I Christopher Arms of Conway in the County of Franklin & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Esq. & one of the deacons of the Congregational church in said Conway, aged fifty nine years, do testify & say that I am a native of said Conway, & have from my youth been acquainted with Seth Godfrey of the said Conway, now applying for a Pension from the United States: that I have always considered him a man of (illegible) integrity, & do believe his statements entitled to full & undoubted credit.
                                           Chas. Arms

I Daniel Crosby of Conway above named, age thirty one years, testify & say that I now, & have been for between five & ten years the (illegible) minister of the Congregational Church being in the said Conway: that I am well acquainted with Seth Godfrey above named, & believe his character for truth & veracity, & in all respects, is unimpeachable: & that his testimony admitted to full credit. 
                                                   Daniel Crosby
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       Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Hampshire Ss.  August 22, 1832.  Personally appeared before me, Major Gen. Asa Howland, Capt. Christopher Arms, & the Rev Daniel Crosby, witnesses  (illegible)  to the foregoing depositions, all well known to me or (illegible) witness, & correctly made oath to the truth of the applicant's deposition by them witnessed. 

     Samuel F. Dickinson Justice of the Peace



      Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin SS.   I Elijah Alvord one of the clerks of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts when holden at Northampton in the county of Hampshire and for the counties of Hampshire Franklin and Hampden do certify that the above named Samuel F. Dickinson Esq, is a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Hampshire and that the above is his true an proper signature.
       In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said court at Greenfield on this fifteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
                        E. Alvord Clerk
                        Sup. Jud. Court