Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18076, for Samuel Larrabee, Massachusetts
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[left side]
(8-1776)
SERVICE
Continental
Mass
CONTENTS


[middle]
Larrabee, Samuel

[right side]
NUMBER
S. 18076
carded
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[left side]
MAINE 31.170
============================
Samuel Larrabee
Comberland Co. in the State of Maine
who was a Private in the company commanded 
by Captain Benjamen Parker of the Regt. commanded by Col Whitcomb in the Mass 
line for 12 months  & Continental 
[written in pencil] 5 months 15 days 
=============================
Inscribed on the Rolls of Maine
at the rate of 40 Dollars --------Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
==============================
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of August
1837 and sent to Hon A.K. Parris, Agent
==============================
Arrears to the 4th of March '37 
$240.00
Semi-ani allowances ending 4 Sept."
20.00
=====
$260.00
======
{Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832}

RECORDED by D. Brown CLERK
BOOK E  Vol. 1 -  Page '32
Death not on
A.B.
[right side]
[part of first line is illegible] Hon A. K. Parris, L Agent.

Feb 20.1838
[illegible] Hon F. O . 3. [illegible] cc. Feb
26 - 1839 -
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State of Maine
 Cumberland County ss:
On this seventh day of July A.D. 1837 Personally appeared before me Ezekiel Whitman Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland and State of Maine, aged Eighty three years, who being first 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 United States under the following names officers, and served as herein stated , viz, That in the month of June 1775 at North Yarmouth he enlisted in a Company of the State Militia, commanded by Capt Benjamin Parker, and served in said company till the last of November or first of December following the first part of the time he served on Chebeague Island in Casco Bay - There accompanied by Capt Parker he went on board a Government vessel commanded by Capt John Wyman, which was employed in cruising between Cape Elizabeth & Monegan on one of these cruises, we fell in with General Arnold transports on their way up the Kennebec near Sequin Island  - At the time Falmouth [now Portland] was burnt in Oct 1775, a part of our Company was there, and the rest followed immediately after - The last duty we did on that enlistment, was to build a fort near the foot of King Street, a British armored vessel having made it's appearance in the harbor - This fort was thrown up in one night by said Parker's Company assisted by soldiers from other companies which were stationed there - The British vessel, the next morning, seeing our fort mounted with two long eighteen pounders, immediately made sail, without charging a shot - This was about the last of November or first of December, when our company was discharged - having served not less than five months. -
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The said Samuel Larrabee further states that early in the month of February 1776 at North Yarmouth, he again enlisted under John Webster an orderly Sargeant and marched to Dorchester near Boston and there joined a company commanded by Captain Cranston, in the regiment commanded by Colonel Whitcomb, and served on Dorchester heights, the road to which was across a low piece of land, where we were exposed to the fire of Lord Howe's guns, to protect ourselves from which, we placed bundles of hay  -The last fortnight before Howe evacuated Boston, we kept up a smart commanding every pleasant night from 12 o'clock till sunrise - The night before Howe left, we threw up a fortification on the point opposite South Boston - In this new fortification, were myself and three hundred others who received a heavy fire as soon as we were discovered in the morning from guns placed on May's Wharf and those around it about sunrise in the middle of March, the 17th  I believe, Howe's fleet began to move - The drums beat to [illegible] from Dorchester heights all around to Cambridge, and we instantly left our fort, and hastened to our regiment, which was barracked at Govenor Hatchinson's house, where we found the parading - We immediately formed looked up our line of march and a few rode from the trench on Roxbury neck were met by two men who had just thrown open the gates & let down the bridge to receive us into the town - At 12 o'clock we were in the State house at the head of King Street - At 1/2 past 12 all the English were embarked, and while the fleet were sailing out of the harbor, I heard the explosion of Castle William and the light house, as they were blown up by the English Lord Howe left 10 or 12 transports & other armored vessels to blockade the harbor. Ten or twelve days after this Capt Mugford of Marblehead, a privateersman  having just returned with a [illegible] a powder ship, went down in company with the Schr. Lady Washington, another privateer, to pudding point [illegible] on his way out on another cruise - they were attacked by boats from the fleet, which were finally repulsed, the Captain Mugford lost his life in the engagement. On this our officers immediately sent down a number
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of boats & gondolas on board of which they putt two eighteen pounders of a mortar with 300 or 400 men among whom I was, to Castle William from there we proceeded to long Island and there during the night threw up a breast work on the head and planted our cannon on it, having first placed our mortar on the North side of the Island. At day light we opened fire from our 18's and tossed 3 or 4 dozen shells from our mortar. In a short time the blockaders cut their buoys, slipped their cables and cleared. In a day or two after, we returned to Boston, where our Regiment Col. Glovers & Col. Phinneys were employed during the Summer in repairing the Castle, and building a fort & block house on Governor's Island, and a Fort on Fort hill. In July we were paraded on the east side of the State house and heard the declaration of Independence read. In August the small pox prevailed and the three regiments were inoculated which took in every instance in our regiment except on myself. When the regiment had recovered we were ordered to Ticonderoga and before marching were drawn up on the Common to hear a sermon of prayers. This day I have the symptoms of small pox and the day the regiment marched I was broke out with it, not having any one to take care of me, there being no hospitals, I was ordered back to Widow Dimond's with whom I was quartered when inoculated, who nursed me and got me well of the small pox, tho I was long after very feeble & afflicted with boils-after recovering from small pox I sold my watch to pay the widow, I returned my gun & equipments to the gun house where I drew them, not being fit for military duty and returned to Falmouth, (now Portland) by water ^not being able to walk that distance. I know not of any living witness to my last service above stated except my wife. It was in September, that I returned my gun & equipments, making seven months from the time enlisted in February-and twelve months service in all on both enlistments. When he enlisted with John Webster he received four or five dollars and has never received any thing since for his services. He would also state that in December 1773 he went to Boston in
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a booster with a load of wood, and was there when the tea was destroyed and that he assisted that night in throwing the tea overboard.
In answer to the interrogatories proposed by the War Department, the said Samuel Larrabee would further state, that he was born at North Yarmouth on the thirtieth day of October 1753. That he resided there when he first enlisted and has resided there ever since he left the service till the present time, except when occasionally absent. He enlisted and served as a private soldier, and did not receive any written discharge when he left the service. the first time he was dismissed with the company the foregoing statement contains all the general circumstances of his service, and names of officers that he can now particularly remember. He would refer to any of his townsmen who know him as to his character for truth. 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.
Samuel Larabee
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before
Ezekiel Whitman

We Zabdiel Bradford a clergyman residing in North Yarmouth and Hiram Hatch residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Larrabee, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaraion, that we believe him to be eighty three 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.
Zabdiel Bradford
Hiram Hatch

Sworn and subscribed the day and hyear aforesaid Before Exekiel Whitman
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Larrabee

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commr. Pensions
Washington D. C. 

Feb 19
(illegible)

Hon. F. O. J. Smith
H. R.
Page 8

Mr Edwards will oblige me much by affording me any information on the subject of the enclosed letter.
With great Respect
your obt. sevt.
Francis O.J. Smith

(illegible)
Feby 16/39
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Washington Dec 30 1844
Col. Edwards
Sir
Saml. Larrabee whose petition is before the com. on Rev. pensions asks to be restored to a pension of $40 per ann. of which he was deprived in 1837 or 38. He was from Maine-will you be pleased to state to the committee the reason why he was stricken from the pension roll.
Also please state in the case of John DePoy of N. York-whose papers I sent at your office why he was stricken from the roll.
Will you please also to state the reasons why Sally Cordwell of Ky was only allowed a pension for 6 months service of her husband instead of 18 months which she claims. Your reply to these inquiries will very much aid our committee in arriving
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at proper conclusions in the cases referred to & oblige
Your humble sevt.
D. L. Seymour
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Saml. Larrabee
Maine

adm. 12 mo for 
$40. per ann.

Hon. A.K. Parris
Present
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Washington July 31, 1837

J. L. Edwards, Esqr.
Sir
I have been requested to had you the pension papers of Samuel Larrabee.
I know Seth Blanchard and Samuel R. York, two of the witnesses in support of this application to be respectable people and should give full credit to their statements.
Very respectfully &c
Albion K. Parris
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I Benjamin Prince of North Yarmouth in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine aged 82 years do testify and say that in the year 1775 I enlisted in the Company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Parker of North Yarmouth in the state service about the last of October in said year and well remember that Samuel Larraby was a private soldier in said company and that we did duty together in said company for Mounth Johs neck so called (then Falmouth now Portland) until the last of November or the first of December and attended to the roll call together twice a day and drew our rations during that time; I then went into the United States service.
Benj. Prince

Cumberland SS Sept.14th 1838 personally appeared the above named Benjamin Price and made oath that the above statement by him subscribed is to the best of his knowledge true. Before me James Prince Justice of the Peace

I hereby certify that Benjamin Price is a man of truth and veracity and his statement is entitled to full credit and belief.
James Prince
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State of Maine
Cumberland SS
I Charles Fox, Clerk of the Judicial Courts in & for the County of Cumberland and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that James Prince Esquire is a magistrate, duly appointed and commissioned to act as such, within and for the County aforesaid-and that the signature on the other side of this paper purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas, this thirtieth day of October A. D. 1838.
Charles Fox, Clerk
of the Jud. Court, for the County
of Cumberland
(seal)

B. P. deposition
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Wm. R. York
affi.

See his papers No.11427
Me. Al  zn
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I, William R. York of Falmouth in the County of Cumberland & State of Maine aged eighty years do testify and say that in the year 1775 I served in the Company of State Militia commanded by Capt. Benjamin Parker from the first of August till the last of November or the first of December in that year, & Samuel Larrabee was in the same company with me and did duty with me. We were occasionally on board government vessels as (illegible) on the coast of the last of our time we served in Falmouth, now Portland, after the town was burnt. I also testify that said Larrabee served at Boston in the year 1776 and was left there sick with the small pox when the regiment removed for Ticonderoga about the last of August that year. My Brother John York & Josiah Clark who were also soldiers at Boston were also left at the same time sick with the small pox and they were all three permitted to return after they should have recovered from the small pox and they returned as I believe in the month of September. I went on with the troops to Ticonderoga. Said Larrabee served at Boston and its vicinity not less than seven months.
William R. York
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State of Maine
Cumberland SS July 14th 1837 Then personally appeared William R. York, who is well known to me and who I certify as a respectable & credible witness and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed. 
Before me, Joseph Pope, Jus. of the Peace

State of Maine
Cumberland SS
I Charles Cobb Clerk of all the Judicial Courts in said County certify that Joseph Pope is a magistrate as appears above and the forgoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the Court of Common Pleas this 18th day of July A. D. 1837
Charles Cobb Clerk
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Nov 5     (postmark) Portland me. Oct 31
Me.
Saml. Larrabee
on roll for 
restoration


Hon. James L. Edwards      FREE
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.
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Portland Oct. 30th 1838

Sir
I herewith transmit these declarations stating that Samuel Larrabee whose pension has been suspended, actually served in Capt. Benjamin Parkers Company in 1775 as he in his declaration declared. Hoping this evidence may be sufficient to restore the old man.
I am very respectfully
your obt. svt.
John Andersen


Hon. Jas. L. Edwards
Commr. of Pensions
Washington D. C.
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Let. to Hon. C. S. Seymour
Jany. 31 1845
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18076
INVALID.

File No. 18,076
Samuel Larrabee
Pri Rev. War

Act: June 7 '32
Index: Vol 1, Page 217


[Arrangement of 1870]
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State of Maine
Cumberland SS
I Charles Cobb Clerk of all the Judicial Courts in said County certify that Ezekiel Whitmand is chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the State of Maine; and that James Prince is a magistrate as appears within; and the several signatures purporting to be theirs are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of the said Court of Common Pleas this 7th day of July A. D. 1837
Charles Cobb, Clerk

(seal w/ ribbon)
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Seth Blanchards Deposition

vol 36 p 222

vol 36 p
Page 24

I Seth Blanchard of the age of seventy eight years depose and say that in the month of July or August A. D. seventeen hundred & seventy five while I was a member of Capt. Benjamin parker's company stationed on Chebeague I went up to meeting at North Yarmouth & remember seeing Samuel Larrabee of North Yarmouth sitting in a (illegible) behind me with his gun & that afternoon during service an alarm was give of a vessel being in the bay coming towards the foreside & that Larrabee with other minute men who were privates in said Parker's company at the command of said Parker left the meeting house & marched to the sea shore. I know said Larrabee was a private in said company and did duty in it. While stationed on Chebeague I well remember that said Larrabee came aboard from a vessel which was in the States service & which was manned by men belonging to said Capt. Parkers company. I also depose that I saw Larrabee at work on the fronts in Portland (then Falmouth) & I know he was then under the command of said Captain Parker, exercised as a soldier & did duty then like any other soldier.
Seth Blanchard

Cumberland SS September 25th 1838 then the above named Seth Blanchard personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him signed Before me
Joseph Stockbridge Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that Seth Blanchard the deponent above is a person of truth & veracity.
J. Stockbridge
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I Samuel Larrabee in addition to what I have stated in the annexed declaration, would further state that he has no record of his age, and does not know that there is any in any place. That he has no documentary evidence. and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can present who can testify to his service except Seth Blanchard whose deposition he forwards with his application.
Samuel Larrabee

Sworn and subscribed this seventh day of July A. D. 1837
Before me and I further certify that I am fully of the opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And I further certify that it appears to me that Zabdiel Bradford is a clergyman, a resident in North Yarmouth, and that Hiram Hatch who with said Bradford have both signed the annexed certificate is also a resident in the same town, and are credible witnesses. I also certify that said Samual Larrabee from bodily infirmity is unable to attend court & I administered the oath to him at his house in North Yarmouth.
Ezekiel Whitman Chief Justice of the C. C. Pleas for the State of Maine
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Capt. Seth Blanchard
Deposition
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I, Seth Blanchard of North Yarmouth in the County of Cumberland & State of Maine, do testify and say that in the month of June 1775 I enlisted as a private soldier in the States service in the Company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Parker of North Yarmouth and did duty in said company on the Island of Great Chebeague and I am confident that Samuel Larrabee now residing in North Yarmouth was a private in said company and did duty under Capt. Parker on said Island until sometime in the month of October about the time that Partland was burnt we had orders to march to Portland and I am confident that the said Larrabee did duty there until the last of November or the first of December at that time we were discharged.
Seth Blanchard

Subscribed and sworn to this 6th day of June A. D. 1837 before me James Prince Justice of the Peace

I the subscriber hereby certify that the statement made by the above named Blanchard is entitled to full credit and belief and that he is a credible witness.
James Prince Justice of the Peace

(seal with ribbons)
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Wm. R. York's Deposition


vol 36  222
Page 29

I William Ring York of the age of eight one years depose & say that sometime in the last of July or the first of August A. D. 1775 I returned from the West Indies a sailor & enlisted in Captain Benjamin Parker's company in North Yarmouth Dist. of Maine. That at the time I enlisted Samuel Larrabee of North Yarmouth was a private in said Parker's company that I knew Larrabee because we were ship mates. that I have a perfect recollection of having seen him do military duty in Captain Parker's company. 
A sloop of ninety odd tons was employed in the State's service in Casco Bay which I remember we spoke when we came in from the West Indies and I remember that at the time a whale boat from the sloop boarded us & that one of the officers on board the boat was an officer in Captain Parker's company a few days afterwards. I enlisted only four or five days after we got in. about the time I enlisted quite a number of soldiers wanted to leave to go on to the their farms and as fast as the young sailors got home they took their places. I was on board the above named arrived sloop with Larrabee & spoke a schooner to the Eastward of half way rock which turned out to be one of the transports loaded with Arnold's men going from Newbury to Kennebeck. Such of Parkers company as was accustomed to the sea usually went in the sloop when she made a cruise. all of Captain Parkers company took turns in throwing up breast works on N.Yarmouth Foreside. Larrabee among the rest. After Falmouth was burn. Capt. Parkers company went down there & I worked with said Larrabee in throwing up a breast work just below Maj. Weeks house near the foot of what is now India Street. Captain Parker's company remained in Falmouth till the early part of December 1775 when it getting late and cold no further danger was apprehended & the company was dismissed.
I further depose that I knew said Larrabee in the Continental service in the twelve month campaign & I remember that he & my brother John & Josiah Clark & Jacob Knight with some others were so sick at Boston with the small pox
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that they could not march with us to Ticonderoga.
William R. York

Cumberland SS September 15k 1838 the above named William R York personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed.
 Before me Joseph Stockbridge
Justice of the peace

I hereby certify that the above deponent is a person of truth & veracity.
J. Stockbridge

Cumberland SS
I Charles Fox Clerk of the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Cumberland and State of Maine do hereby certify that Joseph Stockbridge Esquire is a Magistrate duly commissioned and appointed to act as such within and for the County of Cumberland and that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas this thirtieth day of October A. D. 1838
Charles Rox Clerk
of the Jud. Courts in & for the 
County of Cumberland