Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14,533, Richard Crocker, Mass
Page 1

Mass   Crocker, Richard  W.14533
                            Polly
Page 2

76
Essex

15115
Massachusetts
Richard Crocker
of Essex Co in the State of Massachusetts
who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Wyman of the regt commanded 
by Col. Bullard in the [illegible] line for 17 mo.

Wil

Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts 
at the rate of 56 Dollars 66 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of May
1833 and sent to
W. Woark Newburyport
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833  $113.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept.  28.33
                                                           ======
                                                           $141.65
                                                           ======
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by W.L. Williams Clerk,
Book E Vol. 2 Page 11
Page 3

Richard Crocker's declaration
Salisbury Massachusetts
14070
Page 4

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832
_____________________________________

State of Massachusetts: County of Essex, SS.
On this eleventh day of Sept. AD., 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Honorable Daniel A. White, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, now sitting at Newburyport in said county, Richard Crocker a resident of Salisbury in said county, aged seventy four years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Congress passed June 7, 1832, -- Viz--

Richard Crocker hereby testify & declare that I was born in Salisbury, county of Essex of Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the twenty third day of July AD. 1758; (as appears per copy of record hereto appended) that when about ten years old I was removed to the town of Ashby, County of Middlesex & Commonwealth aforesaid, to live with my kinsman, Samuel March, of there had my home until the year seventeen hundred & seventy five I voluntarily enlisted for the term of eight months in a company commanded by Capt. Elijah Wyman of said Ashby, a Mr. Pollard of Billerica being Lieut & in the regiment of which Colonel Prescott of Groton had the command, & Henry Woods of Pepperel was Major--that this took place a few days subsequent to the Battle of Lexington; that soon after enlisting our company was marched to Cambridge & quartered or lodged in a private dwelling house belonging to a tory, I think, of the name of Gammage, a little to the southward and westward of the Court House--that on the night previous to the Battle of Bunker's Hill, I was on guard in Cambridge & not relieved until seven o'clock in the morning--that having taken breakfast and understanding that the Regulars were expected to be out in the course of the day, myself, & several others of our company,  obtained permission of Capt Wyman to visit the Hill-- Accordingly we shouldered our muskets and after General Warren fell (whom I did not see) our Col. Prescott took then chief command; that I saw him mount the breastwork, & when he judged it necessary to retreat, heard him give the order for "every man to take care of himself"--That I remained, after this, at Cambridge until about the last of Oct. when being out of health, & unfit for duty, I was permitted, by my commanding officer, to return home to Ashby; having been in the service of country, to the best of my knowledge and belief, full six months.----------

"And I further testify & declare that in May or June of the year 1776 I was hired by Capt. Parker of Westford in Col. Bullard's regiment, that our place of destination was Ticonderoga, that we first marched to Ashburnham, where we halted several days collecting soldiers from that & some neighbouring towns, thence passed through Keene to NH where we tarried two or three days & then crossed the river to Cavendish, from there marched to Rutland and a little above the mouth of Otter Creek, took boats & proceeded up to Ticonderoga, a distance of only a few miles,
Page 5

where we remained through the summer & fall. 
Our duty at this station was not hard, the principal labour we were called upon to perform being the creation of two small forts on the lake; that we had no fighting & saw no enemy, excepting that on one occasion, after Arnold's defeat on Lake Champlain, of while the British had possession of Crown Point, a reconnoitering party from there, partly by land & partly by water, showed themselves, & exchanged a few shots with our people; that we had no barracks, just lived in tents; that the dysentery was considerably prevalent at this Fort, & carried off many; & that a few days before the expiration of the term for which I had enlisted, I was discharged and returned home, the tops of the mountains & hills being at the same time covered with snow.
And I, the said Richard Crocker, do further testify & declare, that in the month of July of the year 1777 I was agreed with by a [Class] of the inhabitants of Ashby for the sum of fifteen paper dollars, in addition to my monthly wages, to perform as a soldier, a five month tour of duty, to the westward, to assist in stopping the progress of Gen. Burgoyne. That we marched from Ashby through Fitchburg to Amherst, where we crossed over Connecticut River to Northampton, where I saw a number of General Stark's captured Hessians--that from thence we were marched to Bennington, & from Bennington to a place then called Follet, where we remained a few days, & were ordered out on a scouting party with only three days allowance, that we proceeded to Ticonderoga, & thereabouts fell in with & joined a similar party under a Col. Brown, who then took the command of the whole, that at the French Mills (so called) we took shipping with a view of attacking their garrison on Diamond Island, in Lake George, but before we had time to land on the Island, the fire of the enemy was so hot upon us, that it was found necessary to retreat to the main land, where we abandoned our craft, & left to the mercy of the enemy, one man, of the name of Shattuck, belonging to Pepperell, so badly wounded as not to admit of being brought off--that we then made the best of our way through the wilderness to Skenesborough, where we arrived on the third day, after a tedious march; that from there we were ordered to Stillwater, & there joined the army under Gen. Gates, the day before the last battle with Burgoyne; on which occasion the company to which I belonged was stationed on the lines, on the right wing of the American army, & was not at any time engaged with the enemy; that after the surrender of Burgoyne we were marched to Albany, & from there by land to Newburgh, where we were embarked on a schooner that conveyed us down to Tarrytown, on the east side of the river; that we were there marched to a place, (the name of which I have forgotten) about three miles below the White Plains, where we remained three or four weeks, & were then discharged, the term for which we enlisted having expired--That I do not recollect the names of the officers, either regimental or company, under whom I served in the year 1777, accepting that Col. Brown, before mentioned, was our commanding officer a part of the time;--that the present Col. John Porter of Littleton, in this Commonwealth, was our Adjutant, a man from Ashby, of the name Gibson, was one of the sergeants of the company to which I belonged.--That I never had any written discharges, have no documentary evidence, & know of no person, whose testimony I can provide, who can testify to my services--That I thereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, & declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state--That I have lived
Page 6

"Richard Crocker Son of James Crocker and Abigail his wife born July 23rd 1758---"
Testifies that the above is a true copy of the record the Town of Salisbury
Salisbury Sept.5th 1832
John Colby
Town Clerk
Page 7

in Salisbury, aforesaid, the last forty years, am now in the seventy fifth year of my age, & that the persons whose names I am about to state, & who all now live in my present neighbourhood, have the goodness to permit me, on this occasion, to say that they can testify as to my character for veracity, and their belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution, viz. Robert Fowler, Ebenezer Pearson, Colonel Nathaniel Fifield, Capt. Reuben Osgood & Capt. William A. Mills, who is one of the present Selectmen of the said town of Salisbury--- & also Revd. Thomas Rich & Samuel Nye Esquire
Richard Crocker

Sworn to, & subscribed, the day & year aforesaid
DA White Judge of Probate 

We Thomas Rich, a clergyman residing in the town of Salisbury aforesaid, and Samuel Nye Esquire, a magistrate, residing in the same Salisbury, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Richard Crocker who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy four years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion-------
Thomas Rich
Samuel Nye

Essex, [dt] September 7th AD 1832. Then personally appeared Thomas Rich and Samuel Nye, and made oath in due form of law, that the above written certificate by them signed in my presence; is true. Edward Dorr, Justice of the Peace. 
And the said Court hereby declares its opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogators prescribed by the War Department, that the aforementioned applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, & served as he states. And the Court further certifies that Thomas Rich, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in Salisbury & that the said Samuel Nye who also signed the same is a Magistrate resident of said Salisbury, & is a credible person, & that their statement is entitled to credit---
DA White Judge of Probate

I Nathaniel Lord Jun. Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the  original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Richard Crocker for a pension------
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this eleventh day of September AD. 1832.
Nathaniel Lord
Page 8

Richard Crocker's declaration
Salisbury Massachusetts
14070
Page 9

Richard Crocker
Massachusetts

Private 17 Months

14070
Page 10

Brief in the case of Richard Crocker
Co of Essex in the State of Mass
(Act 7th June, 1832)

1.Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 74
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. Table headings:
Period
Duration of Service
Rank
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Spring 1775 enlisted for 6 months as a private under (Gen) Capt. Wyman, Col Prescott
June 1776 substitute [ ] for 6 months as a private under (Gen) Capt. Parker, Col. Bullard 
July 1777 served 5 months as a private under (Gen) _____, Col. Brown
5. In what battles was he engaged? Battle of Bunker's Hill
6. Where did he reside when he entered the services?  Ashby Mass
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence or by the rolls? Traditionary
8 Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Payton
Examining Clerk
Page 11

2436
Massachusetts

Polly Crocker
Widow of Richard Crocker, Decd.
who as a pensioner under the Act of 7 June 1832
and who died on the 23rd July, 1836----
Essex Co in the State of Mass:--
who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Wyman of the Regt commanded by Col. Bullard in the Massachusetts ma
for 17 months--, private--

Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts---
the rate of 56 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, 
commence on the 24th:
July, 1836

Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of April 
1839 and sent to W. Woart,
Newburyport, Massachusetts

Arrears to the 4th of March 1839 $147.91
Semi=annual allowance ending --$ 28.33
                                                       ---------
                                                       $176.24
                                                       ----------
{Act July 7, 1838}
Recorded by Wm Stewart   Clerk,
Book A--Vol.--1--Page 80
Page 12

2304
Polly Crocker
Wid of Richard
Mass
AD July 7 1838
Married 1793
died 23rd July 1836
Allow $56.66 per
Anum from 23rd July 1836

W Woart
Newburyport
Mass
Page 13

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Essex, ss.  Probate Office

I Nathaniel Lord junior, register of probate for said county, hereby certify, that the honorable Daniel A. White, before whom the declaration hereto annexed of Polly Crocker reports to have been taken is the judge of probate for said county; and his name, subscribed to the certificate thereon, is his genuine signature; and that Edward Dorr esquire, before whom the several affidavits hereto annexed of Robert Fowler, Stephen Lowell and Azor O. Webster purport to have been taken, is a justice of the peace for said county; and his name subscribed to the certificate on each, is his genuine signature.---

Given under my hand and seal of office, this fourth day of October, A.D. 1838.
Nathaniel Lord Jr.
Page 14

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th July, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay, and pensions to certain widows"--

State of Massachusetts-Essex county ss- On this Eighth day of August in the year of our LORD, one thousand and eight hundred and thirty Eight-before the Honorable Daniel A White, Judge of Probate for the county of Essex
personally appeared Polly Crocker, resident of Salisbury, County and State aforesaid, aged Seventy Six years who being first duly sworn, according to Law, doth on her oath made the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled [illegible] granting half pay and pensions to certain widows".-- That she is widow of Richard Crocker deceased, who was a private, and served in the Army of the United States, in the War of the revolution, as she has always understood and believed nearly Eighteen months for which services he was enrolled on the pension list, roll of Massachusetts Agency, under the Laws of the United States of the 7th June 1832--Certificate which was duly issued to him under date May 20th 1833, the benefit of which he continued to receive until his decease- and [ ] received by her on surrender of said Certificate to which are such papers and documents as may be on file in the Office of the War department- she asks leave respectfully to refer, in support of her declaration and proof of the service of her said husband the said Richard Crocker Certificate [ ] number 15.115.
And the said Polly Crocker doth further on her oath declare that she was lawfully married to the said Richard Crocker at Salisbury on the twenty second day of July, in the year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and ninety three by Benjamin Evans Esq. That her said husband, the said Richard Crocker died at said Salisbury on the twenty second day of July one thousand Eight hundred and thirty six. That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the said service, but the marriage took place [prior] to the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety four, to wit at the time she has above stated-as will appear by the proofs annexed.
Sworn and subscribed the day, month and year above written.
DA White Judge Probate
Polly Crocker her mark
Edward Dorr, witness
Page 15

I Robert Fowler, of Salisbury in the County Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy eight years on oath do declare, that Richard Crocker, who was late of the same Salisbury; a revolutionary pensioner of the United States; and who died at said Salisbury, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty six, was well known to me. That said Richard Crocker left a widow at his decease, viz. Polly Crocker who is now making application to the Government of the United States for a pension under the Law of 7th July 1838. That said Polly Crocker is also well known to me. And I do know that she is at this time remaining the widow of said Richard Crocker and has not intermarried since his decease. I live in his immediate neighborhood. Salisbury October 2nd 1838
Robert Fowler 

I Stephen Lowell of Salisbury, aforenamed; aged sixty four years, on oath do declare that the above named Richard Crocker, was well known to me. I know the fact that he died about two years ago: that he left a widow, Polly Crocker above named, who is also well known to me: that said Polly Crocker is at this time remaining the widow of said Richard Crocker deceased; and has not intermarried since his decease. Salisbury October 2nd 1838.
Stephen Lowell

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, ss. October 2nd 1838. Then Robert Fowler & Stephen Lowell, above named, who are both personally known to me. Personally came and severally made oath in due form of law, to the truth of the above written depositions by them respectively subscribed in my presence. I do also certify that the above named Robert Fowler and Stephen Lowell are both respectable citizens, and that full confidence may be placed in their testimony.
Edward Dorr, Justice Peace.
Page 16

I Azor O. Webster Clerk of the town of Salisbury in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, certify that it appears on the records of said town that Richard Crocker and Polly Cram were joined in marriage the twenty second day of July one thousand seven hundred and ninety three by Benjamin Evans Justice of the Peace. 
I further certify that the above is a true copy of record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible words and figures as follows "July 22th 1793."
I also certify that it appears on the records of said town that Richard Crocker died July twenty second, one thousand eight hundred and thirty six, expressed in the record thus ("July 22, 1836").

I Azor O. Webster above named, depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk of Salisbury above named in the County and State aforesaid; and that the above are true extracts from the records of said town with the exception above named as certified by me.
Azor O. Webster
Clerk of the town of Salisbury

State of Massachusetts
Essex County
Town of Salisbury. August 3rd: 1838. Then personally came the above named Azor O. Webster, and made oath in due form of law, to the truth of the above written copies of record, by him subscribed and sworn in my presence. And I certify that he is Clerk of said town & a credible witness.
Edward Dorr 
Justice Peace
Page 17

Richard Crocker Mass Act June 7, 1832 when paid
Died 23d July 1836 to that period
H H
Page 18

Pension Calculations
Page 19

Mass
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14533
Polly Crocker
Widow of 
Richard Crocker
Priv Rev. War
Act:  July 7th, 1838
Index:--Vol. A, Page 154
(Arrangement of 1870)