Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 26,886, for Amos Phillips, Massachusetts
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SERVICE Mass. Phillips, Amos or Philips, Priscilla
NUMBER W. 26,886
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[Preprinted for with handwritten answers]
Vermont 18.862
Amos Philips of Georgia Dr in the State of Vermont who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Partridge of the regt. commaned by Col Hall in the Map line for 6 mo. M. 78. d. 36 no roll Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. Certificate of Pension issued the 19 day of Octr 1833 and Sent to Wm. Bridges St Albany Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $50.00 Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 34. 10.00 $60.00 Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book [illegible] Vol. 3. Page 84
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Let to Wm Bridges 
Nov. 20. 1839 Sept 8 same day
[Preprinted form with handwritten answers]
Vermont 3269
Priscilla Phillips widow of Amos Phillips, dec who was a pensioner under the Act of 7 June 1832 and who died on the 1st Sept 1836 of Franklin Co in the State of Vermont
who was a private in the Co. commanded
Captain Pattridge of the Regt commanded
Col. Hull in the mussts line for 6 mos. Inscribed on the Roll of Burlington, Vt. at the rate of 20. Dollars [Cents crossed out] per annum, to 
commence on the 1st day of Sept 1836
Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of June 1839, and sent to W. Bridges St Albans Vermt. Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1839 $50.16
Semi=annual allowance ending 4 Sep '39 10.00
$60.16 Act July 7, 1838.  dy, Clerk. Page 52
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William Bridges Esqr.
St. Albans
Franklin County
Vermont
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Married by Zedekiah Sanger pastor of
the church of Christ in Duxborough December
Twenty fourth Seventeen hundred seventy eight Amos Phillips & Priscilla Seabury The above is a true copy of the record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows
December 24, 1778 Josiah Moore Pastor of the church of Christ in Duxborough
I Josiah Moore above named depose & say that I hold the office of Pastor of the church of Christ in Duxborough whereof Zedekiah Sanger was pastor & that the above is a true extract from the record with the exception above named as certified by me Josiah Moore Pastor of the church of Christ in Duxborough State of Massachusetts Plymouth County ss Sworn to on this twenty fifth of December 1838 before me
Seth Sprague Jr Jus Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth ss.
I Jacob H. Loud Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Seth Sprague Jr.
Esquire is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & that the within is his true & proper signature. In testimony whereof I have hereto
set my hand & the seal of the Court of
Probate for said County this twenty eighth day
of December 1838
Jacob H. Lord
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Duxbury December 29 1838
Dear Sir Agreeably to your request I send legal evidence of the marrige [marriage] of Amos Phillips and Priscilla Seabury
After a fruitless search of the town records
had recourse to church records where you
perceive I found it. My travel to the shire town of
our county to obtain the Register's certificate,
paying him his fee, the fee of the Justice my own labor &c. amount to Five Dollars. You will therefore please send three Dollars.
which will be your discharge for any
demand we have for furnishing said papers
My respectfully
Your Obt. Servt
Ralph Partridge
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4778
Precilla Phillips
Wid of Amos
Ver
Act July 7 1838
Married 1778
died 1 Sept 1836
Allow $20 per an
Wm Bridge,
St Albans
Pirscilla Phillips
Cx
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th July 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay to pensions to certain widows: State of Vermont Georgia Districts ss On this 18th day of August 1838 personally appeared before the court of Probate in and for the District afsd Priscilla Philips a resident of Fletcher in the County of Franklin & State afsd aged seventy nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay & pensions to certain widows; That she is the widow of Amos Philips who was a private in the army of the Revolution enlisted at Duxborough Massachusetts his place of residence and served six months at Rhode Island under Capt Calvin Partridge with whom I was acquainted she being a resident of said Duxborough when said Philips entered the service & according to the best of her recollection it was the same year that Gen Burgoyne's army surrendered at Saratoga She further declares that she was married to the sd Amos Phillips on the 24th day of December seventeen hundred and seventy eight, that her husband the afsd Amos Philips died on the first day of September 1836, and that at the time of his death he was a pensioner of the United States under
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the act of 7th of June 1832 Vt agency. That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January Seventeen hundred & ninety four Yrs at the time above stated Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year above written
Priscilla her X mark Philips Before me William Bridges Judge of Probate In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Probate Court at St Albans in the District
of Georgia & state of Vermont this 18th day of August 1838 Wm Bridges Judge
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Amos Philips
Claim
for a Pension
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[Preprinted form with handwritten answers]
DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 27th, 1832.
STATE OF VERMONT,
FRANKLIN COUNTY, SS.
On this 25th day of July 1833, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Probate, now sitting, Amos Phillips a resident of Cambridge in the county of Franklin, and State of Vermont, age 81 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 act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated.
The applicant deposeth and saith that he was
born in Duxbury County of Plymouth and
State of Massachusetts, on the 7th day of October 1751. Has no record of his age, was a resident of sd Duxbury when he entered the service of the United States, and lived there till he was forty years of age, from thence he moved to Londonderry and from thence to Handcock New Hampshire and from thence to Cambridge Vt where he has lived thirty years past. That at Duxbury aforesaid in the year 1776, in the month of May he enlisted for six months, and served under Capt Calvin Partridge of S. Duxbury, Lieut. Packard & Ensign Beals of Abington Mass. Col Hall and Lieut Col Sprant's Regt. march from said Duxbury to Rhode Island, stationed a part of the time at Newport, employed in guarding the place and stores, in company with Col Cooks Regt which was also stationed on the Island. From Newport a part of Col Hall's Regt including Capt Partridge's company moved
from Newport to what was then calld Brittains
Point, there a short time and from thence back to Newport, where he was stationed till his time-
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expired, which was on the 18th day of Nov
ember 1776, Received no discharge at the close of his campaign-
He has no documentary evidence whatever &
knows of no person whose testimony he can
procure, who can testify to his service. 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 ⎬ Amos Phillips
We George W. Renslow of Georgia late of Cambridge and Sarah Willoughby of Fletcher and Henry Stowell of Cambridge hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Amos Phillips who has subscribed and worn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be Eighty one 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; we further certify that the applicant Amos Phillips is a man of strict integrity one whose statement is entitled to the fullest credit
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Sworn to & Subscribed 
the day and year [illegible]
George W Ranslow
Z. Willoughby
Henry Stowell
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 the Rev G.W. Renslow [Ranslow] of Georgia, but late of Cambridge is a Clergyman that Zerah Willoughby, who now resides in Fletcher, has formerly been one of the Judges of the County Court for the County of Franklin, and that Henry Stowell, is a respectable Attorney at Law resident in said Cambridge, and a credible person, and their statement is entitled to credit Stephen S. Brown Judge  I Aaron S Beeman, Clerk of the Court of Probate hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Amos Philips for a pension
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In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of Office this
25th day of July AD 1833
Aaron S Beeman
Clerk
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WIDOW, &c.
File No. 26886
Priscilla Phillips
Wid of
Amos Phillips
Priv Mass Line
Act: July 7th 1838
Index: -- Vol. P, Page 129
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Please direct to W. Bridges at St Albans Vt
Amos Phillips Burlington [illegible] W. Jun 7
$20. d. 1836 When paid H H L
Died 1st Sep 1836 [illegible] to that [illegible] JH
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Amos Philips 
[illegible]
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[Preprinted form with hand written answers]
BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Amos Philips which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
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?
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 [amount] of pension he is entitled?
a more detailed account of service should be given
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
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?
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[Preprinted form with handwritten answers]

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? No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No
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?
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?
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?
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?
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no vide Quere 16
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? [And][crossed out] No
if not, which of them is not so answered?
and --
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 pro[illegible] the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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Hon J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D.C.
Pris Phillips
Sarah Miller
Cath
Fleming
[illegible]
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State of Vermont Franklin Co
St Albans Nov 14th 1839
Hon J.L. Edwards
Mrs Priscilla Phillips, Sarah
Miller and Catharine Fleming, have
applied for their pension money and I am
informed by Mr Clark the agent that their
names are not upon the roll, will you
have the goodness to return their names.
I have the [illegible] to be
with due respect your
obd servt
Wm Bridges
Hon J L Edwin
Com of Pensions
No 3269 Pris Phillips
4093 Cath Fleming
4089 Sarah Miller
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No 5378
Declaration
of Amos Philips
for a Pension
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[Preprinted form with handwritten answers]
DECLARATION.
Revolutionary claim, under an Act of Congress, Passed June 7th, A. D. 1832.
STATE OF VERMONT, DISTRICT OF GEORGIA, SS. Franklin County Probate Court, July 25
A. D. 1832. Personally appeared in open Court, being the Probate Court for the County of Franklin, and a Court of Record for said County, and State of Vermont, as will appear by the first section of a Statute Law of said State, entitled "An act constituting Probate Courts Court of Record," -- passed November 15th, A. D. 1821, [see 1st. section of said act,]
Amos Philips aged 81 years, resident in Cambridge in said County, who being first duly 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 7th, A.D. 1832.
At Duxbrough, Plymouth County in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the year
1777 in the month of September he enlisted
and served in Capt Calvin Partridges company
for six months and marched from said Duxborough to Rhode Island, in the Regiment
commanded by Col Hull - stationed at Newport employed while there guarding the stores -from Newport marched to Brittans Point was dismissed at Newport did not recieve any written discharge
He has no documentary evidence whatever. and he knows of no person whose
testimony he can procure who can testify to his service
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present,
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Amos Philip
We Zerah Willoughby of Fletcher, and Truman Powell a resident of Cambridge hereby certify that we are personally acquainted with
Amos Philips of Cambridge, in the County
of Franklin & State of Vermont who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eighty one 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
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Z Willoughby Truman Powell
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the [rest is illegible]
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He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present,
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Amos Philips
We Zerah Willoughby of Fletcher, and Truman Powell a resident of Cambridge hereby certify that we are personally acquainted with Amos Philips of Cambridge, in the County of Franklin & State of Vermont who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eighty one 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
Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid 
Z Willoughby Truman Powell
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 mentioned applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.
And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them the Truman Powell, who has signed the preceeding [preceding] certificate is a credible person and that Zerah Willoughby who has also signed the same, has formerly been a Judge of the County Court within and for the County of Franklin and their statements are entitled to credit
And the Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
William Bridges Judge
I, John Gates, jr. Register of the Court of Probate for the district aforesaid, do hereby
certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matters of the application of Amos Philips for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 25 day of July A. D. 1832
John Gates Jud
Register.