Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,842, Josiah Bacon, Mass.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Massachusetts

Bacon, Josiah

NUMBER
S. 30,842
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Issued three rations of potatoes
January 13, 1781

[illegible] January 14th 1781 
[illegible] 
Rations
Daniel Petkin
Providence [illegible] January [illegible]
Served in [illegible] with two days of provision
Jos. Wallace AC

Josiah Bacon (Baken)
S.F. 30842
Massachusetts
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Josiah Baken A [illegible] of Colonel Putnam's Regiment has served six months as a soldier and is hereby discharged the service [sp]
 of the United States.
Given under my hand, ^ at Quarter's West Point

 [illegible]10th days 
Ezra Newhall, Lieutenant Colonel's [illegible]

at the spring company at the several [illegible] are readjusted to deliver [illegible] to the above named soldier sufficient to carry him to [illegible]borough in the Massachusetts state.

Ezra Newhall
Lieutenant Colonel [illegible]
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S. Maine
11.373

Josiah Bacon
of Kennebec County in the State of Maine who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Wilmor of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Putnam in the Massachusetts Troops
9 months Private
$30

Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 30 Dollars per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of April 1833 and sent to R. C. Vose, Augusta, Maine

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 - $60.
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 September 1833 - $15.
[total] $75.

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by J. T. Sprague, Clerk,
Book E, Vol. 1, Page 3

New certificate issued 2nd September 1833.
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Josiah Ba[strikethrough]ken [end strikethrough] con
Private. Massachusetts troops.
Wilmot's Company
No. 6426
3 months
Hudang's Company, Putnam's Regiment
6 months

9 months as a private
Applicant infirm. Certified by Judge April 11, 1833 in open Court.

9 months
at $30.
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Declaration.

In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State of Main,
Kennebec County, }ss.

On this fourth day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared before the Honorable Nathan Weston, Junior, a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, of said State, Josiah Baken [sp], a resident of Winthrop in the County of Kennebec and State of Main, aged seventy year, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1779 with Captain Wilmot and served in Colonel (not recollected) regiment of the Massachussetts line or troops under the following named officers: ori viz, Wilmot Captain & he cannot now state his Colonel. That he enlisted in that company & regiment as a private in February or March 1779 for three months. That this period he served out at Warwick, Rhode Island, & was discharged there in May or June of the same year.
That in July 1780 he enlisted as a private for six onths in Captain Hudan's company in Colonel Putnam's regiment of the same troops & after serving out the full term of his enlistment was discharged at West Point the tenth of January 1781, which discharge was in writing signed by Lieutenant Colonel Newhall & is to be annexed to this declaration.

And to the interrogatories propounded under the instructs of the War department, he answers:
That he was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts in the year 1762 where he presumed his age is recorded & where his home was during his revolutionary series. That he enlisted was not drafted or received as a substitute. That from his first service he was discharged verbally. From his second service he received a written discharge as above mentioned. That he had named such of his officers as he now recollects. That any of his neighbors will testify to his character for veracity & their belief of his services. That he cannot produce proof of his service in 1779.
That he removed from Attleboro to Maine & has lived in said Winthrop about forty years.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, 
Josiah Bacon
Before Nathan Weston Junior, Justice S.J.C.
And the said Judge does hereby declare his opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. 
Nathan Weston Junior
State of Main
April 4, 1833 It has been made to appear to my satisfaction that the above named applicant by reason of age & infirmity, cannot without prejudice to his health appear in open Court to renew his declaration & again to make oath to the same.
Nathan Weston
Justice S.J.C.
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I Rial Stanley of Winthrop, a revolutionary soldier, aged seventy three years, do upon oath testify & declare, that in the years 1778 & 1779 I lived in Attleboro, Massachusetts, & well know that the within named Josiah Bacon served three months in Captain Wilmot's Company as he has first within stated. That Is I knew the fact from what I knew & heard at the time & have always understood & believed.
Rial Stanley
State of Main
Kennebec, ss:}
Subscribed & sworn to this fourth day of August A.D. 1832, the deponent being a credible witness.
Robert C. Vose, Justice of the Peace

State of Main,
Kennebec, as I, John A. Chandler, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts held within and for the County of KIennebec, hereby certify that the Honorable Nathan Weston, Junior, before whom the within proceedings was had, is a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of said State; I also certify that the within contains the original proceedings of the said Judge, in the matter of the application of Josiah Baken [sp] for a pension & that Robert C. Vose, Esquire is a Justice of the Peace for said County.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court, this 4th day of August A.D. 1832
J.A. Chandler
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6426
BRIEF in the case of Josiah Baker [sp] of Winthrop in the State of Maine
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Judge of the Supreme Judicial court.
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? no.
#. How old is he? 70 years.
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period.
February or March in 1779
Duration of Service.
3 months
Rank.
As a Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom e served.
Captain Wilmot's Company, Massachusetts enlisted.

Period: July 1780 [illegible] 10 January 1781
Duration of Service.
6 months 
Rank.
[illegible]
Names of Generals and Field Officers under whom he served.
Captain Hudson's Company. Colonel Putnam's Regiment } [illegible]

5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated.
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? not stated.
7. Is his statement suppported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 1st term partially by one witness, credible.
2nd term, by documentary proof (his discharge).
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct.

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Examining Clerk.
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30842
Revolutionary INVALID.

File No. 30,842
Josiah Bacon
Private, Revolutionary War

Act: June 7th 1832
Index: Vol. 2, Page 25
(Arrangement of 1870.)
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Admitted & completed.
Notified.

Josiah Bacon
11.372
30.00

Payments to be made at Portland, Maine by First U.S. Branch Bank
Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of Maine.

Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book E, Volume 1, Page 3 by John F. Sprague, Clerk.
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.

I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Josiah Baker of the State of Maine who was a Private in the Army of the Revolution is entitled to receive Thirty dollars and - cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 25th day of April, one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
Lew Cass
Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned.}
J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
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6429
BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which the answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Josiah Baker which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the application 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 amount of pension he is entitled?
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 that the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? No. No judge has.
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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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their beliefs respect to age and the central 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? none
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he state in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
IV. 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 paper authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?

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, etc. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposits 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 militias, etc. 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 shown 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. Made 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 form being improperly attached to the certificate.