Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,370, Stephen Damon, Mass.
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service     number
Mass.  Damon, Stephen  S.30,370
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15.604
Massachusetts
Stephen Damon
of Franklin in the State of Mass
who was a Private in the Comp'y commanded
by Captain Dwight of the Reg't commanded
by Col. Woodbridge in the Mass
line for 19 months Private

Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 63 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of June
1833 and sent to E Alford
Greenfield Mass

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833   $126.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 31.67
---------
$158.33

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by J W Clagett  Clerk
Book E Vol. 2 Page 17
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Stephen Damon
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Franklin County ss.
On this seventeenth day of October A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Judge of Probate now sitting for the said County of Franklin, Stephen Damon a resident of Hawley in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy five 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. (viz.)

That near the last of November or first of December 1775 being then a resident in the Town of Ware County of Hampshire Commonwealth of Massachusetts, he enlisted for two months and served served said term in a Company commanded by Capt Elijah Dwight and Lieut Gray, marched from said Ware to Roxbury and Cambridge, was engaged in the erection of a fort at Lechmere Point, also drawing out a British Vessel from Charles River between Boston and Charlestown and therefor the boring of some houses in Charleston which were occupied by the British as guardhouses, was discharged and returned home the last of January or beginning of February 1776. -

Also inn June 1776 enlisted for five Months on served said term of time in a Company commanded by Jehiel Munger, Woodbridge's Regiment _______ Brigade, marched to Ticonderoga witnesses the destruction of the American Fleet on Lake Champlain by the British was discharged in November in said year 1776 -

Also in July 1777 enlisted four months and served said term Capt. Chatham's Company Col. Woodbridge's Regiment Gen'l Warner's Brigade, marched to Bennington arrived there soon after the Battle at that place from there to Pollet and to Stillwater was there when a battle was fought at Bemis Heights pursued the enemy to Saratoga, was there at the time the British Army under the command of Gen'l Burgoyne surrendered to the American Army commanded by Gen'l Gates, then marched under the command of Gen'l Warner to White Plains at which place place was discharged in November 1777.

Also in May 1781 was enlisted by Joseph Mcclentick under the sanction of Maj. [illegible] for eight months as a teamster and served more than said term; went from Ware to Springfield at which place took loading drove to Clover--- landing on the North River, thence down said river to the main Army, was there placed under the command of the continental Conductors, marched to White Plains under Gen'l Glover, continued there till the 20th of August then marched back up river 20 or 30 miles was there with these teams detached and taken to Virginia. carried the Baggage of Col. Cortland's Regiment, was then employed in transporting provisions and ammunition from James' River to the Army near Yorktown and was there at the time of the surrender of the Army under Gen'l Cornwallis October 17 after which was taken sick with the fever & ague, went by water to Chesapeak Bay, thence on foot to Philadelphia
was sent for by friends and helped home in the month of February 1782 making term of more than nine months and in all twenty months. -

Answers to interrogatories
Was born in Ware in 1757. Has a record of age at said Ware, was living there when called into service, since which have lived in Hawley where he is now living, voluntarily enlisted into said service, recollects Gen'l Washington at Cambridge was on his guard, also Gates &  Arnold at Ticonderoga and Saratoga, and Washington at Yorktown, never received any written discharge, am known by Rev. Jonathan Grout and Edmond Longly Jr.
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Stephen Damon
Hawley
22330
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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
E. Newcomb Judge of Probate
Stephen Damon

We, Jonathan Grout a Clergyman residing in the Town of Hawley and Edmund Longley on
residing in the same place hereby certify that we well acquainted who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we
believe him to be seventy five 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 and
R. E. Newcomb Judge of Probate
Jonathan Grout
Edmund Longley

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 Jonathan Grout who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident of the town of Hawley, and Edmund Longley Jun Esq. who has also signed the same is a resident in said Hawley and is a Justice of the Peace
son of credit; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
R. E. Newcomb Judge of Probate

I, ELIJAH ALVORD, Register 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 for a pension.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, this sixteenth day of October in the year of our LORD one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. 
Alvord, Reg. Prob
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No. 22330

Stephen Damon Franklin
County Massachusetts

Private  19 mos


E. Alford Greenfield
Massachusetts
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BRIEF in the case of Stephen Danson
County of Franklinin the State of Massachusettsm(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?
old is he? 75 years

3. How old is he? 75 years

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

Period.
Enlisted In 1775
Enlisted - 1776
Enlisted - 1777
Enlisted - 1781


Duration of Service.
2 months
5 montha
4 months
8 months

Rank.
As a
private
private
private
private

Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.

Gen. Warner, Gates, Washington
Cap E. Dwight, 

Cap Munger, Woodridge, Brochett
Cap Chapin, Col Woodbridge
Major Cogswell

5. In what battles was he engaged? (Bennis Hights?)

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Hampshire County Massachusetts

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

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
Richd Heg Watts
Examining Clerk.
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Rev. A1812 Wars Section.
ADY

August 21, 1929.

Benjamin F. Damon,
137-80 Street
Jackson Heights, New York.

Dear Sir:
I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 30370, it appears that Stephen Damon was born in 1757 in Ware, Massachusetts.

He enlisted in Ware, Hampshire County, Massachusetts about the first of December 1775 and served two months as a
private in Captain Elijah Dwight's Massachusetts Company.

He enlisted June 1776 as a private in Captain Jehiel Munger's Company, Colonel Woodbridge's Massachusetts Regiment and served to November 1776.

He enlisted July 1777 as a private in Captain
Chapin's Company, Colonel Woodbridge's Massachusetts Regiment, was at the battle of Stillwater and surrender of Burgoyne and served to November 1777.

He enlisted May 1781 as a teamster under Joseph McClentick and Major Cogswell, was at the surrender of Cornwallis and served to February 1782.
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He was allowed pension on his application executed Oct 17, 1832 while a resident of Hawley, Franklin County, Massachusetts. 

There is no family data. 
No discharge paper was filed with his application for pension. 

Very truly yours, 


Earl D. Church
Commissioner.
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30 370
Revy INVALID.

File No. 30,370
Stephen Damon
Pvt Rev War

Act June 7th 32
Index:-Vol. 2, Page 102

[Arrangement of 1870.]

1929 Aug. 21. Hist. to Benj. F. Damon. AP.Y
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Stephen Damon which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes

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? Yes

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? Yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?  Yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes

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?  Yes
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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? yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?

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? Witness

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? yes

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? Yes

Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes

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?  Yes

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  Yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  yes

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 emend 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 is 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 ____years, _____ months, and ___ days, I served as a ______ For ____ months and  _____days
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 indefinit, 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, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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Stephen Damon
Aff

Edward Porter's Deposition
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I Edward Porter of Buckland in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being of lawful age do testify and declare that I am well acquainted with Stephen Damon of Hawley in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid and am knowing to his having served his country as a soldier in the army of the Revolution, that is, I was knowing to his having enlisted into the Company commanded by Capt. Elijah Dwight of Belchertown in 1775 and know that he was absent from home for the span of two months because I hired in his house during his absence and it was said and I verily believe that his served during said term in the army at Cambridge near Boston I think during the months of November ad December in the year 1775 - And know of his having enlisted for five months togo to Ticonderoga in1776 and know that his was absent from home for the above time - Also was knowing to his the said Damon's enlisting into the army in 1777 to go to Saratoga to stop the progress of Gen. Burgoyne and know that he was from home a
four or five months - thence in 1781 the said Stephen enlisted for eight months under Maj. Cogswell for the Wagon department - went to the Southward - was sick at Yorktown with the fever and ague - got back as far as Philadelphia - his friends sent there for him - he was absent near ten months -
Hawley 23rd June 1832 - Edward Porter

Franklin ss. 23 June 1832 Then the above named Edward Porter personally appeared and made solemn oath to the truth of the above Deposition by him subscribed; and I certify that he is a credible witness
Before me John Tobey Justice of the Peace
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Josiah Davis’ Deposition
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I Josiah Davis of Buckland in the County of Franklin & Commonwealth of Massachusetts being of lawful age do testify and declare that I am well acquainted with Stephen Damon of Hawley in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid and am knowing to his having served his Country as a soldier in the Army of the Revolution, having been five months a soldier in the same Company with him commanded by Captain Jehiel Monger, which service was in A D 1776 and am also knowing that the said Damon continued in said Army in AD 1777. -
Hawley 24th January 1832 Josiah Davis

Franklin ss. 24th January 1832 Then the above named Josiah Davis personally appeared and made solemn oath the the truth of the above Deposition by him subscribed and I certify that he is a credible witness
Before me John Tobey Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss. I Elijah Alvord Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the county of Franklin do hereby certify that John Tobey Esq before whom the above and annexed affidavits were made and sworn to is a Justice of the Peace for the said county; and that his to the affidavits respectively subscribed appears to me to be his genuine signature. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set by hand and affixed the seal of the said court this seventeenth day of October A.D. 1832
E Alvord Clerk
[embossed seal]
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BENJAMIN F. DAMON
137 SOTH STREET
JACKSON HEIGHTS, N. Y.

May 27, 1929

Bureau of Pensions
Washington, DC

Gentlemen:
In an old pension book of the year 1835 I find record of a pension of  $63.33 a year to Stephen Damon of Hawley, Mass age 77.
As a full record of his Revolutionary War
service was probably given with hisapplication for this pension, I am wondering if you could favor me with a copy of same, advising me if you have discharge or other papers which might be of interest to a decendant

Cordially yours,
Benjamin F. Damon

P. S.
Stephen Damon lived in Ware Mass
when he enlisted

[Stamp imprint - U.S. Pension Office  May 28, 1929)