Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29071, Jonathan Cheney, Mass.
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(8-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
Mass. Cheney, Jonathan S. 29071
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86
Epex
15047
Massachusetts
Jonathan Cheney
of Essex in the State of Mass
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Gerrish of the Rgt. commanded
by Col. Little in the Mass
line for (illegible) months
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 23 dollars 33 cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 21st day of May
1833 and sent (illegible)
(illegible) Newburyport Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $46.66
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sept. " 11.64
$58.33
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by D D Aoorsen Clerk,
Book E Vol. 2d Page 11
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS: COUNTY OF ESSES, SS.
On this eleventh day of September, A.D. 1832, personally appeared
before the Honorable Daniel Appleton White, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex
aforesaid, now sitting, Jonathan Cheney, a resident of Rowley, in the 
County of Esses and State of Massachusetts, aged 86 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 7, 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:
He enlisted at Newbury in the month of April, or of May 1775, in the company
commanded by Captain (illegible) Gerrish, in the regiment commanded by Colonel Moses Little,
Massachusetts, militia, and served therein, as a private Soldier at Winterhill until the  
last of December of the same year, the full term of Seven months, the term for which he had
enlisted and was then regularly discharged.
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(illegible) Rev Isaac Braman a Clergyman residing in Rowley aforesaid and Amos J Tenney Esquire
a magistrate residing in Rowley aforesaid, do hereby certify, that we are such acquainted with
Jonathan Cheney who has (illegible and sworn to the (illegible) written declaration , that we believe him
to be Eighty six years of age: that he is respected and believe in the neighborhood where he resides to have
been a Soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion.
Subscribed and sworn by before
W.Waash (illegible) of the pen Isaac Braman
Amos J. Tenney 
And the said court hereby declares its opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and
after putting the interragatories (illegible) by the War Department that the aforenamed appli(?)
was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states-And the (illegible) that the
Rev. Isaac Braman, who has signed the preceeding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in said Rowley
and that the said Amos J. Tenney Esquire who has also signed the same is a magistrate resident
at said Rowley and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled its (illegible).
D A White Judge of Probate
I Nathaniel Lord junior, register of the
court of probate, do hereby certify, that the foregoing 
contains the original proceedings of the said court in
the matter of the application of Jonathan Cheney 
for a pension.  Also that William Woant esquire,
whose name is subscribed to the certificates on the 
affidavits herewith, is a justice of the peace for said county.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal of office this eleventh day 
of September, A.D. 1832
(indecipherable)
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I Thomas Lunt of Rowley, in the County of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty
three years and upwards on oath do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Jonathan Cheney of
Rowley in said County, and do know that the said Jonathan Cheney was a Soldier in the army of the United
States in the war of the revolution, and served therein as a private soldier in the Company commanded by
Captain Jacob Gerrick, in the regiment commanded by Colonel Moses Little at Winter hill, more than seven
months in the year 1775.  I served in the same Company and same regiment with said Cheney and know
that he enlisted in April or May and served until 1 of January 1776.
Newbury (?) Sept. 4th 1832
witness W. Wourz Thomas Lunt "X" my mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex Co. September 4th 1832 Then Thomas Lunt above named, (illegible) is personally known to (?)
(illegible) came and made oath in due form of law, to the truth of the above written disposition by him.
subscribed in my presence.  I do also Certify that said Thomas Lunt is believed by me to be a (illegible) (illegible) (illegible)
W Wourz holder of the Pen
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13588
Jonathan Cheney 
Mass
Private of Month
W. Woart
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BRIEF in the case of Jonathan Cheney
Co of Essex in the state of Mass
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court of a Judge?  before the Judge of Probate
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 86
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed,
Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Years, Months, Days As a Gen.
(illegible) In 1775 enlisted 7 private Cap. Gerrish Col Little
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Newbury Mass
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by 
incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
Traditionary one living witness
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, In what respect?
I Certify that the forgoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above 
mentioned. 
George S Payton 
Examining Clerk
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O.W. and N. Division. 3--525
Sle DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Sur File 29.071 Bureau of Pensions,
Rev. War- Washington, D. C.
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history 
of Jonathan Cheney, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR,
you will find below the desired information as contained in his 
application for pension on file in this Bureau.
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. COLONEL. STATE.
Newbury Mass
Apl or May 
1775 7 mos Pri. Jacob Gerrish Moses Little Mass.
Battles engaged in, none mentioned.
residence of soldier at enlistment, Rowley, Mass.
Date of application for pension, Sept. 11, 1832
Residence at date of application Rowley, Essex Co., Mass.
B Newbury, Mass. 1746 
Remarks: No further family data.
Very respectfully, 
20581b8mll-05 Commissioner.
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to 29071 Dec. 29/97 History
Revy INVALID Mr. A. J. Chene-
Chicago, Ills
File No 29,071 1906 May 21- History to 
Miss Peltz- letter in 8 File
40818- Benj Cheney
Jonathan Cheney
Priv Rev. War
Act: June 7th '32
Index:--Vol. 2, Page 70
[Arrungement of 1870]
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13588
Jonathan Cheney
W. Woart
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which these
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Jonathan Cheney 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 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 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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2
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 revolu-
tionary service? yes
XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain-
ing 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?
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? 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 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 recol-
lection 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 in-
definite, 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 objection-
able.  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 orps 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 em-
ployed 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 magis-
trate 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 cer-
tificate 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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WEBSTER'S
INTERNATIONAL
DICTIONARY
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last 2
[Stamp Upper left]
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Dec 15

[stamp upper right corner]
PENSION OFFICE  US DEC 13, 1897

[Center top of page black stamp]
O  W  & N
DEC 17, 1897 
RECEIVED


G. & C. MERRIAM COMPANY,
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
PUBLISHERS OF WEBSTER'S DICTIONARIES
CHICAGO ILL., Dec. 11, 1897.

A.J. CHENEY, GENERAL AGENT,
12?0 CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE BUILDING. [27 handwritten over last 2 numbers]

Commissioner of Pensions,
Pension Bureau, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Will you kindly inform me of the records in your office for a revolutionary soldier from Essex County, [underscored] Massachusetts, [underscored] by the name of Jonathan Cheney[underscored]?
He was a revolutionary pensioner, and received a pension of $24.33 per annum, as the writer has been informed.  I would like all the information in the Pension Department relating to this revolutionary soldier.
Yours very truly,
AJ. Cheney
Hon. H. Clay Evans,
Washington, D.C.
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[Box upper left]
This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services.
Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department.  Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.

L. W. B.
I. 29071

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.

O.W. & N DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.

December 29, 1897.

Sir:-
Replying to your request for information concerning Jonathan Cheney, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you are advised that he made an application for pension on September 11, 1832, at which time he was 86 years of age and residing at Rousley, Mass., and his pension was allowed for seven months' actual service as a private in the Mass. troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. Gerrish and Col. Little.  He enlisted at Newbury, Mass.

Very respectfully,

Commissioner

Mr. A.J. Cheney,
1227 Chicago Stock Exchange Building,
Chicago, Ills.