Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 37309, for Moses Porter, Massachusetts
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Mass. 

Porter, Moses

NUMBER
S. 37309
B.L.Wt. 934-150

CONTENTS
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from 6,158 [crossed out:Massachusetts] to Maine
Moses Porter of Boxford, Essex in the state of Massachusetts who was an Ensign in the regiment command Colonel Nixon of the Mass. line, for the term of 2 years 

Inscribed on the Roll of Mass: at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence the 3 of April 1818 

Certificate of Pension issued the 29th of Jany 1819 and sent to Honble John Davis Boston 

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1818. 5 mos 2/50 101.33 
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 March 1819 120-
========
 $221.33 
========
{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.} 

[sideways right side]Notificatino sent October 18 
Ichabod Tucker Salem Masstts
LD Stevens Mch 13 1855
" 27 "
& May 5 " --
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No 156
Moses Porter Ensign
Nixons Masst Regt
1777 to 1779

Correct
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M Davis
Dist Judge Mass Dist

"I do hereby certify that Ensign Moses Porter of Capt Jabez Lane's Company in Col. Thomas Nixons Regiment in the service of the United States raised in the state of Massachusetts Bay did take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America as prescribed by a resolve of Congress, bearing date the 3d of February, 1778. 

In witness whereof, I have signed and delivered the present Certificate. Fish hill May 8th 1778. 

MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, SS. Boston June of A.D. 1818 
IT appearing to my satisfaction, that Moses Porter subscriber to the annexed declaration, sworn to before me, did serve in the revolutionary war against the common enemy, as stated in said declaration, I now transmit the testimony in the case, with the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the department of war, pursuant to the directions of the act entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary "war;" the testimony and proceedings in the premises being the declaration aforesaid, with the accompanying documents marked A. B. together with this certificate. 

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the District Court of the United States for this District to be hereunto affixed. 
M Davis {Judge of the District Court U.S. Massachusetts District.
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M Davis Dist Judge Mass Dist 
"I do hereby certify that Ensign Moses Porter of Capt Jabez Lane's Company in Col. Thomas Nixons Regiment in the service of the United States raised in the State of Massachusetts Bay did take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America as prescribed by a resolve of Congress, bearing date the 3d of February, 1778. 
In witness whereof, I have signed and delivered the present Certificate 
Fish Hill May 8th 1778. 
Alex. McDongall M. General
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MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss. Boston 18 January 1819
I AM satisfied that the above named, Moses Porter by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, is in need of assistance from his Country for support. 
District Judge U.S. Massachusetts Dist. 
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
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6158
Moses Porter
Jany 1819
Cont Sep 25 1820

Con
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
ESSEX, ss
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Salem, within and for the County of Essex, on the third Monday of June, A. D. 1820. Present, Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Chief Justice. Hon. WILLIAM WETMORE, and Hon. STEPHEN MINOT, Associate Justices. In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Moses Porter resident in Gloucester in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 6, 158 now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit, 
"WAR DEPARTMENT REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM. 
"I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, Moses Porter late an ensign in the Army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate twenty dollars per month, to commence on the 3d day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen 
[stamp: L.S.]"Given at the War of Office of the United States, this twenty ninth day  of January 28 one thousand eight hundred and nineteen
J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War," 
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit, SCHEDULE, containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit, 
No real estate, no income or debts due to him-
old table has 1/2 dozen chairs 1.50 1/2 doz Knives & forks 50c ---$3.00 
Shovel & tongs 25c Andrions 50c crockery ware 75c--- 1.50 
Hard ware 50c. Tin ware 25c Old Chest 50c ---  1.25 
----------
$5.75 

He is seventy years of age, farmer, so infirm with age & rheumatism as to be unable to perform any labor for some years past - has no family residing with him except Anna, his wife, aged 56 years. He has no means of support but his pension, which alone has prevented his being supported by the town. He served as a non commissioned officer in the Revolutionary war in Capt. Moses McFarlands company in Col. Thomas Nixon's Regiment, all the year 1776, and also as Ensign in Capt. Jabez Lane's company in said Nixon's Regt in the Massachusetts line from 1777 to 1780 when he was deranged by a special act of Congress, and borne on the roll of supernumeraries to the close of the war.
Moses Porter 
The within is duly sworn to and declared before Wm Witmore Judge within named
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at the same time he produces to the Court here the following oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Wm Wetmore a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit, 
I Moses Porter do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled ""an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war,” passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. So help me GOD
Moses Porter 

Essex, ss. C. C. C. P. June, Term, A. D. 1820. 
Then the abovenamed Moses Porter took and subscribed the aforewritten Oath before me Wm Wetmore Judge of said Court. 
I, ICHABOD TUCKER, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is five dollars seventy five cents. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Salem, in said County of Essex, on this 7th day of July A. D. 1820 Attr. Ichabod Tucker Cler
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Hon. Jereh Nelson
Novr. 15th 1820
a Revolutionary (illegible)
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See book of Officers
I Moses Porter of Boxford in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts do on oath declare that in the capacity of Ensign I was commissioned and entered on or about the first day of January in the year 1777 in Regiment No. 6 commanded by Col. Thomas Nixon in the Massachusetts line to serve during the Revolutionary war with Great Britain and served therein untill deranged by a special act of Congress, and was borne on the Roll of Supernumerary Officers untill the close of the war, which derangement took place according to the best of my recollection in the month of October 1778. That my Commission was sent to Washington for my pension in 1818 where it now is. 
[signed] Moses Porter

I Enos Runnels of Boxford in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts on oath declare, that I am well acquainted with Ensign Moses Porter the person now present, and to my knowledge he is the identical person who entered and served in the Revolutionary war
[signed] Enos Runnels

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex September 29th 1820
Personally appeared the above mentioned Moses Porter & Enos Runnels and made oath to the truth of the declarations by them respectively subscribed, & I further certify the said Enos Runnels is well known to me as a credible & disinterested witness.
[signed] Jona Foster
before me [signed] Jona Foster Just. Peace
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Application of Moses Porter, to be transferred from Massts to Maine
1826. -
R.C. Vose, Augusta Me
agent.
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State of Maine
County of Penobscot S.S.
On this 27 day of February in the year eighteen hundred and fifty five before me Daniel Sanborn Judge of the Court of Probate in & for the state and county aforesaid in open court this day sitting at Bangor in and for said county personally appeared Mary C. Dennison, who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain for herself and her sisters the increase of pension which may be found due to her late father Moses Porter deceased.
That the said Moses Porter was a pensioner of the United Sates at the rate of two hundred and forty dollars per annum under the act of March 18th 1818; that he resided in the town of Boxford in the State of Massachusetts when he went into service in the war of the Revolution. That according to the best of her knowledge, information and belief, her said father entered the service in 1777 and served as an Ensign in Mass. Regt. commanded by Col. Nixon. That in 1779 he was appointed 2d Lieutenant in Col Cranes Regt of Artillery and was afterwords promoted to this office of 1st Lieut. in the same Regt. and was borne on the Rolls of the army to the close of the Revolutionary war That all of the service aforesaid was performed in the Mass. Continental Line. That she asks for
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herself and for Betsy H. Upton, Lucia F. Crocker, and Sarah M. Manton only surviving children of the said Moses, such increase of pension as his said, service as first Lieut. may entitle him to under the said Act of May 15th 1828. That the said Moses Porter died in Dixmont in said County on the tenth day of April in the year 1832, leaving no widow; but the four children above mentioned and four only, who still survive; that she is a resident of Bangor in said County and is sixty four years of age
[signed] Mary C. Dennison

Sworn and subscribed in open court on the day and year first before written
Before me
[signed] Daniel Sanborn
Judge of the court of Probate for said county of Penobscot
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I Henry P. Haynes Register of the court of Probate in and for the County of Penobscot, and State of Maine do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in this matter of the application of Mary C. Dennison for the increase of pension due herself and other children of Moses Porter deceased and that the signature of the Judge thereto appended is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said court this 27th day of February in the year A.D. 1855
[signed] Henry P. Haynes
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3 -- 595. Record Division. O.W. AND N. DIVISION
Department of the Interior, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS, April 6, 1908 Searched by S. D. Lamparter 
Original No. 
Certificate No. 
Claimant, 
Soldier, Moses Porter 
Service, Rev. War . 
Remarks: No claim as above except Rej # 8354 

Try Tythe iPod 35029 
or Inv 37309 
Chief of Division
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37309 INVALID. 
Revy
File no. 37.309 
Moses Porter 
Ensign Rev War 
Act: 18 March 18 
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 398 
[Arrangement of 1870.] 

1908 Apr. 10. Hist to Paul Rehnberg
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Dixmont Jany. 12. 1826.
Dr Sir,
Enclosed I send you Mr Porter's application together with his original Pension certificate for the safe conveyance and return of the certificate he feels particularly anxious.
I am Sir, Respectfully
Your Obt. Sert. 
[signed] William Upton
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[letterhead] PAUL REHNBERG CARL REHNBERG
PAUL REHNBERG
NOVELTIES IN JEWELRY,
HUNTINGTON,
SHELTON P.O., CONN.

April 3, 1908.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir,
I write in the interest of my wife, who wishes to establish her claim to descent from Moses Porter of Haverhill, N.H., in view of becoming a member of the "Daughters of the American Revolution", and who has requested me to ask of you the following facts concerning the said Moses Porter, who served in the Revolution, and who received a pension for service until the time of his death the 10th day of April, 1832. He was an Ensign in Col Nixon's Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteers. -
Date of Enlistment (?)
Rank at time of Discharge (?)
Date of Discharge (?)
By sending information on the above points to the undersigned, you will very greatly oblige,
Yours sincerely,
[signed] Paul Rehnberg.
pr/cfr.

[stamp] PENSION
U.S.
OFFICE.
APR 
4
1908
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Copy of a report made to the Secretary of War relative to the claim of Genl Moses Porter, dated January 20th 1818 --- concerning the loss of a revolutionary Land warrant issued to Genl Moses Porter Recorded in Page 164 
Not 934-150 Rev
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shorter than the existence of the general provisions of the act; and that in the revival of this Act by its general Title, no notice is taken of the incidental class of Claims in question, yet the practise in the War Department continued the Laws as under the Act of 26th April 1802, until the renewed act was suffered to expire by its own limitation, the 1st of April 1805 

When the charge of this Branch of Public service, designated as "Section of Bounty Lands" was first confided to me in 1810, it was understood that the Secretary of War no longer took cognizance of claims for lost land Warrants, but all applications of that kind were made by Memorial directly to Congress, who by a special act for the relief of the Petitioner, authorised the Secretary of War to issue a New Warrant. -

A claim of this class kind which I have leave now to mention, has laid dormant on the Files of this Office since an early period in the term when Doctor Eustis was at the Head of the War Department. the merits of the claim to which I allude, are precisely the same as those of Genl M. Porter's; and the Claimant, although not in the same Regiment, was in the same Line of service, in the Revolutionary War as Genl Porter; but then of a higher grade, being of the Rank of Major of Artill this quandam Officer is Winthrop Sargent, formerly Governor of the North Western Territory of the United States; and now, I believe, residing as a private Gentm on his Estate at or near Natchez, The only evidence of his claim now in the office, I believe, is a letter addrest by him to his former friend & early acquaintance Doctor Eustis, stating that in unfortunate Rencontre with the Indians, commonly designated as "Sinclair's Defeat", he lost all his Baggage and Papers; & among them  the Military Land Warrant which had been granted him for his Revolutionary services
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services. I think a reply was given to his application, counselling him to make a statement of his claim by affidavit, and address it with a Memorial directly to Congress. This is precisely what Genl Porter has actually done in his case; - which I consider as the only correct mode to obtain due relief; and, in my opinion, it now remains for the Representatives of the Sovereignty will readily pass a special act in favor of so meritorious an Officer. Having been very early acquainted with Governor Sargent, and very intimately so with his family & Connexions in Massachusetts, I avail myself of this opportunity to express a wish; you may feel yourself authorized by this letter to solicit the same grace for him which I hope Genl Porter will obtain. at least, as the mention of his name on this occasion will, doubtless, being to many members of both Houses, a recollection of Governor Sargent's eminent services both civil & Military allow me that gratification to hope that through your kind interference the door may be kept open for his relief beyond the epochs now fixed by Law when it must be forever closed against all new claims 

All which is respectfully submitted. 
Nat Cutting
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Concord N.H. March 15 1855 

Sir
Your letter of the 13th inst relative to the service of Moses Porter of Maine, was duly received 

I herewith forward a letter which was sent to me from Secretary of State of U. S. relative the said Porter's service, which I trust will be  satisfactory 
I am Respectfully Your Obt Svt
L D Stevens 

Hon L. P. Waldo Commr of Pensions Washington D.C
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Dept of State Washington, Jany 5. 1855. 
Sir;
I have to inform you in reply to your note of the 27th Dec. that it appears from an examination of the revolutionary Records on file in this Dept, that Moses Porter entered the service as Ensign in the Mass Regt commanded by Col Nixon, on the 1st Jany 1777, that he was a Lieut in Col Cranes Regt on the 16 April 1783, and 1st Lieut. in the same Regt on the 17 June 1783 
your power of attorning is herewith returned to you. 
I am, respectfully Your Obt Servant, 
W. L. Marcy 

L. D. Stevens Concord N. H. 

See Mass in Rev. Page 603
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Concord N. H. April 30th 1855

Sir,
I herewith forward additional evidence in support of the claim of Moses Porter of Maine to an increase of pension under the Act of 1828.

This evidence, I trust, will dissipate your doubts as to whether Moses Porter actually performed service in the rank of Lieut.

I am respectfully
Your Obt Sert
L D Stevens

 Hon. L P Waldo
Commr of Pensions
Washington D.C.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Secretary's Office Boston, April 27th 1855.

I hereby Certify, That from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department it appears that the name of Moses Porter is borne on pay roll of Capt. William Perley's Comp Col James Fryes Regt for 8 mos. from April 19, 1775. name borne on Court Roll dated Camp at Cambridge Nov 14. 1775, as private from Boxford 

Also on continental Army Books in Col Comp. Col. Nixon's Regt from Jany 1. 1777 to Feby 1, 1779 25 mos. as Ensign 

Also on continental Army Books in Col. Cranes Regt. from Jany 1. to Dec. 31, 1780, 12 mos as Lieut. 

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written. 
E M Wright Secretary of the Commonwealth
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Concord N H March 16th 1855 
Sir,
In addition to the evidence of the service of Moses Porter of Maine, forwarded in my letter the of the 15th inst, I beg leave to refer you to the Journal of Congress from the year 1778 to 1782 
In Vol 3 Pages 323 & 24 you will find the following resolution 
"Saturday July 17. 1779" 1 "Resolved, That William Wallace be appointed Second Lieutenant in Col. Harrison's Regiment of Artillery, his commission to bear date May 1st 1779: that John Carson be appointed second lieutenant in ditto his Commission to bear date May 2d 1779 that Benjamin Mosely Jun. be appointed second lieutenant in the said regiment, his commission to bear date May 3d 1779: that Alexander Thompson be appointed second lieutenant in Colonel Samp's regiment of Artillery, his commission to bear day May 31st 1779: that Henry Savage and Moses Porter be appointed second lieutenants in Colonel Crane's regiment of artillery, their commissions to bear the date April 21st 1779, 

From the foregoing I think you
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will be fully satisfied that Moses Porter did serve as Lieut after March 1st 1779.

I am very Respectfully 
Your Obt Servt
L D Stevens

Hon L P Waldo
Commr of Pensions
Washington D.C.
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Ent Moses Porter 
Revolutionary Case 
Wt. issued No 934
Mr Stewart 

Claim for his - if Mr. will certify for the 
Novr 15th 1820
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Found mutilated
Nov. 8, 1910
MR AW

Porter, Moses 
Mass
S37309
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[left Side]John Powers
37309

[right side]
The DELEGATES of the UNITED STATES of New- Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of Newcastle, Kent and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia, To Moses Porter Gentleman 
WE, reposing Trust and Confidencee in your Patriotism, Valour, DO by these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be Ensign in the Regiment Sgt First whereof Thomas Noix of Essex is colonel in the Army of the United States, raises in Defense of American Liberty, and for repelling every file Invasion thereof. 
You are ther [blanked out] the Duty of  Ensign by doing and performing [blanked out]nging. And we do strictly charge and require all Officers and Sol[blanked out]ent to your Orders as Ensign And you a[blanked out]d Directions from Time to  Time, as you shall receive from this or [blanked out] or Committee of Congress, for that purpose appointed, or Comman[blanked out] Army of the United States, or of any other your superior Officer, acc[blanked out] War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you. This Commiss[blanked out] this of a future Congress Dated  at Boston the first Day [blanked out]
By Order of ATTEST: 
Chas Thomson Esq
[blanked out]
ck PRESIDENT