Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 6849, for Francis Mallet, Massachusetts
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(3-1776)

SERVICE  French

Mallet, Francis

NUMBER R 6849

Mass. residence in 1832 or 1833

CONTENTS
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Suffolk On this fourth day of December in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court before the Hon Peter O. Thacker Judge of the Municipal Court within and for the City of Boston in said County now sitting Francis Mallet a resident of said Boston aged Seventy five years and eight months 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- That he was born in Normandy in the Kingdom of France, that he entered on board a French Frigate called the Hermione commanded by Captain Latouch de Treville, Early in the year 1777 but cannot now recollect the month as single cannonier that said Frigate soon after sailed from Rockfort in the Kingdom of France on a cruise to assist the United States in the war of the Revolution
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against Great Britain and seas of the Coast of Ireland for about eight months and during that time captured many British Vessels that said Frigate then returned to said Rockfort that she then took on board the Marquis Lafayette and sailed for the United States where she arrived early in 1778 That after landing the Marquis she sailed on a cruise from the coast of Salem in Massachusetts in the service of the United States and while off the coast of Bermuda fell in with an English Frigate called the Iris and after a severe engagement and the loss of many lives the English Frigate hauled off and the French Frigate came into Boston for repairs that he acted during the whole of said engagement in his said capacity of Single Cannonier that Captain Latouch immediately after said engagement promoted him to the office of aid cannonier with the rank
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and pay of a Lieutenant that he afterwards continued to act in said capacity on board said Frigate under said Captain Latouch in the service of the United States in cruising of the last and capturing English vessels for more those three years- That said Frigate in October 1781 joined the French Fleet under Count de Grass in the Chesapeake Bay where the remained until the capture of Yorktown and the surrender of the British army under Cornwallis That soon after this he returned in said Frigate to France. That he remained in France till 1791 when he returned to Boston where he has remained for most of the time since- That he became a Naturalized Citizen of the United States in 1796 - That he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can now process who can testify to his said service - that although (illegible) by the late General Knox and many others of his friends
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the Secretary of The Treasury may deem proper, and to give him a pension or annuity in presence of the said act of Congress 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 Francis Mallet Sworn to & subscribed this fifth day of December 1832 In open Court, before me Peter O. Thacher, Judge of the Municipal Court.
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I Benjamin Russell of Boston in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on oath declare that I have been well acquainted with Francis Mallet who has subscribed and Sworn to the declaration accompanying this since A D. 1783. That he has resided mostly in Boston since 1791 that I believe him to be 75 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the Neighborhood where he resides to have served on board a French frigate in the war of the Revolution as he has stated in his said declaration, and in that opinion I concur That he is now aged, infirm and poor and has a family to support That I believe said Mallet to be man of truth and veracity and of good moral character Benj Russell Sworn to the subscribed this fifth day of December 1832. Before me Peter O. Thacher Judge Sr
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Francis [deleted] Peter [/deleted] Mallet,
Mass

19453

P. Blair
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BRIEF in the case of Co of Plymouth Francis Mallet in the State of Mass (Act 7th June, 1832.) 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court
 2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
 3. How old is he? 75
 4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. Period. entered on in 1777. Board the French Frigate called the Hermione Duration of Service. Years,. Months, Days. Served for more than 3 mentioned. Rank. As a Seaman and Lieut. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served with. Gen. Cap LaTouch 
5. In what battles was he engaged? hard fought Battle with British Frigate Iris
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Entered in France 
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? the length of service is not exactly stated
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above George Taylor Examining Clerk. the applicant - is now a citizen
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Rejected wide letter 15 April 1833 to Blain do to Hon E. Everett May 10. 1833. I do to same Dec. 16. 1833 6849
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Francis Mallet
Res. Plymouth, Mass.
Rej- "Belonged to French army."
See Book of Rej. claims
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( 3 -- 223. ) No. 21.709  Revy Ex'r. 
REECTED OLD WAR INVALID. Francis Mallett, of Mass P.O. Cannonier French Frigate Le Hermione Service: Revy Enlisted: Discharged: Application filed: Alleges: Re-enlisted: Attorney P.O
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6849 P.O. Francis Mallet Service:. REJECTED. Enlisted: Discharged: Application filed: Alleges Re-enlisted: Attorney: P.O. Recognized. Contract. Cert. of. Dis. Searched for 18,
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Francis Mallet,
Mass.

19453

P. Blair
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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 Francis Mallet 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? yes
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? 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 real 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 revolutionary service? Certified by two citizens
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?
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? Yes 
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, &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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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.
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Francis Mallets of Mass 
Petition R June 15. By In of my Dec 11. 1834 Col Rev. Pensions June 11, 1834, (illegible) In French Service Rev war was on board Le Hermione
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To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representation of the United States of America in Congress assembled humbly represents, Francis Mallet of Charles Town in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that he is seventy six years of age that he was born in Normandy in the kingdom of France, that he entered 1 on board a French frigate called the Le Hermione commanded by Capt Latouch de Treville in the early part of the year 1777, as single cannonier the said Frigate sailed on a cruise to assist the United States of America ● in the year of the Revolution against Great Britain, and was off the Coast of Ireland for about eight months and captured many British Vessels that said Frigate returned to Rockfort in France. That she afterwards took on board General Lafayette and sailed for the United States, when she arrived
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In 1778- That soon after her arrival in the United States, she sailed from Salem in Massachusetts on a cruise in the service of the United States, and while off the Coast of Bermuda, fell in with an English Frigate and after a severe engagement and the loss of many lives the English Frigate hauled off and Le Hermione came into Boston Harbour, that your Petitioner during said engagement acted as single cannonier and immediately after promoted by the said Captain Latouch to the place of aid Cannonier, with the rank and pay of a Lieutenant that he continued to act in that capacity on board said Frigate in the service of the United States, in cruising off the coast, and capturing English vessels for more than three 1 years - That said Frigate in October 1781 joined the French Fleet under
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said Count de Grass in the Chesapeake Bay, where she remained until the capture of Yorktown and the surrender of the British army under Cornwallis- Immediately after this he returned in said Frigate to France. That he remained in France until 1791 when he returned to Boston when he has remained until he went to said Charlestown - In 1796 he obtained his certificate of Naturalization as a citizen of the United States. That he has often been urged by his friends to apply for a pension, heretofore but declined making any application for a pension because he was then able to support himself and family, by his own exertion But now he has become old, infirm and poor, and is wholly unable by his effort to support himself and family. In December last he applied for a pension under the act of June 7th 1832 and the Department replied that his case did not come within any of the acts of
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Congress He therefore humbly prays that in his old age and extreme poverty, for the services he has rendered that Congress would grant such sum for the support of himself and their wisdom should deem meet and proper and in duty bound will ever pray Frances Mallet
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I Bryant R Tilden of Boston in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on oath declare that I have been well acquainted with Frances Mallet who has subscribed and sworn to the declaration accompanying this since 1796 -- That I believe him to be 75 years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have served on board a French frigate in the war of the Revolution as he has stated in his said declaration and in that opinions I concur that said Mallet has resided most of the time since 1796 in Boston and has by his industry supported a numerous family. That he was advised many years since by the late General Knox and others to apply for a pension from the Government of the United States that his answer was so long as I can earn my living by
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my profession I will not apply to the Government for a pension. When the Marquis Lafayette was last in Boston, Mallet who was then in Albany came to Boston to see him, he told this Deponant that if the Marquis had forgotten him he knew he would remember him if he saw him- That Mallet was introduced to the Marquis by the Hon James Lloyd, in my presence that the Marquis at once recognized him and said Mr Mallets service at the siege of Yorktown I will remember and asked him if he could be of any service to him Mr. Mallet. I said it was sufficient happiness to be remembered by him.  Mr. Mallet is now aged infirm and poor and has a family to support - That he believes said
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Mallet to be a man of truth and veracity and of a good more character- Bryant Tilden Sworn to Subscribed this fifth day of December 1832 in open Court, before me Peter O. Thacher Judge of the Municipal Court and Whereupon it is considered by the Court, and after putting to the said Francis Mallet, the interrogatories directed by the Hon. Secretary of War, the answers to which are embodied in the foregoing application, that the said Applicant was a soldier and mariner of the Revolution and served as he has stated in the foregoing application The Court doth further certify that the said Benjamin D Russell and Bryant P. Tilden, both of whom have - - signed the affidavits which are hereto annexed, are resident in the City of Boston are known to the Court as persons of high respectability are credible and that their respective Statements are worthy the confided in as
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true. The Judge of the said Court doth further certify to the Hon Secretary of War, that he hath personally known the said Francis Mallet, the applicant for upwards of twenty years he doth now and always has sustained a fair character and is as the said Judge believes, a naturalized Citizen of the United States. Peter O. Thacher, Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston Suffolk Commonwealth of Massachusetts I, Thomas W Phillips, Clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston, a Court of Record, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Francis Mallett for a pension; also that Hon Peter O. Thacher is sole Judge of said Municipal Court & that the signatures on these papers purporting to be his are genuine In testimony whereof I have herein to set my hand the seal of said Court this sixth day of December A.D. Eighteen hundred and thirty two.  Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk