Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,774, Ebenezer Gray, Mass
Page 1

SERVICE
Mass

Gray, Ebenezer

NUMBER
S. 21774
____________________
CONTENTS
Page 2

15228
Massachusetts
==========
Ebenezer Gray
of Hampshire Co. in the State of Massachusetts who was a Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain Gordon of the Regt. commanded by Col. Woodbridge in the Mass mi. line or 9 1/2 mos.

Mile
=================
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 47 Dollars 50 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
=================
Certificate of Pension issued the 3rd day of June 1833 and sent to Samuel F Lyman Mr. Hampton
=================
Arrears to the 4th day of March 1833
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept
$95.00
23.75
=====
$118.75
=====

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by [Signed: W. L, Williams] Clerk,
Book E Vol. 2 Page 28
Page 3

Ebenezer Gray - 

17425
Page 4

Declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the Congress of the eleventh of June 1832.
State of Massachusetts}
County of Hampshire} SS.
On this eleventh day of August in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred + thirty-two, before the Hon. Samuel Hinkley, Esquire, Judge of the Court of Probate in + for said County, the same being a Court of Record, Ebenezer Gray of Pelham in the same County, at the dwelling house of the said Ebenezer, in said Pelham, he being so aged + confined. That he is unable to go out of his said dwelling house, he being eighty-nine years of age. Who being first and only son according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the pension made by the Act of Congress penned January 1832. That he entered the [illegible] of the United States and as the following named officer, + said on [illegible] stated; that [illegible] to [illegible].
About the first of May 1775, I, the said Ebenezer Gray, enlisted into the [illegible] of the United States. Into the Company under the command of Capt. David Gordon of said Pelham. Lt. Robert Hamilton, + Lt. Hopkins, in Col. Ruggles Woodbridge's Regiment, out immediately to Cambridge near Boston, + remained in that vicinity with said Company + Regiment until the first of January following. Then I was [illegible], but not in writing, being there eight months. The term per [illegible] I [illegible]. I further say that I'm an orderly Sergeant in said Company during all said term of said Company between the entrance dates of July 1, 1775 & Dec. 29, 1775, and of each of these dates being hereunto annexed in my handwriting, No. 182. I [illegible] say, that the paper No. 3 hereunto annexed, signed {Signed: Rich'd Montague [illegible].
Page 5

...
or original signed + claimed in at the time of the date thereof - Also the paper No. 4, signed R. Woodbridge - Also the paper No. 5 - Also prints annexed is in my handwriting & so made, at the time of the [illegible] therein mentioned, immediately after, that it has been prepared accidentally [illegible] the then papers mentioned above. Then paper No. 6 prints annexed is also an original paper.
I have then [illegible], that in June 1777. The day I annexed [illegible], I enlisted again into the Company of the said Capt. Gordon, + Lt. Hamilton & marched to Ticonderoga War then
Page 6

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire Ss. 
 I hereby certify that Samuel Hinckley who subscribed the foregoing is Judge of Probate for aid County and that I know the signature by him above made to be genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 23d day of Aug. 1832

Saml. F. Lyman Register of Probate for said County
Page 7

[crossed out until next comment]and the Court aforesaid hereby declare its opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interogatories prescribed by the war department thou the foregoing applicant was a revolutionary soldier served as he states - and the Court further certifies that it appears that Moses Hallock who signed ceeding certificate is a Clergyman resident in Ⓧ the town of Plainfield & that Elijah Luce is a credible person & that their entitled to Credit statement is Samuel Hinckley Judge of said Count of Probate [end of crossed out]

Commonwealth of Massachuselly Hampshire Ss August 16. 1832 I hereby certify that I the Lestsentist went to the dwelling house of the within named Ebenezer Gray of Pelham in said County and found him from his great age and bodily infirmities unable leave his house to attend Court, after the investigation of the subject of his services in the revolutionary War and after putting the interrogatories presented by the war department the administring the oath to him in support of his declaration 
it was my full belief and opinion that he the said Gray performed the services in the Revolutionary war as by him States - and I further certify, that John Gray & Frances Adams who signed the preceding certificate both living in Pelham aforesaid are respectable men and credible & disinterested witnesses, and that their statement aforesaid is entitled to credit Attest Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate for the County of Hampshire aforesaid
Page 8

17425 Ebenz Gray Massachusetts
Sergeant 9 mos & 15 days Rec'd
Sam'l Y. Lyman Northampton Mass
Page 9

BRIEF in the case of Ebenezer Gray
County of Hampshire in the State of Massachusetts
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Cour or a Judge:    Judge
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?   Yes
3. How old is he?  89
4 State his service, as directed in the annexed.

Period        Duration of Service        Rank         Names of General and Field
                     of Service                                  Officers under whom he served

May                8 mos, 0 d           Sargeant                  Gen. Washington
enlisted 1775                                                               Capt. Gordon
                                                                                   Col. Woodbridge

------1777        1 mo. 15 d                dv                             same

 5. In what battles was he engaged?  at Tyconderoga
 6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Massachusetts 
  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
             documentary & 1 witness but not certified to be credable.
 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?    Not prop. attached

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J.W. Clagett Examining Clerk
Page 10

Gray, Ebenezer
Mass  S 21774
Page 11

Octr 9th  9th 1775. 
As I am Adjt of ye Day I send Orderly Sergt Gray - to wait at head Qtr till I come 
Richd Montague Adjt
Page 12

Cot Woodbridges certificate 
Gray, Ebenezer Mass 3 2 1774
Page 13

Camp at Prospect Hill November 9th 1775 This may certifie that Ebinezer Gray was appointed and Served as First Sergant in Capt David Cowdins Company in Col. Ruggs Woodbridges Regt under the command of General Washington Esq
R Woodbridge Col.
Page 14

Sur File 21774 Ebenezer Gray three returns of Capt David Cowden's Co. Col Rugels Woodbridge's regt dated July 21 1775, Sept 23. 1725 and Dec 29. 1775 have been removed from this claim to be forwarded to the War Dept. 
M.B. H Oct. 5. 1910 sent to War Dept Jany 16, 1913
Page 15

War Papers Clerk
Eben'r Gray Town
Eben'r Gray Treat
and my own Treat
Some of the [illegible]
[right hand page, a lot of numbers upside down]
Page 16

service dun and Ingeged in the war
Eight months to Cambridge months 8 -- 
and the Tower to Tire when it was given on Aron Gould and (six weeks of my left at the Retreet from the North River) a Tower of Aron When Burgein was taken all at the allarm of Benington Battle

to Cambring  months --- 8 --
to Tye ------ 2 --
To the North River ---- 1 1/4 --
7 Months & 3 days in the first 3 years 3 days 
Benington Levin  ----1/4
Burgin was taken --- 1 1/2 --
[lots of upside down number calculations]
Page 17

21774
Invalid.
Revolution
File No. 21,774
Ebenezer Gray
[illegible]
Act:  June 7 89
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 160
[Arrangment of 1870]
Page 18

Brief objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative , in red ink, will apply to the claim of Ebenezer Gray 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 mention 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 a language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?  Yes
VI.  Has he given the name 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
Page 19

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?  [illegible] citizens
XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  No
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?  documentary [illegible]
XIV.  +If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of the military service, has he provided 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?  No
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?  No
XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  2. 6-
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.
Page 20

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 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 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 apers. 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 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.
Page 21

James Abercomb
Deposite
Page 22

James Abercrombie of Pelham in the County of Hampshire and commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy nine years, do testify & say, that I am a native of said Pelham,  & have always been intimitly with Deacon Eben Gray of the same Pelham; that I enlisted in the month of May and believe in the year 1775 at said Pelham, into Capt Isaac Gray's Company & Col. Brewers Regiment of the Massachusetts Militia for eight months, & went to Watertown Cambridge & that vicinity, and after Bunker Hill battle, to prospect Hill; where we remained the resident of https://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.pngour term. The Regiment of Col. Ruggles Woodbridge by me, & I know that the said Eben Gray was orderly Sergeant. Capt Cowdens Company in said regiment. I often saw him, during our previous term. & Their no confirm to court he served, as I did, the full time of eight months, James Henry Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampshire, August 16. 1832 Personally appeared James Abercrombie, subscribe to the above, well known to me as a credible witness, & made oath to the truth of this person
 Before me Samuel F. Dickinson Justice of the Peace
Page 23

United States of America
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire Co. Ss  August 25, 1832

I Edward Dickinson Notary Public by lawful authority duly commissioned & qualified, residing in Amherst in said county do certify that Samuel L. Dickinson Esq. whose signature is affixed to the within certificate, was at the date thereof one of the Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly commissioned and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth. And that full faith & credit ought to be given to his acts and (illlegible)done in that capacity--and that the signature to said certificate is knowns to be the hand writing of said Samuel Dickenson.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Notorial Seal the day & year aforesaid.
    Edward Dickenson Notary Public