Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10682, Benjamin Trask, Mass.
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Mass.
Trask, Benjamin   R10682
Hannah
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office, Boston

I Hereby Certify, That at the date of the attestation hereunto annexed, George Andrews was Special Justice of the Probate Court for the City of Salem and J. G. King was a justice of the Peace for the County of Essex in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to their acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
E. M. Wright
Secretary of the Commonwealth

(seal & ribbon affixed)
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Secretary's Office, Boston
March 15, 1855

(stamp/seal)

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 Benjamin Trask is borne on Muster Roll of Capt. Benjamin Ward's Com. Stationed at Salem for the defense of the Sea Coast from January 33 to Nov. 18, 1776 9 mos. 28 days, as private. Also on pay roll of Capt. Johathan Proctor's Comp. Col. Jacob Gerrish's Regt. from Feby. 3 to April 3 1778. 2 mos 1 day as private. Also under same Capt. Proctor; same Col. Gerrish from Nov. 13 1778 2 mos. 20 days as private.
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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I am now fifty three years old, and my memory does not enable me to state the services more fully than above stated.
Witness my hand, this thirtieth day of March A. D. 1855
Signed by said Daniel S. Trask in my presence.
Daniel S. Trask

Israel Perkins, Justice of the Peace
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State of Massachusetts
County of Essex   
City of Salem
Salem Police Court S.S.
In open Court

Before George Andrews special Justice of said Court

On this twenty third day of April a.D. 1855 before the Police Court of said city of Salem, said court being a court of record now held within and for said county, personally appeared Daniel S. Trask aged fifty three years resident of Beverly in said County of Essex, who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions of the several acts of Congress especially those of Feb. 2, 1848 and July 29 1848. that he is one of the children and heirs at law of Benjamin Trask deceased who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Benjamin Ward in the Revolutionary war and was stationed at Salem as he believes for the defense of this sea coast from January 22 to November 1st 1776 and was also a private in Capt. Jonathan Proctors company in the regiment commanded by Col. Jacob Gerrish from February third to April 3d 1778 and also in said Proctors company from thirteenth day of November 1778to the third day of February 1779. that he believes his said father performed other service during the war though he can obtain no other
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record evidence of his fathers service than that herewith filed. That his said father was in service in Rhode Island as well as in Massachusetts. That he entered the said service at Danvers in the State of Massachusetts, but he is unable to give the precise date of his entry or discharge from the army.
That his said father left a widow named Hannah Trask who died on the ninth day of May A.D. 1852. that the following are the only surviving children of the said soldier, viz, Mary Prescott, Harry Trask and Daniel S. Trask. That his mother was married to the said Benjamin Trask in Salem in said State of Massachusetts on the eighteenth day of March A.D. 1798 by one Joshua Spaulding a clergyman and that her name before said marriage was Hannah Shaw and that his father died at Salem aforesaid on the nineteenth day of July A.D. 1825. And further there there is no public or private record of the death of his said father. He hereby appoints Joseph B. F. Osgood Esq. of said Salem State of Massachusetts his true and lawful attorney with power of substitution to prosecute his said claim to receive the certificate when issued and revokes hereby all other letters of attorney for said purpose made.
Witnessed by Daniel S. Trask
witns. Gan. Collins
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Salem April 23 1855
County of Essex SS.
City of Salem 

Subscribed and sworn to before me the day and year first above written and I certify that I believe the deponent to be of the age above stated and that he is the person he represents himself to be and that I have no interest in said claim.
George Andrews Special Justice of the Police Court in City of Salem

I hereby certify that the above named George Andrews is one of the Special Justices of the Salem Police Court

Witness Joseph Straters Esq. Justice of the said Police Court and the seal thereof at Salem aforesaid this twenty third day of April in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty five.
Samuel P. Andrews Clerk

(seal)
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State of Massachusetts County of Essex
City of Salem

I Joseph Cloutman City Clerk of the City of Salem  etc. hereby certify that Benjamin Trask was married to Hannah Shaw on the eighteenth day of March in the year Seventeen hundred and ninety nine by the Rev. Joshua Spaulding than a Clergyman of said Salem. Also that said Hannah Trask died at said Salem on the ninth day of May in the year eighteen hundred and fifty two  as appears by the Records of Marriages and Deaths of said City of Salem.
I certify that the above is a true copy of the record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed in the record, in fair legible figures as follows;
Married 1798 March 18 Benjamin Trask & Hannah Shaw, both of Salem
Died 1852 May 9th Hannah Trash wid. 85 years age
I Joseph Cloutman above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of City Clerk in the City of Salem, County and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy of the records of Marriages & Deaths of said City, with the exception above named, as certified by me.
J. Cloutman, City Clerk of Salem
Subscribed and duly sworn to, before me, this twenty first day of April A.D. 1855
J. G. King Justice of the Peace
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State of Massachusetts
County of Essex

On this twenty third day of April A.D. Eighteen hundred and fifty five, personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County William F. Nichols and Jas. Buffington residents of Salem in said county to me well known and who are credible witnesses and who being duly sworn depose and say that they were each well acquainted with Mrs. Hannah Trask, that they knew her for thirty seven years prior to her death. That they were acquainted with Benjamin Trask her late husband having known him for ten years prior to his death' that they the said Hannah and Benjamin Trask lived together as man and wife and were reputed so to be, that deponents never heard the fact of their marriage disputed or questioned. That the said Benjamin died on the .......day of.......AD 1825 and that the said Hannah died on the ninth day of May AD 1852, and that the following named are the only surviving children of said widow or of said soldier. viz Daniel S. Trask, Mary Prescott and Henry Trask and that Daniel S. Trask who now applies for arrears of pension is the identical person he represents himself to be.
Wm F. Nichols
Jas. Buffington
Witness: Charles Bush
Humphrey Cook
Subscribed and sworn to before me the day and year first above written to by the said Buffington and affirmed to before me by the said Jas. F. Nichols.
J. G. King Justice of the Peace
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I, Joseph Cloutman, City Clerk of the City of Salem in the County of Essex, State of Massachusetts do certify that I have the legal custody of the Records of Marriages of said City and that it appears by said Records, that 1 p.116 that Benjamin Trask and Hannah Shaw were married by the Rev. Joshua Spaulding of said Salem March 18th 1799 and that the following is a true copy of the words and figures of the original entry.
1799 March 18th Benjamin Trask & Hannah Shaw both of Salem

Attest J Cloutman City Clerk
Salem July 28, 1848
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Since the last examination ( June 12 1855) had in the car No 1410, the other certificate has been found. The expect the same service and should be put together,
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N 12
Hannah Trask
Mass.
Let. to (illegible)  D. P. King
Oct 19 '48
Let. to same Nov. 18 '48
N1410
B. F. Osgood April 18 1855
same June 12 1855
same July 6 / 53

Act July 29, 1848
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10,682

Hannah Trask

REJECTED (stamped)
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Danvers (Mass) Aug. 26, 1848
Sir
With this you will receive the application and proof in the case of Hannah Trask widow of Benjamin Trask, a soldier in the war of the Revolution, for the pension to which she is entitled under an Act of the last session of Congress.
Very respectfully 
yr obt. servt
Dan P. King

Com. James L. Edward
Commr. of Pensions
Washington
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We, the subscribers citizen of the Town of Danvers in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify, that we were well acquainted with Benjamin Trask, who formerly lived in Danvers, but late of Salem in said County, That Hannah Trask now of said Salem who hath applied for a pension is the widow of said Benjamin Trask. We do not know the fact that he was actually in the service of the United States; but we do not doubt it, being satisfied by what we have heard him say, and the common report that he was a Revolutionary Soldier.
John Goldthwait
Daniel Goldthwait

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Essex Town of Danvers December 29th 1848
Thenpersonally appeared the above named John Goldthwait and Daniel Goldthwait and made oath that the above certificate by them subscribed, now, to the best of their knowledge and belief, true.
Before me Joseph Shed, Justice of the Peace
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John Goldthwait and Daniel Goldthwait deponents within named are known to me as men of unquestioned veracity; Joseph Shed, the magistrate is also know to be in full credit &  duly authorized.
Dan P. King
Washington Dec. 4, 1848            m c
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I Abigail Peabodyof Salem in the County of Essex widow of Samuel Peabody late of Salem aforesaid deceased on oath declare and say that I am eighty four years of age. I was well acquainted with Benjamin Trask ^ formerly of Danvers in said County, late of Salem, who was a private in the Revolutionary Army. I was born and always lived in the neighborhood of said Trask, and remember when said Trask enlisted into the service of the army, but do not remember the same of the officers who enlisted him. After he came out of the service I was frequently in company with said Trask and have very frequently heard him relate the incidents which befel him in the service.
I am also well acquainted with Hannah Trask, the petitioner for a pension who is the widow of said Benjamin Trask and has been my neighbor for more and fifty years.
Abigail  X   Peabody
    her mark
Witness J. G. Waters
Subscribed & sworn to by said Abigail Peabody in open Court before me
Joseph G. Waters Judge of the Police Court for the District of Salem
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I Betsy Matthews of Danvers in the County of Essex aged eighty eight years of age on oath declare and say, that I was well acquainted with Benjamin Trask of Danvers aforesaid, but at the time of his decease a citizen of Salem. for more than fifty years I was a neighbor of said Trask, and well remember his being in the Revolutionary Army-although I cannot now remember the officers with whom he served, or the service in which he was engaged. There has been no other Benjamin Trask in Danvers who was in the army of the Revolution.
Hannah Trask who has applied for a pension is the widow of said Benjamin and has always lived in my neighborhood.
Betsy      X     Matthews
         her mark
Attest J. G. Waters
Subscribed & sworn to by said Betsy Matthews in open Court Before me
Joseph G. Waters Judge of the Police Court for the District of Salem
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Essex SS
On this first day of November AD eighteen hundred and forty eight, personally appeared before the Police court in & for the District of Salem in the County of Essex aforesaid, Hannah Trask of Salem aforesaid formerly of Danvers in said County aged eight one years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the Acts of Congress granting half pay and pensions to certain widows. That she is the widow of Benjamin Trask who was a private in the army of the American revolution (evidence of his services being in the Pension office at Washington)
She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Trask on the eighteenth day of March in the year seventeen hundred & ninety nine and that her husband the aforesaid Benjamin Trask died on the seventeenth day of July AD eighteen hundred & twenty three. That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place prior to the first of June seventeen hundred & ninety four namely at the time above stated.
Hannah    X    Trask
       her mark
Witness J. G. Waters
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subscribed and sworn to by the said Hannah Trask in open court.
Before me
Joseph G. Waters Judge of the Police Court for the District of Salem

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex SS
I Joseph L. Waters Clerk of the Police Court within & for the City of Salem in said County do certify that Honorable Joseph G Waters is Judge of the Police Court withing & for the District of Salem, and that his signature hereon is genuine.
Witness my hand & the seal of said Police Court this fourth day of November AD eighteen hundred and forty eight.
J. Lindon Waters, Clerk
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We the subscribers, Citizens of Danvers in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that we know Benjamin Trask formerly of said Danvers and that Hannah Trask who now resides in Salem, is the widow of said Trask, and that we never knew any other person in Danvers by the name of Benjamin Trask.
Ebenr. Sprague 88
John Goldthwait 77
Daniel Goldthwait 79

Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
Essex SS Danvers, November 3d A.D. 1848, Then personally appeared the above named Ebenr. Sprague, John Goldthwait and Daniel Goldthwait, and severally made oath that the above written Certificate by them subscribed was true.
Before me Joseph Shed, Justice of the Peace
& of the Quorum
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Danvers (Mass) Nov. 6, 1848
I certify that Ebenr. Sprague John Goldthwait and Daniel Goldthwait, townsmen of mine with whom I have been well acquainted for more than thirty years, are men of well known & established character for veracity.
Daniel P. King M.C.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office, Boston:
Augt. 7th 1848

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 Benjamin Trask is borne upon a Muster Roll of a Company stationed at Salem for defense of the Sea Coast commanded by Capt. Benjamin Ward Jun. as a private from January 22 to November 18 1776 9 months and 28 days.
Upon a Muster Roll of Capt. Johathan Proctor's Company in Col. Jacob Gerrish's Regt. as a private from November 13 1777 to Feb 3 1778 inclusive 2 months and 20 days. Upon another Roll of said Capt. Proctor's Company in said Gerrish's Regt, as a private from February 3 to April 3 1778, 2 months.  Not upon roll of Capt. Epps.
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And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks aloe; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Wm. Tufts, Deputy
Secretary of the Commonwealth
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Application for Certificate of Revolutionary services, made by the Widow of the party who rendered the services.

State of Massachusetts
County of Essex City Town of Salem

The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his office, of the service of Benjamin Trask in the war of the Revolution.
He was a native of the Town of Danvers in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts.
He enlisted from the Town of Danvers in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts in the year 17... as a private in the Company commanded by Captain Epes in Regiment...........and he served as follows, *viz--


*Here describe as fully as may be, the length of service, the rank &c. of the claimant, or the capacity in which he served, and all other particulars known.
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I am now 81 years old, and my memory does not enable me to state the services more fully than above stated.
Witness my hand, this second day of August 
A. D. 1848
Signed by said Hanna Trask in my presence,
Josep Shed Justice of the Peace.
Hannah   X   Trask
      her mark
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Know all men by these Presents, That I Daiel S. Trask of Salem in Essex County and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby constitute and appoint Charles C. Tucker of Washington D. C. to be my true, sufficient and lawful attorney for me and in my name and for my sole use; to examine all records and documents in reference to the claim of Mary Prescott Henry Trask and Daniel S. Trask aforesaid, heirs at law of Benjamin Trask, a soldier of the revolutionary war, claimants for arrears of pay and pension due by reason of the services of said Trask as set forth in papers already filed in said case in the Pension Office at Washington; to do all lawful acts and things whatsoever touching the premises; hereby revoking all former powers of attorney that may have been given for the above purpose.
And for the purposes aforesaid I do hereby grant unto my said attorney full power to execute and deliver all needful instruments and papers whether under seal or otherwise; to institute and prosecute to final judgement and execution any and all process in law or in equity; to (defend any and all suites against the  constituent' to submit any and all matters in dispute to arbitration or the same to settle and compromise--crossed out); to appoint one or more substitutes and the same to revoke at pleasure; and generally to do and perform all such acts, matters and things as my said attorney shall deem necessary or expedient for the complete and effectual execution of the authority hereinbefore granted as fully as I might and could do if I were personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of my said attorney or of his substitutes done by virtue of these presents.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the sixteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty six.
Daniel S. Trask
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
J.B.F. Osgood
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Essex,
City of Salem   SS
Be it remembered that on this sixteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty six, personally appeared before me, Joseph B. F. Osgood, a Notary Public by legal authority appointed and sworn, and residing in Salem aforesaid, Daniel S. Trask know to me to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing letter of attorney, who acknowledged to me that he executed the same freely and voluntarily, and for the uses and purposes therein mentioned.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the day and year above written.
Joseph B. F. Osgood
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office, Boston, Jan. 29th 1855

I Hereby Certify, That at the date of the attestation hereunto annexed Fitch Poole was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Essex. in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
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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I Abigail Peabody of Danvers in the said county of Essex aged ninety two years having been duly sworn do depose and say that I well knew Benjamin Trask whose children Daniel S, Mar and Henry have applied for arrears of pension: that I well remember the time when said Benjamin Trask was enlisted in the Revolutionary war in Capt. Wards Company of Salem. That I was a neighbor of said Benjamin Trask and know that he continued in service in said war over a year in 1776 and 1778-9 and I have no doubt that his is the identical person whose name is found on the rolls of Captain Ward's and Captain Proctors company from January 22d 1776 to November 13 1778. as I well recollect his departure from and return to home; and I have often heard him recount his said service and I further swear that I knew Hannah Shaw and the she married said Benjamin Trask and that
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they lived together as man and wife; and I know that said applicants, Mary Prescott Daniel S. Trask and Henry Trask are children of said Benjamin and Hannah Trask.
Abigail   X   Trask
     her mark

Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
County of Essex 
Subscribed and sworn to before me this twenty seventh day of Jue AD 1855.
Fitch Poole
Justice of the Peace
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State of Massachusetts
County of Essex SS.

We William F. Nichols and James Buffington residents of Salem in said county having been duly sworn do depose and say that they were well acquainted with Hannah Trask whose children Daniel, Henry and Mary now apply for arrearages of pension for services of her husband and their father in the war of the Revolution, that they knew said Hannah thirty years before her death in 1852, and knew Benjamin Trask ten years before his death. that they the said Benjamin Trask and Hannah Trask lived together as husband and wife and were reputed so to be and after the decease of said Benjamin the said Hannah lived unmarried till her death, and the said Daniel Henry and Mary who have applied for their mother's the said Hannah's pension are the legitimate children of said Hannah and Benjamin.
They further certify that the said Benjamin Trask was before his death generally reputed to have been a soldier of the Revolutionary and we believe that he did serve in said war in 1776 and 1778-said belief being sustained by his own statement and those of other persons his neighbors during his life time.
Wm. F. Nichols
Jas. Buffington
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State of Massachusetts  County of Essex
City of Salem, SS.

by the said Buffington and affirmed by said Nichols subscribed and sworn to before me this Sixth day of June AD 1855 and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons and that I have no interest in this claim.
J. G. King
Justice of the Peace
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Name: Frask, David
Grade: Sergeant
Line: Massachusetts

Warrant Number: 5170
Acerage: 100
Issued: May 31, 1790
To Theodosius Fowler