Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15344, James Briggs, Mass.Privateer R.I. And S.C. Sea Service
Page 1

(3—1776)

Briggs, James

SERVICE
Mass.
Privateer
R.I. and S.C. Sea Service

NUMBER
S. 15344

carded

CONTENTS
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15319
Massachusetts

James Briggs
of Bristol in the State of Mass
who was a P of Arty in the company commanded
by Captain — of the regt commanded 
by Col Walker in the Mass
line for 10 Mos P-of Arty
14 "  " Infy

Service: Mass R.I.
S.C. Sea Service &
and
Privateer

Inscribed on the Roll of Mass
at the rate of 89 Dollars 32 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of June
1833 and Sent Hon
J L Hodges Present

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $178.64
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep " 44.66
$223.30

{Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by J H McBlair Clerk,
Book R. Vol. 2. Page 6.




75
Bristol
Page 3

State of Massachusetts
County of Bristol } ss

On this sixteenth day of August AD. 1832 - personally appeared in open court, before the Hon. Hodijah Baylier Judge of Probate & for said county now sitting at Dighton in & for said County of Bristol by Adjurnmenter sitting, James Briggs, a resident of Dighton in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, aged Seventy three 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 ss. as a substitute for Gideon Briggs / a private soldier in a company of infantry commanded by Captain Samuel Tubbs of Bukley, in said County. The Company was attached to a Regiment of infantry commanded by Colonel Walker of Rehoboth, in said County. This enlistment was called the Eight months service - your applicant served about this term of time. He entered the service in April 1775, and was discharged in December following. Whilst in the performance of this service, he was stationed in the Town fo Dorchester and Roxbury, near Boston - was in no Engagement In proof of this service you have the testimony of Mr George Pitt who was a soldier in the same service, though not in the same company  Marked Number 1. One your applicant enlisted as a private soldier in a company of infantry commanded by the aforesaid Captain Samuel Tubb of Bukley aforesaid. This enlistment was called the two month service - your applicant served about this term [continued]
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[continued] of time - He enlisted in February 1776, and was discharged the last of March or the forepart of April following. Whilst in the performance of this service, your applicant was stationed at Winter Hill and at Dorchester Hill, near Boston, on the latter of which he assisted in t he building of a fort - was in no engagement - was on Dorchester Hill at the time, and also after the British Forces left Boston. In proof of. this service you have the testimony of Mr. Thomas Rose who was in the same service and in the same company  Marked. Number 2 - Two - 

The two aforesaid enlistments were services done in the service of the State of Massachusetts. Your applicant after being discharged from the latter service, returned to his home at Freetown. Shortly after his return home, he went to Newport, in the State of Rhode Island, where he enlisted as a private soldier in a company of infantry commanded by Captain Abimelech Riggs of said Newport - the company was attached to a Regiment of infantry commanded by colonel William Richmond of Little Compton in the State aforesaid; of which regiment, William Barton of Providence, in the State aforesaid, was Lieutenant Colonel. Your applicant was stationed at Newport aforesaid from whence, in October, he went on an expedition to Sangatuch on Long Island for the purpose of capturing some refugee tories;  they were captured with their commander, whose name was Frist, together with two strops ladened with wood, and carried to New Haven Connecticut. From New Haven, we attempted to return to Newport, but we experienced such bosterous weather that our boat foundered an a part of our company came near being drowned. After loosing our boat we returned to Newport by land, where we arrived in November. during this Expedition, your applicant, as well as others, suffered greatly from cold and fatigue. [continued]
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[continued]

This enlistment was called the one year service in the State of Rhode Island. your applicant did not serve the term or one year but about the time of between seven and eight months. He enlisted in April 1776 was discharged about the last of November. In proof of this service you have the testimony of Jeremiah Zacharuary who was in the same service and in the same company  Marked Number 3 - Three

Your applicant again enlisted in a company of artillery commanded by Captain Joshua Sawyer of Newport aforesaid. The company was attached to a regiment of artillery commanded by Colonel Robert Eliot of said Newport. Your applicant was stationed at Fogland Ferry, Patuxet and at Providence in the State of Rhode Island. He was in no Engagement. This enlistment was called. the fifteen months service in the State of Rhode Island - your applicant served about Eleven months of the fifteen. He enlisted in April 1777 - was discharged in March following 1778. In proof of this service you have the testimony of Jeremiah Hathaway who was in the same service and in the same company  Marked Number 4 - Four.

After the faithful performance of the aforesaid services, your applicant shipped at Boston on board a schooner, her name, he does not recollect, of which James Burton was master, and sailed for Charleston, South Carolina; whilst at Chrleston, he shipped on board a letter of Marque Stoop called the Fanery, carrying Eight guns  Allen and Patter commanders and sailed for St. Eustatius, was captured on the voyage and carried into St. Christopher, where he was imprisoned, from which imprisonment he escaped, got to St. Eustatius, from there he came to Baltimore in the United States. 

In the winter of 1779, your applicant was at Charleston, South Carolina; he understood that a vessel was about to be taken up [continued]
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[continued] by the authority of the State of South Carolina for the purpose of carrying a cargo of produce to Boston, it being understood that in consequence of the provatence of a scarcity of provisions, the poor was suffering much from want, and that in a measure to relieve their distress, a vessel ladened with produce, was intended to be sent to them by the State of South Carolina. Your applicant shipped on board the vessel thus employed at the rate of Sixteen dollars per month - the ships name, was the Eustis, he believes; and was mounted with ten guns, the commander name he does not recollect. The vessel take up was formerly a prized Ship. She underwent a thorough repair, in which your applicant assisted, and was put in compleat order for the reception of the cargo, which was accordingly ladened on board and consisted wholly or mostly of Rice. We sailed from Charleston on our intended voyage to Boston, and proceeded as far as five fathom Hold, so called, but could not proceed to Sea on account of the blockade, occasioned by the many cruisers - we returned back to Charleston - again we sailed as far as five fathom Hold. Shortly after this last movement wit ht he Ship, Charleston was besieged by the enemy; our vessel was ordered back and Stationed in Ashley River, for the purpose of cooperation in defence of the City, during the siege. In this instance, your applicant does not recollect that there was any considerable engagement, the Ship in which he was stationed, fired a few broadsides about the time the enemy began, or a short time at least before they began to retreat and save the invasion of the City.

After the siege had terminated by the retreat of the enemy the contemplated voyage to Boston was given up, as your applicant  understood - he was at any rate, discharged, and pass of in good har money, at the rate of $16 per month. He served on board the Eustis about three months. Of this service your applicant can furnish no evidence, as he does not know of any one living who knew [continued]
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[continued] or knows any them of the intended voyage. For the truth of the  relation, the Government has only his form and positive assertion on oath. t hat it is true. he has been thus particular in the relation of circumstances, that perhaps, some one in the employ of the government at the present time, may recollect or know something of the circumstances of the intended voyage he has related  your applicant after his discharge from the Eustis, Sailed two or three voyages or cruises in vessel, called letters of Marque, from Charleston to St. Eustasius and back to Charleston again. During one of those voyages or cruises, the vessel in which he served captured a large pilot boat, having on board between two and three hundred stands or arms and a proportional quantity of ammunition and carried her safely into Charleston. The boat was said to have been fitted out by order of the British General with the said arms on board for the purpose of arming the negro slaves against their masters and the general cause of the Country. In the winter of 1780, your applicant was at Charleston, South Carolina, when it was again besieged by the British force. At this time he had accumulated by his industry about Two hundred dollars, which was a considerable sum for him, at his time of life; and which was in Merchandize. When the siege commenced, he was pressed into the service, as he understood by order of General Lincoln, from on board a Cutter of Marque Schooners,  the name he does not recollect, of which Gabriel OBrien was master; on board said schooner your applicant was drawing $16.- per month: he was placed in White Point Fort, so called, at one of the guns in the lower tier, where he served during the siege - was included armory there prisoners in the capitulation, who were sent to Philadelphia for exchange. After the capitulation took place, your applicant, as well as others, were not permitted to have any intercourse with any one on shore; he consequently could not, and was not able to ascertain what had become of his property - He lost it all [continued]
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[continued] the first of two years labour. your applicant for his services at Charleston never received one farthing or cent, except when exchange as Philadelphia, a Passport, acchorising him to receive from any American commissary whom he might meet with or find on his way home to Freetown, Massachusetts ration sufficient to last him four days. He never saw nor heard of any company until he arrived at Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, where he found one, to whom he shew his certificate of Passport and obtained rations for four days

From Philadelphia to Providence your applicant traveled on foot and obtained his subsistence with some hard money which he has & which he had kept carefully concealed about his person during the siege and after the capitulation.

[striken text]

Shortly after his return home to Freetown, from the siege and capitulation of Charleston, sailed on a voyage to Cape Francis from Somerset, Massachusetts, - was taken a prisoner and put on board the prison ship Jersey at New York, where he suffered & met cruel imprisonment of five months - after which time he was paroled He deems it not necessary to state any thing further in relation to his participation in the evens of the war of the Revolution, but would beg leave respectfully to observe that during the said war, he was almost the whole time of its continuance, in the public of private armed service of the Country. and also the [continued]
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[continued] testimony of Simeon Chace Esq in addition to that of Jeremiah Hathaway, as a further proof of his services in the artillery company commanded by Captain Joshua Sawyer, is Marked Number 5. Five. your applicant having there stated his services He deems it now proper, to state his impressions in relation to his monthly pay, whilst in the public service. while in the infantry company, he thinks, it was forty shillings, or Six dollars and sixty six cents and two thirds of a cent per month; and in the artillery, forty five shilling, or seven dollars and fifty cents per month. He has no writing or paper of any kind that makes him with percision & certainty to state the exact amount of his monthly pay. what he has stated, he states from memory entire - the time of his enlistment or his entry into the service, and also the time of his discharge - that his memory is tolerable correct, may be inferred from the testimonies, which he has been enabled to obtain from  respectable individuals, in confirmation of his services. One great and perhaps it is the only reason why your applicant does not particularly recollect the precise amount of his monthly pay was because the pa was so very poor in comparison with that of the services performed. that he paid but little attention to what his wages were per month In noticing the poverty of his pay, He would respectfully observe, that on being discharged from the service, in the company of Captain Sawyer, he received his pay in paper money. Sixty dollars of which, he was compelled to give for one pair of Shoes. the remainder of his pay never turned to him any account whatever. However well dispared your applicant might have been again. to have enlisted in the service of the Country, he could not, without he could set at defiance the wants and cares of nature - which is impossible in any [illegible] - he contested to starve and go naked; as his pay would [illegible] for him neither food to eat or clothes to ware. while in the infantry [continued]
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[continued] company, he would also respectfully say that he found the Gun and accoutremants which he used in the service and also the clothes which he wore, except a light coat of small value which was given him by the Town of Freetown. He is now grateful for the allowance that the Government in its wisdom has thought proper to make to him, and to that of others, who for a certain turn of time faithfully performed services in the common cause of the country, in that great and eventful struggle for liberty and independence. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension role of the agency of any State - He draws a pension from no scource whatever either public or private

James Briggs

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

H. Baylies, Judge of Probate



We Abraham Gurkee a clergyman residing in said Dighton and William Read a yeoman residing also in said Dighton hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with James Briggs who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy three years of age; that he is respected and beloved, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion

Abraham Gurkee
Wm Read

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

Before
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate
Page 11

And. the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And. t he court further certifies that it appears to them, that Abraham Gurkee who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the said Town of Dighton and that William Read who has also signed the same, is a resident in the said Town of Dighton, and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit

H. Baylies, Judge of Probate



[seal affixed]

I Anselm Bassett, Register of the Court of Probate within & for the county of Bristol, Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Briggs of Dighton in said County for pension - 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this sixteenth day of August AD. 1832 —

Anselm Bassett
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1st Question
Where, and in what year were you born?

Answer
I was born in Freetown in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 11th day of June 1759 as I have been told by my parents.

2d Question
Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it?

Answer
I know of no official Records of my age

3d Question
When were you living when called into the service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?

Answer
During the Revolutionary war, when at home, and at the time of its termination, and a short time after its close, I resided and lived in said Freetown, afterward removed to Dighton, where I have ever since resided, and do now reside.

4th Question
How were you called into the service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And is a substitute, for whom

Answer
I First entered the service as a substitute for Gideon Briggs, a private soldier, and served about Eight months it was called the Eight months service. I next enlisted and served two months - it was called the two months service. These two several services were performed in the service of the state of Massachusetts. I next enlisted and served about seven months - it was called the one year service. I again enlisted and served about eleven months - it was called the fifteen months service: both of those two latter services were performed in the service of the State of Rhode Island. I next enlisted on board a ship. I think her hame was the Eustis, and served about three months, in the Service of the State of South Carolina, and the next service I performed was by imprisonment by [continued]
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Answer
[continued] order of General Lincoln, at the siege and capitulation of Charleston, South Carolina  [illegible] of the aforesaid services are specified and set forth in my declaration now before your Honor. It may not perhaps be improper that I recapitulate the number of months I served. the Country. viz In the Service of the State of Massachusetts 10 months; - in the service of the State of Rhode Island 18 months: - in the Service of the State of South Carolina 3 months; and by imprisonment 3 months - making the total number 34 months.

5th Question
State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you served: such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.

Answer
I have no direct recollection of the name of any of the general officers in command of the troops, except that General Thomas was in command at Roxbury, and General Putman at Winter Hill; other than those which I have stated in my declaration. Troops were stationed near and around our regiment, I do not now particularly recollect whether they were regulars or Militias, or who those officers were who commanded them. I thought that my enlistment was that of the Regular or continental troops, so called, and I never knew any thing to the contrary until I have been so informed. that there was a difference between a State enlistment and that which was called continental. The general transacting which took place during my service, and which came to my knowledge, I have stated in my declaration, as near as I can recollect.

[continued]
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[continued]

6th Question
Did you ever receive a discharge from service; and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it.

Answer
I Received regular discharge from the service every time after my term of enlistment had expired from the commanding officer authorized to give the same, and I received a Passport at the time I was exchanged at Philadelphia. I have now, none of those papers. I have mislaid or lost them, or perhaps t hey have been destroyed

7th Question
State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your service as a soldier of the Revolution

Answer
I should presume that the respectable testimonies which I have produced in proof of my services in the war of the Revolution, and which is now before your Honor is and would be sufficient to impress upon the mind of any one, that those services which I have stated in my declaration, were true and well and faithfully performed. of those who have given testimony of my service; three of them reside in the said Town of Dighton, and this of two of them in my immediate neighbourhood.
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16,723

Jas. Briggs

Private Ary 10 Mos
"         Infy   14 "

$89.32



of 14th
Fl 21, 1833
P - US

P - 262



J. L. Hodges
HR Present
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16,723

BRIEF in the case of James Briggs
of Bristol Cy in the State of Mass.
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? 
A Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he?
73

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period.
[1] 75 - Apl to Decr.
[2] 76 Feby to March or Apl 1777
[3] 76 Apl to las of Nov 76
[4] 77 Apl. to March '78
[5] after above Services 
[6] Winter of '79
[7] Winter of '80

Duration of Service.
Years, Months, Days.
[1] about 8 [months]
[2] about 2 [months]
[3] between 7 & 8 [months]
[4] about 11 [months] art
[5] [blank]
[6] about 3 [months]
[7] - - - 3 - - - [months]

Rank.
As a
[1] Substitute
[2] Private
[3] — " —
[4] — " —
[5] Seaman
[6] do
[7] private

Names of Generals and Field Officers under whom he served.
[1] Capt. Tubbs & Co. Walker
[2] do
[3] Capt. Riggs Col. Richmond
[4] Capt. Sawyer Col Eliot
[5] Letter of Marque Fanny - Capts Allen & Patte
[6] Ship Eustis at Charleston - 
[7] In White Point Fort at Charleston

5. In what battles was he engage?
none mentioned

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Freetown Mass

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
5 living witnesses

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Right

X Certify that the foregoing statement and t he answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Mr. C. Easton
Examining Clerk.
11 Feb 1833

*In his answer to the 4th interrogatory he say does not qualify his terms of service with [illegible] &c but states exactly his length of each term
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15.344
[check]
INVALID

File No. 15 344
James Briggs
Pri of Arty & Seaman
Rev War
Ship "Eustis" &c.

Act: June 7" 32

Index:—Vol. 1, Page 437

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 18

No 6

Testimony Simeon Chace
of Service performed
by James Briggs 
in. the war of the Revolution
July 3, 1832.



J L Hodges HR

James Briggs - 
16723
Page 19

I Jeremiah Hathaway of Hardwick in the County of Worcster and State of Massachusetts yeoman do testify and say that I was a private soldier in the Rhode Island State Service in the war of the Revolution and that James Briggs of Brighton in the county of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aforesaid, yeoman, served in the Rhode Island state service as a private soldier in the war of the Revolution, in the Company fo Infantry commanded by Capt. Abimalick Briggs in the Regiment under the Command of Col William Richmond, that from the best of my recollection said Briggs served from about the first part of April in the year of Our Lord One Thousand seven hundred and seventy six to about the last of November of the same year in what was usually called the One Years Service - And I also further state That I served in the same Company with said Briggs, and was also discharged at the same time when the Company was disbanded —

Jeremiah Hathaway



Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss.

July 3d. 1832 Then personally appeared Jeremiah Hathaway who signed the foregoing declaration & affidavit and made solemn oath to the truth of the same

Before me Barzillai Crane Justice of the Peace
Page 20

Bristol ss. March 28th 1833

I do hereby certify that the within named Jeremiah Hathaway whose signature is affixed to the within affidavit is a credible person whose testimony can be relied on.

Barzillai Crane Justice of the Peace



No 3 —
Testimony 
Jeremiah Hathaway
of Service performed 
by James Brigg
in the War of the Revolution
July 3, 1832
Page 21

[duplicate of previous page, as follows:]

Bristol ss. March 28th 1833

I do hereby certify that the within named Jeremiah Hathaway whose signature is affixed to the within affidavit is a credible person whose testimony can be relied on.

Barzillai Crane Justice of the Peace



No 3 —
Testimony 
Jeremiah Hathaway
of Service performed 
by James Brigg
in the War of the Revolution
July 3, 1832
Page 22

I Jeremiah Hathaway of Hardwick in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts yeoman, do testify and say that I was in what was called the Rhode Island fifteen months service in the war of the Revolution — That James Briggs of Dighton in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts entered what was called the Rhode Island State fifteen months service & according to the best of my recollection some time about the first of May in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and seventy seven and that he the said Briggs served from that time untill some time about the first of March the next year in the Artillery Company under the command of Capt. Joshua Sawyer in the Regiment under the Command of Col. Robert Eliot

Jeremiah Hathaway



Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Bristol ss. } July 3d. 1832 Then personally appeared the above named Jeremiah Hathaway who subscribed to the foregoing declaration and affidavit and made solemn oath to the truth of the same

Before me Barzillai Crane Justice of the Peace
Page 23

Bristol ss. March 28th 1833.

I hereby certify the within named Jeremiah Hathaway is a credible person whose testimony can be relied on.

Barzillai Crane Justice of the Peace



No 4 —

Testimony Jeremiah Hathaway
of Service performed by James Briggs
in the war of the Revolution
July 3. 1832
Page 24

I Simeon Chace of Berkley in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Esquire do testify and say that I served as a private Soldier in what was called the fifteen months service of the state of Rhode Island in the war of the Revolution, and that James Biggs of Dighton in the said County of Bristol & Commonwealth of Massachusetts yeoman, served as a private soldier in the said Rhode Island State fifteen months service which commenced in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and seventy seven and terminated in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight and that he the said Briggs served as a private soldier in the artillery company under the comand of Capt. Joshua Sawyer in the Regiment under the comand of Col. Robert Eliot the precise time when said Briggs enlisted in said service I do not recollect.

Simeon Chace



Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Bristol ss. July 3d 1832 Then personally appeared the above named Simeon Chace who subscribed to the foregoing declaration and affidavit and made solemn oath to the truth of the same.

Before me Barzillai Crane Justice of the Peace
Page 25

Bristol ss. March 28th. 1833

I hereby certify that the written named Simeon Chace Esquire whose signature is affixed to the within affidavit is a credible person whose testimony can be relied on.

Barzillai Crane Justice of the Peace.



Commonwealth of Massachusetts —
Bristol ss. I Anselm Bassett, Register of the Court of Probate in & for said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that Seth Williams and Barzillai Crane are Justices of the Peace for said County and that the signatures affixed to the foregoing & & annexed affidavits purporting to be theirs, are the genuine signatures of the said Seth Williams and Barzillai Crane —

[seal affixed]

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said court this first day of November Eighteen hundred and thirty two - 

Anselm Bassett
Page 26

No 2 - 
Testimony Thomas Rose
of Services performed by
James Briggs in the 
War of the Revolution
July 26, 1832
Page 27

I Thomas Rose of Dighton in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, yeoman, do testify and say that I was a private soldier in the Service of the State of Massachusetts, in the war of the Revolution. It was known by the name of the two months service. Your deponent enlisted in a company of infantry commanded by Captain Samuel Tubbs of Berkley in the county aforesaid, which company was attached to a Regiment of Infantry Commanded by Colonel Samuel French of Berkley aforesaid, that I enlisted in February 1776 for two months - entered the service and was stationed at Winter Hill and Dorchester Hill near Boston

That in consequence of extreme fatigue in the building of a fort on Dorchester Hill, I was taken unwell with a fever - was carried to the Hospital and after I had sufficiently recovered, I was brought home to Dighton before the two months service of enlistment Expired. I do hereby testify and declare on oath that James Briggs now of said Dighton, now present, was in the same service - same company, and served, as I always understood, the full term of two months.

So help me God
Thomas Rose



Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Bristol ss July 26. 1832 Then personally appeared the above named Thomas Rose who subscribed the foregoing declaration and affidavit and made solemn oath to the truth of the same

Before me
Seth Williams, Justice of the Peace

[continued]
Page 28

[continued]

I also certify that the within named Thomas Rose is a creditable person

Seth Williams Justice of the Peace.
Page 29

No 1 - 
Testimony of George Pitts
of services performed by
James Briggs in the
War of the Revolution
July 27. 1832.
Page 30

I George Pitts of Dighton in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Gentleman do testify and say that I was a private soldier in what was called the Eight months service in the State of Massachusetts, in the war of the Revolution. That I enlisted in a company of infantry commanded by Captain Peter Pitts of said Dighton, which company of infantry was attached to a Regiment of infantry commanded by Colonel - Walker of Rehoboth, in said County. That I enlisted in April 1775, and was discharged in December following. Entered the service and was stationed in the Towns of Roxbury and Dorchester - was in no Engagement. 

I do hereby testify and declare that James Briggs, now of said Dighton, but then of Freetown in said County & was a substitute for Gideon Briggs, a private soldier in the company of Captaion Samuel Tubbs, said Company was attach to the Regiment infantry commanded by the aforesaid Colonel - Walker. during the performance of the aforesaid service of Eight months, I frequently saw said James Briggs, I always understood and believed that he served the Eight months as well as myself with the exception of about a week.

So help me God
George Pitts



Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Bristol ss July 27. 1832 Then personally appeared the above=named George Pitts who subscribed the foregoing declaration and affidavit, and made solemn oath to the truth of the same

Before me Seth Williams Justice of the Peace

[continued]
Page 31

[continued]

I also certify that the within named George Pitts is a creditable person

Seth Williams Justice of the Peace