Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17255, Caleb Bassett, Mass.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Mass.
Bassett, Caleb
NUMBER
S. 17255
Carded
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13442
Massachusetts
Caleb Bassett
of Plymouth in the State of Mass
who was a Pvt. & Sgt. in the Company commanded by Captain Mitchell of the Reg't commanded by by Col Casey in the Mass line for
6 months & 15 Days Private
3 months  Sergeant

Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 36 Dollars  67 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14th of June
Plymouth Mass and sent to J.H. Lone Plymouth, Massachusetts
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $73.34
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept
18.33
$91.67
Book
Revolutionary Claim,
Act
June 7, 1832. ⎬
Recorded by D.D. Addison
Book E 
Vol. 24 Page 7
Page 3

Caleb Bassett
Page 4

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH, SS.
On this second day of October 1832, 
personally appeared in open Court, before
--,   the Court of Probate
now sitting at East Bridgewall, in and for said County of Plymouth, Caleb Basett resident
of Middleborough in said County of Plymouth, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy four 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. 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. That is to say, that
he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and
served as herein stated.
In the month of February 1776 he enlisted in a company commanded by Capt Elisha Mitchell in Col. Casey's Regiment & marched to Roxbury where he remained until he was taken sick which was nearly a month when
he hired a substitute for the remainder of the term. He was in no battle. He had no discharge in writing.
In September or October of the same year he enlisted in Capt Abram Washburn's Company in Col Penbridge's Regiment and went to Newport in Rhode Island where he served two months & was discharged but had no written discharge & was in no battle.
Immediately after he served two weeks at Bristol in the company commanded by Capt Abram Washburn and was discharged he had no written discharge & was in no battle.
Isaac Wilber now living at Bridgewater in
said County was with him in the several campaigns above mentioned & his Deposition accompanies this Declaration
Page 5

In 1778 about the first of January he enlisted in a company commanded by Capt Abram Washburn in Col Spents Regiment and served three months in said company at
North Kingston in the State of Rhode Island. He was there at the time of the burning of the Ship Columbus and was in the Skirmish with the enemy at that time, after he had served his term of enlistment being three months he was discharged but had no written discharge. Alphens Foles has testified to this service & his Deposition
In the fall of the year 1778 he enlisted for three
months in a company commanded by Capt Shippen Lindale Winslow was Lieut. He was commissioned as a duty Sergeant & served as such his full term of enlistment on the Castle in Boston Harbour. He was discharged at the end of said term but had no written discharge and was in no battle & knows of no person living by whom he can prove this service
In all the above he served in the Massachusetts
line. He has no documentary evidence other
than what is annexed. He was born in Bridgewater & lived there at the time of said enlistments but now resides in Middleborough in said County where he has lived for seventeen years. He presumes his birth
is recorded in the town records of Bridgewater. He is well known to Rev Mr. Shaw, Hon Judge Wood & all the good citizens of said town of Middleborough.

Caleb Bassett
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Attest Jacob H. Land Register
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We, John Shaw
a clergyman, residing in the
town of Middleborough and Joseph Clark
residing in the same town hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Caleb Bassett who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration; that we believe him to be seventy four years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.

John Shaw
Joseph Clark

Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Attest Jacob H. Lord Register

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
the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Rev. John Shaw who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Middleborough and that Dr. Joseph Clark who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same town and is a credible
person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

Jacob H. Lord Reg.

I Jacob H. Land Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Caleb Bassett for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of my office, this eighteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
Jacob H. Lord
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22777
Caleb Bassett
Mqss
Sgt
3 month
Private 6 month 15 day

15.00
20.00
1.07
36.67
D.H. Lord
Midlesex
Mass
Page 8

22777
Caleb Bassett
Mqss
Sgt
3 month
Private 6 month 15 day

15.00
20.00
1.07
36.67
D.H. Lord
Midlesex
Mass
Page 9


WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office
183

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done
Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: ⎬
You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and claim.
You will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

A statement, showing the service of Caleb Bassett
Plymouth Co.  Mass. 

Enlist 1776 1 month 0 Days Private, Capt. Mitchell, Col. Carey Battles:  ---- Country through which he marched: Roxbury.  Place of abode when he enlisted and present age:  74 years, Bridgewater, Mass.  Evidence by which the declaration is supported:  Traditionary & 2 Witnesses.

Enlist 1776 2 month 0 Days Private, Capt. Washburn, Col. Partridge Battles:  ---- Country through which he marched: Newport.  Place of abode when he enlisted and present age: --.  Evidence by which the declaration is supported:  Traditionary & 2 Witnesses.

Enlist 1776 0 month 15 Days Private, Capt. Washburn, Col. Partridge Battles:  ---- Country through which he marched: Rosland.  Place of abode when he enlisted and present age: --.  Evidence by which the declaration is supported:  Traditionary & 2 Witnesses.

Enlist 1778 3 month 0 Days Private, Capt. Washburn, Col. Sproat Battles:  -Skirmish Country through which he marched: North Kingston  Place of abode when he enlisted and present age: --.  Evidence by which the declaration is supported:  Traditionary & 2 Witnesses.

Enlist 1778 3 month 0 Days Sgt., Capt. Treppen, Col. --Battles:  -Skirmish Country through which he marched: Boston.  Place of abode when he enlisted and present age: --.  Evidence by which the declaration is supported:  Traditionary & 2 Witnesses.

I am, respectfully
Your obedient servant,
Commissioner of 
Pensions.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia" and "volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first in
stance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.
of
On this
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
Serity of
County of
day of
A.B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
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 provion made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)
served in the
(e) regiment of the
with
and
line, under the following named officers:
Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he enered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
of the Court of
certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of
& c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
and C. D. residing in (the same)
who has
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
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 the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Clerk of the Court of
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation of
for a pension.
do hereby certify that the foregoing
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this
day of
& c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission
; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
-
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted
; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.
All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there
subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account
of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war
, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. 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 services.
6.
{To a Soldier.
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given
and what has become of it?
Town Oficer has become of it?
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character
and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the
proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to
perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can protaken
and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow
the rule laid down for his guidance.
The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
conforming to the rule.
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. In a case where the applicant can
not, 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:
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---yeardays
, I served as a-
For months and --- days, I served as a-
-- months, andand
for such service I claim a pension."
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 that 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 objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or place where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent and
thority; 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.
15
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
the Clerk must fix his seat and no one man who can answer the car was
seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
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 papers 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 attached to the certificate.
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 claimant's 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.
The notes from to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in
note applies to continental troops only.
This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
---
Page 12

No.
Act:
17, 255
INVALID.
Caleb Bassett
Serg't Rev. War

Act: June 7, 32
lndex:--Vol. 1
Page 483
(Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 13

to the Hon Wilkes Wood
Judge of
the Court of Probate
for the County of Plymouth
Page 14

Deposition of Alpheus Fober
I Alpheus Fober of Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth and common wealth of Massachusetts aged seventy six years
do testify on oath and say that in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight I was a soldier in the Revolutionary army stationed at
North Kingston in the State of Rhode Island and that Caleb Bassett was in the same service with me and belonged to the same company and served as a private soldier during the term of three months from the early rent of January in the aforesaid year
The officers under whom he served were as follows
Colonel Sproat of Middleborough
Lt. Colonel Tyler
Major Perry
Captain Abraham Washburn of Bridgewater
Lieutenant John Whitman
2d Lieut Elijah Ames
Bridgwater August 15th 1832 

Alpheus Fober
Plymouth SS.
On this fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two the said Alpheus Fobes was
by and before me agreeable to law
examined cautioned & sworn
to the deposition above written and by him subscribed, taken at the request of the said Caleb Bassett and to be used as
evidence in obtaining a pension under the laws of the United States
Justice of the Peace
Isaac Fober for the County of Plymouth
Page 15

And I further certify that the before named deponent is a man of truth
and entitled to full credit

---
Isaac Fober Justice of Peace
-
---
-
Page 16


Deposition of Isaac Wilber
I, Isaac Wilber of Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy three years
testify on oath and say that I was a solder in the revolutionary army in year one thousand seven hundred Seventy six two months stationed at Roxbury and I furthermore Testify and say that Caleb Bassett the of Bridgewater and now of Middleborough was a soldier
the same Company by himself & substitute two month Other officers and whom we served are as followeth
Col Cary of Bridgwater
Capt Elisha Mitchell of D.O.
Lieut Hezekiah Hooper of D.O.
I further more testify and say that the above said Caleb Bassett was with me another Compain two month at Newport in the State of Rode Island in the month of Sept and October in the above said year
1776 under the following officers
Col Partridge
Capt Abram Washburn
Lieut. Saml Howard
I further more testify and say that the said Caleb Bassett was with me half a month at Bristol the State of Rhode Island in the year 1776 under Command
Capt Abram Washburn 

Isaac Wilber
Page 17

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth.
I Jacob H. Land Register of Probate for
the County of Plymouth do herby certify that Isaac Fober Avery Fober Esqr are Justices of the Peace in & for said County & that the signatures to the certificates aforesaid purporting to be signed by them severally are true & genuine as I believe
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & seal
of Office this eighteenth day of
February A.D. 1833
Jacob H. Lord
Page 18

Commonwealth of Massachuseth
Plymouth SS. August 13th one thousand Eight hundred thirty two then the within named Isaac Wilbur made Oath that the within statement by him subscribed is just and true. 
and I further certify that the above named Deponent is a man of truth and entitled to full credit.
before me
Avery Fober Justice of the peace