Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,096, for Joseph Shaw, Massachusetts
Page 1

SERVICE
Blank

NAME
Shaw, Joseph

NUMBER
S35,096
Page 2

[4h of arch 1833  $144.
by Captain King of the [illegible] commanded 
by Col. Walker in the Mass. 
line for (15?) months [illegible]

Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts 
at the rate of 52 Dollars 12 Cents per annum 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 30th day of July 1833 and sent to [illegible] Taunton Mass

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833  $104.24
Sem-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 18  $26.06
Total $130.30
Page 3

39863
Joseph Shaw
of Bristol Co
Mass. 

Private
10 month 24 days
Admitt (admitted)

Feg 14
Dec 29

A. Bassett
Taunton
Bristol Co. 
Mass.
Page 4

BRIEF in the case of Joseph Shaw
at Bristol Co. in the State of Mass
(Act 7th June, 1832)

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

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

3.  How old is he?  88 years

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

PERIOD
In 1775 Apl 20
May
76 Feby
July 
80 August

DURATION OF SERVICE. 
Years,  Months,  Days. 
(only months and days listed.)

8  mos  10 days
2 mos
5 months
9 days
Total 15 months 19 days

RANK
Private (for all perids)

NAMES OF GENERAL AND FIELD OFFICERS
UNDER WHOM HE SERVED.

Capt. Williams
Capt. King
Capt Hale
Capt Briggs
Capt Hale

r.  In what battles was he engaged:  none

6. Where did he reside when he entered in the service?  Raynham

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

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

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 

Signature of J H McBlair
Examining Clerk
Page 5

Joseph Shaw[
illegible] 


[written on left sideways]
3986
Page 6

BRISTOL, SS.
AT a COURT OF PROBATE holden at Taunton in
and for said County on the twenty eighth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two before the Honorable [name illegible}, Judge of the Probate, &c. for said County, personally appeared Joseph Shaw
a resident of Raynham in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged eighty
years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832, make the following declaration.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as hereinafter to wit: under Capt James Williams and Lt. John King &  Abraham Hathaway in Col. Walkers regiment [remainder of this paragraph is illegible]

and further declare as follows, in reply to the interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of War: to wit:

1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Ans. That he was born in Raynham in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts
in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty one

2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it? The record of my birth [illegible] fathers children or family bible now in my possession.

3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where
do you now live?
I have always lived in Raynham

4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?  I always voluntarily enlisted.
Page 7

5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served; such Contacts and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. 

Under Capt Williams voluntarily marched from Taunton immediately on hearing of the Battle of Lexington we marched in the afternoon of the twentieth of April Seventeen hundred and seventy five to (?) and staid there ten days, [illegible] had enlisted for a longer term of service, arrived and we were dismissed
under a lasting entered in the beginning of a for eight months we marched from
Taunton to Roxbury and there at Chester on Boston served out said term in the arm
signs Poston on the seventeenth of the following June we were marched at day break to
Dorchester point apprehending the enemy were about to land there but they made their allow
on the other side of Boston at Bunkers hill, the they annonaded us all day, and about
sunset I remember one soldier in a Connecticut Company just in our wear was killed by a
I recollect the attack on the right house in the saw the ensign of our Company both went on
the earth, but I was not dated on it; I do not recollect any particular regiment then
To Son Warrington while I was there but do not come therefor, under Capt Hall
entered in form in the year Seventeen hundred pounds and served two months we
repent will in Cambage then to Downester and served in the neighborhood
of Boston until some time after the to my has evacuated it, during considerable of the term ┃
will I was detached on fatigue duty powing timber for the forts and at the time of the
ation was taken some I cannot tell what other corps were with a
under Capt Beggs I served one months, entered some time in July Seventeen hundred
and seventy six the searched this Providence in Rhode Island & thence through the State of
and one far Newham whence we embarked for New York, when I reached
---
the York appeared in the arm of mechanical under Capt Phineas Ford
only and served in the same until a short time before my term of enlistment was out
when I rejoined my former company; from New York we marched to Kingsbridge, from
which we marched to White plains; but our regiment was not engaged in the Battle then we
were skill and staid there and in its neighbourhood until our term of service a
out, I saw Gen Enos in New York & when our regiment was about to go to Kingsbridge
that came said we men out of our company must remain; six of whom I acre,
volunteered to pay had a battle being daily expected, we staid in New York some time
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and then joined our company at Kingsbridge; I also saw Gen. Sullivan & Lord Sterling after they had been taken on Long Island & released on their parole; under Capt Noah Hall on the first of August Seventeen hundred and eighty -- I went on an Alarm to Tiverton in the state of Rhode Island and served there guarding the coasts and we landed at one time in Rhode Island and procured some cattle' I served on this alarm two weeks for proof of these services I refer to the affidavits & documents annexed.
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6. Were you a Soldier or an Officer?  if a Soldier, did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it signed and what has become of it? if an Officer, did you ever receive a commission and  if so by whom was it signed, what has become of it? 
I was a soldier & never received a written discharge when we had served out our terms we were dismissed and made the best of our ways home & all my aforesaid services (?) either in the State troops or the (?).

7.  State the names of the 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.
Revd Enoch Sanford & Godfrey Robinson
both from Raynham
ice; and if so, by

And the said Joseph Shaw, doth further
 declare that he hereby relinquishes every
claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State [remainder of text crossed out.]
Signature of Joseph Shaw

Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
H Baylies,
Judge of Probate.

We Enoch Sanford a Clergyman residing in Raynham and Godfrey Robinson residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Shaw who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be (?) eighty  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 to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Enoch Sanford, Godfrey Robinson
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate
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certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Shaw who has subscribed and sworn to the
above declaration; that we believe him to be about eighty 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 to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Enoch Sanford, Godfrey Robinson
H M Baylies, Judge of Probate

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 abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Enoch Sanford who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman who has also signed the same is a resident in the Town of Raynham
in said County of Bristol, and that Godfrey Robinson who has also signed the same is a resident in said Town, and is a credible
person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
H. Baylies,
Judge of Probate.
Register of Probate. (crossed out)

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS,
BRISTOL, SS.

I Anne Bassett - Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Shaw of Raynham in said County, for a Pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court the day and year first above written.
Signature of Joel Bassett
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30096
INVALID

FIle NO. 30,096
Joseph Shaw
Priv  Rev War

Act: June 7 1839
Index: - Vol. 9  Page 366

[Arrangement of 1879.]
Page 12

5653
Massachusetts
Joseph Shaw
Resided in the State of Mass
who was  a Private in the (?) Army commanded by Captain [illegible] of the Regt commanded by Col. (Hale?) in the Mass line for (?) and 22 Days

15 Mo. & 14 day

Inscribed at the rate of 36 Dollars __ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of July 1833 and sent to L Hodge

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 [illegible]

Semi-anl. allowance ending- [illegible]
Total $72.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by J H Blair  Clerk, 
Book  D  Vol. (?)  Page 98

[last text illegible]
Page 13

Joseph Shaw
Page 14

Commonwealty of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Aug 14 1832

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 Joseph Shaw is borne on a roll of
Captain John Kings Company in Col. Timothy
Walker [illegible] and is therein stated to have
served three month and five days from May
1775 -- Also on a roll of Capt. Noah Halls Company in Col Mitchells regiment - where marched on an alarm to Tiverton or [illegible] August 1780 and that he served therein nine days.

Edward D Bangs [illegible]
Page 15

I Joseph Shaw of Raynham in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, aged Eighty one years, make the following as an amendment to my former declaration under the act of Congress of June 7th 1832 for a pension so far as respects Eight months service in the Revolutionary War in the year 1775, as mentioned in said declaration now in the war Department at Washington, in order to obtain the benefit of said Act for the whole term of said Eight months service

According to the best of my recollection I enlisted as a private soldier into a company of Militia commanded by Capt John Kins. and Noah Hall Ensign Abraham Hathaway were (?) officers in said Company for a campaign of Eight Months in Col Walkers Regiment being armed and equiped my own expense -- I marched from Raynham Mass on the first of Nov. 1775 with the company commanded by said Capt John King of Durham of Raynham for Roxbury near Boston in said Massachusetts, and there at Roxbury and Dorchester I served as a soldier in the American Arms, Eight Months which term expired the first January 1776. I never received a written discharge but was dismissed by my officers at the expiration of said eight months and returned to Raynham in the same company 
Signature of Joseph Shaw

Bristol Ss. June 24th 1833. 
Then the above named Joseph Shaw personally appeared and made oath to the  above declaration [illegible]
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and returned to Raynham in the same company
Signature of  Joseph Shaw

Bristol Ss. June 24th 1833. 
Then the above named Joseph Shaw personally appeared and made oath to the South of the above declaration in Subscribed
Before me Godfrey Robinson  Justice Peace

I Seth Down of Raynham in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts do testify and say that I am now seventy six years old, and have been acquainted with Joseph Shaw 
 of Raynham before and ever since the American Revolution that in the Spring of 1775 I enlisted into a company of Militia commanded by Capt John King in Col Walkers Regiment, and marched to Roxbury
near Boston and there at Roxbury and Dorchester I served as a soldier in the American army untill the expiration of said
Eight months which time expired the first of January 1776. and the above named Joseph Shaw served as a soldier in the same Comp
any with me all said company which was eight months
Signature of Seth Dean

Bristol to June 25th 1833. Then the above named Seth Dean, a credible disinterested witness, personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed

Before me Godfrey Robinson, Justice Peace
Page 17

I Ebenezer Robinson of Taunton in the County of Bristol and of Massachusetts do testify and say that I am now seventy five years old and have been acquainted with Joseph Shaw of Raynham before and ever since the American Revolution that in the spring of 1777 I enlisted into a company militia commanded by Capt
John King and served as a soldier in said company at Roxbury and Dorchester near Boston Eight months in Col. [illegible] regiment
and the above named [illegible] I have served in the same company. And according to the best of my recollections during said Eight months which time expired the first of January
Seventeen hundred and seventy six
Signature of Ebenezer Robinson

Bristol Ss. June 25th 1838 Then the above named Ebenezer Robinson credible disinterested witness herein appeared and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed

Before me Godfrey Robinson, Justice Peace
Page 18

J.L. Edwards
Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Page 19

Taunton Mass. June 27, 1833.

J.L. Edwards Esq.

Sir:

Enclosed is the pension certificate of Joseph Shaw of Raynham, together with a certificate
E.D. Bangs bury the son of Manachus-
e additional evidence respecting the services
and then in the war of the Revolution

From this evidence Mr. Shaw asks for an increase of his pension already allowed 
Respectfully 
Your Obt Servt
A Bassett

Please examine this claim of John Brown for a Pension which was forwarded to the war Department in February last. 
Yours Respectfully 
A. Bassett
Page 20

I Seth (Dean?) of Raynham in the County of Bristol State of Massachusetts do testify and say that I am now seventy five years old and have been acquainted with John Shaw of said Raynham before & ever [illegible] in Revolution, That I enlisted, and served Eight months [remainder of sentence illegible and faint] in the year 1775 [illegible] the first of January 1776 under Capt John King of Raynham Abraham the way being [illegible] office in said Company, and Joseph Son of Raynham serving as a private in [illegible] in the spring of 1776

I Seth Dean and served as a private two months Bunker Hill &  Dorchester near Boston in Col. [illegilbe] regiment  & in company of Militia Commanded by S Hall of Raynham and the said Joseph Shaw served as a private soldier with me in said Regiment all of that time
being two months and the said Joseph Shaw is now in full life and is the same genuine person that served with me in Col Walkers Regiment
Eight months in the year 1775 (?)  two months in a [illegible] Regiment in 1776  and he now resides in said Raynham
Signature of Seth Dean 

Bristol ss. 
then the said Seth D personally appeared and made oath of above the statement  and subscribed
Before me James Robinson Justice Peace

I Israel Washburn of Raynham in the County of Bristol & State of Mass. to testify & say that I am now seventy seven years old that I volunteered and served as a private soldier in a company of Militia commanded by Capt James Williams of Taunton in the Revolutionary War ten days at Roxbury in the latter part of April 1775. and Joseph Shaw Raynham  served with me in the same company all of that time being ten days and in 1776 I  Enlisted & served as a private Soldier in a company of Militia Commanded by Capt James Briggs, John Shaw & Isaac Tobey being [illegible]  officers in said Company and Joseph Shaw of said Raynham 
was in said company when stationed at New York & was in said Company near a place called Piggskill  (Peekskill) in said New York State [illegible]
Page 21

near the time our five month expired
Signature of Israel Washburn

Bristol Ss August 20th 1832. 
Then the above named Israel Washburn personally appeared and made oath to the truth of said  Declaration by him subscribed
Before me Godfrey Robinson Justice Peace

I Elijah Gusjee of Raynham in the County of Bristol do testify and say that I am now seventy nine years old & have been acquainted with
the aforesaid Joseph Shaw of Raynham that in July or August 1780 I volunteered & served as a Soldier in a company of Militia and by Capt Noah Hall of Raynham at Tivertown in the State of Rhode Island two weeks & the aforesaid Joseph Shaw Served with me
in the same company all of that time being two weeks
Signature of Elijah Gushee

Bristol Ss. August 20th 1832. 
Then the above named Elijah Gustee personally appeared & made
Oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed
Before me Godfrey  Robinson Justice

Bristol Ss. January 11th 1833. 
This may certify I am acquainted with
the above named Seth Dean- Israel Robinson Justice of Peace and Elijah Gushee according to my best knowledge they are credible witnesses & entitled to belief
Signature of Godfrey  Robinson Justice Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts-
Bristol S. 
I Ann Bassett, Register of the Court of Probate in for said County of Bright do hereby
certify that Godfrey Robinson is a Justice &
the Peace in & for said County of Bristol & duly qualified to administer oaths and that the
foregoing signatures to the foregoing certificates purporting to be his are his genuine signatures

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this Seventeenth day of January Eighteen hundred and thirty three
Signature of Anselm Bassett
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Raynham August 15th 1832
This may certify that Joseph Shaw no resides of said Raynham served as a private Soldier in a
Company Militia in the (?)  Revolution from the first day of May 1775 to the first day of January 1776 at Roxbury Mass. of which I was a (?) Officer under Capt John King of Raynham 
Signature of Abraham Hathaway

Bristol Ss. August 16ty 1832. 
Then the above named Abraham Hathaway personally appeared before me and made oath to the truth of the above certificate by him 
Subscribed
Before me 
Signature of Godfrey Robinson
Page 23

War Department 
Pension Office
May 25 1833

In reply to your letter of the 22d instant I  have to inform you that the Pension Agent of Boston Mass has this day the debt by the amount due the Persons herein named to the 4th March last in the production of the proper [illegible]

In reply to that part of your letter relating to Joseph Shaws claim I have to State that it appears from the certificate  o E D Bangs  Esq. which accompanied Mr Shaws Declaration that he only served 3 months & 5 days instead of 8 months  as stated in the Declaration (?) 1775 hence he is only allowed a pension for 10 months & 24 days, before his pension can be increased and an explanation must be had 

from E.D.  Bangs Esq

I am Very Respectfully 
Your Obt. Sevt
J.L. Edward
Page 24

Joseph Shaw

Payments to be made
at [illegible]
by [illegible]
Agent for paying Pensioners,
In the Agency of [illegible]

Recorded by [illegible]
Clerk in Book   Vol (?)
Page
Page 25

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.

I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 7th June, 1832, I Joseph Shaw  in the State of Massachusetts
who was a Private in the {illegible]

is entitled to receive ____ dollars and ___cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi annually, on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.

Given at the War Office of the United States, this [illegible] day of [illegible] 
one thousand eight hundred and thirty three

Signature of Lew Cass
Secretary of War

Examined and
Countersigned. }
J L Edwards
Page 26

Blank page
Page 27

Certificate 

E.D. Bangs Esq

Joseph Shaw
5653
Page 28

Commentiralty of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, June 26, 1833

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 appear that for the service of the eight months men in 1775, the rolls in this office extend, uniformly, no further than August 1, 1775.

Beyond that time, it is understood that Congress assumed the payment for said service. 
Edward D Bangs  Secy
Page 29

3956

Joseph Shaw




A. Bassett
Page 30

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which there answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Joseph Shaw of Bristol Co. Mass, which require further proof or explanation. 

1. 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 as signed for his not doing so?

IV.  Has the declarant mentioned 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 language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?  Yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  Yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?  Yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate:  Yes
-
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished by from any other seal?  Yes
Page 31

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?  Yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?  No

And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?  No

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? Yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  Yes

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 period 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 32

  it is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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.

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 be 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 papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end 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.