Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3447, Joseph Farrar, Mass.
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(3 - 1778 )
SERVICE
Mass.
Farrar, Joseph
Mary
NUMBER
R. 3447

CONTENTS [blank lines]
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APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF REVOLUTIONARY SERVICES,
made by the widow
of the party who rendered the service.
State of Massachusetts
County of Worcester Town of Petersham
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his office, of the service of Revd Joseph Farrar in the war of the Revolution by Mary Farrar his widow.
He was a native of the Town of Lincoln in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts

He enlisted from the Town of - ["Middlesex, as supposed," is written underneath] and State of Mass in the year between 1775 /1779 as a Chaplain in the Company commanded by Captain - [blank] in - [blank]
Regiment - [blank]
and he served as follows, viz:--
at White Plains, New York as Chaplin, & also did Service as a private after
his duties for the day as Chaplain were over.  His time of Service was seven months or over and had a regular Certificate of discharge when he
left the army which Certificate is lost & cannot be found after diligent search, but which Certificate has in former years ^been seen & read by me & also by my daughter Mary Prentice wife of Josiah S. Prentice Esq Justice of the Peace
Oxford, Mass & by other children-

Here describe as fully as may be the length of service the rank &e of the claimant of the capacity in which he served, and all other particulars known.
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I was married to Revd Joseph
Farrer July 1779 in the town of
Grafton, Mass, at my Father's house
after J [there is a scribble of ink here] left the Service . I was married
by Revd Mr Grosvenor [the s is added above] then Minister
in Grafton - I know of no one now living
who was in the service with my husband

I am now 93 years old, and my memory does not enable me to state the services more fully than above stated.

WITNESS my hand, this [second or seventh] day of June
A. D. 1848.
Signed by said Mary Farrar in my presence,
Jared Weed JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
Witness
Mary Farrar [Between first and last name is an X and the words "her mark", apparently written by Mary Farrar]

Catharine B. Farrar
3318 [Written along the left side of the page, preceeded by an illegible letter, possibly an f or s.]
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Joseph Farrar & Joel Brooks
depositions
[illegible]
Joseph [illegible, too light to read]
[illegible]
no 1 of 2
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I Joseph Farrar of Petersham in the County
of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of sixty eight years, depose and say that I am the son of the Revd
Joseph Farrar and Mary his wife: that
my father and mother lived together as
husband and wife from my earlest
recollection to the time of his death: and
that my father died in this Town on
the fifth day of April A.D. 1816 at the age
of seventy two years
Joseph Farrar
Worcester ss. June 3 1848 Sworn to
before me
Jared Weed Jus. Peace

I Joel Brooks of Petersham in the County
of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts depose and say that I am of the age of eighty eight years; that I was acquainted with the Revd Joseph Farrar: that he was married to my sister Mary by the Revd Mr. Grosvenor in Grafton
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in this County during the revolutionary war
when I was eighteen or nineteen years old-
that they lived together as man and wife
till he died and that he died in Petersham
about thirty two years ago and his widow
is now living in this Town.
I have understood from him that he
performed Services as a chaplin in
the army of the revolution but I am
now unable to state from recollection any
of the particulars about such services.
Joel Brooks
Worcester ss June 3 1848 Sworn
to before me
Jared Weed Jus. Peace
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13672
Mary Farrar
wd of
Joseph
Mass
[another date is faint here]
act 7 July 1838
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no 5
I Mary Farrar of Petersham in the County of
Worster & Commonwealth of Massachusetts [illegible] of Lawful age do testify and say that I am the widow of Joseph Farrar late of Petersham in said County & [illegible]
and that I was lawfully married to him at my Father House in Grafton in said County of Worester by the Rev Mr Grosvenor the then 
[illegible] minister of said Grafton, in the summer in the year seventeen hundred & Seventy nine.  I think my husband was about thirty four or five when I married him I understood him to say that he was out as a Soldier in the war of the Revolution and that he did the duly as a soldier and also  as a Chaplin.
Lincoln in ^the County of Middlesex was his native place I think he might have been living at Dunstable in said County when he enlisted
he was out in the war seven or eight months ^or more as I have understood him before we married, which must be before 1779, after we married, we moved to Lumiston
in the state of Vermont when he [illegible] and
was ordained, we remained these several years then we moved to Petersham in Worcester County where we lived untill he died which
was in the spring of 1816. I have heard him say he served his time out for which he entisted and had a regular discharge, I am
confident by what he has said that he discharged the duty of a soldier.
When not discharging the duties of a Chaplin, he was stationed at a [illegible] [illegible] White plains in the State of N. York I think it was in the year 1776 or 1777 I think he said he was out in the service before he commenced
preaching, regular his discharge is lost and cannot be found now it was thought of no use, and was in among his old
papers which are all lost and distroyed many years ago.
I am now
Ninty three years old and entirely [illegible] of any property and living
[Two dates are written along the right side: 1779, which is crossed out, and 1779 written again underneath]
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on the charity of my children should I be entitled to a pension for services rendered by my Husband in the War of the Revolution , it would be a grate relief to me in my old age.  I [illegible] there is not now living an
individual that was personally out with him the Joseph Farrer Whose name is found on the war Roles at Boston, I have not the least doubt in my ^mind but that my Husband was the Identical person but as to that I have no positive proof I must rely wholly on [illegible].
[Polinham, possibly] June 15th 1848
Witness Humphry Farrar
Mary
her
X
mark
Farrar
[illegible] June 15th 1848 then personally appeared Mary Farrar after being Courtined and sworn made oath that the aforegoing Deposition by her subscribed is true,
Before me 
Josiah S. Prentice Just of the peace
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no 6
Mary Prentice of Oxford in the County of Worcester of Lawful age do testify and say that I am a Daughter
of the Revd Joseph Farrer late of [place] in said County
of Worcester Deceased.  I have heard my Father say that he
was out in the service of the war of the Revolution
my impression is that he said he was out seven or eight months
I have frequently seen his discharge and read it and ask
him What it was he said it was his discharge from the army
Which he had when his time expired and when he left the army
I have seen his discharg in old chest with other old
paper of his forty or fifty years since Which are all lost
or distroyed and no remains of them are now to be found
I recollect it was a large paper and that there was a large seal attached to it. I  have often heard him say that he discharg
the duties of a Chaplin in the service of the war of the
Revolution and [crossed out word] that he performd the duties of a sailder [soldier]
with his Gun When not discharging the duties of Chaplin
and I have him tell that there was a man in the same
regiment with him by the name of Cook that was wounded and that he took all the care of him whilst he lived he
died in the Armey by his wound
Oxford June 17, 1848
Mary Prentice
Worster {a letter F?]  June 14 1848 thus personally appeared
Mary Prentice and after [illegible] [illegible] and sworn
made Oath that the above Deposition by her subscribed
is true Before me
Josiah S. Prentice Justice of the peace
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Elijah Brooks
[illegible]
[illegible]
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I, Elijah Brooks of Grafton in the County of Worester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Lawful age do Testify and say that I was personally acquainted with the Revd Joseph Farrar and that he married my sister Mary Brooks in the summer of 1779 at my Fathers House in said Grafton and that the Rev. Mr. Grovner Marrid them. He was out in the Revolutionary Army as a Chaplin as he told me and I [illegible]  from the [circumstance] of his letting me that the soldiers said to him that they wish his lips were closed for calling them out so erley in the Cold mornings to prayers.  I am positive that he was out in the service as a Chaplin but don’t [distinctly] recollect where he was stationed or to that Regiment, nor do I recollect how long he was out I think he might have told [^”I think he must ben out between 1775 & 1779”, written between lines] me but if he did I have forgotten, but that he was out as a Chapling I am very shure and have not the least dout in my own mind.
Grafton Sept 6th 1843 Elijah Brooks 
Worcester [illegible] Sept 6th 1843. Then personally appeared Elijah Brooke and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed Before me Josiah S. Prentice Justice of the peace
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No 13.672 
Mary Farrar
Mass Joseph 
Let. to Hon. J. Davis June 28th 1848.
Let. to same June 30 ‘48
[ditto marks] Chairman Senate Com^te on Pensions 
January 31. 1850
Let. Hon A. De Witt Jan. 25/55
3447
Act 7 July 1838
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[The document contains faint handwriting of a letter in one direction and names in a different direction]
From G [illegible] Jones
U.S.S
Col. J.L. Edwards,
Comiss^r of Pensions

[Text from left side, of the faint letter]
many [illegible]
There is no cred[ible]
of his revolutionary
service of Joseph
Farrar [illegible]
of the application
[illegible]
a pension [illegible]
[illegible] case
The [illegible]
[May or Mary] [illegible]
We [remaining lines illegible]
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Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873 [This is crossed out]
3447.
P. O. Mary Farrar 
Service: Wid. of Joseph
Enlisted:_18
Discharged: _18
Application filed:_18
Alleges: 
Re-enlisted: 
Attorney: 
P. O. 
Recognized.  Contract.
Cert. of Dis.  Searched for_18
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[At the upper left of the page is the seal of the Commonwealth]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office, Boston 
June 8th 1848
Sir,
You will perceive from the accompanying certificate that there were two persons named Joseph Farrar, who served in the war of the Revolution from Massachusetts, neither of whom is entered upon the rolls as chaplain.
I have thought proper at present to give a negative certificate, and to furnish you in a lettter with such information in this case, as might lead to identify service in some other capacity.
The Worcester County man belonged to Barn and the Middlesex County man to Constable service of the latter was in 1775 & 1778 [illegible] this [illegible], that of the former in 1777 & [illegible number] only 4 months.  The age of the Constable man is only given, in his enlistment in 1778 he was 28 years of age.
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I am very respectfully
Your obedt Sevt
[illegible signature]
J Binney Esq
Boston
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Capitol Hill June 29th
Dear Sir 
The papers in the case of Mrs Farrar come last evening & be pleased to accept my thanks for the prompt attention given to the case but as my letter is detained I am unable to forward your advice for the want of an address.
Respectfully yours
J Davis
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Esther Gale
[illegible]
Joseph Farrar
No 4
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I Esther Gale of Petersham in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Lawful age do testify and say that I am the wife of Daniel Gail late of Petersham [illegible] and that my Husband was out in the service of the Revolutionary War and that he [illegible] a [illegible] I was formally acquainted the [New York] James late of Pertersham [illegible] [illegible] [frequently] [illegible] Husband say that he was out in the Revolutionary war with the Revd Joseph Farrar and that he was [illegible] [illegible] and [illegible] Farrar came to the [Barn] when he was sick, and went to Prayer with him, my Husband was stationed at a place [illegible] White plains in the State of N. York at the time of his [illegible] I have frequently heard my Husband relate the same storey [‘that he was out with (illegible) Farrar”, appears to be crossed out] 
I have always understood by my Husband that they were both out together in the Revolutionary  war and I have no douts in my mind of the [fact]
Petersham June 14th 1848 
Witness Jesse Gale
Humphry Farrar
Esther Gale her mark [a mark is written in between the words her and mark] 
Worcester [Co] June 14th 1848 Then personally appered Esther Gale after having [illegible] and sworn under oath that the above Deposition by her subscribed is true
Before me Josiah S. Prentice Justice of the peace 
[illegible] the Deponent was 90 years old - but retained remarkable good memory
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To Commmiss^r of Patints
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Jany 26, 1850 
Col. J. L. Edwards
Comss^r of Pensions, 
Sir- Any information or views in regard to the enclosed Petition of Mary Farrar, will be acceptable to the char^n of the Committee on Pensions of the Senate.
 Respectfully
Your obt Servt
J[illegible] Sheldon
clk com Pen (s.)
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Jesse Gale
Deposition
Joseph Farrar
No 3
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I Jesse Gale of Petersham in the County of Worcester of Lawful age do testify and say that I am the son of Daniel Gale late of Petersham, [illegible] and that my Father [illegible] a [illegible] for [illegible] [illegible] in the war of the Revolution.I have often heard my Father say that he knew the Rvd Joseph Farrar in that he supplied [illegible] Regiments as Chaplain, my Father was first stationed at Cambridge Middlesex [illegible] and also at White plains in the State of N. York.
Petersham June 14th 1848 Jesse Gale 
Witness Humphry Farrar
Worcester [Lo] June 14th 1848 Then personally appeared Jesse Gale and after being [illegible] and sworn made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true
Before me Josiah S. Prentice Just of the [peace, illegible]
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Jared Weed
Petersham [illegible]
[illegible]
Joseph [Farrar, illegile]
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Petersham June 3d 1848 
C. J. F. Kinney Esq 
Sir. 
Mr. Humphrey Farrar has shown me your letter of the 31st of May respecting the application of his mother for a pension.  I have obtained the signature of the old Lady to the application to the Secretary for search on.  She can recollect nothing about the service of her husband more than was written by you.  I have also obtained the affidavit of her brother Joel and of her son Joseph which I enclose.  The revolutionary soldiers hereabouts are dead and I know of no one who knows any thing about the services of the old Lady's husband. Some time ago I made enquiries of Mrs Gale and she then recollected nothing material about Mr Farrar.  She was then very much broken with old age and since that time her mental faculties are wholly gone.  I have not thought it worth while to see her now.  It would be entirely unless.  It appears to me the services must be proved if at all by reference to the muster rolls.
Respectfully , Jared Weed
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White plains Service war 1776
Capn Eber [illegible]
Col Eber Bridges  Roger
[illegible]
Joseph Farrar war in [illegible]
[illegible]
Was our sworn 1775 [illegible]
Other service from [illegible]
In 1778 [illegible] [illegible] 1778
The [illegible] Joseph Farrar
In Gen [illegible] Co [illegible]
& Capn [illegible] o [illegible] Co in 1777
3 mo 1 day
[illegible] L Edwards
[illegible] [illegible] [illegible]
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no 7 & 8
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, June 8th, 184 [illegible mark]
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 Farrar is borne
upon several rolls as a privat [sic, private] and corporal
for the Counties of Middlesex and
Worcester, and there is no evidence of service
of any one of that name as Chaplain.
[several marks of ink are written in the white space]
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal
of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W B Calhoun
Secretary of the Commonwealth