Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31026, Thomas Fields, Navy (Mass.)
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(3 - 1776)
Service Navy (Mass)
Fields, Thomas
Number S.31026
CONTENTS
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450 
   10 
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4500

90 
2250 
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11250

27038
Maine
Thomas Fields
Kennebec in the State of Maine He was a Gun mate [Gunners Mate] in the [illegible] by commanded Captain Sander of the Rgt. [regiment] commanded [illegible] Alliance in the Masst [Massachusetts] line for 10 months
Navy

Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 45 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 16th day of Dec, 1833 and sent to E. C. Vose 
Augusta

Arrears to the 4th of Sep `33  $112.5
semi-anl. allowance ending Jun. '34   22.50
=====
$135.00

Revolutionary Claim Act June 7,1832.
Recorded by Geo. C Stiles
Book E. Vol. 2. Page 16.
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Declaration.  In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
STATE OF MAIN, KENNEBEC COUNTY,} ss.

On this twenty second day of August A. D. 1832 personally appeared before the Hon. Nathan Weston, Jun'r, a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, of said State, Thomas Fields a resident of New Sharon in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine, age Eighty two 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 provision made by the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. 

That he enlisted in the Navy of the United States in the year 1778 with Captain Peter Lander and served the Ship Alliance of the continental navy. That in December 1778, he shipped for a cruise on board the continental Ship Alliance of thirty six guns, Peter D'Lander Esq commander, as gunner's mate. That in this capacity he continued to serve until some time in August 1779, when he was left sick in the hospital in L'Orient, France, and that when he got well, the ship Alliance had sailed, and he took passage for home in a merchant vessel, which was taken by an English cutter, from which he was put on board a British Man of war and kept until the war was over, when he was discharged in the summer of 1783 in Jamaica, [sheet is torn at this point]
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[top torn off]
were: that he was born in Boston ???9, where he [illegible] his age is not recorded, and where his home was during his revolutionary service. That about 1802 he moved to New Sharon, where he now lives. That he never took any written discharge. That he sailed from Boston to Brest - thence to L' Orient. When by permission of Dr [Benjamin] Franklin, the Alliance was put under the command of Paul Jones. That Hill was his first Lieut. Buckby Sailing Master, Parks Capt of the marines. Dr Winship Surgeon and John Darling was boatswain. That the crew of the Alliance consisted of many British [illegible] from the Somerset an English 64 castaway on Cape Cod and some of Burgoyne's men. That on the passage out through concerted measures to take the ship, which he discovered to the capt. and that it was that which the same Capt De Lander alluded to at St Ubes as testified by [illegible] Small
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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.
 Thomas Fields

Sworn to a subscribed the day and year aforesaid, Before Nathan Weston [illegible] S.J.C.
Aug 22
And the said Judge does hereby declare his opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. Nathan Weston Jus
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I Thomas Fields by whom the within declaration was made do further on oath declare that I entered on board the United States Ship Alliance in December 1778 as Gunner's mate for a cruise that we went into France & then sailed from there & returned to La Orient where I was taken sick in August 1779 & carried to the Hospital. That I served on board said Ship as I fully believe nine months before I was taken to the Hospital. That while I was confined there sick the said Ship Alliance sailed & as soon as I was well enough the American Agent at Le Orient procured a passage for me on board a vessel in the employ as I always understood of our Government for this country which vessel on board of which I was was taken a few days after sailing from France by an English Cutter & I kept a Prisoner as particularly within [illegible]. I further state that I am aged & infirm & unable to state more particularly the months when I entered the service was taken sick at. That when I enlisted it was for the cruise which had not expired when I was taken sick & being left in the charge of the American agent I sailed from France for this Country in the vessel in which he directed me to & was taken by the enemy as I have stated. have no means of knowing [illegible] returned to America [illegible] the cruise which I enlisted for, The American agent's name was  / if I recollect right / Milurs or Milar.  Thomas Fields
State of Maine 
Kennebec ss.
Subscribed Forsworn to this 2d day of November [illegible] 1833. Before me Wm Woart Jr. Kas. [illegible]

State of Maine Kennebec. ss.
I John A. Chandler clerk of the County Kennebec county hearby certify that William Woart Jr before whom the above declaration was sworn is a Magistrate as above & that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine.

In testimony whereof I hearunto subscribe my name & affix the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of said State the 2d day of November 1833. J A Chaneller Clerk 

[Sideways text]
27082
Thomas Fields gunner’s mate U.S. Ship Alliance.
[Illegible]
prisoner 3 or 4 years
Declaration in open court March 26th 1833
Gunners mate 10 May 
E. C. Vose
Augusta, Me
I Thomas Clare, a marine in the [Illegible] service of the U States [Illegible] seven years.
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{missing text] ship [missing text paper torn]
of the time myself on board of the same ship. I have not the last death, he was the man that made known to the officers a conspiracy of part of the crew to take the ship. He remembers him in size, figure and countenance, and I am fully satisfied he is the same person. Thomas Chase

Subscribed and sworn to Sep 9, 1832, the deponent being a credible witness before Nathan Weston Jr Just S.F.C.

State of Maine

Kennebec, ss. - I, John A. Chandler, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts held within and for the County of Kennebec, hereby certify that the Hon. Nathan Weston, Jun'r, before whom the within proceedings was had, is a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of said [illegible paper seal is covering some text] I also certify that the within contains the original proceedings of the said Judge, in the application of Thomas Fields for a pension.  In testimony whereof. I have hereunto set my hand and the sea of the said Court, this Fourth day of September
A. D. 1832,  J. A. Chandler
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for a statement of the military history of Thomas Fields a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau. S. 31026
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.
CAPTAIN. COLONEL.
Dec. 1778  Gunner's mate  Peter Landais  U.S.S. "Aliance"  navy
Commodore J. Paul Jones
Sailed to Brest, was taken ill August. 1779 + confined in hospital at L'Orient while the "Alliance" left France - On recovery he shipped home on a merchantman but was captured + confined on a British man of war until disco. in the summer of 1783 at Jamaica.
Battles engaged in, [check mark]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Boston, Mass
Date of application for pension, Aug. 22 1832.
Residence at the date of application, New Sharon, Kennebec Co., Maine.
Age at date of application, born in 1749 in Boston, Mass.
Remarks: This claim was allowed. there is no family data on file.
Very respectfully, Commissioner.
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1913 Feby. 14 Hist. to Mrs Hattie F. Fuller [cent sign]
Invalid  
Navy  
File No. 31026 
Thomas Fields 
Gunner's mate 
Brig Alliance Rev War
Act June 7. 1832  Index: Vol. _____, Page ______  [Arrangement of 1870.]
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Tho. Fields
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I Joshua Small of Newsharon[ New Sharon] in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine. of lawful age do testify and say that I was mate of the Ship Clarissa at the port of St Ubes in Portigal [Protugal] and Capt Thomas Fields was Commander of said ship and while there I saw Capt. Dilenda and heard him say to Capt Fields I am glad to see you for you are the man that once saved my life. I heard them converce [converse] upon the subject and the  cercimstance [circumstance] of the case but cannot recolect [recollect] the perticulars [particulars]
New Sharon August 21st 1832
Then the above named Joshua Small appeared and made oath to the truth of the above deposition before me Nehemiah Smith justice of peace
Nehemiah Smith Esq is a Justice of the Peace and the deponent a credible witness Nathan Weston Jus
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STATE OF MAINE
Kennebec County, ss.
AT the Supreme Judicial Court, begun and holden at Augusta, within and for the County of Kennebec, on the first Tuesday of October, A.D. 1832, and thence by adjournment on the 26th day of March A. D. 1833.
PERSONALLY appears in open Court Thomas Fields by whom the annexed declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of June 7th, 1832, was made before the Hon. Nathan Weston, Jr. on the 22d day of August A.D. 1833, and makes oath, in due form of law, that the annexed declaration, by him made and signed, is true.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states.
Nathan Weston  Just. S.F.C.
I, John Alphonso Chandler, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts held within and for the County of Kennebec, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Fields for a pension. and that William Woart Jr was  on the 11th inst. & now is a magistrate as appears by the annexed affidavit.
In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix the seal of said Supreme Judicial Court, and subscribe my name this 26th day of March A.D. 1833
J. A. Chandler
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STATE OF MAINE Kennebec County, ss. AT the Supreme Judicial Court, begun and holden at Augusta, within and for the County of Kennebec, on the first Tuesday of October, A.D. 1832, and thence by adjournment on the 26th day of March A. D. 1833. PERSONALLY appears in open Court Thomas Fields by whom the annexed declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of June 7th, 1832, was made before the Hon. Nathan Weston, Jr. on the 22d day of August A.D. 1833, and makes oath, in due form of law, that the annexed declaration, by him made and signed, is true. And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. Nathan Weston Just. S.J.C. 
I, John Alphonso Chandler, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts held within and for the County of Kennebec, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Fields for a pension. and that William Woart Jr was on the 11th inst. & now is a magistrate as appears by the annexed affidavit. In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix the seal of said Supreme Judicial Court, and subscribe my name this 26th day of March A.D. 1833 J. A. Chandler
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This may Certify that i was first officer on board the Ship Clarissa Commanded by Thomas Fields in A.D. 1798 then lying in St Ubes during our stay there I saw Capt. Landers come on board who taking Capt. Fields by the hand said "I am happy to see you, you are the man that saved my life" We then went below & Capt. Fields & Landers conversed concerning a conspiracy, the particulars of which I have previously & repeatedly heard Capt. Fields relate as follows "That he being at a time on board the United States Frigate Reliance from Boston to France commanded by the above mentioned Landers. that on the voyage near the coast of Europe he learns by the Capt. of there [their] Forecastle that the crew intended to rise & take the vessel & appointed him as master to carry the vessel in to England. thinking him to be an Englishman. but he the following evening privately informed the officer on board & by so doing the Capt. in my presence in 1798 codially [cordially] acknowledged him as the preserver of his life
Joshua Small
Kennnebek [Kennebec] ss April 1 1833 Personelly [Personally] appeared the above named Joshua Small and made oath [illegible ink spot covering] above statement by him subscribed Before me Franklin Weckes Justice of the Peace who is a justice of the peace, and the deponent a credible witness Nathan Weston Just. S. J. C.
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I John Terry of Whitefield in the County of Lincoln Maine, a pensioner on the Maine Role [roll], that upon oath testify & say that I well know Thomas Fields of New Sharon, Kennebec County. Maine. That I served on board the U.S. Frigate Alliance during the year 1778 in the revolutionary war, that said Frigate was commanded by Peter Landar Esq. & I sailed in her from the United States to France & from there a cruise & back to L'Orient, that during that period I distinctly recollect that said Fields was a mariner on board said ship & I am positive served as much as nine months & how much longer I cannot now state. I have stated that said Fields was a mariner but of this fact on reflection I am not certain. I cannot say but what he was as he states gunner's mate. I was myself a powder monkey I know that said Fields was a very active smart man.
John Terry
State of Maine , Kennebec Subscribed & sworn to this eleventh day of March A. D. 1833, the deponent being a credible witness, Before Me Wm Woart Jr. who is a Justice of the Peace Nathan Westen, Just. S. J C.
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John Fuller,
Attorney-at-law,
Northwest Corner of Square,
First Floor
Office Phone, 32; Residence, 104.

Record & Pension office, 
Gentlemen: -
I want to get proof of Service of Thomas Field a Soldier in the Revolutionary War, & a Pensioner, placed on roll Dec 10th 1833, commencement of  pension March 4" 1831, 
Also of John Field "Sergant" [Sargeant] of the N.C. Line, Commencement of pension March 4" 1831
Very Respectfully
Mrs Hallie F. Fuller
219. N. main St
Clinton
Illinois

Feb 5"  1913