Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 18728, James Boomer, Mass.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
Mass. Boomer, James. S18728
carded
CONTENTS
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[left page]
let to J. R.
Simpson
Apl. 5. '37

[middle page]
do. A. Spurr
July 1. 1837

85,

[right page]
Massachusetts 2734
27345
James Boomer
of Charlton in the State of Mass
who was a private in the Compy commanded
by Captain Earl of the Reget. commanded
by Colo. Whiting in the Mass
line for
24 Months


Inscribed on the Roll of Mass
at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 23 - day of April
1834 - and Sent to his Exelcy.
John Davis. Worcester Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 - $240
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4" Sep " 40
$280

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by George Taylor Cler
Book E. Vol. 2 Page 43
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester, SS.
At a Court of Probate holden at Worcester in and for said County
of Worcester on the Twenty fourth day of October one thousand eight hundred
and thirty three before the Honorable Nathaniel Paine, Judge of Probate,
&c. for said County, personally appeared James Boomer a resident
of Charlton in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy
four years, who being 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 herein after stated - to wit - under
Captain Joseph Durfee, Captain Oliver Reed, Captain Henry Brightman,
Major Joseph Durfee, Capt Robert Earl, Colonel Whitney, General Titcomb -
and further declares as follows, in reply to the interrogatories propounded
by the Secretary of War - to wit.
1st. Where, and when were you born? Ans. That he was born in
Freetown in the County of Bristol and state of Massachusetts in the
year one thousand seven hundred and fifty nine
2d. Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it? Ans. That
his birth is recorded in an ancient family bible belonging to the family.
3d. Where were you living when called into service - where have you
lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Ans. That when he was first called into the service, he lived in Freetown,
in the County of Bristol and state of Massachusetts - Since
the Revolutionary War, he has lived in said Freetown and in Charlton,
where he now lives -
4th How were you called into service - were you drafted, did you volunt
or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? Ans. I was a volunteer
in all my services in the Revolutionary War, except in Sullivans
expedition on Rhode Island when I was drafted - I was never a substitute.
5th. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with
the troops when you served, such Continental and Militia Regiments
as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service -
Ans. The names of the officers with the troops when I was in service
as near as I can recollect, were those mentioned above and General Lafayette, General Greene, General Glover, Colonel Greene, General
Sullivan, Colonel Carpenter, Colonel Wadsworth, Captain Whitney -
That in November 1776, he volunteered his services, and went with
the company commanded by Captain Joseph Durfee to Howland's
Ferry, in Tiverton, in the state of Rhode Island, at the time the
British landed on Rhode - Island, and was there doing duty not less
than three weeks - That in April seventeen hundred and seventy seven,
he was stationed, with the company under the command of Capt. Durfee,
at Fall River in the state of Massachusetts, to guard the towns lying on
Taunton River, against the depredations of the enemy, who then had possession
of Rhode Island - that he continued on duty there until September
1777, when he was ordered, with the company to which he was
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expedition on Rhode Island when I was drafted - I was never a substitute.
5th. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with
the troops when you served, such Continental and Militia Regiments
as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service -
Ans. The names of the officers with the troops when I was in service
as near as I can recollect, were those mentioned above and General Lafayette, General Greene, General Glover, Colonel Greene, General
Sullivan, Colonel Carpenter, Colonel Wadsworth, Captain Whitney -
That in November 1776, he volunteered his services, and went with
the company commanded by Captain Joseph Durfee to Howland's
Ferry, in Tiverton, in the state of Rhode Island, at the time the
British landed on Rhode - Island, and was there doing duty not less
than three weeks - That in April seventeen hundred and seventy seven,
he was stationed, with the company under the command of Capt. Durfee,
at Fall River in the state of Massachusetts, to guard the towns lying on
Taunton River, against the depredations of the enemy, who then had possession
of Rhode Island - that he continued on duty there until September
1777, when he was ordered, with the company to which he was
attached, to Howland's Ferry, in Spencer's expedition, so called, and continued
at that place one month - That he was ordered back from said Howland's
Ferry with the company to which he belonged to Fall River and again stationed
[left margin: 16 mos] at that place to protect the inhabitants from the attacks of the British troops,
and continued on duty at Fall River until August 1778 not less than
sixteen months - During the service last mentioned, in May 1778, he
was in the engagement at Fall River between the British and American
troops, when two mills ^& one dwelling house were burnt by the British and other
buildings set on fire and in which engagement to British soldiers were
killed - That in August 1778, he was draft for six weeks service,
and went with the Company commanded by Captain Robert Earl on to
Rhode - Island in Sullivan's expedition, and was actively engaged in that
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expedition during its continuance - From thence he was ordered to
Pawtuxet in the state of Rhode Island, with the company to which he
was attached, where ^he remained on duty until the six weeks, the time for
which he was drafted, had expired, when he was discharged and returned
home - That immediately after his return from Sullivan's expedition,
in October 1778, he was again stationed at Fall River to protect
the towns in the neighborhood of Rhode - Island against the attacks
of the British troops, who were constantly harrassing the inhabitants
and making depredations upon their persons and property - Here
he continued on duty under this last enlistment until the British
troops evacuated Rhode Island in October 1779 not less than a
year - During this last service, the company to which he was attached,
was commanded by Captains Oliver Reed and Henry Brightman -
but which of them first commanded the company, I do not
remember - That in his first service at Howlands Ferry, he was
in Colonel Cook's Regiment, as he now thinks - That he was next in the
Regiment commanded by Colonel Hathaway - That in Sullivan's expedition,
as before stated, he was in Colonel Whitney's Regiment - That he does ^not recollet
the name of any other Colonel in whose Regiment he served, and thinks
there were no others - That he was in the service of his country in the
Revolutionary War more than two years and five months in the whole,
and for this he now claims a pension -
[signature] James Boomer

6th. Were you a Soldier or an Officer? If a Soldier did you ever receive
a discharge - Ans. That he was a soldier and that he has no recollection that
he ever received a written discharge - If he did, they have long since been lost -
7th. State the names of some 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 - Hon. Salem Towne,
John Spurr Esq - William Rider Esq. - Mr James Melody
[larger, different handwriting] Col. Asa Bacon Maj. Daniel Williams Aaron Hammond [end different handwriting]
And the said James Boomer doth further declare that he hereby re -
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in Colonel Cook's Regiment, as he now thinks - That he was next in the
Regiment commanded by Colonel Hathaway - That in Sullivan's expedition,
as before stated, he was in Colonel Whitney's Regiment - That he does ^not recollet
the name of any other Colonel in whose Regiment he served, and thinks
there were no others - That he was in the service of his country in the
Revolutionary War more than two years and five months in the whole,
and for this he now claims a pension -
[signature] James Boomer

6th. Were you a Soldier or an Officer? If a Soldier did you ever receive
a discharge - Ans. That he was a soldier and that he has no recollection that
he ever received a written discharge - If he did, they have long since been lost -
7th. State the names of some 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 - Hon. Salem Towne,
John Spurr Esq - William Rider Esq. - Mr James Melody
[larger, different handwriting] Col. Asa Bacon Maj. Daniel Williams Aaron Hammond [end different handwriting]
And the said James Boomer 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
[signature] James Boomer
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Before Nathel: Paine (Judge of Probate)
for the County of Worcester

We Luther Goodard a clergyman, residing in the Town of Worcester and Daniel
Goddard residing in the same Town hereby certify that we are well acquainted
with James Boomer, 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 that we concur in that opinion
[signature] -Luther Goddard
[signature] Daniel Goddard
Judge of Probate
Sworn to and subcribed the day and year aforesaid
Bef Nath Paine Judge of Probate
for the County of Worcester
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29900
James Boomer

Admid. 24 Months
Cap Earl Colo Whiting

Claimant
Charlton
Mass
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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 Luther Goddard who
signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, a credible person, resident
in the town of Worcester in said County of Worceter, and that
Daniel Goddard who has also signed the same is a resident of said town
and is a credible person, and their statement is entitled to credit -
[signature] Nathel Paine Judge of Probate - Judge of Probate
for the County of Worcester
Register of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts  October 24th. 1833.
Worcester ss.
I [blank space] 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 James Boomer of Charlton in said County, for
a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and ^affixed the seal of the said Court the day and year first above written
towit the twenty fourth day of October in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty three
Theophs.. Wheeler Reg of the said Court
of Probate -
[left of signature is the faint outline of what may be a seal and ribbon]

Worcester Ss. Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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I Benjamin Durfee of Troy in the County of Bristol
and state of Massachusetts of lawful age to give evidence
do testify and say that I have been acquainted with James
Boomer of Chalton in the County of Worcester and state aforesd.,
about seventy years - I knew him to be engaged in the Revolutionary
War as a soldier in the service of his country,
nearly all the time the British had possession of Rhode -
Island - I first knew him in the service of his country
at Fall River in the state of Massachusetts - He was stationed
as a guard in Captain Joseph Durfee's Company to
protect the inhabitants of Fall River, Tiverton and other towns
lying on the Taunton River from the attacks of the British.
sometime in the month of April 1777 and continued on
duty at Fall River until September following not less than
five months - He was engaged at Howland's Ferry in Tiverton
as a soldier in Spencer's Expedition not less than three
weeks - After Spencer's Expedition the said James Boomer
was again stationed as a guard at Fall River late
in the Fall of 1777, I think in Capt. Reed's company, but of
this I am not positive, and continued on duty at Fall River
untill August 1778 not less than nine months - In
a part of August and September 1778 the said James
Boomer was engaged on Rhode Island and in Tiverton in
Sullivan's Expedition six weeks - On the breaking
up of Sullivan's Expedition, the said James Boomer
was again stationed in Captain Henry Brightman's
^company at Fall River to protect the inhabitants in the towns
of that neighborhood and continued in active service until
the British troops left Rhode Island in October 1779 -
not less than ten months - The said James Boomer was
actively engaged in the battle between the British and Americans
at Fall River in May 1778 - And further the Deponent saith not.
[signature] Benjamin Durfee
Bristol Ss. Septr. 25th. 1833 - Personally appeared the above
named Benjamin Durfee, a disinterested and credible person and
made oath to the foregoing statement by him made and subscribed.
Before me James Ford Justice of the peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol SS. I James Sproat Clerk of the Court of Common
Pleas for said County of Bristol, do hereby certify
that James Ford Esq. whose signature is affixed to
the within Certificate, is a Justice of the peace and [illegible]
[illegible] said County of Bristol, and duly qualified to administer oath
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and affixed the seal of said Court this fifth day of October,
AD. 1833 - Jas. Sproat
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I Joseph Durfee of Troy in the County of Bristol
and state of Massachusetts of lawful age to give evidence
to testify and say, that, I have known James
Boomer of Charlton in the County of Worcester and
state aforesaid, for more than sixty years - I knew
him to be a soldier in the Revolutionary war - From
the time the Britisish troops landed on Rhode - Island
in November seventeen hundred and seventy six, until
August 1778, the said James Boomer was doing dut in
the company commanded by me at different times, at
Howland's Ferry and at Fall River, not less than a year,
and I think not less than fifteen months in the whole.
While in my company the said Boomer was an active
and faithful soldier in his country's service -
Afterwards, and while I held the commissions of Major
and Lieutenant Colonel, I often saw the said James Boomer
on duty as a soldier, and knew him to be engaged
as a soldier in the defence of his country and her rights
from August 1778, when he ceased to be under my command,
until the British Troops left Rhode Island in October
1779 - not less than fifteen months - At this distance
of time since the Revolution, and under the infirmities incident
to my advanced age, (85 years) I cannot distincly recollect
the exact time of each period of the said Boomer's service
under me, nor the officers under whom he served afterwards -
But I do remember generally, that the said
Boomer was a soldier in the Revolutionary War nearly
all the time from the landing of the British Troops at
Newport in November 1776 until they evacuated, or quit
Rhode - Island, in October 1779 - And I do distinctly recollect,
that said Boomer was in the service of his country as soldier
in the Revolutionary War, in a company under my command
one full year - And further the deponent saith not -
[signature] Joseph Durfee
Bristol Ss. Sept. 30th 1833 - Personally appeared the above
named Joseph Durfee, a disinterested and credible person and
made oath to the foregoing statement by him made and subscribed
Before me James Ford Justice of the
Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss.
I, James Sproat, Clerk of the Court of Common
Pleas for Said County of Bristol, do hereby certify
that James Ford, Esq. whose signature is affixed
to the within Certificate is a Justice of the peace, in
& for said County of Bristol, and duly qualified to administer
oaths -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, this tenth day of
October. AD. 1833. Jas. Sproat
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July 21.
[remaining text is sideways, top facing right]
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
City of Washington
(D.C.)
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Charlton July 15th 1837
J.L. Edwards Esq.
Dear Sir
Whereas James
Boomer Late of said Charlton, County of Worcester
and State of Massachusetts - And a Pensioner of the
United States - Died in the Month of February Last
past - And whereas the heirs at Law of said James
Boomer have appointed the Subscriber their attorney
to receive said Pension from September A.D.
1836 up to the time of his Decease - The Subscriber
called on J. K. Simpson Esq. Pension Agent, Boston
on the 3d Instant, and was informed, that the
[illegible]ment of said Pension was suspended - you are
respectfully requested, to state the Cause of the
above suspension -
Yours &c.
John Spurr
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18728
INVALID.
File No. 1 , 128
James [illegible; likely: Boomer]
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 40
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 16

Worcester April 17. 1834
Sir
James Boomer of Charlton has shewn me
his application for a pension for revolutionary
service. I take pleasure in stating that Mr Boomer
is an ordained Elder in the Baptist Church
and has preached for many years in the
neighbouring town of Charlton where
he sustains an unblemished moral
character - I take Equal pleasure in stating
that Luther Goddard of this place is also
an ordained Elder of the same persuasion
and that full faith and credit can safely
be given to the statements of both of those
Gentlemen
Respectfully your obt Servt
J Davis

To the Commissioner of the pension Office
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James Boomer has been many years
known to me as a preacher and a
man of strict truth and unblemished
Character [signature] Luther Goddard
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Secretary's Office, Jany, 10th, 1834.
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 rest is handwritten] the name of James Boomer as a private
is borne on an Abstract of the Pay of Capt.
Robert Earl's Company. in Col. Josiah Whitney's
Regt. where he is allowed from August 4th. to Septr.
10th. 1778. One Month and seven days. m d
1 = 7
James Boomer claims for services under
Capt. Joseph Durfee in 1776. & '77. and under
Captains Oliver Reed and Henry Brightman
in 1778 & '79. the rolls for which are not found in
this Office.
Edward D Bangs Secy
[illegible].