Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24,640, Barnabas Bangs, Mass.
Page 1

[File card]
(8-1776)
SERVICE  NUMBER

Mass. [Massachusetts]  Bangs, Barnabas  W. 24,640
Elizabeth

CONTENTS
Page 2

[left fold]
5823
Maine
Elizabeth Bangs decd
widow of Barnabas
Bangs
who served in the Revolutionary 
war, as a private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate
of 47 Dollars 77
Cents per annum, to commence
on the 4th day of March, 1848.
[illegible] 27 Nov. [November] 1849
Certificate of Pension issued
the 22d day of Dec. 1851 and sent to
Dickens [illegible middle initial] Coombs
Present
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 2, 1848, Page 4 Vol. 1

[right fold]
H. D. McLellan 22 July 1854.
Page 3

State of Maine
At a Court of Probate held at Portland within
and for the County of Cumberland, on the first Tuesday
of October (being the seventh day of said month )
A.D. 1851.
Personally appeared in open Court, being a
Court of Record, before the Hon. Josiah Pierce, Judge.
Zebulon K. Harmon, Administrator of the estate of
Elizabeth Bangs, late of Poland in said County of
Cumberland, deceased, who upon oath makes the
following declaration in order to obtain the benefits
of the act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832, and
the provisions of the act of Congress passed July 7th
1838, March 3d 1843. June 17th 1844, and February
2d 1848.
And this declarant states that Barnabas Bangs
was a resident of Gorham in the time of the Revolution
and was reputed to have served in the Revolutionary 
War.  In addition to the service given in the certificate
of the Secretary of State, Mass, [Massachusetts] hereto annexed he
believes the said Barnabas Bangs served during the
first part of the year 1777, about three months, and
that he was in New York and in New Jersey during
said Campaign.
This declarant further states that the said Barnabas
Bangs was married to Elizabeth Cloutman, at
Gorham on the first
day of November 1789, that the
Page 4

said Barnabas died in the town of Poland on the
25 May 1838, aged 83 years
that Elizabeth the
wife of said Barnabas survived him and remained 
a widow to the time of her death, and that she died
at said Poland on the 27th November 1849, and
that Susanna Bangs is the only surviving child
of the said Barnabas and Elizabeth Bangs, deceased, that they were Shakers during the latter
years of their lives, and would not assent their
claim to said Pension.
Your declarant claims the Pension due the
said Barnabas Bangs and Elizabeth Bangs under the
acts aforesaid.
Zebulon K. Harmon
Signed and sworn in Probate Court on the day
and year first above written.
Before me Josiah Pierce Judge.
Page 5

State of Maine
County of Cumberland ss.
Probate Office Oct. 7th, A.D. 1851
I Freeman Bradford Register of Probate, Certify that
Hon. Josiah Pierce, before whom the foregoing declaration
was made, is Judge of Probate in and for said County
duly commissioned and qualified agreeably to the 
Constitution and Laws of the State, that the foregoing
signature purporting to be his is genuine, and that
full faith and credit should be given to his
Official attestations.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my
name and affixed the seal of said
Court the day and year first above written.
Freeman Bradford Regr [Register]
Page 6

I, John Wingate Town Clerk of Gorham
in the County of Cumberland & State of Maine
on oath depose and say that I have in my
custody and possession the Books of Record
belonging to said Town, in one of the ancient
Books of Record purporting to contain a record of Births, Marriages and purposes of
marriage I find the following Viz.
November First, One thousand seven
hundred and eighty nine, Barnabas
Bangs Junr And Betty Cloutman
Edmund Phinney Justice Pacis
Recorded by
Austin Alden Town Clerk
The above is a true extract from the Record
with the exception of the dates which are
written in fair legible words & figures
thus "Novr 1st 1789."
John Wingate Town Clerk
Cumberland ss. October 3 A.D. 1851. Then
personally appeared the above named John Wingate and made oath that the foregoing statements
Record by him signed are true.
Before me John A. Waterman Justice of Peace
Page 7

Gorham July 18th 1854
To the Hon Commissioner
of Pensions}
Dear Sir
I am requested by the
friends of Miss Susan Bangs, who
is the daughter of Barnabas Bangs a
Revolutionary soldier, to enquire [inquire]
if
there has been granted and paid to the
said Susan on her letter a Revolutionary
Pension, and the amount
if any has
been in paid-- the said Bangs died
some years since, lives no widow, and
only this one daughter-
In explanation I will say that the
said Susan is an elderly maiden lady
a member of the Society of Shakers
and had conscientious scruples about
applying as the Shakers do not think
much of the business of war and its
proceed, But in account of one children
of a sister, who she thought needed the
money she made the application, since
which time she has been able to learn
little or nothing from the Elders (Shaker)
where or what money has been drawn, they
tell her it has been drawn from the United
Page 8

States Treasury and deposited in the State
Treasury, and that is about all the old
Lady
is told about it, so I am
informed by her friends as aforesaid
{The old mans name was Barnabas Bangs the
father of said Susan Bangs
With respect I 
[illegible] 
Hugh D McLellan
Gorham
Maine
Page 9

I Otis Sawyer of New Gloucester in
the County of Cumberland and State of
Maine aged 36 years hereby certify that
I am one of the Trustees and one of the
Overseers of the Society of Shakers in
the town of New Gloucester in said County of Cumberland and have known Barnabas and Elizabeth Bangs ever since
I belonged to the Society which has been
29 years.  Barnabas and Elizabeth
Bangs embraced the religious belief of
the Society prior to 1800 as I have been 
informed and as appear by our Records
Barnabas Bangs died in 1838 aged 83
years.  Elizabeth Bangs his widow survived him and died a widow on the
27th day of November 1849 aged 82
years as appears by the Records of said
Society.  The only child of said Barnabas and Elizabeth Bangs is Susannah Bangs who is now living in the town of Poland in this State.  
The general practice among all Societies of Shakers has been not to make
application for pensions and that
was the reason why Barnabas and
Page 10

Elizabeth Bangs did not assert their
claim to a pension in their life time.  
Barnabas Bangs was reputed to
have been a Soldier of the Revolution
and believed to have been such by
those who knew him.
Otis Sawyer
Cumberland ss. October 1st A.D. 1851
Then personally appeared the above named Otis Sawyer who is known to me
as a man of truth and veracity, and
made solemn affirmation that the state
ments contained in the foregoing affidavit by him signed are true.
Before me Z. K. Harmon Justice of
the Peace
Page 11

Rev. War Section
[handwritten initials MMSF [illegible] AW]
May 11, 1923
Miss Harriett F. Greene
101 East Twenty-ninth Street
New York, New York.
Dear Madam:
In response to your letter received April 2, 1923,
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. 34640 it appears that
Barnabas Bangs enlisted in Gorham, Cumberland County,
Maine April 19, 1775 and served as a Private twenty-four
days in Captain Hart Williams' Company. He then enlisted
in 1775 and was in service as a Private eight months in
Captain Hart Williams' Company, Colonel Phinney's Regiment, Massachusetts Troops. On July 15, 1776 he enlisted
and served as Matross five months and fifteen days in
Captain Abner Lowell's Company. He died May 25, 1838 in
Poland, Cumberland County, Maine, aged eighty-three years.
Soldier married November 1, 1789 in Gorham, Maine,
Elizabeth Cloutman of said Gorham. She died November 27,
1849 in Poland, Maine, aged eighty-two years.
On October 7, 1851 at Portland, Cumberland County,
Maine Zebulon K. Harmon, Administrator of the estate,
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applied for pension due, in behalf of Susanna Bangs
only surviving child of soldier and his widow Elizabeth,
which was allowed.
A daughter of soldier and her nine children are
referred to, their names not stated. Barnabas Bangs, wife
and daughter Susanna were Shakers.
From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension
claim W. 3658 of Ebenezer Choate it appears that he was
born in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.
While a resident of Ipswich, Massachusetts he enlisted
April 15, 1781 and served as a private three years in
Captain Job Sumner's Company, Colonels John Greaton and
Jackson's Regiments, Massachusetts Troops.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
May 5, 1818 while a resident of Bridgton, Cumberland
County, Massachusetts, aged fifty-three years. He died
April 30, 1852 in Bridgton, Maine.
Soldier married May 26, 1793 in Ipswich, Massachusetts
Elizabeth Choate maiden name of said Ipswich.
She was allowed pension on her application executed August
31, 1852 while a resident of Bridgton, Maine. In 1855
she was a resident of Lynn, Massachusetts, aged eighty-
Page 13

two years.
They had children who in 1820 were aged as follows:  Joanna 18 years, son Francis 16 years, John 13 years, Almira 11 years, Alden 9 years, Leander 7 years, Eunice 5 years and Lucretia 3 years of age.

The Revolutionary War records of this Bureau
fail to afford any information in regard to Israel
Green.
Owing to the great pressure of current work, the
large number of smaller inquiries and the lack of
clerical force available for the purpose, this Bureau
unable to furnish more than two histories to each
inquirer.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 14

[left fold]
1923 May 11-History to Miss Harriett F. Greene.
Letter file Cl. H. 3658 of Ebenezer Choate-MMSF 

[right fold]
Revy [Revolutionary] WIDOW, &c.
File No. 24640
Elizabeth Bangs
Wid [Widow] of
Barnabas Bangs
Pri [Private] Rev [Revolutionary] War

Act: Feb. 2d /48
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 41
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 15

32,965
Maine
Barnabas Bangs dec.
of [blank], in the State of Maine
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain [blank] of the Regiment commanded 
by Colonel [blank] in the Revolution
for 14 mo: 9 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Portland
at the rate of 47 dollars 77 cents per
annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.  
[illegible] 25 May 1838.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22d day of
Dec [December] 1851 and  sent to
Dickens & Coombs
Arrears to the 4th of Present
Semi=anl. allowance ending
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by H. R. Weightman Clerk
Book E Vol. 1 Page 6
Page 16

11,229.
Maine
Elizabeth Bangs decd
widow of Barnabas Bangs
who died on the 25 May 1838. 
of [blank] in the State of Maine
who was a private in the company commanded 
by Captain [blank] of the Regiment commanded 
by Colonel [blank] in the Revolution for 14 mo: 9 days.
Inscribed on the Roll of Portland
at the rate of 47 dollars 77 cents per
annum to commence on the 25th day of May, 1838.  
Certificate of Pension issued the 22d day of
Dec [December] 1851 and  sent to
Dickens & Coombs
Arrears to the 4th of Present
Semi=anl. allowance ending
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1838.}
Recorded by H. R. Weightman Clerk
Book D Vol. 1 Page 23
Page 17

9,124
Maine
Elizabeth Bangs dec
widow of Barnabas
who was a Private
in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate
of 47 Dollars 77
Cents per annum, to commence
on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued
the 22d day of Dec [December] 1851
and sent to
Dickens & Coombs
Present
[Acts of March 3, 1843 & June
17, 1844.]
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 2 Page 3
Page 18

4685

Dickens & Coombs
Present
Page 19

To the Secretary of State Massachusetts
Application for the evidence of the Revolutionary service of Barnabas Bangs
The Secretary is requested to furnish from the
Records and military rolls in his office
the evidence of all service that may be
found there on relative to the Military Service
of the said Barnabas Bangs
And your applicant states that Barnabas Bungs was 
a resident of Gorham in the district of Maine in the
time of the Revolutionary War. He served at Falmouth
and in New York and New Jersey and in various
companies during the war. In Falmouth he was in
Capt [Captain] Gowell's Company of Matrosses at a part of
the time but your applicant is unable to State in what
companies or under what officers he served for the 14 
[illegible] of the time. He request all the service performed
by Barnabas Bangs. And the undersigned Agent
for the only surviving child of the said Barnabas and
Elizabeth Bangs hereby constitute & appoint Freeman
Bradford of Portland my Attorney to whom the certificate
in this case may be sent
Z. K. Harmon
Agt for Susanna Bangs
Cumberland SS August 28, 1851. Signed & acknowledged
before me
H. C. Babb Just Peace
Page 20

p 61 E [illegible]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston:
September 13th 1851.
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 Barnabas Bangs is [illegible] on a
muster roll of Capt. [Captain] Hart Williams Co [Company] from Gorham
on alarm Apr 19, 1775, 24 days joined the army.  
On rolls of 8 mo [months] Service in 1775 in Capt. [Captain] Hart
Williams Co. [Company] Col. [Colonel] Phinneys Regt. [Regiment] as a private of Gorham
on [illegible] Nov. 2, 1775.
On pay rolls of Capt [Captain] Abner Lowell's Company, 
and at Falmouth, as matross from July 15. 1776 to
January 1777.  5 mo. [months] 15 days.
Page 21

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence
of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this
Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the
search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said
application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts
and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal
of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
for
Amasa Walker
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 22

STATE OF MAINE.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, SS.
PROBATE OFFICE.
I Freeman Bradford REGISTER OF PROBATE
for said County, hereby certify, That at a Court of Probate held at
Portland, in and for said County, on the first 
Tuesday of October
in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and fifty one
Zebulon K. Harmon of Portland
in said County, Esquire Administrator of the Estate of Elizabeth Bangs late of Poland, widow
was duly appointed and commissioned
that he has accepted the trust and given bond pursuant to the Laws of the State; that he remains
at the present time Administrator as aforesaid, and that 
full faith is due to his legal acts in that capacity.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my name and affixed the
Seal Official of said Court, this Seventh
day of October
in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty one
Freeman Bradford Regr
STATE OF MAINE
County of Cumberland, ss.
Probate Office.
I Josiah Pierce JUDGE OF PROBATE for said County,
hereby certify, that Freeman Bradford whose name is subscribed to the
foregoing certificate, is the Register of Probate for said County, duly appointed, commission
ed and sworn : and that his said certificate is in due form.
Given under my hand this seventh day 
of October A. D. 1851

Josiah Pierce
Page 23

H. D. McLellan
July 22/54
Page 24

107
Pension Office.
22d July 1854.
Sir,
I would inform you that a
pension was allowed in the case of
Barnabas Bangs decd [deceased] and of Elizabeth
Bangs decd [deceased] widow of Barnabas of
Maine.  The certificate of pension
were issued to Messrs Dickens &
Coombs, and were made payable
to Zebulon K. Harmon Administrator
for the benefit of Susanna
Bangs.  Mr Harmon should doubt
less be able to give some account of
the matter as the money was paid
him by the Pension Agent in Maine.
Hugh D. McLellan
Gorham.
Maine.
Page 25

STATE OF MAINE.
CUMBERLAND, SS.
Probate Office,
PORTLAND, October 9th, A. D. 1851 
I, Freeman Bradford
Register of Probate,
In and for the said County of CUMBERLAND, certify that
Z. K. Harmon, and
John H. Waterman, are
Acting Justices of the Peace,
within and for the County of
Cumberland as appears by the papers hereto
annexed; that they are DULY QUALIFIED TO ACT AS SUCH; that the
COMMISSION of the said Harmon is dated November 23d
A. D. 1850 and will expire November 23d, A. D. 1857 and that
Waterman's Commission bears date Jany [January] 16, A. D.
1850, and will expire Jany. [January] 16, A.D. 1857-
and that the following SIGNATURES purporting to be theirs are GENUINE.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal official
of said Court, the day and year first above written.
Freeman Bradford
REGISTER.
Page 26

I, John Wingate Town Clerk of Gorham in the
County of Cumberland and State of Maine
on oath depose and say that I have in my
custody and possession the Books of Record
belonging to said town, in one of the ancient
Books of Records purporting to contain a record of Marriages and purposes of marriage
I find the following viz.
"Barnabas Bangs or entered his name
and purpose of marriage with Elizabeth
Cloutman both of Gorham October Tenth
One thousand seven hundred and eighty
nine.
Attest Austin Alden Town Clerk
the above is a true extract from the Record
with the exception of the date, which is
written in fair legible figures thus "Octr.
10th 1789."
I have made diligent search and do not
find the marriage of the above said
parties on Record.
John Wingate Town Clerk.
Cumberland ss: October 3d A.D. 1851.
Then personally appeared the above named
Page 27

John Wingate and made oath that 
the foregoing statements and Record
by him signed are true.
Before me John A. Waterman, Justice of Peace.
Page 28

STATE OF MAINE.
PROBATE COURT
Cumberland County, ss.}
Be it known, That on this seventh day of 
October 1851 it has been satisfactorily proved in open Court,
being a Court of Record, That Barnabas Bangs
late of Poland was a Shaker [crossed out Pensioner of the United States, and] that he died at said Poland
on the twenty fifth day of May
1881.
And that Elizabeth Bangs his widow survived him
and remained a widow to the time of her death
which took place November 27th 1849, and
that Susanna Bangs is 
the child and the only saving child of the said Barnabas &
Elizabeth Bangs deceased, [crossed out and that he left no widow.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Court, and subscribed
my name this seventh
day of October in the year 1851
Josiah Pierce Judge of Probate for
Cumberland County.
Page 29

Brief in the case of Barnabas Bangs decd. [deceased]
County and State of Maine
act 7 June 1832.
Claim, ("original," or [crossed out "for increase.]")
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Evidence of service; Record.
Elizabeth Bangs, widow of Barnabas, Maine
act 38 &C. Evidence of Marriage; Record
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Name and residence of Agent.  Kirby
Dickens & Coombs  Examining Clerk.
Page 30

No 14,479
Elizabeth Bangs
wid [widow] of Barnabas.
Maine
Act 7 July 38 & 6.
14 mo [months] 9 days paid $47.77.
per an: from 25 May '38
when her husband died
to 27 Novr [November] 1849 when
she died, except 2 yrs. [years]
Payable to Zebulon
K. Harmon, Admr. [Admistrator]
for the benefit of
Susanna Bangs.
only child
Dickens & Coombs
Page 31

No 38.270
Barnabas Bangs decd. [deceased]
Maine
Act 7 June 1832.
14. Mo. [months] 9 days paid- $47.77
per An: to 25 May 1838,
when he died. Payable
to Zebulon K. Harmon Admr [Administrator]
of the Estate of Elizabeth
Bangs decd [deceased] for the
benefit of Susanna
Bangs only child.
Dickens & Coombs
Present
Page 32

24 days
8.00
5.15
14.09.
46.66.   3.33
1.11
$47.77 

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