Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12584, Henry Collins, Mass.
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Mass.       Henry Collins.     S12584
carded
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     Vermont 18 743
Henry Collins
of Franklin is in the State of Vermont
who was a Private in the Company commaneded by Captain Sewall of the Reg commanded by Col. Shratt in the Mass. line for 2 years.

Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont.
at the rate of 80 Dollars.   (no) Cents for annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.


Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of Sept
1833 and sent to Wm Bridges
St. Albans NH
Assests to the 4th of Sept. 33                 $200
Semi-anl. Allowance ending  4 Mar. 36.   40
                                                                     $240
                              {Revolutionary Claim, }
                              {Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by Eler Brown.  Clerk
Book E.  Vol 3.  Page 57
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Henry Collins
Declaration
21609
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Declaration,
Revolutionary claim, under an Act of Congress, Passed
June 7th, A.D. 1832.
     State of Vermont} Franklin County Probate, 
District of Georgia, S.S.}
Court July 5th  A.D. 1832.

Personally appeared in open Court, being the Probate Court for the County of Franklin, and a Courth of Record for said County, and State of Vermont, as will appear by the first section of a Statute Law of said State, entitled "An act, 
constituting Probate Courts.  Courts of Record, " ------passed November 15th, A.D. 1821, [see 1st. section of said act, } Henry Collins.      aged 68 years, resident in Abbotsford, who being first duly worn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, A.D. 1832. That he enlisted in to the army of the United States in the year 1781, in the month of March.
A levy was made, and, the Town of Southborough in the County of Worcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts was obliged to furnish a number of men, (he thinks mine) that in month year P Collins, who was then was a resident of Southborough, with six others from S town vis Macheliah Bridges, Ebenr Collins, John Amsden, Silas Amsden, Rufus Hemingway, Francis Moor engaged in the service of the United States, as part of the number required of S town, and march from Mlence to West Point in the state of New York, and joined the Army in the month of April or May 1781, and P. Collins served in the company commanded by Capt. Sewel Ltn Merrick in the 2 Massachusetts, commanded by Col. Ebenezer Sprout.
The applicant further states, that he continued to serve in P Company to Regt untell the termmination of the war, was discharged at WestPoint that at the time of receiving his discharge the company to which he belonged was commanded by Capt Smith, the sweeps of Capt Sewell who was Aide to Gen Heath.
The applicant further states that he seconds an Hon discharge signed by Gen Knax, in the month of December 1783 which discharge he has last.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. 
Henry Collins
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Henry Collins
Declaration
21609

And the Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
William Bridges Judge
I, John Gates, jr. Register of the Court of Probate for the district aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matters of the application of Henry Collins for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 5th day of July    A. D. 1832.
John Gates Jnr, Register.
[Seal affixed to left of signatures]

.
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21,609
Henry Collins
Georgia District
Verm't
or
Canada
i.j.
Adm't
2 yrs
$80
W. Bridges Esq.
St. Albans
John Gates, Junr. Clk
St Albans
Franklin Co
Vermont
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
12 Jan 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
A Statement, showing the Service of Henry Collins
Period when the service was rendered.
March 1781 "until the termination of the war" discharged in Dec. 1783.
Duration of the claimant's service.
Years. 2
Months. 9
Days. --
Rank of the claimant.
Private
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
Capt Sewell
Capt Smith
Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.
Col. Sprout
Battles in which the applicant was engaged.
--
Country through which he marched.
From - Southbor' to West Point & other places in New York
Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
68 years 
Southbor' Mass'tts
Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
By 2 living witnesses
His not certified
the Eli Lewis is a credible witness
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State Territory, or District of }
County of                             }ss.
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before __________ A.B. a resident of (b) of __________ in the county of __________ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ 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 provion made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____,
with __________ and served in the __________ (e) regiment of the __________ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he enered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. *This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) 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, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of __________
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. __________ A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _________ of the Court of __________ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of __________ for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
_____ day of __________ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the  __________ and C. D. residing in (the same) 
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with __________, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ 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 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 A.B. __________ who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the __________ and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the __________ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, __________ Clerk of the Court of __________ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation of __________ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of __________ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. {To a Soldier.} Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
{To an Officer.} Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of 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.
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will
follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule. Canada
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 periods 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."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he 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.
*The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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December 20, 1938.

BA-J/ILL
Henry Collins
S. 12584

Grace E. Chamberlain
166 Grand Avenue, East
Highland Park, Michigan.

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Henry Collins, of Southborough, Massachusetts, a pensioner in 1833.
The data which follow are found in the papers on file in pension claim, S.12584, based upon service in the Revolutionary War of Henry Collins.
Henry Collins was born April 14, 1764, in Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts; the names of his parents are not shown.
While a resident of Southborough, Massachusetts, Henry Collins enlisted in March 1781, served as a private in Captains
Sewell and Smith's Company, Colonel Ebeneser Sprout's Massachusetts regiment and was discharged in December 1783.
After the war, the soldier resided many years in said Southborough, then moved to Marlborough, New Hampshire, from there to
to Lansingburgh, New York, thence to Lanesborough, Massachusetts, then to Lower Canada.
Henry Collins was allowed pension on his application executed July 5, 1833, at which time he resided in Abbotsford, in Lower Canada. The application for pension was executed in Franklin County, Vermont. He made no reference to wife or children.
One Ebeneser Collins enlisted and served in Southborough, Massachusetts, when Henry Collins entered service in March 1781; no relationship between the two was stated.  
In July 1832, Eli Lewis, aged sixty-nine years, resided in Kingston, Addison County, Vermont; he was born in Southborough
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Massachusetts, and was a cousin of Henry Collins, the soldier.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and, possibly, the date of death of this pensioner, you should address The Comptroller General, General
Accounting Office, this city, and cite the following:
Henry Collins
Certificate #18743
Issued September 30, 1833
Rate $80 per annum
Connenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Vermont Agency.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER,
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
2.
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[Left Side]
1909 June 26 Hist to M.E. Otis &c.
letter in S. File 32,425 Edward Otis &c.
1927. Sept 12- Photos to Mason E.
Mitchell. See corres. in cs. of
Obadiah Dunham W. M. 1868 MM&F
1928- Feb. 25. Hist. to Judge
M. E. Otis - MM&F
1932 Aug. 3. Hist. to Earl L.
Collins, A.D.Y.
1838 - Dec. 20 - Hist. to Grace E. Chamberlain ILL

[Right Side]
Revolutionary
12584
INVALID.
File No. 12,584
Henry Collins
Pri. Rev. War
Act: June 7th 1832.
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 78
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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St. Albans July
17th AD 1833
Col Edwards Sir
The reasons why the applicant Henry Collins, did not make his declaration in the same County where he resides, is, that there is no courts of record in Canada except at Montreal, which would be attended with more trouble and expence than to apply in the states. Mr Collins is a man of respectability whose character is unimpeachable having been acquainted with him several years, he was formerly a resident of Southboro Mass and a near neighbour to my
Father who enlisted with sd Collins.
very respectfully
your obt servt
William Bridges
Col J. L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
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Hackaliah Bridges
Affidavit
in support of Henry
Collins's claim
Page 15

I Hacheliah Bridges of St Albans in the
County of Franklin & State of Vermont, aged
Seventy years, do testify and say that I am
personally aquainted with Henry Collins of
Abbotsford Lower Canada formerly of South-
borough County of Worcester, Commonwealth
of Massachusett, that in the year 1781 I with
others Viz Rufus Hemingway Silas Amsden,
John Amsden, James Capen, Francis Moor Ebenr Collins and the above named Henry Collins all enlisted at Southborough aforesaid, for the term of three years under one Joshua Smith of sd Southboro, a person appointed to enlist a certain number of soldiers which was at that time called from that, and other towns in said State, enlisted in March 1781 & muster at Sutton in sd County, same month & year and on the 19th day of April following march from sd Southborough for Springfield M-- and from
thence to West Point, that during the time
afsd I was in company with sd Henry Collins,
after we arrived at West Point we were put into
different Regts sd Collins I think belonged to Col Sprouts Regt I often saw him while in service and although I was discharged before the close of the war, I am confident that said Collins served his time out for which he enlisted-
Hacheliah Bridges
State of Vermont }
Franklin County   } 
St Albans September 24th 1832
This day personally appeared before the Subscriber Hacheliah Bridges, a credible
witness who made oath that the above
affidavit by him subscribed is true-
Before my William Bridges Judge.
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State of Vermont }
Georgia District   } 
[Seal affixed here]
I John Gates Jr Register of the Court of Probate
for the district of Georgia afsd do hereby certify that William Bridges before whom the within
affidavit was taken is Judge of the Court of Probate within & for said district, and that his name signd to sd affidavit is his own proper signature
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed
my name at St Albans, in said district, and
affixed the seal of said Court this 25th day
of September AD. 1832
John Gates Jr. Register
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Eli Lewis Afft
in support of
Henry Collins Claim
Page 18

I, Eli Lewis of Kingston in the County of Addison & State of Vermont, aged sixty one years, being duly sworn depose and say, -  that I was born & lived for several years in South
bury County of Worcester & State of Massachusetts, and frequently previous to the Revolutionary war visited that place, after my
father removed from it and was there well acquainted with Henry Collins, now of Abbotsford in the Provence of Lower Canada, and now present, who is a cousin to me, that 
in the month of June 1781, I enlisted into the army & soon after joined the first Massachu-
setts regiment, commanded by Colonel Nase. And having before learned that the said Henry Collins had enlisted into the service, I immediately enquired for him, and found him
in the service in the second Massachusetts regiment, commanded by Colonel Sprout, and I frequently afterwards saw him in the service, and I know that he continued to serve in
said regiment until the fall of the year 1753 -when we were both discharged. We were both enlisted for three years and served to the close of the war.-
Eli Lewis
Sworn this 2d day of July
1832. Before me
Elisha Brewster
Just. Peace
State of Vermont }
Addison County  } 
I, Samuel Swift, Clerk of the County Court for the said County of Addison do hereby certify that Elisha Brewster before whom the above affidavit was made was at the time a 
Justice of the peace for said county duly authorized to administer oaths.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of said Court this
2d day of July A.D. 1832.
Saml. Swift.
[Seal affixed to left of signature]
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State of Vermont    }
Addison County ss.}
 July 15. 1833, I hereby certify that the within named deponent Eli Lewis is a credible witness.
Elisha Brewster Just. Peace
State of Vermont    }
Addison County ss.}
I, Samuel Swift, Clerk of the County Court for said
County of Addison, do hereby certify, that the above named Elisha Brewster is a Justice of the peace for said County, & the same before whom the within affidavit of Eli Lewis was made and his name subscribed to the above certificate is his own signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this
15th day of July 1833
Saml. Swift Clerk
[Seal affixed to left of signature]
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State of Vermont   }St. Albans July 12th 1833
Franklin County ss. } Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the
Peace within and for the County aforesaid
Henry Collins of Abbotsford L.C. and made
oath that he was born in Southborough
County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts on the 14th day of April 1764, and has a record of his age, that when he entered the service of the United States he was a resident of sd Southborough and returned (after his service expired) to said Southboro and lived there many years and removed from thence to Marlborough N.H. from thence to Lansingburgh N York, from thence to Lanesborough Ms and from thence to the Province of Lower Canada where he now resides. He was called in to service
as stated in his declaration, where he has
given the names of his officers and the movements of the Army, and at the close of his
campaign he received an Hon. discharge from
Gen Henry Knox. He is acquainted with the
following named gentlemen who can testify
to his character for veracity and their belief as
to his Revolutionary services: In St. Albans Vt
Hacheliah Bridges, Col Holoway Taylor - In
Abbotsford his place of residence Rev Johnson, Col John Dwyer, Jacob Wallace, and Ebenezer Fish Post Master.
Henry Collins
Sworn and subscribed } 
the day and year afsd  }
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Before me William Bridges Justice  } 
                                   of the Peace }
I further certify that I have been aquaintd
with the within named Henry Collins who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing
affidavit, a number of years and know him to be a man of truth and veracity
W. Bridges Justice Peace
State of Vermont    } I Horace Janes Clark of Franklin County ss. } Franklin County Court,
do hereby certify that William Bridges
who has affixed his name to the within is a
Magistrate duly qualified, and that I know
the same to be his genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, at St Albans this 13th day of July AD 1833-
Horace Janes Clerk
[Seal affixed to left of signature]

Henry Collins
affidavit in
support of his claim
Page 22

Rev.&1812 Wars
Copied from M.M.H.P. hist.
Feb. 25-1928.

August 3, 1932.
BA-J/ADY
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Henry Collins
S.12584.

Mr. Earl L. Collins,
Elk Basin,
Wyoming.
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter relative to
one Henry Collins, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The data contained herein are obtained from
the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.12584, based upon his military service in that war.
Henry Collins was born April 14, 1764 in South
borough, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
While a resident of said Southborough, he
enlisted in March 1781, served as a private in
Captains Sewall and Smith's Company, Colonel Ebenezer Sprout's Massachusetts Regiment and was discharged in December 1783.
For many years after the Revolution he lived in
said Southborough, from which place he moved to Marlborough, New Hampshire, from there to Lansingburgh, New York, from there to Lanesborough, Massachusetts, and then to Canada.
He was allowed pension on his application executed July 5, 1832 while a resident of Abbotsford, Lower Canada. The application was executed in Franklin County, Vermont.
There are no family data.
This is the history of the only Henry Collins
that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.
Page 23

Wars Section.
MMHP
February 25, 1928.
Judge Merrill E. Otis,
United States District Court,
Kansas City, Missouri.
Sir:
I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 12584, it appears that Henry Collins was born April 14, 1764 in Southborough, Worcester County,
Massachusetts.
While a resident of said Southborough, he enlisted in March 1781, served as a private in Captains Sewall and Smith's Company, Colonel Ebeneser Sprout's Massachusetts Regiment and was discharged in December 1783.
For many years after the Revolution he lived in said Southborough, from which place he moved to Marlborough, New Hampshire, from there to Lansingburgh, New York, from there to Lanesborough, Massachusetts and then to Canada.
He was allowed pension on his application executed July 5, 1832 while a resident of Abbatsford, Lower Canada.
Page 24

The application was executed in Franklin County, Vermont.
There are no data on file as to his family,
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.
Date of
death not
on AB
Page 25

[Obscured] request of ______ received _____
[Obscured] of the military history of Henry Collins
[Obscured] the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
[Obscured] as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen-
[Obscured] file in this Bureau.      S.F. 12,584
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
Mch. 1781
LENGTH OF SERVICE.
to Dec. 1783.
RANK.
PRI.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Sewall
Smith
COLONEL.
Ebenezer Sprout
STATE.
2 Mass.
Battles engaged in, [checkmark]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Southborough Worcester Mass.
Date of application for pension, July 5. 1832
Allowed. Appl. ex. in Franklin Co. Vt.
Residence at date of application, Abbortsford, Lower Canada.
Age at date of application, B. Ap. 14, 1764 at Southboro Mass.
Remarks: Date of death not on A.B.
Page 26

#166 Grand Ave. East
Highland Park, Michigan
Nov. 15th, 1938
Veterans Administration,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sirs:-
I believe that one Henry Collins of Mass. who served in Rev. war was granted a pension in 1833. I think he is the Henry Collins of Southborough, Mass. ["only one" in margin]
Will you please advise if papers show
anything about his family. The Henry Collins I desire to know about had wife Ruth Fifield, but as she was some twenty-two years younger than he, I conjecture she was a second wife. I would be glad to know what the records show about the above Henry Collins, particularly where born.
Thanking you in advance, I am,
Yours very truly,
Grace E Chamberlain
[Stamped RECEIVED 1:45 NOV 15 1938 MAIL SUB-DIV. VETS. ADM. READER # 5]
Page 27

MERRILL E. OTIS
DISTRICT JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
KANSAS CITY
November 18, 1927.
The Honorable,
The Commissioner of Pensions,
Pension Department,
Washington, D. C.
Sir:
If it is a proper request, will you kindly send me a statement of what is shown in the records of the Pension Department concerning the service in the Revolutionary War of Henry Collins, who enlisted in the service from Southborough, Massachusetts, and who applied for a pension July 5, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Abbottsford, in the Province of Lower Canada.
If there is a fee for such certificate, I shall be pleased to forward it to you.
Very respectfully yours,
Merrill E. Otis
[Stamped U. S. PENSION OFFICE NOV 22 1927]
Page 28

Elk Basin, Wyoming.
July 15, 1932.
Director of Pensions,
Veterans' Administration,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Will you kindly inform me as to the place of birth and family connections, or any other identity establishing data you may have on file concerning Henry Collins, who was born about 1764 and entered the Revolutionary War at the
age of seventeen in 1781 and served until Dec. 1783. He received an honorable discharge from Gen. Henry Knox.
It is believed that he was born in Southborough, Mass. and that he died in Lake County Illinois.
I thank you very sincerely.
Respectfully yours,
Earl L Collins [signature]
Earl L. Collins.
[Stamped RECEIVED 1:30 JULY 19 1932 RECEIPT SECTION PENSION FILES SUB-DIVISION]