Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2462, John Crawford, Mass
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(3 - 1776) 
SERVICE Mass 
Crawford, John NUMBER R. 2462
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John Crawford 
251
No 2693-
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STATE OF MAINE. COUNTY OF LINCOLN SS. 
AT a Court of Common Pleas holden at Bath in said County on the 11th day of August A. D. eighteen hundred and thirty-two personally appeared in open Court, before JOHN RUGGLES, ESQ, one of the Judges thereof, John Crawford a resident of Bath in the County of Lincoln being first duly sworn according order 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 entered the militia in a company commanded by James Seven at that part of Georgetown now called Bath in the County of Lincoln & State of Maine in the month of May 1775 & served as a private soldier in said company at a place called Hunnewells Point at the mouth of Kennebec River from said May until November 1775 and that he again entered the militia in a company commanded by Captain Curtis of Harpswell & that he proceeded under said Curtis from Brunswick to Portland and there embarked on board a transport under said Curtis, and sailed to Townsend in Boothby the place of rendezvous, for the American Troops, and let designed for the expedition against Bagaduce a British fortus, on Penobscot Bay, and and arrived before Bagaduce in July 1779, and was among the troops that first landed at that place and was in the battle that follow with the British - That he remained in the siege till the British fleet arrived & drove off the American forces, that he retreated up the Penobscot river, and thence across the wilderness, to Kennebec River and arrived in Bath in September 1779, and was thence order to Cox's Head [crossed out illegible words] and then served out the Service In the remainder of the year 1779 - making a term of actual service in said 1779 of six months and one 

In  year 1781, the first of June, this applicant enlisted to into service under Captain Benj
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that Cox's head, and immediately marched to that place, and then served the remainder of the year 1781. making a time of service in the year 1781, of six months, by this applicant, making a term of service in the year of 1779. and 1781 of 11th 1 one year and over - he further testifies, that in the early part of the month in the year 1782, he went to Beverly in Massachusetts and then entered in the sea service on board the armed ship Civens of 20 guns, and commanded by Capt. Hugh Hill and sailed on a cruise to Cape Francious . St. Domingo, and fell in with the French Fleet under Court De Grasse shortly after the their engagement with admiral Rodney - that he accompanied the fleet into Cape Francious, and there suplied them with provisions being the cargo of the Citero, consisting of flour, fish cheese - thence proceeded to Lorient in France, and thence proceeded to the English Channel and Captured five British ships - and also in company with the American Ships Revolution, and Buccaring, engaged the British ship called the John Shaw of thirty six coming guns, and after an action of three quarters of in hour captured her-- This applicant further on oath says that he served on board the Citero from the part of the winter 1782 till June or July 1783, making his time of Sea Service 18 months. He further on oath says, that General Lovell was command of the land forces at Bayadieu in 1779 and Colonel Saml M. Cobb at Cox's head in 1781. that he never received any written discharge from the service. he was always a volunteer & never a [illegible] that he
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Chanel and Captured five British Ships and also in company with the American Ships Resolution, and burning, engaged the British ship called the John Shaw, of thirty six camingo guns, and after an action of three quarters of an hour captured her. This applicant further on oath says, that he served on board the Citero from the fore part of the winter 1782 til Jan or July 1783, making his time of sea service 18 months-  
He further on oath says, that General Lovell was commander of the land forces at Bagadue 1779 and Colonel Saml Cobb at Cox head in 1781. that he never received any written discharge from the service - he was always a volunteer & never a [illegible] - that he was born in that part of Georgetown now called Bath, on the 3d of October 1763 the than has a record of his age in a book - that he has lived in said Bath ever since his birth-- that his known in his neighbourhood to David Lemont William Olive Phillip Higgins and David Shaw Esquire and to Nathaniel Hum of Burnswick and others, all of who can testify to his character for truth and veracity 
John Crawford

subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid
J. Ruggles Judge
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State of Maine. LINCOLN SS
I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln do hereby certify that the three annexed papers signed by the Judge and attested by the Clerk, contains the original proceedings of the session thereof holden at Court of Common Pleas, at a special session thereof holden at Bath in said county, by the Hon. John Ruggles one of the Judges of said Court on the eleventh day August A. D. 1832, in the matter of the application of John Crawford for a Pension. 

IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this 14th day of August North A. D. 1832. 
Nathl [illegible]

Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid before John Ruggles Judge of the Court of Com. Pleas for the State of Maine.
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Mr. Nath'l Groton residing in Bath and David Shaw a Justice of an residing in Bath hereby certify that we are well acquanted with John Crawford and we subscribed & swore to the above declaration that we believe him to be Sixty nine years of age & that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion 
Nathl Groton
David Shaw 

Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid J. Ruggles J CCCP

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatives prescribed by the War Department) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, as he states. 

And the court further certifies that the he appears to the that Nathl Groton who has signed the preceding certificate residign in Bath & David Shaw who has also signed the form is a resident in said Bath and are 
credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit. 
J. Ruggles J CCP

I , Clerk of the Courts of Record and Court of Common Pleas. for Lincoln County, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of said Court in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension. 
iAttest Nat. Coffin Clerk 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this [blank] day of [blank] A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty- 
Clerk of the Courts of Record and Court of Common Pleas in Lincoln County.
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William Oliver of Georgetown in the State of Maine aged seventy six years testify & say that I am well acquainted with John Crawford of Bath that he is about sixty nine years of age, that he was a soldier in the expedition fort by the American Government against Baggaduce in 1779 in Capt Curtis Company & served then during the campaign & returning with the American troops across the country to Kennebec River. I knew him well at the seige at Baggaduce & at Penobscot & in this return, being a soldier then & retreating with him 
Win Oliver 

Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid in Open Court. I further certify that the said Wm. Oliver is a credible person, & his statement is entitled to credit. 
J. Ruggles J CCP
Attest Nat. Coffin Clerk 

I David Lemont of Bath aged Seventy three years testify & say that I am acquainted with John Crawford of Bath who is aged sixty nine since that he served as a soldier in Captain James Lements company of Militia at Hunnewell Point was the retreat of Kennebec River six months in the year 1775 - I was a soldier & served with him in the same company - he served from May 1775 until November 1775 in this service. He also served as a soldier a Cox's Head by the mouth of the Kennebec River in the latter part of the year 1779 in a company commanded by Capt Benjamin Lemant.  I seen him & was in the same company. He served till the and of the year 1779 
David Lamont 

Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid & I certify that the said Lamont is a credible person & his statement is entitled credit. 
J Ruggles J CCP
in open Court Attest Nath Coffin Clerk Ruggles J C
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2693 John Crawford decd 20 

2462
See relinquishment Originally in duplicate

Nathl Groton Bath Main
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WAR DEPARTMENT. Pension Office, Oct 8 1843 

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 compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 

A Statement, shewing the Service of John Crawford

[table headings]Period when the Service was rendered. | Duration of the claimant's service. Years. Months. Days. | Rank of the claimant. | Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. | Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. | Proof by which the declaration is supported. 
[row 1]1775 | [blank] 5 [blank] | Pvt | Capt Lemant no col mentioned | 69 | Traditionary evidence & 3  witnesses none of who are certified to be credible
[row 2]1779 | [blank] 6 [blank] | " | Capt Combs Col Mitchell | [blank] | [blank]
[row 3]1781 | [blank] 6 [blank] | " | Capt Lamonts  | [blank] | [blank]
[row 4] 1782 | [blank] 18 [blank] | Seaman | Ship Covino Capt Hill  | [blank] | [blank]

Application must be made to the SEcy of the State of Mass for evidence of the claimant's service (satisfactory evidence must be produced to shew that the vessel on board of which he states to have served was a public armed vessel & not a private one) Not Complete with
I am, respectfully Your obedient servant, J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
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Dan John Crawford's application come up to the requirements in all respects 
1st He appears in open Court signs subsily & 
swears to his declaration 

2n He was born in the part of Georgetown now called Bath Oct 3, 1763 has a record of his age in an old journal or book 

3 He has lived in that part of Georgetown now Bath ever since he was born - 

4. He was always a volunteer & never
 a substitute --- 

5. Col. Mitchell Gen Lovell Jonathon Mitchell Capt 

6 No written Discharge

7 He states names of those who know him 

E D Bangs say certificate David Lamont Phillip Higgins witnesses John Crawford appeared in open Court & signs in duplicate, & relinguished claim to a pension
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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, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of considered a Court of Record. Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is DECLARATION. In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832. On this day of State, or County of of A. B. a resident (b) of aged (c) personally appeared (a) before in the county of and State, Territory or District 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 served in the June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) (e) regiment of the with and 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 officer the town or county and State in which resided when he entered the service; the battle, for which he was engaged sons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.] and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and per- He hereby relinquishes every claim ( whoever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he the Agency in the State of declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. And then will follow the certificate of the Court, A. B. tionary soldier, and served as he states. And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revoluof the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of & c. 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 hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be and C. D. residing in (the same) who has 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 days 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 contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. do hereby certify that the foregoing 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 serupon the transaction. vices of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light 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
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3 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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 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. {To a Soldie. 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 the 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 inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of existed upon the subject. required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge of a Court of Record of the before 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 gemine 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 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. 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. The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned. The declarant must mention the person or periods of the war when he served. very 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 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 to erect a head sertion by making an affidavit in the following words: appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason tively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his year months, andmonths and days, I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension. is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each 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 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 objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the articular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authat 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. The law makes the relinquishment indispensable. The opinion of the Court is always required. The Clerk must give his certificate in every case. The Clerk must affix his seal, and it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no puboffice , 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 conthe living, other paper 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. 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 thin 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 wit- , and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note applies to continental troops only. If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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2642

John Crawford

Rejected
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David Lemont
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State of Maine
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

Lincoln, ss 
I Nathaniel Coffin, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that Nathl Groton Esq. whose name is affixed to the annexed paper, as a Justice of the Peace is legally commissioned and duly qualified to act as such, and that the name so affixed is his own proper signature to me well known.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Please this 26th day of October A.D. 1832.
Nath. Coffin, Clerk
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I David Lamont of Bath in the County of Lincoln State of Maine, aged about seventy four years on oath declare that I well knew John Crawford of Bath who died some months since. In the year 1775 I knew him as a solder in the American service under Capt. James Lemont of Bath now deceased - at this time there was no regular regiment, the Captains were chosen at town meetings-- In this year 1775 John Crawford served from May till November at Hunnewells point on Kennebec river - I was a soldier at the same time, and was in the same company - his service that year was months and constant. In the year 1779. John Crawford was a soldier I understood at Bagadieu as I understood and after the defeat he Joined Capt. Benja Lemonts company at Cox head on Kennebec river which then was a fort & served there after he returned till the end of the year 1779 - 
This service was constant, and I was in the same company with him. It was from September till Jany four months 
David Lemont 

State of Maine County of Lincoln SS} Bath Oct. 18, 1833. 
Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in aforesaid County duly commissioned, & sworn, Daniel Lemont above named and made oath that the foregoing statement by him subscribed is true. I further certify that said Lemont is a man of worth  & entitled to full credit under oath Witness my hand the day & year [illegible]

Nath Groton Jus of Peace
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I Phillip Higgins of Bath in the State of Maine aged about seventy four years, on oath do testify and say, in addition to my former testimony that I well know John Crawford, of Bath who has now deceased. I believe he died some time in the Course of the last winter. if he were now living he would be about seventy years of age I know he served in the American army in the year 1779. I saw him as a soldier in Capt Curtis Company which was part of Col. Mitchell's regiment of Cumberland County as early as the month of May 1779. 
In June 1779. as I now believe John Crawford entered in the Penobscot expedition to Bagaduc, I was a soldier with him at Bagacuce, and came across the wilderness with him to Kennebec river, he arrived therein September, and immediately went on duty at Cox's head on Kennebec river, under Capt Benja Lemont, and served out the year 1779. according to the best of my recollection John Crawford served in the year 1779 - from May till January - making about seven months tho I cannot now recollect, whether said Crawford joined Capt Lemont at Cox's head, the day he arrived at Kennebec
Philip Higgins 

State of Maine County of Lincoln 
October 19 1833, 
Personally appeared Phillip Higgins, above named before me a Justice of the Peace in said County duly sworn and made oath that the foregoing statement by him signed is true. I further certify that said Higgins is a man of truth & veracity & entitled to full credit on oath 
Witness my hand the day & year aforesaid Nattel Groton Justice of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Secretary's Office, November 4th 1833 

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 John Crawford, as a private, is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Nehemiah Curtis Company in Col. Jonathan Mitchels Regt. where he is allowed from July 7th to Septr 25th 1779, two months and eighteen days. 

John Crawford claims for services under Capt. Benj Lemont, in 1779 and 1789, the rolls of which are found in part for '79 & '81, but the name of John Crawford is not borne on them Edward D Bangs Secy
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E D Bangs
Certificate
John Crawford
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Secretary's Office, November 4th 1833 
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 John Crawford, as a private, is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt Nehemiah Curtis Company in Col. Jonathan Mitchels Regt. where he is allowed from July 7th to Sept. 25th 1779, two months and eighteen days. John Crawford claims for services under Capt. Benj Lemont, in 1779 and 1781, the rolls of which are found in part for '79 & '81, but the name of John Crawford is not borne on them 
Edward D Bangs Secy