Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 34888, Aaron Francis, Mass.
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SERVICE Mass.
Francis, Aaron
NUMBER S.34888

CONTENTS
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550
Massachusetts Roll
Aaron Francis
Col. Tupper    4
Lieutenant 
Mass line 1781  3 years
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of Twenty Dollars per month, to commence on
the 6th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 13th of May 1818 and sent to Hon. Samuel Putnam
Salem Mass
Arrearages to 4 Sept 1818
4 months 29/30
$99.33
{Revolutionary claims,
Act 18th March, 1818,}
Oct 17. 1825
[illegible]
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Notification sent Oct. 18. 1820
Tucker Salem Mass
[written vertically left margin] [illegible[ D. P. King 1846
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Sent to Hon D.P. King
1846 [illegible]
[written vertically right margin] [illegible]
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Declaration of Lieut Aaron Francis
[illegible]
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The Declaration of Aaron Francis of Beverly in the County of Essex, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, housewright
The said Aaron Francis upon Oath declares that he was commissioned as a Lieutenant, in the tenth
Massachusetts Regiment, in the army of the United States to take rank as such on the 28th day of
March 1779. which said Commission was signed by his Excellency Samuel Huntingdon President of the
Congress of the United States of America at Philadelphia on the 18th day of May 1781. that he served in said Company as a Lieutenant until the sixteenth day of April AD 1782 when he was honorably discharged by his Excellency the Commander in chief - which commission and the discharge endorsed is hereunto annexed. That he is sixty seven years of age, and is very lame and infirm, and from his reduced circumstances in life stands in need of assistance
from his country for support that he
hereby relinquishes all his claim to any pension heretofore allowed him by the laws of the United States 
Aaron Francis
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss. on this sixth day of April AD 1818, personally came before me Samuel Putnam Esquire one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of said
Commonwealth the said Aaron Francis and subscribed and made oath to aforewritten Declaration by him made and it appearing to my satisfaction that the said Aaron Francis served more than nine months at one period of the War of the Revolution on the Continental establishment against the Common Enemy
I hereby certify the testimony in the case to the rear of the Department War
Given under my hand and the seal of said
Court at Salem this sixth day of that AD 1818
S Putnam Just
[illegible]
Court
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Essex ss.
I Ichabod Tucker Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court aforesaid do certify
that Hon'b Samuel Putnam is a Judge of
said Court that the above signature is his
proper hand and that the seal hereto affixed
is the seal of said Court
[illegible] Ichabod Tucker
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Aaron Francis
May 1818
[illegible] 25 [illegible] 
1820
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex s.s.

At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit, began and holden at Salem, within and for the County of Essex, on the third Monday of June, A.D. 1820
Present, Hon. Samuel Dana, Chief Justice
Hon. William Wetmore, and
Hon. Stephen Minot Associate Justices

In open here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Aaron Francis, resident in Beverly, in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 550 now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit, 

"War Department, Revolutionary Claim
 I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March 1818, Aaron Francis, late a Lieutenant, in the Army of the Revolution as inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency at the rate of twenty dollars  per month, to commence on the 10th day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
Given at the War of Office of the United States, this 15th day of May, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.

J.C. Calhoun, Secretary of War

appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows to wit,
Schedule,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
Real Estate none 
Income nothing
Personal Estate
one old case of drawers made in 1773 $5.00
gold chains made in the same years at 10 cents. $0.80
2 old tables of $1.00, a light stand 30 ct. $1.30
1 fire shovel and tongs, 30 cents, 1 chest $1.00  1.30
2 iron pots, $ 1.00, kettle 30 cents  1.30
1 water pail, 15 cents, 1 small tin pail 20 cents
35 cents
1 iron spider, 30 cents, 8 old knives and forks, 40 cents, 70 cents
2 pewter platters, 30 cents, a dozen plates, 60 cents - 1.10
1 coffee pot, 25 cents, 1 teapot, 50 cents - 75 cents
3 old pictures, $1.00, total case 25 cents - 1.25
1 Grindstone, 50 cents, 1 wood axe 30 cents - 80 cents
some housewright tools $10.00 - 10.00
one picture of General Washington 1.00

23.85
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said Francis is now in the 70th year of his age, was a housewright by occupation, is very lame and wholly unable to support his family, which consists of himself a daughter and one granddaughter who is very young
has been unable to work at his trade for a number of years
term of service in April 1775 - 19th day went to Lexington fight enlisted in a company commanded by my brother Ebenezer Francis in Col. Mansfield's Regiment for 8 months, Jan'y 1776
enlisted in Capt. Billy Porter's Company in Col. Hutchinson's
Regt for one year was in the retreat thro the Jerseys + was in at the capture of the Hessians at Trenton, in Jan'y 1777
was appointed a quartermaster in Col. Francis' Regiment went to Ticonderoga was in the retreat to Saratoga and in all the battles till Burgoyne was taken, marched to
Valley Forge for winter quarters, when the enemy left Philadelphia was ordered to march and was in the battle at Monmouth, my brother Col. Francis was killed in the
retreat from Ticonderoga and Col Benj Tupper had the command, when I was appointed a Lieutenant + specified in my commission which is at the War office
In April 1782 I returned from the army, after serving
my country seven years-
Aaron Francis
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and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Wm. Wetmore, a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit, 
I, Aaron Francis, do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war" passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have i any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.  So help me God.

Aaron Francis

Essex, ss. C.C.C.P June Term AD 1820

Then the abovenamed Aaron Francis took and subscribed the aforewritten Oath before me
Wm. Wetmore, Judge of said Court,.
I, Ichabod Tucker, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the records of the said Court, and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is twenty five dollars eighty five cents

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Salem, in said County of Essex, on this 17th day of July 1820 AD
Attr
Ichabod Tucker 
Clerk
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Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
S. 34888
Washington, DC November 1920

In reply to your request  of , for the history of Aaron Francis, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, the following is taken from the Act claim for pension.

Date of Enlistment or Appointment 
Length of Service
Rank 
Officers Under whom Service was Rendered
Captain, Colonel
State

Apr 19, 1775   8 months  Pvt.  Ebenezer Francis Mansfield Mass
Jan. 1776  1 year   Billy Porter     Hutchinson  
Jun. 1777 to March 28, 1777 Ebenezer Francis Benjamin Tupper 
Mar. 28, 1779 to April 16, 1782   Lieut.  Benjamin Tupper

Battles engaged in, Trenton, New York, Stillwater, Monmouth
Residence of soldier at enlistment
Date of application for pension Apr 6, 1818
Residence at date of application  Beverly Essex
Age at date of application, 67 years. He dided Oct. 17 1825
Remarks:  a daughter and granddaughter were referred to and in 1846, his children were referred to, their names and that of his wife are not stated.
Soldier's brother Ebenezer Francis above noted was killed in the retreat from Ticonderoga. 

Respectfully,
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34888
1776
INVALID
File No. 34,888
Aaron Francis
Lieut Rev War
Act: 18 Marh 18
Index: - Vol. D, Page 143
[in brackets] 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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1922, Nov. 10 hist to Howard J. Banker (En)  Letter in S. 34885 - 
Thomas Francis
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The United States of America, In Congress Assembled

For Aaron Francis, Gentleman, Greetings We Reposing especial trust and confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO by these permits constitute and appoint you to a Lieutenant in the tenth Massachusetts Regiment.
in the army of the United States to take rank at such from the 28th day of March 1780.  You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Lieutenant by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging.  And  we directly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your command to be obedient to your orders, as Lieutenant.  And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions from which you shall receive, or a a person Congress of the United States, or Commander of Congress for that purpose appointed, a Committee of the States, or Commander in Chief for the time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your Superior  Officer according to the rules and discipline of War, in pursuance of the trust reposed on you.  This (illegible) until revoked by this or a future Congress, the Committee of Congress beforementioned, or a (illegible) of the States.

Witness his Excellency Samuel Huntingon, President of the Congress of the United States of America at Philadelphia, the 18th day day of May 1781, and in the fifth year of our Independence.
Samuel Huntington, President
Entered in the War Office
and examined by the Board
Attest Joseph Carleton Secretary of the Board of War

34888
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This certifies that the within lease Aaron Francis having produced, the requisite certificate of (illegible) to resign his commission, he is, on consideration of the reasons offered, permitted to resign and he is duly discharged from the service of the Unites States.
By His Excellency and Command
John Trumbull 

16th April 1782
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House of Reps.
Washington, DC Feb. 20 1846

Sir:

I am desired by the children of Lieut.  Aaron Francis of the Rev. Army to inquire of you whether any commendation pay or bounty land or arrears of pension is due them on his account:  said Lieut. Aaron Francis served in Capt. Ebenzer Francis' company in col. Mansfield's Regt. and was a pensioner until he died in 1818.  

I have the honor to be 
Your Obedient Servant
Daniel P King

Col James L. Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions
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Bounty Land Warrant Card

Francis, Alexander  Grade Private Line Maryland

Warrant Number 11206
Issued June 11, 1790
to Alexander Francis
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Bounty Land Warrant Card
Francis, Charles Grade Private Line Massachusetts


Warrant Number 4170   
Issued Mar. 10, 1795
to Sampson Crosby