Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1198, Delius Briggs, Mass.
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Mass.   Briggs, Delius   R. 1198   nc

Widow Rhoda[?]
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Certificate
death of 
Delius Briggs
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State of Vermont Orleans district SS

I John Kimball Judge of the Probate Court within and for the district of Orleans do hereby certify that it has been satisfactorily proved to said Court that Delius Briggs late of Derby in said district (who made his declaration before said Court on the 16 day of August 1832 for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7th day of June 1832), died on the 22d day of July last and that Rhoda Briggs of said Derby is his Lawful Widow - 

In Witness whereof I have here unto affixed the seal of said Court and subscribed my name at Barton in said district this 23d day of December A.D. 1833- 

John Kimball Judge
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21 
Delius Briggs 
Declaration for Pension- 
Thatcher Redfield Atty and agent 
Duly H. 76 74
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State of Vermont Orleans District SS
Duly in said district of Orleans on this 16th day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared Delius Briggs who is a resident of said Duly and aged Eighty three years in open court before the Honourable Probate Court in and for said County & District of Oxford, who being first duly Sworn 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as hereafter stated.

that during the whole term of the war of the revolution his residence was in the town of Rehoboth in the County of Bristol in the State of Massachusetts that in the year 1775 he enlisted and was enrolled in the service called the minute service and continued able to said serve during the war during the time that the enemy home in the New England States he was frequently called into service and for that part of time my according to his best recollection Eighteen months when he was not in actual service he was required to and did drill about the number of thirty of these minute men. Every Tuesday & Friday in the afternoon two half days in every week, 

that enlisted and entered the regular service at the town of Roxbury in the State of Massachusetts in the year 1775, under [inserted: In Capt Whites Company, in Col Len's Regt] an enlistment for the time of eight months at which last mentioned place and Dorchester Second & then he with he continued in actual service until until the expiration of Eight months. During that time the enemy would frequently be fourth hotly out upon the neck and fire upon us and we would return the fire. After the expiration of his term of service he was regularly discharged and returned home to his "Minute service", but did not nor did any one at that time have a written discharge. He further declares in manner aforesaid that he again of
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about the time the Enemy evacuated to Boston he entered the same be requisition as he was informed, he believes of Genl Washington for a short expedition of it was called, And marched on to Dorchester Hill in the State of Massachusetts and continued stationed on said Hill until the my enemy encircled the town of Boston being between there and [inserted: under Francis Liscomb Capt can't member the Regt.] would died never four weeks. 

After  this he again returned to his minute service as afore said. When the enemy come round to Rhode Island he again entitled for the term of six months and marched to the town of Freetown in said County of Bristol; when and at Tivertown watching the movements of the enemy he continued until be passed on to the Island on which Newport is and come to an engagement with the enemy in which battle he was himself a part, and drove the many back into the Town & Gen'l Sullivans  retreated to Howlands Ferry where he continued until he was discharged by a written discharge, which he has since lost not supposing it could ever or of any benefit 

At Roxbury he served in the company commanded by Samuel Bliss in the regiment commanded by Colonel Lane, for the four weeks term aforesaid he served in Captain Thomas Liscum's Company in the same regiment as before he thinks. 

For the Six months time above set forth he served in Captain Israel Hix or Hick's company Colonel Thomas Carpenters regiment. At the Burning Bristol & Horner Rhode Island be was called out as a minute man & marched and served under Colonel Boston and different Captains at which time he served for the time of three weeks. After this he was discharged & returned to his minute service continued liable that during the war and also was registered to  and did perform drill Service every week of aforesaid. when not in actual service and not expectedly called.
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out to force the every or the Indians frequently three or four time a with pistol the property used of the inhabitants and he herby relinquishes all claim to a pension annuity except the present  and declares that his name is not on the pension list of the roll of any agency of any State 
Delius Briggs

We Orange Baller residing of Derby Orleans County Vermont and Zacheus Beebe residing in Stanstead same county do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Delius Briggs who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be eighty three years of age. That he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Subscribed and sworn in the day & year aforesaid - 
Orange Ball 
Zacheus Beebe Jr

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 Grange Ball and Zacheus Beebe who have  signed the preceding certificate reside in Derby and Stanstead aforesaid and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
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I John H.. Kimball Register of the Probate Court for the District of Orleans aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing three pages contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Delius Briggs for a pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 16th day of August 1832 
John H. Kimball Register
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1198
EJECTED
P.O Delius Briggs

Service: Enlisted: discharged: pplication filed: lleges: e-enlisted
tourney:
O.

 Recognized. Contract
Cert of Dis. Searched for ___, 18
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No. 76742
Vermont
Rerol
Delius Briggs
Suspended
See let. 12 February 1834
------
Hon B F Deming, March 14 1834

Act 1834
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Delius Briggs
7674

deferred
rejected
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Delius Briggs which require further proof or explanation. 
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? 
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? . 
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? 
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? no
V. *Has he mentioned 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 amout of pension he is entitled? No See quer 5 
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? no
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? 
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? 
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? No 
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
 No XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? no 
XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? 
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? 
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And if not, which of them is not so answered? no

EXPLANATORY NOTES. QUERE V. 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: Foryear months, and days, I served as a -. For - months days, I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension.
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It 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 three or four months is too indefinite , and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state 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 objection able. It must in every case be clearly shewn 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. 
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In 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 claimants 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 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. 
QUERE XVI. 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 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. In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Secretary's Office, August 29, 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 Delius Briggs, as a Private, is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt Israel Hicks Company in Col Thomas Carpenter's Regiment, on an Alarm to Tiverton, by order of the Council of the State of Massachusetts Bay of the 22d of July, 1780, having entered August 1, and leaving service August 8, 1780, where he is allowed eight days service. 

The said Delius Briggs claims for eight months service, in 1775, under Capt. Samuel Bliss; and for four weeks service, in 1775, under Capt. Francis Liscum;-- as also for six months service, in 1775 and 1776, under Capt Israel Hicks.-- The several Rolls giving evidence of such service in his behalf are not found in this office.
Edward D. Bangs Esq
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Secretary's Office, Feby 28th 1834 

I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the rolls of Capt. Liscomb's Company, and Capt Bliss Company, as described by Delives Briggs who claims for services under the above named, in 1775, are not found in this Office 
Edward D Bangs Secy
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I Gains Peck of Lyndon in the county Caledonia & State of Vermont of lawfull age depose and say, that I was personally acquainted with Lewis Briggs late of Derby in the County of Orleans and State aforesaid deceased, I became acquainted with said Brigs, at Rehoboth in the State of Massachusetts where we attended the same school. In the year 1775 said Brigs, at Lexington, enlisted as one of the State militia men, for the term of six months, and said Brigs in pursuance of said enlistment served seven months, under Col. Francis, and in Capt. Hodges Company in which Company I belonged. We were there discharged at a place called Nantaskett in the State of Massachusetts. After our discharge as aforesaid. I saw no more of said Brigs, until I saw him at West point, two and a half years after our discharge at Nantaskett. I then & there learnt from said Brigs, that he had been in the service the whole time since I had last seen him at Nantaskett 
Gaius Peck 
"west & was interlined before signing 

State of Vermont Caledonia County SS

Lyndon Dec, 21st 1833 personally appeared Gains Peck and made solemn oath, that the deposition by him above subscribed contains the truth and nothing but truth 
Before me George C. Cahoon Justice Peace 

State of Vermont I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with Gains Peck the signer of the above deosition , and that he maintains a fair characater for truth & veracity 
George C. Cahoon Justice Peace