Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,660, James Bradford, Mass.
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SERVICE 
Massachusetts 
Bradford, James 
NUMBER S.29,660
CONTENTS
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5076
Massachusetts
James Bradford
Of Plymouth in the State of Massachusetts
who was a Corporal in the company commanded
by Captain Fish of the Regiment commanded
by Colonel Cotton in the Massachusetts
line for 3 May 21 Days as  Corporal
4 May 21 days private
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 26 Dollars 00 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2nd day of February
1833
H.Loud Plymouth Massachusetts
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832
$40.35
Semi-annual. allowance ending 4 March [18]33
13.45
$53.80
Recorded by JHP Blair Clerk
Book D.
Vol. 2nd
Page 96
⎨ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
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James Bradford 5643
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REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH, SS.
On this twenty first day of August 1832 personally appeared
in open Court, before Honorable Wilkes Wood Judge of the Court of Probate
now sitting at Kingston
within
and for said County of Plymouth, James Bradford
resident of Kingston
in said County of Plymouth, and Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, aged Eighty three
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 act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. 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. That is to say, that
he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and
served as herein stated.
That he served in the Revolutionary War in the
full of the year 1775 three months in Captain Adam
Fishes Company Colonel Cottons Regiment. Captain Fish
belonged to Duxbury in the County of Plymouth.
said Regiment was stationed at Roxbury near Boston
He was in no battle and has no written discharge. This was
in Massachusetts line, Zenas Bryant then and now of
Plympton in said County is the only person within his
recollection who is now living who belonged to Captain
Fishers Company, his Deposition he has obtained
In the fall of the year 1777 he served a short
Campaign in Captain Thomas Simpsons Company
Robert Cook first Lieutenant, Colonel Cottons Regiment
He was a Sergeant, did duty thirty days was
discharged and returned home. He was in no battle
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was stationed at a place called Tivertown
Peleg Sampson is the only person whom he
knows to be living who served with him in
Said Company .his Deposition he has obtained.
That on a call for men in the year 1777
or 1778 he does not recollect which he with
Elkanah Cook and others volunteered for three
months were marched to Rhode Island and
Commanded by Captain Ebenezer Washburn
He doesnt recollect any of the field officers of his
Regiment- he acted in this campaign as corporal.That in the year 1777 on an alarm nearly all of the whole of Captain Washburn’s company were marched
to Rhode Island he being one of them and was
absent on said island two or three weeks he cannot
now ppsitively say which at the end of which time
his company were discharged and each returned home.
Elkanah Cook is his Townsman and near neighbour
his deposition touching the two last mentioned Campaigns 
he has obtained.
He was born in the Town of Kingston in the
year 1749, His Birth is Recorded in the Records
of the town of Kingston in said Plymouth County.
from his Birth he has been a resident of said Town of
Kingston
James Bradford
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Attest Jacob H. Loud Register
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We, Zephaniah Willis
a clergyman, residing in the
town of Kingston
and John Thomas Esquire
residing in the same town
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted
with James Bradford, who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration; that we believe him to be
him to be eighty three years of age; that he is
reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of
the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Zephaniah Willis
John Thomas
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Attest Jacob H. Loud Register
.
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 Zephaniah Willis
who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of
Kingston and that John Thomas who 
also signed the same, is a resident in the same town and is a credible
person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Attest Jacob H. Loud Register
I Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court
in the matter of the application of James Bradford
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of
office, this
twenty first
day of August in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Jacob H. Loud
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James Bradford 
5643 
Corporal 3 months 21 day 
Private 4 months
7 21 
Admitted 
$26.90 
Jacob H. Loud Plymouth  Massachusetts
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Brief in the case of James Bradford
of Plymouth in the State of Massachusetts
(Act 7th June, 1832)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 83 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[Table of four columns, headings:]
Period || Duration of Service. || Rank. || Names of General and Field Officers under. 78
In 1775 || 3 months || as a private || Captain Adam Fish, Colonel Cotton.
In 1777 ||1 month ||as a private || Captain Sampson, Colonel Cotton.
In 1778 ||3 months || as a corporal || Captain E. Washburn
In 1778 || 21 days || as a corporal || Captain E.Washburn.
5. In what battles was he engaged? None
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Plymouth
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary Evidence, Living
Witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Defective time of last service not defined-
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
mentioned.
Examining Clerk.
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[three columns]
[left column]

To Mr.
Central

[middle column]
29660
Revolutionary INVALID
James Bradford
Corporal Revolutionary War
Act: June 7" [18]39”
Index: - Volume 2, Page 53
Arrangement of 1870.]
May 11, 1897. History
H. R. H. Bradford, 108
st. Somerville Mass
(see Inv. 42.099)

[right column]
May 11, 1897 History HRH Bradford, 108th Street Somerville Massachusetts (see [illegible] 42.099)
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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
James Bradford Plymouth County Massachusetts which require
further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
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? Yes.
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 amount of pension
he is entitled?
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes.
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes.
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes.
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
from any other seal? Yes
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2
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? Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain
ing it?-
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?-
XIV. +If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who
administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Yes.
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under
his seal of office? Yes.
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? Yes.
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes.
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
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: For___year___months and___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 the 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.
QUERE XIV. 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 claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as
the regiment, company, and line to which be 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.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end 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.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County S.S.
August 8th 1832 Then personally appeared
the within named Zenas Bryant before the subscribed and made
oath that the within Deposition by him subscribed is true
Zenas Bryant Jr Justice of the Peace
---
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth Ss I Jacob H Loud Register of the Court of Probate
for the County of Plymouth being a Court of Record hereby certify
that Zenas Bryant, Jr. Esquire before whom the within affidavit
was made is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Plymouth
and that I believe his name above subscribed to be his true 
and proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and the seal of said Court this twenty
first day of August in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Jacob H. Loud
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Thomas Bryant of Plympton in the County of Plymouth ┃
and State of Massachusetts of the age of eighty years do testify
and say that I was in the war of the American Revolution and ┃
was at Roxbury in the fall of the year 1775 in Captain Adam
Fish's Company, Colonel Cottons Regiment three months as a drummer, I further testify and say I knew James Bradford of Kingston
in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts who was in
in the above described campaign three months
Said Bradford now and always has resided in Kingston
Zenas Bryant
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I Peleg Sampson of Plympton in the County of
Plymouth and State of Massachusetts aged
Seventy Eight years testify and say that I well know
James Bradford of Kingston in said County
and Commonwealth, that I was in the revolutionary
war with said James Bradford
in the year 1777 and served thirty days with
said James Bradford in the Company commanded by
Captain Thomas Sampson and Lieutenant  Robert Cook- said James Bradford served in the Capacity of Sergeant in
Company belonged to Colonel___ Regiment and was
out in what was called the Private Expedition to Rhode Island.
we were quartered at Tivertown
in said Rhode Island at the end of said thirty days the
Company of Captain Sampson were Discharged and returned
home in different parts of said County. Captain Sampson
belonged to said Plympton and Lieutenant Cook to the town of
Kingston in said County.
Peleg Sampson
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County ss
August 15th 1832 This day
personally appeared before me Peleg Sampson
and made oath to the truth of within Deposition
by him subscribed.
and I certify that from
his general appearance and consistent conversation
he appears to be a man of truth and veracity
Eli Cook Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Loud Register of the Court of Probate
for the County of Plymouth being a Court of Record hereby certify that Eli Cook Esquire before whom the depositions by me annexed were taken is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Plymouth and that his name to the certificate thereon are true
And genuine signatures
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and the seal of said Court this twenty first day of August in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Jacob H. Loud
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Elkanah Cook of Kingston in the County of
Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts
aged seventy three years Testify and say that I well
Know James Bradford of Kingston in said County
who is now an applicant for a Pension. That I
served in the Revolutionary War in the year 1777 or
the year 1778, I cannot recollect which, on Rhode Island
in the State of Rhode Island and will recollect that
said James Bradford was a Corporal in the Company
to which I belonged which was commanded by Captain
Ebenezer Washburn and Ezekiel Loring Ensign, said
Bradford and myself were both volunteers from said
Town of Kingston and both served three months and were
Discharged and returned home in company with each other
and both of us still live in town of Kingston
I further certify that I was with said Bradford under
Washburn to Rhode Island on an alarm in 1777 or 1778 and was absent two or three weeks cannot certainly
tell which
Elkanah Cook
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts

County of Plymouth ss. August 18. 1832
This day personally appeared Elkanah Cook before
me and made oath to the truth of the within Deposition by him subscribed.
and I certify that I am well acquainted with said Cook and that he is considered and reputed a man of truth and veracity
Eli Cook, Justice of the Peace