Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14,988, Silas Brown, Continental (Mass.)
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SERVICE 
Continental (Mass) Brown, SIlas Number s14988 carded 
Contents
A. Nov 5 1764 Blandford, Berkshire, & Mass there at enl.
In 1832 res. Hebron, Washington Co. NY
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1992
New York
Silas Brown
of Hebron in the State of New York who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain John Bryant of the commanded by the in the Massachusetts line for 8 months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence of the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of October 1832 and Set to C Stevens 
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832  $39.99
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33 13.33
$53.32
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Geo. C. Stiles Clerk,
Book D Vol 5 Page 69
(Written on side of page)
In let to Ezra Ames Esq May 27 1835
"   "    "  ?-------             "      "     "
"   "     "  John M Donald  Aug 12 "
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8365
In the matter of Silas Brown, of the County of Washington State of New York an applicant for a Pension
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State of New York
Washington County On this 29th day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in Open Court before the Court of Common Pleas, no sitting at the Court house in the town of Salem in the County of Washington in said State of New York, Silas Brown a resident of the town of Hebron in the County of Washington aforesaid in the said State of New York aged seventy years nine months and twenty six days who being first duly sworn according to the law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated.  That in the month of May in the year 1780 he was drafted and went from the town of Blanford in the County of Berkshire in the State of Massachusetts, when this deponent there resided, to the town of Springfield in said State of Massachusetts, where he was stationed/ served for the term of eight month, in a Company Commanded by Captain John Bryant.  That the said Company in which this deponent served as aforesaid , was stationed at the said town of Springfileld to guard the Publick Stores of the United States at that place.  That the said John Bryant, the Captain who Commanded his Company, had lost and arm, and is now dead as this deponent is informed/ believed-
And this deponent further saith that he does not know of any person, now living who served with him or by whom he can prove said service_ To the question where in what year were you born? This deponent answered that he was born in the town of Brandford in the State of Massachusetts on the 2nd day of Nov 1761 at this deponent verify believed.
To the question, have you record of your age and if so where is it- this deponent answered that he had my word of his age.
TO the question where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?  This deponent answered , that he lived in Blandford in the State of Massachusetts when he was drafted as herein before mentioned.  That after this deponent had served for the term of eight months as aforesaid at Springfield, he returned to the said town of Blandford.  That the next year after this deponent returned to Blanford as he removed from
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that place to the town of Salem in the County of Washington in the State of New York, where he resided about twelve years, and there went to Hebron in said County of Washington and State of New York to where he had since resided and does still reside.
To the question, How was you called into service?  Were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?  This deponent answers that he was drafted as herein before stated. 
To the question or requirement state the name of some of the regular officers, who were the troops where you served, such Continental and Militia regiments as you can recollect and the general Circumstances of your service- This deponent answers that he cannnot state the same more fully than he had down. 
TO the question did you ever receive a discharge from the Service, and if so, by whom was it given and what had become of it? This deponent answers that he never received any discharge.
And this deponent further saith, that John McDonald and Alexander Proudfit live in the neighborhood of this deponent and can and will as the deponent believes, testify to the character of this deponent for veracity and this belief of his service as a Soldier of the Revolution.
And this deponent hereby relinquished every Claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the ? and? that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any State
Swore to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
J.S. Sleigh 
Silas Brown
His mark
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We Alexander Proudfit residing in the Village of Salem and John McDonald, member of the house of Assembly of the State of New York residing in the town of Hebron in the County of Washington and State of New York hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Silas Brown who had subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be in the seventy first year of his age, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resided to have been a soldier in the Revolution and we concur in that opinion and we also certify that the character of the said Silas Brown for truth and veracity is good --
Sworn and Subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid
[signed] J.S. Leigh CR[signed] Alex Proudfit
[signed] John McDonald

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the war department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he stated; and the court further certifies, that it appears to them, that Alexander Proudfit, who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Village of Salem and that John McDonald, who has also signed said certificate is a resident in the town of Hebron in said County of Washington and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I Jesse S. Leigh, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Washington in the State of New York do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Silas Brown for a pension--
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 29th day of August 1832
[signed] J.S. Leigh CLK
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No 83115
Silas Brown 
admitted 8 mon
$26.66
C Stevens
Salem
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No 8365
BRIEF in the case of Silas Brown of Hebron County of Washington in the State of New York 
(Act 7 June , 1832)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or Judge?  Before a court 
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he?  Seventy years 70
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period                      Duration of Service 
Was drafted in May 1780    8 months 
Rank
As a private
Names of General or Field Officers under whom he served. 
Capt John Bryant commander no other officer named 
5. In what battles was he engaged?
Not any 
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  
Blankford Mass.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evident, by incidental evident, or by the rolls?  
He is tradition is supported by the belief on oath  of a Clergyman and another expectable citizen of the same town whose credibility is verified by the court.  
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
No (?)
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
Chas G Wilson , Examining Clerk
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14988
INVALID
file No 14988
Silas Brown 
Priv. Rev. Was 
Act June 7, 1832
Index - vol 1 page 48
Arrangement of 1870.
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M
John Mc Donald Esq. 
Salem
Washington County
N. Y.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office, June 30th, 1835.
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 Silas Brown, as a private is borne on the pay rolls of Capt. John Carpenters Company of Guards, stationed at Springfield, where he is allowed from June 19th, 1780 to Feb. 20th, 1781, eight months
m.d.
8-0
G
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Recd Aug 11, '35
Silas Brown
JS Edwards Esq 
Pension Office 
Washington
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Salem (Washington County NY)
6 August 1835
Sir,
A few weeks since Silas Brown of Hebron in this county was informed by a letter from your office that the payment of his pension was suspended and that you had no evidence of his service in the company of Guards at Springfield — referring him at the same time to the [illegible] of Massachusetts for the needful proof. The ill health of Mr. Brown made it necessary for him to use the gratuitous agency of a friend and I accordingly wrote to the Secretary in his behalf and have just received the enclosed — 
Is this certificate what you want? If it is, please advise me — if not you will of course return it — Stating the defect — and every reasonable exertion shall be made to provide the proof necessary to restore the pension to an honest old man who is likely to need it but a short time

I am Sir 
Yours [illegible illegible]
John McDonald