Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14940, John R Beckman, Mass. N.H.
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SERVICE  Mass  N.H.

Beckman, John R.

NUMBER  S.14940

carded
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New Hampshire
John R. Beckman
of Seabrook in the State of N.H. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain [blank] of the Regt commanded by Col Wingater in the N H* line for 8 Mos
* N.H. and Mass.
Records completed Jany 31/07 JS.

Inscribed on the Roll of N H at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of Dec 1832 and sent Peter Chadwick Exeter N H

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1832 - - - -  - $39.99
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar '34 - - 13.33
[total] $53.32

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by I H McBlair Clerk
Book D  Vol.1st  Page144.

[right side] June 21 / 91 to H. Beckman Copy made  MCG
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State of New-Hampshire
County of Rockingham, ss.
ON this fifteenth day of August 1832 personally appeared, in open Court, before the Justices of the Superior Court of Judicature now sitting at Exeter in said County John R. Beckman a resident of Seabrook in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, aged Eighty  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 June 7, 1832.  
That he entered the service of the United States under the following Officers and served as herein stated. That in the year 1776 some time, in the month of July he enlisted in the Newhampshire Militia at Seabrook in said State for the term of five months in the company commanded by Captain Samuel Nay.  Caleb Tilton Lieutenant and Duelley Sanborn Ensign.  the Regiment was commanded by Col. Wingate and Lieut Col. Conner he does not recollect the names of the other officers, [illegible] to Charleston in the State of Newhampshire and from thence to Shanesborough on Lake Champlain, from thence to Ticonderoga, and was stationed at Mount Independence untill the expiration of the term of his enlistment where he was discharged.
That he enlisted at Newburyport in the Masssachusetts Militia for three months in the year 1780 under- Capt. Stephen Jenkins Lieutenant Thomas Arnold - does not recollect the names of the other officers and marched to Albany State of New York and from thence down the River about twelve miles to a place, he does not recollect the name where [he] was stationed untill the expiration of his term of his enlistment and was there discharged- and that at the time of his aforesaid enlistments and entering into the service, he resided in Seabrook in the County of Rockingham and State of Newhampshire and has ever since and does not live in said Seabrook, and that he never received any written document when he was discharged from the service as aforesaid
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State. 
John R Beckman  X his mark
Witness [signed] P Chadwick
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[signed] Albert Chadwick Clerk
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states

I  Peter Chadwick Clerk of the Superior Court for the County of Rockingham in the State of New Hampshire do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John R. Beckman for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this fifteenth day of August Anno Domini 1832
[signed] P. Chadwick Clerk of the Court Rocking[ham] County

[along left edge]
Jno R. Beckman Sworn
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7003
Jno R. Beckman

John R Beckman
W.C.E.

Private
8 months
$26.66

P. Chadwick Esq
Exeter N.H.
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7003
BRIEF in the case of John R. Beckman of Seabrook, Rockingham Co in the State of N.H. 
(Act 7th June, 1832.) 

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? A Court 

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily injury? [blank] 

3. How old is he? 80 

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
July 1776 - *5 months - private - Capt May Col Wingate 
1780 - 3 months - private - Capt Jenkins
* on roll of same

5. In what battles was he engaged?  none mentioned

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Seabrook NH

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  2 Living witnesses 

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and, if so, how?  right

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case
[signed] W.C.Easton  Examining Clerk.
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
May 3, 1927
Frank A. Maury? or Manny?
136 Hemenway St.,
Boston, Mass.
Sir:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 14940 it appears that John R. Beckman while a resident of Seabrook, Rockingham County, New Hampshire enlisted in July 1775 and served five months as a private in Captain Samuel Nay's Company, Colonel Wingate's New Hampshire Regiment.
He enlisted at Newburyport, Massachusetts (his residence still Seabrook) and served three months as a private in Captain Stephen Jenkins' Company, Colonel Gerrish's Massachusetts Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 15, 1832 while a resident of Seabrook, New Hampshire, where he had lived ever since the Revolution, aged eighty years. The names of his parents and date of his birth not stated, and there is no data on file as to his family,
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.

Date of death
Not on A.B_
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7003
John R Beckman


[illegible]

[along right edge]
[?  ?]  in County
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I Samuel George of Seabrook County of Rockingham and State of Newhampshire, aged Seventy five years on oath testify and declare that I am personally acquainted with John R. Beckman of Said Seabrook. and I do know that the said John R. Beckman did enlist in the Militia of Massachusetts at Newburyport in the year 1780 for the term of three months in the company of Capt Stephen Jenkins.  And I enlisted at the same time for the same term and served in the same company, from thence we marched to Albany in the State of New York from thence we marched about twelve miles down the River I do not recollect the name of the place were [where] we were stationed until the expiration of the term of our enlistment where we were both discharged at the same time
And I do further testify that I have this day seen and conversed with the said John R. Beckman and know him to be the same John R Beckman above named.
Dated at Seabrook the 31 day of July 1832
[signed] Samuel George

Rockingham ss July 31st 1832
Then the above named Samuel George personally appeared and made oath in due form of law that the above testimony by him subscribed is true
before me [signed] John Philbrick Jus. Peace quorum [?]

And at the same time and place I certify that the above named Samuel George is a credible witness
[signed] John Philbrick Jus. Peace Quorum [?]
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I Sylvenus Eaton of Seabrook County of Rockingham and State of Newhampshire, Aged Seventy Six years, on oath testify and declare, that I am personally acquainted with John R. Beckman of said Seabrook.  And I do know that the said John R. Beckman did enlist in the Militia of Massachusetts at Newburyport in the year 1780 for the term of three months in the Company of Capt Stephen Jenkins.  And I enlisted in the same Company for the same term of time. From Newburyport we marched to Albany in the State of New York, from thence we marched down the River to Greenbush were [where] we were stationed untill the expiration of the term of our enlistment, where we were both discharged at the same time.  Col.__Gerrish commanded the Regiment to which we belonged.--
And I do further testify that I have this day seen and conversed with the said John R. Beckman, and know him to be the same John R Beckman above named
Dated at Seabrook the first day of August 1832
Sylvenus Eaton X his mark
Witness [signed] John Philbrick

Rockingham ss.
August 1st 1832
Then the above named Sylvenus Eaton personally appeared and made oath in due form of law that the above written testimony by him subscribed is true
before me [signed] John Philbrick Jus. Peace Quorum [?]
And at the same time and place I certify that the above named Sylvenus Eaton is a credible witness [signed] John Philbrick Jus. Peace Quorum [?]
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State of New Hampshire
Rockingham ss
I Peter Chadwick Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the County of Rockingham in the State aforesaid do hereby certify that John Philbrick is a Justice of the Peace for said County and that his signatures to the within paper and the paper hereto annexed are in his own hand writing
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court thisfifteenth day of August Anno Domini 1832
[signed] P. Chadwick Clerk of the [Court?] Rocking[ham] County

[along right edge]
Sylvenus Eaton
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1927-May 3 - Hist. to Frank A. Manny [illegible]

Rev War
14.940 
INVALID.
File No. 14,940
John R. Beckman
Priv. Rev. War
Act: June 7"" 1832
Index: --Vol. 1, Page 30
[in brackets] Arrangement of 1870.
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7003
Jno. R Buckman
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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 Jno R. Beckman 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? [blank]

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? Yes

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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[Page] 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? 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? [blank]

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? Yes 
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of witness or witnesses? Yes 
Has the proper officer certified to the character and signature of the magistrate as regulations direct? Yes

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in 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? No as to 1.25.7

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 _______, For _____months and _____days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.”
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[page] 3

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. 

+QUERE XIV . Proof of Service. 
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on 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 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 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.
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[T.R.D.?]
O. W. and  N. Div.
[Feb? File?]
Rev War No. 14940
John R. Beckman
Copy
Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Address your reply to the COMMISSIONER OF
PENSIONS with return of this letter
Washington DC. June 24, 1898
Sir:
In reply to the enclosed letter, referred to this Bureau by Hon C. A. Sulloway, you are advised that John R. Beckman was pensioned for service in Col. Wingate's Regiment of New Hampshire militia, Revolutionary war.
The records do not show a land warrant to have issued in his name.
There was no law granting bounty land for service in the militia during Revolutionary war, until act of March 3 1855 and that act provides only for the soldier, or his widow, or children, who were under 21 years of age March 3 1855.
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the Bureau is unable to furnish any information relative to Mr Beckmans war of 1812 service. The naval rolls of said her are in the custody of the Auditor for Navy Department, U.S. Treasury Department.  It is proper to add that the act of March 3" 1855, is the only act that provides bounty land for Naval service in any war
Very respectfully
[signature illegible]
Commissioner

Hiram Beckman Esq
So. Seabrook N.H.
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136 Hemenway St
Boston
March 6, 1927
My dear Sir
Will you kindly advise me whether you have any
record of pension issued In Revolutionary service of Daniel Mac Niel or Mac Neal
Robert Mac Niel or Mac Neal
John Robinson Beckman
They were of Massachusetts or New Hampshire
I am particularly desirous of securing their birthplaces and names of parents 
Sincerely [signed] Frank A. Manny