Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30117, for John Snell, Massachusetts
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Mass
CONTENTS
Snell
John

NUMBER
S.30117
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[left side] 79
Bristol
[right side] 5652
Massachusetts
John Snell
of Bristol in the State of Mass
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Tubbs of the regt commanded
by Col French in the Mass
line for 10 mos Private
6 " Drummer
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass.
at the rate of 55 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14th day of Febr
1833 and sent Hon
J.L. Hodges H of Reps
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $82.99
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33 27.66
$110.65
[Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by G H Mc Blair Clerk,
Book D Vol. 2 Page 98.
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3486
Jo Snell
Private 10 month
Drummer 6 "
Adm. WCE
Witness not certified
to be credible, papers not
properly authorized
 Sr 8 1832
$55.33
Anselm Bassett
N Radford
Mass
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3486
BRIEF in the case of Jno Snell of Dighton
Bristol Cy in the State of Mass
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court of a Judge? a Court of Probate
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? -
3. How old is he? 73
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[table headings] Period. | Duration of Service. [subheading Years, Months, Days.] | Rank. [subheading-As a] | Names of General and field Officers under whom he served. [subheading Gen.]
1776 1 Feby to 1 Apl | -- 2 -- | private | Capt Tubbs Col. French
"Dec-- | -- 1 -- | " 
1777 1 Apl. 1 June | -- 2 -- | " | Capt. Herman
middle July to middle Augt 77 | -- 1 -- | Substitute | Capt Hathaway
1778 1 Jany | -- 3 -- | ds | Capt Peck Col Daggett }Genl Com
" 1 July- 1 Jany 79 | -- 6 -- | drummer | Capt Shearman Capt Richard
'79.1 March | -- 1 -- | private | Colonel Molton
5. In what battles was he engaged? Quaker Hill
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Dighton
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
a Discharge
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
No ribbon connects the papers under the seal
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W C Easter
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John Snell
No 3686
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
BRISTOL, SS.}
At a Court of Probate holden at Dighton in and for said County on the sixteenth day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two [ ] before the Honorable HODIJAH BAYLIES, Judge of the Probate, &c. for said County, personally appeared John Snell a resident of Dighton in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy three years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832, make the following declaration, That he entered the service of the United States under the officers hereinafter named and served as hereinafter mentioned in reply to the fifth subjoined interrogatory, to wit; under Capt. Samuel Tubbs, Lt Henry Briggs Ensign Abel Babbitt, in regiment commanded by Col Samuel French I do not recollect the other field officers under Capt. Samuel Foles, Lt. Cooper whose first name is not recollected, nor who was his ensign; again under Capt. Peleg Shearman, there were no other commissioned officers, these two companies last named were not in any regiment at the time; again under Capt. Ephraim, Lt Seth Pratt in a regiment commanded by Col. Thomas Carpenter whose other officers I do not remember; again under Capt. Peleg Peck, Lt. Daniel Martin, & Merry whose first name I do not know, the regiment was commanded by Col. Daggett, Lt. Col. John Hathaway, Major Poly Slade; again under Peleg Shearman, in a regiment under Col. Jacobs, Lt. Col. Pope; again under Michael Molton in Col. John Hathaway's regiment and the particulars of his service he will state in reply to the fifth interrogatory
and further declares as follows, in reply to the interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of War; to wit:
1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Ans. That he was born in Dighton in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty nine
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it? The record of my birth is on the book of the title page of a new testament belonging to me, in the hand writing of my uncle, my father died when I was very young
.3 Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? In Dighton aforesaid
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? I always went voluntarily, except twice when I went as a substitute, for David Bowers & Samuel Stevens
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4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom?
I always went voluntarily, except twice when I went as a substitute, for David Bowers, & Samuel Stevens.
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. Under Capt. Tubbs I entered on the first of February in the year seventeen hundred & seventy six and served till the first of April in the same year we marched from Trenton in said County to Roxbury near Boston thence to Winter Hill Fort, thence to Dorchester; we were in the army besieging the British in Boston; after the enemy had evacuated Boston I helped level their fortification on Boston necks; Under Capt. Fales I went to Slade's Ferry in Swanzey and then guarded the coasts one month in December in the same year, from any incursion from the enemy on Rhode Island; under Capt Shearman I entered the first of April in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven and served till the first of June in that year, we were this time at Slade's Ferry on the same duty as last aforesaid; Under Capt Hathaway I served as a substitute for Samuel Stevens from about the middle of July to the middle of August in the same year last mentioned, we marched to Bristol & thence to Providence & thence to North Kingstown in the State of Rhode Island, on the same duty as last aforesaid, Under Capt. Peck I served as a substitute for David Bowers three months commencing on the first of January in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight; we went to Warwick in Rhode Island State, and there staid on the same duty as last aforesaid until I was discharged; my discharge I hereto annex; Under Capt Shearman I again entered on the first of July seventeen hundred & seventy eight; we marched to Swanzey and staid there until Sullivan's expedition; I was a drummer in this company, and as a drummer was transferred to a company under Capt Caleb Richardson we marched to Howland's Ferry & crossed to the Island, and were in the battle of Quaker Hill, in which our regiment was engaged; I recollect in that expedition Gen. Cornell who commanded our Brigade, and Col. Crarcy's & Col. Toppin's & Col. Jackson's regiments there, and the Black regiment; after the battle the army recrossed Howland's Ferry, and I being transferred to Capt. Cole's company marched to Swanzey neck I there staid guarding the coast until the first of January in the year seventeen hundred and seventy nine; Under Col. Molton I entered on the first march in the year last aforesaid and served
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one month, at Little Compton in the State of R. Island, there guarding the coast as before; for proof of these services I refer to the annexed affidavits and to the discharge & half obliterated passport from Capt. Shearman
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6. Were you a Soldier or an Officer? if a Soldier, did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and, if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? if an Officer, did you ever receive a commission, and if so by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? I was a soldier every time, but once when I was a drummer; I never had but one written discharge & that I annexed.
7. State the names of the persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
The Reverend Abraham Gushe, & James Briggs
And the said John Snell doth further declare that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State,
John Snell
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
WE Abraham Gushe residing in Dighton and James Briggs residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Snells who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be about seventy 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 that we concur in that opinion.
Abraham Gushe James Briggs
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
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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 abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Abraham Gushe who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Dighton in said County of Bristol, and that James Briggs who has also signed the same is a resident in said Town, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
BRISTOL., SS}
I Anselm Bassett Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of application of John Snell of Dighton in said County, for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court the day and year first above written.
Anselm Bassett
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John Snell
S.30.117
Mass.
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Warwick 26th March 1778
John Snell in Capt Peck's Company and Col. Daggetts Regt. Being unfit for Duty is Discharged from any further Service During the Present Campaign
W John Hatheway Llo
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30117
Revy INVALID.
-
File No. 30,117

John Snell

Pri Rev War
---
Act: June 7" 32"
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 385
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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I John Thurber of Swanzey County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Lawful age do on oath testify and say that I recollect that John Snell of Dighton in said county being a soldier in the revolutionary war I well recollect his being stationed for a time at Slades Ferry in Swanzey under Capt. Peleg Shearman and at another time he was a soldier in Capt Peleg Pecks company of state troops for a considerable length of time stationed at Warwick in Rhode Island
John Thurber
Swanzey July 30 1832
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol Ss July 30 1832 Then the above named John Thurber personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above certificate by him subscribed
before me John Mason Justice of Peace
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Bristol Ss. Dec. 4th 1832. I certify that John Thurber who signed the within affidavit is a person of credibility.
John Mason Just. of the Peace
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I Anthony Snell of Dighton County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Lawful age do under oath testify and say that I was personally knowing to John Snell of said Dighton serving as a drummer in a company of Massachusetts state troops at first commanded by Capt Peleg Shearman then by Capt Caleb Richardson afterwards by Capt Joseph Cole for six months commencing July 1 1778 and ending first day of January 1779 and also that said John Snell served as a soldier in a company of Massachusetts state troops commanded by Capt Michael Moulton one month in March 1779
Anthony Snell
Swanzey July 25th 1832
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol Ss. July 25 1832 Then the above named Anthony Snell personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above certificate by him subscribed
before me John Mason Justice of the Peace
Bristol Ss. Dec. 4th 1832. I certify that Anthony Snell who signed the above affidavit is a credible person.
John Mason Just. of the Peace
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I Jonathan Johnson of Swanzey County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Lawful age do on oath testify and say that I was personally knowing to John Snell's of Dighton in said County of Bristol serving about one month in latter part of the year 1776 in Capt. Samuel Fales company of Volunteers in guarding Slades Ferry in the Town of Somerset and also that said John Snell served as a drummer in a company of Massachusetts State troops commanded by Capt Peleg Shearman Capt. Richardson & Capt Cole for six months from the last of June 1778 to the last of December 1779 
Jonathan Johnson
Swanzey July 25 1832
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol Ss. July 25th 1832. Then the above named Jonathan Johnson personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above certificate by him subscribed
before me John Mason Justice of the Peace
Bristol Ss. Dec 4th 1832-I certify that Jonathan Johnson, who signed the above affidavit, is a credible person-
John Mason Just. of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss- I Anselm Barrett Register of the Court of Probate in & for said County of Bristol do hereby certify that John Mason is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County of Bristol and duly qualified to administer oaths and the the signatures affixed to the preceding certificates purporting to be his, are his genuine signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this seventh day of December A.D. 1832
Anselm Barrett
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I Abner Briggs of Dighton in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Lawful age on oath do testify and say that I was well acquainted and served with John Snell of said Dighton in the said County of Bristol and that I knew him to be a soldier in the revolutionary war and that he served as a privet soldier in Capt Samuel Tubb's Company and Col Samuel French Regiment stationed at winter Hill and Dorchester point in Massachusetts for the term of two months beginning the first of February AD 1776 and ending the first of April the same year also that he served in said war one month beginning the middle of July AD 1777 and ending the middle of August following in Capt Ephraim Hathaway's Company and Col Thomas Carpenter's Regiment Stationed at Providence and North Kingston State of Rhode Island
Abner Briggs
Commonwealth of Massachusetts}
Bristol Ss August 11th 1832
Then the above named Abner Briggs personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed
Before me Richard Wastcoat Justice of the Peace
Bristol Ss. Nov.30.1832. I certify that the above named deponent in Abner Briggs is a credible person.
Richard Wastcoat Just. of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol SS. I James Sproat, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Bristol do hereby certify that John Mason and Richard Wastcoat Esqs. whose signatures are affixed to the within & annexed certificates, are Justices of the peace in & for said County of Bristol and duly qualified to administer oaths
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, this Twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred & thirty two
J. L. Sproat
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol Ss. I Anselm Barrett Registrar of the Court of Probate in & for said County of Bristol do hereby certify that Richard Wastcoat is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County of Bristol & duly qualified to administer oaths & that the signature to the within certificates purporting to be his are his genuine signatures. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this seventh day of December Eighteen hundred & thirty two
Anselm Barrett
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3486
Jno Snell
Anselm Bassett E
New Bedford
Mass
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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. Snell 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? 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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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 obtaining 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? No
V. 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? No
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 [blank] year [blank] months and [blank] days, I served as a [blank]. For [blank] months and [blank] days, I served as a [blank]; and for such service I claim a pension."
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3
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 he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify the credibility of the witnesses, and the affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
++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.