Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1,764, Moses Griffin, Md.
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Service  Md
Griffin, Moses
Number S. 1764  carded
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13,569
West Tennessee
Moses Griffin
Hickman Co. in the State of Tennessee he was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Murray of the regt commanded by ? Richardson in the Maryland line for 18 months from 1775
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee the rate of 60 Dollars - Cents per annum commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of May 1833 - and sent to James M Howry, Centerville Tennessee
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $129-
Coms-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 1833  30
  $150
{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by Wm L Allison  Clerk
Book E. Vol. 7 Page 70
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State of Tennessee
Hickman County}  On this 8th day of october in the year 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Justices of the court of pleas and Quarter Sessions for the county of Hickman and state aforesaid, now sitting, Moses Griffin a resident of said county if Hickman and state of Tennessee aged Seventy five years and fur months, 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 1832  That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer under the following named officers, Colonel James Murray, Captain George Waters and Lieutenant or Ensign James Wright declarant does not recollect which,  That he entered the service as a Militia volunteer under the above named officers as well as he recollects in the month of July in the year 1775 - That he remained in the service under the same officers for the term of 6 or 7 months, during the following winter declarant thinks in January or February he left the service Declarant states that the Regiment of Militia to which he belonged were all volunteers - That he resided at the time of entering the service in Dorchester County in the State of Maryland; That [word crossed out] a requisition of a Regiment of Militia was made and instead of waiting to raise said Regiment by draught the
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Colonel of said County of Dorchester raised a Regiment
of volunteers as before mentioned.  This Regiment
was raised for the purpose of guarding the
coast to keep the British from landing.  After
the Regiment was organized it [word lined through] remained
some two or three weeks at Cambridge the County
seat of Dorchester County and from thence they
marched to a place known at that time by the
name of "Bishops Head" on the eastern shore
of Chesapeake Bay.  The regiment to which 
Declarant belonged remained there until the
British left the coast at that point and steered
towards the Delaware Bay.  When the Regiment
under the command of Colonel Murray was
disbanded, and the troops returned home.
Declarant states that whilst at "Bishops Head"
the British attempted to land having made
their advance to the [illegible] by means of their small
vessels passing up Hoopers Straits and firing
upon the troops stationed there but without success.
Declarant states that he knows of no person by
whom he can prove the above facts.  That he
has no documentary evidence in his possession
to establish the above facts.  Having lost his
discharge [following words lined through: which he received when] if he ever recd.
any which he does not recollect.

Declarant further states that in the month
of March 1776 as well he remembers he
enlisted in the army of the United States
and served in the [begin underline]fifth[end underline] Regiment of the Maryland
line under the following named officers
Colonel William Richardson, Major Joseph
Richardson, Captain [blank] Hawkins.  Declarant
served some time under Captain Hawkins and
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afterwards under Captain [blank] Lynch the
names of the Lieutenants & Ensign he does not
certainly remember.  He served but one
term of enlistment which he believes was for
twelve months.  Declarant states that he was
enlisted in the County of Dorchester in the State
of Maryland by Lieutenant Stokes and
Ensign Woolford and remained under their
command until he joined the Regiment at
Wilmington, under the command of Colonel
Richardson.  The Regiment to which I belonged
marched from Wilmington to Trenton and
remained at the place and in its vicinity until
we were discharged having been engaged
in no battle with the British during
that time except some occasional skirmishes
which took place during the continuance
of the American troops at that station.
Declarant states that he had his discharge
which he received at Trenton for many
years.  That he has lost or mislaid the
same so that he cannot find it.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a
pension or an annuity, except the present, and
he declares that his name is not on the pension
roll of any agency in any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the }  Moses X his mark Griffin
day and year aforesaid}
Samuel Sebastian, Clerk

We Josiah Thornton & Richard Hall residing in
the County of Hickman and State of Tennessee do hereby
certify that we are well acquainted with Moses Griffin
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who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration.  That
we believe him to be seventy five 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.
Sworn & subscribed the day }  Josiah Thornton
and year aforesaid }  Richard X his mark Nall
S. Sebastian Clerk

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 Josiah Thornton and Richard
Nall who have signed the preceding certificate
are residents of the County of Hickman & State of Tennessee
are credible persons and that their statement is
entitled to credit.  Wm B Cregg [letters JP encircled] }
Aron B Wilson [letters JP encircled] } Quorum
David Stevens }

I Samuel Sebastian Clerk of the Court of Pleas and
Quarter Session for the County of Hickman & State
of Tennessee do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said court in the
matter of the application of Moses Griffin for
a pension.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed my seal of office this 8th day
October 1832
S Sebastian, Clerk
[Blurred seal of office]
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17,307
Moses Griffin
Hickman Co.
Tennessee

Send to G. G. Brewer
__________________

[Following has been struck out:]
See if there was a
Col Wm. Richardson of
[illegible] line if not send
to G.G. Brewer for proof
from 1775 private
18 months
$60.
____

James M. Howry
Attorney at Law
Centerville
Tennessee
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[begin bold and italics] BRIEF in the case of [begin handwriting] Moses Griffin [end handwriting]
of [begin handwriting] Hickman co.[end handwriting] in the State of [begin handwriting]Tennessee[end italics and handwriting]
(Act of 7th June, 1832.) [end bold]

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Court
2.  If before a Judge, does it appears that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  [blank]
3.  How old is he?  75 years 4 mo.
4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
======================================================
Period. |
_______|
Volunteer In 1775
Enlisted 1776

Duration of Service. |
_________________|
Years, [blank]
Months, 
6 or 7
12
Days, [blank]

Rank. |
_____|
As a
Private

Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
_______________________________
Gen. [blank]
Col. John Murray
Col. Wm. Richardson
Maj Joseph Richardson

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  None
6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Dorchester Co. Maryland
7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Traditionary
8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  Perfect

[begin bold and italics]I Certify[end bold and italics] that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
mentioned.

[begin italics]Examining Clerk.[end italics]
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[Written vertically in left margin] Mail

Nov. 2d 
Tenn.
17307
[Written vertically in right margin] Centreville
Oct 20th

[Address on envelope]
Free
Hon Lewis Cass
Secty. at War
Washington City
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Communicate to James M. Howry
atto. at Law.  Centreville
West Tennesse
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[Written vertically in left margin] Rev War

1764
INVALID.

File NO. 1764
Moses Griffin
Priv. Maryland Line

Act: June 7, 1832.
Index:--Vol. A, Page 149

[ Arrangement of 1870. ]
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Land Office, Annapolis, March 16th 1833,

I certify that it appears by the Muster rolls remaining in this
office that Moses Griffin, a private of the fifth
Maryland Regiment, enlisted in Captain Lynch's Comp
any and was discharged on the 10th day of June 1778,
that the time of his enlistment on the roll is blank.

George G. Brewer
Regr. Ld. Off. W. S. Md.
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[begin bold] BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
[begin handwriting]Moses Griffin, Hickman co. Tennessee[end handwriting] which require
further proof or explanation.[end bold]

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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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 revolu
tionary service?  Two respectable witnesses state their belief-
no clergyman named.

XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is than any reason assigned for not obtain
ing 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?  Yes

XIV.  +If the applicants name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness
or witnesses as to his service?  [blank]
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?  [blank]
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct?  [blank]

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?  [blank]

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?  1. 2. 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 recol
lection 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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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 [begin italics]about three or four months[end italics] is too in
definite, 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 name 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 shown 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 em
ployed in any civil pursuit.

+QUERE XIV. [begin italics]Proof of Service.[end italics]
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 to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magis
trate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

++QUERE XVI. [begin italics]Mode of authenticating papers.[end italics]
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 cer
tificate 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.

[right index finger pointing]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.