Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,790, Seth Cutter, Continental Mass. N.H.
Page 1

(1778)
SERVICE
Continental
Mass
N. H
---

Cutter, Seth

NUMBER
S. 18.790
carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

10327
New Hampshire
Seth Cutter
of Pelham in the State of NH
who was a Priv/Sergt  in the company commanded
by Captain [?] of the regt commanded
by Col Stark in the NH
line for 2 mos 4 Days Sergt
21 mos 23 Days Private
N.H. and Continental and Mass.

Inscribed on the Roll of N H
the rate of 83 Dollars 72 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 3rd day of April
1833 and Sent [?]
Richardson Pelham NH

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $167.44
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep "
41.86
=====
$209.30

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by [?] H P Blaine Clerk,
Book ? Vol 1st Page 76
Page 3

9159
Seth Cutter
Papers not properly and[?]
thereate offical Charter &
signation of the Majester
not after

M.C.E
Nov 21 1832

2 Mos 7 days Sergt
21 Mos 23 " Pri
------------
24 mos

$83.72-

L.M. Richardson
Pelham NH
Page 4

9159
BRIEF in the case of Seth Cutter of Pelham
of Hillsboro Cy in the State of N Hampshire
(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 infirmity? -
3. How old is he? 74
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[Column headings:  Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.]

row 1. Apr or May '75. 8 Months.  {fifer & private}. Capt Woodbury - Col Stark
row 2a. immediately after. 1 year. {fifer & private}. Capt Speakman - Col Glover. 
row 2b. immediately after. 1 Month. 12 Days. {fifer & private}. Capt Speakman - Col Glover. 
row 3. Apr or May 77. 2 Months 7 Days. {Substitute, orderly Srgt}. Capt Denney Col Whitney.
row 4. July 77. 2 Months. Substitute. Capt Ford. Col Nichols


5. In what battles was he engaged? Trenton, Princeton, Bennington
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Nottingham now Hudson NH
& at Beverly Mass at Cambridge
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
several living witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
The affidavits not sealed [illegible] - 
veracity of witnesses not certified to
* certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. C. Easton
Examining Clerk.
Page 5

State of New Hampshire
County of Hillsborough ss

On the twenty eighth day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open
Court before the Court of Probate of Hills &c. for said County of Hillsborough
now siting at Amherst within and for said County, Seth Cutter a resident
of Pelham in said County aged 74 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.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following
named officers and served as herein stated.

First

In the latter part of April or the first of May A.D. 1775
at Nottingham West, (now Hudson) in said County of Hillsborough I
enlisted as a fifer in a company of Militia then raising in said State, commanded by Elisha Woodberry The Lieutenant of this company was Thomas
Hardy of the town of Pelham aforesaid. This company was attached to
Regiment commanded by Col. Stark afterwards General Stark. I enlisted for
eight months & served the time for which I engaged, but if I ever had a
discharge at this time, it is now not to be found, I am however inclined to the belief that I had no written discharge. Soon after my
enlistment we marched to the vicinity of Boston in Massachusetts.
I soon became dissatisfied with the employment of a Fifer, & did the
duty afterwards, as a private soldier till the time for which I engaged
expired. I served at this time, the full term of eight months

See the accompanying affidavit of Enoch Howard 

2d

Immediately after the operation of the above mentioned service
which ended with the year 1775, I enlisted at Beverly in Massachusetts as a
private Soldier for the term of one year in a company commanded by Capt
Tom.[?] G. Speakman, the name of the Lieut. I think was Brown. The Regiment
was commanded by Col. Glover (who was afterwards Genl) & was commander of the
Massachusetts line, & I believe was numbered the 14th Regiment. We were
stationed at said Beverly till late in the spring or the begining [beginning] of sumer [summer] following, when we were marched into the State of New York & stationed
in New York City several weeks - afterwards at different places on
the Hudson River, we crossed the Hudson at Kings Ferry, marched thru
what was then called the Jerseys into the State of Pensylvania [Pennsylvania], &
crossed the River Delaware at a
place called East town. We then marched
to a place called Bethlehem & there met a section of the northern
Army- From thence we marched to Newtown. In the latter part of
December we marched from Newtown crossed the Delaware & took
about one thousand Hessians at Trenton. We immediately crossed the
Dellaware [Delaware] again into Pennsylvania with our prisoners - remained there
but a short time & again crossed the river into Trenton, & remained there
until the expiration of the time for which I enlisted, which was on the last
day of December 76. I served at this time, the full term of one year

See the Affidavit of Enoch Howard
(the latter part ) Also Peter Johnson
Page 6

A little before the expiration of my last time of service
Gen. Washington earnestly solicited soldiers to engage for six weeks longer -
I engaged for one and served that term of time. From Trenton, after the
arrival of a considerable force of the enemy, we marched in the night to
Princeton, where we had an engagement in the morning with a portion of
the Brittish [British] army, & took several hundred men, & a large quantity of
Baggage. From Princeton we marched to Morristown. From Morristown
I was marched with a section of the army to Chatham. While stationed
there I was in several scouting parties, in two or three of which we had
skirmishes with parties of the enemy. While there my six weeks service
expired which was about the middle of February '77.

3d

Early in the spring of 1777, I went to Cambridge in Massachusetts
& some time in the latter part of April or the first of May, I engaged to
take the place as a substitute of one Richard Cutter who had been drafted to
perform a tour ^of military ^duties in the State of [crossed out text] Rhode island, for two
months. The company I entered was I believe commanded[?] Militia, & was
commanded by Capt. Stephen Denney & attached to Colonel Whitney's Regiment. I did the duty of orderly Sergeant in this company during the
time I enlisted for. This company was embodied at said Cambridge &
marched from thence to Providence in said Rhodisland [Rhode Island], & was stationed
there about a month. From Providence, we marched to Naraganset [Narraganset],
& there remained during the remainder of said two months. I served
at this time, the full term of two months ^& 7 days in the revolutionary war. For proof of the above service see the Certificate of Edward D. Bangs Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

4th

Some time in the month of July 1777, I engaged as a
substitute for one Samuel Smith of Nottingham West aforesaid ^[where i then resided] who had been
drafted as one of the militia of that town for two months, to do duty
in a company commanded by Capt James Ford. This company was attached
to Col. Nichol's Regiment. We marched into the State of Vermont - was in the
battle of Bennington under General Stark. After the Battle at Bennington
we marched from thence to a place called Stillwater, & there remained
until the expiration of said term of two months. I served in this campain [campaign] in the revolutionary war, the full term of two months. I was born in Cambridge Mass. April 14, 1758, where there is a record of my birth as I expect. I have no resolution of receiving a written Discharge from the army at any time. I enlisted into the service as above stated, I now reside in said
Pelham & have resided there under these since the Revolutionary War

See the Affidavit of Benja. Barker Esqr which
accompanies this Declaration for proof of the last above
stated service-

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 to his knowledge

Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Seth Cutter
Edmund Parker Judge of Probate
Page 7

We John H. Church , DD, a Clergyman, residing in said Town of Pelham
and Saml M. Richardson residing in the same town hereby certify
that we are well acquainted with Seth Cutter who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration; that we believe him to be 74 years of age; that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that belief;

Sworn and subscribed the ⎬      John H. Church
day and year aforesaid.              Saml M Richardson

Edmund Parker, Judge of Probate

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interogation [interrogation] 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 John H. Church D.D. who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a clergyman resident in the aforesaid Pelham, and that [crossed out words: Seth Cutter] S. M. Richardson
who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same town, is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

Edmund Parker. Judge of Probate

Charles H. Atherton
Registrar & Clerk of the Court
of Probate for the said County
of Hillsborough, Certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings
of the said Court in the application
for a Pension of the said Seth Cutter

In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand & affixed the seal of the said
Court of Probate at Amherst in said
County this 28th day of August Anno
Domini 1832

C. H. Atherton Regr &c
Page 8

18790
INVALID.

File No. [crossed out: 17,916] 18,790

Seth Cutter
Sergt Rev War

Act: June 7" 32
Index: --Vol. 1, Page 87
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 9

Signature of Just to be authenticated only

9159
Seth Cutter

S.M. Richardson
Pelham
NH
Page 10

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Seth Cutter 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
Page 11

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 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?
And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
No

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?
[crossed out letters] 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 ___ year ___ months and __ days, I served as a ___. For ___ months
and days ___, I served as a ___; for such service I claim a pension."
Page 12

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.
Page 13

Certificate of the
Secretary of Massachusetts
Seth Cutter
Page 14

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Secretary's Office, Augt 22 1832.

I 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 Seth Cutter's name is borne on a Roll of Capt. Stephen Dana's Company in Col. Josiah Whitney's Regiment in service at Rhode island and he is therein stated to have served as a Sergeant for
two months & seven days from May 9. 1777.

Edward D Bangs Scy
Page 15

I Peter Johnson of Andover in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged
years about eighty two ^years, on my oath depose and say that in April, if I rightly recollect, in the year 1776 I enlisted into the revolutionary war & joined the company at Beverly in said County of Essex. The company was commanded by Capt. Lee. Mr. Gitchel served either as Lieut. or Ensign. There was a regiment raised, & Beverly was our randisvous [rendezvous], Col. Glover commanded the Regiment. We enlisted for one year. After we had assembled at Beverly I become acquainted with Mr Seth Cutter now of Pelham in the County of Hillsborough ^[state of New Hampshire] and was acquainted with said Cutter during the whole years service. We did not belong to the same Company but to the same regiment. I saw Mr Cutter almost every day during the whole year and I have no doubt that Mr Cutter served one year at this time in the Revolutionary war

Peter Johnson
[illegible]

State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough County ss August 17. 1832

Then the above named Peter Johnson personally appeared and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true

Before me, Sam. M. Richardson Justice of Peace

I hereby certify that the above named Deponent is a credible witness & entitled to full credit for truth and veracity according to the best of my belief - Saml M. Richardson Justice of Peace
Page 16

I Enoch Howard of Pelham in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire of lawful age on my oath depose & say that in the year AD 1775 in the last of April or the beginning of May I enlisted into the service of the revolutionary war in Capt Elisha Woodbury's Company & Col. John Stark's Regiment & immediately joined the army at Milford in Massachusetts & staid there till after the battle of Bunker Hill & then went on to Winter Hill, & there remained till the eight months service was out being the time for which I enlisted. Mr Seth Cutter [crossed out: of Pelham then in County of] then of Nottingham West but now of Pelham in said County of Hillsborough in said State of New Hampshire enlisted into the service at the same time & continued with me in the same company until the term for which we enlisted had expired. I was knowing to Mr Cutter's having enlisted into the years service in the begining of the year AD 1776 & in the month of December of said year I saw said Cutter in the army in a town called Bethlehem in the State of Pennsylvania & had a conversation with him. We were in different divisions to & the divisions to which we belonged marched to Newtown - We then went into the Jersies & took about nine hundred Hessians-- this was towards the latter part of December of said year

Enoch Howard



State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough ss - July 2d. A.D. 1832

Then personally appeared the above named Enoch Howard and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true

Before me Saml M. Richardson Just. Peace

I hereby certify that the above named Deponent is a credible witness & entitled to full credit for truth & veracity

Saml M. Richardson Just. Peace
Page 17

I Benjamin Barker of Pelham in the County of Hillsborough & State of New Hampshire Esquire, of lawful age on my oath depose and say that in the month of July in the year A.D. 1777. I enlisted into the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war. We started to join the army on the 28th of said July and returned home the latter part of September following. Mr Seth Cutter ^[of Pelham in said county of Hillsborough] enlisted at the same time and continued in the service as long as I did. We were discharged at Bemis hights [Heights] in New York. I have no hesitation in saying that Mr. Cutter aforesaid served the United States at this time two months, and was honorably discharged at the time aforesaid. Mr Cutter served in Capt. James Ford's Company, and I served in Capt. Jesse Wilson's Company - we both belonged to Col. Nichol's regiment. We were both of us in the Battle at Bennington.

Benjamin Barker


State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough Ss. July 6, 1832.
Then personally appeared the above named Benjamin Barker and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true-

Before me, Sam M. Richardson Just. Peace

I hereby certify, that Benjamin Barker Esquire, the above named Deponent, is entitled to full credit for truth and veracity
Saml W. Richardson Justice of Peace.

I Andrew Wallace Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire, certify that Samuel M. Richardson is a Justice of the Peace for said County of Hillsborough as expressed in his certificates in the papers hereto attached and that ^all the ^[?] signatures, purporting to be his, are genuine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my
name, this first day of January AD 1833

A. Wallace Clerk


[there a smudged seal on left bottom corner of page]
[under the smudge is the following note]
The seal was defaced by me [illegible words
followed by initials] B.L.B