Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 36,925, William Briggs, Mass.
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SERVICE Mass
NUMBER Briggs, William S. 36,925
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11865 R 
Dist. of Maine 
William Briggs, 4 
of Kennebeck Co. in the State of Massachtts who was a Captain in the regiment commanded by Colonel Read, of the Massachtts line, for the term of nine months. 
---
Inscribed on the Roll of Distt of Maine, at the rate of 20. Dollars per month, to commence on the 30 of March, 1818 
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Certificate of Pension issued the 5 of June, 181 sent to Robert C. Vose, agent Augusta Kennebeck Co. distt of Maine
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Arrears to 4th of March, 1819. $223.84 
Semi-anl, all'ce ending1 4. Sept. 1819 120-
 11 mo 6/31
===
$343.84
===
{Revolutionary claim Act 18th March, 1818}
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

I William Briggs, aged eighty two years, a citizen of the United States, born in Taunton Massachusetts, now resident in Augusta, Maine, upon oath testify and declare that being a captain in Col. Read's regiment of the Massachusetts troops or line, in the war of the revolution, against the common enemy, upon the continental establishment, on the nineteenth of April 1775 I marched with my company into the service, altho my continental commission, which is hereunto annexed, does not bear date until July first 1775. From the nineteenth of April  1775 I continued to serve until the last of January 1776 when I was honorably but verbally discharged, at Roxbury Massachusetts 

from my reduced circumstances, I need the assistance of my country for support; and I do hereby relinquish all my claim to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the U. States, if any; but I am not to my knowledge borne on any pension list whatever 
Wm Briggs 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Kennebec SS. 

On the thirtieth day of March 1818, William Briggs above named made his declaration before me under oath, and on the twelfth day of May 1819, he made oath to the foregoing amended declaration, by him subscribed, before me. 
Nathan Weston Jun. Just C.C.C. Pleas 
2d E Circuit. 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I Henry Sewall a commissioned officer in the war of the revolution, and now a Major General in the Massachusetts Mt. Militia [crossed out: War of the Revolution] upon oath testify and declare that I know that William Briggs above named was a continental captain in the war of the revolution. I have long known the said Briggs intimately, having lived for thirty years last past in the same town. I know him to be an honest conscientious man, and I have no doubt that he served the period by him above stated 
H Sewall 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Kennebeck SS
 n the twelth of May 1819 Henry Sewall above named being a credible and disinterested witness, made oath to the truth of the deposition by him subscribed before me 
Nathan Weston Jun Clerk CCC Pleas
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November 30, 1931 
BA-J/AWF 

Mr. William H. Capen 
155 Walnut Street 

Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter requesting  further information in regard to William Briggs whose pension claim was S. 36925, a soldier the War of the Revolution. 

The statement in office letter of Aug 8 1931, should have read that this solder on May 12, 1819, stated that he was then a resident of Augusta, Maine, aged eighty-two years and that he was born in Taunton, Massachusetts. He did not give the date of his birth. 

Very truly your 

A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator
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[left side]
36.925
INVALID
Revy
File No. 36.925

William Briggs 
Capt Rev War 

Act: 18 March 18 
Index: -- Vol. 2 Page 280 

[Arrangement of 1870.} 

[right side]
1931. Aug. 8. Wm H. Capen advised reg, birth place of Wm Briggs L. 
1931 - Nov. 30 Wm.H. Capen further adv AWF
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IN CONGRESS
The DELEGATES of the United Colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Iland, Connecticut New-York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sex on Delaware, Mary land, Virginia, North Carolina, and South-Carolina to William Briggs Esquire

We reposing [page is wrinkled here] your conduct and fidelity DO by these presents constitute and appoint you to be Captain of a company in the 20th Regiment, commanded by Col. Read  in the army of the United Colonies, raised for the defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile invasion thereof. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of --- Captain by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all officers and soldiers under your command, to be obedient to your orders, as Captain - And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United Colonies, or Committee of Congress, for that purpose appointed, or chief for the time being of them of the United Colonies, or any other your superior officer, according to the rules and discipline of war, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. This commission to continue in force until revoked by this or a future Congress. 9 July 1778. By Order of the Congress. John Hancock President

Attest Chas Thomson Jr.
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Augusta - 

We the undersigned Selectmen and Assessor of the Town of Augusta, County of Kennebec, in dis ma Do hereby certify that Captain William Briggs of said Augusta we understand has made application for a pension by virtue of the late law making provision for the revolutionary Officers & soldiers, that we consider from our knowledge of Captain Briggs general character that he is a man of strict integrity and quite of a respectable standing except on the score of property.  that he is so reduced in his circumstances in life, that we have not though proper it to insert his name in the Tax Bills of this town 
Lewis Hamlin
Church Williams 
selectman & assisor of Augusta
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William Briggs 
Captain Col Reed 
Massachusetts Regt ---
9 mos
March 30, 1818 
Commission enclosed & H. Sewall dept Admitted
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

To the Hon the Secretary of the department of War of the United States 
I the subscribed, being chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the second Eastern Circuit of Massachusetts embracing the counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset, do hereby certify to your Honor, that William Briggs, a citizen the United States, now resident in Augusta, in said County of Kennebec, in the District of Maine, on the thirtieth day of March 1818, made application to me to receive his declaration under oath, and such other evidence as was in his power to produce; and to transmit the same, and the proceedings had thereon, to your Honor; that he might be placed on the pension list of the U. States, agreeably to the provisions of an act entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war". passed March 18, 1818, which declaration, and the other evidence produced by said applicant hereunto annexed. 

And I do further certify to your Honor, that after a full examination of the said applicant, and a careful consideration of the evidence in the case, it appears to me that the said applicant did serve as a commissioned officer in the war of the revolution, against the common enemy, upon the continental establishment, for Nine months in continuation, as set forth in his declaration aforesaid; and that from his reduced circumstances in life, he needs the assistance of his country for support. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the Seal of the Court in which preside, to be hereunto affixed, this thirteenth day of May, 1819
Nathan Weston June C. Just C.C.C. Pleas 2d C. Circuit.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts. KENNEBEC, SS. 

THE Subscriber, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts, held within the said County of Kennebec, hereby certifies, that the Honorable NATHAN WESTON, Junior, Esquire, before whom the annexed proceedings were held, is Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Second Eastern Circuit of Massachusetts, embracing the Counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset; and that by the direction of the said Judge, I have affixed unto his Certificate bearing his signature, the seal of the said Court in which he presides. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand: Dated at Augusta, in said County of Kennebec, this twenty fifth day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen John Davis
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Stoughton Mass July 25, 1931 

Rev & 1812 Wars Section, 
Bureau of Pensions 
Washington, D.C. 

Gentlemen: Have you any record of William Merion of Stoughton, who served in the Revolutionary War and died in captivity in N.Y., that would give his birth place? He was born around 1723 a died Oct. 20, 1782 

A petition was sent to General Washington in behalf of three of our townsmen in 1780 who were in captivity - William was one, for their release 

Thanking you for any help. 
I am Yours truly 
Wm H Capen 155 Walnut St

P.S. Also birth place of Capt. William Briggs of Stoughton, Mass

WH
If claim is his only ans?
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VETERANS ADMINISTRATION 
XXXXXXXXX
WASHINGTON. August 8, 1931

Mr. William H. Capen 
155 Walnut Street 
Stoughton, Massachusetts 

THIS LETTER REFERS TO YOUR FILE NUMBER: IN REPLY REFER TO: Rev. & 1812 Wars Section. ILL 
[stamp]RECEIVED NOV 19 1931

Dear Sir: 
You are advised that Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land based upon the military service of soldiers in that war. 

A careful search of the records fails to show such a claim on file on account of the services of William Merion. 

From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 35925, it appears that William Briggs, Captain in the Massachusetts troops, was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, date of birth not given. In 1818, he stated that he was eighty years of age. 
Very truly yours, 
A.D. Hiller A. D. HILLER, Assistant to Administrator. 

[stamp]RECEIVED NOV 19 1931 ,
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Stoughton Mass Nov. 14 1931 
[stamp: RECEIVED NOV 19 1931 WAR SUB-DIV ]
[stamp: RECEIVED NOV 10 1931 RECPT SECTION PENSIONS FILES SUB-DIVISION]

 Mr. A. D. Hiller 
Asst to administrator Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Hiller 
I am will looking for the birth of William Briggs whose pension claim S. 39625 gives as born in Taunton Mass. I cannot find it in Taunton, so ask if the documents disclose the place in Maine where he lived in 1818? I will try to get information from that source. 
I enclose your letter which may assist you. 
Thanking you for further trouble, I am 
Yours truly 
Wm H Capen  155 Walnut St
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XXXXXXXXX
August 8, 1931

Mr. WIlliam N. Capen
155 Walnut Street
Stoughton, Massachusetts 

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section. 
ILL

Dear Sir:
You are advised that Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for provisional bounty land based upon the military service of soldiers in that war. 

A careful search of the records fails to show such a claim on file on account of the services of William Merion. 

From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, 3. 39656, it appears that William Briggs, Captain in the Massachusetts troops, was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, date of birth not given. In 1818, he stated that he was eighty years of age. 

Very truly yours,

A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator