Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 562, John Barrett, Mass.
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Service: Mass

Barrett, John 
Susanna

Number: R562
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Maine 16,516R

John Barrett of Fairfield in the state of Maine who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Wilson of the Massachusetts line, for the term of Nine months

Inscribed on the roll of Maine at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 9 of April 1818.

Certificate of Pension issued the 18 of Sept 1819 and sent to R C Vose
Augusta Maine

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1819           $134.93
semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 March 1820   +$48
                                                                 ______
                                                                 $182.93
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Declaration evidence
re
In the case of John Barrett
Fairfield 
Lt Col Weston's
Mass Reg from Aug 1779 - 9 mo
April 9th 1818
On roll
Admitted

Proof A. Bradford
Certif.
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I John Barrett of Fairfield in the County of Somerset Commonwealth of Massachusetts being a Native citizen of the United States do on oath testify & declare that I served in the War of the Revolution for the term of nearly two years. I was at Lexington battle and afterwards enlisted for eight months but after serving about a month  my mother being sick and my presence being necessary at home I procured a substitute. Afterwards I enlisted and saved six months at Hull near Boston and was discharged. I also served two months under Genl Sullivan at Rhode Island and nine months at New York in Captain Bridge's company of Col Howe's Regiment of the Massachusetts line. Afterwards about August seventeen hundred and seventy nine I enlisted at Lincoln in the County of Middlesex and marched with others to Springfield and from there to West Point where I joined the company commanded by Nathan Dix of the Regiment commanded by Col Weston of the Massachusetts line. I saved during the nine months of the expiration thereof I rec'd an honorable discharge which I unfortunately lost, about a year after my return from the army with my pocket book.
John Barrett 

Kennebec S Commonwealth of Massachusetts
On this 9th day of April AD 1818 the above named John Barrett after having been carefully examined made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed before me.
S.S. Wilde
Jus. Lt Jud Court.
for Jd. Com tts
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I do further testify and declare the from reduced circumstances I stand in need of assistance from my country for support and do hereby release & relinquish all rights and claims to any pension under any law of the United States except that which i am entitled to claim under the law of March A.D. 1818 -but i am not conscious that I have any other claim, or that I am [illegible] on any other pension list whatever. John Barrett
Sworn before me
S. S. Wilde
Ins. Sup. Jud. Court
for County of [illegible]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Kennebec
The Subscriber, Clerk of alll the Judicial Courts held within the said County of Kennebec hereby certifies that the Honorable Samuel S. Wilde Esq before whom the foregoing proceedings were had, is one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of this C0mmonwealth and by the direction of the said Judge, I have affixed unto this certificate having his signature , the seal of said Supreme Judicial Court. In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand. Dated at Augusta in said County of Kennbec this tenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred & eighteen.
John Davis
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I Enos Wh [illegible] of Lawful age Do testify and say that I lived in the Town of Lincoln in the County of Middlesex at the time the Revolutionary war broke out I was knowing to John Barrett going into the war several Different times. When he was not in the service maid [made] it his home att my house. I well recollect of his going down in the year 1776 & five months Time. At [illegible] below Barton and another time he went three months to White plains in the state of New York and I went with him and drove the bagage [baggage] then in June 1777 he went to Rhode island two months then in the later part of the same year he went Charston two months to [illegible] Burgaines troops in 1778 he went on to Rhode Island in week or to month when General Sullivan commanded their [there] then again in 1779 in July or August he enlisted for nine month to join the continental army and was gone as near as I can judge at least ten-month and then returned again my house and further [illegible] not.
Enos Wheeler
Somerset in Fairfield April 12 1818
Then the above deposition was taken and sworn before me and sealed up by me Levi Barrett [illegible]
This may certify to whom it may concern the I was called upon to give my opinion in [illegible] to the veracity of the deponent I am intimately acquainted with him and I consider to be a man of truth and veracity any case whatever
Levi Barrett
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State of Maine
Kennebec County ss,
ON this twenty sixth day May, 1820 personally appeared before Nathan Weston Junior, Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset, being a Court of Records for said Counties, proceeding according to the course of the common law, having original jurisdiction, unlimited in amount, keeping record of their proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, John Barrett aged sixty-one years, resident of fairfield in the County of Somerset within said circuit, who  being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows, viz. in the Company commanded by Captain Dix and the regiment commanded by Colonel Wesson in the state of Massachusetts upon the Continental Establishment, for a period of nine months. that his original declaration was made before Judge Wilde on the ninth day of April 1818; that he is now on the Maine Roll, and that his pension certificate is numbered 14.516. And I, the said John Barrett of further solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not , nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
John Barrett
The following is a schedule of my whole  Estate and income, necessary clothing and bedding excepted, viz:
one cow of the value of sixteen dollars
one swine of the value of three dollars
old household stuff besides bedding not exceeding twenty dollars in value. Coopers tools of the value of seven dollars. I have no debts due to me and I owe as much as one hundred and fifty dollars for which I pay interest; I have no income derived from property, trade of profession My occupation his that of a cooper; [illegible] am wholly unable to follow that trade or perform any labor, my family at home consists four persons; myself, my wife Susanne aged sixty years is sick and wholly unable to labor, my daughter Lucinda aged thirty one years whom I hire to take care of her mother and my grandchild John Barrett Bates aged five years.Except for the above and my necessary bedding and clothing I have no estate or income whatever.
John Barrett
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Subscribed, sworn to and declared, both the oath and schedule, on the twenty-six day of may 1820 before me
Nathan Weston Jr
C.J.C.C.C. Pleas
County of Somerset
Clerks Office at Ammo[illegible]
The foregoing is a true copy of the original oath and schedule filed in this office this Eighth say of November 1820
Esq William Allenby Clerk
CCC Pleas Somerset
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Rejected
John died 12 April 1837
Susannah died 1 Oct 1839
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DECLARATIOIN
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, of the 7th July, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
State of Maine
PiscataquisCounty ss.
On this second day of October A.D. 1838
personally appeared before the Hon:  E.W. Snow'd Judge of Probate & for said county, in open court, Susanna Barrett a resident of Dover in the county of Piscataquis and aged seventy eight years, who being first duly sworn according to law. doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by Act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows;" That she is the widow of John Barrett late of Dover deceased who at the time of his death was a Revolutionary pensioner of the United States in the Maine Roll under the Act of  March 18, 1818. She refers to the evidence he furnished the War Department.
She further declares that she was married to the said John Barrett on the on the thirtieth day of March in the year seventeen hundred and eighty-two; that her husband, the aforesaid John Barrett died on the twelfth of April eighteen hundred and thirty seven; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz. at the time above stated; that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. That her maiden name was Susanna Chambers & she was at Mason[illegible] New Hampshire.
Susanna Barrett
Sworn and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before me (the applicant from age and infirmity not being able to attend in open court) E.W. Snow, Judge
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On the second day of October, 1828, the within named Susanna Barrett made oath to the truth of the within declaration by her husband. And I certify that I have satisfactory evidence that the within named John Barrett was married to the within named Susannah Barrett at the time she has stated; the the within named John Barrett was a Revolutionary pensioner of the United States; that he died a the time within stated, & that the within named Susannah Barrett has ever since remained unmarried.
E. W. Snow Judge of Probate
I certify that the foregoing declaration  was sworn before me on the second day of October 1838 and that Susanna was interlined in above certificate by me.
E. W. Snow, Judge
I Samuel Bates of [illegible] County of Piscataquis on oath state the the within named John Barrett died at [illegible] at the time within set forth by his widow Susanna Barrett and that she has ever since remained unmarried. 
Samuel Bates
Piscataquis County: subscribed & sworn to this second day of October 1838, the deponent being in [illegible] witness.
E.W. Snow, Judge

STATE OF MAINE

Piscataquis ss.,
I, subscriber of probate for said county  hereby CERTIFY That Eleazer W. Snow before whom the proceedings were had is Judge of Probate for said County. I also, CERTIFY That the within contains the original of the said judge in the matter of the application of Susanna Barrett for a pension.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court, this being the second day of October A.D. 1838.
Barnabas Binsley, Registrar
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Letter of inquiry as to claim of Arethusa Bates Heir of John Barrett a Rev Pensioner
Jas S. Wiley, Atty
Dover, Maine
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Dover, Me. Oct. 12, 1854
Dear Sir,
I beg to trouble you with a few questions, which I presume may be answered without much trouble to your office.
John Barrett was a Revolutionary Pensioner - at the rate of $96 per annum. He died on April 12th 1837 leaving a widow who died Dec. 6th 1839. This widow left but one child, who is now living. The widow - wife of John Barrett, never recd., any pension from the U.S. while living (nor has he, said child).
We do not know under what act the said John Barrett was pensioned. Would you please have the goodness to  inform us? 
1st Under what act was John Barrett commissioned?
2nd Was his widow entitled to a pension under any act existing at the time of his death? (Apr. 1837)
over
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3rd If entitled to how much?
4th And if the widow would have been entitled is not her child & only heir entitled to what the widow might have record, if it had been claimed.
I am informed that there are some papers on file in your office but in what state the case now is I do not know.
By answering the foregoing inquiries, and giving some information of what is wanted to establish the claim, if valid, you will confer a great favor on a very poor family.
I presume the Application will be found in the name of the husband of Arathusa Bates of Dover Maine.
I am, very Respectfully your ob'd servant,
Jas. S. Wiley
Atty
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[this is essentially a blank cover sheet]

INVALID

Susanna Barrett
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46.99
Susanna Barrett
[illegible]
Jully 13 '39
Mem.
J.S. Wiley 18 Oct. 1854
Same Nov. 6, 1864
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COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
SECRETARY'S DEPARTMENT, July 23rd, 1819
BY THIS I CERTIFY, That it appears by public, official documents remaining in this Department, that John Barrett served as a Soldier in Cape. Dix's Company and Col. Wesson's Regiment, (being one of the regiments in the Massachusetts Line, and on the Continental Establishment.) in the American Army, in the War of the Revolution, from August first 1779 to May first 1780 being nine months; the time for which he enlisted.
Alden Bradford
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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State of New Hampshire Secretary Office
I hereby certify that the within named Willis Johnson and Nathaniel Shattuck at the date of their attestations were Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Hillsborough duly constituted and commissioned and that their acts and attestation as such full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of court.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the state this 28th day of January Anno Domini 1839 
Jon. Whipple DepySecy [deputy secretary]
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I Willis Johnson of Mason in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire of lawful age do testify and say that I hold the Office of Town Clerk in the town county and state aforesaid, and have custody of the records of said town and have carefully examined them and do hereby testify that there is no record of the marriage of John Barrett to Susanna Chambers , on the books of records in said Mason.
Willis Johnson
State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough [to faint to read] Dec. 31,1838.
There the above named Willis Johnson made oath the above affidavit by him is n his belief true. I also certify that said Willis Johnson is a person of undoubted veracity and truth and his evidence would be good in any court of Law or Equity.
Before me, Nathaniel Shattuck, Justice of the Peace.
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I Lydice Russell of Mason in the County of Hillsborough and the State of New Hampshire aged ninety-two years do testify and say that I was the third wife of William Chambers at the time that his daughter Susanna Chambers married to John Barrett.I well recollect the time when the said barrett and Susanna were married from the circumstances of my having given birth to an only daughter one month prior to their marriage which was on March 17 seventeen hundred and eighty two 
Lydice Russell her mark.
Hillsborough  Mason January 3, 1839
When personally appeared the above named Lydice Russell and made oath that the above affidavit by her subscribed is  tue
Before me Willis Johnson, Justice of the Peace
I do certify that the said deponent is a creditable person worthy of full credit and belief in the matter above deposed.
Willis Johnson, Justice of Peace 
As it has not been convenient to do this business any sooner than the present day, I hope it will answer your purpose. Yours respectfully
Willis Johnson Justice of Peace
I have been at some trouble and expense to fulfill your request and if you are successful, you may send me $1;00
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State of Maine
I, William Allenby Clerk, for the County of Somerset of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the second Easter Circuit embracing the counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and Schedule thereto annexed , are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and that the original was exhibited in open Court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, including debts due to the declarant therein stated, is forty six dollars and not deducting therefrom the amount of what the declarant owes, as set forth in said Schedule. the value of said property in the opinion of said Court, is forty six dollars.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this Eighth day of November, 1820.
William Allenby Clerk of said Court for the County of Somerset.
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To the Honorable the Secretary of the Department of War of the United States
I, the subscriber being one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby certify to your honor , that John Barrett, citizen of the United States, now resident in Fairfield in the County of Somerset in the district of Maine and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the ninthly of April in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighteen , made application to me to receive his declaration under oath, and such other evidence as was in his power to produce, and submit the same and the proceedings to be had thereon to your Honors; that he might be placed on the pension list of the United States agreeably to the provisions of an act entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed March 18th A.D. 1818 - which declaration of of the other evidence produced by the same applicant is hereunto annexed.
And I do further certify to your Honor that after a careful examination of the said applicant & a full consideration of the evidence in the case, it appears to me that the said applicant did serve as a private soldier in the continental establishment against the common enemy in the war of the Revolution for the term of more than nine months as stated inn his declarationabovr said, and from reduced circumstances he needs the assistance of this country for support.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & caused the seal of the said Supreme Court to be hereunto affixed this sixth day of June in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & eighteen.
L.L. Wilde
J.S.J.  Counch
for Jd. [illegible]
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Dover Me. Oct. 30, '54

Sir
Yours of the 18th inst, in reply to mine of the 12th has been recd. I by leave again to call your attention to the matter. And first I remark
that, though a claim may have been filed by Susannah Barrett, it will be prosecuted (if at all,) in the name of Arathusa Bates, her daughter, who is now living. Secondly, I will correct a slight mistake as to the time of Susanna Barrett's death. She died in Decr. 1839 instead of Oct. (as you say in your note.)
I am aware that the widow died before the passage of the joint Resolution of Congress of Aug. 16, 1842. But it seems to me that she was entitled under a previous act. though she did not
avial (avail) herself of its benefit. I allude to the act of July 7th 1838. The facts are that John Barrett did serve in the manner specified in the act of 1832, June 7th, died leaving a widow
whose
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whose marriage to place after the expiration of the last period of his service and before the 1st day of January 1794 "So that it would seem that  she was "entitled for & during the term of five years from the fourth day of March 1836 the pension that might have been allowed (and in fact was allowed) to her husband in the value of said act" - for both were living at the time it was passed.
Is it [illegible] that John Barrett [illegible] under the act of March 18, 1818. I apply that the act of June 7th 1832 is still more favorable than that of March 1818.
Now I say, if the widow was entitled under the act of July7, 1838 her heir or children should be allowed to receive what she might have record had she applied.  And I can see how the Resolution of 16th August 1842 can operate to [illegible] her  heir. In short: I contend that all the conditions of the act act of July 7th 1838 are fulfilled in
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this case and that no subsequent act (that I can find)can operate to divest her or heirs of a right  which had already attached.
Permit me to express the hope that on careful revision of reexamination of the case you will give a more favorable decision.
Awaiting your reply, I remain 
Respectfully your [illegible]
Jas. S. Wiley
L. P. Waldo, Esq.
Comm. of Pensions
Washington D.C.
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Washington, February 12, 1829
Sir,
The following applications for pensions under the Act of July7,1828 are herewith enclosed, biz -Rebecca Adams
Abigail Blake
Hannah Blue
Molly Brown
Asenette Brown
Susanna Barrett
Mercy Carver
Susanna Chamberlain
Joanne Coombs
Elizabeth Dodge
Abigail Emery
Abigail Fitz. this applicant has a claim to pension under the Act of July 4, 1836 for the service performed by her first husband. it is supposed she is entitled under act of July 4 1836 for the services of her first husband and under the act of of July 7 1838 for the services of her last husband. This claim under the act of July 4, 1836 is now on file in your office of which I have not as yet had any report.
Tabitha Hodges
Elizabeth Kennsy
Mines Libby
Ruth Norris
Jedediah Norris
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Mehitable Nichols
Ruth Johnstone
Hannah Harriman
Lydia Pratt
Mabby Rand
Lydia Terman
Mercy Underhand
Susanna Wormel
I am respectfully requesting to transmit the pension certificates for them to me at Augusta, Maine
I am vert respectfully your [illebible presumably obedient servant]
[illegible signature]

J. L. Edwards, Esq.
Washington D.C.