Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,659, Peleg Brightman, Mass.
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([illegible]--1776)
SERVICE  NUMBER
Mass. [Massachusetts]  Brightman, Peleg  S. 29,659

CONTENTS
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[left fold]
71
Bristol

[right fold]
27257
Massachusetts
Peleg Brightman
Bristol in the State of Mass [Massachusetts]
who was a private
in the Company commanded
by Captain Field of the Regt. [Regiment] commanded
by Colo. [Colonel] Jacobs in the [blank indicated] Mass [Massachusetts]
time for
24 Months
private

Inscribed on the Roll of Mass [Massachusetts]
at the rate of 80 - Dollars [blank indicated] Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of March
1834 and sent to Taunton Mass [Massachusetts]
A. Bassett, Esq. 

Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 $240
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 34. . 40
$280
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by George Taylor Clerk
Book E  Vol. 2  Page 43
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29628
Peleg Brightman
Bristol Co. [County] Mass [Massachusetts]

Adm.
24 Months priv [private]
Cap [Captain] Fuller Co [Colonel] Jacobs
A. Bassett Esq
Mass. [Massachusetts]
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REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF Bristol
On this fourth day of February 1834, personally appeared
in open Court, before Hodejah Baylies Judge of
the Court of Probate
now sitting at Freetown--within
and for said County of [crossed out Plymouth] Bristol, Peleg Brightman
resident of Troy in said County of [crossed out Plymouth] Bristol, and Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, aged Seventy one 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. He hereby relinquishes his
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. That is to say, that
he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and
served as herein stated.
1st  
Viz. that in the early part of the year 1777, he there being in the 
sixteenth year of his age, he enlisted as a private soldier in a company of infantry commanded 
by his brother Henry Brightman, who has since deceased; that his place of residence
enlisted as aforesaid was in that part of Freetown, which had been incorporated
the name of Troy aforesaid. That immediately after he thus enlisted he
was called out with the company to which he belonged (this was as early as the first of March 1777) and stationed at a place called Fall River, which was then 
part of said Freetown, but now in said Troy.  That he was there
stationed and engaged with said company in guarding the shores of
Mount Hope Bay and Taunton Great River from the invasions of the
British troops who were then in the possession of the Island of Rhode Island
untill [until] as late as the first of December of that year, when said Bay 
having closed up with ice and the period of his enlistment having expired he was there
discharged by his brother Henry. His discharge was verbal and not a written one is [start of underlined text] that he served during this period Nine months at least
and he thinks and believes longer as a private soldier [end of underlined text].  This company was a part of
the soldiers that were raised by the State of Massachusetts to guard the shore as aforesaid
from invasions. The names of his brother, subaltern officers he has forgotten except 
Thomas Elsbra who who one of them, Col. [Colonel] John Hatheway commanded
the regiments to which this company belonged.  Col. [Colonel] Richmond was the lieutenant Colonel
and Joseph Durfee whose name is affixed to and who signed the annexed affidavit
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officiated as the Major of the Regiment, although the said Peleg thinks he the
said Durfee held both a captain commission-- There were other companies at
that time stationed at Fall River, which belonged to Col. [Colonel] Hatheway regiment
but there was not during this period any Continental troops there
stationed. --Evidence of this service will be found in the affidavit hereunto
annexed, signed by said Joseph Durfee and Benjamin Durfee.

2d. And the said Peleg Brightman upon his oath aforesaid further declares, that
as early as the first of the Month of March 1778 he entered as a volunteer and
private soldier in company of infantry which was at there stationed at Slades Ferry as called
in said Freetown, but which is now in said Troy, under the command of
Capt. [Captain] Fuller, and was there, with the company, engaged in guarding the shores 
of Mount Hope Bay & Taunton Great river from the invasions of the British troops
untill [until] some time in the month of July in that year, when he having been
drafted to go upon the island of Rhode Island as a soldier under his brother
Henry Brightman, he was then and there verbally discharged by Capt. [Captain] Fuller.  [beginning of underlined text] He knows
he served as private soldier under Capt. [Captain] Fuller as aforesaid four months at least and he
believes longer. [end of underlined text]-- He does not recollect the names of Capt. [Captain] Fuller subaltern
officers. He recollects that Col. [Colonel] Jacobs commanded the regiments to which
Capt. [Captain] Fuller company belonged - Col [illegible] was Col. [Colonel] Jacobs [illegible] Colonel, and
Gen. [General] Cornell commanded the Brigade. He recollects that
during this period there were many troops stationed in the vicinity of Slade
Ferry some at Fall River, and a company nearly opposite to Slade Ferry.--
There was not that he recollect any Continental troops in the vicinity of
Slade Ferry during this period.  

3d. And the said Peleg Brightman upon his oath aforesaid further declares that
some time in the month of July 1778 he was drafted and placed as a private
soldier in a company of Infantry under the command of his brother Henry
Brightman; that immediately after he was thus drafted, he was marched with
company from Fall River aforesaid to and upon the Island of Rhode
Island, to take part on Sullivans expedition so called, that he together with
other troops were stationed about two miles from Howlands Ferry so called
on the Island, & were engaged in erecting a fork entrenchments and breast
works, untill [until] Gen. [General] Sullivan [illegible] when he together with the other
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troops were marched to Howlands ferry and after the battle at
Butts & Quaker Hills were transported to the mainland.
That afterwards about the tenth of September in that year he
was at said Fall River verbally discharged by his brother Henry, together with
the whole company from any further duty.  [Begin underlined text] He knows he
was during the period, serving as a private soldier under his
brother Forty days at least & he has but little doubt some time
longer. [End of underlined text] His Brother Henry's Lieutenant was named Babbitt
his ensigns name he has forgotten. - Col. [Colonel] Whitney & Joseph
Durfee who signed the annexed affidavits were the field
officers of the regiment, to which his brothers company was
attached - Gen. [General] Titcomb commanded the Brigade. He recollects
that there were Continental troops upon the Island during this
period but is not certain that he recollects the names of
their officers. He recollects, General La Fayette, Sullivan
& Varnum but whether they were the immediate officers of
the Continental troops he is not certain.
4th
And the said Peleg upon his oath aforesaid further declares
that immediately after he was discharged by his brother Henry
as last above stated he returned to Slade Ferry and about the 
tenth of September 1778 he again joined Capt [Captain] Fullers company of Infantry as a volunteer and served therein as a private
soldier at Slades Ferry where it continued to be stationed unto
Mount Hope Bay was frozen up, which he thinks and
believes was some time in the month of December 1778 when
he and the company were those verbally discharged by Capt. [Captain] Fuller
[Begin underlined text] He knows that he served as a private soldier of Infantry.
under Capt. [Captain] Fuller, during this period, three months at least. [End of underlined text]
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The field officers of the Regiment to which Capt. [Captain] Fullers company belonged during this period this
were the same persons who were field officers when he the said Peleg before
served in it.-  There were not any continental troops stationed
in the vicinity of Slades Ferry that he recollects during this period.-
There were other companies stationed in the vicinity that
belonged to Col. [Colonel] Jacobs regiment - These were however
Massachusetts State troops. as the said Peleg thinks and believes.
5th 
And the said Peleg Brightman upon his oath aforesaid
further declares, that about the first of March 1779 he
was again called out with a company of Infantry commanded
by his brother Henry Brightman which company was a
company of soldiers who volunteered their services, but
engaged to do duty untill [until] the bay called Mount Hope Bay
should be frozen up, for the purpose of guarding the shores
of Mount Hope Bay from invasions.-- That he with the
company to which he belonged and other companies, were stationed at Fall
River aforesaid from about the first of March 1779 to
some time in November in that year, when the British
troops having evacuated the Town of Newport & having left the Island of Rhode Island, he together with the
company under his brother Henry, and the other
companies that were there stationed were all verbally
discharged by Joseph Durfee who signed the annexed
affidavit an acting as the said Joseph Durfee was then acting as the [illegible] colonel commandant of the Regiment. [Begin underlined text] That he the said Peleg served as a private soldier of infantry under his brother Henry during the
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period Eight months at least, if not longer. [End of underlined text] -There were other
companies stationed at Fall River during this period as he the said Peleg well recollects, but whether any of them were continental
troops, at this distant period, he is not able to positively
to state.-  There were companies of militia at and in the vicinity of Fall River during a [illegible] one of which he thinks was commanded
by Capt. [Captain] Haskins, another by Capt. [Captain] Benjamin Reed
another by a Capt. [Captain] Lawrence.-
6th
And the said Peleg Brightman upon his oath aforesaid further declares [Begin underlined text] that besides the above and aforedescribed periods of
service which amount in the whole to a period of more than
Two years of service as a private soldier in the War of the Revolution) [End underlined text] he was called out and served at sworn
different and other times, which he shall not herein mention
particularly as those he has mentioned and described
amount to more than two years.

And the said Peleg Brightman further declares that the several
companies of Infantry to which he belonged and in which he
served in the revolution were the troops of the State of Massachusetts
That he was born as he was informed by his parents and has
no reason to doubt in that part of the Town of Freetown in
the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts which was
in the year 1802 incorporated by the name of the Town of Troy.
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That he was born as he was informed by his parents on the third
day of March in the year 1762- That he has no record of
his age, but as before stated he has no doubt but that he has
herein stated his age correctly. That his place of residence
from the time of his earliest recollection was in that part of
the said Town of Freetown which as before herein stated
was in 1802 incorporated as Troy - His residence was
always there before the Revolution, he there lived at the
several periods when he was called into the service, and
has ever since the Revolution there resided.- How he
was called into the service, also the names of his officers,
of other officers, together with such regiments & as he
recollects & the general circumstances of his service & the
manner in which he was discharged are before stated
this declaration - He was not a substitute.- 
The names of the persons who can testify to his veracity
and services as a soldier are the same who have subscribed the annexed affidavits, & in addition to these he
has no doubt but that the Rev. Philip Hatheway a resident of
said Freetown, and who resides but a few miles from where the said, Peleg resides, together with William Ashley Esqr
a resident of said Troy can testify to his character for veracity & their 
belief, that he rendered the aforementioned and
described services as a soldier in the Army of the Revolution-
Peleg Brightman
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid-
H. Baylies Judge of Probate
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We, Philip Hatheway a clergyman, residing in the
town of Freetown--and William Ashly
residing in the Town of Troy & both in the County of Bristol hereby certify, that we are well acquainted
with Peleg Brightman who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration; that we believe him to be seventy one years of age; that he is
reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of
the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Philip Hatheway
William Ashley
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
H. Baylies Judge of Probate
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 Philip Hatheway
who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of
Freetown-- and that William Ashley--  who has
also signed the same, is a resident in the Town of Troy 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 for said County
[illegible] certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court
matter of the application of Peleg Brightman
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of [left blank] office, this
[illegible] day of February in the year of our Lord one 
thousand eight hundred and thirty four.
Anselm Bassett
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[left fold]
29659
Revy INVALID.

File No.
29659
Peleg Brightman
Pri [Private] Rev [Revolutionary] War

Act:  June 7th 32"
Index:-- Vol. 2, Page 53
(Arrangement of 1870.)

[right fold]
1930 Jan. 18 Photos mailed
to Mrs. Leonora Lawrence
& Fin. Div. [illegible]
Page 12

March. 25.
Certifications for correction. 

[stamped] TAUNTON [ILLEGIBLE] MASS.

Mass. [Massachusetts]

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

[stamped] FREE
Page 13

Taunton Mass. March 20, 1834
Sir, 
I apprehend the inclosed Pension Certificate
was intended for Peleg Brightman and not
for Benjamin Brightman-- I have no record
of the application of Benjamin Brightman for
a pension-- Peleg Brightman's application
was made before the Court of Probate Feb. 4. 1834--
He resides in Troy in the County of Bristol--
Very Respectfully
Your Obt [Obedient] Servant
A Bassett
Page 14

I Joseph Durfee of Troy in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, late a Colonel in the Revolutionary army, being
now in the Eighty fourth of my age, Benjamin Durfee of
said Troy in the eightieth year of my age do testify and say
that we have known and been acquainted with Peleg Brightman
of the same Troy, from the days of his boyhood to the present time, that we have always lived a short distance from him in the same neighborhood and that we know and well acquainted that the said Peleg from some time in the [illegible]
D. 1777 to some time in the winter of the same year was stationed
as a private soldier under command of his brother Henry Brightman, with the
company to which he belonged at Fall River so called, which was part of the Town of Freetown, but is now a part
of said Troy-- that said company were engaged in guarding
the shores of Mount Hope Bay & Taunton Great River from
the invasion of the British troops-- at that time Col. [Colonel] Hatheway commanded the regiment Col. [Colonel] Richmond [illegible]
said Joseph Durfee was the [illegible]
and also that said Peleg was stationed with the company to which
he then belonged, from some time in the spring 1778 to about
the middle of July following, at Slades Ferry, so called, which is
about one mile from Fall River, under Capt. [Captain] Fuller, guarding the shores of Taunton Great river and also of Mount Hope Bay
from invasion.-- Col. [Colonel] Jacobs commanded the Regiment to which
Capt. [Captain] Fullers company was attacked [illegible] was said Jacobs
[illegible].-- Gen. [General] Cornell commanded the Brigade
and also that from some time in July A.D. 1778 to about September that year the said Peleg was in the company
that was under the command of his brother Henry Brightman-- that
said Peleg was upon Rhode Island as a private soldier under his brother Henry
that he served during this period, we should think about forty days under his brother.  Col. 
 [Colonel] Whitney & said Joseph Durfee and also that from that time in September 
were the Regimental officers-- Gen. [General] Titcomb the Brigadier General 
and also that from some time in September 1778 the said Peleg was again
stationed as a private soldier with the company to which he then belonged
under Capt. [Captain] Fuller at Slades Ferry as said untill [until] some time in the
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winter of that year - That he and the company were then engaged
in the same service in which they had been engaged before
Sullivans Expedition so called upon Rhode Island-- Colonel
Jacobs at hand were the field officers of the Regiment to which
Capt. [Captain] Fullers company was attached at that time-- Gen. [General] Connell
commanded the Brigade.--

Also that from some time in the early part of the spring of 1779
to about the first of December in that year said Peleg 
was stationed at said Fall River as a private soldier with
the company to which he then belonged under his brother Capt. [Captain] 
Henry Brightman-- 
Capt. [Captain] Brightman's company was
then under attached to the Regiment which was then commanded 
by the said Joseph Durfee as the [illegible]. Colonel commanded.
Gen. [General] Cornell commanded the Brigade.
 During [illegible] period the said Peleg Brightman was
an active, dutiful solder and actively employed as such in
the service of his then bleeding and suffering Country
with his other fellow soldiers in arms suffering the
hardship and dangers incident to those who took part
as soldiers in the revolutionary struggle for the
[illegible] of [illegible] country from British apparitions & [illegible]
Joseph Durfee
Benjamin Durfee

Bristol ss. December 28th 1833-- Then personally appeared Joseph
Durfee and Benjamin Durfee both credible [illegible] 
entitled to full credit and made oath to the truth of the [illegible] statements
by them subscribed before me.  
{illegible] Hatheway
Justice of the Peace
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I George Reed [Read] of Troy in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being in the Seventy third year of
my age; do testify & say that I have known & been acquainted 
with Peleg Brightman of said Troy from the time he was eight
or ten years of age to the present time, - That having heard
the foregoing affidavit, which is signed by Joseph Durfee
Benjamin Durfee, read to me in my presence, and
knowing that the facts as therein stated as to the several periods of service
of the said Brightman in the revolution to be
true, I deemed it unnecessary to speculate them in
this affidavit, but instead thereof to say that I know 
that the facts, as stated in the said affidavit signed as
aforesaid, are strictly true and furthermore that the
said Peleg who conducted the services stated and mentioned in the forgoing affidavit is now before me
& in my presence.-
George Read

Bristol ss. Feby [February] 3rd 1834. Then personally appeared George
Read a credible person & entitled to full credit & made
oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him
subscribed - Before me, Elnathan P. Hatheway
Justice of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss. Anselm Bassett Register of said Court of Probate in Bristol County.  Said I
hereby certify that Elnathan P. Hatheway
is a Justice of the Peace for said County
that the signatures to the [illegible]
certificates, purporting to be [illegible]
genuine - In testimony [illegible]
I have hereunto set my hand
and affixed the seal of said Court
this fifth day of February
Eighteen hundred thirty four.
Anselm Bassett
Page 18

Please have certified and return to Revolutionary & 1812 Wars
Section, Room 5033.

Photostatic copies of eleven pages from Revolutionary War
claim for pension of Peleg Brightman, Massachusetts Troops,
Survivor File No. 29659.

Job sheet
Signed for by Brook
Jan. [January] 13, 1930-(Lost)
Page 19

January 4, 1930.

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:
Please furnish me photostatic copies of eleven pages
from Revolutionary War pension claim of Peleg Brightman,
Massachusetts Troops, S. 29659, certified.
Very truly yours,
Cash--$1.90
[Stamped] FINANCE DIVISION
BOOK-KEEPER [illegible]
JAN 6 1930
BUREAU OF PENSONS [End Stamp]

Mrs. Leonard Lawrence
Spring Valley Road
Hackensack
N.J.

Received payment
$1.90
January 4, 1930

Ida DeYoung.

Rev.&1812 Wars Section.