Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33,504, for Ephraim Pratt, Massachusetts
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(3 - 1776)

Pratt, Ephraim
SERVICE Mass
NUMBER S33.504
Mass. Pratt, Ephraim S. 33,504
CONTENTS
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10,282
Massachusetts
Ephraim Pratt
of Carver in the state of Massachusetts who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Sprout of the Massa. line for the term of 3 years

Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 dollars per month, to commence on the 11 of April 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 6 May 1819 and sent to Nahum Milborne, Dedham, Norfolk, Co

Arrears to 4th March 1819  86.36
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept. '19  48.--
$134.36

{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818}
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Ephraim Pratt
Carver
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[handwritten]
 I Ephraim Pratt of Carver in the County of Plymouth & Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a Citizen of the United States and still resident therein set forth and declare that I was a soldier in the war of the revolution for more than nine months on the continental establishment, that from my reduced circumstances and the assistance of my country for support, and do therefore desire that I may obtain a pension from the United States agreeably to a late act of Congress of the 18 of March last, and do relinquish all claim to any pension heretofore granted of any by any act of Congress - that I entered the service at the beginning of the war at Roxbury in 1775 and served eight months, and then enlisted into the years service; and then I enlisted again in the first three years service, and
served that out and then I enlisted for during the war and served to the end of it, and have an honorable discharge from Genl. Washington dated 10th June 1783 with the badge of merit subjoined, which I herewith exhibit. I served under several captains &
Colonels- but most under Cap.t Judah Alden and in the second Regiment in the Massachusetts line, commanded at last by Col.
Ebenezer Sproat Lt Commandant--Ephraim Pratt
Cato Howe served three years with me in the same company under Capt. George Dunham. William Whiting served also three years with me in Capt. Seth Drews company and the same
Regiment with me but not the same company. I also knew Thomas Howard of Plymouth to serve in the next Regiment to ours, commanded by Col. Wigglesworth, I cannot say how long he served. I [illegible cross out]
Ephraim Pratt
Sworn to April 11. 1818
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Ephm. Pratt's 
Schedule &c.
10
Sept. 1819

Con
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SCHEDULE
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Plymouth ss.

On this seventeenth day of July A. D. 1820, before the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Southern Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, having a power also of fine and imprisonment, and keeping a record of their proceedings, personally appeared in open Court, being a court of record for the said County Ephraim Pratt aged sixty four years, resident in Carver in said County, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary war a follows, viz. for the term on One year in Col. John Bailey's Regt, Capt. Jno. Bridgham's company, & one other term of three years in Col. Bailey's Regt. & Capt. Geo. Dunham's compy. & after that to the end of the war in Col. Sprout Regt. Capt. Judah Alden's company. And that he has received a pension certificated dated May 6th 1819 and numbered 10,282 in pursuance of his original  Declaration made April 11, A. D.  1818 and also takes and subscribed the following oath, viz.
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818. And that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled, “An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War”, passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor do I have any income other that what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. 
I am a farmer by occupation that I am unable to labour on account of a cancerous humour which is very painful & has already destroyed almost half my nose & a part of my upper lip & mouth so that it is with great difficulty I can talk so as to be understood, my wife Keziah is 62 years of age & in very feeble health & has been for about 40 years, being wholly unable to contribute to her support, I have no family except my self & wife.. My cancer rages at present & threatens me with a speedy dissolution excepting clothing & beding I have no property real or personal but what is stated below. I own about $500 & have nothing due me. One half of a small house & 35 acres of land, 6 chairs, 2 tables, crockery ware & iron ware.
Ephraim Pratt
Sworn to and declared on the 17th day of July before Nahum Mitchell C. Justice of sd. Court

I, John B. Thomas clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said 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 is two hundred &seven dollars and ---cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court on this Twenty sixty day of Decr. 1820
(seal)
Jno. B. Thomas
Clerk of the Court for the County of Plymouth
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(stained) & 1812 Wars Section

March 13, 1924

T. E. Dunlap
University of Porto Rico
Mayaguez, P. R.

Sir,
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 33504, it appears that Ephraim Pratt enlisted at Roxbury, Massachusetts, early in 1775, served eight months as private, officers not stated, one year in Captain John Bridgham's Company, Colonel John Bailey's Massachusetts Regiment, three years in Captain George Dunham's Company, Colonel John Baileys Massachusetts Regiment, then as a Sergeant in Captain Judah Alden's Company, Colonel Ebenezer Sprout's Massachusetts Regiment until discharged June
10, 1783, having served eight years and one month in all.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 11, 1818, while a resident of Carver, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.
In 1820 he was sixty-four years of age and his wife, Keziah, was sixty-two years of age.
there is no further family data on file.
Respectfully,
Commissioner
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Ronaryev. & 1812 Wars Section MMHF

August 4, 1926

T. E. Dunlap
University of Porto Rico
Mayaguez, Porto Rico

Sir:
I have to advise you relative to the Revolutionary War pensioner Ephraim Pratt, S. 33504, that no reference is made to his widow in the papers on file in this Bureau.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid, and possibly the date of soldier's death, you should apply to the Record Section, Civil Division, General Accounting Office, 1800 E. Street, N. W. Washington, D. C., citing all of the following data:
"Ephraim Pratt, Certificate No. 10282, issued May 6, 1819, rate $8 per month, commenced April 11, 1818, Act of March 18, 1818, Massachusetts Agency".
Respectfully
Winfield Scott
Commissioner
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Logo 
Government of Porto Rico
University of Porto Rico
Mayaguez, P. R. 
College of Agriculture and Engineering
Office of the Dean
July 17, 1926

Department of Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Rev. and 1812 Section
Washington, D. C. 

Dear sirs:
I wish to request information as to the date of the last payments on Pension claim S. 33504 in favor of Serg. Ephraim Pratt of Capt. Judah Alden's Co., Col. Ebenezer Sprout's Mass. Reg. discharged on June 10, 1783.
He was allowed pension on his application dated April 11, 1818, while a resident in Carver, Plymouth Co. mass.
Can you inform me whether his wife survived him or no?

Sincerely,
(signature) T. E. Dunlap
T. E. Dunlap
Head, Dept. Chem. Chem. Eng. Sugar Tech.
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University of Porto Rico
College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
Mayaguez, P. R. 
Feb. 5, 1924

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.

Dear Sir:
Can you give me any information as to Sergt. Ephraim Pratt who enlisted mar. 12,1777 in Capt. George Dunham Company of the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment. He was appointed corporal July 1, 1778, re-enlisted (illegible) 15, 1779-promoted Sergt. March 1, 1780, transfered to Capt. Judah Alden's company July 1780.
Any information you have will be appreciated.
Sincerely 
T. E. Dunlap
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MVM. P. M. T.

March 8th 1897
Mr. Wm. Lochren
War Department
Washington D. C. 

Dear Sir,
Please send the war records of the following men who served in the Revolutionary war.
Ephraim Pratt who I always thought enlisted from Reading, Mass.
Dr. Silas Merriam enlisted from Concord or Lexington, Mass.
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Amos Tapley enlisted from Danvers, Mass.
Simon Mudge private enlisted from Danvers Mass.
And oblige,
Emma J. Pratt.
P. O. 
Danvers Centre, Mass.
Essex, Co.
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33504
Revy INVALID

File No. 33,504
Ephraim Pratt
Pri Rev. War

Act: 18th March '18
Index: Vol. 2, Page 328

[Arrangement of 1870]

April 15, 1897 history to Miss Emma J. Pratt, Danvers Centre, Mass.
1924 March 13, Hist. to T. E. Dunlap M.C.S.
1926  Aug. 4-T. Dunlap advised how to obtain date of last payment etc. MMHF
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Ephraim Pratt
Carver

The Judge is desired to certify as to Pratt's indigence & return the discharge with the declaration to the War Department

Admd.
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COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

On this 11th day of April AD. 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Circuit court of Common Pleas, for the Southern Circuit, personally appeared Ephraim Pratt of Carver, aged  (blank) years, resident in the said Circuit, who being by me first duly cautioned according to law, on his oath made the following declaration, by him signed, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war", viz. that he served in said war as a private soldier for the first 8 months and then for the first year, and then for the first three years and then during the war, most part of the time in Capt. Judah Alden's Company and Col. Sprout's Regiment & Mass. Line. 
See his said Declaration & discharge enclosed,
The said Pratt from his reduced circumstances needs the assistance of his country for support.
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And I the said Judge do certify that the said Ephraim from his reduced circumstances needs the assistance of his county for support.
And I, the said Judge, do ^also^ certify, that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Ephraim Pratt did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months, on the continental establishment; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress.
Nahum Mitchell
(seal)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
...........ss ....................1818
I hereby certify, that [blank] is one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Southern Circuit, consisting of the Counties of Plymouth, Norfolk, Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket in said Commonwealth--that the same Circuit Court of Common Pleas is a Court of record--that the signature to the above certificate is the true signature of the said Judge, and that the seal thereunto affixed is the seal of the said Court.
[blank] Clerk of the Judicial Court for the County of [blank]
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HEAD-QUARTERS, June tenth 1783

The within CERTIFICATE shall not avail the Bearer as a Discharge, until the Ratification of the definitive Treaty of Peace; previous to which Time, and until Proclamation thereof shall be made, He is to be considered as being on Furlough.
GEORGE WASHINGTON [printed]

Secretary's office Boston, March 13, 1805
These certify that Ephraim Pratt late a soldier in the Continental Army has received a benefit of (illegible) in the General Court of this Commonwealth and this discharge is (illegible) by (illegible) order.
John Avery Secy.


[Misc. writing, most illegible]
Sergt. Pratt
Sergt. Ephraim Pratt
chooses cash
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BY HIS EXCELLENCY
GEORGE WASHINGTON,  Esq.
General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the United States of America

THESE are to CERTIFY that the Bearer hereof Ephraim Pratt, Sergeant, in the Second Massachusetts Regiment, having faithfully served the United States for eight years and one month, and being inlisted for War only, is hereby DISCHARGED from the American Army.
GIVEN at HEAD-QUARTERS the tenth day of June 1783
G. Washington (signature)

BY HIS EXCELLENCY'S
Command,
P Tumbull [?Bindly]

REGISTERED in the Books of the Regiment.
William Toney Adjutant