Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,837, Thomas Berry, N.H.
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SERVICE N.H.

Berry, Thomas

NUMBER  S.17837

Carded
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10634
New Hampshire
Thomas Berry
of Strafford in the State of N.Hamp who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Titcomb of the Regt commanded by Col Poor in the N Hamp line for 9 months

Inscribed on the Roll of New Hampshire at the rate of 30 Dollars -- Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of April 1833 and sent Nehemiah Eastman Farmington NH

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 - - - -  $60.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar '34 - - 15.00
[total] $75.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by D D Addison Clerk
Book E  Vol.2d Page 73

[along right edge]
July 14 - 1835 A B.
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Thomas Berry
13,128
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DECLARATION  In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State of New-Hampshire, 
County of Strafford} ss.  At a Court of Probate holden at Rochester in said County On this fifteenth day of Sept. 1832 personally appeared before the Judge of the Court of Probate, Thomas Berry a resident of Strafford in the County of Strafford and State of New-Hampshire, aged 76 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1775 with Capt B. Titcomb and served in the second regiment of the N. Hampshire line, under the following named officers:-- that is to say he enlisted in May 1775 to serve as a soldier for eight months and did serve that time - that the officers of his Company besides said Capt. Titcomb, were Lieutrnant  Bell and Ensign Evans - that the regiment was commanded by Col. Poor-- that said service was performed by him as above stated at Winter Hill near Boston in Massachusetts - that when his said time was out he returned home but took no written discharge. That immediately after his said return home in 1776 he engaged as a minute man to defend Portsmouth NH. - joined the Company of Capt Samuel Hays, the other officers not now recollected by him and that he served under said engagement last mentioned about one month-
He further says that according to the best information he has on the subject he was born in the town of Rye NH. the last day of February 1756 - that he has no record of his age - that he resided at Barrington in said County of Stafford at the time he went into the war of the revolution and has always since his return resided in said Barrington, and Strafford where he now resides a part of said Barrington being now Strafford

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Thomas Berry X his Mark

And the said Court do hereby declare its opinion, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
[signed] Daniel C. Atkinson Judge of Probate

I, James Bartlett Rege of the Court of Probate do hereby certify [that the foregoing] contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Thomas [Berry] for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court, this 16th day of September AD 1832.
[signed] James Bartlett Rege
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Thomas Berry
N Hampshire
Private 9 mos
Admd [admitted]
13128.
Nehemiah Eastman E[sq]
Farmington
N H
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BRIEF in the case of Thomas Berry Co of Strafford N. H. 
(Act 7th June, 1832.) 

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? before the Judge of Probate

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily injury? [blank] 

3. How old is he? 76 

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
2d Regt NH line, in 1775 enlisted, 8 months, private, Cap Titcomb Col Poor
[in 1775 enlisted], 1 month, private, Cap Hays

5. In what battles was he engaged?  none mentioned

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  County of Strafford NH

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Traditionary one living witness

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and, if so, how?  [blank]

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
[signed] George Taylor  Examining Clerk.
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August 9, 1937

Thomas Berry
S. 17837
BA-J/AWF

Miss Irene Leighton
Strafford, Bow Lake
New Hampshire
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Thomas Berry and Thomas Hayes of Strafford County, New Hampshire.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information, it is not possible to comply in full with each request.
The record of Thomas Berry is furnished herein as found in pension claim, S. 17837, based upon his military service in the War of the Revolution.
Thomas Berry was born "the last day of February" 1756 in Rye, New Hampshire. The names of his parents were not given.
While residing in Barrington, Strafford County, New Hampshire, Thomas Berry enlisted in the month of May, 1775, and served eight months as a private in Captain Benjamin Titcomb's company in Colonel Enoch Poor's Second New Hampshire Regiment. Immediately on his return home, he enlisted and served one month in Captain Samuel Hays' company in the defence of Portsmouth.
He was allowed pension on his application exe-
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ecuted September 15, 1832, then living in Strafford, Strafford County, New Hampshire. He died July 14, 1835
The papers on file in this claim contain no reference to wife or children.
In order to obtain the name and address of the person paid the last payment of this pension, you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D.C., and furnish the following data:
Thomas Berry
Certificate # 10634
Issued April 18, 1833
Rate $30.00 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
New Hampshire Agency.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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17837
INVALID.
File No. 17,837
Thomas Berry
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 423
[in brackets] Arrangement of 1870.

[right side of page]
1939 Aug. 9. Hist to Irene Leighton
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Thomas Berry, 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? [blank]

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
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[Page] 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? [blank]

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? [blank]

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? [blank]

XIV. +If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? [blank]
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of witness or witnesses? yes 
Has the proper officer certified to the character and signature of the magistrate as regulations direct? Yes

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in 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? Yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes [illegible]

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 _____; and for such service I claim a pension.
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[page] 3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement ; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the services was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

+QUERE XIV . Proof of Service. 
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on 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 he 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 authenticates 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 ends 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. 
  [hand symbol pointing ] In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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I James Burnham of Somersworth in the County of Strafford and  State of New Hampshire aged seventy eight years depose and say that Thomas Berry of Strafford (formerly Barrington) in said County enlisted in May 1775 into the Company commanded by Benjamin Titcomb of Dover in said County and marched from said Dover in June 1775 on Monday  following the Battle of Bunker Hill [.]  that said Berry and myself enlisted in said Company to serve eight months at the expiration of which time said Berry left the Company, and I enlisted for a further term of one year[.]  said Company belonged to the Second Regiment of which Enoch Poor was Colonel John McDuffer Lieut Colonel and ___ Cilley Major[.]  I am confident about the time of said Berry's enlistment as he and myself passed Muster on the same day
[signed] James Burnham

State of New Hampshire
County of Strafford } ss.  Then personally appeared James Burnham and made oath that the above deposition by him signed was just and true
Before me [signed] Tappan Wentworth Justice of the Peace
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I certify that the within deponent James Burnham is a man of truth and veracity and that I have known him several years
[signed] Tappan Wentworth
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State of New Hampshire
Strafford ss.  I James Bartlett Reg of the Probate Court for said County of Strafford do hereby certify that the within named Tappan Wentworth whose name is subscribed to the within Certificate is a Justice of the Peace for said County of Strafford and that said Signature is his proper signature
In witness whereof I have hereto caused the official seal to be annexed this 27th day of September AD 1832
[signed] James Bartlett    Regt
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Strafford, N. H. July 23, 1937

Veteran's Administration,
Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
Will you please send me the Rev. War Pension Records of Thomas Berry
and Thomas Hayes of Strafford County, New Hampshire.
Very truly yours,
[signed] Irene E. Leighton

Miss Irene Leighton
Strafford, Bow Lake, N. H.