Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 18,657, Oliver Bradford, Mass.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE                        NUMBER
Mass.     Bradford, Oliver   W 18,657
                    Sarah
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6152
Massachusetts ┃
---
Oliver
Bradford
of Bristol Co in the State of Mass
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Drew
by Col Bailey
of the Regt commanded
in the Mass.
line for 2 years
Court State
Inscribed on the Roll of Alas Sac
at the rate of 80 - Dollars - Cents
per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of Feb
1833 and Sent Hon J. L. Hodge now of [illegible]

Arrears to 4th
of Sept 1832 $120.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 20
$40.00
$160.00

⎨ Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by 
D. D. Addison Clerk,
Book D
Vol. 2
Page 96
78
Bristol
Page 3


Massachusetts - 444
Sarah Bradford
widow of Oliver Bradford, dec'd
who was a pensioner under the Act of June 7.
and who died on the 16 Nov. 1835
of Bristol in the Signed May
who was a Private in the Company commanded
Captain Drew of the Reg commanded by
Barley in the Mass. line for 2
years
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 80 Dollars Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of Sept
38, and sent to A. Bapiste
Taunton
Mass.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. $200
Semi-annual allowance ending --
$40.
$240.

Act July 7, 1838
Recorded by Bender
Book A Vol. 1 Page 70

[illegible] J.D. [illegible] March 8/60
Page 4

State of Massachusetts- County of
Bristol, on the second day of October
-
A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open
get along the
in Court of Probate
now sitting in New Bedford for said
County of Bristol, Oliver Bradford
of Fairhaven in said County & State
aged seventy four on the tenth day of
January last, being born in Plimpton
County of Plymouth & said State, on
the tenth day of January, 1758. who
being duly sworn according to law
doth on oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the
benefit of an act of Congress passed
June 7th 1832- That he entered
the service of the United States under the
following named officer & served as herein stated, to wit; that in
the fall of 1776, he went as a private
soldier in Capt. Ebenezer Washburn
company, for three months, to Newport
just before the British came to that place
Page 5

That soon after he enlisted for four months
served that time, at Bristol in the
State of R. Island, in a company
commanded by Capt. Nathaniel
Shaw Col Seth Cushing's Regiment
That in 1780 he enlisted for six
months, and served that term of
time
in the continental army, in a
company commanded by Seth
Drew, who is now deceased, of Kingston in said County of Plymouth being
most of said time at West point
but part of the same in the State
of New Jersey, in the 2d Massachusetts Regiment, under Col. Bailey
for this service he has a written
discharge,
dated Jany 9. 1781-
That soon after he enlisted & served
nine month in the Continental
army
in said 3d Regiment, & in
the company commanded by Capt
Judah Alden, who is now living in
Darling (?) in said County of Plymouth
Page 6

whose certification hereto is annexed.
That he has no other discharge
than the one above refered to which
is also hereto annexed, except the
said certificate of Capt. Judah
Alden
That he was
inhabitant of Plimpton in said
County of Plymouth,
when the enlisted & went into
the army
as above stated-

That he hereby relinquishes all claims
to a pensions whatever & declares
that he his name is not borne
on the pension roll of the agency
of any State, that
he also served six months in
the continental
army basically
the service above stated, in Captain
Lord's company & same Massachusetts
Regiment but knows
no man or officer of that company
to be now living 

His
Oliver + Bradford
Mark
Page 7

Sworn to & subscribed the day year
first above written
---
H. Baylies
Judge of Probate
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Sarah Bradford
W. of Oliver Bradford
Mass
Act 7 July 38
5 years
Married in 1782
admit
2 years pre
80$
no deduction
A. Bassett
Taunton
Mass
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601
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COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
On this Eighth
day of August
eighteen hundred and thirty eight --
personally appeared before
Oliver Brevett Judge of the Court of
Probate in and for the County of
Bristol and Commonwealth aforesaid
Sarah Bradford
a resident of Fairhaven
in the county of Bristol
aged seventy four 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 provisions made by the act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838,
entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."" That
she is the widow of Oliver Bradford who
was a private Soldier in the war of the
Revolution that
she verily believes that her husband the
said Oliver Bradford served under
Capt Washburn at and near Newport in the State of
Rhode Island,
three months during the year
1776-
that he served four months
at Bristol Rhode Island under Capt. Shaw
in Colonel Cushings
Regiment that
in 1780
he enlisted for said six
months under Capt. Drew. at West Point and
other places, in
Col. Baileys Regiment that
he served nine months in the 2d 
Regt in a company
commanded by
Capt. Judah Alder - and that he
afterwards served six months under Capt.
Lord she
further says that the said
Oliver Bradford was a Pensioner
Page 11

under the Act of June 7, 1832 and
she refers to his declaration and
the evidence thereto
annexed
to prove
his said service She

further says
that the said Oliver Bradford resided
in Fairhaven aforesaid at the time
he made application for a pension aforesaid
and continued to reside there to the time
of his death-
Page 12


She further declares that she was married to the said Oliver
Bradford
on the twenty first
day of February
in the year seventeen hundred
and eighty two
that her said husband, the aforesaid
Oliver Bradford died
on the day of Sixteenth day
of November Eighteen hundred and thirty-five that she was not married to 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. Her

Her
Sarah X Bradford
mark
Witness: James Wing

attend the court.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year above written.
Before
Oliver Prescott Judge of the Court
of Probate in for the County of Bristol

I Oliver Prescott Judge of the Court
of Probate in for the County of Bristol
do certify that Sarah Bradford
the above named applicant for a pension, cannot by reason of bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Oliver Prescott
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Bristol ss. I, Anselm Bassett, Register of the Court of Probate in and
for said County, do hereby certify that the Hon. Oliver Prescott is the Judge
of said Court, which Court is a Court of record, and that the signature affixed
to the above certificates
are genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
the seal of said Court, this fifteenth
day of August eighteen hundred and thirty eight
A. Barrett
Page 13

16,725

Oliver
Bradford

2 Yrs Private
[illegible]

J. L. Hodges
H. R.
Page 14


16.721
Brief in the case of Oliver Bradford
of Bristol in the State of Mass
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?--
3. How old is he? 74
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[Column Headings]
Period.
Duration of Service.
Rank
Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.

76-fall, 3 mos. Private, Gen. Ebenezer
Capt Washburn

Soon after, 4 mos, Private, Capt, Nathaniel Shaw, Col. Cushing

Soon after '80, 6 mos., Private, Capt. Seth Drew, Col. Bailey

Soon after, 9 months, Capt. Alden, Col. Bailey
also 6 mos., Capt. Lord, same Regiment
-

In what battles was he engaged?
None mentioned.
Where did he reside when he entered the service? Plymouth
Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
a discharge-
3 living Witnesses
Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Right

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
Wm. C. Easton
Examining Clerk.
14 Feby 1883
Page 15

The following Marriages consummated
by
Rev.
Ezra Sampson
Oliver Bradford to Sarah Chipman
February the twenty first one thousand seven
hundred and eighty two. "
I certify that the above is a true copy of the
Record with the exception of the date, which is
expressed in the Record in fair legible figures
as follows, viz. Febr ye
21 - 1782
---
Lewis Bradford Clerk of the Town of
Plympton in the County of
Plymouth and Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.
I Lewis Bradford above named, depose and
say: that I hold the office of Clerk of the Town of
Plympton in the County of Plymouth and Common
wealth of Massachusetts, and that the above is a
true extract from the Records of said Town of Plympton
with the exception above named as certified by me
Lewis Bradford Clerk of Plympton
Plympton August 3. 1838.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County SS. Plympton August 10th 1838 there personally
appeared before the Subscriber Lewis Bradford Town Clerk in
Plympton and made oath that the above Declaration by him
Subscribed is true
Before Me Jonathan Parker Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth SS. I Jacob H Lord Register of Probate for said
County do hereby certify that Jonathan Parker Esq. is Justice of the Peace in & for said County & that the above is
his true + genuine signature

In testimony
whereof I have hereunto
set my hand & the seal of the Court
of Probate for said County 
on the eleventh day of August 1838
Jacob H. Lord
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BRADFORD, OLIVER MASS
Oliver Bradford has served six months
and one day as a good soldier in the 2d Mass. Regt and hereby
discharged
Given under my hand at West Point
this 9th day of January 1781
Hugh Maxwell Mayor Commander of second regiment

the Companies on the different rout
[illegible] provision to Oliver Bradford Supplies to Submit on 
from one store to another to
Plymouth County
in the State of Mass Bay
West Point Jan. 9 1781
Hugh Maxwell Major Com
2d Regt
Page 17

I am (?) Certify Olive Bradford has been Victual 
and at this post including
the 1st of July instant  
West Point Jan. 9 1881
H. [illegible] DM



Issued their Rations
in behalf Jas. Wallace [illegible] 
John William Frost A.L.I.

Hartford [illegible] 1781
[illegible] Days Rations
Daniel Pitman
Page 18

No 726
Oliver Bradford
J.L. Hodge, HR
Page 19


BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Oliver Bradford
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?--
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
see discharge [illegible]
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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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? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? --
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?--
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?
yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct?
yes

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such 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?
XVII.
Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered?  yes

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 -- months
, and --- days, I I served as a-

and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 21

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 objection
able. 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 service was performed, he was not employed
in any civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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.
tQUERE 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.
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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Page 22

Pension Office, March 6. 1860

the 3d Auditor will please certify the date of last
payments in the case of Oliver Bradford, Massachusetts Roll [illegible] Jan. 7, 1832 at him and Sarah Foster, same State, act July 7. 1838.
the papers in these cases are
enclosed.
for Commissioner,

John Robb
Chief Clk
Died 16 Nov 35
Died 1 June 39
Page 23

Sir:
3rd Auditors' Office 
Mar. 7. 1860
Oliver Bradford, died Nov. 16, 1835 and his widow died June 1, 1839
Very Respy
A. Jamison, Auditor


Geo. C. Whiting Esq
Commr of Pension
Page 24

Rev
WIDOW, &c.

File No. 18,657
Sarah Bradford
Widow
Oliver Bradford
Priv Rev War
---
Act: July 7th 1838


Index: -- Vol. A Page 80

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 25


This may certify that Oliver Bradford was
Soldier in my Company 2d Mass Regt
nine months in the year 1781 & was at that time and
still is a good and faithful man
Duxbury June 30th 1832
Judah Alden
Plymouth ss Duxbury Sept 28th 1832
Personally appeared Judah Alden above
named & made oath that the above statement
by him subscribed is true
Before me Saml Stetson Just. Peace
Page 26

I Gideon Sampson Formerly of Plympton Now of
Halifax in the County of Plymouth and State of
Massachusetts of the age of Seventy three years testify and
Say that I was a soldier in the war of the American Revolution
and in the Fall of the year 1776 I enlisted and went to Bristol
in the State of Rhode Island in Capt Nathaniel Shaw's Company
[illegible] in Lieutenant John Shaw [illegible] in Col. Seth Cushing' regiment (one served 4 mos)
testify and say that I knew Oliver
Bradford then of Plympton Now of Fairhaven in the County of
Bristol State of Massachusetts who was in said Shaw's Company
and served four months which was the time of his Enlistment
and always have known said Bradford to the present time
September 18th 1832
Gideon Sampson
Page 27


Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County
September 28th 1832
then Personally
appeared the within named Gideon Sampson before the Subscriber and made oath that the within Deposition by him subscribed
true
Before me
Jonathan Parker Justice of the Peace
and Further Certify Said Deponent is a credible
Witness and a man of truth Jonathan Parker Justice of the peace
Page 28

I Elisha Washburne of Kingston in the County of
Plymouth and State of Massachusetts aged seventy
four years. Testify & say that I well know Oliver
Bradford of Fairhaven in ye County of Bristol who
is now an applicant for a Pension. That in the year
1776 I served three months in the Revolutionary war
at Newport in the State of Rhode Island said Oliver
Bradford I well remember served with the same
term of time namely three months & in the same
Company which was commanded by Capt. Ebenezer
Washburn, Elijah Bisbee & Ezekiel Loring Lieutenants
.
Elisha Washburn
Page 29

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Plymouth SS.
September 29th 1832
This day personally appeared Elisha Washburn
and made solemn oath as to the truth of the within
Deposition by him subscribed and I certify that
sum well acquainted with sd Washburn and
that he is a man of truth & veracity.
-
Eli Cook J. of ye Peace
Page 30

O. Bradford
Page 31

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth 

I, J. Matthias
Clerk of the Judicial Court
for the County of Plymouth, hereby certify that
Jonathan Parker H Cook and Samuel Stetson Esquires
are Justices of the Peace for the County of Plymouth
sitting under the authority of said Commonwealth
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial
Court on this ninth day of October in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Will Momas
Page 32

Mass.  Bradford, Oliver W 18657
Sarah
Page 33

Commonweath of Massachusetts
Bristol
We William Gould, Clergyman
of Fairhaven in the County of
Bristol, and Joseph Tripp of
the same place, hereby certify
that we are well acquainted with Oliver Bradford of this town, but formerly of Plympton, County of Plymouth
who has applied for a pension under
a late act of Congress, that he is about
seventy five years old. that he is
reputed & believed to have been a
soldier in the war of the revolution
that we are also of that opinion
William Gould
Joseph F Tripp
Bristol Octor. 1-- 1832-
Subscribed & sworn to by said Gould
who is a regular clergyman &
Joseph Tripp, who is a credible person &
respectable inhabitant of said Fairhaven
Before me, [illegible] Justice of Peace
.
Page 34

Oliver Bradford
16725
J.L. Hodge HR
Page 35

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion
after the investigation of the matter, and after
scribed by the war
putting the interrogatories present
Department, that the above named applicant
was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states and
the Court further certifies that it appears
to them that William Gould who ⌨
has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman
, resident in the town of Fairhaven in
said County
of Bristol and that
Joseph Tripp
who has also signed the same is a
resident in the same
Fairhaven is a
credible person that their statement is
entitled to credit
October 16. 1832 H. Baylies, Judge of Probate-
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol

I Anselm Bassett Register of the
Court of Probate in for said County, do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said Court in the matter
of the application of Oliver Bradford of
Fairhaven in said County for a Pension-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand

and the seal of the said Court the sixteenth day of October Eighteen hundred and thirty two
Anselm Bassett
Page 36

Melvin O. Bradford of Fairhaven in
the County of Bristol & Commonwealth of
Massachusetts aged Forty Six years, do testify & say, that I am a Son of Oliver
Bradford late of Fairhaven aforesaid,
deceased - That the said Oliver Bradford
was a Pensioner of the United States
That he died on the Sixteenth day of November Eighteen hundred & thirty five leaving
a widow, viz, Sarah Bradford who is my
Mother. That the said Sarah Bradford
is still living & that she has not been married
since the decease of her husband the said
Oliver Bradford Fairhaven, July 2, 1838


Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Bristol
Fairhaven July 7 1838. Bristol
Then personally appeared
Melvin O Bradford, and made affirmation to the truth
of the foregoing declaration by him subscribed.
Levi Jenney Justice of the Peace
Page 37

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol County ss. Anselm Barrett
Register of the Court of Probate in for
said County, do hereby certify that
Levi Jenney, whose signature is affixed
to the within certificate is a Justice
of
the Peace in the said County
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand the seal
of said Court this fifteenth day
of
August Eighteen hundred and
thirty Eight
A Barrett