Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21295, Seth Holbrook, Mass.
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Service
Mass.

Holbrook, Seth

Number S 21295

carded
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15161
Massachusetts

Seth Holbrook
Of Bellingham in the State of Massachusetts who was a private Corp Hdqt in the Company commanded by Captain Fairbank of the regiment commanded by Col. Willard in the Mass (?) line for 1 mo 15 days for 
8  p Cpr[
6 mo 14 days gh

[Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by W. L. Williams  Clerk, 
Book E  Vol. 2 Page 32
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Brief in the case of Seth Holbrook of Bellingham in the State of Massachusetts
(Act 7th June, 1832)

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

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3.  How old is he?  81 years

4.  State hi service, as directed in the form annexed.

Information listed will be read from left to right. 

PERIOD  DURATION OF SERVICE  RANK  Names of General & Field Officers under whom he served. 

 April In 1775  1 month 15 Days  Private  6 yrs Fairbanks

June  1775  8 months Corporal  Capt. Cobb & Col. Reed

April 1776  2  months  Sargent  Capt.  Cowell  & Col. Robinson

(?)  1777  4 months Sargent  Capt Cowell & Col . Willard

(?)  1780  14 days  Sargent  Cmd Ellis  Cp; Ward

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  none

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Bellingham Massachusetts

7.  In his statement supported by livig witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  By living witnesses

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  (Correct?)

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.  

Signature of Richard Cutts
Examining Clerk.
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Seth Holbrook 
15219
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COMMONWEALTH of MASSACHUSETTS.
County of Norfolk  ss. On this twenty first day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable John M Williams Presiding Judge of the CC Pleas now sitting at D Olean in and for said County Seth Holbrook a resident of Bellingham [?] in the said County, aged nearly 81 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 7th, A.D. 1832. That he was born at Bellingham the 24 November [illegible] 1751 and that there is a record of his birth [illegible] town books.
: THAT he was in the United States Service from the 20th day of April A.D 1775, to the [illegible] [crossed out day] of June A.D. 1775, as a volunteer in the Massachusetts line. :that he was residing at Bellingham when he entered the service; that he marched as a Private [illegible] and one half months and served for the period aforesaid [crossed out under the] command of Capt. Fairbanks , Wentham and Roseburg.
: that he marched from Bellingham to ---bridge and from ===bridge to Roseburg-that he had no written discharge and knows of no people [crossed out through] living who served said six weeks in the same company. [crossed out that he was in battle] and service on and who can testify on his behalf. also 
2 That he was in the United States service from about the first of June 1775 to latter part of January 1776 as [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] adjustment in the Massachusetts line- that he was residing at Bellingham when he entered this service.-that he [illegible] as volunteer and served a[illegible] under [illegible] of Capt Samuel Cobb in [illegible] regiment at Roseburg, he had no written discharge.
ALSO: that he was in the United States Service from [crossed out] January A.D. 1776 to [crossed out the] [illegible] April A.D. 1776, as a Sergeant in the Massachusetts line.
3: that he was residing at Bellingham when he entered the service; that he was a volunteer for two months at Roxbury command of Capt. Samuel Cowell in Col Robbinson Robinson's Regiment at the times when the British [illegible] Boston-he was in no battle and has no written discharge. : [crossed out that he marched from]
Also
4 That he was in the United States Service from [crossed out through that he was in battle and left service on] some time in August 1777 to sometime in December 1777 as a Sergeant in the Massachusetts line. he was residing at Bellingham when he [illegible] this service and marched from Bellingham to Northampton and from Northampton to Ticonderoga where he served as a Sergeant four[months and 
[illegible] command of Capt. Cowell in Col Wil [cut off] Regiment, was in no battle and no written discharge.
ALSO: that he was in the United States service [crossed out from day of ] an an alarm in the year A,D, 1776 [crossed out to the day of A.D. 17], as a sergeant in the Massachusetts line.
5 :that he was residing at Bellingham when he entered the service; that he volunteered as a sergeant for about two weeks and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Capt Armor Ellis in Col Harris Regiment at Freetown-he served with no regular troops-know no regular officers and had no written discharge when he left. [crossed out :that he marched from through that he was in battle and left service on]
# about w months service in that campaign was as a volunteer Sergeant from Capt Cobbs to same in an artillery company and [illegible] command of an Officer whose name he does not recollect - but the artillery was stationed at Millbrook
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We Jacob Ide a clergyman of the West Parish in Medway near Bellingham have and Stephen Metcalf a justice of the peace residing in Bellingham do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Seth Holbrook who has subscribed to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be 81 (age has ink over it) years of age and (?)  in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and served as he states, andwe concur in that opinion. 

Signature of Jacob Ide and Stephen Metcalf

Norfolk ss  Sept 21. 1832 Here the above named Jacob Ide and Stephen Metcalf made oath to the above artifacts before me

Signature of Josiah J Fiske   Jus. Peace
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21295

Revolution
Invalid. 
File No. 21,295
Seth Holbrook 
Sergt Rev War

Ace: June 7, 32
Index: - VOl. 2, Page 189

[Arrangement of 1879.]
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk ss.

I, Jairus Ware, Clerk of the Judicial Courts, being Courts of Record, with and for the County of Norfolk, hereby Certify that Warren Lovering  John Bates  & Stephen Metcalf  Esquire, s
are Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Norfolk aforesaid, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified to discharge the duties of said office and the several signatures to the annexed depositions respectively are genuine and true.

In Witness Whereof, I have subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid at Dedham, this twenty first day of September A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. 

Jairus Ware, Signature
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No. 4

Baruk Bullard
deposition
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Norfolk - SS Commonwealth of Massachusetts

I Baruch Bullard of Uxbridge in the county of Worcester, do testify and say that I was born in the town of Medway on the 16 day of December one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight, and I further testify and say that  [crossed out] that [/crossed out] Seth Holbrook of Bellingham in said county of Norfolk, was a soldier in the army of the Revolutionary War, of the United States, and was with me in said service, at Freetown two weeks, in Capt. Amos Ellis's Company and Col Hawes's Regiment and further saith not.
[signed] Baruch Bullard [/signed]

Norfolk SS Town of Bellingham July 19th 1832 then the above named Baruch Bullard was duly sworn to the truth of the above disposition before me Stephen Metcalf Justice of the Peace

And I further certify that I have been acquainted with the above named Baruch Bullard many years, and believe him to be a credible witness.

[signed] Stephen Metcalf [/signed]
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Secretary's Office, Oct 4, 1832

I hereby certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that Seth Holbrook was a [crossed out] private [/crossed out] sergeant in Capt Amos Ellis company in 4th Regiment and in the command of Major Seth Bullard. 

Term of entering service --- July 27. 1780
Term of his discharge -- Aug 7. 1780
Number of days to [illegible] home 2-
Number of day in the service [illegible] the return 14-
[signed] Edward D Bangs, [illegible] [/signed]

I further certify that previous to the issuing of the certificate the claimant had made his declaration agreeably to the rules established by the War Department & exhibited it to me. 

[signed] Edward D Bangs [illegible] [/signed]
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Seth Holbrook

1 mo & 15 days  Private
8 Mo   Corporal
6 mo & 14 days  Sgt.
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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 Seth Holbrook Bellingham Mass 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 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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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? 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 as produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as regulations direct? yes

XV. Does it appear from any 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

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an ages, 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 iis not so answered?

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 [blank] year [blank] month, and [blank] days, I served as a [blank] For [blank] months and [blank] days, I served as a [blank]; and for such service I claim a pension.
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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, an 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; that 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 shown 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 of 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.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of 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 office 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, by 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. 
[finger pointing symbol] In every case where the clerk of 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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No 3

Jotham Fairbanks
Deposition
4th [illegible]
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I Jotham Fairbanks of Medway in the county of Norfolk in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of seventy five years of age [illegible], do testify and say that I was in the militia service of the United States during the Revolutionary War under the command of Samuel Cowell as Captain Jonathan Holbrook as 1st Lieut and Jonathan Metcalf 2d Lieut in Col [illegible] Willard's Regiment in Sea Burkit's Brigade, and served in said company as a private soldier from about the first day of August A.D. 1776 to the first day of December 1176 being a
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Henry Holbrook
2 [illegible] No 1
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I Abel Ellis of Sutton in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts  Best vorn and lived in the Town of Medway in the County of Norfolk until the year 1791 and am seventy four years of age do testify and say that I enlisted in the revolutionary (?) and was stationed at Roxbury in said County of Norfolk in the year of 1776. January and was in the service at said Roxbury two months and Seth Holbrook of Bellingham in said County of Norfolk was a Sargent int he Company  with me two months commanded by Samuel Cowell Capt. Jonathan Holbrook Lieut. Benjamin Hawes Maj one Robinson Col. and we were dismissed at the end of two months and the Deponant further with not. 

Signature of Abel Ellis

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk ss  August 29 1832 then the above named Abel Ellis personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him (?)

Before me   John Bates  Justice of the Peace
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I Henry Holbrook of Bellingham in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Being Seventy five years of age do testify and say that I was in the Service of the Rebolutionary war was stationed at Roxbury in said County of Norfolk. I served eight months.  I entered the service at said Roxbury in the year 1775 in the month of May in said year and Seth Holbrook of said Bellingham in the County aforesaid and that the said Bellingham in the County aforesaid and that the said Seth Holbrook enlisted and was in the company with me and served eight months at said Roxbury as a Corporal in said Company commanded by Samuel Cobb. Capt and Japeth Daniels Lieutenant Jacob Read Cole and we discharged at the end of eight months and the Deponent further (?) not. 

Signature of Henry Hollbrook

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk ss Bellingham August the 29 kA.D. 1832
Then the above named Henry Holbrook personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him (?) before me 

Signature of John Bates  Justice of the Peace

Norfolk ss  Bellingham  August 29 A.D. 1832

I do hereby certify that the above named Henry Holbrook is a man of truth and clarity and I have no dobt (doubt) of the truth of the above named subscriber

Signature of John Bates  Justice of the Peace