Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,580, Ephraim Brown, Mass.
Page 1

SERVICE
Mass.

Brown, Ephraim

NUMBER
S 31.580


Contents
Born Apr. 9, 1763 North Yarmouth, Cumberland Co. Mass. (Me.)
 res. at enl. Pownalborough  Lincoln Co. Mass. (Me.)
in 1833 res. of Muscogee Co.
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[left hand side]

Georgia 12.766
Ephraim Brown

Muscogee in the State of Georgia
[cut off words] was a pri. in the company commanded
[cut off words] Captain Walker of the Reg.t commanded
by Col. Prime in the Mass.ts
line for 9 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia
at the rate of 30 Dollars ___Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of march, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 22.d day of May '33
and sent to John Townshend
Columbus C.H.  Ga.


arrears to the 4th of March '33           60
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept..   15
                                                           _______
                                                           $ 75
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by William Miller Clerk
Book E. Vol. 6. Page 86.

[right side of folded page]
Order to pay July 17, 1837-
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6th April 1838 from the 4 March 1837 to 4 March 1838.  Agent notified 30 Jan. (smudged)
_____________________________________

Paid as above from 4 Sept. to 4 March 1839. 
Agent notified 
9 Jan. 1840
________________

Paid as above from 4 Sept. 1839 to 4 March 1840. Agent notified 15 March 1841.

_______________________

Last paid Jan. 9, 1851
" W.A. Brown "
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Page No 1
State of Georgia
Muscogee County
Monday March the 4th 1833
The Inferior court, met agreeable to [illegible] in course, for ordinary purposes; & their Honors Jobe Rogers  James Hitchcock Anderson Spear & Ebenezer Torrence were present.
Personally appeared in open court, now sitting for ordinary purposes.  Ephraim Brown, a resident of said State & county aforesaid, in the day & year aforesaid, Aged about Seventy 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 1832.

That he entered the Service of the United under the following named officers, and served as herein Stated.

In 1780 I resided in the State of Massachusetts Lincoln county & Town of Pownalborough; In March or April a draft was Ordered for Nine Months. Men, myself & others. Volunteered we were ordered to march to Thomastown, in the county & State. last aforesaid & arrived at General  Peleg Wadsworths headquarters the fifth day of May in said year.  Cap.t Solomon Westher Benjamin Thompson first Lieutenant & William Colburn second Lieutenant these were Our Company officers, we were Ordered thence to Join Major Phillip Ulmers Battalion, then Stationed at Clam cove, in the town of Camden or Fox Island [illegible] we continued there untill about the 22nd of December in the year aforesaid; at which time we were discharged for the want of Cloths.  my discharge was written on cartridge Paper by General Peleg Wadworth, the other Capts named, Peter Combs;. Capt. Phersons Capt. McAlister. Col Prime, of the Same of the Land Brigade; was at time stationed at portland on old Cascade,.  Major Phillip Ulmer had served three years in the regular army, & when his time Expired, he joined the that Militia & commanded the battalion that I was attached to; I was not in any battle -.  I have no documentary evidence and do not know of any, whose testimony I can procure, who can
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2. testify to my service.
I hereby relinquish every whatever to a pension or annuity, except the the present & declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. & that my discharge us before State I left in the State of New York
Interrogatories propound by the court to the applin agent. 
Inty. 1st  Where & in what year were you born
I was born in the town of North Yarmouth in the county of Cumberland & State of Massachusetts the 9th day of April 1763 & recorded in the town clerks office of Said Town.
Inty 2  Have you any record of given age and if so where is it
I have none only as above Stated.
Inty.  where were you living when called into the service; Where have you lived Since the revolutionary war, & where do you now live.
In 1780 I resided in the State of Massachusetts, Lincoln County & Town of Pownalborough. & for the last forty four years a resident of the State of Georgia, - With the exception of part of two years in South Carolina. & now a resident of Muscogee county & State of Georgia.
Inty 4.  How were you called into Service; 
I Volunteered.
Inty.  State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops, where you served; & such continental & Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service
. I know of no other officers only as above stated.
Inty 6  Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given & what has become of it.
I did receive a discharge from Gen.l Peleg Wadsworth. & left it in the State of New York
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid ___
[signed on right] Ephraim Brown
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0823476

Muscogee
Georgia -

Admit as a private
for 9 mo. $ 30.00

John Townshend Clk
Columbus
Muscogee
Georgia
Page 6

War Department
Pension Office,


Sir:

The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned.  The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form.  On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them, and you will, by complying with request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.


A Statement, showing the Service of Ephraim Brown Muscogee, Georgia


Period when the service was rendered - vol. 1780
entered 22nd 1780

Duration of the claimant's service - 9 months


Rank of the claimant - Private


Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. - 

Capt. ?
Lieut. Thompson
Capt. Parsons
Captain Alliston

Names and Rank of the General and Field Officers - General 
Col. ?


Battles in which the applicant was engaged  - 

No battles

Country through which he marched - Camden


Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.

70 years
?

Evidence by which the declaration is supported.

Traditional


I am respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

J.L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted: This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service. but not those who were occasionally employed with, the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops. Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of County of }ss.
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) 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, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years
 of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but it neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged services, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each  person
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3 will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted ; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia. 1. Where and in what year were you born? 2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? 3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war , and where do you now live? 4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? 5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. Toller. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant. The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons-one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates. The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration be fore required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court. Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure , taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter. The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will low the rule laid down for his guidance. The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conform to the rule. The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned. The declarant must mention the person or periods of the war when he served. very continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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, anddays , I served as a For months and served as and for such service I claim a pension." 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 that they served two years in the mistin, &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 shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; this pastioning since or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service more than is war other in the hold or in garrison, and for the time during which the service was performed, he was tied to a The law makes the relinquishment indispensable. The opinion of the Court is always required. vice or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has put seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers. 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 papers authenticated, the surtificate 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. 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 resided in set forth in the affidavits the time of the claimant's 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 cerury to the credibility of the witness , and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper order, under his seal of office. The notes from to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in note applies to continental troops only. This traditionary evidence is cases. If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration. 
John Norton
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C.M. Conrad
Secretary of War
Washington City
D.C.


Official 
Dec. 27th 1800
Page 10

Mr. C.M. Conrad
Secretary of War

Dear Sir you will perceive by the papers enclosed, that they have been forwarded to the Commissioner of Pensions at Savannah Ga. to be payed: but were returned without being responded to.  By reference to the small note enclosed you will see the objections  written out by the Commissioner of Pensions to paying the pension. This is the second time my Father has been deprived of his humble support from his Country in whose cause he fought and suffered as a Revolutionary Soldier and from the same Office for paying pensions. The reason assigned for not paying it before was he had let the time run out to draw his pension of which regulation, if such there be, he had no knowledge and let it run that he might not incur the expense of but one draw in the year.
By reference to the papers you will see there cannot be any difficulty in them worth the importance which he attaches to them it out on the circumstance of the
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of these being signed by the Justice of the Peace after the expiration of the term of his Office. Well you see he is recognized by the Judge of the County Court on his certificate to the Genuineness of his signature, and for the reasons assigned in the note in reference to the subject appended and signed by C.A. Brown.
It is known to persons acquainted with the arrangements of our State Government that Justices of the Peace hold over as it is called until their successors  in Office are Elected and inauguated.
The amount of $15.50 may be a small thing in the eye of one who has plenty of this worlds goods; but to an old and paralitic Revolutionary Soldier who looks to his Government for some of the comforts of declining age, and that a Government for whose liberty he fought and suffered for many a long year without remuneration, to be thus cheated out of his humble pension is any thing but pleasant. 
I am sorry to trouble you with this but sent the papers to you as the best source of light on the subject.
Please return the papers if you can.

address Dover, Va.

Yours, 
[Signed] Charles A. Brown
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The paper is objectionable, 1st because there are dates after the expiration of the commission of the Justice of the Peace 
2nd. The note relates to the subject of it had been made by the clerk of the court under
his official seal instead of Mr. C. Browns private signature would have answered the purpose intended
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Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office,
January 25, 1841.

Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Ephraim Brown, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Georgia Agency, at the rate of thirty __ Dollars and ___ Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1839. to the 4th March 1840.
Respectfully yours,
[signed] Albion K Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
Page 14

Treasury Department
Second Comptroller's Office, 
January 25th, 1839.

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Ephraim Brown, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Savannah, Georgia Agency, at the rate of Thirty Dollars per annum, under the law of the 7th June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March, 1837 to the 4th of March, 1838. 


Respectfully yours, 

Albion K. Parris
Comptroller


To the Commissioner of Pensions

Present
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Treasury Department
Second Comptroller's Office, 
January 2nd, 1840.

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Ephraim Brown, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Georgia Agency, at the rate of Thirty Dollars per annum, under the law of the 7th June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of September, 1838 to the 4th of March, 1839. 


Respectfully yours, 

Albion K. Parris
Comptroller


To the Commissioner of Pensions

Present
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Pension Office Planter's Bank
Savannah, 8 July 1837


J.L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir

Herewith I hand Ephraim Brown's pension voucher whose application is for two years and six months pension for your approval and authority to pay.

Respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Marshall 
? and Pension Agent
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31580

Revy.  INVALID


File No. 31,580


Ephraim Brown

Pri Rev. War


Act:  June 7 1832

Index:-Vol. 2, Page 54


[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 18

31580

Revy. INVALID


File No. 31580


Ephraim Brown

Pri Rev. War


Act:  June 7 1832

Index:-Vol. 2, Page 54


[Arrangement of 1870]