Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14005, for John Nason, Massachusetts
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Service : Mass
Nason, John
S 14005
Carded
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28066
Vermont 
John Nason  
of Westbury in {illegible} 
who was a private in the com commanded by Captain Bowdoin of the------ commanded by ----------in the R. {star symbol}  line for 2 years  {star symbol} Mass. Line 
June 16/06
Records compected JB

Inscribed on the Roll of Ver of the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of Feb 1834 and sent T. F Redfield Present 

Arrears to the day his death- 
Semi-anl. allowance ending------ 
certificate for heirs - $145.44 

Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832. 

Recorded by E D Bullock Clerk 
Book E Vol. B Page 80 
Clark Nason, Susan Ward 
& Elias Clarkson heirs
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John Nason
Declaration

A. Redfield agent
Derby, Vt.
12.346
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State of Vermont
District of Orleans SS
On the 25th day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared before the Honorable Probate Court within and for the District of Orleans now sitting at Boston in said District John Nason of Westbury in the District of Three Rivers and province of Lower Canada a resident aged seventy two years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make and subscribe the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 that he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1780 with Olson Petty Lemuel Petty John (illegible) Silas Eastham and served in the third regiment commanded by Colonel Putnam in the third Brigade commanded by General Nixon in the Massachusetts line and served under the following named officers. He first enlisted for six months at Foxbury in the county of Suffolk and state of Massachusetts where he then resided for the term of six months in the Company of Captain Goodwill he passed muster at Milton in the state of Mass. under Major Bedloe he joined his regiment on West point in the state of New York. he then marched to the State of New Jersey and that served till late in the fall when he returned to West Point and there remained till the ninth day of January 1781 when his said term of six months expired and he received a written discharge which he has since lost. He next enlisted in the month of October 1781 at same place as before joined for the term of six months with same companies which were raised to guard Butts Hill Fort on the (illegible) Island of Rhode Island he served in the
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company commanded by Captain Bowdoine the same companies were commanded by the other Captain who name he has forgotten he served till the said term of enlistment expired and was discharged but without writing. he next enlisted at the same (illegible)  in the month of July 1782 for the term of one year by request of the selectmen of said Foxbury and passed muster at Boston in Mass. he joined his regiment at West Point in the State of New York in the company commanded by Captain Daniel (illegible) the same regiment at that time commanded by Colonel Grayton or Grayton and General Nixon being absent Colonel Drayton aforesaid being the oldest Colonel was Colonel commandant of Brigade. From West Point he marched through the Hole of New Jersey and joined the Army under General Washington at Paramus and continued in New Jersey until December of the same year when he returned with his regiment to West Point and went into winter quarters in (illegible) near Wesst Point and in the spring returned to New Jersey and then (illegible) till his said term of that year expired and about one month more till other soldier came from said Foxbury to take his place  when he received a written discharge which he has since lost. He hereby relinquishes all claim to a pension or annuity and declares that his name is not on the pension list
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of the roll of the agency of any state.
Subscribed and sworn to this day and year first above written.
John Nason (signature)
and the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.
I John H Kimball Register of the Probate Court (illegible) do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Nason for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 25th day of September A.D. 1832.
John H. Kimball Register (signature)
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I infer from your memorandum that you presume Nason did not perform one of the six months terms of service according to his enlistments. Nason is now deceased has been for some months and of course can give no explanation and no testimony is known in relation to the claim. From the character of Nason and those longed acquainted with him had always believed that in all his terms of service he completed his full term and was honorably discharged. I think the name not appearing on the final settlement (illegible) is some way susceptible of explanation. At any rate the other terms if (illegible) will entitle his widow to something; and she is really in need. I hope some decision will be made and as favourable as consistent' and at the earliest possible date.
Derby Aug. 12, 2833
J. Fletcher Kimball (signature)

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Comm of Pensions
Washington City

I now forward you the certificate of the Probate Court of the heirs of John Nason. You mention in your last letter, it is the last term of service in Col. Groton's regiment where his name is not found on final settlement certificate. By your find I see brief (illegible) it appears, it is the first term in Putnams regt. If that be the case which I presume is, the heirs will be entitled to 3/4's pay which they will look for as no direct proof of that term can be had.
A. f. Redfield agent & atty.

John Nason Declaration A. Redfield agent
Derby, Vt. 
12.346
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State of Vermont
Orleans County ss
I John Kimball Judge of the Probate Court within and for the District of Orleans do hereby certify that it has been satisfactorily proved to said court that John Nason of Westbury in the Province of Lower Canada who made his declaration before said Court for a pension on the 25th day of September AD. 1832 died on the 5th of January 1833. That he left no widow at his decease but that he left three children who are his legal heirs. Namely Clark Nason of Holland in said County of Orleans ( his eldest son) Susan the wife of Adrian Ward of said Westbury and Elias Nason who resides in said Westbury his other two children.
(Seal)
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the sea of said Court and subscribed my name this 20th day of November A. D. 1833
John Kimball Judge (signature)
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Rev. War
14005

File No. 14005
John Nason
Priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7th 1832
Index: Vol. 1, page 279

[Arrangement of 1870]
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12.346  Mass.
John Nason

2 year private
died 5 July 1833
Cert. to heirs

S. F. Redfield
Derby Vt.

40
2.66
37.33
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BRIEF objections to the admissison of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Nason
Orleans dist. Vermont 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? 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?

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not be 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. (t) 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?
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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?

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?

XVI. (tt) Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department; answered satisfactorily? And, if no, which of them is not so answered?

EXPLANATORY NOTES
*QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of 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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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 high objectionable. I 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 or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

(t) 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.

(tt )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.
-->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.

(hand written note-Found on Rolls of Putnam's Regt. for 6 mos.-not found on original settlement certificate-therefore 2 credible witnesses required to prove service)
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John Nason papers

Paid 6 cts.

John H. Kimball Esquire
Barton
Vermont
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State of Vermont   
Orlean County  
Be it remembered that before me a Justice of Peace within and for the County of Orleans said on this 16th day of November A.D. 1830 at Derby in said Orleans County personally offered Ephraim Barlow and Isaac Whitcomb both of the Township of Eaton in the Province of Lower Canada  {illegible} were duly sworn to the truth of the following declaration 
That for the last fifteen years they have both been personally acquainted with and lived near neighbors to John Nason late {Pittsburg?} who on the 25th day of September in the year 1832 made and subscribed his declaration for a pension under the act of June 7th 1832 be for the Probate Court within and for the County of Orleans which is numbered at the War Office 12346, that the said Nason died at said {illegible} on the third day of January last past and was buried on the fifth day of said January and that this assisted his funeral; that the said Nason left no Widow, his wife having deceased fifteen years ago this present month of November and never having been married since her decease. That he had at the time of his decease two sons and one daughter living and  now living, that the eldest son named Clark Nason now resides in the town of Holland in said County of Orleans, that the second child a daughter named {Jason?} is the wife of Adrian Word of Testory in the Province of Lower Canada where she now resides, that the youngest Son Elias Nason now resides at said  {illegible} at the same place where his father died and that these are the only known or acknowledged children of said Nason deceased. 
Subscribed and sworn to before me the day and year first above written.   Ephraim Barton 
Isaac Whitecomb
subscribed & sworn to this 16th day of Novr 1833 
Before me {illegible}
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Dr. Sir, the foregoing testimony is taken & prove the facts therein stated. I wish to have you enter of record in your court that it was proved before your court. That the same John Nason who made his declaration before said court for a pension under the act of June 7 1832 on the 25th day of September A. D. 1832 died at Westbury in the Province of Lower Canada on the tenth day of January in the year of our Lord 1833 and left no widow, but two sons named Clark and Elias and one daughter named Susan and no other children; the said Clark residing at Holland in the County of Orleans and State of Vermont, the said Elias at said Westbury and the said Susan being the wife of Adrian Ward resides at Westbury and said me a copy of the record authenticated under the seal of the court together with the foregoing affidavits. The war dept. have (illegible) a certificate on those conditions.
Yours truly,
J. Fletcher Redfield
Derby Nov. 116, 18(?)
I hope you will give me a return by next mail.
J. F. Redfield

J. H. Kimball Esqr.
Barton, Vermont
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John Nason's
Old revolutionary papers
J. Fletcher Redfield agent
Derby Vermont
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[handwritten, formal letter]

War Department 
Pension Office
October 2, 1833

Sir:

The papers in support of the claim of John Nason have been examined and are herewith returned to you.

The widow, or in this case there be no widow, his children, or in default of [?issue] the next legal representatives of the deceased, must have relationship, and the time of his death when a certificate will [?issue] for the amount up to that time. $ But the last term of service will not be taken into the computation of that amount unle[s]s it be proved by two credible witnesses, as his name cannot be found in the register of final settle[-]ment issued to Col. Greaton's [?] regiment.

I am respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,
J.L. Edward
Commissioner of Pensions

[different individual handwritten note]
[illegible] f[a]ct is the first term of service in Datnams [?] regt when his name does not appear on the final settlement [illegible]

L.F. Redfield, Esq
Derby, Vt