Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 44,984, for Jamaica James, Massachusetts
Page 1

(3-1776)

Service: Mass

James, Jamaica (col)

Number: S. 44.984

Contents:
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15,138
New York R
Jamaica James
of Orange County in the state of N York who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Tupper & Vose of the Massachusetts line, for the term of Seven years
_________
Inscribed on the roll of New York t the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on  the 18th of April 1818
_________
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 of Sep 1819 and sent to Nathan H White Esq^r
Newburg New York
_________
Arrears to 4th of Sep. 1819  132.53
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Mar 1820    48.00
16 mo 17/30      $180.53

[Revolutionary claim, 
Act 18th March, 1818.}

[faintly handwritten] Continued

[next page, faintly written perpendicular to remainder] Notification sent August 11th 1820 to Joseph Murrill, New Windsor, New York
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District of New York Orange County ss}

On the fourth day of February 1819 before me the Subscriber one of the Judges of the Courts of Commonplace in and for the said County - personally appears Jamaica James blackman aged Sixty two years - resident in the Said County, who being by me first duly sworn according  to Law - doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain
the provision made by Congress, entitled an Act to provide for Certain persons, Engaged in the land and Navil [sic] Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War-
that he the Said Jamaica James, Enlisted, in the year 1777 in the [illegible] on in the State
of Massachusetts in the Town of Boston in the Company Commanded by Captain Lunts in the tenth Massachusetts Regiment Commanded by Colonel Tupper - and that he continued to serve in the said Company and Reg. for and during the term of three years, and at the expiration of the three years aforesaid, he then[last word crossed out]
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then Enlisted in the Same Company - and in the same Regiment, Commanded by Colonel Tupper - for and during the Revolutionary War - and he continued to to serve as aforesaid until the Month of June 1783 when peace was made with Great Britain when he was Honorably discharged by General Washington at the Cantonment near New Windsor and Newburgh in the said County he further states, that he was in the battle at Trenton in the year 1776 in Dec^r. when General Washington Captured the Hessians - and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of assistance of his Country for Support - He on his oath further saith that his application for pension was made befor Judge White the sixth day of April last -
his
Jamaica X James
mark

Sworn and declared before me the day & year aforesaid}
Isaac Belknap one of the juges of common pleas for orange County.-
[note added next to judge's signature] I was at the taking and capture of General Burguin & his army & went to guard the prisoners, to Bost[on]

[added down the left margin] when the 10th Reg^t was reduced or broken up I was put into  Colonel Vose's Reg^t. (this I had forgotten Squre Dodge is knowing to this -
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Southern District of New York SS}
Orange County} On this thirty first day of May 1820 personally appeared in open court in the court of common pleas, it being a court of record  for the Said County of Orange, Jamaica James aged Sixty Seven years, resident in the Said County of Orange, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the revolutionary war, as follows: - he enlisted in captain Lunts company in colonel Tuppers Regiment, it being to Massachusetts Regt, this was in the year 1777 - when the 10 Reg was broken up or reduced I was transfered into Cap Marshalls company Colonel Voses Reg^t it being the 1st Massachusetts Reg^t he continued to serve in the 1 Reg^t untill the end of the war when I was Honorably discharged by General Washington in the month of June 1783 near New Windsor and Newburgh - And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of the act of congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the revolutionary war, passed the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the following inventory, and by me subscribed, viz: he is entirely destitute of any kind of property, he has a wife and one female child Seven years of age my pension certificate is dated the 16th day of Sept 1819 Number 15,138
his
Jamaica + James
mark

Sworn to and subscribed on this thirty first day of May 1820 before Nathan H. White, Stephen Jackson & John Blake Esqr Judges
Jas W Wilkin Clerk (signature]

I James W. Wilkin Clerk of the court of common pleas in and for the County of Orange, do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and inventory, are truly copied from the record of the Said court.
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and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that he has no [crossed out: t total amount in value of the] property of any value. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Said Court on this 6th day of June 1820
Jas W Wilkin [signature] Clerk of the court of Com pleas in & for Orange County
[faint mark of seal bearing image of a tree]

[lower situated sideways] Jamaica James
Ex^d
No 15138
16 Sept 1819
Mar. 1820
C
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January 7, 1938
BA-J/EEL
Jamaica James-S.44984

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.44984, based upon the military service in that war of Jamaica James, black man. 
 
The date and place of birth of Jamaica James are not shown. 

Jamaica James enlisted in Boston, Massachusetts and was in the battle of Bunker Hill, where he received a wound in his left arm from a musket ball; he was also in the battle of Trenton when the Hessians were captured; names of officers and dates of these services are not shown: he enlisted in the winter of 1777, exact date not shown, served as a private in Captain Lunt's Company, Colonel Tupper's 10" Massachusetts Regiment and in Captain Marshall's Company, Colonel Vose's 1" Massachusetts Regiment, was at the capture of General Burgoyne and his army and went to Boston as a guard to prisoners captured in this battle. He was discharged in June, 1783.

He was allowed pension on his application executed February 4, 1819, while residing in Orange County, New York. At that time, he gave his age as sixty-two years but in 1820, stated that he was aged sixty-seven years. 

In 1820, he stated that he had a wife and a "female child", aged seven years but did not give their names.
___________________
This history to be sent if ever called for. It was written just to have a record of negro soldiers.
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1938 - Jan 7/Hist written EL

44984
Revy INVALID.

File No. 44984
Jamaica James
Priv. Rev. War
__________
Act: 18" March 1818
Index:-Vol. 3, Page 254

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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State of New York
Orange County}Ss.
[probable seal attached left]

I James W Wilkin Clerk of the County of Orange & Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for Orange County Do hereby certify that Isaac Belknap before whom the declaration of Jamaica James hereunto annexed was made was on the day of the date thereof and now is a Judge of the Court of Common pleas for the County of Orange aforesaid and duly commissioned & sworn And that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Isaac Belknap, and Verily believe the signature of his name subscribed to the said Declaration and the Certificate thereunto annexed is the proper hand writing of the said Isaac Belknap. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court & County. This Twenty sixth day of July one thousand eight hundred and nineteen 1819 - 
Jas W Wilkin [signature]
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Jamaica James
Private
77 to 83
Tupper & Vose - Mass^tts
Regt.

Admitted - 

Service proved by Levi Dodge, who was an officer in Tuppers Regt.
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State of Newyork
[next 2 words underlined] Orange County Ss., on the 23d day of August 1819 - personally appeared before me Isaac Belknap one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the said County Levi Dodge Esquire of [?the villa]ge of Newburgh, who being duly sworn according to law Deposeth and saith, that he was formerly a commissioned officer in the tenth Massachusetts Regiment  Commanded by Colonel Tupper, in the Revolutionary War - that in the winter of 1782 the 10th Regiment was reduced or broken up, then, they was turned over to Colonel Vose's Regiment, he thinks it was the 1th Massachusetts Regiment, this deponent further saith that he has examined - Jamaica James a black mand and he is fully satisfied that he was a soldier in the 10th Massachusetts Reg^t. aforesaid and that he was turned over to Colonel Vose's Reg^t and that James had forgotten this at the time his application was made for Pension this deponent further states that that he believes that Jamaica James was at the defeat & Capture of General Burgoine and his army in the year 1777 - and that he went with the prisoners as a guard to Boston - and then rejoined the Regiment when it was [illegible]
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in the mountains opposite West Point - further Jamaica James shewed me the wound of a Ball in the left arm which he received at Bunker hill 1775 but he has lost much of his recollection - further there is not the shadow of doubt of his service and of his being entitled to the Provision made by Congress of the 18th March 1818 - for Pension - he stands in great need of the assistance of his Country for support - 
Levi Dodge [signature]

Sworn before me the day above written}
Isaac Belknap [signature]
one of the Judges of common pleas for Orange County}
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State of Newyork
[next 2 words underlined] Orange County Ss. - on the 23d day of August 1819 personally appeared before me Isaac Belknap one of the Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas in and for the said County, Joseph Morrell Esquire, who being duly sworn according to Law, deposeth and saith that he was acquainted with Levi Dodge Esquire when he was a Commissioned officer in the Massachusetts line in the Revolutionary War but that he did not think of Squire Dodge's being formerly an officer in the same Regiment that Jamaica James belonged to untill a few days - as soon as I mentioned Lieut Dodge to Jamaica James, he recollected him - the whole difficulty was owing to James's want recollection the man is honest and did serve with fidelity
Joseph Morrell [signature]

Sworn before me the day above written} 
Isaac Belknap [signature]
one of the Judges of 
common pleas for
Orange County.}
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Jamaica James

[entire following paragraph is X'd out]
Will state the day of entering & leaving service
The Judge should certify this his poverty is such as needs the assistance of his country for support & the seal of the court must be affixed to his certificate.

[written faintly perpendicular the remainder of the document] Rejected - the applicants name is not on the rolls. [illegible signature/initials]

[entire following paragraph is also X'd out]
Judge White will give a certificate specifying the date of the first declaration, duly authenticated. 
The evidence required to substantiate this claim is the deposition or certificate of an officer of the regiment in which the applicant served.
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State of New York
Orange County Ss.
I James W Wilkin Clerk of the County of Orange and Clerk of the Court of Common pleas for Orange County do certify that Nathan H White was on the twenty second day of July one thousand eight hundred and nineteen first Judge of the Court of Common pleas for the County of Orange aforesaid and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Nathan H White and Verily believe the signature of his name to the within Certificate is the proper hand writing of the said Nathan H White.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court & County this Twenty sixth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen -
Jas W Wilkin [signature]

[on the bottom of page, written upside down] 
Office - you have the deposition of A Alwood and from my own experience I can say there is not the least doubt of his serving as is stated in the declaration annexed. 
Joseph Morrell [signature] 
Commiss
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Orange County}
State of N York} ss-
I Nathan H. White first Judge of the County of Orange do hereby certify, that Jamaica James first made application to me on the 18th April 1818, and that from my knowledge of his Circumstances I believe him to stand in need of the assistance of his Country for Support -
Given under my hand this 22d July 1819
Nat^n H White [signature]

Jamaica James is a very poor honest man - the Regiment to which he did belong was raised in the State of Massachusetts, his age, debility and his poverty, will not enable him to comply with what is required [illegible, with?] pension
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State of New York
Orange}
County}Ss
I James W Wilkin Clerk of the County of Orange & Clerk of the Court of Common pleas for Orange County Do hereby certify - That Joseph Morrell before whom the affidavit of Amos Atwood hereunto annexed - was taken was on the day of the date thereof and now is a commissioner in and for the said County, duly commissioned and sworn and by the laws of said state duly Authorized to take the proof and acknowledgements of Deed and discharges of Mortgages, the acknowledgements of Special bail and any Affidavit or other oath to be read or used in any court of record in said State, And that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Joseph Morrell and Verily believe the signature of his name to the aforesaid affidavit is the Proper hand writing of the said Joseph Morrell. 
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court & County this Twenty sixth day of July one thousand eight hundred and nineteen
JasWWilkin [signature]
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On the 13th day of January 1819 - personally appeared before me Amos Atwood, who being duly sworn according to Law deposeth and saith, that he recollects Jamaica James - formerly of the tenth Massachusetts Regiment and is fully satisfied that he did serve in the said Regiment in the Revolutionary War - and I well remember of seeing the said Jamaica James when I belonged to the fifth Massachusetts Regiment and he to the tenth Regiment and this deponent further saith not -
Amos Atwood [signature]

Sworn before me 
Joseph Morrell [illegible, J peace?]
Commissioner M

I do hereby Certify that Amos Atwood is a Credi[ble] witness. Joseph Morrell [signature]
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I Isaac Belknap, one of the Judges of the County of Orange aforesaid - do Certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said - Jamaica James - did serve in the Revolutionary War - as stated in the proceeding declaration against the Common enemy - and that he is in reduced Circumstances - and I now transmit the proceedings and Testimony - Taken and had before me, to the Secretary of the department of War - pursuant to  the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress -
the fourth day of February 1819
Isaac Belknap one of the Judges of Common pleas for Orange County

between the 7 & 8 line from the bottom interlined (in the winter season) Joseph Morrell