Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,571, for Elijah Macomber, Massachusetts
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Mass.

Macomber, Elijah

NUMBER
S.17.571

carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

15386
Massachusetts

Elijah Macomber
of Bristol in the State of Mass
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain [wavy line] of the [illegible] command by Col French in the Mass line for 16 mos

Inscribed on the Roll of Mass
at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of June 1833 and sent [illegible] Hodge  Present

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $106,66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept       26,66
                                                           $133,32


{Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by [first name illegible] Blair Clerk,
Book [illegible] Vol. 2  Page 53
Page 3

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
BRISTOL, SS.

AT a COURT of PROBATE holden at Brighton in and for said County on the thirtieth day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, before the Honorable HODIJAH BAYLIES, Judge of the Probate, & c. for said County, personally appeared Elijah Macomber ^by adjt. a resident of Dartmouth in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy-five years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832, make the following declaration.

That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and served as hereinafter stated; to wit: under Capt. Benjamin Dillingham, three months on Winter Hill and Dorchester Heights in 1776. - Under Capt. Benjamin Willcox, three months at Howlands Ferry in Tiverton, R. I. -  Under Capt. Timothy Ingraham ten months at the Fort in Dartmouth (now Fairhaven)  in 1778 - Also, a further term of service of one year under Capt. Benjamin Willcox aforesaid, in guarding the shores from Slocums neck so called in Dartmouth, or [illegible] service, in the state of R. I. which term of service was performed from 1779 to the close of the war.

and further declares as follows, in reply to the interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of War; to wit:

1.  Where, and in what year were you born?
Ans. that he was born in Dartmouth in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven, and on the tenth day of May, of said year.

2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it?
I have no record of my age

3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
Ans.  I lived when called into service have since the Revolutionary War, and now live in the town of Dartmouth

4. How are you called into service; where you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? 
I was a volunteer whilst in the service under Captain Benjamin Dillingham and Capt. Timothy Ingraham, but was drafted whilst in the service under Capt. Benjamin Willcox
Page 4

4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, and if a substitute, for whom? 

I was a volunteer whilst in the service under Captain Benjamin Dillingham and Captain Timothy Ingraham, but was drafted whilst in the service under Captain Benjamin Wilcox.

5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. 

I firstly enlisted or volunteered about the first of January 1776, under Captain Benjamin Dillingham of Dartmouth, and marched from said Dartmouth on to Rosebury near Barton, when and where, we were ordered to Winter Hill, near Cambridge. soon after our arrival at Winter Hill, we was ordered to march one night from thence to Dorchester Heights, which when we arrived there we commenced throwing up a breastwork on a Fort, for the purpose of [illegible] the British, who led the invasion of Barton. That I was on Dorchester Heights, when the British troops left Barton. That whilst I was in service on Dorchester Heights, our Regiment was commanded by one Col. French and there the whole of the American Troops and officers was under the command of Genl. George Washington. That the said British troops left Barton I think on the last of March 1776. that immediately on the retreat of The British troops from Barton, General Washington at the head of the American Army, entered the town of Barton on or about the first of April the company which I belong to was dismissed our term of service having expired and I returned home to Dartmouth.
Page 5

3 months
Also, sometime in the autumn of 1776 as near a I recollects, I was [illegible] or detached in a company commanded by Capt Benjamin Willcox For the term of three months, and served it at Tiverton, in Rhode Island, at a place called ‘Howlands Ferry’; and in the course of the same period was marched from said Tiverton to New Bedford, on an alarm, and remained about a week. That the Regiment to which I belonged during said service, was commanded by Col. John Cook, and whilst there I frequently saw Gen. Varnum, who was the chief in command.

10 months (written in margins)

I also enlisted or volunteered again In a company commanded by Captain Timothy Ingraham and served for the term of ten months at the fort in Dartmouth (now Fairhaven) then called Nobscot Fort, situated on the east side of the river or bay now called New Bedford river, which service was performed  in the year 1778. I now think I enlisted about the first of March of last year, and served until about the last of December following, according to the best of my recollections - That during said period of time the village of Bedford was burnt by the Brittish, and part of the village of Fairhaven was also burnt that this took place I think on the last of August or for part of September in the aforesaid year - And that the Troops had to retreat from the fort in the approach of the Brittish Army 

12 months(written in margins)

I was also drafted or detached again in the company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Willcox beforementioned [illegible, struck out] within a very short time period from the time of being dismissed from under the command of Capt. Timothy Ingraham aforesaid;  and served in the town of Dartmouth, to guard and to keep a watch in the sea coast at different places from Slocums Neck in said Dartmouth, on westerly to Saconnet river, Little Compton, in the state of Rhode Island. That I was under marching orders for nearly three years, or, untill the close of the war - being in service, occasionally, from two days to fourteen days at a time. Sometimes the quad, or number of men consisted of twenty, sometimes of thirty, sometimes of sixty men, ranging from twenty to sixty men. That the whole time of my being in actual service, esclusive of the time which I was on furlough according to the best of my recollection would be at the least the term of one year. In addition to the times specifically mentioned & before described. The reason why it was necessary to keep the shores guarded was as then informed that the Brittish had landed and take off the cattle sheep and other live stock from the shores aforesaid, and we were called into service to keep the Brittish from making further depredations in getting their provisions by robbing our people of this [illegible] who were situated near the shores.
Page 6

6. Were you a Soldier or an Officer? if a Soldier, did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and, if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? if an Officer, did you ever receive a commission, and if so by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
I was a Soldier. I never received a discharge other than a verbal one

7. State the names of the 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.
Howard Tripp a clergiman, Zebedee A. Macomber Esq., Asa Howland, Abraham Rufsell, Daniel Howland Sr

And the said Elijah Macomber doth further declare that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State, [strikeout] or if any only on that of the agency of the state of [/strikeout] Elijah his X mark Macomber 
[illegible] Zebedee A. Macomber
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. 
[signature] H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.

WE Howard Tripp a clergiman residing in Dartmouth and  Zebedee A. Macomber Esquire residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Elijah Macomber who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy five 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 to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Howard Tripp
Zebedee A. Macomber 
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.

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 abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Howard Tripp who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Dartmouth in said County of Bristol, and that Zebedee A. Macomber, Esq. who has also signed the same is a resident in said Town, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS,
BRISTOL, SS.}
Page 7

October 20, 1933
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Elijah Macomber-S.17571
BA-J/AWF

Inez Wiggins
402 S Street, S. E.
Washington, D. C.

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Elijah Macomber, A soldier of the War of the Revolution.

The data furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S.17571, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Elijah Macomber. This is the record of the only Elijah Macomber (surname searched under similar spellings), that is found on file in the Revolutionary War records of this office.

He was born May 10, 1757 in Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, names of parents not given.

Elijah Macomber, while residing in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, enlisted and served as a private in the Massachusetts troops, as follows-
From January 1, 1776, three months in Captain Benjamin Dillingham's company, Colonel French's regiment; in the autumn of 1776, three months in Captain Benjamin Willcox's company, Colonel John Cook's regiment; from March 1, 1778, ten months in Captain Timothy Ingraham's company, and was stationed at the fort in Dartmouth; soon after the expiration of this service until the close of the war, at various times in Captain Benjamin Willcox's company, guarding the shores near Dartmouth, in all about twelve months.

The soldier, Elijah Macomber, was allowed pension on his application executed, August 30, 1832, then
Page 8

[continuation of letter to Inez Wiggins]

a resident of Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

It is not stated whether the soldier was ever married.

In 1833, Zebedee A. Macomber was Justice of the Peace in Bristol County, Massachusetts, and living in Dartmouth; no relationship to the soldier, shown.

In order to obtain the date of the last payment of  pension, the name and address to whom sent, and possibly the date of death of the pensioner, Elijah Macomber, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., citing all of the following data-

Elijah Macomber
Certificate No. 15386
Issued Jule 11, 1833
Rate $53.33 per annum
To commence March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Massachusetts Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
Page 9

10 259
Elijah Macomber

Private 16 March

4. 5. 16 ob
May 6 1833
P. 372

A Bafette E
Familiar
May
Page 10

10.259
Brief in the case of Elijah Macomber
of Dartmouth in the State of Mass
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Courth or a Judge? Court of Probate

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

3. How old is he? 75 years

4. State his service as directed in the form annexed.

[a table follows with four headings: Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.]

about 1 Jan in 1776 not stated Private Capt. French Capt B Dillingham

about 1 March 1778 not stated according to recollecting at least from one year " Capt Tim Ingram Capt Boy Wilcox

5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Dartmouth

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 1st & 3rd term by witnesses - 4th term by incidental evidence + by the traditionary evidence of others one a clergyman the latter certified by the courts to his [illegible] person.

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. 

E. Stephens 
Examining Clerk.
Page 11

I Holder Tucker of Dartmouth in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy seven years to testify and say that I served as a soldier in the militia of Massachusetts in the war of the Revolution in a company of Infantry the Captain of which, was Benjamin Willcox of said Dartmouth and that I served from October 1780 to May 1780 in said company; and that we was stationed on the shores of Dartmouth, from a placed called "Slocums neck" on Westerly to Leconnet river, Little Compton, in the state of Rhode Island to keep a guard on said shores to keep the Brittish from landing and taking off cattle, sheep and other lives stock from the inhabitants who lived adjoining and near the shores, as the Brittish had been and plundered from there several times before. That we were on the shores from two to fourteen days at a time, sometimes all of the company which consisted of about 60 men were out, sometimes no more than twenty ranging as circumstances might require - we were always under marching orders, and that I am fully satisfied and do declare that we were in actual leavies, on or about the shores aforesaid full one half of the time during said period that when we were released it was on furlough liable to be called in at any day or hour always holding ourselves in readiness so that the company or those on furlough would not follow any civil business - That during all of the aforesaid period of time from October 1780 to May 1783. when I left the company, being discharged, I well knew Elijah Macomber of Dartmouth a soldier in said company who lived in said company with me during all of the period aforesaid - that the man Elijah Macomber was formally known to me before the time of seeing him in the company aforesaid and that I have always known him
Page 12

since having lived in the same town with him - I further testify and say that I recollect in the summer of 1778 of visiting Nobscot Fort situated on the East side of the bay or river now called New Bedford and that I visited said Fort several times during the summer of 1778 aforesaid that Timothy Ingraham was captain at that time + that when I went there I always saw Elijah Macomber aforesaid on duty at said Fort during the several times which I was there. 
Holden Tucker [signature]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol, May 17th 1833 - Then personally appeared Holden Tucker who subscribed and made oath on the truth of the forgoing affadavit -
Before me Zebedee A Macomber Justice of the  Peace

I further certify that Holden Tucker is a creditable person and entitled to belief he being to me personally known

Zebedee Macomber Justice of the Peace
Page 13

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol Ss.
I Anselm Bassett Register of the Court of Probate in for Said county do hereby certify that Zebedee A. Macomber whose signature is affixed to the forgoing certificate is a Justice of the Peace for said county of Bristol-
In testimony whereof I have set my hand and affixed this seal of said court this third day of June eighteen hundred thirty three -
(signature)
Anselm Bassett
Page 14

[illegible] & 1812 Wars Section
[illegible] /eel

October 23, 1928

Mrs. J. S. Andern
93 11th Avenue
Newark, New Jersey

Madam:

I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.17571, it appears that Elijah Macomber was born, May 10, 1757, in Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

While a resident of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, he enlisted, January 1, 1776, served as a private in Captain Benjamin Dillingham's Company, Colonel French's Massachusetts Regiment, and was discharged April 1, 1776.

He enlisted in the autumn of 1776, served three months in Captain Benjamin Willcox's Company, Colonel John Cook's Massachusetts Regiment.

He enlisted, March 1, 1778, served in Captan Timothy Ingraham's Massachusetts Company, and was discharged the last of December, 1778.

From 1779 to the close of the war, he served at various times amounting to at least one year in Captain Benjamin
Page 15

[continuation of letter to J. S. Andern]

Willcox's Massachusetts Company.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August  30, 1832, while a resident of Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

There are no data on file relative to his family.
Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner.

[handwritten] Death not on Agency Book.
Page 16

RECORD DIVISION
REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION
3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., [blank], 19 [blank]

AWS
S. 17571

In reply to your request of [blank], received [blank] for a statement of the military history of [handwritten] Elijah Macomber [/handwritten] a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ([strikeout] or his widow’s [/strikeout])  application for pension on file in this Bureau.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT | LENGTH OF SERVICE | RANK | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED | STATE 
[Subcategories under Officers] CAPTAIN | COLONEL

[handwritten]
Jan 1 -1776 | 3mos | Pvt. | Benjamin Dillingham | French | Mass
Fall - 1776 | 3 mos | [blank] | Benjamin Wilcox | John Cook | [blank]
Mch 1 - 1778 | 10 mos | [blank] | Timothy Ingraham | [checkmark] | [blank]
1779 | [checkmark] | [blank] | Benjamin Wilcox | [checkmark] | [blank]
[/handwritten]

Battles engaged in, [handwritten] none stated [/handwritten]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, [handwritten] Dartmouth, Bristol Co Mass [/handwritten]
Residence at date of application, [handwritten] Dartmouth, Mass [/handwritten]
Age at date of application, [handwritten] born May 10th,1757 in Dartmouth, Mass [/handwritten]
Remarks: [handwritten]  There is no family data in file [/handwritten]

Respectfully,
Commissioner.

[illegible]-2856

[handwritten] 1779 held in [illegible]
Did not serve the [illegible]
Page 17

402 A Street. SE. Washington DC.
Tel: Lincoln 6322-5
 October 4, 1933

The Director of the Bureau of Pensions
 Dear Sir:
 I am writing to ask if you have the records that will let me prove for the D.A.R. that the following Elijah Macomber of the Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War is my great great grandfather:
 Elijah Macomber. Private. Capt. Amos Washburn in Col. Ebenezer Sprouts regt: enlisted May 6, 1778. -discharged May 7, 1778: service 2 days. on an alarm at Dartmouth; roll sworn to at “Middleborough” 
The Elijah Macomber I have seen at the D.A.R. is not mine: The following facts may help to identify mine:
[Column 1]
Father - Janet Macomber 
Sept 12 1717 - 1803 Dec 31 of Berkely
Elijah Macomber 
Born Jany. 25, 1750/1

[Column 2]
= 1747 February 4 Rachel and Drake
1726-1809 Dec 9.

= 1775 June 20 Joseph (Briggs) Thresher
In Berkely d. Of JacobBriggs
= Elijah Macomber of Berkely & Martha Probt of Middlebourgh was  [illegible] - Middlesex
Dec 16, 1812

Children
Spencer 1776
Silence January 22 1784 - 1850 = 1810 Nov. 9 Wm Parsons of Conway, Mass. moved to Shelby N.Y in 1826
James
Abial = 1796 Joseph Burt of Berkely
 
Elijah Macomber’s brothers and sisters were:
Leath = Stephen Macomber
James. seaman in the Navy 1780
Josiah = Abigail Briggs 
Miriam = Ezra Brigs
Eleanor = Capt. Joseph Lawford
Venus = Walter Pierce

I shall be very grateful if you can give me facts that will prove which one of these Elijahs In Mass. records is mine.
Very truly yours.
Inez Wiggins
Page 18

93-11th Ave.
Newark, N. J.
Jan. 11, 1928

Pension Dept.,
Washington, D. C. 

[faded date stamp] JAN 12 1928

Gentlemen:

Would you kindly inform me, if possible, if Elijah Macomber [/underline] of Dartmouth, Mass., who was a soldier in the Revolution, received a pension and the date of his death.
Thanking you, I remain
Yours truly,
Mrs. J. S. Andern
Page 19

[Left-side page]
1923 Jan. 15 - Hist. to Mrs. H.C. Wash[illegible]
See letter in claim George Samford S. [illegible]
 
1928 Oct. 23, Hist to Mrs. J. S. Andrew. M E. E.
 
1933 Oct. 20 - Hist to Inez Wiggins [illegible]

[Right-side page]
INVALID
1.Y. 571
File No. 17.371
Elijah Macomber
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7 32
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 241
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 20

I Lewis Gifford of Dartmouth in the county of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy six years, do testify and say that I served in the war of the revolution and, under Captain Benjamin Dillingham of Dartmouth aforesaid, for the term of three months, commencing about the first of January and served until the last of March or the first of April 1776. That said service was performed partly on Winter Hill and partly on Dorchester Heights near Barton during which time the British left Barton. And that I then well knew Elijah Macomber, of Dartmouth a private in said company & that said Elijah Macomber did serve with me & to my personall knowledge during all of the term of said three months -
I also served another time in a company commanded by Capt Timothy Ingraham for the term of ten months at the Fort in Dartmouth (near Fairhaven) then called Nobscot Fort situated on the East of the river or bay now called New Bedford river which service was performed in the year 1778. commencing as I think from the first of March, and ending about the last of December
Page 21

During which [illegible] of [illegible] the village of Bedford was burnt and part of the village of Fairhaven by the British; and the troops in the Fort had retreat on the approach of the British Army. that during said service the before named Elijah Macomber Served in said company, & with me, & to my personal knowledge all of the term of time during said 10 months- 
Lewis Gifford

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol Ss. Aug. 30. 1832 Lewis Gifford made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him signed before me A Bassett Just. of the Peace

Bristol Ss.  May 30.1833 I certify that I am well acquainted with Lewis Gifford who subscribed and made oath to the above affidavit and he is a disinterested and a credible person
(signature)
A Barrett Just. of the Peace
Page 22

I John Skiff of the town of Easton in the county of Washington in the state of New York, had and now on a visit to Fairhaven in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged 70 years, do testify and say that I served in the war of the Revolution under Capt Benjamin Dillingham for the term of three months that I enlisted on the first of January 1776 and served untill the first of April following; & served said term of three months partly on Winter Hill and partly on Dorchester Heights near Boston, during which time the Brittish Troops left Boston that I well know Elijah Macomber of Dartmouth & that said Elijah Macomber to my personall knowledge did serve in said company with me the full term of three months aforesaid-

I also further testify and say that I enlisted again on the end of February on the first of March 1778, for the term of ten months, under Capt. Timothy Ingraham of Dartmouth, and that I served at a fort in Dartmouth now Fairhaven then called Nobscot Fort, situated on the east side of the river, now called New Bedford river, and that during said  term of time the village of Bedford was burnt & part of the village of Fairhaven, and the troops at the Fort had to retreat on the appearance of the Brittish Troops; and that I was taken a prisoner and asked to cooperate by the Brittish; - and that this circumstance took place about the first of September of said year of 1778. - that during all of the time I was there which was from the last of Feb. or the first of March, to the time of the burning of said village aforesaid, I also of my being taken prisoner, I well knew the before named Elijah Macomber and he the said Elijah Macomber did enlist, and did serve all of the term of time that I was there, and until I was taken prisoner as aforesaid, and that I always understand that said Elijah Macomber served out the whole of the ten months at said Fort for after the term of eleven weeks I returned home (having been exchanged) and found the said Elijah Macomber there and on duty, and remained until the latter part of December as I now think when we were discharged having served out our time of Enlistment 
(signature)
John Skiff 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
Bristol Ss. Aug. 30. 1832 John Skiff made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed  before me A Basset Just. of the Peace
Page 23

Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
Bristol Ss.  May 30. 1833. I certify that I have made diligent inquiry of persons who formerly knew the within named John Skiff & from this information thus received I certify that his testimony is entitled to credit or in other words that he is a creditable person -
(signature)
 A Bassett Just. Peace
Page 24

I Jeremiah Willcox of the town of Genoa in the county of Cayuga, in the state of New York, but now a commorant of the town of Dartmouth, in the county of Bristol and commonwealth of Massachusetts - aged about sixty two years, do testify and say that my Father Benjamin Willcox of Dartmouth now deceased, was a captain in the militia of a company in said Dartmouth in the Revolution; and that he my said father Benjamin Willcox with his company was detatched and was marched with his company from said Dartmouth to Tiverton in the state of Rhode Island, near the Ferry, for the terms of three months sometime I suppose in the year of 1776 - for I find by looking over my Father's papers a number of rolls and among them one is endorsed or written thereon the "three months roll" at the Ferry, and among other persons names recorded thereon, I find that of Elijah Macomber, of said Dartmouth to me then and now personally known, and which roll has on it 1776; I also find among my Father's papers a number of Receipts from the men borne on his roll aforesaid, of their having serv'd their pay for service at the Ferry aforesaid, sometimes called Howlands Ferry, and that among others I find one from Elijah Macomber as having service from Capt. Benjamin Willcox, his pay for his service at Howlands Ferry said receipt is dated April 29th 1777- That some length of time afterwards and how long I cannot now tell, nor can I ascertain from any paper which were left by my Father although there is a number of Rolls, but no date shown but I think it was soon after the village of Bedford was burnt, my said Father Benjamin Willcox was detatched and ordered to march to Howlands Ferry aforesaid with his company, but soon returned with his company in service, to guard the shores on the seaboard from Slocums neck so called in said Dartmouth
Page 25

on westerly and northerly, to the line of the state of Rhode-Island, and to Seconnet river in said state, and that my Father did continue in said service from time to time on duty in guarding said shores, for nearly three years, and untill near or quite to the close of the revolutionary war - that as near as I now recollect part of the men was on furlough sometimes, and as I should or could judge that the soldiers did as much actual service, during said time in guarding the shores aforesaid, as would amount to one years hard actual and steady services. And that I frequently went with, and to visit my father Benjamin Willcox, whilst at the several places of rendezvous, during said term of about three years as ai suppose, and that I well knew Elijah Macomber of Dartmouth aforesaid then a private in the company command by my said Father, and from my always seeing said Elijah Macomber on duty, and as then several places of rendezvous, I do verily believe and declare, that I should think the time of service performed by the said Elijah Macomber was equal to one years steady hard and actual service during the term of time above just stated. 
(signature)
Jeremiah Willcox
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol Ss. on the 4th day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two appeared personally before me Jeremiah Willcox above named who subscribed and made solemn affirmation agreeable to Laws (he being conscientiously scrupulous in taking an oath) to the truth of the afore written deposition of the allegations therein stated.
Before me Zebedee A. Macomber Justice of the Peace
Page 26

Bristol Ss.  I further certify that Jeremiah Willcox is a creditable person, and entitled to belief.
Zebedee A. Macomber Justice of the Peace
Page 27


Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Bristol SS.  I, James Sproat, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that Augustine Barrett & Zebedee A. Macomber Esqr whose Signatures are affixed to the annexed Certificates, are Justices of the peace in & for said County of Bristol, and duly qualified to administer oaths.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said Court this Twentieth day of September in the year of our Lord Eighteen Thousand & thirty two

[signature] James Sproat
Page 28

Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Bristol, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Elijah Macomber of Dartmouth in said county of Bristol, the same Elijah Macomber who made oath to a declaration for a pension under the writ of Congress of June 7th 1832 before the Hon. A. Bayliss Judge of the Court of Probate for said County on the 30th day of August 1832, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age, lapse of time and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear more positively as to the precise time and length of his services in the Revolutionary war, unless it can be so adjudged by the following additional declaration -
That his first term of service in said Revolutionary war commenced as he verily believes, on the first day of January 1776, and that he was discharged on the first day of April 1776, having served as is stated in said declaration not less than three months in that campaign as a private - He may be in an error one or two days as to the commencement and ending of service, but not more than that; but he served not less than the term of three months - And he refers to the affadavits of Lewis Gifford and John Shiff annexed to said declaration prove this service -
Afterwards sometime in the autumn of 1776, the precise time he cannot now recollect, he was drafted to serve for the term of three months as stated in said declaration, and that he actually served as stated in said declaration said term of three months as a private in a company of militia commanded by Capt Benjamin Willcox: that he was whilst at Tiverton in R.I. 3 mos at a place called "Howlands Ferry" employed in and about the Fort, which was built and constructed before he went there - that after he marched to New Bedford on an alarm as is stated in said declaration he returned again at Howlands Ferry before mentioned, and at the Fort above stated, and was there discharged after having served
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out said term of three months - He further says that he does not recollect any person now living who was with him and by whom he can prove this service: but he refers to the affidavit of Jeremiah Willcox annexed to said declaration as tending very strongly to prove this service - 
As to the third campaign mentioned in said declaration under Capt. Timothy Ingraham, he now says that according to the best of his recollection, he must have entered the service of said campaign on or within a few days of the first day of March 1778, that he entered said service for ten months and served as a private that length of time under said Timothy Ingraham - That he was discharged within one or two days of the last day of December of 1778 or first [10 mo. written in margin] day of January, 1779 - He refers to the affidavits of Lewis Gifford and John Striff to prove this service. He also refers to the latter part of the affidavit of Holder Tucker herewith annexed, as tending to fortify this part of his said declaration.
As to the 4th and last term of service mentioned in said declaration, he now further says that early in 1779, as he verily believes, he was drafted to serve in a company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Willcox, and served as a private - that he was frequently called when in this service - That when called upon by order of Capt. Willcox, he obeyed the call - That he kept in constant readiness while liable be called upon as aforesaid - That he was in actual service under said Willcox, as stated above in said declaration at least twelve months and he verily believes a much longer time: This service was at that time considered beneficial to the country - He refers to the deposition of Jeremiah Willcox, annexed to said declaration, as tending very strongly to prove
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this service - He also refers to the deposition of Holden Tucker, herewith annexed, as tending to prove this service. That at the time he made his declaration aforesaid he did not recollect that said Tucker was in said service with him, and therefore did not then procure his affidavit. 
And for these services he claims a pension. 
(signatures)
Witness Zebedee A. Macomber                                            his x mark Elijah Macomber 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Bristol - June 1st 1833 - Then the before named Elijah Macomber swore and subscribed to the truth of the forgoing declaration and all of the parts and particulars therein stated.
Before me Zebedee A. Macomber Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol Ss. I Anselm Bassett Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County of Bristol do hereby certify that Zebedee A. Macomber whose signature is affixed to the above certificate is a Justice of the Peace in the said County of Bristol - In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand + affixed this seal of said court this third day of June Eighteen Hundred and thirty three
Anselm Bassett