Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 751, Primus Hall, Continental Mass.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE                   NUMBER
[handwritten]Continental            Hall, Primus                        W. 751 [/handwritten]
Trask, Primus
[handwritten] Mass. or Trask.                                       B.L.Wt.26340-160-55 [/handwritten]
[handwritten] Ann [handwritten]

CONTENTS
Page 2

See letter Sept. 7 1838 to R. Fletcher

second column

Massachusetts _31,510
Primus Hall, alias Trask, of Suffolko in the state of Massachusetts.
who was a private at L. Army in the Mass. line.

Inscribed in the Roll of Massachusetts. at the rate of 60 Dollars per Annum,to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of pension issued the 27th day of August 1838 and sent to pensioner, Boston, to the care of North Green, P.M.

Arrears to the 4th of March,1838 $420:00

Semi=anl allowance ending 4 Left. 1839=30:00
                                                                            ____________
                                                                               $450:00
                                                                            _____________
Special {Revolutionary Claim. Act June 7(28),1838.}
Recorded by S.A. Elliot Clerk
Book E Vol. 2 Page 36
Page 3

2229.
Massachusetts
Ann Hall alias Trask, 
widow of Primus Hall &C

who served in the Revolutionary
[handwritten insertion] Mass
war, as a private

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 55 Dollars ~
Cents per annum, to commence on the 3d February, 1853.

Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of Oct 1853
and sent to Israel Perkins
  Danvers 
         Mass

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 3, 1852, Page 48 Vol. [illegible]

1854. [illegible]. 
Duplicate notified
sent in lieu of th[illegible, page torn]
of 4 Oct, return[illegible]
See [illegible]
No. 2240

Set it to I. Perkins, 27th Feby [February]: /54

Date of death not on AB
Page 4

[illegible]: R. W. Young. Dec. 15/55

Vol. H1-28. ~
also Vol. J.-138. ~

Act March 3/33-
103121    Aprl 28/33

Ann Hall alias Trask wid [widow] of
Primus [crossed out and changed to] Primis Hall. alias Trask
Primis Trask

Rev War
Rev. Pen - 
Certif. dated - Oct. 3. 1853
Mass Feby 53-2229
AV160 AcMe 21/56
[illegible signature]
R.W. Young
Present

[written diagonally across right page:] 
No. 26.340 iss May 23/56
Page 5

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk Co.
On this thirteenth day of October in the year of our Lord
eighteen hundred and thirty five personally appeared in open Court before
the Hon. Judge Peter A. Thacher, Justice of the Municipal Court
holder within and for the City of Boston Primas Hall sometimes called
Primas Trask a man of colour and a resident in said City now aged
seventy nine years and upwards who being first duly sworn according
to law doth on his oath make the following declaration for the purpose
of obtaining the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 4th of June
A.D. 1832.

That he the said Primas was born in the City of Boston
on the twenty ninth day of February Anno Domini 1756 in the 
family of David Walker in Beacon Street in said Boston, and at the age 
of one month old was given to Mr Ezra Trask of Beverly in the county
of Essex who subsequently removed to the town of Danvers in said County
in whose family he continued to live until the commencement of the revolutionary
War, and that in the forepart of the month of January in
year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six he the said Primas
enlisted in the town of Cambridge in the county of Middlesex as a
soldier in the army of the Revolution for the term of one year in a 
company commanded by Capt. Joseph Butler of Concord in said
County, of the fifth Massachusetts Regiment commanded by Colonel
Thomas Nixon. The Majors name was Scammell. The name of 
the Lieutenant was Silas Walker, and Ensign Potter, Gad [last name cut off]
and Wheeler were Sergeants.
He the said Primas further testifies that 
served the full period of one year, and at Trenton in New Jersey, at
earnest solicitation of General Washington he volunteered for a 
period of six weeks which he faithfully served, and at Morristown
in New Jersey and honorably discharged by General Washington,
after the taking of Princeton in said State. The foregoing term
of time completed thirteen months and a half service. During his
service as before stated he was at the following stations and in the
following battles to wit, First at Winter Hill near Boston,
the winter of 1776, where were also stationed on said Hill and
the vicinity of the same several Regiments to wit, Colonel [last name cut off]
Colonel Glovers, Colonel Starks, Graton's and others, and that
Page 6

[con]tinued at said Station until after the British troops evacuated that City
in March 1776. Thence he marched to New York with the
Army, and was stationed in the Bowery and was employed for
some time in erecting Fortifications near Byards Hill.  About [paper torn]
time Colonel Nixon was at the place promoted to a Brigadier General
and his brother John Nixon, who was Lieutenant Colonel assumed
the command of the said fifth Regiment. After this period he was
retained in Governor's Island in the harbour of New York, but was
required to evacuate the same, when the British took possession of
[paper torn] Island. He distinctly remembers that Major Walcott was
the Bearer of a flagg of truce demanding the surrender of the place
which demand was disregarded and a cannonade commenced
that two of the vessels of the enemy came beating up the narrows
and that by General Washington's orders they were taken off the
island and in passing over to New York the Cockswain was killed
by a chain shot fired from the Asia Man of War belonging to 
the enemy.  Said Primus was after this stationed at the grand
Battery in New York, but soon joined the maine Army at Rattlesnake
Hill, and there had an action. After the engagement retreated
Harlem Heights and there had a skirmish - thence to Mile
Square and had another skirmish - thence to White Plains, and 
there had a Battle - thence crossed the Hudson River at
Kings Ferry, and marched into New Jersey, and was under General
Lee at the time that General was surprised at Basking Ridge
and taken prisoner. Then General Sullivan took command, and
marched the troops to Pennsylvania, to a place called Bristol
and after remaining at Bristol a few days recrossed the Delaware, and
attacked the Hessians at Trenton & Burlington and took them
prisoners, the Regiment to which said Primas belonged being stationed
at the former place when his term of service of one year expired; but
at the earnest request of General Washington he volunteered for the
further term of six weeks, and during said service he was at the
taking of Princetown, and soon thereafter marched to Morristown 
in New Jersey, and there received an honorable discharge from the
Army, signed by General Washington and returned home 
in the Spring of 1777.
He further testifies that the again enlisted in
the fall of the year 1777 in the town of Danvers for three months, into
a Militia Company commanded by Capt. Samuel Flint of said town
Page 7

and Lieutenant Herrick of Beverly and Colonel Johnson of Andover, and
marched to Saratoga to join the Army under General Gates, who [torn page]
they acting against General Burgoyne; that he was in the second
engagement between the two armies when the Hessian Brigade was [torn page]
together with eight pieces of British Artillery - that he distinctly
recollects the death of Captain Samuel Flint who together with L [torn page] 
Herrick were both killed in said Battle - that he was standing
near his Captain when he received his mortal wound, and caught
him in his arms to prevent his falling, but on observing that [torn page]
bled profusely set him down against a tree when he expired immediately.
This battle was fought in October 1777. After the
surrender of Burgoyne he with the Regiment marched to Albany
crossed the river at that place to Greensbush, continued down the
Hudson River on the east side, till they arrived at a place called
East Chester on the shore of Long Island Sound, when his term of three
months service expired, and he was a second time discharged,
again returned home to the town of Danvers. 
He further testifies that in
the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight he enlisted at
Danvers for a further period of three months under Capt [page torn]
of Cape Ann, and a Colonel whose name he has forgotten, but [page torn]
from Topsfield, and thence marched with the company to Rhode
Island, and was stationed on the North part of said Island opposite
Riverton and was employed in building a Fort and keeping [page torn]
until his term had again expired and he was a third time discharged
from service. The French Fleet and Army under Count Rochambeau 
were at Rhode Island, the French troops being stationed on land
above New Port on said Island at the time of his last tour
stated - that himself with another coloured man by the name of [page torn]
Manual were detached from Captain Woodbury's company and
formed service with the French Corps of Sappers & Miners, and
that all the time he performed military duty in the three foregoing
tours was nineteen months and a half.
He further testifies that in
the years 1781 and 1782 he served twenty two months as Steward
to and under Colonel Timothy Pickering of the United States
Quarter Master departments, and was with that Officers at Verplank
Point, Philadelphia, Baltimore & other places, and was at Yorktown
at the time that place surrendered to the American Army, under
General Washington and the French forces, and went into
Page 8

British Garrison in said town with Colonel Pickering and there assisted
him in taking an account of the enemy's specie deposited in their milita[ry]
chests in said Fort- that after the troops marched to the Northern
and were stationed at or near a place called Rattle snake Hill near
Newburg in the State of New York, he received a final discharge from
the Army and in the month of December 1772 he returned home to Danvers Massachusetts. He further testifies that while serving
as Steward in the army aforesaid during the Revolutionary War
at a place called Dumfries in the state of Virginia his pocket
book was stolen from him containing his several discharges from
the Army and he has not to this day heard anything of them, and
that he has also lost his last discharge.
Said Primas further testifies that
the reason why he has not claimed the benefit of the act of Congress of
the 18th of March 1818 is in consequence of the amount of his
property.
And he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or
annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the
pension roll of any agency of any State.
Primus Hall
[scribbled words] before me, Peter O. Thatcher,  Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston
We Herman Lincoln & George W Otis, Esquires

Citizens residing in Boston in the commonwealth
of Massachusetts do hereby confirm that we are well acquainted with Primas Hall who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age; that he is reputed and
believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a
soldier of the Massachusetts Troops in the Revolutionary War and
that we concur in that opinion.
[Signature] Herman Lincoln
                   George W. Otis
Sworn and subscribed as aforesaid on the day
and year aforesaid in office before me Peter O. Thatcher,
Judge of the Municipal 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
is a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certify that it appears
that Herman Lincoln and George W. Otis,
resident citizens in the city of Boston aforesaid,  (who have signed the preceding certificate and  of great respectability)
and that they are credible persons and that their [page torn] is entitled to credit. And the court further certify that he hath known Primus Hall for thirty years,  & that he hath ever been a good character for those thirty. 
Peter O. Thatcher,
Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston
Page 9

State of Massachusetts
On this twenty first day of
June in the year Eighteen Hundred and Fifty Three,
personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the
Municipal Courts in and for the County of Suffolk, and
State of Massachusetts, Ann Hall, widow of Primus Hall
(alias) Primus Trask, a resident of the city of Boston in the 
State and County aforesaid aged, sixty two years, who first being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath
make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits
of the provisions made by the Acts of Congress passed on the third of February Eighteen Hundred and Fifty Three granting pensions to the widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War:  that she is the widow of Primus Hall (alias) Primus Trask who was a pensioner of the United States under the act
of Congress passed June Seventh Eighteen Hundred and Thirty
Two at the rate of sixty dollars per annum and that
her said husband resided at Danvers, County of Essex, at the time he entered the service of the war of the Revolution and served in manner particularly set forth in the papers on file in the Pension Bureau in the matter of his application for pension under said acts. She further declares that she was married to the said Primus on the Twenty ninth day of October one thousand Eight hundred and Seventeen in the City of Boston that her said husband died at Boston aforesaid on the Twenty second day of March Eighteen Hundred and Forty Two: that she was not married to him prior to the second of January Eighteen Hundreds but at the time above stated. She further declares that she is now a widow.
[Signature] Ann Hall
Sworn to and subscribed
on the day and year above written
Before,
Y.C. Perkins
Judge of the Court
of Common Pleas for
the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts authorized
by law to wit in
said Municipal Court
Page 10

State of Massachusetts,
County of Suffolk
On this Thirty first day of March A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fiftyfive, personally appeared before me, Levi Wilkins, a Justice of the Peace, within and for the county and State aforesaid, Ann Hall, aged Sixty four years, a resident of Somerville in the State of Massachusetts, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Primus Hall alias Primus Trask, deceased,
who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and served as a Private in manner particularly set forth in the papers on file in the Pension Bureau,
in the matter of her application for pension under the act of February Third Eighteen hundred and fifty three; that she is now a Revolutionary pensioner of the United States,
at the rate of fifty [insertion of word "five"] dollars per annum; that her pension certificate was issued to her under date of October Third Eighteen hundred and fifty three, and that she is now a widow.  She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty Land to which she may be entitled under the Act approved March 3, 1855. She also declares that she has not received a Warrant for bounty Land under this or any other Act of Congress, nor made any other application therefor.
[Signature] Ann Hall

We, Coffin Pitts and Jonas W. Clark, residents of Boston in said County and State, upon our oaths declare, that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Ann Hall in our presence, and that we know her to be the identical widow of Primus Hall alias Primus Trask who was reputed to have been a soldier in the Revolutionary War; that she is a Revolutionary pensioner of the United State, and that she is now a widow.
[Signatures]
Coffin Pitts
Jonas W. Clark


The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.
Levi Wilkins, Justice of the Peace

[Handwritten note to the side]

Note that word five was inserted between the eleventh and twelfth lines from the top before signing.
Levi Wilkins, Justice of the Peace
Page 11

Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
County of Suffolk. City of Boston.
Primus Hall & Anna Clark, married
by Rev. Joshua Huntington twenty ninth
October one thousand eight hundred
and seventeen.

I certify that the above is a true copy of the record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows:
" 29 Oct 1817"

[Signature] Artemas Simonds

I, Artemas Simonds above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of City Registrar, in the City, County, and Commonwealth aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy from the records of said City, with the exception above named, as certified by me.
Artemas Simons City Registrar

Subscribed and duly sworn to before me this Eighteenth day of June A.D. 1853 and I certify that I have no
interest in the presentation of result of this claim.
[??] Wlm Balfrey Justice of the Peace
Page 12

August 26, 1931
RA-J/KEL

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W.751, that Primus Hall (the name also appears as Primus Trask), the son of Prince, a freeman of color and Delia, who was a servant in the family of a Mr. Walker, was born February 29, 1756, at the home of said Walker, on Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts. When he was one month old, he was given to Ezra Trask, then a resident of Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, and later of Danvers, Massachusetts, and was brought up by him but was never considered a slave, and when fifteen years of age, Mr. Trask gave him his freedom from his apprenticeship as a shoemaker.

While residing in Danvers, Massachusetts, he enlisted early in January, 1776, served as a private in Captain Joseph Butler's Company, Colonels John and Thomas Nixon's Massachusetts Regiment, was in the retreat from Governor's Island, in skirmishes at Rattlesnake Hill, Harlem Heights, Mile Square and in the battles of White Plains, Trenton and Princeton, in which last named engagement he captured two British soldiers, single handed, chasing them over a half mile, and was discharged after a service of one year and six weeks.

He enlisted in 1777, exact date not given, served in Captain Samuel Flint's Company, Colonel Johnson's Massachusetts Regiment, was at the second battle of Stillwater, was at his captain's side and caught him when he fell mortally wounded at that engagement, and at the capture of Burgoyne, length of this service three months. It was stated that he acted as waiter to Captain Flint.

He enlisted in 1778, served as a private in Captain Woodbury's Company of Massachusetts Troops, marched to Rhode Island, where he assisted in building a fort, was detached and served with the French sappers and miners, entire length of this service was three months.

In the years 1781 and 1782, he served twenty-two months as steward to Colonel Timothy Pickering, Commissary General of the Army, and was at the siege of Yorktown.

He was allowed pension by special act of Congress, approved June 28, 1838. He was at that time a resident of Boston, Massachusetts.
Page 13

He died March 22, 1843, in Boston, Massachusetts.

He was a soap boiler and accumulated real and personal property worth over $6000. Silas Trask, who had reared him, became in his old age infirm and poor and Primus very generously contributed to his support.

The soldier married October 29, 1817, Anna or Ann Clark. Their marriage was recorded in the town records of Boston, Massachusetts.

Soldier's widow, Ann, was allowed pension on her application executed June 21, 1853, at which time she was aged sixty-two years and resided in Boston, Massachusetts. A little later in same year she was residing in Somerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, and in 1855, was still residing at the last named place.

There is no reference to children.

This history to be furnished if ever called for. It was written just to have a record of Negroes.
Page 14

No. 2420
Pension Office,
Sept. 12, 1853.

Ann Hall, widow of
Primus Hall, akas, 'Primus Trask
Let to Israel Perkins Sept. 12/53
(Rb)

[RwG]
A[H] 30 Feb. 1853
Page 15

[handwritten] July 5, 1853.

Appl. of Ann
Hall, widow of
Primus Hall,
alias Primus
Trask (Private)

Suffolk Co.,
Mass.

UCL '153.
Aim @.. $55 per annum
Commencing 30 Feby
1853--

Israel Perkin,
Danvers,
Essex Co.,
Mass.

As City Registrar [/handwritten]

[printed vertically on right] DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Pension Office, Official Business [/printed]
Page 16

Primus Hall
private U.S. Army

$60 per annum to 
commence 4 March 1831
at act June 28. 1838
[pointing hand drawing] Place his name
on roll among June.
1832 Performers.

Send cat: to the 
Pensioner at
Boston,
Mass. to 
the case of Nathl.
Green. Esq. Postmaster.
Page 17

[handwritten] No 33308
-------
Massachusetts
-------
Primus Hall
Alias Trask
-------
Suspended
-------
Let to R Baldwin 29 Oct 1835
" " 28 May '36
do - do - 9 June 36
do - do - 9 July '36
go to Hn Abbott Laurence
Dec 30, 1836, enclosing [illegible]
Page 18

[handwritten] Danvers Mass July 1st 1853
To
Hon
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC.
pleas Send Ann Halls, Pension
Certificate to me at Danvers
Essex County Mass
Yours [illegible] Repectfully
[signature] Ismael Perkin [/signature]
Page 19

[handwritten][underlined] 25.340

160 acres
Page 20

Revy WIDOW, &c.

File No. 751
Ann Hall alias Trask
Widow
Primus Hall
Pri. Rev. Waf [scan unreadable]
Act: Feb. 3, 1853
Index: Vol. A, Page 300
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 21

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk
I, Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk of the municipal court of the city of Boston, do hereby certify that the within contains the original proceedings of the court aforsaid in the matter of the application of Primus Hall, sometimes called Primus Trask for apension and that the several papers herewith connected, under the seal of this said court, where exhibited in said court.
In testimony whereof I have besworn my hand & the seal of said court this thirteenth day of October A.D. Eighteen hundred & thirty five. Thomas W. Phillips    Clerk
Page 22

War Departmennt
Pension Office
October 29, 1835

Sir
The claim of Primus Hall alias Traske has been examined & suspended.
As gthe recordxs of Massachusetts furnish no evidence of either of his alleged rms of service and as no disfactory was on has been assigned for the delay in presenting a claim of this  magnitude, the Department will require very conclusive proof of each term of service. The numerous services by the evolution still residing in Massachusetts must furnish abundant means of establishing any services xxx authoriity.
The enployment of a steward to the company xx is not embraced in the provisions of the Act of 7th June 1832. His papers are place on file.
I am Respectfully Your Ob Servant
J L. Edwards [signature]
Bueben Baldwin Esq
TBoston, Mass.
Page 23

I the Subscriber hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Sarah Levy the Subscriber to the foregoing declaration and that I have no doubt of its truth –
Asa T. Newhall
I, William Trent of Danvers in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being sworn, do on oath testify and declare that I am Seventy seven years of age and am Pensioner of the United States under the Act of 7th June 1832.
I further testify and declare that I have this day conversed with a Coloured man from Boston and do recognise him to be the Identical person who was brought up in the family of Mr Ezza Trask, of this Town of Danver Deceased - and that he was then known by the name of Primas Trask – and is since called Primas Hall: I do well remember that said Primas went with Captain Samuel Flint of this town – who commanded a Militia Company for Three Months service, against General Burgoyne where said Flint and his Lieutenant Herrick were Slain. Said Primas was a Soldier in his Company and was waiter to Capt Flint, and I always understood and believed that said Primas served out his full period of Three Months in said Company of Capt Flint –
I further testify and declare that I formerly had a Brother by the name of Joseph Flint who with the above named Primas were Soldiers together in a Militia Company and served Three Months on Rhode Island. Their Officers names I have forgotten but I well remember of the above mentioned tour performed by said Primas – and my Brother Joseph who is dead, over forty years since. This tour of three months was performed after their return from the taking of Burgoyne
Att. Asa T. Newhall
his
William X Flint
mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
[illegible] May 17th 1836  William Flint above named made oath that he above declarations by him subscribed is true and I hereby certify that said [illegible] is a man of truth and veracity
Asa T. Newhall, Just. of the Peace
Page 24

I Sarah Very of Salem, of the county of Essex 
once commonwealth of Massachusetts being sworn 
to an oath testify and declare that I am seventy nine years 
of age and that I am the widow and [illegible]
 of William Very late of this Town of Salem [illegible] 
I further testify and declare that I was born in
Danvers and in that town and Salem I have
always resided from my birth until the present time.
I also testify and declare I can well remember
many of the clients connected with the War of the 
Revolution; and likewise well know and well remember 
many of the officers and soldiers who served in the Army in said War. I well remember Captain
Samuel Flint of Danvers who with his company
was called into service against General Burgoyne
who marched with his Company of Militia to New York 
State and It was always reported and believed that 
said Captain Flint [crossed out] and his Lieutenant Herrik was [/crossed out] 
was killed in the battle with Burgoyne, at his capture 
amongst the soldiers who were called out,  and
marched with said Flint was a coloured man 
by the name of Primus- said Primus was brought
up in the family of the Ezra Trask, of said Sanvers 
and from that circumstance took the name of Trask. 
It was a well known fact that said Primus was in the 
service of [illegible] with Capt Flint and that [illegible] his absence 
his Mistress Mrs Trask,frequently expressed much 
concern for the safety of the coloured man, said Primus.
I further testify that I have this day seen and
[illegible] with Primus Hall, now of Boston and 
do know that he is the identical person formerly
known as Primus Trask, and the same one that was 
brought up in the family of the above named Ezra
Trask

Attn. Asa T. Newhall

[illegible]
Sarah [illegible] Very
[illegible]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
[illegible] May 17th 1836 [illegible] previously [illegible] the above named Sarah 
Very and made [illegible] that the [illegible], according to the best of her knowledge and belief [illegible]
Page 25

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex [illegible]
I John Prince junior Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within, for said County do hereby certify that Asa T. Newhall Esqr. is a Justice of the Peace within, for said County duly commissioned, sworn, that his signatures on this paper are genuine.  Witness my hand, the seal of said Court at Salem this 18th day of May A.D. 1836.
John Princej [illegible]
Page 26

[illegible] Thomas Thorps
Affidavit
Page 27

[handwritten] T. Thomas Thorp of Acton in this county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Masaachuseth, [Massachusetts], Do testify and say that I am eighty years of age, that i have this day seen and conversed with and am fully satisfied that that one Primas Hall of the City of Boston, Coloursman [colored man] is the same man which was well known to me by the name of Primas Trask in The War of the Revolution, in the year 1776 we Enlisted in the company under Capt Joseph Butler of Concored, first Walker of Concord and [illegible] Viram Wheeler of Concord, in Col Thomas Nixon Regiment of the [illegible], that we march from winterhill near Boston to the City of New York, where we were stationed for a short time, and from there to Governors Island in The Harbor of New York, from there to New York City, and from there to Battle snake Hill, when we had a skirmish, from there to Harlem heights, from there to White Plains we their had a Battle, from there we Retreated to New Jersey and Pennsylvania, from there we returned to Trenton & Princeton and were in The Battles at those places, said Primas, and myself having enlisted for the term of one year which term had Expired while we were stationed at Trenton, at which place we further Enlisted for a further time of six weeks, and had a bounty of ten dollars, during The said six week we were in the before mentioned Battle of Princeton. I distinctly recalled said Primas was with me during the whole period of Thirteen and a half months, & in all the above named Battles and at Morristown New Jersey we Reviewed our discharges and returned to our Native State in the winter of 1777. I further testify that I am a Pensioner of the United States - first under the Act of 1818 which Pension I have exchanged for the Benefit of the Act of 4th June 1832, having served as
Page 28

Sargeant in the war since the above mentioned tour of Thirteen and a half months. [signiature] Thomas Thorp
Commonwealth of Masachuseth [Massachusetts] Middlesex fs. Be it known that on the fourteenth day of May in The year of our Lord one thousand eight hundrend & thirty six, before the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said county, personally appeerd Thomas Thorp above named, and made solemn oaths to the foresaid deposition by him subscribed. 
I hereby certify that I have been well acquainted with the above named Thomas Thorp for more than thirty years and know him to be a resputable Citizen of the Town of Acton and whose testimony is entitled to full credit and belief. 
Dated at Acton this 14th day of May in the year AD 1836 Before me Francis Tuttle/ Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex Ss. I Elias Phinney Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court being a Court of record in said County of Middlesex, do hereby certify that Francis Tuttle is a Justice of the Peace with and for said county, and that I believe his name subsribed to the above Certificate, to be his here  [illegible] signature. In testimony whereof I have hencceinto set my hand & affixs the Seal of the Said Court The 24th day of May 1836.
[signature] E. Phinney
Page 29

Boston, Massachusetts
May 24th 1836
Sir
I transmit herewith additional proof of the service of Primas Hall (Alias Trask) as a soldier in the War of the Revolution, In support of his claim to a Pension under the Act of 7th June 1832 Whose papers of application were forwarded in my letter of the 13th October last; and answered by yours of the the 29th, same month. In said answer it is alleged "that" "no satisfactory reason has been assigned for the" "delay in presenting a claim of this magnitude" and further that "The Department will require" "very conclusiveproof of each term of service" & as to the first, I would observe that said Primas was an early applicant for the benefit of the Act of 1818 but forebore to press his claim on being told he must swear he was not worth 200 dollars worth of Property, when at the same time he was, and still is the owner and possessor of Real and personal Estate in this City and Cambridge, to the amount of over Six Thousand Dollars. The reason assigned in his declaration (illegible0 on account of the amount of his property, is beyond all question the true one- and of the existance of the act of 7th June 1832, he had no knowledge until informed thereof by Mr William Eaton (a Pensioner of this City) in September last.
If the enclosed affidavits should be deemed satisfactory proof and said Primas claim be admitted, you will Please Issue the Certificate and forward the same directed to me at "This place." Said Primas is a soap Boiler by occupation and a man of good refute. Very Respectfully sir I am your Obt servant
Reuben Baldwin

Hon. J. L. Edwards 
[illegible] Pensions
Washington
Page 30

War Depart
Pension Office
May 28, 1836

Sir
The additional evidence in the case of Primus Hall alias Trask, enclosed in yours of 24th inst have been filled with the other papers. The declaration of evidence do not disclose whether he was freeborn or emancipated, and if the latter, at what time? This may now be supplied by deposition
I am very respectfully
yr mo obt Sr
JL Edwards
Page 31

Boston, Massachusetts
June 3rd 1836

Sir
Your letter of the 28th Mts relating to the claim for Pension of Primas Hall is received, and handed to him for perusal, who expresses much disappointment at its Import- particularly of that claim, requiring [proof, crossed out] "evidence whether he was " "freeborn or emancipated "P- [illegible] as the laws of this Commonwealth have always recognized him since he arived at the age of 21 years, as one of her Citizens enjoying in Common with other inhabitants, all the rights and immunities granted by her laws, and paying his full share of taxes in support of her Government.
I am instructed by mr Hall to say that [crossed out] that he was never a Slave - and that Mr Ezra Trask of Beverly, who brought him up  never appei[?]d that application to him, but always considered his Guardianship as ending when his [illegible] should arive at lawful age- the [illegible] any which person under lie circumstances.
I am at a loss to conceive how that question can have any influence, or bearing on the case under consideration, provided the applicant was a free citizen when the Act of 7th June 1832 passed, and became a Low, and other construction would be inconceivable to the fact within my own knowledge  of The many coloured [colored] persons who are now receiving the bounties of The United States, in the form of Pension-but who at the time of the Enlistments were slaves. 
I presume that on receiving the foregoing explanations, the Dept will reconsider the case in question, and no longer withold from the worth old soldier the munificence of the National Government, which he so justly deserves.
Page 32

Please answer this communication and forwd the same to me at this place
Verry Respectfully sir  I
your obedient servant
Reuben Baldwin

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Commissr of Pensions
Washington
Page 33

War Department
Pension Office
June 9th, 1836
Sir
In reply to yours of 3rd instant respecting the case of Primus Hall, alias Trask, I have to state that the enquiry in mine of 28th letter, whether the claimant was a slave at the time of his alleged service, and which he was required to answer upon oath, is very material; and the bearing of the facts, when properly disclosed and established will be communicated. With the objectiions indicated in mine of 28th letter, shall be [word illegible] by satisfactory evidence and explanation, the further examination of the claim will be suspended.
Very respectfully [word illegible]
J L. Edwards
Rueben Baldwin, Esq,
Boston, Massachusetts
Page 34

War Department
Pension Office
July 9th 1836
Sir,
The supplemental statement of Primus Hall, alias Trask, respecting his emancipation, would  have been more satisfactory if accompanied by the instrument which he [word illegible] he received from his former master. Under all the circumstances of the case, the Department is constrained to decide that the testimony is not sufficient to show he was an enlisted soldier in the ranks subject to, and actually performing military duty agreeably to the discipline of the Army. He no doubt was with the Army, for one of the terms alleged, yet may have been a waiter or in some other civil capacity.
I am respectfully,
[illegible]
J.L. Edwards 
Reuben Baldwin Esq
Boston, Massachusetts
Page 35

[handwritten letter]
Boston, Massachusetts.
June 14th 1836.
Sir
Your two communications of the 10th instant is received by which I perceive the requirement in yours of the 28th Ulto in relation to the case of Primus Hall, was misconstrued. The clause reffered to was as follows (Vir.) "The declaration" ""& evidence do not disclose whether he was freeborn" "or emancipated; and if the latter, at what time".  From the import of the foregoing it was inferred that the department required testimony as to way and manner of said Primus' becoming free; which at this late day would almost be impracticable to adduce, since the occurance took place more than sixty years since; more especially as the whole family of Mr Ezra Trask/his master, are now extinct.

The contents of your letter of the 10th instant is understood to require the deposition of said Primus which is herewith enclosed, by which it will appear that his freedom was in consequence of the voluntary Act of Mr Ezra Trask, his then Master, who sanctioned the act by a written instrument; and this to at the age of Fifteen years old of said Primus; which instrument in after times received the sanction of the authorities of this State.

I am instructed by said Primus to say that he never was literally considered a slave; especially after he was given to said Trask, and that said Trask always repelled that appellation, when applied to said Primus, with indignation = but considered him merely as an apprentice to the shoemaking business, and in no respect different from a white person under like circumstances.

In relation to the loss of the above men-
Page 36

-tioned certificate and discharges; I am further requested
to say that while said Primus was acting as steward to General Pickering; and at that time in
[illegible] in Virginia they took lodgings at a Tavern
in that place and for want of better accomodation
said Primus lodged on a Buffalo skin on the floor
where were many more under like circumstances and that during the night some one purloined his Pocket Book and with it his discharges from the
Army, his certificate of freedom and a small sum
of money [illegible] and has not to this day [crossed out] has not [/crossed out]
seen either of them.
Please answer this communication and forward the same to me at this place.
Very Respectfully sir I am 
your obedient Servant
Reuben Baldwin
Page 37

Boston Massachusetts
July 14th 1836
Sir
In behalf of Hannah Bigelow widow of Wm
Bigelow [illegible]; I have to request [crossed out] that [/crossed out] a brief copy
of the Declaration of said William and the accompanying
affidavits which were forwarded to the War
Dept. as proof in support of his claim to a Pension
under the Act of Congress of the 18th of March 1818
Said William Bigelow was a resident [crossed out] in [/crossed out] in the town of Bolton Worcester County Masstts
and departed this life in the year 1826; as appears
or reference to the papers forwarded to me 
connected with the claim of his widow for the gratuity
of 50 Dollars from this Commonwealth.
Your Letter of the 9th Instant relating to the 
claim for Pension by Primus Hall alias Trask is
received and by him perused; which when compared
with the former communications from the Department
on the same subject. Mr. Hall is fully impressed with the belief that any further testimony he may be able
to [illegible] as proof of his service as a soldier in The
War of the Revolution will also be considered
unsatisfactory especially when it appears by your
last communication that the department are more 
ready to give credence to the belief that he might
have been in the army as a "waiter" and not a "soldier"
Altho all the testimony hitherto adduced in
this case is decidedly in favor of the latter and not
of the former- said Hall is not well pleased at the reiterated 
and often repeated inquiries as to the manner how and in 
what manner he became free; since he has been so over 64 years - and indeed the fact of his being given
(not sold) to Mr Ezra Trask was the act [crossed out] that [/crossed out] by which said Primas was liberated from all Bonds of every
kind name or nature appertaining to slavery- Those
of Paternity and minority, superceeding the same- This-
Page 38

This assertion will be better explained by understanding that said Primus was an adopted son of Ezra
Trask; who to the day of his death never had any 
Issue and further was at that early period what we should now call an abolitionist who altho a poor
mechanick shoemaker undertook to bring up this 
coloured boy as his own child- and perhaps never was 
Philanthropy more properly bestowed or better repaid in 
after years- when Mr. Trask became infirm and indigent-
said Primas altho married and settled in business in 
this city was nevertheless induced to hire a Farm
in Danvers and from his own bounty paid the annual rent on the same for several years [illegible] and otherwise
contributed to the aid and assistance of his former much
esteemed by indigent Patron or nominal master.
Said Primas is a man of good repute and well
known in this city and adjacent county- whose
Character for Truth and Veracity is second to none
either here or elsewhere see Judge Thatchers certificate 
attached to the Declaration)
The probability is that said Primas will
refrain from further importuning the department
in his behalf for a Pension- which he justly considers his
lawful due and refer his claim to the National 
Legislature at their next session- which he would
have done before now- but relying on the justice of his cause and the magnanimity and liberality of 
his country hitherto bestowed on the relicts of the 
Revolution without distinction of colour. He was
averse to apply for special Legislation in his behalf when to himself and all others his case appeared so clear
He therefore considers his claim as put to rest for the present as it is not intimated that any further testimony is wanted-
Please forward the mentioned copy of the Declaration of William Bigelow and forward the sum to me at this place
[illegible] Edwards Esq
[illegible] of Pensions
Washington
[column]
Verry Respectfully sir I am
your [illegible] servant
Reuben Baldwin
Page 39

I John Brown of the Town of Nantucket,
in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being
sworn- do on oath testify, depose, and say, that I
am Seventy five years of Age, and that I was born
and brought up in the Town of Danvers, Essex
County in the aforesaid Commonwealth- that my fathers name was James Brown, now dead, that 
I have a brother named Samuel Brown in [illegible]
Danvers- also a sister named Betsey plus a sister named Sally
living in Salem, and a sister Polly living in Danvers and that during the Revolutionary War with great Britain, when the British Army under
General Burgyone was making fearful progress
down into the States, the Militia of Essex County were called into service- and amongst the rest,
Captain Flints' Company from Danvers, [illegible]
of three months.- I belonged to said Company,
and many of my neighbors- Amongst the number,
a free coloured man, by the name of Primus Trask-
We marched to the State of New York, to reinforce the American Army under General Gates, then acting 
against Burgyone, and arrived in camp aafter the first battle, and soon thereafter had another in 
which Captain Flint's Company were engaged.
We had a hard fight, and took the British 
Artillery, but lost our Captain (Flint) and
Lieut. Herrick- both were killed in the course
of the engagement.- I know that Primas
was in said battle, for I was near him when Captain Flint was shot through the bod, who
immediatley expired- Our Lieutenant Herrick,
we found dead the morning after the
battle, a short distance from where Captain
Flint was killed. After the surrender of
Burgyone's Army, we marched down the Hudson
River, and were discharged on the Shore of 
Long Island Sound, in the State of New York-
the term of our enlistment, three months, having 
expired- said Primus was discharged at
Page 40

at the same time with myself, and I know
he served faithfully as a soldier the above 
tour of three months, and was much esteemed
by the officers and men, as a brave and faithful
soldier in the service of his country.
I further testify, that I am not in the
receipt of a Pension under any Act- Being
far removed from the place of my nativity,
I have not been able to adduce such
testimony of my service, as would be considered
satisfactory; but instead to make application
as soon as I can obtain assistance of some 
friend, in searching out amongst the few surviving soldiers of the Revolution in Essex County, on 
elsewhere, evidence of my service aforesaid- I am
now very decrepid and am confined to my house, and have not been able to do any work or labor for about three years, now last past.
John Brown
Nantucket August 12th 1836
Witness
Elisha H Fisher 
Stephen B Gibbs

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Nantucket
August 12th A.D. 1836 Then the 
above named John Brown personally came before me and made solemn oath that all &
singular the facts stated & contained in the above
deposition by him subscribed in my presence & view are
true- I do further certify that Elisha H Fisher & Stephen B Gibbs-
two respectable citizens of this town, signed their names above
as witnesses in my presence & in the presence of John Brown aforesaid.
Josiah Hussey Justice of the Peace
I who hereby certify, that I am personally
acquainted with Mr. John Brown, who has subscribed and 
made oath to the above affidavit, and know him to be a
credible witness- and I do without any hesitation say that
he sustains an [illegible] character.
Josiah Hussey Justice of the Peace
Page 41

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Nantucket [illegible] August 26, AD [illegible]
I do hereby certify that Josiah Hussey Esq
who signed the two certificates above, in my
presence & view is a Justice of the Peace
for the county of Nantucket, & duly qualified
to discharge the duties of that trust-
In testimony whereof I have herewith
set my hand & the seal of the judicial courts, for the said
County of Nantucket
George Cobb Clerk of the
Judicial Courts for the County
of Nantucket
Page 42

Memorandum
I served three months on board ship Rhone
an American Privateer belonging to Salem Massachusetts, in the Revolutionary War
as Mariner- Nemiah [illegible] Master-
Also 9 weeks on board ship Julius Caesar-
an American Privateer belonging to Salem,
Massachusetts, in the Revolutionary War- Thomas Benson Master-
Nantucket August 12th 1836 John Brown
Witness
Josiah Hussey
Page 43

Dear Sir, House of [illegible]
Dec 29 1836
Will you be so good enough to send
to me all the papers of Primus Hall alias Trask- a Revolutionary Soldier- [illegible] oblige
Your Obt Ser
Abbott Lawrence
Mr Edwards
Pension Office
Page 44

Sir Boston Massachusetts
August 7th 1838
I am requested by the Hon Rich Fletcher
to address you and solicit your attention to the
case of Primus Hall alias Trask for whose benefit
an Act passed at the late session of Congress, and
Mr Fletcher expected a certificate would have issued
before this time. I Respectfully request that his
certificate may be forwarded to me with as little
delay as possible, or to Mr Fletcher.
I am Sir respectfully
Your Ob Servt
Reuben Baldwin
J L Edwards Esq
Court of pensions
Washington
Page 45

Boston Massachusetts
August 16, 1838
Sir
Your letter of 11th [word illegible] in answer to mine of the 7th is before me and I regret to discover in it a disposition in the Department to review all the difficulties formerly the ansswer in the way of the claim of Primus Hall, alias Trask; where claim ofr remuneration for Revolutionary Service has been so being pending before the department and the National Legislature. Mr. Hall had flattered himself when he saw his name published in the Washington Globe are amonst those to whom relief had been granted, that his anxiety about his just claim would cease and that all objections were removed, in this it appears he is mistaken, for in order to obtain his rights he must go through with another formal declaration and probably Supported by the Source for [word illegible] as formerly given, - Mr. Hall has refered his case to the Hon Richard Fletcher who is the Member of Congress that presented his petition to the last Legislature of the Nation, that gentleman can if he thinks [2 words illegible] make out a fifth [underlined] declaration for Primus Hall, line for line, word for word, comma for comma, [underlined] as I have already written four from his own mouth, I have neither time nor inclination to satisfy what appears to me an unreasonable demand of the
Page 46

Department and is Mr. Fletcher has a personal knowledge of Mr. Hall he will be able to substantiate his identity. Mr. Hall will be unable to state the date of the Act under Oath as it has not been published here, and he has no access to the documents in the Department at Washington. it is hoped Mr. Hall will in future meet with better success than he has heretofore through my Agency.
I am very respectfully
Sir Hon Obst
Reuben Baldwin

James L Edwards Esq
Court of pensions
Washington
Page 47

Boston Sept. 3, 1838
Dear Sir,
Included is an Act passed at the last session of Congress in favor of Primus Hall of this City.
You will oblige me by forwarding to me a Certificate in his favor agreably to the act

Very respectfully
Richard Fletcher

Jemes L. Edwards Esq
Page 48

[document handwritten]

Primus Hall alias Trask born '56
January 76 - Jos. Buttes, Ninon Col. 12 mo.. Vol . 6 weeks. 13.12
fall 77. Flint Johnson " 3 mo. 3-
78 Woodbury. forgotten
81. 82. Steward under Peckering 2nd Mil. Dept. 22 mos.
no doubt a waiter & slave.
Page 49

[printed letter head] Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
[printed script] [illegible] Office Boston [handwritten] June 30th 1853
[printed script] I hereby Certify, That [handwritten]  [illegible] dates of the
annexed [illegible] Jon [illegible] C. Perkins was
judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and
by law to sit in the Municipal Court, and
was a Justice of the Peace for all the 
counties- and William Palfrey was a 
Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted;
and that to their acts and attestations as such, full faith and
credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court. The
signature of Mr Perkins are [illegible]
Page 50

I CERTIFY that the above is a true copy of the record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures, as follows:-
"1842, March 22"

Artemas Simonds

I, Artemas Simonds above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of City Registrar, in the City, County, and Commonwealth aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy from the records of said City, with the exception above named, as certified by me.

Artemas Simonds City Registrar

Subscribed and duly sworn to before me, this twentieth day of June A. D. 1853 & I certify that I have no interest in the .... of this claim.

Wm Palfrey Justice of the Peace
Page 51

[torn seal] ommonwealth of Massachusetts

Secretary's Office, Boston, [handwritten] September 20 1853
Thereby Certify, That [handwritten] abet dates of the annexed attestations Benja H. Currier
was a Justice of the Peace for the County
of Suffolk
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted ;
and that to [handwritten] his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.

[handwritten] EM Wright
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 52

State of Massachusetts
County of Suffolk S.S.
On this nineteenth day of September A.D. 1853
personally appeared before me the undersigned
- a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Suffolk and State aforesaid Jonas
W Clark a residend of the City of Boston in 
said County and State aged fifty three years
who first being duly sworn according to law
doth depose and say that Primus Hall alias 
Primus Trask; late of said City of Boston in said
County and State: who was a revolutionary
Pensioner of the United States was to him well
known. That Ann Hall of the Town of Somerville
in the county of Middlesex and State aforesaid who has made an application to the 
United States government for a pension under
the act passed by Congress on the Third of February
Eighteen hundred and Fifty Three, is to him 
well known and that She is the identical widow of Primus Hall alias Primus Trask
What She has remained his widow ever since 
his death. Jonas W Clark
[illegible] B.H. Currier
State of Massachusetts
Suffolk County  [illegible] Boston September 19th 1853
then personally appeared the above
Page 53

I further certify that the within named Jonas W. Clark is a person of good character and entitled to belief [sic]

I also certify that I have no interest whatever in any allowance that may be granted to the within named Ann Hall

Benj H. Currier
Justice of the Peace
Page 54

[handwritten letter]
State of Massachusetts
County of Suffolk } S.S.
1. On this Nineteenth day of September A.D. 1853 personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Suffolk and State aforesaid Coffin Pitts a resident of the City of Boston in said County and state Aged sixty years who first being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that Primus Hall alias Primus Trask late of said City of Boston who was a pensioner of the United States was to him well known. That Ann Hall of the Town of Somerville in the County of Middlesex and State aforesaid who has made an application to the United States government for a Pension under the act passed by Congress on the Third of February, Eighteen hundred and Fifty Three is to him well known. That he knows her to be the identical widow of Primus Hall, alias Primus Trask. That She has remained his widow ever since the death of Primus Hall alias Primus Trask aforesaid.
Coffin Pitts
Witness
B.H. Currier
State of Massachusetts
Suffolk County, S.S. Boston September 19th, 1853.
Then personally appeared the above named Coffin Pitts and made oath that the foregoing Affidavit by him subscribed, is true.
Before me, Benj. H. Currier
Justice of the Peace
Page 55

[handwritten letter]

I further Certify, that the written named Coffin Pitts is a person of good character and entitled to belief.

And I also Certify that I have no interest what ever in any allowance that may be granted to the matters named Ann Hall

Benj H. Currier
Justice of the Peace

Hall [handwriten to the side of letter]
Page 56

[handwritten letter]

Pension Agency
Boston h. Dec. 1853
Dr Sir.
In reply to your inquiry I have to state that the name of Primus Hall (alias Trask) a Revolutionary Pensioner, appears on the roll of this Agency under the Act of 7 June 1832, at the rate of $60 per annum.
Respectfully
[first naem illegible] Bomer Jr
P.C.
Mr Perkins
Page 57

[handwritten letter]
Danvers Mass 5
February 20th 1854
From
L. P. Waldo
Coms. of Pensions
Sir
Mrs Ann Hall of Middlesex County Massts desired me to state to you that her late husband Primus Hall, Alias Trask was pensioned at the rate of $60. per annum under the act of 7th June 1832, and as her pension Certificate only allows her fifty five dollars per annum. She therefore thinks that there might have been some mistake. Mrs Hall's Certificate is under date of 3rd October 1853, and is recorded on the roll of pensioners under act of 3rd February 1853 Page 48 [underlined]. [next 3 underlined words illegible] cannot tell which
I herewith enclose a statement from the Regent for paying pensioners in the State of Mass.
Yours Sir with sentiments of great respect
Israel Perkins
Danvers Essex Co, Mass.
Page 58

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Secretary's Office, Boston April 25th, 1855
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the attestationshereunto annexed, 
Levi Wilkins was a 
Justice of the Peace for the County of Saffock 
and Fitch Poole a Justice of the Peace for the County of Essex. 
In the said Commonwealth, duly commisioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of court. 
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written. 
T M Wright 
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 59

[handwritten letter]

Boston, Massachusetts
October 13th 1835

Sir
I transmit herewith the papers and documents in support of a claim to a pension from the United States by Primus Hall of this city; who claims a pension under the Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832; for services performed as a soldier, and likewise as Quatermasters Stewart, in the War of the Revolution.

If this claim should be admitted and a pension Certificate should issue; you will please forward the same directed to me at this place
Very Respectfully Sir I am Your Obedient servant
Reuben Baldwin [signature]

J.L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
Page 60

33308
Primus Hall al Trask. 
Mass. 
Affidavit Peirrier
Page 61

[handwritten] Com th of Massachusetts
I Elijah Flint of Dawers do testify and declare
that I am seventy three years of age; that
I am the refruted son of Caleb, Samuel
Flint formerly of this town, who with his
first Lieut. Herrick, of Beverly were killed
while engaged with their company of Mili-
tia, Oct. 7th 1777 at Stillwater is Bhemes'
Heights, at the Capture of Gen. Basgoyne
and his Comp. and I do further declare that
I know personally and have long known
Primus  Trask, since called Primus Hale,
a colored man, who was brought up in
the family of Ezra Trask, formerly of Bev-
erly but subsequently of Dawers; that
matter of notoriety
it has been and now is ^ that said Pri-
mus was engaged as a solder in the
service of his country in the Revolution
war
ary ^ that this has not been disputed with
in my knowledge ; and I do further declare
that it has been currently reported that said
Primus was present in the battle in which
said Capt. Sam e Flint was killed; and
farther, that I always considered said Primus a man of good character for
truth and veracity - - Elijah Flint
Dawers Oct. 7. 1835.
Page 62

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex s. Oct. 7th 1835 - 
Then personally appeared Elijah Flint,
Esq. and made solemn oath that the with
in affidavit by him subscribed, is the
truth and nothing but the truth.
before me Daniel P. King
Just. of the Peace
This may certify that Elijah Flint, the within
declarant, is a respectable citizen of this town
and that his character for truth and veracity is
unimpeached - Daniel P. King
Dawers Oct. 7th 1835.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex fs: I John Princej Celeste of the judicial
Courts within and for the County of Essex do hereby
certify that Daniel P. King Esqr. of Danvers is a 
Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly
commissioned and qualified to act as such. and that
his foregoing signature is genuine. -
For Witness Whereof I have herets
set my hand and the seal of said Courts
at Datem this seventh day of October
SD. 1835
John Princej Clds.
Page 63

Affidavit of 
Alijah Flint, 
of Summer, Masstts
Page 64

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - 
I, Ebenezer Hart of Lymfield do testify, depose
and declare that I am seventy three years of age, that
I have always lived in Lymfield except when in the ser-
vice of my country; that I served as a soldier between
seven and eight years during the Revolutionary war -
that I personally knew Primus Trask, a colored man,
who was brought up in the family of Ezra Trask
who lived in Dawers, within three miles of where I now live; said Trask had previously lived in Bev-
erly: that I was present in the battle of Oct 7, 1777
where Capt. Sam e Flint, who had been a neighbor
of mine, was killed; that during my service
I frequently saw Primus Trask and know
him as a soldier in the war of the Revolution.
but for what period he was engaged I cannot now recollect; that I distinctly recollect said Primus as steward to Col. Pickering in the Quar- [crossed out] Com-
termaster [crossed out] missary ^ Department at Yorktown: that I am
now receiving pay under the Act of Congress of
15th of May 1828; and that I have heard that
said Primus lives in Boston and is sometimes known
by the name of Primus Hall; that it is, and
has been matter of notoriety that said Primus
as a soldier
was engaged in the public service^; and that
his character for truth is good- Hart
Eben
Lymfield Oct. 8th 1835
Quartermaster instead of Commissary
Steward to Col Pickering and as a
soldier, altered before signing
In presence of Daniel P King - 4
Page 65

Commonwealth of  Maissa chei jetts.  [illegible] Lymnfield Oct. 8th 1835. Thea personally offered   [illegible] Ebenr Hart and made oath that the forgiving and within  [illegible] by him and serviced in the truth and nothing but the truth. before me, 
Daniel P. King (signature)
Just. of the Peace
This may certify that I personally know  [illegible] Ebenezer Hart; that he is a  [illegible]. able inhabitant of Lymnfield and that his character for  [illegible] a city is good. 
Daniel P. King (signature)
Page 66

Affidavit of
Capt Ebenz Hart
Page 67

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Secretary's Office, Sept. 15th 1835.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books
and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of
the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears
that [handwritten] the roll of Capt. Joseph Butler's Com. y
in Col. Nixon's Regt. from Jan 1st 1776,-
is not found in this Office. - The Master
roll of a Company under the above mentioned
Officer from April 24th to August 1st 1775,
is found in this Office, but the name
of Primus Hall is not borne on it.-
Primus Hall claims for services under
Capt. Sam Flint. in Col. Johnson's Regtion
1777, and under a Capt. Woodbury of Cape
Ann, but the rolls are not found in this
Office.
Edward D Banjs Leo
Page 68

Know all Men by these Presents, That I,
[handwritten] Ann Hall
of [handwritten] Lumeville in the county of [handwritten] Middlesest
and State of [handwritten] Massachusetts have made, con-
stituted, and appointed, and by these presents do make,
constitute and appoint [handwritten] Israel Perkins of
[handwritten] Danvers in the County of [handwritten] Essest
State of [handwritten] Massachusetts my true and lawful
Attorney, for me and in my name, place and stead,
[handwritten] To present before the Hon. LP Waldo. Commissioned
of Pensions; a bounty Land Claim I have against the
United States Government and the act of Congress
passed March Third Eighteen hundred and fifty five
giving and granting unto my said Attorney, full power and authority to do and perform all
and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully, to all intents and purposes, as I might or could do if personally pres-
ent, with full power of substitution and revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
my said Attorney or his substitute or substitutes shall lawfully do, or cause to be done by
virtue thereof.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the [handwritten] Thirty first
day of [handwritten] March in the year one thousand eight hundred and [handwritten] fifty five
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of [handwritten] Ann Hall [seal]
[handwritten] Jonas W Clark
[handwritten] Levi Wilkins
State of [handwritten] Massachusetts
County of [handwritten] Suffolk ss.
On this [handwritten] Thirty first day of [handwritten] March A.D. 18 [handwritten] 55, before me
the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, within and for said County, personally appeared
[handwritten] Ann Hall and acknowledged the foregoing power of Attorney
to be [handwritten] her free act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned, and also made oath that
[handwritten] she is a party directly interested in the above mentioned as a claimant.
[handwritten] Levi Wilkins Justice of the Peace.
Page 69

We now all men by these present that
I Israel Perkins of Danvers in the County
of Essex and State of Massachusetts have made
constituted and appointed and by these present
do make constitute and appoint R.W. Young. of
the City of Washington D.C. my time and ban full
attorney for me and in my name, place and 
stead. to present before the Hon. L.P. Waldo.
Commissioner of pensions, the Claim
of Ann Hall for bounty Land under
the act of Congress passed March 3. 1855
Witness my hand and Seal. this tenth day.
of April A.D. 1855
Signed Sealed and delivered
In presence of Israel Perkins
Jonathan Perkins [seal]
Catherine T. Perkins
State of Massachusetts [bracket]
County of Essex S.S.
On this tenth day of April A.D. 1855
before me the subscriber a Justice of the
Peace within and for said County personally
appeared Israel Perkins and acknowledged
the foregoing power of attorney to lee his free
aer and deed for the purposes therein mentioned
Fitch Poole
Justice of the Peace
Page 70

[?] 102

25th CONGRESS 
2d Session 

[manually crossed out]
H.R. 318.
January 4, 1838
Read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.

Mr. EWING, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, reported the following bill:
[end cross out]

[strike-through] A BILL [end strike]
An Act

For the relief of Primus Hall, alias Trask.

[each line is numbered (1-8) but the numbers are struck through vertically]
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That
3 the Secretary of War cause the name of Primus Hall, alias 
4 Trask, of Massachusetts, a free colored man, to be placed on 
5 the roll of revolutionary pensioners, and that he be paid at the 
6 rate of sixty dollars per annum during his natural life; the 
7 first payment to commence on the fourth day of March, anno
8 Domini eighteen hundred and thirty-one

Approved June 28th 1838.

A true copy compared with the Roll in this office. 
Dept. Of State
June 30th, 1823

[signature] A. Nail
Chief Clerk
Page 71

25th CONGRESS, 2d SESSION.
H.R. 318
JANUARY 4, 1838.
Read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.
Mr. Ewing, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, reported the following bill:
A BILL
For the relief of Primus Hall, alias Trask.
1	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
2	of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
3	the Secretary of War cause the name of Primus Hall, alias
4	Trask, of Massachusetts, a free colored man, to be placed on 
5	the roll of revolutionary pensioners, and that he be paid at the
6	rate of sixty dollars per annum during his natural life; the
7	first payment to commence on the fourth day of March, anno
8	Domini eighteen hundred and thirty-one.
The foregoing is a true copy of the bill as passed by both Houses of Congress.
N.F.
Page 72

HR 318
25th CONGRESS, 2d Session {Rep. No. 275} HO. OF REPS.
JANUARY 4, 1838.
MR. EWING, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, made the following
REPORT:
The Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, to which the petition of Primus Hall, alias Trask, was referred, report:
That the same committee, at the second session of the 24th Congress, investigated this case, and made a favorable report thereon; that the petition and evidence have been again examined with care, and entirely concurring in the sufficiency thereof, a bill is herewith reported; that the state of facts to which referrence [old fashioned spelling] is made, and upon which this bill is predicated, are as follows:
The petitioner is a man of color, and asks that a pension be granted to him for revolutionary services. He states, in his application to the War Department, that, in the month of February, 1776, he enlisted at Cambridge, in the State of Massachusetts, as a private soldier, in the company commanded by Captain Joseph Butler, the fifth Massachusetts regiment, to serve for the term of one year; that the whole of this term he was engaged in his post. He was at Winter hill, near Boston, while that city was besieged by General Washington, until its evacuation by the British. From thence he marched with the army to New York, where he remained until the enemy took possession of the city. He was in all the skirmishes from that period until the battle of White Plains, where he bora a part; thence his regiment, crossing the Hudson, marched into New Jersey, and was attached to the command of General Lee, when that officer was surprised and made prisoner, near Basking Ridge. The petitioner was afterwards in the battles of Trenton and Princeton, and having served out the entire period of his enlistment, was honorably discharged at Morristown.
He further states, that, in 1777, he again enlisted for the term of three months, in a company of militia commanded by Captain Samuel Flint, of Danvers, Massachusetts, in the regiment of Colonel Johnson, and marched to Saratoga, where his regiment joined the army under General Gates; that he was in the second engagement with the British, under Burgoyne, when his captain (Flint0 and his lieutenant (Herrick) were killed. The
Thomas Allen, print.
Page 73

2 {Rep. No. 275.}
petitioner claims to have faithfully served his whole tour of duty, and was discharged at East Chester.
He claims further, that he served three months, in 1778, in the company commanded by Captain Woodbury, during which time he was in Rhode Island, assisting in the erection of fortifications, and performing the duty of a guard. That, in 1781-82, he served twenty-two months as steward to Colonel Timothy Pickering, and was finally discharged at Newburg, New York, in 1782, in the month of December.
While in Virginia, attached to the army, in 1782, at Dumfries, his pocket-book, the petitioner states, was stolen from him, which contained his several discharges for his three first tours of duty; and his last discharge is also lost.
The petitioner further states, that he did not apply for a pension under the law of 1818, in consequence of the amount of his property. He is now nearly eighty-one years of age, and needs the aid of his country. The evidence to sustain the petitioner’s claim is –
1st. The affidavit of Thomas Thorp, who is eighty years of age. This witness enlisted at the same time with the petitioner, in Captain Butler’s company, and served out the whole period, as the petitioner in his application has stated, which exceeded twelve months; and his testimony corroborates the petitioner’s in all the details of that service: the witness is a pensioner himself, and has been, since 1818, in part, for the same service.
2d. The affidavit of Elijah Flint, the son of Captain Samuel Flinty, who was killed at Saratoga.  He states that he knew the petitioner was soldier in his father’s company, and served as he has stated.  Also, the affidavit of John Brown, who belonged to the same company, and served with him for the whole term of which he was enlisted.
The committee are satisfied that the petitioner has fully sustained, by clear and unimpeached testimony, the material statements in his memorial, and that he is justly entitled to a pension for a faithful service of eighteen months as a revolutionary soldier, not merely in camp duty, or the ordinary performance of military obligations, but in the field of battle, where his bravery and good conduct are proved to have been such as would have done honor ro any man.
The Commissioner of Pensions has refused, from time to time, to allow a pension to this free colored man on different grounds; for a detail of which the committee refer to the papers marked 1, 2, 3, and 4, which they make a part of their report.  The reasons given by the Commissioner, if sufficient in themselves at any time, have all been obviated, as the committee believe by the testimony which has been produced.
Page 74

Know all Men by these Presents, That I, 
[handwritten] Ann Hall of [handwritten] Somerville 
in the county of
[handwritten] Middlesex 
and State of 
[handwritten] Massachusetts
have made, constituted, and appointed, and by these presents do make, constitute and appoint
[handwritten] Israel Perkins
of
[handwritten] Danvers
in the County of
[handwritten] Essex and
State of 
[handwritten] Massachusetts
my true and lawful Attorney, for me and in my name, place and stead,
[handwritten] To present before the Hon, Commissioner of Pension at Washington, D.C. a claim I have against the United States government, under the act of congress passed 3d, February, A.D., 1853, on account of Service rendered by my husband, Primas Hall in the war of the revolution
giving and granting unto my said Attorney, full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully, to all intents and purposes, as I might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution and revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney or his substitute or substitutes shall lawfully do, or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the
[handwritten] Twenty first day of
[handwritten] June
in the year one thousand eight hundred and
[handwritten] Fifty Three
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
[handwritten] Ann Hall
[handwritten] E Jackson

State of 
[handwritten] Massachusetts
County of
[handwritten] Suffolk } ss.
On this 
[handwritten] Twenty first
day of
[handwritten] June
A.D. 18[handwritten]53m
before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, within and for said County, personally appeared
[handwritten] Ann Hall
and acknowledged the foregoing power of Attorney to be
[handwritten] her
free act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned, and also made oath that
[handwritten] she
is a party directly interested in the above mentioned as a claimant.
[handwritten] J. C. Perkins
JUSTICE OF THE PEACER.
[handwritten] for all the counties of the Commonwealth
Page 75

I, Primus Hall of the City of Boston in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Being sworn do on Oath Testify and declare that according to the best of my knowledge and belief I was born in Beacon St. in this City on the 29th day of February of the year 1756; and in the family of a Mr Walker – My Fathers name was Prince Hall. and he was a free man – my mothers name was Delia Hall and she was a servant in the family of said Walker. and at the age of one month old I was given to a Mr Ezra Trask of Danver, with the express understanding that he the said Trask was to bring me up and learne [antique spelling] me the Trade of shoemaker = as soon as I was old enough and that at the age of Twenty one years I was to be free = the same as any white person- 
And accordingly at the age of ten years of thereabouts I began to work at said trade – and from then until I was fifteen – when it was well known by Mr Trask. and a Physician, that the ocupation [as spelled in document] of shoemaker did not suit me – and my health was much impaired in consequence – said Physician Amos Putnam, advised my Master to change my employment, who thereupon proposed to me to give me my time which proposal was accepted by me, and a Certificate to that effect was given me – The purport of which was that he the said Trask gave me my freedom with full liberty for me to transact any or all business of every kind until I should arive [as spelled in document] at the age of 21 years. and fully relinquished all claim upon me whatever – I was thence afterwards engaged in various ocupations [as spelled in document] some times as a Farmer at others as a Truckman in Salem – and untill [as spelled in document] I was Nineteen years of age – and had all the avails of my labour – and at the age of Nineteen I Enlisted as a Soldier in The War of the Revolution – and
[continued on next page]
Page 76

served Nineteen Months and an half as a Soldier by Three several Enlistments. (Vir.) first under Capt Joseph Butler. Colonel Nixon, Thirteen and an half months = and Three months in the Campaign against Genl Burgoyn. in Capt Flints Company of Colonel Johnsons Regiment of Militia – and Three months in a Campaign on Rhode Island under Capt Woodbury of Cape Ann – and also Twenty two months as Steward to General Timothy Pickering
I remember that when General Pickering was about to hire me as his Steward I exhibited to him my Certificate of freedom which I had received from Mr Trask, as before stated – and as I was to go to the southward with said Pickering. I thought it advisable to have my said Certificate of freedom well established by the authorities of this state; and accordingly I presented it to Governor Hancock, who attached his Certificate under the official seal of his Commonwealth, to my said Certificate.
I had a Pocketbook stolen at Dumfries in Virginia and with it I lost said Certificate and likewise Three Discharges from the Army, and have not seen either of them to this day.
I am by ocupation a Soap Boiler & have acquired a small property in this City and elsewhere by my industry
Primus Hall
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk ss. June 13 1836 – Personally appeared the above named Hall and made solemn oath that the foregoing declaration by him subscribed in just and true according to his best knowledge and belief
Before me
Augustus Peabody
Justice of the Peace
For said County
I, Thomas W. Phillips clerk of the Municipality of the City of Boston hereby certify that Augustus Peabody is a Justice of the Peace as above set forth & that the signature above is genuine –
Witness my hand & the Seal of the County this 14th June 1836. Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk.
Page 77

To The Honourable The Senate and House of Representatives of The United States in Congress Assembled.
The Petition of Primus Hall alias Trask a colored Man and a Native Citizen of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts respectfully represents That your Petitioner Served as a Soldier in the Revolutionary War with Great Britain and was in Actual Service Nineteen months and an half as a private Soldier and was in Several Skirmishes and Battles with the Enemy, particularly at White Plains in the State of New York and at Trenton and Princeton in New Jersey when the Hessians and British were taken at those places, At the latter place He made Prisoners of two of the Enemy with his own hands after pursuing them over half a mile,
Your Petitioner further declares that He Served as a Soldier in the Campaign against General Burgoyne three months and was present when that Officer Surrendered his Army to the American Forces, He also represents that He Served afurther term of three months on Rhode Island and also as Steward to the Commissary General, Col Timothy Pickering, Twenty one months, and was with that Officer through all the Southern Campaigns until the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis
Page 78

at York Town, All of which will more fully appear by reference to the Papers and Documents on file in the Pension Office, which Papers and Documents were forwarded to that Department as proof of his Service in Support of his claim to a Pension under the Act of Congress of June 7th 1832
Your Petitioner further respectfully represents that he is now over Eighty years of age and quite infirm and is thus unable to gain Support by manual labour, And that He considers himself aggrieved in consequence of the neglect with which his just claim has been treated by the Department and He humbly prays that Your Honourable Body will grant him that relief, to which his faithful Services entitle him, by causing him to be placed on the Pension list Roll of Revolutionary Pensioners agreeably to his above mentioned Services.
And as in Duty bound will ever pray der de [?]
Primes Hall
Peter Clark witness.
Page 79

[This is a repeat of Image 77]

To The Honourable The Senate and House of Representatives of The United States in Congress Assembled.
The Petition of Primus Hall alias Trask a colored Man and a Native Citizen of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts respectfully represents That your Petitioner Served as a Soldier in the Revolutionary War with Great Britain and was in Actual Service Nineteen months and an half as a private Soldier and was in Several Skirmishes and Battles with the Enemy, particularly at White Plains in the State of New York and at Trenton and Princeton in New Jersey when the Hessians and British were taken at those places, At the latter place He made Prisoners of two of the Enemy with his own hands after pursuing them over half a mile,
Your Petitioner further declares that He Served as a Soldier in the Campaign against General Burgoyne three months and was present when that Officer Surrendered his Army to the American Forces, He also represents that He Served afurther term of three months on Rhode Island and also as Steward to the Commissary General, Col Timothy Pickering, Twenty one months, and was with that Officer through all the Southern Campaigns until the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis
[continued next page]
Page 80

[This is a repeat of Image 78]

at York Town, All of which will more fully appear by reference to the Papers and Documents on file in the Pension Office, which Papers and Documents were forwarded to that Department as proof of his Service in Support of his claim to a Pension under the Act of Congress of June 7th 1832
Your Petitioner further respectfully represents that he is now over Eighty years of age and quite infirm and is thus unable to gain a Support by manual labour, And that He considers himself aggrieved in consequence of the neglect with which his just claim has been treated by the Department and He humbly prays that Your Honourable Body will grant him that relief, to which his faithful Services entitle him, by causing him to be placed on the Pension list Roll of Revolutionary Pensioners agreeably to his above mentioned Services.
And as in Duty bound will ever pray der de [?]
Primes Hall [signature]
Peter Clark witness.
Page 81

Brief in the case of Ann Hall widow of Primus Hall alias Trask,
Suffolk County and State of Massachusetts
Act 3d February 1853

It appears the Primus Hall, alias Trask, applied in the year 1835 to be placed on the pension roll under the Act of June 7, 1832, and that his claim was suspended from time to time for various reasons, and finally rejected in July, 1836, on the grounds that the testimony was not "sufficient to show he was an enlisted soldier in the ranks, subject to and actually performing military duty agreeably to the discipline of the army."

This ground was assumed it would seem from the papers, chiefly from the fact that the claimant was a colored man, and hence, prima facie, a slave at the time of his alleged service, and as such, incompetent to be a soldier within the meaning of the act under which he applied. That the claim was rejected upon this ground is shown by the fact that he was required to prove his manumission, and also by the fact that it was admitted by the office in a letter to his agent of the 9th July 1836. That he "no doubt was with the army for one of the terms alleged, yet may have been a waiter or in some other civil capacity." The proof shows conclusively that he, in fact performed military services.
Under these  circumstances the claimant applied to
Page 82

2
Congress which afforded relief by the passage of a special Act, (which was approved June 28, 1838) directing him to be placed in the pension roll at the rate of sixty Dollars per annum, and [underscore] to be paid from the 4th March 1831 [/underscore] – thus setting aside the [struck-through} act [/struck-through] decision of the pension office – a purpose [illegible] in the Report of the Committee on the Revolutionary pensions, to whom the papers had been referred.
A widow is not entitled under the second section of the act of 3d February 1853 to a pension (as such) granted to her husband by a special act of Congress; but in view of the action of Congress in the [illegible], the claimant in this case is deemed to be entitled, (without adducing additional testimony,) to the privilege of having a re-examination of the papers filed by his deceased husband, and of having her claim decided upon its merits, unprejudiced by the decision of the office in his case.
Taking up the case therefore, [underscored] de novo [/underscored] I find that the Declaration of Hall, the husband of the present claimant sets forth with particularity a series of services in the revolutionary war, and among them, a service in Captain Butler’s Company – 5th Massachusetts [strike-through] from the fall of [/strike-through] State troops during the years 1776 and 1777, and a service of three months in Capt Flint’s Company, in the [illegible]
Page 83

Commanded by Col Johnson in 1777=
In relation to the first of these services, it appears that the claimant's declaration is supported by the affidavit of Thomas Thorp (then a pensioner of the United States, and whose widow is now a pensioner in virtue of his services) who swears positively that he nad Hall (underscore) enlisted (/underscore) together in Butlers Company for one year served that period - during which there were together in the battles of White Plains, Trenton, Princeton, &, and were together discharged, the period of enlistment having expired - and re-enlisted in the same company for six weeks, and were again honourably discharged having served a period of thirteen months and two weeks- 
The service of Hall in Flint's company is substantiated by the testimony of William Flint who swears that he "distinctly remembers Hall's going out with Captain Flint" on his tours of three months in 1777 he being a resident of Danvers, where the company was raised and where Hall is proven to have lived - also by the affidavit of Elijah Flint (son of Captain Flint) who swears that "it has been and how is a matter of notoriety that Hall was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and that it has been currently reported that he was present in the battle in which his (affiants) father was killed" & and, by the testimony of Daniel Brown
Page 84

(4
who (although not a pensioner for reasons assigned in his affidavit, was as he stated a revolutionary soldier and in Flint's Company) swears that Hall served the whole tour of three months and that he saw him in the battle, and at the very time the Captain was shot. 

The claimant and all the above witnesses are duly certified (illegible) respectable men, and credible witnesses.
___

This proof, it is thought, sufficiently established a service, (in the absence of record evidence) of sixteen months and two weeks, and it is presumed (illegible) have been so regarded by the office in ordinary cases. waiving the point that it was also sufficient to rebut the presumption that the claimant was a slave at the time of his service, I find that the only evidence among the papers that he was born a slave contained in his own affidavit, filed under a requirement of the office, in which he also swears that he was manumitted long anterior to his joining the army - and swears that this certificate of manumission was lost while he was in the service. It would seem that the whole of this affidavit under the circumstances, should have been admitted; but assuming that Hall was a slave during the entire period of
Page 85

Brief in the case of Ann Hall, widow of Primus Hall, alias Primus Trask, 
[illegible]
Ad 3d. Feb 1853
Page 86

1

Brief in the case of Ann Hall widow of Primus Hall alias Trask,
Suffolk County and State of Massachusetts ~
Act 3rd February 1853~

It appears that Primus Hall, alias Trask, applied in the year 1835 to be placed in the pension rolls under the act of June 7, 1832, and that his claim was suspended from time to time, for various reasons, and finally rejected in July, 1836, on the ground that the testimony was not [underlining starts] "sufficient to show he was an enlisted soldier in the ranks, subject to and actually performing military duty agreeably to the discipline of the army." [underlining ends]

This ground was assumed it would seem from the papers, chiefly from the fact that the claimant was a colored man, and hence, prima facia, a slave - at the time of his alleged servie, and, as such, incompetent to be a soldier within the meaning of the act under which he applied. That the claim was rejected upon this ground is shown by the fact that he was required to prove his manumission, and also by the fact that it was admitted by the office, in a letter to his agent of the 9th July 1836 that he [underlining starts] "no doubt was with the army for one of the terms alleged, yet may have been a waiter or in some other civil capacity." [underlining ends] The proof shows conclusively that he, [underlining starts] in fact [underlining ends] performed [underlining starts] military [underlining ends] services. 

Under the circumstances the claimant applied to
Page 87

2
Congress, which [illegible] by the passage of a special Act, (which was approved June 28, 1838) [illegible] him to be placed in the pension roll at the rate of sixty dollars per annum, and [underlining starts] to be paid from the 4th March 1831 [underlining ends] - thus setting aside the decision of the pension office - a purpose avowed in the Report of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, to whom the papers had been referred. 

A widow is not entitled under the second section of the Act of 3d February 1853 to a pension (as such) granted to her husband by a special act of Congress; but in view of the action of Congress in the [illegible], the claimant in this case is deemed to be entitled, (without adducing additional testimony,) to the privilige of having a re-examination of the papers filed by her deceased husband, and of having her claim decided upon its merits, unprejudiced by the decision of the office in this case.

Taking up the case therefore, [underlining starts] de novo [underlining ends] I find that the declaration of Hall, the husband of the present claimant sets forth with particularity a series of services in the revolutionary war, and among them, a service in Captain Butler's Company - 5th Massachusetts - state troops during the years 1776 and 1777, and a service of three months in Capt. Flints Company, in the Regiment
Page 88

3

Commanded by Col. Johnson in 1777 =
In relation to the first of these services, it appears that the claimant's declaration is supported by the affidavit of Thomas Thorp, (then a pensioner of the United States, and whose widow is now a pensioner in virtue of his services) who swears positively that he and Hall [underlining starts] enlisted [underlining ends] together in Batter's Company for one year - served that period - during which they were together in the battles of White Plains, Trenton, Princeton &c. and were together discharged, the period of enlistment having expired - an re-enlisted in the same company for six weeks, and were again honorably discharged, having served a period of thirteen months and two weeks -   The service of Hall in Flint's company is substantiated by the testimoney of William Flint, who swears that he "distinctly remembers Hall's going out with Captain Flint" on his tour of three months in 1777 he being a resident of Danvers, where the company was raised and where Hall is proven to have lived - also by the affidavit of Elijah Flint (son of Captain Flint) who wears that "it has been and now is matter of notoriety that Hall was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and that it has been currently reported that he was present in the battle in which his ([illegible]) father was killed" &c - and by the testimony of Daniel Brown,
Page 89

4

who, (although not a pensioner, for reasons [illegible] in his affidavit, was as he states a revolutionary soldier and in Flint's company) swears that Hall served the whole tour of three months and that he saw him in the battle, and at the very time the Captain was shot.

The claimant and all the above witnesses are duly certified to the respectable [illegible], and credible witnesses. - 

This proof, it is thought, sufficiently established a service, (in the absence of record evidence) of sixteen months and two weeks, and it is presumed would have been so regarded by the office in ordinary cases. Waiving the point that it was also sufficient to rebut the presumption that the claimant was a slave at the time of his service, I find that the only evidence among the papers that he was born a slave is contained in his own affidavit filed under a requirement of the office, in which he also swears that he was manumitted long anterior to his joining the army - and avers that the certificate of manumission was lost while he was in the service. It would seem that the whole of the affidavit, under the circumstances, should have been admitted; but assuming that Hall was a slave during the entire period of
Page 90

5)
his several services, it is not conceived (he being unquestionably a freeman as the passage of the Act of 1832, and, of course, at the time of his application) that he was thereby excluded from the benefits of said act-certainly not by the letter of the law [illegible lined through] nor [arrow up] it is thought by its spirit-such relation not being inconsistent with the performance [underlined] in fact [/u] of such military duty as is contemplated by the pension board.
I think therefore that the claim of Hall should have been allowed, and that, consequently, his widow is entitled, under the act of Feby [February] 3, 1853 to a pension for the time period as above.
The present applicant substantiates her marriage to Hall, and his death, by a duly certified [lined through] verified  Copy of Town Records, and her identity and present widowhood is established by witnesses (Jonas W. Clark and Coffin Pith) only certified to be credible. She has b [lined through] is allowed a pension at the rate of $55 per annum, commencing 3d [3rd] February 1853.
Agent,
Israel Perkins Ergs                            Rhodes
Danvers                                             Ext Clarke
Essex Co Mass