Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8264, for John Pinn, Virginia
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Service
Va.

Pinn or Pin, John (Indian)

Number R8264
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John Pinn's
Declaration
No 35.421

Mass-
Act 7 June 32

8264
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts    }
Suffolk County                                     }ss

On this twenty-eighth day of October, in the year eighteen hundred and forty-two. Personally appeared in open court before the subscriber, Judge of the municipal court for the city of Boston, in said Commonwealth; John Pin a resident of Chelsea in the county and state aforesaid, aged eighty-two years, who being first duly sworn according to the law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832.  That he the said John Pin together with his late Father Robert Pin and brothers Billy & James or Jim Pin, were soldiers in the Army of the Revolutionary War.  And that his father Robert Pin aforesaid as himself served together in Captain William Yerby's Company of Virginia Artillery, and of the Regiment commanded by Col Williams. That himself was a Powder Boy, and attached to Gun No 3, under the command of said Captain Yearby. During which service he was at the siege of Yorktown in Virginia, when Lord Cornwallis surrendered his army to Genl Washington, that during the cannonade on that occasion said John received two several wounds--one from an enemies spent cannon ball, which injured his right ankle- the other from a musquet shot thro the left leg.
The declarant further states that he is a descendant of the Aborigines of America that his father was a Mustee & his mother a Cherokee, & were inhabitants of Lancaster County Virginia, at a place called Indian Town near Carter Creek in said County.  That he is a Seaman by occupation in which employment he has been engaged ever since the termination of the Revolutionary
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War which calling he still follows. He also states that he has sailed out of most of the principle ports in the United States more particularly from Boston & Salem in this State in the former place he married his wife Nancy Coffin, some forty years since, who died 22 years ago and that he has been an inhabitant of Massachusetts upwards of fifty years, residing occasionally at Boston-Salem & Danvers in said State, at Salem he formerly owned a small house and lot of ground. which house was thru some accident burned down, and that he has more recently lost upwards of five hundred and ninety dollars in money by the failure of Mr Aaron Ordway-a merchant of Salem in whose hands he had left the proceeds of his wages for many a voyage in the merchant service, intending thereby to have a sum of money in store to help himself in old age, but is now deprived of the same and is in indigent circumstances & stands in need of the assistance of his country.
The declarant further states that soon after the termination of the Revolutionary War, his father Robert Pin, obtained from the United States the quantity of Bounty Lands due on account of the services of himself & his three sons in the army amongst whom was the declarant & his brothers Jim & Billy Pin, who as he believed served in the Rifle Corps under Colonel Morgan the former of whom was killed while in said service.
He further declares that he has no record or documentary evidence in his possession to offer as proof of his service nor does he know of any person now living by whom he can prove any part of the same.  And declares that he relinquishes very claim whatever to a pension except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any state whatever, and further that he would
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not have claimed the benefit of the pension laws of the United States, had it not have been for the pecuniary losses he has sustained as before described.
      his 
John x   Pin
       mark
Witness to signature
Peter O. Thacher

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk ss

At the city of Boston, on the day and year said above written, on 29th October, AD 1842, the aforesaid applicant made solemn oath to the truth of the contents of the foregoing application, in open court, and subscribed the same in my presence.
I further certify, that the petitioner is aged and it is uncertain whether his family name is correctly spelled; but that have full confidence in the truth of his statements, and I further believe that he was a revolutionary soldier as he states.
Peter O Thacher Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston, which is a court of record for the said County and Commonwealth
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No 35,421
John Pinn
Mass.
Sent to Reuben Baldwin
Nov 18 42

Act 7 June 32
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Acts of July 14, 1860 and march 3, 1870: (crossed out)
[stamp]
Rejected
[/stamp]

8264
PO John Pinn
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11 nov 1842
Do C

[Stamp]
Boston Nov 6
[/stamp]

Original Claim under act 7th June 1932
James L Edwards Esq
Commisor of Pensions
Washington
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Boston Massachusetts
November 7th 1842
Sir
I transmit herewith the papers in application for a pension under the act June 7th 1832 in favour of John Pin, or John Pinn of Massachusetts, who claims a pension on account of his Revolutionary services in Captain William Yarby's & and Moses Hawkins companies of Col Williams Regl of Virginia Artillery of the continental army.
The declaration of said Pinn has been taken from his own mouth not knowing how far it will be confirmed by the Virginia Rolls, pertaining to Revolutionary Service in the Pension & Bounty Land Office.
Said John Pinn is a coloured man apparently of Indian Origin, and is a person of good report amongst our mercantile community both here and at Salem, as is abundantly proved by the numerous testimonials he has exhibited of his good character & fidelity while in the line of his occupation which is that of a seamn, said John I san illiterate person and can neither read or write and is at some loss as to his exact age, and the manner of spelling his family name.  I should judge him from appearance to be not far from 80 years of age.
As the validity of the applicants claim will mainly depend on the evidence exhibited by the Rolls of Records to which his declaration refers, I sincerely hope that an examination may be had without the usual inquiries as to the why & wherefore the applicant has suffered his claim to stumble until his late day.
I would further solicit the indulgence of the Department while I take another view of the above case Viz if said John Pinn his father Robert & brothers William & James
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received Bounty Lands from the United States for their services it is fair to infer that they were during war men, and this being confirmed by the ROlls, Permit me them to inquire is not said John Pinn entitled to the benefit of the act of the 15th May 1828. entitled "An act for the relief of certain survivors" "Officers & soldiers of the Army of the Revolution, approved 15th "May 1828:"
If the Rolls should confirm the latter position, will you have the goodness to inform me thereof, and likewise enclose & forward to me a printed blank suitable for an application under the act above refined to, and in the meantime suspend final action on the enclosed papers of application.
Very respectfully sir I am Your Obedient Servent
Ruben Baldwin

James L Edwards Esqr
Commisioner of Pensions Washington
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I, Jonathan D. Bosson of Chelsea in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. aged 54 years, being sworn do on oath, testify and say that I was a native of Salem, in the County of Essex and Commonwealth aforesaid, and for the space of the last twenty years have personally known John Pin, whose is a seaman, by occupation, and has frequently sailed from Salem, in the employ of respectable merchants of that place; he has the confidence of his employers, and is considered a person of undoubted probity and truth; he formerly owned a small house and lot in Salem aforesaid. which he had the misfortune to lose by fire, and it is also understood that he lost a considerable sum of money by the failure of Mr Aaron Ordway of  Salem aforesaid. He is now old and infirm and appears to be a descendant of the Aborigines of this County and as I have always understood and believe, he was born in Virginia.
I consider him a person of trust, integrity and would believe him as soon as I would any other person in the State of Massachusetts. During my long acquaintance with him, he has frequently stated that he was a soldier of the Revolution; and has shown me the scar of wounds on his legs which confirm his assertion of having been engaged in battle.
[signed] Jonathan Bosson
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk County    SS
Boston, October 27, 1842
Then personally appeared Mr. Jonathan D. Bosson and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit, by him subscribed, Before me, Royal L. Porter, Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that the above named Jonathan D. Bossom is a reputable individual of 
Chelsea, in the County and State aforeme, and a person of undoubted veracity.
Royal L. Porter

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary's Office  November 7, 1842
I hereby Certify that Peter O. Thacker4 is Judge of the Municipal Court for the City of Boston, and a Justice of the Peace & Quanum through the Commonwealth, and that Royal L. Porter is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk.
Which the Seal of the State
John P. Bigelow Secretary of the Commonwealth
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I John Pinn of Chelsea in the County of Suffolk and commonwealth of Massachusetts, being sworn, do on oath testify depose and say, and make the following additional declaration that according to the best of my recollection the troops to which I belong were stationed at Gloucester some twelve months before the siege of York Town commenced that my father & myself were in Captain William Yarby's company of artillery, that during the siege of Yorktown I was placed under Captain Moses Hawkins in whose company myself & father served through the whole of the siege aforesain.
I further testify and can say that I have but a very limited knowledge of the terms of our enlistment or of its duration as my father Robert Pinn aforesaid, transacted all the business relating  thereto and afterward in procurring Bounty Lands for himself and his three sons including myself, which Bounty Land was sold to a gentleman called Captain John McTier of Lancaster, I received one Crown on the proceeds of the sale of my Bounty Lands.
Witness Signature
Peter O Thacher
       his
John x  Pinn 
      mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Suffolk ss At the City of Boston November 7th, 1842
That the above named John Pinn signed the above affidavit and swore to the truth of the same before me
[signed] Peter O. Thacher
Justice of the Peace  throughout the said Commonwealth