Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19,318, Elias Hancock, Mass.
Page 1

Mass.        Hancock, Elias        S, 19,318

carded
Page 2

32.307
Maine-
Elias Hancock, deceased.
of Otisfield in the State of Maine
who was a private in the - commanded
by Captain -- of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Gerrisk in the Massachusetts
line for 9 mos: 11 days private
3-u 9-u corpe
Inscribed in the Roll of Maine
at the rate of 43 Dollars 20 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. [Illigible]
the 9th April, 1842. when he died.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29, day of 
March 1845 and sent to Foreman
Bradford, Portland, Maine.
Arrears to the 4th of
Semi-annual allowance ending
Revolutionary Claim,
Aot June 7, 1832.
Recorded by [Illegible] Clerk,
Book E Vol. 1 Page 22.
Repo: by letter to [illeg]:
March 31. 1845
Page 3

District of Maine Js. 
On this thirteenth day of November 1844 personally appeared before Ashur Ware Judge of the United States for the District of Maine John Hancock and Mary S  Anderson residents of Otisfield in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine who being duly sworn doth  upon this matter the forthcoming declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act  of June 7 th 1832.
That their father Elias Hancock late of Otisfield was as they believe a soldier in the war of the revolution and that he was a resident of Wrentham in the state of Massachusetts during the war. They believe and have no doubt that he served in Capt Cowells Company Col. Haws in July and August 1778 one month and two days.  In Capt Heath’s company Col Gerrish in 1778 two months24 days, in Capt Howell.s Company in 1779 five months fifteen days and in Capt Bacon’s company Col. Thayer in 1780 three months and nine days, as is fully set forth in the certificate of service from the Secretary’s office in Boston hereinto annexed.  That further declare that their said father Elias Hancock died at said Otisfield on the ninth day of April 1842 and was 86 years of age at the time of his death and that he left no widow. That these declarations are the childrens
Page 4

and only children of said Elias Hancock now deceased  and these declarations further state that therein said father Elias Hancock from the time the Act of 1832 was passed to the day of his death was unable on account of the loss of memory to make a declaration of his services in open court and that the loss of memory and general disability arose and was in consequence of sickness and a paralytic shock about eighteen years ago. We further declare that sometime in the summer of 1832 he was taken to Maine in order to make declaration for the for the benefit of the Act of 1832 before Hon. Ashur Ware who held a court at that place but he did not make a declaration as these declarants believe in consequence of the loss of his memory. We have frequently heard our father say that he was in service under several enlistments. They claim therefore the pension that their father would have been entitled to receive compensation arguably to the evidence hereunto annexed. 
John Hancock
Mary S Anderson
Signed and sworn and confess this 13 th day of November 1844 before me
Ashur Ware
[illegible] of the United States 
For the District of Maine
Page 5

Rev War
INVALID.
File NO. 19,318
Elias Hancock
[Illeg] Rev War
Act: June 7 32
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 166
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 6

No 35903
Elias Hancock [Illeg]
Me
Letter to F. Bradford 10. Dec 1844
[ ] June 1832
Page 7

No 35903 
Elias Hancock decd
[illegible]
Act ofJune 1832
 Adm;
 9 mo 11 ds. [illegible] $31.10
 3 " 9 " [illegible ] 12,10
$43.20 
Commencing on 4 March 1831 and terminating on 9th April 1842, payable to John Hancock and Mary S. Anderson, only surviving children of Elias Hancock dec 
Freeman Bradford
 Portland
Page 8

Payment to be made
at
by
Agent for paying pensioners,
in the Agency of 


Recorded in the Pension office,
In Book      Volume 
Page     by 

                 Clerk.
Page 9

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.

I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 7th of June, 1832, Elias Hancock, deceased, who was a private and corporal in the Revolutionary war, was entitled to a pension at the rate of forty-three dollars and twenty cents per annum, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and ending on the ninth of April, eighteen hundred and forty-one, the day on which he died, which will be paid upon the production of the proper vouchers to John Hancock and Mary T. Anderson, only surviving children.

Given at the War Office of the United States, this 29th day of March, one thousand eight hundred and forty-five.

Secretary of War.
Commissioner of Pensions.
(Examined and Countersigned.)
Page 10

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.

I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 7th of June, 1832, Elias Hancock, deceased, who was a private and corporal in the Revolutionary war, was entitled to a pension at the rate of forty-three dollars and twenty cents per annum, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and ending on the ninth of April, eighteen hundred and forty-one, the day on which he died, which will be paid upon the production of the proper vouchers to John Hancock and Mary T. Anderson, only surviving children.

Given at the War Office of the United States, this 29th day of March, one thousand eight hundred and forty-five.

Secretary of War.
Commissioner of Pensions.
(Examined and Countersigned.)
Page 11

whom he served or the length of his service.
This loss of memory was in consequence of sickness and a paralytic shock that he received about eighteen years ago.

Samuel P. Anderson

Cumberland, ss. November 13th, 1844. Then personally appeared the above-named Samuel P. Anderson, known to me as a man of truth, and made oath to the above affidavit by him subscribed.

Bryon F. Bradfurn, Justice of the Peace
Page 12

I, Moses Turner, of Portland, in the County of Cumberland, aged thirty-seven years, do on oath testify that I was brought up in the town of Otisfield and resided for about thirty-six years within a mile of the residence of Deacon Elias Hancock. I have been well acquainted with his family. His only surviving children are John Hancock and Mary T. Anderson. He died about two years ago and left no widow. Said Elias Hancock for the last fifteen or twenty years of his life was very infirm and had lost his memory.

Moses Turner

Cumberland, ss. November 13th, 1844. Then personally appeared the above-named Moses Turner, known to me as a man of truth, and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed.

Before me,
Freeman Bradford, J.P.
Page 13

Portland, 13th November 1844

Sir,

I herewith forward to you the declaration and other papers relating to the claim of pension by the children of Elias Hancock, deceased. They claim for the pay of private and corporal as certified by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Mass. You will please forward the certificate to me.

I am very respectfully,
Yours Ob’t Serv’t,
F. Bradford

J. L. Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Page 14

Portland, Jany 4th, 1845

Sir,

I herewith transmit additional evidence in the case of the heirs of Elias Hancock referred to me under date of December 10th, 1844. It is hoped that it will satisfactorily explain the reasons for not making a declaration in the lifetime of Mr. Hancock.

I am very respectfully,
Your Ob’t Serv’t,
F. Bradford

J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Page 15

No. 35.903 Elias Hancock and Me. Act 7 June 1832 F. Bradford Portland Maine
Page 16

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Secretary’s Office, Boston;
1844

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 the name of Elias Hancock of Wortham, Suffolk Co., is shown upon a pay roll of Capt. Isaac Howe’s Co., from July 30, 1778, to Sept. 12, 1778 (one month, 12 days); upon a pay roll of Capt. Joshua Howell’s Co., from July 20, 1779 (3 mos, 15 days); & upon a pay roll of Capt. John Bacon’s Co., Thayer’s Reg., from Aug. 25, 1780, to R.I. as Corporal (2 mos, 9 days).
Page 17

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.

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

John G. Palfrey [?]

Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 18

To the Secretary of State Mass The undersigned one of the heirs of Elias Hancock late of Otisfield requests the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Mass information from the rolls in his office. the evidence of the same of said Hancock in the war of the Revolution. Said Hancock was a resident of Wrentham Mass in the time of the revolutionary war and it is believed he served the campaigns in the army, but am not able to state the names of the officers under whom he served. He request therefore that an examination be made of all the rolls in his office 
Mary S Anderson by Her Husband Samuel Anderson 
Cumberland 58. Sept 19th 1844 signed before me F. Bradford
Page 19

United States
Maine Districts
Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
I hereby certify that the Honorable Arthur Ware before whom the foregoing proceedings were had
is Judge of the United States in and for Maine District and that the signature thereto purporting
to be his, is his genuine signature
And I further certify that Freeman Bradford
is a Magistrate duly authorized and commissioned;
that the signatures to the annexed (illegible) purport-
ing to be his are genuine and that full faith & credit
are due to his office attestations
In testimony of which I have here-
to set my hand and affixed the 
Seal of said Circuit Court this
thirteenth day of November A.D.
Eighteen hundred forty four.
John Mupsey Clerk U.S.
Cir: Court
Page 20

State of Maine.
CUMBERLAND, ss.
I Charles Cobb Clerk of all the Judicial
Courts in said County, certify that
Freeman Bradford and Stevens Rich
esquires, and Magistrates
as appears by the papers hereto annexed; that they are
duly qualified to act as such; that the Commission of Bradford
bears date February 14.a.d. 1839; and will expire
February 14.a.d. 1846; that the Commission of
Rich bears date February 7.a.d.1839 and will
expire February 7 a.d.1846
and that the following signatures purporting to be 
theirs are genuine.
IN TESTIMY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the
Seal of Supreme Judicial
Court for said State, this fourth day of January
Anno Domini 1845
Charles Cobb/CLERK
Page 21

I, Freeman Bradford, of Portland in the County of Cumberland, on oath state that in the summer of 1832 the Hon. Asher Ware, Judge of the United States for the District of Maine, held a Special Court in the town of Minot in this County for the purpose of taking declarations & making examinations into the claims of Revolutionary Soldiers for the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832. I attended said Court as the Attorney of the claimant, Elias Hancock, attended there and did attempt to make a declaration of his services, but upon the examination of the Judge, the infirmity of Hancock was so apparent that his oath was not administered to him. He was unable to give any account of the Officers under whom he served or to give the names of anyone who served with him. My belief is at that time the Department had issued orders pointing out how declarations should be made in such cases, and I recollect that I did not know how to proceed. At a subsequent period, however, I informed the heirs of Mr. Hancock the mode of proceeding and was employed by them after it was ascertained that there was more evidence of service in Massachusetts to procure the evidence of that service from the rolls in Mass. I did search for the evidence myself but was unable to find more than the short service of Elias Hancock, was informed the heirs of the result of my investigations. I can state truly for the last eight or nine years Mrs. Anderson, who is the
Page 22

Son in law of the said Hancock has frequently spoken
To me in relation to this claim but at no time was able to give me the name of any captain under whole
Mr Hancock served. In Sept last Mr Anderson again
Called upon me & I then informed him that the rolls in
Massachusetts ere being indexed and if Elias Hancock
Did serve in the war of the Revolution and his name
Borne upon the rolls he could get a certificate of his
Service by making the proper application therefore. The
Application was made and the certificate of service
As filed in the case was granted by the
Secretary of the 
Commonwealth. Whenever Mr Anderson has spoken to
Me in relation to this case since Mr. Hancock first
Made an attempt to make his declaration before
Judge Ware as before stated, I have informed him
That the proof of service was the only thing necessary
In order to obtain a pension in this case, and if that
Proof could not be obtained it would be useless for
The heirs to move in the matter at all, I have known 
John Hancock for several years He is highly respected
In his own town and I believe full relcaim may 
Be placed upon his declarations
Freeman Bradford
Sworn to before me this the fourth day of may
1845- - Ashur Ware
Page 23

I certify that I held a service west of Minot at the time stated in the affidavit of M Bradford & for the purposes mentioned in the affairs of which a number of friends hereon made & sworn to declaration for the purpose of obtaining pension. Seven of the persons were very old & I think there was our who was found to be [illegible] to old his & memory is much in mind as to be unable to give such an account of his services as could with whereby be received. Some attempts I recollect were made by hereon house who purported to a regiment with the last of his service to revive his recollection but with all the and his revolution, was so imperfect that I declared to administer the oath. Such a case were recollect to have around and I think it was a
 minor at that time, but of this am not certain. I also have an impression upon my mind that the name of the person or Hancock, I am certify with no more intinuity Asher Ware
Page 24

I James P. Richardson of Otisfield hereby certify that I am an ordained minister of the Gospel and have resided in this town for the last twelve or thirteen years and for that period of time was intimately acquainted with Deacon Elias Hancock. Mr Hancock was the first Deacon of the congregational Church in this town, and so continued to the time of his death which was sometime in 1842. He was incapable of performing any of the duties of his office in the Church during the period of my ministry in this time in consequence of mental and bodily infirmity. I find upon the church Records in my possession under date of April 4th 1823 that a third Deacon was chosen in consequence of the bodily infirmity of Deacon Elias Hancock, on that day. My opinion is that Mr Hancock for the last twelve years of his life was incapable of making a declaration of his revolutionary services. The general reputation and report in this town was that Elias Hancock was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and that
Page 25

he was entitled to a pension. I am well acquainted with John Hancock son of Elias and Mary S. Anderson. his daughter they are now members of the church of which I am the Pastor and they both sustain reputations of high respectability 
J.P. Richardson Cumberland ss. Jany 3d 1845 Then appeared the above named James P. Richardson a minister of the Gospel in Otisfield and made oath to the foregoing statement by him signed Before me Freeman Bradford J.P.
Page 26

I Levi Patch of Otisfield on oath depose testify and say that I am sixty two years of age and have always resided in the town of Otisfield. I have been Town Clerk for the last thirty years and was well acquainted with Deacon Elias Hancock & lived a near neighbor to him for about fifty years before his death. He died as appears by the records in this town on the ninth day of April Eighteen hundred and forty two aged Eighty six years. I know that he was both bodily and mentally inform for the last ten or twelve years of his life, and my belief is that he was incapable of making a declaration of his revolutionary services. I have heard him speak of his rendering service in the revolutionary war and I heard that he went to Minot, say about twelve years ago in order to make a declaration of his services, and I heard at the same time that he was unable to give any account of his revolutionary services. The only children of Elias Hancock who survived him are John Hancock Esq. and Mary S. Anderson wife of Samuel P. Anderson. The children of Elias Hancock an highly respectable and John Hancock his son, is one of the Selectmen
Page 27

of Otisfield the present year and has been one of the Selectmen at various periods for at least ten years, in this town. I have been informed, and I have no doubt it is true, that Deacon Elias Hancock removed from the town of Mentham Mass. to this plain, and I believe he resided in town nearly sixty years before his death. Levi Patch 
Cumberland ss. January 3d 1844 
Then appeared Levi Patch above named known to me as a person of truth & made oath to the above affidavit by him subscribed Before me Freeman Bradford J P
Page 28

I Benjamin Wight one of the early settlers of the Town of Otisfield on oath do testify and say that I am over Eighty years of age, and that I was well acquainted with Deacon Elias Hancock both in Massachusetts and Maine for nearly the space of Seventy years and our acquaintance was very intimate and according to the best of my recollection he served in several short campaigns at Rhode Island and I should judge that he was eighty six years old at the time of his death and for twenty years before his death I should think he was altogether incapable of recollecting the names of the officers under whom he served and also of a making of a declaration of his services in the war of the Revolution owing to a shock of the palsy I am likewise well acquainted with the heirs of Deacon Hancock who have made application for a pension of their Father they are both a son and daughter, highly respectable and full confidence and reliance may be placed in their declarations 
Benja Wight Cumberland ss. December 23rd 1844 Then personally appeared Benjamin Wight known to me as a man of truth and made oath to the above affadavit by him subscribed before me Stevens Rich Justice of the Peace
Page 29

This certifies that I have been well acquaint with Deacon Elias Hancock of Otisfield in the County of Cumberland State of Maine, for more than thirty years previous to his death and I have been his family Physician for that time and for the last part of his life my fifteen or or twenty years he was very infirm suffered much from a horrible affection and that his memory failed him so much that I should expect that he would not recollect persons with whom he had formily been acquainted; and I do with pleasure stake the said Elias Hancock his son John Hancock and his Daughter Mary S. Anderson are persons of great respectability 
Silas Blake 
Cumberland SS. December 23rd 1844 Then person ally appeared Silas Blake above named and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true before me Stevens Rich Justice of the Peace
Page 30

T.
James Wight one of the selectmen of the Town of
Otisfield on oath do testify and say, that I was acquainted with
Deacon Elias Hancock late of Otisfield, who from
my knowledge of him and his appearance I should
judge to have been more than Eighty years of age at
the time of his death and for many years before his death he was incapable of making a declaration of his services
in the army of the Revolution in consequence of
the entire loss of recollection owing a shock of the palsy
as I believe many years ago. I am also acquainted with the 
heirs of Deacon Hancock who have application for a pension of their Father. They are both highly respectable and
the utmost confidence may be placed in their declaration
, I have no doubt that Elias Hancock served in the
war of the Revolution
James Wight
Cumberland ss. December 23rd 1844 Then personally
appeared James Wight known to me as a man of truth
and made oath to the above affadavit by him subscribed
before me
Stevens Rich
Justice of the
Peace
Page 31

Samuel Spun of Otisfield in the County
of Cumberland aged seventy eight years tomorrow
on oath say that I was a resident of Wrentham
in the time of the revolutionary war. I was
acquainted with Deacon Elias Hancock
while he and I resided in Wrentham. I
know that Elias Hancock was called out
several times to perform military duty in
the time of the war and I have heard it
said that he was called out to R.I.  I did
not serve with him and the most of my
knowledge of his services is derived from
what I have heard him and other soldier
say. I do not know of any other Elias Hancock who resided in Wrentham at the time
of the Revolutionary war & I never heard
1
of any other Elias Hancock and I believe
I was acquainted with most of that name
in the town. Elias Hancock was very
infirm for the latter part of his life and
I saw him probably two or three times a year and all
the conversation that I had with him was
upon religious matters which he generally
introduced himself. I do not know whether
he was capable of making a declaration
Page 32

of his revolutionary services, but I heard my brother say that he did attempt to make a declaration of his services, but failed so much that he could not- Samuel Spurr 
State of Maine Cumberland S.S. January 3d 1845 Then personally appeared the above named Samuel Spurr known to me as a man of truth and veracity and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him signed. Before me Freeman Bradford J. P.