Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4308, James Griffin, Mass.
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Mass.   

Griffin, James
Griffin, Elizabeth

R. 4308
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James Griffin Junr.
of Gloucester in the state of Massachusetts who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Baldwin of the Massachusetts line, for the term of one year.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 3 of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 of July 1819 and sent to Boston Massachusetts
Arrears to 4th of March 1819       $88.49
Semi-anl. all'ce ending Sept 1819  48.
                                                       $136.49
Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.
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Notification sent October 18, 1820 to
Ichabod Tucker, Salem Mass.tts
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(front page)

Jas. Griffin Jr

Enlisted May 1772
served till January 1777

(back page)

Admitted

(several notes crossed out)

N/S. The applicant produces at this time no witness of service in the navy but relies on his service in the army.

Certified 12 June 1819
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State of Massachusetts

J James Griffin, Junior a Citizen of the United States, now resident at Gloucester in the County of Essex in the State aforesaid, do on oath testify and declare, that in the War of the Revolution, in the month of May in the year of
Our Lord one thousand seven hundred & seventy five 
I entered and was engaged in the land
service of the United States on the continental
establishment, and served accordingly from that time to the month of January
in the year Seventeen hundred & seventy seven
as a private against the common enemy, without any interruption or absence; that I belonged to the Company of Captain Dodge in the afterward commanded by Col. L Baldwin
Regiment of Colonel Gerrish. In the Massachusetts line
---
I also served one year as a mariner on board the continental Frigate Boston, Capt. McNiel commander, and that I left the service of the expiration of time, being then honorably
discharged and that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life and poverty,
I stand in need of assistance from my country for support, being now of the age of sixty two
years my discharge this lapse of time is lost & I have no other evidence in my power to offer than what is herewith exhibited I enlisted first for eight months, after the expiration of which time I enlisted [illegible] and
served in the same Company & Regiment for
one year
And I hereby relinquish all claims to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States, if any may be or hath been so allowed.
James Griffin Junior
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this third
day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen Pursuant to a law of the United States, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," made and passed on the 18th of March, A. D. 1818,
personally appeareth before me
the subscriber one of the Associate Judges
of the Circuit Court of Common pleas for the middle Circuit within the State aforesaid & presiding pro hac vice
the abovenamed James Griffin Junior, and
after due examination and caution to testify and declare the whole truth, he maketh oath to
the declaration aforesaid, and subscribes the same in my presence; and, on examination duly made by me the said Judge, it appeareth to my satisfaction that the said declaration is true. 
In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my name & the seal of s Court.
I further certify that the Deponents within named are credible witnesses & disinterested and have been duly sworn
June 15 1818. viz. Isaac Elwell, C.S. Robert & John Allen
Wm Wetmore
June
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June 12 1819 I further certify the supplementary evidence of Ensign
Henry White & Lieut Ebt Cleaveland which is hereunto annexed as to the services of the said  James Griffin Junr and that he still is & for many years last past hath been in such reduced
circumstances in life & so poor, as to require the assistance of his Country for his support. Witness my hand the
Seal of the Court aforesaid as within affixed
Wm Wetmore
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I the subscribers inhabitants of the town of Gloucester do testify & say that we are acquainted with the declarant within named & believe him to be in his circumstances in life reduced & indigent & in need of assistance from his country for support & we never heard his character for veracity called in question.
Isaac Elwell

Charles L. Robert} Selectman of Gloucester

Sworn to 3d Apl. 1818
before me Wm Wetmore Judge withi named
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13560

James Griffin Jr

July 1819
Cont. Sep 25 '20



con
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
ESSEX, ss.

At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Salem, within and for the County of Essex, on the third Monday of June, A.D. 1820
           Present, Hon. SAMUEL DANA,, Chief Justice.
                        Hon. WILLIAM WETMORE, and
                        Hon. STEPHEN MINOT, Associate Justices.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, James Griffin Junior resident in Gloucester in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 13560 now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
"WAR DEPARTMENT......REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
"I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, James Griffin Jun. late a private in the Army of the Revolution is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month to commence on the third day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
Given at the War of Office of the United States this twenty ninth day of July one thousand eight hundred and nineteen.

L.S.                     J. C. CALHOUN Secretary of War"

appears, and exhibits to the Curt here a Schedule, subscribed by him as follows, to wit,
                           SCHEDULE
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
1/2 of a small house one room                          $45.00
one small barn                                                      20.00
1/2 an acre of land poor quality                           17.50
                                                                          _________
                                                                           $82.50
Peersonal
2 cows 30.00 1 old desk 3.00                               33.00
six old chairs, small quantity crockery                    2.50
knives forks spoons & cooking utensils                 2.00
                                                                            _________
                                                                               $37.50
                                                                          _____________
                                                                             $120.00 
 I owe no money nor have I any owing to me
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He is sixty six years of age, a laborer, infirm and much afflicted with rheumatism and unable to work- He has no family residing with him except his wife aged 66 years is crippled with rheumatism as to be unable to walk without a cane and can do very little work, not even able to cook and wash for his family- 
He served as a private in the Revolutionary war in Capt. Barnabas Dodge's company in Col. Loami [possibly Loammi] Baldwin's Regiment in the Massachusetts line all the year 1776

James Griffin Junr.

Sworn to & declared before
Wm Wetmore, Judge
within named
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and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Wm Wetmore a judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit, 
I, James Griffin [Griffen] Junr. do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide far certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me, nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. So help me GOD.
James Griffin Junr.

Essex, ss. C. C. C. P. June, Term, A.D. 1820
Then the abovenamed James Griffin Junr.
took and subscribed the aforewritten Oath before me
Wm Wetmore Judge of said Court.

I, ICHABOD TUCKER, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath, andSchedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is one hundred & twenty dollars-

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Salem, in said County of Essex, on this 17th day of July 1820  A.D. 
Attr. Ichabod Tucker
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Affidavit
Daniel Griffin
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I Daniel Griffin depose and say that I am well acquainted with Elizabeth Griffin of Hillsborough in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire and know that she is the widow of James Griffin late of Gloucester in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts deceased.  I also know the said James and know that the said James and Elizabeth lived together as man and wife and had children and I also know that the said Elizabeth has never been married since the death of her husband the said James Griffin.
Daniel Griffin

State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough County Ss. Dec. 16, 1840  Personally appeared before me to above named Daniel Griffin and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed. The said Griffin is in my belief a credible witness

Luke Woodbury Justice of the Peace
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Declaration
Elizabeth Griffin
No 7522
NH
July 7 1838
Eliz Griffin


Hn. F. Pierce
Senate US
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State of New Hampshire
Hillsborough County ss. On this sixteenth day of December in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty, at Hillsborough, in said County, personally appeared before me, Luke Woodbury, Judge of the Court of Probate of Wills &c in and for said County
Elizabeth Griffin, a resident of Hillsborough aforesaid
aged eighty six years, who being first duly sworn
according to law, doth on her oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the
provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7. 1838
entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain
widows"" That she is the widow of James Griffin formerly
of Gloucester in the County of Essex and Commonwealth
of Massachusetts deceased who was a private in the
Revolutionary army, and was a pensioner on the
Roll of the Massachusetts agency, under the act of
Congress of 18th March 1818. that she relies upon the
evidence furnished by him for proof of his service
she further declares, that she was married to the said
James Griffin on the twenty ninth day of June
seventeen hundred and seventy nine, that her
husband, the aforesaid James Griffin died on the __
day of August Eighteen hundred and twenty
eight; that she was not married to him prior to his
having the service, but the marriage took place
previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred
and ninety four viz: at the time above stated, and
that she has never since been married.
Elizabeth Proffer
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above
written, before me
Luke Woodbury Judge as aforesaid
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I hereby certify that the within named Elizabeth
Griffin is, in my belief from bodily infirmities,
unable to attend Court.
Luke Woodbury Judge as
aforesaid,
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
June 18, 1928
Mrs. C. F. Wetherell
3 Puritan Ave.
Dorchester, Mass.
Madam:
I have to advise you that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 4308, that JAMES GRIFFEN or GRIFFIN, Jr.,
enlisted in May, 1775, place not stated, and served until January, 1777,
as private in Captain Barnabas Dodge's Company, Colonels Gerrish's and
Loammi Baldwin's Massachusetts Regiments. He also served as a mariner
on the frigate, Boston, Captain McNiel, but he did not state the length of this service.
He married June 29, 1779, Elizabeth (her maiden name not stated).
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 3, 1818,
at which time he was living in Gloucester, Essex County, Massachusetts.
In 1820 he stated that he was sixty-six years of age.
He died in August, 1828.
In 1840 his widow, Elizabeth, was eighty-six years of age and was
living in Hillsborough, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. In that year
reference was made to their children but no names were given.
Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner
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4308

Elizabeth Griffin

REJECTED ( stamped)

1476June 18
just. to Washg 4
Wetmore Treas
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3 Puritan Ave., Dorchester, Mass.
April 7, 1926
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
Will you be kind enough to give me such information as may be contained
in the application of James Griffin Jr. Private Mass line who had a
pension in 1820. Service in Revolutionary War.
Sincerely yours,
Fannie L. Wetherell
Mrs. C. F. Wetherell
3 Puritan Ave.
Dorchester, Mass.
Boston 21
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4308
Act 1838
Jan 27 841
Hon. F Pierce
USS
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Commonwealth Massachusetts
Essex

I certify that David Saville was Clerk of
Annisquam (or the kind) Parish in Gloucester, Mass.
on the 29th day of January 1840, duly elected and
Sworn according to law.
Samuel Lane, Justice of the Peace
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Affidavit
Samuel Lane
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex. Gloucester November 27 1840
I Samuel Lane Esquire do testify and
declare that James Griffin of the Town
was an United States Pensioner, & that he
died in August One thousand eight hundred
twenty eight, and that he left a wife
by the name of Elisabeth Griffin who is
now living
Samuel Lane
Gloucester November 27. 1840

Then Samuel Lane Esquire personally
appeared before me and made oath to the
foregoing William Saville Notary Public
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I Henry White of Gloucester in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, on oath testify and say, that
in the Revolutionary war in the year 1776 I held the commission
of an Ensign in Col. James Wesson's Regiment on the continental establishment; that I am well acquainted with James
Griffin Junr a townsman & neighbor, and was acquainted with him in said service; and to my knowledge said Griffin served as a private the whole of the year 1776 on the continental establishment in Captain Barnabas Dodges Company in Col. Baldwins Regiment in the Massachusetts line. I further testify that
James Griffin Junr now present is the identical person who served as aforesaid.
Henry White Enq
I Ebenezer Cleaveland of Glocester aforesaid on oath testify, 
that in the Revolutionary war in the year 1776 I held the
commission of 1st Lieutenant in Col Ward's Regiment on
the continental establishment; that according to the best
of my knowledge and belief James Griffin Jr. served as a
private the whole of the year 1776 on the continental establishment in Capt. Barnabas Dodges Company in Col. Baldwin's
Regiment in the Massachusetts line; and that James
Griffin Jr. now present is the identical person who
served as aforesaid Eben Cleveland-- 1st Liet

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex is June 7th 1819 Personally appeared before
me, the above named Henry White and Ebenezer
Cleaveland, and made solemn oath to the the
depositions by them subscribed, and I do hereby
certify that the said Henry White & Ebenezer
Cleaveland an well known to me as men of the
strictest veracity, and that their depositions are entitled to perfect credit
James Goss Just Pairs-
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I John Allen of Manchester in said
the County of Essex & Commonwealth of
Massachusetts of the age of sixty one 
years testify I say: That I was a private
soldier in the Revolutionary War in the
service of the United States against the
common enemy and I served in Capt
Barred Dodge's Company, in the Regiment
of foot commanded by Col. Baldwin
during the whole of AD 1776; and
while I served as aforesaid James Griffin
Junior of Gloucester in said County of
Essex was & private soldier in the same
company with me. And I further testify
that the said James Griffin Jr.
who is here present, is the same
James Griffin Jr who served with me during
the year 1776. John Allen
Essex ss. June 10th 1818
Then the above named John Allen made
oath to the truth of the above deposition by
him subscribed--
Cor. Lonson Nash Jus. Paci