Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29821, William Gates, Mass.

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he
(8-1776)
SERVICE                                  NUMBER
Mass.
Gates, William
                                                  S 29821
CONTENTS

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"Born to Silas Gates and Eliz, his wife
on the 8th of April 1762  a son named William Gates."
a true copy of Record 
Marlboro  December 7,1832

Allestor
Lambert Bigelow, Town Clerk

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Left side:
21.866
Massachusetts
William Gates of Middlesex County in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Burns of the Reg commanded by Sol. Pearce in the Massa line for 6 months & 8 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 26 dollars, 89 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of Nov 1833 an Sent Isaac Fiske  [illegible] Map

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833          $52.25
Semi-an'l allowance ending 4 Mar 32  10.45
                                                             $62.68
{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7 1832}
Recorded by D.D. Addison Clerk
Book E  Vol. 2  Page 30

Right side:
73
Middlesex

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Middlesex              ss.
On this nineteenth day of March A.D. 1833
personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate now sitting at aforesaid
Cambridge within and for the County of
 Middlesex in the Commonwealth aforesaid
William Gates aged seventy one years.
Who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That is to say that he entered into the army of the Revolution on the twenty fourth day of May  A.D. 1779 in the unit
being commanded by Capt. Moses. Burnes in Col Pierces Regiment and continued in this service until July first of the same year. That in the latter part of September of the same year
he again volunteered and was in the Revolutionary service until therefore last of December of the same year. that in year A.D. 1780 in the latter part of July he again volunteered and was in the service of the United States in the army of the Revolution until the last day of October of the same year.
That the second time he was in the service, he was under Capt. Lakin, in Col  Jacobs Regiment and the third time he was under Capt. Princeton in Col. Ephriam Howe's Regiment of the Massachusetts troops





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He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity, whatever except, the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll, of the agency of any State William gates
T. P. P. Fay   JProb



Sworn to and
subscribed the day and year aforesaid

We Seth Alden and Sylvester F  Buchlin
Clergymen residing in the town of Marlborough in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
William Gates
who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be seventy one
years of age, that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that
opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, Seth Alden  Sylvester F Buchlin
Before me Richard Farwell Justice Peace
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that after the investigation of the matter, and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he
states, And the Court further certifies that Seth Alden and Sylvester F Buchlin appears to them, 
who have signed the preceding Certificates are  clergymen resident in the town of Marlborough in said county of Massachusetts
and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit 
T.P.P. Fay J Prob  of the Court of Middlesex

I Issac Fisher  Registrar Probate Court 
do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains, the original proceedings, of the said Court, in the matter of the application
of William Gates for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this
nineteenth day of March
in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty
three 
Isaac Fiske
I also certify that Richard  Farwell when [illegible] make signature is not to name [illegible] trust [illegible]  is a   of his name written said county of Middlesex
Jeremiah Fiske

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex, to wit,
\
At the Court of Probate
inbule
begun and holden at Cambridge
within and for the County of Middlesex,
on the nineteenth day of  March
A. D. 1833
On the application of William Gates
claiming to be a Soldier of the Revolution, the following Interrogatories were propounded to him to wit :

1 Where, and in what year were you born ?
Answer, In Marlborough in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it ?
Answer, I have, in the records of the town of Marlborough a testified copy of which is hereto (illegible)

3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where
do you now live ?
 Answer, when called into service I lived in said Marlborough have lived  in said Marlborough and  I now livve in said Marlborough. 

4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute for whom ?
Answer, I volunteered.

5. State the names of some of the regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served, such Continental, and Militia Regiments, as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service?
Answer, Col. Pierce, and Col. Jacobs and Col. Cyferian Howe,. Col. Hobbs Regiment, of the continental service. The first & second times I served, our business was to guard 
the (illegible) the third time were employed in building a fort
all Bate's Hill.  We were three days without provision.

6. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution?
Answer,
Rev. Seth Alden,  Rev. Sylvester F. Buchlin

William Gates
Subscribed  & sworn to this day and year aforesaid 
S.P.P. Fay J Prob

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244/13
William Gates
Mass

Private 6 mos & 8 days adm'd
 208 1/2
4178
1045 
52.23

Richard Farwell
Marlborough, Mass

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WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office
June 18, 1833

Sir: The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned.  The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form.  On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done.  These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margins with a brace (thus }) You will when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A STATEMENT showing the Service of William Gates County of Middlesex State of Mass
Period- duration - Rank -  Name & rank of field officers under whom he served- Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service - Proof by which declaration is supported
Table:
Ent'd 1779 - Time what given - Capt. Burns Col. Pierce -  71 years Marlborough Mass - 
Vol - 1779 - ditto - Capt. Lakin Col. Jacobs
Vol - 1780 - ditto- Cap.t  Brin Col. Howe
{Documentary Evidence and Serving [illegible]

I am respectfully, Your obedient servant,
J.L. EDWARDS Commissioner of Pensions

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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line." "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service. but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia. and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians [sic] or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of }
County of} ss.
On this___day of___personally appeared (a) before___A. B. a resident (b) of___in the county of___and State, Territory or District of___aged (c)___years, who being first duly sworn, according to 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 enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)___, , with___and served in the____ (e) regiment of the___line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers: the time he left the service : (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [image of hand with pointing finger] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of___
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. ___A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
___of the Court of___do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of___for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this___day of___&c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the___and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with___, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be___years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the 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 was a RevoIutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the___and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the___and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,___Clerk of the Court of___do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of___for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this___day of___&c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circunstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be exexpected. [sic] All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6 {To a Soldier. {Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
{To an Officer {Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For ___ year ___months, and ___ days, I served as a ___. F___or months and ___ days, I served as a___; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The clerk must affix his seal and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office
The notesfrom [a] to [i] are equally applicable to the cases of Militia min, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] The traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

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29821
INVALID
Recy

File No. 29,821
William Gates
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 32
Index - Vol. 2  Page 149

[Arrangement of 1870]

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I Thomas Williams of Marlborough in the county of Middlesex and commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy years the seventeenth day of June A.D. 1832 swore and say that I served in the army of the Revolution with Capt. William Gates, from the latter part of September A.D. 1779 until the fore part of December the same year in the company commanded by Capt. Lakin and Lieutenant Haynes in Col Jacob's Regiment, when our company was dismissed and we returned home. Thomas Williams (signature)
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex March 15th 1833 there personally appeared the above named Thomas Williams and under oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true.  I further certify that the said Deponent is a competent, credible, and uninterested witness .
Before me Richard Farwell, Justice of Peace

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I Isaac Brown of Marlborough in the county of Middlesex and commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy three years, depose and say that I served in the army of Revolution with Capt. William Gates in the year A.D. 1780, in the state of Rhode Island from the latter part of July, to the last day of October of the same year.  The said Gates served under Col. Cyprian Howe of Marlborough.
Isaac Brown  His Mark X

Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
Middlesex - March 18th 1833 Then personally appeared the above named Isaac Brown and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true.  I further certify that the aforesaid Isaac Brown is a competent, credible and disinterested witness.
Before me  Richard Farwell Justice of Peace

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I Isaac Brown of Marlborough in the county of Middlesex and commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy three years, depose and say that I served in the army of Revolution with Capt. William Gates in the year A.D. 1780, in the state of Rhode Island from the latter part of July, to the last day of October of the same year.  The said Gates served under Capt. Brenton in the Regiment commanded by Col. Cyprian Howe of Marlborough.  The name of the lieutenant of Capt. Brenton's company was Jacob Brown of Stowe, Massachusetts. I know that Capt. William Gates volunteered for three months service, and that said Gates, was in the same company with me during the whole time 
Isaac Brown  His Mark X

Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
Middlesex - September14th 1833 Then personally appeared the above named Isaac Brown and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true.  I further certify that the aforesaid Isaac Brown is a competent, credible and disinterested witness.
Before me  Richard Farwell Justice of Peace

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Middlesex - 
On this 29th day of October A.D. 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate, now sitting at Framingham with and for the county of Middlesex in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, William gates of Marlborough in the county of Middlesex and commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy one years, who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following additional declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by this act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, that is to say: that he entered into the Revolutionary army as a private soldier on the 24th day of July A.D. 1779 in the company commanded by Capt. Moses Barnes, in Col. Pierces Regiment of the Massachusetts troops, that he served thirty eight days during said period of time & received pay for thirty eight days service in the state of Rhode Island.  That the pay Roll hereto annexed is the original pay Roll kept by Capt. Moses Barnes aforesaid during said period of time, and that he, the said William Gates signed his name on the said pay Roll at the time at the time he left the service on the said first day of July A.D. 1779 acknowledging the receipt of two pounds ten shillings and eight pence, and that he cannot procure any living witnesses to prove the service of the above mentioned period of time.  That in the latter part of September of the year  A.D. 1779 he again entered the Revolutionary Army as a private soldier and was in the service until the last of December of said year, that during the last mentioned period he was paid for two months service, and that during said time he was in the company commanded by Capt. Lakin in Col. Jacob's Regiment of Massachusetts troop.  That in the latter part of July in the year

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A.D. 1780 he again entered the Army of the Revolution as a private soldier and continued in the service until the last day of October of said year, that during this last mentioned period he was under Capt. Brenton in Col Cyprian Howe's Regiment of the Massachusetts troops that during said time her was in the  service three months and that he was paid for three months service, and that the whole length of time he served as a private soldier in the Revolutionary Army was six months and ight days, for which he claims a pension under the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.  He relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declared that his name not on the roll of the agency of any state.  William Gates
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid S.P.P. Fay Probate

We, Seth Alden and Sylvester F. Bucklin, clergymen residing in the town of Marlborough in the county of Middlesex and commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Gates, who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be seventy one years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been  a soldier in the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Seth Alden  Sylvester F. Bucklin
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Before me, Richard Farwell Justice of the Peace
And the said court do hereby declare therein that after the investigation of the matter, and putting the interrogation  in-

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scribed by the war department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states.  And the  Court further certifies that
it appears to them that Seth Alden and Sylvester
F. Bucklin who have signed the preceding certificate are clergymen resident in the town
of Marlborough in the and county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts  L. P. P. Fay [illegible]

[start of crossed out paragraph] I Isaac Fiske, Register of the court of Probate, do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of William Gates for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 
twenty ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three. [end of crossed out paragraph]

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex J. I, Isaac Fiske, Register of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Middlesex do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceeding of the said court , + also the additional proceeding this said court had in said court in the matter of the application of William Gates for a Pension; I also certify that Richard Farwell where proper signatures are born on this paper hereto annexed is a Justice of the Peace within said County of Middlesex 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto put my hand and seal of office this twenty ninth day of October one thousand eight hundred + thirty three Isaac Fiske [illegible]

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex - At a court of Probate begun and holden at Framingham within and for said county of Middlesex on the twenty ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three, on the application of Capt. William Gates of Marlborough in the county of Middlesex and 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts claiming to be a Soldier of the Revolution, the following
following interrogatories were [illegible]
to him to wit
1.  Where and in what year were you born : 
Answer At Marlborough in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the eighth day of April A.D. 
1702.
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it? 
Answer I have, in the records of the town of Marlborough, a certificate copy of which is hereunto annexed
3. Where were you living, when celled into service, where have you lived since the
Revolutionary war, and where do you now live.
Answer. At the time I was called into service, I 
lived in said Marlborough, and have lived
in said Marlborough ever since the Revolutionary war and I still live in said Marlborough. 
4th How were you called into service were you

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drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute, and if a substitute,f or whom? Answer. I volunteered
5th state t he names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served, such continentals and militia Regiments, as you can recollect
and the general circumstances of your service: Answer. Col. Pierce, Col. Jacobs, and Col. Cyprian Howe.
Col. Webb's Regiment of the continental service.  The first and second time I served, our business was to guard the Regulars.  The third time we were employed in building
a fort on Butts Hill. We were there days without issue.
State the names of persons to whom you are known in your neighbourhood (sic) and who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your service as a soldier in the Revolution.  Answer Rev. Seth Alden &
Rev. Sylvester F. Bucklin,
William Gates
Subscribed & Sworn to the day and year 
aforesaid
S.P.P. Fay Wood