Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10,757, Phineas Gage, Continental. Mass. N.H.

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(3--1776)

SERVICE |  | NUMBER
Continental. Mass. NH. | Gage, Phineas | S. 10.757

carded

CONTENTS

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21 087
New Hampshire

Phineas Gage of Hillsboro in the State of New Hamp who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Moor of the Rgt [regiment] commanded by Col Prescott on the [star symbol] [illegible] line for 14 months & 12 days

[star symbol] Mass., [Massachusetts] Continental, & N.H. Records completed Apr. [April] 10/05 [ss??]

Inscribed on the Roll of New Hamp [obscured] the rate of 48- Dollars -- Cents per annum, [obscured] commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 21st day of Aug [August] [1835??] and [sent Edmund??] Parker Amherst New Hamp

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 | $96.00
Semi-anl. [Semi-annual] allowance ending [9??] Sept. [September] | 24.00
  | $120.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act Jun 7, 1832.}

Recorded by DD Addison Clerk, Book E Vol [illegible] Page 88


Dead

Paid at the Treasury under the act of April 6th 1838 from 4th Septr to 3d Decr 1839. Ag notified August 15th 1842

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STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE
County of Hillsborough, ss.

On this twenty seventh- day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate now sitting [illegible] Amherst- within and for the County of Hillsborough, in the State aforesaid, Phineas Gage of Merrimack in said county. - aged 74 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 in the month of November in the year 1775 at said Merrimack he enlisted for one year in the service of the United States in Capt. [Captain] Joseph Moore's Company in Col.[Colonel] Prescott's Regiment in the Massachusetts [illegible] line - [illegible] and served at Boston, New York, on Gov. Island, and was discharged at Stamford, Connecticut, having served the year out.-

Second.  In the last of the month of April in the year 1777 [crossed out word] said Merrimack he volunteered under Lieut.[Lieutenant] John Bradford [illegible] to Portsmouth - Marched to Portsmouth, and to New Castle Island, the Captain's name he don't recollect - served [crossed out: about] six weeks - 

Third.  The last of July or first of August in the year 1777 at Merrimack he enlisted in Capt. James Ford's company in Col. Moses Nichols regiment of New Hampshire militia to go to the Norther Army for two months._  Marched to Bennington and

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was in the battle, then marched to the Army , served his time out and was discharged about the first of October, served two months._

That he was born in Methuen Massachusetts in 1758 - resided in Merrimack during the war and ever since - has no record of his age but thinks there is one in Methuen.  Had a discharge from the years service but has lost it.

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. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Phinehas Gage

Edmund Parker Judge of Probate

We Ira Spalding [crossed out: a Clergyman] residing in the town of Merrimack in the county of Hillsborough aforesaid, and John McCluer residing in Merrimack aforesaid, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Phinehas [Phineas] Gage who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be 74 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. 

John McCluer
Ira Spalding

Edmund Parker, Judge of Probate

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 it appears to them, that Ira Spalding who has signed the preceding Certificates is a [crossed out: Clergyman] resident in the town of Merrimack and that John McCluer who has signed the same is a resident in the town of Merrimack and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

Edmund Parker { Judge of Probate for said County of Hillsborough.

I CHARLES H. ATHERTON, Register of the court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Phinehas Gage for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have here unto set my hand and the seal of said court, this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.

C.H. Atherton
Register of Probate, for said county of Hillsborough.

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No. 12

Phineas Gage
Merrimack

Part Continental

18708

Please send to Col Parker Amherst N.H.

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STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE

County of Hillsborough, SS.

At the Court aforesaid, ON the application aforesaid, the following interrogatories were propounded to the said Phinehas Gage and the following answers given on oath to wit:

1, Where, and in what year were you born ?
Answer, I was born in Methuen in Massachusetts in 1758

2. Have you and record of your age, and where is it ?
Answer, I have no record of his age but believes there is one in the records of Methuen.

3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer I lived in Merrimack during the war and ever since_

3. 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 entered a volunteer_

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, I have stated the names of the officers under whom I served so far as I recollect.

6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it ? 
Answer, I had a discharge from the year service but have lost 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 ?
Answer, Capt. Ira Spalding - John McCluer - Able Goodrich - Dea. Daniel Ingalls -

Certified by C.H. Atherton Register.

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I certify that there is no Clergyman residing in the Town of Merrimack, and that there was none at the time of making the foregoing declaration.

Edmund Parker, Judge of Probate.- 


No. 12
Phineas Gage Merrimack
Part Continental
18708

Please send to Col. Parker Amherst, NH

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18708

Phineas Gage

[illegible] 16 Mos [Months] 12 days

5 + 16 06
Apr [April] 29 1833

P 350

46.67
1.33
48.00

G. Parker Esq
Amherst NH

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BRIEF in the case of Phineas Gage
County of Hillsborough in the State of N.H. [New Hampshire]
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge ? Open Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he? 74 years

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
 | Years, | Months, | Days. | As a | Gen.
Novr. [November] In 1775 | | 11 |  | Private | Capt. [Captain] Moore  Col.[Colonel Prescott
April 1777 | | 1 | 12 | Private | Officers or army no recollected
Augt. [August] 1777 | | 2 | | Private | Capt. Ford  Col. Nichols
+ on Roll [serve??]

5. In what battles was he engaged? Bennington

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Merrimack New Hampshire

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  By living witness

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Richard Cutts
[examining??] Clerk.

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Phineas gage
18708

E Parker Esq
Amherst NH

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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Phineas Gage Hillsborough which require further proof or explanation.

I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes

II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes

III.  If the applicant did not make the declaration in the country where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes

V.  * Has he mentioned 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 amout [amount] of pension he his entitled? No - The claimant's statement in regard to the length of his first tour of service does not agree with the [illegible] statement_  This must be explained by him

VI.  Has he given names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? no

VII.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes

VIII.  Has the Court given their opinion? yes

IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes

X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed ?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

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2

XI.  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? no

XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it ? no

XIII.  If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had ?

XIV.  [cross symbol] If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses: yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? [crossed out: yes] No

XV.  Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service ?

XVI.  [double cross symbol]  Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct ? yes

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily ?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered ?

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

QUERE V.  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. [etc.] 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 ___ For ___ months and ___ days, I served as a ___; and for such service I claim a pension.

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3

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 they served two years in the militia, &c. [etc.] 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 shewn 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.

[cross symbol] QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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 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.

[double cross symbol] QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.

[pointing finger symbol] In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

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10757
INVALID.

Rev War [check mark]
am

File No. 10,757
Phineas Gage
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 32
Index:--Vol. A, Page 138

[ARRANGEMENT OF 1870]

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TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
August 8th, 1842

Sir : 

Under the Act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," The Executor of Phineas Gage, deceased, late a Pensioner on the Roll of the Concord, N.H. Agency, at the rate of Forty eight Dollars and -- Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. [September] to the 3r of Dec. [December] 1839.

Respectfully, yours,

Albion K. Parris
Comptroller

To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

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Jesse Worcester

Depn [Deposition]

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I Jesse Worcester of Hollis in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, testify that I was a Soldier in the war of the revolution and served several ampaigns as already set forth in my declaration which as I suppose is lodged in the war department

One term of my service was one month which I served at New Castle near Portsmouth NH in the company commanded by Capt Bowman of which John Bradford was Lieut [Lieutenant] and Dicky Ensign Ros I well remember a man by the name of Phinehas Gage of Merimac [Merrimack] N.H. being with us in the same company.  It was in the Spring I believe in May, 1777 that we enlisted and the term of service was one month

Jesse Worcester

Hillsborough ss. July 1, 1833.  Then personally appeared the above named Jesse Worcester & made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true_

Before me Benjamin M. Farley Jus.[Justice] Peace I hereby certify that the above named Jesse Worcester is a credible witness_

Benjamin M. Farley Jus. Peace

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I Andrew Wallace Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire, certify that Benjamin M. Farley within named is a Justice of the Pease as within mentioned for said County of Hillsborough and that the foregoing signature, purporting to be his, are genuine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name, this second day of July in the year of our Lord 1833_

A. Wallace Clerk

Jesse Worcester
Depn [Deposition]

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I Andrew Wallace, Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire, certify that Edmund Parker is a Justice of the Peace as before mentioned and that the foregoing signatures, purporting to his are genuine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name this fifth day of June the year of our Lord, 1833-

A. Wallace Clerk

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I Phinehas Gage of Merrimack, county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, aged seventy five years & an applicant for a Pension under the act of Congress of the 7th of June A.D. 1832, in addition to and explanation of my declaration made before the Court of Probate for said county of Hillsborough on the 27th day of August AD 1832, testify and say, that I cannot recollect the day in November 1775 on which I enlisted in Capt Joseph Moore's Company in Col. Prescott's Regiment in the Continental service, but I think it was the fifteenth or middle.  It is true, as stated in the affidavit of Ebenezer Hills, that I was taken sick in September 1776 and sent to Stamford in Connecticut.  In October, and I think the middle of the month, when my time was out into one month, and examination of the sick list was made.  I was then so sick that it was certain that I should be unable to do duty before my time was out, and I was discharged and [illegible] I might go home though it was doubtful if I ever reached home.  I went by short stages and reached home by the first of November as near as I can recollect, and remained sick some time longer.  In the following winter I met Capt. Moore's at Dunstable and received my pay, or the arrears of pay, for the whole year of enlistment, so that I considered myself, and the officers considered me, as serving my time out.  Hill's time was not out until the first of January, or his time did not commence until after his eight months of service.

I am unable to state the time of the month I enlisted under Lieut. John Bradford to go to Portsmouth nor the name of the Captain, but I feel confident it was the last of April 1777, and that I served six weeks.

I further say that there is no Clergyman residing in the town of Merrimack, and there was none at the time I made my declaration.

Phinehas Gage

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State of New Hampshire
Couty of Hillsborough SS.

On this thirtieth day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared Phinehas Gage, the person within named and signed the foregoing affidavit and made oath in due form of law that the same is true.

Before me Edmund Parker, Justice of the Peace I certify that I am acquainted with Phinehas Gage above named, and that he is a credible person, and his statement entitled to credit.

Edmund Parker, Justice of the Peace

State of New Hampshire
County of Hillsborough SS.

On this third day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three, personally appeared John McCluer above named and [illegible] the foregoing affidavit and made oath in due form of law that the same is true.

Before me Edmund Parker, Justice of the Peace_

I certify that the above named John McCluer is a credible person & his statement entitled to credit. Edmund Parker Justice of the Peace

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I Ebeneser Hill of Merrimack in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, aged seventy five years being sworn, testify and say, that at the commencement of the revolutionary war I lived in said Merrimack and was acquainted with Phinehas Gage, who then, and ever since lived in said Merrimack - I enlisted in the eight months service in 1775 in Capt. Joseph Moore's Company in Col. Wm Prescott's regiment in the Massachusetts line. [crossed out text: I was enlisted by Lieut [illegible]].  Before my time was out, I enlisted again in the same company and regiment to serve one year in the United States service on the Continental establishment, and served in said company during the year 1776.  Said Phinehas Gage enlisted in the same company and regiment with me, and served until taken sick.  The regiment marched to Providence, New London & New York_  Soon after to Governor's Island, where we served until the enemy come into the narrows._  [crossed out text; We served [illegible]].  In the better part of September or the first of October 1776 said Gage was sick, and sent to Stamford.  I was sick and sent to the same place soon after.  About the middle of October on examination of the sick list was made, and I was directed to join my regiment, which I did, and said Gage and John Patten of said Merrimack were directed to go home, being considered unfit for any more duty that year. -

Ebeneser Hill X his mark.

State of New Hampshire
County of Hillsborough ss

On this first day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, Ebeneser Hill, above named personally appeared and [illegible] the foregoing affidavit with his mark, and made oath in due form of law that the same is true.

Before me Edmund Parker Justice of the Peace

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I certify that I am acquainted with Ebeneser Hill within named that he is a credible person and his statement entitled to full credit.

Edmund Parker, Justice of the Peace_

I Andrew Wallace, Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire, certify that Edmund Parker is a Justice of the Peace for said County as aforesaid, and that the foregoing signatures, purporting to be his, are genuine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name, this fifth day of June AD 1833

A. Wallace Clerk