Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,414, Nathaniel Fish, Mass.

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Service Mass.
Fish, Nathaniel
Number S.17,414
Carded

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Paid at Treasury, under act 6 April, 1838, from 4th Sept. 1843 to 26 October, 1843. Agent notified 3 April, 1846.
46 72  [illegible]
A. 651
Massachusetts
Nathaniel Fish of Hampshire in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Lamb of the Reg commanded by Col Wade in the [illegible] line for 18 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of [illegible] Dollars _ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension paid the 5th day of Oct 1833 and [illegible] [illegible]
Arrears to the 4th of [illegible] $[illegible]
Semi-an. allowance ending [illegible] [illegible]
$[illegible]
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by [illegible] Cler
Book [illegible] Vol. 2d Page [illegible]

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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832-
State of Massachusetts  [illegible]
County of Hampshire

On this twenty sixth day of September A.D. 1832 personally appeared Nathaniel Fish in open Court before the Justice of the Supreme Judicial Count now sitting, a resident of Prescott in the County & State aforesaid who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to take the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.
That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated
That he entered the service as a soldier in the month of december at he believes of the year of our Lord 1777 for the term of three months, in the Regiment commanded by Col. Tyler & in the Company commanded by Samuel Craggin & in which Benjamin Green was Lieutenant that he left the same in the month of March next following that he resided when he entered the service in the town of Uxbridge in the County of Worcester & State aforesaid-that he was a volunteer and that he marched from Uxbridge through Providence, Rhode Island, to North Kingston Rhode Island, where he was stationed during the greater part of the term aforesaid. 
He further declares, that he again entered the service of the United States in the month of June A.D. 1778 for the term of six months and that he left the same on some of the last days of December or some of the first days of January next following-that he was in the Regiment as he believes commanded by Col Wade, and in the Company commanded by Capt Lamb from Charlton, in said County of Worcester-that he resided when he entered the service at said Uxbridge

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that he was a volunteer- that he marched through Providence R.I. by Howlands Ferry as it was then called to Buttshill fort, where he remained a short time, and then marched to a place near Newport R.I. where he remained as he thinks not more that three or four weeks & then marched back to said fort, and was engaged in the Battle on Quaker hill, and that on the evening succeeding the battle he left, with the troops, [illegible] Rhode Island, and marched to East Greenwich, where he remained the greater part of the time for the remainder of his said term. 
He further declares that he again entered the service of the United States some time in the month of October A.D. 1779 for the term of three months-and that he left the same as he believes in the early part of January then following-that he was in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Denny & in the Company commanded by Capitan Baker-that he resided when he entered the service in said Uxbridge-that he was a volunteer & that he marched through Springfield, Mass to Albany New York-when he crossed the Hudson River & then marched to a place called Half Moon situated a few miles above Albany, where he was stationed most of the time till he was discharged-which was a few days before the said term of enlistment expired.
He further declares that he has no discharge from the service at either of the previous above referred to
He further declares that he enlisted in the army of the United States in the month of July A.D. 1780 & left the same in the month of January next following-that he was in the 6th Regt of the Massachusetts line & that when he entered the service he resided at said Uxbridge that he marched to West Point & from there to Farmer's Flats so called, where he and the other soldiers were organized into Regiments and companies, and where two brigades of Infantry were detached from the troops-that said Infantry to which he belonged were put under the command of Major General LaFayette-who commanded them on [illegible]

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Nath. Fish's Declaration
13.385

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march to New Jersey where he did duty untill their return to West Point for winter quarters. For evidence of his faithful service during the term last mentioned he refers to a discharge dated January 9 AD 1781 signed by Major John Porter which is herewith transmitted
He further declares that he will be seventy years of age on the 30th day of March AD 1833 & that he was born at Uxb 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the Agency of any State
Sworn & subscribed to this day & year aforesaid
Nathaniel Fish
He further declares that there is a record of his age in the town books at Uxbridge & in his own bible-that he lived in said Uxbridge untill the year 1801 when he removed to the place where he now resides
Nathaniel Fish
Sworn and Subscribed this day & year aforesaid
Attest S. Stoddard Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare there opinion after the investigation of the matter putting the interrogatories presented by the War department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the Court further certifies that from competent testimony produced it appears that Nathaniel Fish the foregoing applicant is the person he represents himself to be
Samuel Putnam [illegible]
Comm Mass Hampsh. SS.
[illegible] N. Hampton Sept. [illegible] 1832

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
Hampshire 
I Solomon Stoddard Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court of this Commonwealth for the County of Hampshire afores do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Fish for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court this twenty seventh day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two
S. Stoddard Clerk

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Nathaniel Fish
Mass

Prvt 18 months

14.1606
May 27 1833

[illegible mark at center of page]

F H Allen
New Salem
Mass

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BRIEF in the case of Nathaniel Fish
or of Hampshire in the State of Mass
(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?

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. 
Decem In 1777 entered | . . 3 . . . . | private | Cap Croggin Col Tyler
June .. 1778 .. " | . . . 6 . . | " | Cap Lamb Col Wade
October . 1779 . " |  3 | " | Cap Baker Col Denny
US. July 1780 enlisted . . . . 6 . . . | .." ... | Genl La Fayette

5. In what battles was he engaged? none

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Worcester Mass

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by 
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? a document and
four living witnesses

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers are
are not properly attested. one witness is not certified credible 
and there are so certified
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
mentioned.

George Taylor Examining Clerk.

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TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.
October 3, 1845.

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," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending
the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pen-
sion agents, The Executor of Nathaniel Fish, dead,
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Massachusetts
Agency, at the rate of Sixty Dollars
[crossed through "and Cents"] per annum, under the law of the 7th June
1832, has been paid at this Department, from the
4th of Sept. 1843, to the 26th Oct. 1843.
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,
Present.

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17.414
INVALID.

[word on side of page illegible]

File No. 17.414
Nathaniel Fish
Pri Rev War
__________
Act: June 7th 32

Index: - Vol. 1, Page 126

[Arrangement of 1870.}

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This May certify that Nathaniel Fish
Furnished his own blanket while in service. Likewise received no pay from the continent
John Smith ([illegible])
6th regiment
the within soldier  is [illegible] to [illegible]
The eight of June 1781
Seth Hamlin
supplyed as above [illegible] and including [illegible] [illegible]
Hartford January 13, 1781
[illegible]
[illegible]
[illegible]
[illegible] three [illegible]
[illegible]

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Nathaniel Fish Soldier in Captain John
Smiths Company, in 6th Massachusetts Regiment
having faithfully served six months
is hereby discharged from said Regiment
Garrison West Point January 9th 1781
John Porter Major
[illegible] commissary on the rout [route] to Uxbridge 
will give provisions to Nathaniel Fish
to support him home.
John Porter Major
Nathaniel Fish
Massachusetts
S.T. 17414

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13385
 Nathaniel Fish 
F. H. Allen 
New Salem Massachusetts

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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 Andrew Fish  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 county 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 amount of pension he is entitled? yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the  one under the Act of June7, 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 brief respecting his age and the general beliefs in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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. 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 2-no-one
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the pages that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed the the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not answered? yes
EXPANATARY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how ling 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 has 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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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 a 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.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service
In a case where 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 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.
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.
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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I Baxter Hall of Whitingham in the County of Windham
and State of Vermont
Testify and say that in the year
one Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy Seven was personly [sic] 
acquainted with Nathaniel Fish then living in Uxbridge
in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts
and that he was a soldier with me for three months
under the command of Captain Samuel Craggin and we 
were stationed together at North Kingston
State of Rhode Island
Baxter Hall
State of Vermont Windham County  Ss.
Whitingham August the 20 1832 then Baxter
Hall personally appeared and after being carefully
examined and duly cautioned made solemn oath
that the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed
contains the truth and nothing but the truth
before me
Amos Brown Justice of the peace
and authorized to take depositions by the law of this State
State of Vermont
Windham County Court Clerks Office,
New Fane, September 11. A.D. 1832
I certify that Amos Brown, Esquire,
is one of the Justices of the Peace
within and for the County of Windham
aforesaid, and that the above and with
in are his signatures
In testimony whereof I have here
unto set my hand and affixed the
Seal of the said County Court on
the day and year above written
James Elliot, Clerk

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Windham Ss. Whittingham, Sept. 5, 1833. I
hereby certify that Baxter Hall, the named is a credible
witness.  Amos Brown, Justice of the Peace

State of Vermont
Windham County Court
Clerk's Office, New Fane
September 11, A.D. 1833
I certify that Amos Brown
Esquire, is a Justice of the Peace.
in and for the County aforesaid,
and that the above is his sig-
nature.
     In testimony whereof 
I have herewith set my
hand and affixed the Seal
of said Court on the day
and year above written
James Elliot
Clerk

The within deposition of Capt. Baxter 
Hall was taken and sealed by me
Amos Brown, Justice of the Peace

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I, Amaria Chapin of Uxbridge in the County of Worcester
-Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being seventy years
of age, do testify & say, that I am well acquainted with
Capt. Nathaniel Fish formerly of said Uxbridge, but now
pf Prescott in the County of Hampshire in said Massachu-
-setts, that I lived a near neighbor to said Fish for nearly
forty years, & that he has been considered a man of
strict veracity. That I was knowing to his going into
the service, as a private soldier into the State of Rhode
Island in the year seventeen hundred seventy eight
for the term of six months, & that it is my full
belief that he actually performed said service
And further the Deponent sayeth not
       Amariah Chapin
Worcester Sr. Sept. 5, 1832, Then Amariah Chapin
after having been duly cautioned and examined
made solemn oath to the truth of the above
deposition by him subscribed, taken at the
request of Nathaniel Fish -- and I hereby
certify that the said Amariah Chapin is
a gentleman whose character for truth and
veracity is undoubted.
     Jonathan Gregory, Justice of the Peace

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester, Ss. The annexed papers being transmiited
to me for authenication, agreeably to the rules of the
Department of War at Washington, I the subscriber,
a clerk of the Judicial Courts for said county of Wor-
-cester, have caused said authentication to be made,
by attaching the same with a ribbon, the ends of
which are passed under the seal --
In testimony whereof, I hereto set my
hand and affix the Seal of the Court of
Common Pleas, at Worcester, this twenty=
seventh day of June, in the year of 
our Lord, eighteen hundred thirty three
    Jos. G. Kendall Cler.

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I, Amos Thayer, of Sutton in the County
of Worcester, do testify and say that I have
had a personal acquaintance with Capt.
Nathaniel Fish who now lives in Prescott
in the County of Hampshire, ever since he was a boy -
we were both born in the town of Uxbridge
and resided there until the revolutionary
war -- that the same Nathaniel Fish and
myself enlisted into the service for the term
of six months -- that we marched to Provi-
-dence -- were stationed on Rhode Island --
at East Greenwich and other places in the
state of Rhode Island -- it was in the
same year in which the battle of Mon-
-mouth was fought -- I think we enlisted in
 the month of June -- I think the name of
our Captain was Lamb, from Charlton,
we belonged to the Regiment commanded
by Col. Wade -- I furthermore say that I
remained in the service in that campain [sic] about
five months, I think all that tine -- and I
perfectly recollect that the said Nathaniel
Fish continued in the service of that cam-
-pain as long as I did --as I left the service
and returned to Uxbridge about a  month be-
-fore the expiration of the term, I cannot say
that he served the term out, but I believe he
did.--                               Amos Thayer
five months, I think all that tie -- and I

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Worcester S. Sept. 5 1832 Personally appeared
Amos Thayer, and after having been duly
cautioned and examined, made solemn 
oath to the truth of the within deposition
by him subscribed. And I hereby 
certify that I consider the said Amos Thayer
a man of truth and veracity.
        Jonathan Gregory Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester, Ss.
I, Abijah Bigelow, Clerk of the
Judicial  Courts, holden within and for the
County of Worcester, do here by certify, that
Johnathan Gregory, Esquire, before whom the
foregoing Affidavit of Amos Thayer, and
the annexed Affidavits of Frederic Taft 
and Amaniah Chapin were made and
sworn to, is a Justice of the Peace within
and for the County of Worcester, and that
his signatures thereto appear to me to be in
his own proper hand writing.
     In testimony whereof I have here unto
set my hand and affixed the County Seal, this sixth day of September, A.D. 1832
Abijah Bigelow, Clerk[?]

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I Frederic Taft of Uxbridge in the County
of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts
being seventy three years of Age, do testify & say
that I am well acquainted with Capt Nathan-
-ial Fish, formerly of said Uxbridge, but now of
Prescott in the County of Hampshire in said State
& that the said Nathaniel Fish enlisted with
me in the month of October in the year seventeen
hundred & seventy nine, for three months, in
a Company of Militia commanded by Capt.
Thomas M. Baker in the Regiment commanded
by Col. Denny said Regiment was raised to go to
Claverick, but before we reached there, we were
ordered to march to Albany in New York & we were
stationed a few miles above Albany, that I was
Orderly Sergeant in said Company, that said
Fish was a private soldier in said Company &
we both served in said Company together till
we were lawfully discharged by legal authority
several days before our said three month expired
And further the Deponent saith not
Frederic Taft
Worcester S. Sept. 5, 1832 The aforesaid deponent
after having been duly cautioned and examined
made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing 
deposition by him subscribed
Before me Jonathan Gregory Justice of the Peace

I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with
Frederic Taft Esquire, who has subscribed the
foregoing deposition, and that he is a gentleman
of unquestionable veracity
Jonathan Gregory