Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29074, Ephraim Chaffee, Mass.

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Heading "SERVICE"
Mass

Chaffee, Ephraim

Heading"NUMBER"
S.29074

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74 Hampden
10,726 
Massachusetts
Ephraim Chaffee
of  Wilbraham in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commander by Captain Rowley of the (illegible) command by Col. Jacobs in the Mass for 10 months. 
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of April 1833 and (illegible) Willard Springfield Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $66.66 
Semi-anl. Allowance ending 4 Sept $16.64
(total) $83.33
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by D D Addison Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 Page 10

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Hampden
On this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appears in open Court before the Court of Probate (illegible) for said County of Hampden Ephraim Chaffee now resident in Wilbraham in said county aged seventy two the 12th of August 1832 who being (illegible) makes this following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress (illegible) June 7the 1832. Next he entered the service of the (illegible) under the following named officers and (illegible)
In the (illegible) of seventeen hundred and seventy eight he thinks it was in July he enlisted under Lieut. Noah Stebbins of Wilbraham for a period of six months in a few days he with others under (illegible) and said Lieut. (Illegible) Brimfield Sturbridge, Woodstich Providence, Rhode Island where his company (illegible) under command of Capt Rowley (illegible) the regiment commanded by Col. Jacobs. There were other troops these (illegible) he can not recall the officers names except General Sullivan who (illegible) this command. He and they (illegible) about ten days when they had an engagement with the enemy stateside at Newport and were defeated and drove off (illegible) they went in boats eastward of the island and (illegible) with the expiration of the said term of six months on or about the first of January 1779 where he with his company was discharged at Freetown (illegible) by verbal discharge only as (illegible) of records he offers this further evidence. (Illegible name) and  (Illegible name) Cotton whom (Illegible) .
Again in July or August in the year seventeen hundred and seventy nine this Applicant enlisted under Capt Samuel (illegible last name and city) for one month at Wilbraham and marched to New London and then (illegible) and was then discharged as above.

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SERVICE
NUMBER

Mass
Chaffee, Ephraim
S29074

CONTENTS

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We, Abijah Henderick and Samuel Chapin, residing in Wilbraham above named hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ephraim Chaffee, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be seventy two years old. That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid.

Samuel Chapin
Abijah Henderick

And the said Court present the Hon. Oliver B. Morris Judge, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department, do hereby declare their opinion that the abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that the above named Samuel Chapin and Abijah Henderick are both resident in the town of Wilbraham in said County, and have in open court signed and sworn to the preceding certificate, and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, Justin Wellard, Register of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Hampden do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Ephraim Chaffee for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 
my hand and affixed the seal of said 
Court this eighth day of August in the 
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.

Justin eillard
Register

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Ephraim Chaffee
Wilbraham
Mass
[illegible] 1864
Forwarded by
Justin Wellard
Springfield
Private 10 Months
14,111 [illegible]
Dec 1, 1832

P 124.



Justin Wellard E.
Springfield
Mass

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BRIEF in the case of Ephraim Chaffee
of Wilbraham in the State of Massachusetts
                (Act 7 June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court of a Judge?  Court

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

3. How old is he? seventy two

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

Period.
Duration of service.
years,   Months,   Days
Rank.
As a
Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
Gen.

In 1778     6 m  Private       Capt Rowley, Col.      Jacobs
In 79          1 m  Private      Capt Burt
In 80           3 m  Private     Capt John Bryant


5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Wilbraham

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Living witnesses, not stated as credible.

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? defective, tape does not pass under the seal

X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case
above mentioned.
D. D. Addison
Examining Clerk.

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29074
INVALID.
Rev y

File NO. 29,074
Ephraim Chaffee
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 32"
Index:-Vol. 2, Page 70

[Arrangement of 1870.]

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Ephraim Chaffee
Wilbraham
Mass
1867


Justin Wellard
Springfield
Mass

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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 
Ephraim Chaffee 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 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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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?

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 has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? 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. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no-

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. 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              ; and for such service I claim a pension."

#see next page

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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.

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 to the credibility of the witnesses, and the affidavits must be properly authenticated, as directed before.

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.


The deficiencies noted are 
supposed to be supplied.

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I Hannah Bromley of Monson in the 
County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Testify and say that my brother John Goodwill enlisted into the Army as it was said to be stationed at West Point.
Ephraim Chaffee of Wilbraham in said County, with his gun, knapsack, and canteen went off with my brother John as it as said for West Point.
The said Ephraim had enlisted as he said, what year it was, and how long I do not remember.  My brother went for three months, the both went off together and after a few months returned together, took refreshment at my house, they talked about the Army and about West Point. I concluded they [illegible] in the army from their [illegible].
Hanna Bromely  her
                            x
                          mark
[Hampden] SS. Monson August 6th 1832.
then personally appeared Hannah Bromley 
and made oath to the truth of the foregoing
statement before Jonathan Torrey Justice of the Peace.

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Hampden SS: Feb. 5th AD 1833 And
I do now further certify that Hannah Bromley
written signature and [illegible] made oath to this within deposition before me is a person of good character for truth and is a credible person.

Jonathan Torrey Justice of the Peace

Hannah Bromley
Deposition to Ephraim Chaffee

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Samuel Chapin's
Deposition

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Samuel Chapin of Wilbraham in the
county of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy testifies and says that Ephraim Chaffee of Wilbraham aforesaid did enlist into the Revolutionary Army A.D. 1778 together with deponent for six months under Capt. Rowley, Col. Jacob's Regiment and served at Rhode Island as a solider his term out and was regularly discharged.
Samuel Chapin

Hampden S.S.
July 28th 1832
signed and sworn before
William S. Burt Justice of the Peace

Hampden SS:
Feb. 7th 1833 And I do now further certify that
Samuel Chapin who signed and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition before me
on the 28th of July last, is a person of good character for truth and is a credible witness.
William S. Burt Justice of the Peace

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James Stibbins and Samuel Chapin's
Deposition

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James Stibbins aged seventy one
of Longmeadow in the County of Hampden and
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Samuel Chapin of Wilbraham in the County aforesaid aged seventy testify and say that Ephraim Chaffee of Wilbraham aforesaid did enlist into the Revolutionary Army A.D. 1779 together with deponents for one month under Capt Samuel Burt of Springfield Col Porter's Regiment and served at New London as a soldier his term out and was regularly discharged.
James Stibbins
Samuel Chapin

Hampden S.S.
July 28th 1832
signed and sworn before
William S. Burt Justice of the Peace

Hampden SS: Feb. 7, 1833 And I do now
further certify that James Stibbins and Samuel
Chapin who signed and made oath to the truth
of the foregoing deposition before me on 8th
of July last are persons of good character for 
truth and are credible witnesses.

William S. Burt Justice of the Peace

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I Simeon Colton of Longmeadow in the County
of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy seven years testify and say that Ephraim Chaffee of Wilbraham in said County did enlist into the Revolutionary Army in the year 1778 into the company of Captain Rowley and Col. Jacobs Regiment and served at Rhode Island as a soldier his term out and was regularly discharged. I also further testify and say that I served in the same company together with the said Ephraim Chaffee during the term aforesaid.

Hampden SS. August 6, 1832 then the above 
named Simeon Colton personally appearing
made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing
deposition by him subscribed.
Before Ethan Ely Justice of Peace

Hampden SS March 27 AD 1833 And I do
now further certify that Simeon Colton above
named is a person of good character for truth and a credible witness.
Ethan Ely Justice of the Peace

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Sarah Hyde
Deposition to
Ephraim Chaffee

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I Sarah Hyde of Wilbraham in the County of 
Hampden Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Lawful age Testify and say that Ephiram Chaffee of Wilbraham in said County enlisted and went into the army on a three months tour
at West Point. I belonged to the neighbourhood [neighborhood] and lived near him, and was personally knowing to his going away, after all, I know no more about his going into the Army than what was reported. John Goodwill and he the said Ephraim enlisted to go into the service together this was in the year 1780 when Andre was executed for a spy. How long they was gone I do not remember it is my impression that they both returned together after a three months service.                    Sarah Hyde

Hampden SS. Monson August 7th 1832
then personally appeared Sarah Hyde and made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement before me
Jonathan Torrey Justice of the Peace

Hampden SS: Feb. 5th AD 1833 And I do now further certify that the above named Sarah Hyde is a person of good character for truth and a credible witness.
Jonathan Torrey Justice of the Peace

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts

County of Hampden SS: I John Ingersoll Clerk
Clerk of the Common Pleas Count being a Court of Record in the County of Hampden, and Clerk of all the Common Law Courts of Record in and for said County do hereby certify that William L. Burt - Jonathan Torry - and Ethan Ely Esquire before whom the annexed depositions were personally executed are Justices of the Peace written and for said County of Hampden and that I believe their names respectively subscribed to first of said depositions are their true and proper signatures.
 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed the seal of the said
Court of Common Pleas at the [illegible]
on this eighth day of august in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and thirty two.

John Ingersoll Clerk