Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16,578, David Whitman, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Whitman, David
S 16578
Carded.
CONTENTS

1840
New Hampshire
David Whitman
of Ossipee in the State of N H who was a Private in the Company, commanded by Captain of the  Regt commanded by Col Hays in the State Mass. time for 15 Mths & 9 Days
Inscribed on the Roll of N H at the rate of 50 Dollars 99 Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 th day of Nov 1832 and sent Leonard Wilcox Weyand Trustee etc.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $76.48 Penzant. allowance ending 4th Nov 35.25.49 $101.97
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. J. Plain Clerk Book D Vol. 12 Page 193.

DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
State of New-Hampshire, } ss. County of Grafton
On this 27 th day of August A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Court of Probate for said County, now sitting, David Whitman a resident of Osford Lyne in the County of Grafton and State of N. H. aged 70 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 Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated— Capt. Edward Cobb - Major Cushing. Three companies were raised to go to Bristol in the State of Rhode Island - Under the command of said Major Cushing. He enlisted in March A.D. 1777 for two months & went to said Bristol and served his two months act accordingly. The same year he went again as a substitute for Heskiah Hill - went in October - Under Capt. Nathan Stow - Col. Flesher's regiment - Genl. Lovell commanded - Went to Little Compton in the State of Rhode Island & was in the service one month. When he first entered the service as aforesaid he lived in Bridgewater Plymouth County State of Massachusetts & continued to reside there till 1784 at which time he came to Lyne, Grafton County (N.H.) at which place & the adjoining town of Osford aforesaid he has ever since lived. In April 1778 he again enlisted for eight months - was at time in Capt. James Harlow's company - then removed to a company commanded by Lieut. Taboriah Watkins - Col. Ezra Wood's regiment - Went to Peekskill (N.Y.) was stationed there a while - then to White Plains, N.Y. where his regiment was united to Genl. Mear's Brigade - He was then detached for several weeks to Woodbury, Connecticut, again returned to Peekskill & remained there till the fall of February following when his time was out; during, served for eight months - In Sept. 1781 he again enlisted for three months under Capt. Luke Bicknell & marched to Wat Point - Capt. Bicknell was there commanded at Major - said Whitman continued there in the service for three months - Genl. John M c Dougall had the command & gave him an honorable discharge which he has lost. In March 1781 he also went as a substitute in said service for Salem Hovey - Under Capt. Abraham Washburn - two or three companies were called for & marched to the State of Rhode Island: was stationed on Betti's hill on Rhode Island & served there forty days - He had no discharge except the one aforesaid & has no documentary evidence of his service. He was born at said Bridgewater February 23 rd A.D. 1762 - The only record of his age he ever saw was a bible belonging to his father which he saw about 14 years ago at Covington Mass. His father is since dead. He knows of no persons living who can testify to his service except Joseph Mury where testimony is unneeded. - He refers to Samuel Bixby & David Pucher who reside in his neighborhood and who can testify to his character as a soldier of the Revolution. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity 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 & year aforesaid. - David Whitman
We, Samuel Bixby residing in Lyne N.H. and David Pucher residing in said Lyne hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with David Whitman who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 70 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 day & year aforesaid Samuel Bixby David Pucher
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 Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court certifies, that it appears to them that Samuel Bixby who has signed the preceding certificate, is a respectable resident in the town of Lyne and that David Pucher, who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Lyne and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Moses Dow Clerk of the Court of Probate of the County of Grafton do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of David Whitman for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this 27 th day of August A.D. 1832. Moses Dow

I Israel Morey of Orford County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, of lawful age depose & say: That I am well acquainted with David Whitman of said Orford an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress passed June 7. 1832: That I was in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary War, in the year 1778 at Peekskill, White Plains & other places in the State of New York in the Massachusetts troops in Col. Ezra Woods regiment - I then living at Charlton in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts: That as early as June in said year (1778) I became acquainted with said Whitman, then a private in a company in the same regiment aforesaid, by being put on guard with him. I frequently saw him afterwards & know that he continued in the service aforesaid till the first part of February following. I then understood & have no doubt that said Whitman had been some time in the service before I became acquainted with him as aforesaid.
Sworn.
Israel Morey
State of New Hampshire Grafton ss -
Count of Probate held at Orford in & for said County on the 27 th day of August A.D. 1832 ordered by the Court that the foregoing affidavit of Israel Morey be annexed to the application of David Whitman for a pension being sworn to in open court as evidence in the case. Attest Moses Dow Reg d Probate.
In my opinion the said Israel Morey is a person entitled to credit. Edward Webber Judge of Probate.

9116
David Whitman
Pm 6
76.6
15 Mos & 9 days
A. Whittier
$50.99
Lemard Wilcox Oxford Grafton not

9116
BRIEF in the case of of Grafton Cy
David Whitman of Lynn in the State of N Hampshire (Act 7 June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Judge of Probate  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? —  3. How old is he? 70  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. As a Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     March 77 — 2 — private Gen. Col. Cobb. Maj. Cushing - etc.   Oct 77 — 1 — Substitute Capt Stone Col. Hawes   April 78 - till Feby 83 servd 8 — private Capt Harlow - then to a Compy Comd. by Lt. Watkins - Col. Wood   Sept 81 - — 3 — " Capt Becknell - Genl. M c Dougall   Same Service — 1 9 Substitute Capt Washburn  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bridgewater Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? living witness  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? no Olymans Certificate 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. C. Easton Examining Clerk.

16.578 INVALID.
File No. 16.578
David Whitman
Pri Rev war
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. / , Page 455
[Arrangement of 1870.]

9116 David Whitman
Lemard Wilcox Nford Grafton Oct

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of David Whitman 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

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?
Yes
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?
Yes
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?
Yes
XVI. ‡ 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?
Yes
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 _____. For _____ 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 the 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 above directed.
† QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end 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.