Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,197, John Webber, Mass

SERVICE
Webber, John
NUMBER
S. 30.197
Mass
CONTENTS

Massachusetts
John Webber
of Bedford in the State of Massachusetts who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Farmer of the Reg t commanded by Col Horne in the Massachusetts Troops and others
7 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of March 1833 and sent Hon. Nelson Newbury cert no
  Arrears to the 4th of  March 33  46.66    Semi-ant. allowance ending  4th "  11.66      58.32  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by R. Dean Clerk, Book D Vol. 2 Page 92
Dec 11. Dec 1846 Letter to G. S. Burroughs Esq 3 Anns, 15 June 1848.

7118 John Webber
adult private 23,33
Marshall Preston

7118  BRIEF in the case of John Webber County of Middlesex in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? _____  3. How old is he? 71  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.     enlisted In 1778 March 3 Private Gen. Capt. E. Farmer   " 1778 six weeks do. Capt. S. B. Varnum Genl. Sullivan   " 1779 July 3 do. Col. Howe Capt. Wright.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bedford, Middlesex Co. Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional & witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? They are not connected with the Clerk's Seal as required. 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
 J. Waugh Examining Clerk. Jan. 25. 1833.

John Webber's
Application.
7115.
Thompson Bacon's
Depositor - for
John Webber -

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Middlesex ss.
On this seventeenth day of August A.D. 1837 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Criminal Pleas  Probate , now sitting at Concord within and for the County of Middlesex in the Commonwealth aforesaid John Webber , a resident in Bedford , in said County & Commonwealth aforesaid 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 - In 1778 there was a call for soldiers to go to Cambridge & Charlestown, to guard the Hessian Prisoners . That he engaged to go or enlisted, for three months & went in the month of March, was then attached to Capt Edward Larmer's company - Lt. Procter & Ensign not recollects - served out his three months, was then discharged & returned home to Bedford in the latter part of June or the first part of July as it was haying time - during the time, was stationed at different places - Bunker Hill , Boston , & Dorchester Heights . Thinks he recollects Genl. Hovey as being in command there. -
In the same year, 1778, he again engaged or enlisted at Bedford, for the term of six weeks, to go to Rhode Island . marched in the first part of August, to Swans Island was attached to Capt Joseph B. Varnum's company, then marched over Housatonic Ferry on to the island to a place called Battles Hill , and joined the army under Genl. Sullivan . - was attached to Col Hovey's Regt. - retreated at the time of Sullivan's Retreat and was stationed at Pateripet , there when his six weeks had elapsed, was discharged & returned home to Bedford in the month of October. -
In 1779 he again enlisted at Bedford in the month of July for the term of three months to go again to Rhode Island . went on to Swans Island & crossed Housatonic Ferry on to Battles Hill , there joined the company under Capt Wright , Lt Hastings of Waltham . - does not recollect his Colonel's name - served out his three months, then, was discharged & returned home in the first part of November.
Has no documentary evidence - never receiving any discharge

He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity, except 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
John Webber
We
Samuel Stearns - a Clergyman residing in the town of Bedford in the county of Middlesex & David Lane - residing in the same town. Hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Webber who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be Seventy 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.
Samuel Stearns David Lane
Middlesex ss. Augt. 17. 1832
Sworn to before me Marshall Preston Jr. of the 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 it appears to them, that Samuel Stearns who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Bedford & that David Lane who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same town, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. P. P. Jr. Clerk of the Court of
Isaac Tinker Prebendary or Probate in and for the county of Middlesex do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains, the original proceedings, of the said Court, in the matter of the application of John Webber for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this seventeenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two
I also certify that Marshall Preston Esq. where own proper signature is set to the certificate to the depositions hereunto annexed is of the Justice of the Peace in & for said county of Middlesex.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this seventeenth day of August AD 1832
Isaac Tinker
P.S. The Rev. Mr. Stearns was unable to attend by reason of sickness
Marshall Preston Jr. of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex, to wit,
At the Court of Probate begun and held at Concord within and for the County of Middlesex on the Seventeenth day of August A. D. 1832. On the application of John Webber 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 Bedford in the County of Middlesex aforesaid - on the 29 th day of December, A.D. 1760.
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it?
Answer, His birth is recorded in the Town Records of said Bedford.
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? Answer,
Always lived in said Bedford. -
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,
There was a call for soldiers and he engaged to go as enlisted -
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, 1 st Term he thinks he recollects Genl. Heath. 2 nd do - Genl. Sullivan -
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 d Samuel Stearns David Lane, Thompson Barnum Esq
John Webber
Middlesex ss In Probate Court August 17, 1832
Sworn to me Open Court
att Jacobus K. Br.

I Thompson Baca of Bedford in the County of Middlesex & am now over the age of 70 years of age, testify and say, that Mr John Webber of said Bedford, was a Revolutionary soldier & served three terms with me as follows. viz
1 st Three months at Cambridge soiinciter guarding the Hessian Prisoners, where we were members of the same Company under Capt Edward Farmer of Billerica. This was in the year 1778. - between the months of March & July. -
2 nd In the same year 1778, between the first part of August & the middle of October, six weeks more at Rhode Island. That we both belonged to the same Company, commanded by Capt Joseph B. Varnum - Col Houson Regiment, - this was the time of Genl Sullivan's Retreat. -
3 rd In 1779, three months more at Rhode Island, between the months of July & November - belonged to Capt John Wright's Company Lt. Hastings. -
That we were both well acquainted with each other at the time - being born & always having lived in the said Town of Bedford. Thompson Baca
Middlesex ss. July 26 th 1832 - Then personally appeared the above named Thompson Baca, a credible person & made oath to the truth of the Statement by him above subscribed -
Before me Marshall Preston Jas of the Peace

30197 Rev INVALID.
File No. 30197
John Webber His Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 448
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Webber 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? 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? yes 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? yes 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? 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? etc. 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 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. 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.
† 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 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.