Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,745, Benjamin Vassal, Mass.

10/10/22
Vassal, Benjamin Vassall
8 17 745
Carde d
CONTENTS

No. 657 Massachusetts
Benjamin Vassall of Mendon in the State of Mass who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Curtis of the 1st Regt by Lieut. Jacobs in the Mass. Line for 9 months 4 days Regimental H " 0 " Artificers H " 25 " Lieutenants
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts as the rate of 89 Dollars 11 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of Feb 1833 and sent Peter G Bacon Second Master
Arrears to the 4th of Feb 1833 $222.77 Semimont. allowance ending Feb 34. 44.56 $267.33
{ Revolutionary Claim, for June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. H. Adams Clerk Book 2 Vol. 2 Page 89
91 Mass

DECLARATION , in order to secure the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
COUNTY OF WORCESTER, ss.
ON this Sixth day of July in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty Three  There personally appeared in open Court, before Nath Paine Judge of Probate for the  County of Worcester now sitting Benjamin Russell a resident of Osborn in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged ninety 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 7th, 1832.
THAT he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
About the middle of April 1775 I enlisted as a volunteer in the Massachusetts Militia & served as a sergeant in a company of which Captain Turner was Captain One Colonel's name was Anthony Thomas We marched to Brierbridge from Scituate the 4th of June where I received at the time I returned in the County of Plymouth to Hingham in June I returned from Hingham four days, the only time we were encamped & returned to Scituate In December 1776 I was drafted as I think for the Rhode Island Service & served as first Lieutenant in a company under the command of Capt. Francis Cushing in the 1st regiment of the Massachusetts Militia in the County of Plymouth John Cushing was our Colonel I marched with part of the company to Rhode Island We were out there 15 days. About the 25th September 1777 I was still residing in Scituate & was again drafted as I believe & served as a Lieutenant in a company of Militia of which Captain Cushing was Captain. I returned from the Rhode Island Service One Colonel's name was John Russell Our Company proceeded to Rhode Island We were stationed part of the Island My term of service at time was 2 months & 10 days My Commission as Lieutenant is herewith annexed The Rolls of the company are now in the Secretary's Office Concordia confirm the foregoing statement as will appear by the Certificate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth herewith annexed. I am very sure that I was in the Rhode Island Service about three months in addition to the above I think I can not possibly be mistaken about it. It was just before the British got possession of the Island. I recollect I was stationed at the east end of the Island near Buzzards Ferry. I think I went as a Substitute which may perhaps account for the silence of the Rolls in relation to the term of service. I am very sure that our Captain was the Captain William Turner I do not recollect our Colonel's name I think it was in 1776 that I went out but can not recollect the month In About the first of March 1777 as I think I was still a resident in Scituate I enlisted as an Artificer in a Company of Artificers under the command of Captain Cushing I marched to Philadelphia & returned to Boston which was destined for Ticonderoga I signed a contract of enlistment but the term of service was not specified We were to have one dollar per day I marched to Ticonderoga with the company We were stationed there & employed upon the public works at that place until Burgoyne appeared on the Lake before that place which I think was about the 6th of July 1777 when our forces at that place were dispersed & I returned home I do not know that I got a discharge I suppose I got my pay but I do not recollect how no distinct recollection of that fact I know of no person living whom testimony I am sure who can testify to my service Answer to first interrogatory - I was born in Scituate in the County of Plymouth in the State on the 18th of Sept 1742. I do not know that I have any record of my age There may be in the Town Books of Scituate - Answer to second - Answer to third. I lived in Scituate from 1742 until 1780 when I removed to Charlton in the County of Worcester in this State I resided in Charlton until 1805 when I removed to Worcester in this State where I served until my death. I was drafted twice once I enlisted & once I think I went as a substitute but for whom I can not at this distance of time recollect Answer to 5th I can state nothing in addi- tion to what I have stated in relation to my service. To the 6th I do not recollect that I re- ceived any Discharge & my Commission as such is herewith annexed to the 7th interrogatory The Standard Hall of Osborn I suppose Home of Ward Gen. Salem Town 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 and year aforesaid.
Before Nath Paine Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester.
Benjamin Russell

We Isaac Stone  a Clergyman residing in the Town of Oxford and Thaddeus Hale residing in Oxford hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Vassall who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be ninety years of age, 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 the day and year aforesaid.
By me Nathl Paine Judge of Probate Isaac Stone for the County of Worcester Thaddeus Hale
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 mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Isaac Stone who signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman , resident in the Town of Oxford and that Thaddeus Hale 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.
Nathl Paine Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester
I Shephard Wheeler Register , Clerk of the Court of Probate — do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Vassall for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 14 day of February in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty three
Shephard Wheeler Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester in Massachusetts —

No 22273
Benjamin Dapall. Worcester County Massachusetts
debt 4 days Lead 6 m 25 Antipew 40 5 86 29 July 6 1833
44 1/2 220 2 22 2 2 22 2 11 99 13 33 2 22 11 11
84. 112 66 178. 22 Gy 44. 55 292 77 2400 53.33 11.11 89.11
Peter B. Root. Oxford Mass.

BRIEF in the case of Benjamin Vapall  County of Bristol — 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? 90 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.     Vol. April 19 th In 1775 time not stated Gen. W. Howe, Col. Thomas,   Drafted 1776 15 Col. S. Bushing, Col. Dr. Bushing   Drafted Sept 25 - 1779 2 10 Lieut. Col. C. Curtis, Col. Dr. Jacobs,   Retired March 1 st 1777 time not stated Artificer Col. Sededia Thayer  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Plymouth County Massachusetts  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional & Documentary, no original documents  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.
Richd. H. Wallis Examining Clerk.

17445 17745
INVALID.
No. 17745 Benjamin Bassall Lieut Genl War
Act: June 7" 32
Box: — Vol. 1 , Page 448
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Mass. Oxford August 18. 1853
Sir
Enclosed I submit to the Appoint- ment - the original papers in the case of Benjamin Russell - an affidavit for a pension under the late pension act - Annexed I also transmit an affidavit of the app- licants in answer to the interrogatories proposed by the Appointing  to the Appointing  and  and  in  in  the  the  case  case  of  of  the  the  proposed  proposed  in  in  the  the  case  case
Respectfully Yours R. C. Bacon Hon. Lewis Cass Secretary of War. Washington D. C.

Alfred 1833 August 17th Aug.
Free
Map cut Pension off
Hon. Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
War Department -
Washington D.C.

I Benjamin Vassall of Oxford in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832, do make this my supplementary declaration, evidently and say, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory I cannot swear positively as to the precise length of service I did in the war of the Revolution, but according to the best of my recollection I served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades - to wit
In April 1775 I served as a Sergeant - nine days four days 4
In December 1776 I served as first Lieutenant fifteen days 15
In September, October and November 1779 I served as first Lieutenant two months and two days 2 - 10
In the first part of the year 1776 I served as first Lieutenant two months 2 - 0

On March, April, May June & July 1877 Served as an adjuvant for months
mos. days
4-00 8-29
Amount for State house of Correction & dinner a pension
I further testify and say that the reason why I did not procure the testimony of the defendants of the house as to my age and revolutionary services, is that they are both young men and very nearly related in the place, and could not with propriety be asked as to their facts.
Benj. Vassall
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Inverness County ss. Aug. 8. 1833
Then personally appeared Benjamin Vassall above named and made oath that the above declar- ation by him subscribed is true
before me J. M. Baxton Jr. Rev.
I further testify that I have long known the above named Benjamin Vassall as one of the most respectable inhabitants of State house of Ex- ford, and that his oath or his word are enti- tled to entire credence. J. M. Baxton Jr. Rev.

Worcester ss Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I Theophilus Wheeler Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester, do hereby certify, that since my former certificate on this case, and the Papers annexed by ribbon under the seal of said Probate Court were prepared
The affidavit now annexed in the same way was produced and is annexed -
I further certify that Hon. Jas. Barton before whom the last affidavit was made, is, and was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace in the said County duly commissioned and sworn. That this signature purporting to be his signature is genuine -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court this 18th day of August AD 1800
Theoph. Wheeler Reg. of said Court

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Jan'y. 18 th 1833.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that Benjamin Vassall's name is as Sergeant borne on the roll of the Third Military Company of foot, in Scituate, under Capt. William Turner, in Col. Anthony Thomas's Regiment, on the Lexington Alarm, April 19 th 1775, where he served four days. m. d. 0..4 Benjamin Vassall's name is also borne on the roll of Capt. Francis Cushing's Company, in Col. John Cushing's Regiment, being the second Regiment in the County of Plymouth, ordered to march to Bristol, Rhode Island, on the alarm of December, 1776, - where he served as first Lieutenant, fifteen days. - Benjamin Vassall's name is also borne on the roll of Capt. Calvin Curtis's Company, in Col. John Jacobs' Regiment, from the 25 th of September, 1779, - where he served as Lieutenant, two months and ten days. - 0..15 2..10
Exam d .
Edward D. Bangs, Secy

Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay.
The Major Part of the COUNCIL of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England,
Benjamin Vassall Esquire Greeting.
To YOU being appointed Lieutenant of the third Company whereof Francis Cushing is Captain of the second Regiment of Militia in the County of By Virtue of the Power reposed in us, WE do by these Presents, (reposing special Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty and good Conduct) Commission you accordingly.—You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a Lieutenant in leading, ordering, and exercising said Company in Arms, both Inferior Officers and Soldiers; and to keep them in good Order and Discipline: And they are hereby commanded to obey you as their Lieutenant and you are yourself, to observe and follow such Orders and Instructions as you shall from Time to Time receive from the Major Part of the Council or your Superior Officers
and follow such Orders and Instructions as you shall from Time to Time receive from the Major Part of the Council or your Superior Officers
GIVEN under our Hands and the Seal of the said Colony, at Watertown the - Day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred & seventy six.
Hands and the Seal of the said Colony, at Watertown the - Day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred & seventy six.
By the Command of the Major Part of the Council RUFUS MOORE Esq
James Otis W. Spooer Caleb Cushing Michael Lewis John W. Teomb Jed. Foster Ezek Taylor Flu. H. H. H. M. Gannett N. H. H. H. J. H. H. H. Jabez Fisher J. White Palmer Lincoln