Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19126, John Townsend, Continental Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
continental mass.
Townsend, John
S. 19126
carded
CONTENTS
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.

10.135:
Massachusetts
John Townsend
of Middlesex the State of Mass who was a Sgt 2 in the company commanded by Captain  of the  commanded by Col.  in the  line for 1 year 10 mos  8 mos 
Mass & Continental
Inscribed on the Roll of  at the rate of 175 Dollars 33. Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 th day of Jan 1833 and sent S to Lord Plymouth Mass
Arrears to the 14th of Jan 1833 $346.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 21 Feb " 86.66
(432:32) $433.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by S H  Clerk Book  Vol. 207 Page 83.
Dead - Letter to Hon. J. Read. H.R. Mar 30. 1836
89
Phymo
$240 came 7 May 1818 up to 20 Apr 1819 Supt

John Townsend Middleboro
(1775) (Officer)
Correct.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the original now on file in my office and of the whole thereof. Given under my hand and the seal of said office this 10th day of December, 1891.
John D. Sleeper Clerk

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Plymouth
ss.
On this 7 th day of May A Dom . 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Southern Circuit, personally appeared John Townsend of Middleboro' Co. of Plymouth aged Seventy four years, resident in the said Circuit, who being by me first duly cautioned according to law, on his oath made the following declaration, by him signed , in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," viz. That after serving in said war eight months at Roxbury near Boston as a Sargeant - he entered the service on the first day of January 1776 as an Ensign in Capt. Isaac Wood's Company in Col. Ebenezer Learned's Regiment, the third in the Massachusetts line, and continued therein to serve in that capacity till the 10 th day of February 1777. being six weeks over his engagement, and was then dismissed at New Jersey - that he has preserved his Commission and now tenders it. - That Joshua Harkins was in the service at the same time and can testify to his service - that he was in the battles at Trenton and Prince ton - that he has no further evidence of his services in his power - that from his reduced circumstances he needs the assistance of his country for support. —

Joshua Haskins, a credible witness, being present before me the said Judge, also made solemn oath, that he is well acquainted with the aforesaid John Townsend - and knew him and often saw him in the service of the United States in the year 1776 and saw him in Morristown the in February 1777 - That the said Townsend was an alien in said service.
And B, the said Judge, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said John Townsend/or Townsend/ did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months, on the continental establishment; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress, and that he needs the assistance of his country for support. -
Nahum Mitchell
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
ss.
1818.
I HEREBY CERTIFY, That Is one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Southern Circuit, consisting of the Counties of Plymouth, Norfolk, Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket in said Commonwealth—that the same Circuit Court of Common Pleas is a Court of record—that the signature to the above certificate is the true signature of the said Judge, and that the seal thereunto affixed is the seal of the said Court.
} Clerk of the Judicial Court for the County of

8478
John Townsend
1760 1 Mo 10 days Ensign
8 Mo 1 day
ADM
$73.33.
J H Loud Plymouth Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Johns Townsend  of Middleborough 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? Eighty nine 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. As a Gen.     enlisted In 1775 aft. 8 a Sgt Capt Isaac Wood, Col Collins   1776 1 6 weeks Ensign Mass Spvnt  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Middleborough Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Commission filed in War Office with his papers on which he rec d a pension under the act of 1818, but dropped on acct of property. A clergyman & Lieut Pierce certify to his military service. Andrew Cole proxy owner in 1775.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Rich Examining Clerk.

John Townsend
8478.

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH ss.
ON this eighth day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before Hon. Wilkes Wood Judge of the Court of Probate  for said County now sitting at Middleborough within and for said County of Plymouth, John Townsend a resident of Middleborough in said County of Plymouth, and Common- wealth of Massachusetts, aged Eighty Nine 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. He hereby relinquis- hes 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. That is to say, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
At the commencement of the Revolutionary War in 1775 in the month of April, the day he cannot now ascertain, he entered the United States Service as a Sergeant by enlistment into a Military Company commanded by Capt. Isaac Wood. Lieut. Henry Heath Thomas Subaltern, of said Mid- dleborough for eight months, that with this Company he marched to Roxbury near Boston. The said Company was attached to the Regiment of Col. Patten Major Spofford of Massachusetts troops. He served the time but was dis- missed & returned home. He has no written discharge.
Afterwards, in the year 1776 he entered the public service as an Ensign & had a Commission as such for one year in a Company commanded by Isaac Wood of this town & marched with said Company to the State of New York & served in that State & the State of New Jersey & when the Year had expired he was detained with said Company six weeks on account of the nakedness of the Country & want of protection at that time & was then dismissed. His Commission was signed by John Hancock.

which he supposes is now in the War Office at Washington He applied for a Pension under the Act of March 18. 1818 & after drawing a pension for one year & a half was dropped therefrom on account of property.
He was born in said Middleborough in 1743 and has always had his home in said town. He has no documentary evidence other than what is contained in the depositions hereto annexed & the evidence in the War Department furnished on his former appli- cation.
He is well known to Rev. Ebenezer Briggs & Levi Peirce Esquire, both of Middleborough & other good citizens of said town & particularly to the Hon. Wilkes Wood Judge of Probate
John Farnsworth
Sworn to and subscribed in Probate Court the day & year aforesaid
Attest
Jacob H. Lord Register

We, Ebenezer Briggs a clergyman, residing in the town of Middleborough and Levi Peirce, Esquire residing in the same town hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Townsend who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty nine 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 to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Ebenezer Briggs Levi Peirce Attest Jacob H. Lord, Register
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Ebenezer Briggs who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Middleborough and that Levi Peirce Esq. 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.
By the Court, Attest, Jacob H. Lord Register
I, Jacob H. Lord Register 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 John Townsend for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two .
Jacob H. Lord

I Andrew Cole of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth of lawful age to give evidence testify & say that in the 1775 in the month of April I enlisted in a Company of the Massachusetts line commanded by Capt. Isaac Wood which marched to Roxbury near Boston. where the said Company was attached to Col. Patterson's Regiment, where the said Company remained eight months. I knew John Townsend of Middleborough who was a Sergeant in said Company, marched to Roxbury with it & served the term of eight months therein. Andrew Cole
Plymouth ss. Sworn to and subscribed by the above named Andrew Cole in open Court this eighth day of August A.D. 1832.
Attest Jacob H. Lord
Register of Probate

IN C O N G R E S S.
The DELEGATES of the UNITED C O L O N I E S of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex ex: Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South-Carolina, to John Town-hend, Genl l .
WE reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO by these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be an Ensign of Captain Isaac Woods Company, in the Third Regiment of Foot, Commanded by Colonel Ebenezer Learned —
in the Army of the United Colonies raised for the Defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile Invasion thereof. You are hereby required to be careful and diligently to discharge the Duty of an Ensign by doing and performing all Manner of Things thereunto belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your Command, to be obedient to your Orders as Ensign of said Company — And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from Time to Time, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United Colonies, or Committee of Congress, for that Purpose appointed, or Commander in Chief for the Time being of the Army of the United Colonies, or any other your superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in Force until revoked by this or a future Congress. Jan y 1. 1776
By Order of the Congress, John Hancock PRESIDENT.
Attest: Chas. Thomson Secy

P 19126
INVALID.
File No. 19126
John Townsend
Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 377
[Arrangement of 1870.]

9543 R
Massachusetts
John Townsend
of Middlesex in the state of Mass who was an Ensign in the regiment commanded by Colonel Searle of the Mass line, for the term of one year.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on the 7 th of May, 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 th of Apr. 1819 and sent to Nathan Mitchell Esq. East Bridgewater, Mass.
Arrears to 4th of Mar. 1819. due: 2/3 198.70
Semi-ann. all'ce ending 1 st Sept. 1819 120.00
$318.70
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }

I Ebenezer Ellis of Bridgewater of lawful age testify and say that I was a sergeant in Capt. Oliver Soper's Company & Col. Joseph Reed's Regiment Mass. Line during the year 1776 in the revolutionary war, and knew John Townshend of Middleborough to serve during the same year as an Ensign in Capt. Isaac Wood's Company and Col. Ebenezer Dearn's Reg t Mass. Line - We were fellow Townsmen, and, though not in the same regiment, often saw each other, and were often on duty together.
Ebenezer Ellis
Plymouthfs. July 13. 1818.
Personally appeared the above named Ebenezer Ellis, who is a credible Witness, and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit, and signed the same in my presence -
Nahum Mitchell: Judge

Mar 29.
Mr. [unclear] [unclear]
James L. Edwards Esq. Commission of Pension
John Reed H.R.

Sir
I herewith enclose you a letter making making enquiry whether the heirs of John Townsend be entitled to land or money from the U. S.
Yours Obediently House of Rep March 28 1836 John Reed