Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15438, Thomas Tracy, Mass

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Tracy, Thomas Mary
N 15438
CONTENTS

1504
Massachusetts
Mary Tracy
widow of Thomas Tracy decd.
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832
and who died on the 22 d June 1833
of Worcester in the State of MS.
who was a Private in the ————— commanded
by Captain ————— of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Wade in the MS.
time for 18 months
Inscribed on the Roll of —————
at the rate of 60 Dollars ————— Cents per annum.
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 th day of Nov r
1838 and Sept 16 th 1838 Levi Lincoln Secy of War
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1838 $150.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 th Mar. 39, 30.00
$180.00
{ Act July 7, }
{ 1838. }
H. H. Adams
Recorded by Book 4
Vol. 1 st
Clerk, Page 136

2621
Massachusetts
Thomas Tracy of Worcester in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company, commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt. commanded by Col. Trask in the Mass. line for 18 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of ~ 60 ~ Dollars ~ Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of Dec r . 1832 and Alvida to J. Hans of Worcester Massachusetts Arrears to 14th of Sept. 1832 — $90.00 Semi-ant. allowances ending 4 th Mar '33 — 30.00 $120.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. H. Addison Clerk. Book D Vol. 2 Page 86

Thomas Tracy Forwarded by J Morris Worcester Mass
No 1910
Parol
18 Mos
allnd
$60
to John Allen's House of Refr Haverhill Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Thomas Tracy  of  Worcester  in the State of  Massachusetts  (Act 7 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? Seventy Seven  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.     In 17 77 — 9 — Private Col. Steys   — 9 — " Col. Nathaniel Wade   3 minute men " Col. A. Wade   Not from you was not in actual service  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Dutts Hill  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Worcester  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? Incorrect tape does not pass under the seal 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
C. H. Adams Examining Clerk.

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 14 day of August in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court, before Nathaniel Paine Judge of the Court of Probate now sitting Thomas Tracey a resident of Worcester in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged twenty seven 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.
He first entered the service in what was called the "State Troops" by enlisting in the Town of Worcester aforesaid in the Company commanded by Captain Joseph Sibley then of Sutton, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Keyes then of Western in said County. He enlisted in May 1777 and served nine months till he was regularly discharged but has no record thereof. He then during this term with the troops in Rhode Island chiefly along the Narragansett Shore. He was discharged as above stated in the Town of Providence and then returned to Worcester which was his home and remained there till April 1778 when he enlisted a second time in "the State Troops" in the Company commanded by Captain Ebenezer Bicknell then of Holden in said County. He enlisted in Worcester and marched to Rhode Island where he served nine months. A part of the time he was upon the Narragansett Shore and a part of the time on Rhode Island during which time he was in the Battle of Bunker Hill where he received a wound in his hand. The company to which he belonged belonged to the Regiment commanded by Colonel Nathaniel Wade then of Ipswich. He was discharged at the expiration of his term of service by his commander but has no evidence of the same of a documentary kind. After his discharge he returned to Worcester where he has continued to reside ever since. He would add that the companies in which he served as aforesaid were not in regular service at any time after his enlistment but he did not march after his first enlistment till about three months from the time of his enlistment. The only witness whom he has discovered who knew of his having done service as aforesaid is Daniel Goulding of Worcester aforesaid whose deposition is filed in court with this declaration. The terms of nine months above, included only the time of actual service in which the said Tracey was engaged. He was besides these terms a member of said Company & held under his enlistment for three months after his last enlistment ready to march at a moment's warning before he received orders for marching as aforesaid.
I was born in Worcester in 1755 & have always lived in this town, and for the proof of my services I refer to the accompanying Deposition of Daniel Goulding
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 me Nathaniel Paine Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester Thomas Tracey

We _____ a Clergyman residing in the _____ and residing in _____ hereby certify that we are well acquainted with _____ who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be _____ 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.
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 _____ who signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Nathl. Smith Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester
I Theophilus Whalen Register, Clerk of the Court of Probate for Worcester County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Tracy for a pension. I that Emory Washburn before named is a justice of the Peace for said IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Court this 14 th day of August _____ in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two
Theophilus Whalen Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester in Massachusetts
Application of Thomas Tracy for a Revolutionary Pension July 19/32.

3599
Mary Tracy's application for a pension - Amherst Mass. widow of Thomas Mass.
At 7 July 1836
presented by Mr. Lincoln of Mass.
On roll
Altas 18 m d p 60
Pham.
Mar ch 1780 died 1833
Hon. L. Lincoln 772

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester, ss.
I, Charles G. Prentiss, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester, do certify, that Rev. Barton is the Judge of said Court, duly commissioned and qualified - and that his signature to the papers hereto annexed is genuine.
I further certify, that Daniel W. Lincoln and William Dineen are Justices of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified - and that their signatures to the papers hereto annexed are genuine.
In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court, this thirteenth day of December, one thousand, eight hundred and thirty-eight.
Chas. G. Prentiss, Register

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of July 1838 entitled An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Worcester ss
On this thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred thirty eight, personally appeared before the Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester, Mary Gray, a resident of Worcester, in said County of Worcester, aged seventy six years in March last; who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7. 1838, entitled an Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows.
That she is the widow of Thomas Gray, who was a soldier in the army of the revolutionary war. That she was born and has allways lived in said Worcester. That she became acquainted with Thomas Gray who was her husband afterwards, when she was a child, he living in the neighborhood. That in the month of May 1777 seventeen hundred and seventy seven, said Thomas Gray enlisted with the troops of the state of Massachusetts, as a private soldier in Capt Joseph Sibley's company of infantry for the term of a year. He went as a volunteer, and was in service on Rhode Island, and in an engagement with the British ships or troops. He served nine months, and was honorably discharged. Whether he was not called into service immediately after his first enlistment, or that his services were not required until it expired, the said Mary cannot state, but is confident he actually served nine full months as a private soldier.
In the year seventeen hundred seventy eight, in the month of April, the said Thomas Gray enlisted as a drummer in Capt Ebenezer Belnap's company of Infantry, and marched to Rhode Island, where he served during nine full months

partly on Rhode Island and partly on the Narragansett shore. He was in one and possibly in more engagements with the British troops; and particularly in a battle at Butts Hill, was wounded in the hand by a ball. He enlisted for a year, but actually served nine months at this term; either not being called out or being released before the expiration of the year. He served as drummer, and was honorably discharged.
At each period of service he enlisted as a volunteer, and was not drafted, but was in the Massachusetts line of the Continental Army, as a private soldier nine months, and as a drummer nine months.
By reason of age and failure of memory, she is not able to state more particularly the names of the officers under whom her husband served, although she has heard him mention them.
She further declares that she was married to the said Thomas Tracy to the said Thomas Tracy on the fifteenth day of May, in the year, seventeen hundred and eighty. That her husband died on the twenty second of June eighteen hundred and thirty three: that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January seventeen hundred ninety four, to wit at the time before stated. She was lawfully married, in Worcester, at the house of her father Benjamin Crosby, by William Young Esq. of said Worcester, a Justice of the Peace having been duly published, to the said Thomas Tracy. Her late husband. Her father, mother, & sister, are present, all of whom are dead. She knows of no other evidence of her marriage she can obtain, than that which is hereto annexed. She has never been married since the decease of her husband the said Thomas Tracy.
The said Thomas Tracy, was a pensioner of the United States, under the Act of 1832, and his pension certificate was delivered up to the Agent in Boston after his decease.

She has stated the facts of her husband's service according to the best of her knowledge and belief.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above written
Before Mary E. Macy
W. Patton Judge of the Court of Probate for said County of Hampshire

I, Mary Tracy of Providence in the county of Providence and state of Rhode Island, now resident in Worcester in the county of Worcester and commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged sixty four years, depose and say, that I am the sister of Thomas Tracy late of said Worcester, deceased, who was a soldier of the Revolution, and was well acquainted with Mary Tracy his wife. That the marriage of the said Thomas Tracy and Mary Tracy took place in Worcester at the house of her father, Benjamin Crosby, in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred and eighty, but in what month or day of the year, said deponent is unable to recollect. That I have a distinct recollection of being present at, and witnessing the marriage ceremony. That I continued to live with my father in said Worcester during his life and resided in said town until I was more than thirty years of age, during all which time the said Thomas Tracy and Mary Tracy, after their said marriage, lived together and had several children. Said deponent also recollects the absence of her brother, the said Thomas Tracy, from home, during the time that he was in the American Army before his said marriage, and the anxiety of her family and of herself for his return. That the said Thomas Tracy died four or five years since, and the said Mary Tracy has since remained and still is his widow & unmarried.
Mary Tracy
Worcester ss. December 4, 1835. Personally appeared the above named deponent and made oath that the foregoing deposition, by her subscribed, is true. Before me, Paul W. Lincoln justice of the peace.
And I further certify that the said Mary Tracy the above named deponent sustains a good reputation for truth & veracity, and is a credible witness.
Paul W. Lincoln.
Justice of the peace.

I Lewis Chapin, of Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Gentleman, of lawful age do testify & say, that I was well acquainted with Thomas Tracy and Mary Tracy for a period of about thirty five years previous to his death, which occurred in the month of June 1833. and have been since acquainted with Mary Tracy. That during all this time they have been my near neighbors: that during their joint lives, they lived together as husband and wife had several children by each other, and were reputed to have been married to each other. That since the death of said Thomas Tracy, said Mary has remained & still is unmarried. That the said Mary Tracy has sustained an unimpeachable character. That I have heard & believe that the said Thomas Tracy was during his life a pensioner of the United States government for his revolutionary services.
Worcester ss.
Lewis Chapin
On the fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, the aforesaid deponent was examined, and cautioned and sworn, agreeable to law, to the deposition aforesaid, by him subscribed, and I certify that the said deponent is well known to me, to sustain a good moral character, & to be entirely credible and worthy of belief.
William Lincoln Justice of the Peace

I Daniel Goulding of Worcester in the County of Worcester Gentleman being now seventy nine years of age having been first cautioned to testify the truth do depose and say that I have known Thomas Tracy now of Wor- cester aforesaid ever since he was a child He came to live in my father's family when he was eight years of age and resided in our family until 1777 when he enlisted into the Revolutionary Service in what was called "The State Troops" He enlisted in the month of May in that year in the company commanded by Captain Joseph Sibley with whom I was personally well acquainted. The enlistment took place in Worcester and soon after that time I should think about three months he marched with Captain Sibley's Company to as was said, Rhode Island. After being gone some time the service being of which I cannot now state he returned to Worcester having been as he then said discharged from the service, & I recollect that others if not all of the company returned at the same time with said Tracy.
About three or four months after said Tracy's return aforesaid he again enlisted into the ser- vice aforesaid in what was called "State Troops" in the company commanded by Ebenezer Bel- knap who then lived in Holden in said County and with whom I was personally well acquaint- ed. The company, & among the other members said Tracy, stood ready to march at any time and two or three months after his last enlistment said Tracy marched with Captain Belknap's Company from Worcester to Rhode Island, as was then said, and after having been absent about nine months as near as I can recollect he returned to Wor- cester with many or all of the members of his company having been as he & they then

said discharged from the service. Since that time said Fray has ever lived in Worcester aforesaid. I was not in the service aforesaid myself but it was always said & understood in Worcester & among the acquaintances of said Fray that he was a soldier in the Revolutionary war having done duty at the period aforesaid. Both the company of captain Sibley & captain Belknap were considered as "minute men" liable to be called into service at any time & Fray always held himself in readiness to march at any moment from the time of his said enlistments till he did march as aforesaid
Daniel Goulding
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester ss. Aug 2 d 1832 Then the above named Daniel Goulding to me personally known appeared and made oath that the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed is true
Before me Emory Washburn Justice of the Peace
I also certify that in my opinion the above Deposition is entitled to credit as a witness.
Emory Washburn Justice of the Peace

Thomas Tracy
1910
$60
J Davis
Worcester Mass.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Thomas Tracey 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?
[Handwritten signature]
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
[Handwritten signature]
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?
[Handwritten signature]
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? no
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."
# see next page

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 above directed.
† 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.

3599 In at rec 20.
map 7 July '38
James L Edwards Esquire Commissioner of Pensions City of Washington.
Dear Lincoln My Mr. G. Lincoln H.R.

Washington Ind 10 1830
Genl L Edwards Esq Governor of Indiana
Sir
I have the honor to submit to you the Application, with accompanying Papers of Mary Tracy, the widow of a Revolutionary Soldier & Resident , seeking a pension for herself. — and her
Most respectfully
Your obed Servt
Wm Lincoln.

Mss
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 15438
Mary Tracy Widow of Thomas Tracy Priv. Rev. War
Act: July 7 th 1838
Index: Vol. M , Page 281
[Arrangement of 1870.]