Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18631, Obediah Trask, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Trask, Obediah
S. 18631.
Baker, Hulda
B.L.Wt. 100 086-160-55.
former widow
CONTENTS

20.295 MAINE
Obediah Haskell
of Lincoln in the State of Maine who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Hinkley of the Regiment commanded by General in the Mass line for 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of MAINE at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 rd day of March 1833 and Act June 7, 1832. Codding  Wiscasset  Maine
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $ 40.00 Femi-ant. allowance ending Sept 1,  10.00 $50.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W.H. Adams Clerk, Book 10 Vol. 15 Page 58
312419 - Bounty Law Act 35 - Act June 7, 1832 - March 17/61

- Obadiah Frank -

State of Maine.
LINCOLN, ss—I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that the annexed paper, signed by the Judge and attested by the Clerk, contains the original proceedings of the Supreme Judicial Court of Common Pleas , at a special session thereof holden at Wiscasset in said county, by the Hon. Prentiss Mellen one of the Judges of said Court on the eighteenth day of September A. D. 1832, in the matter of the application of Obadiah Trask for a Pension. IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this sixth day of October A. D. 1832. Nath. Coffin CLERK.
except as a misnomer, the foregoing is a true copy of the original now on file in my office at Wiscasset

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June, 1832.
STATE OF MAINE, } ss. COUNTY OF LINCOLN, }
ON this eighteenth day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before Brent Mellen Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court , now sitting, Obadiah D. Nason a resident of Boothbay in the County of Lincoln and State of Maine, aged Sixty 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, as follows - Vis -
That in the month of March, he thinks, 1779, he enlisted in Captain Heinickel's company for six months, & stationed most of the time at the lower end of Squam Island to guard the mouths of Kennebec and Sheepsot River - part of the time at Coles Head on Kennebec River - served the time out & was with the Company discharged verbally by the Captain on Squam Island - does not recollect anything about a Regiment - His company was usually divided into three guards kept up a connexion by a flat or barge -
And to the interrogatories propounded under the instructions of the War Department he answers as follows Vis - That he was born in Edgecomb, State of Maine in 1765 - has a record at home, of his age in a Family Bible, made by his father - recollects seeing his father enter the time of the birth of the youngest than himself - He enlisted voluntarily - Has already stated the name of the officer - was discharged verbally - That any of his neighbours can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his Revolutionary services but he will particularly refer to Timothy Cunningham & Ephraim Alley
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Obadiah D. Nason
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Before Brent Mellen Chief Justice of said Court

WE, Timothy Cunningham a clergyman residing in the Edgecumbe and Ephraim Alley residing in the Brooksville hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Obadiah Trask who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty seven 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.
Timothy Cunningham Ephm Alley day of September
State of Maine.
LINCOLN, ss....Sworn and subscribed this twelfth
A. D. 1832
Before me, J. Bailey Just. Peace.
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 further certifies, that it appears to them that Timothy Cunningham a who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the Edgecumbe and that Ephraim Alley who has also signed the same is a resident in the adjoining town of and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Prentiss Mellen Ch. Justice Attat Nathl Coffin Clerk State of Maine.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that Jere Bailey Esq. whose name is affixed to the above certificate, as a Justice of the Peace is legally commissioned and duly qualified to act as such, and that the name so affixed is his own proper signature, to me well known.
IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas this 18 th day of September A. D. 1832
Nathl Coffin CLERK
Obadiah Trask 14039

312,419 Act Mar 3/55 Mar. 9/61.
Ed Butts
Huldah Baker formerly widow of Obediah Trask Private
Revolutionary War Rev Pension Ad 32 Jan 10 195
Set. March 19/61. M.H.W.
Allowed. 160 acres.
L.M. Drury.
Examiner.
M
J Bradford Portland Me.

312,419
Bounty Land claim of Huldah Baker formerly widow of Obediah Trask War of Revolution act of March 3 1855
F Bradford Portland Maine

State of Maine.
County of Lincoln ss.
On this Fourth day of March A. D. 18 61 personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, Hulda Baker a resident of Boothbay in said County and State, aged Seventy two years, who being duly sworn, doth on oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain Bounty Land, under the Act of Congress passed March 3 d , A. D. 1855.
And your declarant further states that she was formerly the widow of Obediah Trask late of Boothbay in the State of Maine that her said husband Obediah Trask was a Soldier of the Revolution, and a pension- er of the United States under the Act of June 7 th 1832 and drew a pension during his life time at the rate of twenty dollars per year as will ap pear by record thereof in the pension office. That her former husband Obedi ah Trask died on the 14 day of December 1835 and that she afterwards inter- married with Asa Baker and lived with said Asa Baker as his wife till the 28 th day of November 1860 when said Baker died. She further de clares that she is now a widow.

YOUR DECLARANT FURTHER STATES , that she was married to the said Obediah Trask on the sixteenth day of April A.D. 1829 , at Boothbay in said State, and that her name before marriage was Hulda Wheeler
And your declarant further states, that after the passage of the Act of Congress of June 7 1832 her husband she made application for a Pension, on which application a pension was granted her at the rate of Twenty dollars per annum, as will appear by her Pension Certificate, dated the 23 d day of March A.D. 1833 No. unknown She also declares that she has not applied for nor received under the act of March 3 d 1855 or any other act any bounty Land Warrant whatever
For proof of marriage, her husband's service in the Revolutionary War, and his death, and of your declarant's identity, she refers to her declaration and proof for a Pension, now on file in the Department of the Interior, at Washington. and to the testimony hereto annexed She therefore claims Bounty Land under the act aforesaid, and states that she is still a widow.
And for the purpose of this application, I hereby appoint F. Bradford of Portland my true and lawful Attorney in the premises. Attest, William Trask  Hulda Baker her mark
John Wheeler
Sworn to and subscribed, before me, the day and year first above written, and in my presence acknowledged
the Power of Attorney thereto subjoined, for the purposes above mentioned. And I hereby certify that I know  know the said Hulda Baker to be the person who performed  signed  the military service for and to be of the act above stated  to be in the foregoing declaration that I have no interest in her claim  Leonard M. Dobb Justice of the Peace.

We William Trask, & John Wheeler residents of Boothbay in the state of Maine on oath say that the foregoing declaration was signed and sworn to by Huldah Baker in our presence. We have known said declarant for more than fifty years last past, and know that she has been the wife of Jonas Wheeler, Obediah Trask and Asa Baker. Her first husband Jonas Wheeler was reputed to have been a soldier in the war of 1812 and died while he was in service. Her second hus- band Obediah Trask was a soldier of the Revolution and a Pensioner of the United States and died as near as we can remember in 1835. Her third husband Asa Baker was a soldier in the War of 1812 and an invalid Pensioner. Asa Baker died on the 28 th day of November 1860 and Huldah Baker is now a widow. We were present at the funeral of Asa Baker. We therefore know that Huldah

Baker is the identical person she represents herself to be in her application for Bounty Land. We have no interest in her claim. William Grask John Wheeler
State of Maine
Lincoln ss March 4 th 1861 Then personally appeared the above named William Grask and John Wheeler known to me to be persons of truth and credible witnesses and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by them signed
Before Me
Jeremiah M. Dabb Justice of the Peace

State of Maine
County of Lincoln Town of Boothbay (a) Married by Edmond Wilson Esq. on Thousand eight hundred and Twenty nine Abediah Trask to Huldaah Wheeler both of Boothbay
I Certify that the above is a true copy of the record of the MARRIAGE of said parties, with the exception of the date, which is expressed in the record, in fair legible figures, as follows:—(b) 1829 April 16 th
I, Benjamin Blair 1 Town Clerk of Boothbay above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the town, county, and state aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy of the records of said town, with the exception above named, as certified by me.
Benjamin Blair { Clerk of the Town of Boothbay Subscribed and duly sworn to before me, this fourth day of March A. D. 1861
Levi Cook McRobb Justice of the Peace.
(a) Here fill in an exact transcript of the record, except that, instead of copying the figures, the dates must be written out in full. (b) Here give the date exactly as it is in the record.

State of Maine.
Cumberland, ss.
Register  Probate Recorder's Office, Municipal Court, }
PORTLAND, March 7th A. D. 186 . }
I, Eugene Humphrey Register  Probate Recorder of the Municipal Court,
for said COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, being a Court of Record, do hereby certify that Leonard M. Bell of Boothbay Lincoln County is
and at the date of his Certificate to the paper hereto annexed
was an ACTING JUSTICE OF THE PEACE,
within and for said County of Cumberland  Lincoln , as appears by the paper hereto annexed; that he is DULY COMMISSIONED and qualified to administer Oaths and take Acknowledgments of Deeds and other instruments in writing, in the County aforesaid,—and that the foregoing Signature , purporting to be his
GENUINE.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Municipal Court, for said County, the day and year first above written.
Eugene Humphrey  Register RECORDED.

Obediah Trask Maine
Private 6 Months
14039
Nathl Coffin E Wiscapet Maine

BRIEF in the case of  Obediah Trask 60 of  Lincoln  in the State of  Maine  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? of our Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 60  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.     March In 1799 6 Private Gen. Hinkley  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Ebenezer. Maine or Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional one living witness  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.
George Dyer
Examining Clerk.

P 18631 INVALID.
File No. 18631 Abdiah French Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 379
[Arrangement of 1870.]

100.086
}
160. alred.

W. 100086 -160 -55-
Hulda Baker former widow of Jonas Wheeler and Obediah Trask
In her declaration for pension on account of service of her first husband, Jonas Wheeler in the war of 1812, W. 10395, she states that she was married to Jonas Wheeler at
Boothbay, Aug. 11, 1811 and that her name before marriage was Hulda Booker, and that she was married to Asa Baker May 14, 1848.
D.G.
May 24, 1912

Pension Office, March 19 th 1861.
Sir:-
The application of Mrs. Duedah Balar, formerly the widow of Obediah Trask, for bounty land, Act 55, No. 312. 419, has been received & registered. It does appear from the records of this office that Obediah Trask received a pension under the Act of June 7. 1832, at the rate of $20. per annum upon six months service in the war of the revolution; and upon that service, as his widow, she is not only entitled to bounty land, but to a pension at the same rate as that of her said husband under the Act of Feb'y 3. 1853, from the death of her last husband, - provided she has never received Bounty land, or a pension, upon the service of her other husbands. For it appears from the testimony accompanying this application, that she has been successively the wife of three husbands, & may have received both, a pension or bounty land, upon the service of each. First, she was married to Jonas Wheeler, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, & died in service; for this, she is entitled to half-pay pension under the 1 st Sec. of Act of Feb'y 3. 1853. Second, she was married to Obediah Trask, & is entitled to the same amount of pension he rec d ,

as stated above; - And last, she was married to Asa Bates, a soldier in the war of 1812 & an invalid pensioner, & she may be entitled to a pension & bounty land upon his service.
It is the practice of the office, in cases where the party is entitled to pension & bounty land, to suspend the application for the latter until one is made for the former; & this rule will be observed in the present instance. - The claimant should make her claim to pension at once, and that it is a matter of selection with her as to the husband upon whose service the claim be made. Of course she will select that which will yield the largest amount, bearing in mind the facts that she can draw but one pension, & one warrant for bounty land, and that she can draw neither during co-verture. She should consequently, also, know the dates of the commencement of the several pension laws under which she can claim.
Very respectfully G. A. Dole Comm'r Pensions
Huldah Bates Miss H. Frederick L. Dole
L. Bradford, Esq. Portland, Me.
#312.419
100.066 160-

Pension Agency
Boston March 23, 1861
I, Joseph Staley Clerk in the Pension Office at Boston in the State of Maine hereby certify that from the Books in this office it appears that the name of Abadiah Trask of is on the list of Pensioners at this Agency since the 4th of June 1832 at the rate of $20.00 per month for services rendered commencing March 1831 and continuing to Decr. 14, 1835 when he died.
There does not appear to have been any other name pensioner of that name in the Books, and records of this office.
The certificate and voucher for drawing the balance to the day of his death may be found at the Treasury Dept. with records of J. V. Clancey - here agent for paying pension in the 4th quarter 1836.
Jos. Staley

Portland March 23, 1861 Geo. B. Whiting Esq. Commr. of Pensions Sir,
I have received your report (Vol 30, P. 147) in claim N o 312, 419, that of Huldah Baker, formerly widow of Obadiah Trask. I was not aware that there was any rule of Department requiring a claimant to Bounty Land and to a Pension to file her claim for Pension first, especially as all the evidence to support the former claim was before the Department. It is necessary for the widow in the Pension claim to make her declaration before a Court of Record, & the widow Baker being somewhat advanced in age, and living remote from any Court, could not attend without great inconvenience at this inclement season of the year. The widow intends, as I understand to claim a Pension on account of the death of her first husband Wheeler in the War of 1812. But as yet she has not been able to find sufficient proof of the death of her husband, or the manner or

time of his death.
Mrs Baker is desirous that her Warrant for Bounty Land as the widow of Obadiah Trask may issue, and furnishes the enclosed additional testimony in her claim, and hopes the Department will be able to find the Pension Certificate of Obadiah Trask.
Very Respectfully Yours,
Fremont Bradford

Addl. Evidence in B. S. Claim of Huldah Baker formerly wid. of Obediah Trask N o 312,419
From an Bradford Portland Maine

Portland Aug o 3 d 1861. Hon: Joseph H. Barrett Comm r . of Pensions Sir
On the 16 th of March 1861, I forwarded to the Pension Office the Bounty Land Claim of Huldah Baker formerly widow of Obediah Trask who was a Soldier of the Revolution, and a Pensioner of the United States. That claim was suspended for reasons contained in the enclosed circular. Subsequently Mrs. Baker made application for 5 years half pay, in which she alleged that her 1 st husband Jonas Wheeler was a soldier in the War of 1812, and died in the service. On this application she was allowed a Pension commencing May 14 th 1861 & terminating May 14 th 1866. N o 4034. Old War Wid. File No 10395-
As the reasons for the suspension of the Bounty Land Claim are obviated by allowing her pension, and by proof filed that Obediah Trask was a Revolutionary Pensioner, I now wish to be informed whether Warrant for Bounty Land will issue on Claim N o 312 419 —
I am very Respectfully Your Ob t Servt. Freeman Bradford

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Obediah Trask which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy 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? yy 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? yy VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy 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? yy

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 clergyman  yes as to others XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? yes 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? 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 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.

Caleb Hodge's depon. in Obadiah Frost's case.

I Caleb Hodgdon of Westport in the County of Lincoln & State of Maine aged seventy five years on oath depose & say, that I am well acquainted with Obadiah Trask of Boothbay in said County & have long known him, he is about sixty seven years of age - said Trask myself enlisted into Capt. Hinckley's Company at Boothbay aforesaid, as private soldiers towards the latter part of the war, I think it was in the year 1779. Said Hinck- ley had the command of the Company, but I am not certain whether he was Captain or Lieutenant - we enlisted for six months & both of us served the time out, & were at the end thereof verbally discharged - I well recollect that said Trask served the whole six months & that he was present when we were all discharged - he & myself were in the same mess as we were stationed on the lower end of Squeah Island (now incorporated into a town called Westport) to guard the mouths of Sheepscot & Kennebec rivers.
Caleb Hodgdon
State of Maine Lincoln ss. Sept 20 th 1832 - Personally appeared the above named Caleb Hodgdon before me Willard Thorpe of the County of the Pond within the County of Lincoln after due examination & caution to testify to the whole truth, maketh oath to the truth of the above deposition by him signed in my presence - The aforesaid deponent is a disinterested person of good credit, in whose testimony confidence may be placed -
Willard Thorpe Justice of the Peace

State of Maine.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
LINCOLN, ss— I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that Willard Sharp Esq. whose name is affixed to the annexed paper, as a JUSTICE OF THE PEACE is legally commissioned and duly qualified to act as such, and that the name so affixed is his own proper signature, to me well known. IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas this sixth day of October A. D. 1832.
Nathl. Coffin CLERK.