Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15724, Francis Wood, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Wood, Francis
S. 15724
CONTENTS
Carded

15328 Massachusetts
Francis Wood of Plymouth in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Wood of the Reg t commanded by Col. Gann in the Mass line for 11 months
And
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 36 Dollars 67 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of June 1835 and sent J. H. Lord Plymouth Massachusetts
Arrears to the 14th of March 1832 $73.34 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Sept. 18 33 $91.67
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Chas. G. Gann Clerk Book E Vol. 2a Page 91
78 Plymouth

Loania Wood Map
Small 11 month's adm'd 1606 March 30 1895
P. 316.
10848
J. H. Lord Kymouth Map

BRIEF in the case of  Francis Wood  60 of Plymouth  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? 76  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. As a Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. Gen.     In 1776 enlisted 5 Private Genl Wood Col Gary   1777 " 6 " Genl Hilly "  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Middleborough Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary two Witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The witnesses are not Certified as Credible 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George J. Dyer Examining Clerk.

2. course No 39
REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONER.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH, ss.
ON this Eighty day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth now sitting at Middleborough within present William Wood Esquire Judge and for said County of Plymouth, Francis Wood a resident of Middleborough in said County of Plymouth, and Common- wealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy seven sixty 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 relinquish- es 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. viz, He enlisted as a private in a Com- pany raised by the State of Massachusetts in the second year of the war of the Revolution commanded by Nathaniel Wood of said Middleborough Captain, John Allen, Ensigns Hovey & Job Macomber Subalterns that he enlisted for the term of five months & therefrom remained in the service in summer in the year aforesaid to the city of New York. There at Chelsea near the City was there when the British forces took possession of the city and were afterwards stationed. Peter Killip of North-Reading served the term and was discharged I know of no officer & privates of said Company except Thomas Spratt of Middleborough present but is now so disabled in his mind that he cannot give evidence. Col. Clary of Bridgewater now dead commanded the Regt in which was my Company. Afterwards in the year 1777 (I think) I again enlisted into Company commanded by Captain Hobb's. David Thomas of Middlebo- rough & a French were Subalterns for the term of six months I joined the Company at North Kingston in the State of

Richard Ireland & there served the time and there were se- veral soldiers enlisted into said company from Middleborough but I know of no one now alive except James Cobb and the officers are all dead I recollect the names of no field offi- cers in the last campaign - I was in no battle during either of Terms aforesaid. I had no written discharge - I was born in Middleborough & lived there where I recollect the names above stated. have no documentary evidence of my said services I have no record of my age in my proposition I was born in Middleborough aforesaid & have always lived lived there except a few years a none reside in Iowa
Jan. 18 th 1880 Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid Attest Jacob H. Lord Register

We, _____ a clergyman, residing in the town of _____ and _____ residing in the _____ heroby certify, that we are well ac- quainted 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 to, 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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of 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.
By the Court, Attest Jacob H. Lord Register
I, Jacob H. Loud 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 Francis Wood 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 ! — [Signature]
Jacob H. Loud

I James Cobb of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth & Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy six years on oath declare say that Francis Wood of said Middleborough with whom I am well acquainted enlisted into Capt Hall's Company (Daniel Thomas Lieut. for the term of six months, marched to & was stationed at North Kingston in the State of Rhode Island for the term of six months - that I with said Wood in said service & that the service was performed in the year 1776 as he believes -
James Cobb
Plymouth G. Sworn to and subscribed in open Probate Court this eighth day of August A.D. 1832.
Attest Jacob H. Lord Register
I further certify that it appeared to the satisfaction of said Court that said James Cobb is a credible person
Attest Jacob H. Lord Reg.
Sworn

Francis Wood
10. 848

I Silas White of Middleborough & County of Plymouth & State of Massachusetts of lawful age to give evidence do testify and say that Francis Wood of said Middleborough in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy six Enlisted for in the Month of July Enlisted with me in the Company Commanded by Capt Nathaniel Wood of said Middleborough and Marched to Providence in the State of Rhode Island and from thence to New Haven & from thence to the City of New York by water and there joined Coll Carrys Regiment and there served six months and was at the action at the White Plains and after the six months were up the said Wood was discharged and returned to Middleborough upon said Wood he still lives Further the deponent saith not — Silas White
Plymouth ss August 8 th 1832 on this day the above said deponent was cautioned examined and sworn to the truth of the above deposition to be used by the above named Francis Wood in procuring his Claim to a pension agreeable to an act of Congress passed June Eighteen Hundred & thirty two and I certify that I am acquainted with the said Silas White and that he is a creditable witness. Seth Eaton Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for the County of Plymouth, the Court of Probate being a Court of record do hereby certify that Seth Eaton Esq is a Justice of the Peace for said County & that I believe his name above subscribed to be his true & genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this eighth day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
J. H. Lord

We Pelham E. Gibbs & Abner Wood Jun. both residing in the Town of Middleborough do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Francis Wood who has subscribed & sworn to the annexed declaration, that we believe him to be seventy six years of age; that he is reputed & believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion. Pelham E. Gibbs Abner Wood Jun r
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Plymouth ss. On the 30 th day of April a.d. 1833. Personally appeared before me the subscribers a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Plymouth aforesaid Pelham E. Gibbs and Abner Wood Jun r above named & severally made oath to the truth of the above certificate by them subscribed. And I hereby certify that the said Pelham E. Gibbs & Abner Wood Jun r who signed the same are both resident in the Town of Middleborough, that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. Isaac Stevens Justice of the Peace
Plymouth ss. I Jacob Howland Register of Probate for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that Isaac Stevens Esq. is a Justice of the Peace for said County & that the signature to this & the annexed papers purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this ninth day of May a.d. 1833. Jacob Howland Reg r

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Plymouth ss. On the nineteenth day of April A.D. 1833 Personally appeared before me the Undersigned a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Plymouth aforesaid, Francis Wood a resident of Middleborough in the County aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to Law depose & saith that he is now seventy six years of age and is an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1833 & that there is no settled minister in the religious society where he lives, nor is there any clergyman residing in his neighbor- hood and he further saith that he is known to Charles Hooper Esq. Abisha J. Clark Esq. Isaac Pierce & William Durning Esq. Joseph Clark who can testify as to his character for veracity & to their belief of his services in the war of the Revolution.
Francis Wood
Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid
Before me Isaac Stevens Justice of the Peace

Q
15724
INVALID.
File No. 15724
Francis Wood
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index: — Vol. 1 , Page 416
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Wood Francis Francis Wood
J H Lord Esq Plymouth 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 William Wood 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 ? No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it ? No
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? No
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? No
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.