Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11,886, Titus Wood, Continental (Mass)

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental (Mass.)
Wood, Titus
S. 11,886.
Carded.
CONTENTS

79 Berkshire
21.791 Massachusetts
Titus Wood
of Lancaster in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Barnes of the Reg t commanded by Col. Jackson in the Mass s time for 12 months,
★ Continental Line, June 19/05, Records corrected, R.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 40 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Oct 1833 and to our John Whiting Great Barrington Mass
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $100.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 1 st March - 20.00
$120.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H.C. Addison Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 a Page 74

Titus Wood - Gansborough Mass
250'34
G. W. Bishop Lenox Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Berkshire.
On this fifth day of April A.D. 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable William P. Calkins Judge of the Court of Probate, within & for the said County of Berkshire, now sitting. Being first known to me to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing affidavit, 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 - That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & services as follows - That I enlisted in the Army of the United States about the first of January in the year 1796 & served in the Sixteenth Regiment of the line under the command of Col: Sergeant & Lieut: Col: Jackson & the Major's name I think was Collins. that I have not a distinct recollection as to the last name - that I enlisted in the company commanded by Capt. Asa Barns & Lieut. Glenland & that I was then a resident of said Town of Lanesborough - that soon after I enlisted, Col. Sergeant was promoted to the rank of Brig: General & that Col: Jackson took command of the Regiment - that soon after I enlisted I was ordered to Cambridge near Boston in the state of

After which I was stationed at Sechus Point & continued there until Boston was evacuated by the British & was then marched into Boston - that after being stationed there & at Castle William in Boston Harbor, until about the month of June - I was ordered to New York, that when I arrived near the City, I was ordered with my Company into a Fort near Wall Gate - that while he was stationed there, the British had a Battery opposite the Fort on Long Island, & the Fort was bombarded by them & the fire returned by the Americans - that after remaining at the Fort for a time, the length of which I do not distinctly recollect - I was ordered to Perkinsville & that upon I reached that place I was stationed near Kingsbridge above New York - from there was marched to White Plains; & was stationed as a guard of Cattle for the Army, near White Plains at the time of the Battle there & was within hearing of it - that after I arrived at Perkinsville he was taken sick & he remained there until after his time expired & until February 1777 - that his company, soon after they reached Perkinsville - his company was ordered to New Jersey - but that he was unable to go - I further declare that while I was at Cambridge - Genl. Washington was there & had command of the Army & that I do not recollect the names of any other of the Officers, except Genl. Heath who commanded our Brigade - and I further declare that I have resided in the Town of Sandwich since I was discharged from the Army -

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
Titus Wood mark
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
William P. Walker J. Probate
We Samuel B. Shaw — a Clergyman, residing in the Town of Lansdowne and State of Massachusetts — residing in the same place — hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Titus Wood — who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy five 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.
Samuel B. Shaw
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Geo. N. Briggs
W.P. Walker J. Probate
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 Samuel B. Shaw — who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman, resident in the town of Lansdowne in the County of Berkshire and State — of Massachusetts — and that Titus Wood — who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Lansdowne in the County of Berkshire and State — of Massachusetts — and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
W.P. Walker J. Probate
I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Berkshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Titus Wood for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office of said Court of Probate, this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
Henry W. Bishop. Register of Probate.

And I further state that I did not receive a written discharge at the expiration of my term of service & that there were no officers at Pickett's Hill to give me a discharge at the expiration of my term of service; my company having been ordered with the rest of the Army into New Jersey about that time — And for evidence of my services as set forth in the declaration above, I refer to the annexed affidavit of Thomas Powell — And for evidence of my reputation as having been a soldier, I refer to the certificate annexed of Rev. Henry B. Hooker & Genl. J. H. Briggs —

No 25684 Titus Wood Berkshire County Massachusetts.
506
Prat 12 Months
John Whiting Esq Great Barrington May John Burdick Esq Massach ts

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Titus Wood Berkshire County, Massachusetts
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Continued 1776 Not stated 2 private Col Sergeant, and Lieut. Col Jackson, Capt. Barnes 77 years Berkshire County Massachusetts Traditional evidence & two Wituups - papers correctly attached  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
8 mo 13 " 1 " 0 - 503 ch. 3 mo - 6 days

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers :
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) 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 that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
 6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
 7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
he must state how long he engaged to serve
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of 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 that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Berkshire ss.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace within the said County, Titus Wood of said County, Borough who being duly sworn, deposes and saith, that by reason of old age & the continual loss of memory, he cannot now 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. That I engaged or enlisted to serve for the term of one year from the first of January 1776 as a private in the Sixth Regiment of the United States Army - that he served until the end of the said term & that in consequence of sickness he did not leave the Army until the month of February 1777 - he thinks on about the 20 th day of 5 th February - And the said Titus Wood further deposes & saith, that the Thomas Paine whose affidavit is annexed to this declaration, did not join the Army until some time after this deposition, which he says will account for the difference of the time stated in said Paine's affidavit & the said Declaration that said Paine was not present when he enlisted & had no means of knowing the length of his service except by the time which said Paine served with this deponent in the same Company & Regiment - And for such service I claim a pension - his
Subscribed & sworn this 12 th day of August 1833
A. S. Hubble Justice of the Peace
Titus Wood Mark

State of New York ( Erie County ss) On this eighteenth day of February 1833 came before me George Bigelow a commissioner of deeds for and for the county aforesaid Thomas Powell of said county to me known to be a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States and makes oath as follows That he is well acquainted with Titus Wood a soldier of the Revolution now an inhabitant of Lancaster, Berkshire County and State of Massachusetts and that the said Wood enlisted in the town of Lancaster under Captain Asa Barry in Col Dudley Serjeants Regiment in the Massachusetts Line in the month of January 1776. and from thence he went with me to Boston and then in the month of June he went with me to the city of New York or what was called Hell gate and there was there through the summer and nothing transpired of consequence only the encamping in to our Regiment by the British for seven days until in the fall when the city of New York was given up to the enemy and from thence he went with me and our Regiment to Peeks Kill in the month of October of November and there he was taken sick and I with him and from thence the Regiment marched to the state of New Jersey and there were disbanded and he then got home from his tour of service which he entered for and served the same faithfully in defense of his country Sworn and subscribed this 18th day of February 1833 before me Thomas Powell George Bigelow, com &c.
I hereby certify that Thomas Powell who executed the above affidavit is a man of truth and veracity and of unblemished character George Bigelow, com &c.

State of New York Erie County Clerk's Office I, Isiah P. Sprague clerk of said county do hereby certify that George Bigelow before whom the within affidavit was sworn was at the time of taking the same a commissioner to take the acknowledgment of deeds affidavits &c duly authorized to take the same appointed commissioner & sworn
And further that I am acquainted with the hand writing of said Commissioner and only the signature "George Bigelow" subscribed to the said affidavit and the certificate following the same to be his genuine signature
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas of said County this 22 nd April A.D. 1853
Isiah P. Sprague Clk By Horace B. Dunning Deputy

Rev. War
11886 INVALID.
File No. 11886
Situs Wood
Priv. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. a , Page 415
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Berkshire, ss. I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County, do hereby certify that A. S. Hubbell Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition was taken is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly and regularly appointed, and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing, and have no doubt that the Signature annexed to said deposition is genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this twenty third day of August .
A. D. 1838
Henry W. Bishop - Register Probate