Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17777, Samuel Whiting, Conn. Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Barn- Mass.
Whiting, Samuel
S 17777
CONTENTS
carded

15419 Massachusetts
Samuel Whiting
Middlesex in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain  of the  commanded by Col Gallop in the Mass line for  & Conn.
2 " 
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 28 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 th day of June 1832 and  
Arrears to the 14th of March 1832 $56.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending  14.16
$76.82
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. N. Blair Clerk Book  , Vol. 2 , Page 92

for Davis Sam. Whiting Dep d
for Brook Davis - Sam. Whiting -

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Middlesex
ss.
On this seventeenth day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas , now sitting at Concord within and for the County of Middlesex in the Commonwealth aforesaid Samuel Whiting , a resident of Bellevue , in said County & Commonwealth aforesaid aged seventy three years Who being 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. That is to say -
That in the year 1776, he was a resident in Enfield, in the County of Hartford, & State of Connecticut, and there in the Autumn of that year, enlisted into the service as a volunteer of the Revolutionary army , for the term of three or four months, under Capt. Phineas Doolittle, in the capacity of orderly Sergeant of said Company & was commissioned accordingly - said Company was the first Company in the Regiment commanded by Col. Galloway and Lt. Col. Roger Dyer. The Adjutant's name was Augustus Drake - that said company marched from said Enfield through various places to West Chester, in New York where they joined the Militia Brigade, under Genl. Parsons, he thinks - During this term they were watching the Enemy, then in New York recollects that one Levi Drench a private in said Company, was taken in an engagement near Kingsbridge on the 23 d of January 1777 - at the end of this service, which he has always considered four months, he was released & returned home.
Again in 1777, he enlisted in the first part of August at said Bellevue, for the term of 3 or 4 months, under Capt. Stephen Russell of Regiment commanded by Col. Putnam & Lt. Col. Brown & Maj. Bryant Drake's to go to the North, to join the Northern Army - marched for Ticonderoga & Chalmford where the company collected, then in Company to Bennington Vermont, and among them the next day or next day but one after the Battle there - there he went with about 1000 volunteers, commanded by General Warner, and attacked a party of the Enemy, near Dickderoga at the landing & after some resistance, the 33 d Regt of the British was taken - then the American Army immediately left the place, on account of the Enemy's reinforcements from Canada, then returned over Lake George and attempted to take Diamond Island but failed - then came down to Genl. Gates's camp at Stillwater, about the time of the last Battle with Burgoyne, - after Burgoyne's surrender marched down the River to a place called Saratoga in New York, where he was discharged, term not recollected, but it was late in the fall, or perhaps later as there was snow on the ground - it has always been his impression that he was in the service before released four months - he was taken sick on his way home & was delayed thereby until the 20 th of Spring before he arrived home -
Has no documentary evidence & knows of no person, who can testify as to his first term of service - He has sent to the Secretary of the State of Connecticut & received his answer which it never arrived - that his Sergeant's warrant commission is lost.

He 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
Samuel Whiting
We
Nathaniel Whitman a Clergyman residing in the town of Billerica in the county of Middlesex & Joseph Dows — a resident in the same Town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Whiting who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Nathaniel Whitman. Joseph Dows
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that after the investigation of the matter, and 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 Nathaniel Whitman
who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the said Billerica, that Joseph Dows who has also signed the same is a resident in said Billerica, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Isaac T. Fuller, Clerk of the Court of Probate in and for the county of Middlesex do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings, of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Samuel Whiting for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at office this seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two.
I also certify that Marshall Preston Esquire is a justice of the Peace within & for said county of Middlesex & that the certificate to the depositions hereunto annexed in his name are the proper hand writing of the said Preston.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this seventh day of August AD 1832 Isaac T. Fuller

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex, to wit,
At the Court of Probate — begun and holden at Concord — within and for the County of Middlesex on the Seventeenth day of August — A. D. 1832 On the application of Samuel Whiting — claiming to be a Soldier of the Revolution, the following Interrogatories were propounded to him to wit:
1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Answer, In the Town of Billerica, in said County of Middlesex — on the Twelfth day of December, 1758.
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it?
Answer, His birth is recorded in the Town Records of said Billerica,
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer, at his first term of enlistment, he lived in Enfield in Connecticut — The other term he lived in Billerica, where he has always lived since the Revolution —
4. When were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute for whom?
Answer, Enlisted — at that time was a call for soldiers & volunteered to go
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 service?
Answer, as stated in his Declaration above — also he recollects that the leader Arnold was wounded; Gen. Lincoln brought into camp after he was wounded; The volunteers in the engagement on Lake George before Diamond Island were commanded by Col. Brown. A soldier by the name of Shattuck in the boat with me had one of his legs broken by a cannon ball.
6. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character & veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution?
Answer,
Rev Nathaniel Whitman & Joseph Davis — Samuel Whiting Hon Joseph Locke.
Wadsworth J. In Probate Court August 24. 1832
Abel D. Lake Esq.

I Joseph Dows of Billerica in the County of Middlesex then in the County of Middlesex, of Seventy Two years of age on oath, testify & say that Samuel Whiting of said Billerica Esquire, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and served three or four months with me in the Northern Campaign of 1777, at the taking of Genl. Burgoyne that was were both members of the Sawyer Company in that Campaign commanded by Capt Stephen Russell of Dracut, in Col Ballard's Regiment, H Col Brown and Major Bryant - that it has always been my impression ever since, that we were gone in the service at this time four months - that I was well acquainted with said Whiting at the time I have been ever since. Joseph Dows
Middlesex ss. Aug. 16 th A.D. 1832 Then personally appeared the above named whom well knew to be as a person of integrity Joseph Dows, and made oath to the truth of the above statement by him subscribed
Before me Marshall Preston. Jus. of the Peace

Peter Hunt Def for Saml White -
Peter Hunt Schonborn -

I Peter Hunt of Newbedford in the County of Middlesex & on my oath of Massachusett I am only nine years of age, on oath testify & say that I was a soldier in the American Army in 1777 at the time of Genl. Burgoyne's surrender, and that Saml Whiley of Billerica, was in the said service with me at that time, in the same company commanded by Capt. Stephen Russell of Dracut & Col. Bullard's Regiment, - that said Whiley was in the service at this time with me three months certainly, and it may be longer, as he marched about the first of August & did not return until he in the winter - Peter Hunt
Middlesex ss. July 30 th 1832. Then personally appeared the above named Peter Hunt, who is a credible person & made oath to the truth of the statement by him subscribed
Before me Marshall Preston. Jus. of the Peace

Rev. David Root -
Marshall Preston Esq. Post Master Billerica, Mass.
Ames Whiting Aspden - 7120.

Hartford, July 30th, 1832.
Marshall Preston Esq.
Sir,
Yours of 27 th inst. is before me. - There are not in the Secretary's Office in this State any muster-rolls or lists of non-commissioned Officers and privates, who served in the Revolutionary War. It is understood, that the original documents were never deposited here, but were forwarded immediately to the General Government, and were mostly destroyed by the fire in the War Office thirty years ago.
Yours respectfully, Thomas C. Bay

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex County ss.
On this fourth fifth day of April in the year of our Lord, Eighteen hundred & thirty three, personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within & for said County of Middlesex, Samuel Whiting of Billerica in said County, Esquire, who being duly sworn, deposeth & saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory & length of time, he cannot now 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 three months in the year 1776, in the State of New York I served as orderly sergeant.—
For four months, in 1777, at the North, I served as a private, and for the above terms of service I claim a pension.
Samuel Whiting
Sworn to & subscribed this fourth fifth day of April A.D. 1833. Before me
Marshall Preston Jus. of the Peace
I further certify that the above named Samuel Whiting is the same Samuel Whiting, who made the original declaration, to which this is annexed.—
Marshall Preston Justices of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Middlesex County. ss.
I Isaac Tiske, Register or clerk of the Court of Probate, within and for said County of Middlesex, do hereby certify that Marshall Preston Esq. whose own proper signature is set to the Affidavit & Deposition hereto annexed, is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County of Middlesex -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Cambridge this nineteenth day of April A.D. 1833 -
Isaac Tiske

17777 INVALID.
File No. 17777
Samuel Whiting Di Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1842
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 405
[Arrangement of 1870.]

7120
Samuel Whiting
Return this with the paper.
Sergt 3 Mos
Paul 4 "
7
Capt Lovejoy's Company Col
Gallop's Post Moh
P 288
$28.33
Hon. J. Nelson

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Samuel Whiting 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? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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? 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.

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.