Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11435, Thomas White, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
mass,
White Thomas
R 11435
Polly Davenport
CONTENTS

15826 Massachusetts
Thomas White
15826
of Plymouth in the State of Mass t , who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Lincoln of the Reg t commanded by Col. Dyer in the Mass t line for 17 months of active
State
Pay
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 70 Dollars 83 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 nd day of Aug t 1833 and sent to Lord Plymouth
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $11.66 Fem-ant. allowance ending 2 nd Sept r 35.41
$177.07
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Will  Edison Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 nd Page 92

Thomas White 25270

Revolutionary Pensions
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Plymouth ss. On this second day of April A.D. 1833 - personally appeared in open Court, before Hon. Wilkes Wood Judge of the Court of Probate being a Court of Record now sitting at East Bridgewater within and for the said County of Plymouth Thomas White a resident of North Bridge- water in said County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged sixty nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. 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. That is to say, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated.
That in March or April 1782 he entered as a substitute for one Allen in the Company under command of Capt Amos Lincoln, Lt. Whitman, belonging to the Regiment of Col. Paul Revere. Allen was a Stranger to the Applicant, and he enlisted for three years, and the Applicant served to make out the time seventeen months or more. Said Company was sta- tioned at Boston Mass - And the Applicant says, that he served as a substitute aforesaid for the term of seventeen months at least, and was discharged as he thinks in October 1783 - That he had no written discharge. That he was born in May month, in the County of Norfolk Mass - And that the record of his birth is in the family Bible -

And that he was resident of Braintree in the County of Norfolk aforesaid when he enlisted and entered the Company aforesaid - That he has lived in North Bridge water more than thirty years and is known generally to the Inhabitants of that Town, and especially to Joseph Silvester and Jesse Perkins Esquire of the last named Town and to Nathaniel Thayer Esquire of of Braintree aforesaid - And that there is no settled Clergyman in the society of North Bridge water, to which he belongs. That he was born in the Month of March 1764 -
Thomas White
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Attest Jacob H Lord Register

We Ephraim P. Crafts a clergyman residing in the Town of East Bridge water and Jesse Perkins Esquire a Magistrate residing in the Town of North Bridge water, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Thomas White, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age; that he is respected and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion - Ephraim P. Crafts Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Jesse Perkins.
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 Rev. E. P. Crafts who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the Town of East Bridge water, and that Jesse Perkins Esq who has also signed the same, is a resident of North Bridge water, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
By the Court Attest J. H. Lord Register I Jacob H Lord Reg 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 Thomas White for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this second day of April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
Jacob H Lord

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, January 3 d 1839
I hereby Certify, That at the date of his attestation Benjamin Richards was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Norfolk, in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John D. Sleeper Secretary of the Commonwealth.

State of Massachusetts Plymouth County } ss.
On this seventh day of January Eighteen hundred thirty-nine, personally appeared before the Honorable Wilkes Wood Esquire, Judge of the Court of Probate in and for the county of Plymouth aforesaid, Polly Devenport White, a resident of North Bridgewater in the county of Plym- outh aforesaid aged seventy-two years, 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 White, who was a private in the army of the Revolution, and received a pension under the act of Congress passed in June 1832, his certificate No. 15836.
She further declares that she was married to the said Thomas White on the ninth day of November in the year seventeen hundred and eighty-eight; that her husband, the aforesaid Thomas White died on the twenty-ninth day of November Eighteen hundred and thirty-eight; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz: at the time above stated. She further declares that she still remains the widow of the said Thomas White, and has not been married since his decease.
Polly J. White,
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written.
Before me Wilkes Wood Judge of Probate

I, Jesse Perkins of North Bridgewater in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, being of the age of forty-eight years, do testify and say, that for more than thirty-years last past, I have known Thomas White and his wife Polly D. White, who is now an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of the 7 th of July 1838. The aforesaid Thomas & his wife Polly removed from Braintree in the county of Norfolk to this Town, where the aforesaid Thomas White died on the twenty-ninth day of November 1838, leaving the said Polly D. White a widow, and she has not been married since the decease of her husband aforesaid. Jesse Perkins
State of Massachusetts Plymouth County } p. January 7. 1839.
Personally appeared the above named Jesse Perkins, who is a credible witness, and subscribed and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit, before me Willen Wood Judge of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth Ys. I Jacob N. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Hon. Miller Wood is Judge of Probate for said County & that the signatures to the annexed papers purporting to be signed by him are his true & genuine signatures. —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this twenty third day of January 1839
Jacob N. Lord

I Samuel Whitmarsh of Weymouth in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful age do testify and say that I served as a mate in the company of Ar- tillery under Capt. Amos Lincoln in Col Paul Revere's Regt in the war of the Revolution for three years and was regularly discharged in Aug. 1783. That in March 1782 before the expiration of my term of service aforesaid Thomas White of North Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth aforesaid entered the service in the same company with me as the substitute of one Allen and served therein during the remainder of the term which was seventeen months and that he remained in the service when I was discharged in August 1783 —
his Samuel Whitmarsh mark
Norfolk ss. Feb. 27. 1833. I the subscriber one of the justices of the peace in and for the County of Norfolk certify that the foregoing affidavit was subscribed by the above named Samuel

Whitmarsh and sworn to before me and I further certify that said Samuel Whitmarsh is a competent witness and his statement entitled to full credit.
Isaac A. Kingsbury Jus. Pac.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. at York ss.
I James Ware Clerk of all the several Courts in and for said County of York do hereby certify that Isaac A. Kingsbury Esquire before whom the deposition on this sheet was taken was at the time of the taking thereof (Feb 27. 1833) and now is a Justice of peace in and for said County duly appointed commission- ed and qualified to discharge the duties of said Office and that his signature to the same is genuine and true. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of said Commonwealth at Boston this nineteenth day of March A.D. one thousand eight hundred & thirty three. at Boston in said County. James Ware

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Norfolk Town of Braintree ss.
Married by the Rev Ezra Weld Thomas White & Polly Devenport Packard, both of this Town Nov. ninth Seventeen hundred eighty eight.
The above is a true copy from the records of Marriages in the Town of Braintree with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in plain legible figures as follows (Nov 9. 1888)
Attest Judson Stoddard Clerk of the Town of Braintree
I Judson Stoddard above named depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk of the Town of Braintree aforesaid in the County and State aforesaid and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Town of Braintree with the exception above named as certified by me
Judson Stoddard Town Clerk
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk County ss; December 31st 1838 Subscribed and sworn to
Before me Benjamin Richards Justice of the Peace

Thomas White Plymouth Nap
25 2 70
French Navy 17 Months
50 25 12 50 8 33 70 83
J. H. Lord
Plymouth 60
11

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 subjoined 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. Those 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 Thomas White. Plymouth Co Mass
   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.     March 1782. Sept 1. 5 Private Col Paul Revere 69. born in Mass lived at Braintree when he entered the service - Lives now in North Bridge Water Mass Service proved by Surviving witness and Certificate of Chubbman and citizen  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

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 the 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.
[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 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 that they served two years, in the militia, &c. without specifying the terms, 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 [j] 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.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
11.435
P. O. Polly D. White
Service: nil Thomas
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Thomas White Maps, Act 7 June 1832 to what time paid?
Pencliffia
June 8, 1839
10 th Sept 1838 - 1 st Apr 39 not in
1839

Polly S. White Massachusetts
Rejected
See let 3 rd June 1839 S. H. Lord.
Died married after passage of the act.
11435
Act 7 July 1838

Plymouth Mass. Jan 23. 1839
Sir
I send herewith the application of Mrs. Polly D. White for a Pension. Communications in relation thereto may be addressed to
Your Obt Servant J. H. Lord
J. L. Edwards Esq Comr of Pensions Washington D. C.