Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10648, Benjamin Tower, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Tower, Benjamin
R. 10648
CONTENTS

Benj t Towers
Dedication -

Declaration,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE, COUNTY OF CHESHIRE, ss.
On this Sixth day of October personally appeared in open Court, Before the Hon. Frederick Foss Judge of Probate in & for said County
now sitting, Benjamin Tower a resident of Hindsdale in the county of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire aged Seventy three 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 officer, and served as herein stated.
In the year 1778. six months as a Soldier in Capt. Elijah Brain's Company Colonel Burbank's Regiment - Massachusetts Troops - that he went from old Braintree Mass. where he then lived with his father. He marched to Frentzberg & Fort Edward & at those two places, he served his time out, for which he enlisted - 6 months - In the year 1780 he enlisted at Castle Island , to serve during the war. Colonel Burbank then commanded the Troops on S d Island - Lieutenant Hinds & Lieutenant Burbank commanded the Company to which he was there attached - He served on S d Island, eight months - & then employed a man by the name of French to take his place and returned to his father's in Braintree -
That he was born in Braintree Mass. in September 1762. - His age is recorded in his father's family Bible, where he repeatedly seen it - which is now in S d Braintree - After the war of the Revolution he worked in Boston - where he married - then moved to Hindsdale, N.H. where he now resides - That he enlisted into the service both times - Whilst at Frentzberg & Fort Edward he was part of the time under Genl. Shepard & part under Genl. Lincoln - On Castle Island  Col. Burbank had the chief command - He never received any written discharge from the service & never received a commission
That he is known to Rev. Ebenezer Andrews  Nehemiah French , Ebenezer Stobbins , Caleb Foss Esq. his townsmen who can testify as to his veracity & their belief in his services - The reason of his not applying sooner is - he is so old he thought he would not do any thing about it - having no son or relation to assist him & living remote from Court - That he supposed there must be living witnesses to testify to the fact of service - that he knew of no one living of those who served with him - having been absent from Braintree for many years & not now knowing any thing about the people there

his Brother Joseph Moore served with him at Trenton & since there -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Henry Town
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Before me Frederick Vose, Judge of Probate
hereby certify, that we are acquainted with [blank] who has sub- scribed 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 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 above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that
it appears to them that Elisha Andrews and Nehemiah Church who have signed the certificate hereto annexed are residents in Hinsdale aforesaid, are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Said certificate taken out of Court by my permission to save inconvenience & expense. And the Court further certifies that the said Elisha Andrews is a clergyman residing in Hinsdale
resaid Frederick Vose, Judge of Probate.
I, Elijah Sawyer Pugh, of the Court of Probate do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Fowles for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this sixth day of October A.D. 1835
Elijah Sawyer Pugh, of Probate

Benj m Tower's Proof of service
106H8

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, April 26 th 1851
I hereby C ertify, That on the eighth day of February eighteen hundred and fifty, Isaac Tower of Randolph was appointed for the term of seven years a justice of the Peace for the county of Norfolk,
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and qualified; 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.
Lucas S. Walker Secretary of the Commonwealth.

In the matter of the application of Benjamin Fower for a Pension
Abigail Pierce of Milton in the County of Norfolk & State of Massachusetts Answers the following
Interrogatories to be administered to witnesses in the above matter.
First Interrogatory, What is your name, age & residence.
Second Interrogatory, Are you acquainted with Benjamin Fower. How long have you known him, and where did he reside during the Revolutionary War.
Third Interrogatory Do you know of his being a Revolutionary Soldier, and do you remember of his going on to the Castle Island in the United States Service, about the year 1779, and if so state the same fully, and how long he so remained there in the service. State the same fully.
Fourth Interrogatory Do you know or remember of any thing else of service in this matter. If so, state the same.
Fifth Interrogatory, Do you know whether he was reputed and believed in his then neighbourhood to have been a Soldier of the Revolution.

Answer to the first Interrogatory Abigail Pierce Town of Milton, Norfolk County State of Massachusetts Seventy nine years old the twelfth Day of September next
Second, he is a Brother of mine I have always known him and knew him at the time of the Revolutionary War he resided in Randolph in said County
Abigail Pierce
Third I know of his going on the Castle near Boston near Boston as a Soldier about the year 1779 and was absent in the service about one year and after the war he was one of the Soldiers that went to put down Shays rebellion (so called) in Massachusetts
Fourth I know of his being on the Island at the same time that some time that Stephen Burroughs was there and saw some of the writing of said Burroughs that he brought home with him
Fifth I know him to have been in the service as stated in the third Interrogatory and was so reputed in the neighborhood
Milton April 25 th 1851 Signed in presence of Abigail Pierce Isaac Paver Mary Ann Crane

In the matter of the application of Benjamin Tower for a Pension
State of Massachusetts County of Norfolk ss: Milton April 26 th 1851 Abigail Pierce of said County being duly sworn deposes and says, that the answers to the Interrogatories hereto annexed are true Before me David Tower Justice of the Peace
I do hereby declare my opinion the before named Abigail Pierce is a credible witness and from having always lived in her vicinity and information obtained I have no doubt but that Benjamin Tower was a soldier as stated above David Tower Justice of the Peace
Randolph April 27 th 1851

Benjamin Tower's Declaration for a Revolutionary Pension
Edwards & Smith Agents,

In the matter of the application of Benjamin Tower for Declaration &c a Pension
State of New Hampshire County of Cheshire ss: On this 3 rd day of March A D 1837. Personally appeared before me Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Cheshire County New Hampshire, Benjamin Tower, a resident of Haverdale of the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire, who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth in his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. That he is 88 years of age next September, That he enlisted in the service of the United States, in the Revolution- ary war under the following Officers, and served as herein stated, That deponent does not remember the Company or Regiment or Regiment in which he served but it was stationed at Castle Island near Boston, which is now called Fort Independence, That Major Perkins was the Commander and Lieut. Tread and Burke were the Lieutenants of the Company to which he belonged, That deponent enlisted for the term of Three Years in the summer He believes it was in the Month of August 1779 or 1780. and deponent served until the month of May following, when he was honorably discharged by his Command- ing officer. The occasion of deponent's enlisting in the service was that the British were expected to attack Boston

and the United States troops were stationed on Castle Island about three miles from Boston Massachusetts and deponent lived at that time at Randolph near Boston and his uncle being in the Army, deponent went of his own accord to said Island and voluntarily enlisted as a private and was there enrolled and did duty in the Garrison there stationed, and so remained in Barracks on duty on that Island all the time under said enlistment for the period of nine months, but fought in no battle, at the end of which time the British not attacking Boston, and there being no further occasion for the services of the troops there stationed, he was with the others discharged and returned home to Randolph, from which place he removed to this County where he has resided for 60 years, that he has none, and he does not remember of receiving any written discharge and has no documentary evidence; That deponent has his Bible, but there never was any Family Record, that he kept all such things of his old days, in a kind of an old journal which he had until some years ago his nephew coaxed him to lend it to him and he took it away South with him and he has never heard of it since, That deponent knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who was in the Company with him or who can testify to his service That deponent was sixteen years of age at the time of his enlistment and believes

he was born in Randolph about the year 1763. That deponent is known by many Persons in his neighborhood and believes that Titus, Nohittle and Thomas Fisk can testify as to his Character for veracity & their belief of his serving as a soldier in the Revolution. That deponent was to receive as pay for his services under said enlistment 40 Shillings a month payable quarterly. That he drew his pay at that Rate two quarters for his months but he never received the rest of his pay for the balance of his services and the same is still due and unpaid. 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 Randolph at that time was called Brantree Subscribed and sworn to before me the day & year above written.
Benjamin Fisk
Before me Horace Chapin
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas

We Thomas J Fisk and John Doolittle residing in Cheshire County State of New Hampshire hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Fower who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 87 Years of age, that he is reputed and received in the neighborhood where he resides, to be a person of good character for veracity and to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion I have known him over 30 years
Subscribed & sworn before me This 7th day of March 1831
John Doolittle Thomas J Fisk
Before me Horace Chapin } Judge
And I do hereby declare my 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 stated and I further certify that Thomas J Fisk and John Doolittle, - who have signed the above statements are residents of Cheshire County N. Hampshire, are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit and I further certify that the said applicant is sick and unable by reason of bodily infirmity to appear in open court. I have known him about 39 Years
Horace Chapin } Judge

State of New Hampshire Cheshire County ss.
I, Leonard Risio, Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature, and of the Court of Common Pleas for said County, do hereby certify that Horace Chapin whose name is subscribed to the foregoing affidavit and certificate is a Justice of said Court of Common Pleas duly commissioned and qualified as such according to law; and that his signature aforesaid are genuine, said Court being a court of record.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Superior Court of Judicature this third day of March A.D. 1851. Leonard Risio. Clerk

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
10648
P. O. Benj. Tower
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18
REJECTED

Sir.
Washington 29 May 1857
Enclosed are the papers of Benjamin Tower, in support of his application for a revolutionary Pension — Please report to us in the case —
Very Respectfull Edward G Smith
J. C. Heath Esq. Comm. Pens.

- 33,302 -
Benjamin Tower N. H. —
Oct 5 - 7 - June 1832

N o 333 B2
Rev Hampshire
Suspended
Benjamin Town
Set to S.G. Mead 19 Oct 1833
Set to Edward Smith Aug 28/57
10648

Andrews, Agt.
1000 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2

We Elisha Andrews a clergyman residing in the town of Hindsdale, County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire and Nehemiah Carr residing in the same town of Hindsdale hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Tower who, we understand, has applied for a Pension on account of services in the war of the Revolution - that we believe him to be 73 years of age - that he is respected & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & we concur in that opinion -
Elisha Andrews a Clergyman
Nehemiah Carr
Sworn to, & subscribed this 2 nd day of October A.D. 1835.
Before me Elisha Hinds Justice of the Peace
I certify that the above is a true copy of the original as shown to persons of
Elisha Hinds Justice of the Peace.

A
Edwards
Pension Office
Washington D.C.
Original

Chesterfield, N. H.
Oct. 7, 1835.
Sir, I enclose the application of Benjamin Tower for a Pension When a decision shall be made upon the subject - you will please notify me & I will convey the intelligence to him
Very Respectfully
Larkin G. Mead -