Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17779, Aaron Whiting, Mass.

SERVICE
SI Mass
Whiting, Aaron
NUMBER _____
NUMBER S. 17779
carded
CONTENTS

21. 671 Massachusetts
Sarah Whiting
of Haver in the State of Mass. who was a Ensign in the Company commanded by Captain Whiting of the Regt commanded by Col. Barrere in the Mass line for 2 months Private Ensign
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of $6 - Dollars 67 - Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of Oct 1833 and sent J. W. W. Hickland Massachusetts
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $166.67 Semi-ant. allowance ending Mar 34 33 34 $200.01
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by NHC Woodson Clerk Book E Vol. 2 Page 93
87 Norfolk Feb 2, 1837

Aaron Whiting
15205
S. m

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Norfolk ss. On this twenty first day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable John M c Williams of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting at Sudham in and for said County, Aaron H t ting a resident of Dover in said County, aged Eighty six 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, A. D. 1832.
THAT he was born at Dahlgren in that part which is now (Q 57) Dover on the twentieth day of Dec A. D. 1745, and that there is a record of his birth as supp as  A : that he was in the United States service from the 19 th day of April A. D. 1775, to the  day of January A. D. 1776  as a  in the : that he was residing at when he entered the service; that he
and served for the period aforesaid under the command of
: that he marched from
: that he served with
of the regular troops; and
regular officers
were known to him: that he was in battle
and at the end of his service received a discharge
: that he left the service on
and that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the day of _____ A. D. 17 _____, to the _____ day of _____ A. D. 17 _____
as a _____ in the _____
that he was residing at
when he entered the service; that he
and served for the period aforesaid under the command of
: that he marched from
: that he served with
of the regular troops; and
regular officers were known to him : that he was in battle
that at the end of his service he received a discharge the service on
 and left 
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the day of _____ A. D. 17 _____, to the _____ day of _____ A. D. 17 _____
as a _____ in the
that he was residing at
when he entered the service; that he
and served for the period aforesaid under the command of
: that he marched from
: that he served with
of the regular troops; and
regular officers were known to him; that he was in battle
that at the end of his service he received a discharge the service on
and left

A that he was at in the Battle at Meretomy now West Cambridge on the return of the British from Concord & Lexington on the month of April 1775 was then in Capt Eben Dyer's Company, and soon after in the month of May 1775 he enlisted as a Soldier for the term of eight months, he served in Capt Daniel Hastings Company in Col Jon Brown's Reg't Mass. line and continued in the same Company till the Battle of Bunker Hill, and soon after he thinks in July 1775 received a Commission of an Ensign and still continued in the same Company till about the first of January 1776 and left the Army at Prospect Hill near Cambridge at that time. He had a Commission of Ensign signed by John Hancock Pres't which was in his possession till recently but is now lost or mislaid. Has no documentary evidence except the attached deposition related to his Commission —
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.
Aaron Whiting
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.
We Ralph Sanger a Clergyman of the District of Dover & W th Jonah Draper residing in the District of Dover and Jonah Richards residing in Dedham
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Aaron Whiting who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty six years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been an Officer of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Two who have been in the same Company with him in the eight months service.
Sworn and subscribed as aforesaid.
Jonah Draper Jonah Richards Ralph Sanger
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 certify that it appears to them that Ralph Sanger who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the District of Dover; and that Jonah Draper & Jonah Richards who has also signed the same is a resident in Dover and an credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. Williams J. C. C.
I Sarah Ware Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Aaron Whiting for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Sarah Ware

Aaron Whiting 15205-
Print 2 Months Emgr 6 8
14
May 28. 1833
P. 409
66672 13334 55.33 16667
9 m Deham Mass

BRIEF in the case of Aaron Whiting  of Dover in the State of Maine  (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? 86 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     and In 1775   May 1775 2 Col' Whiting Col' Brewer   July 1775 received an 68 days Commissary  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Bunker Hill  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Scituate Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richard Cutts Examining Clerk.

1
19999
INVALID.
File No. 17,779
Daren Whiting
Ensign Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 405
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Sarah Whiting 15205
J. Ware Oedham 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 Sarah Whiting Dover N.H. 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  yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no  yes 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? 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  no Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes  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? XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes  no XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
 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 will be perceived that Rev d Ralph Sanger testified as to Applicant's service &c. Mr. Sanger is the Minister of Dover J Ware Clk

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.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK ss.
I, JAIRUS WARE, Clerk of the Judicial Courts, being Courts of Record, within and for the County of Norfolk, hereby Certify that
Calvin Richards — Esquire,
is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Norfolk aforesaid, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified to discharge the duties of said office, and that his signature to the annexed affidavits
is genuine and true.
In Witness Whereof, I have subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid at Dedham, this
twenty first day of September A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty two ,
Jairus Ware

We Luther Eastman and Olivia Eastman of lawfull age both of Dover in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, depose and say that we lived with Aaron Whiting of Dover in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth aforesaid, several years prior to the year of our lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two and have repeatedly seen a Commission conferring the office of ensign, upon said Aaron Whiting, signed in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy five by John Hancock - and further the deponents saith not Dover Septm r 20 th 1832. --
Luther Eastman Olivia Eastman
Norfolk ss. Dover September 20 th 1832
Then personally appeared the above named Luther Eastman and Olivia Eastman and gave oath to the above affidavit by them subscribed -
Before me. Calvin Richards Just. Peace -
And I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Luther Eastman & Olive Eastman and that they are persons of truth & and their veracity Dover June 19 th 1833
Calvin Richards Just. Peace -
The above named Calvin Richards is still a Justice of Peace of said County, and his last signature above is also genuine in true Dedham July 5. 1893
J Ware Cler.