Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29508, Joseph Torrey, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Torrey, Joseph
S. 29508
CONTENTS

81 Hampshire
10.713 Massachusetts
Joseph Torrey
of Hampshire in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Nelson, of the Regt. commanded by Col. Bailey in the Mass line for 6 months
Rule
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 20 - Dollars - 60 - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of April 1833 and sent to Northampton Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $40.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. 1833 10.00 $50.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. C. Addison Clerk, Book 5 Vol. 31 Page 83

4761. Joseph Torrey's application for a Pension.
returns to be made to Samuel Hinsley Northampton Mass.

DECLARATION, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE BENEFIT OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS OF THE 7TH OF JUNE, 1832. STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss. COUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE. }
ON this twentieth day of Aug. A.D. 1830 personally appeared in open court, before
the court of now sitting, Joseph Torrey a resident of Chesterfield in the County of Hampshire, and State of Massachusetts, aged seventy nine 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 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
2 m. 1830
In the Autumn of 1775 I was an inhabitant of Hanover in the County of Plymouth & State aforesaid & there I then enlisted into service of the State's troops, in a company of militia commanded by Prince Stetson & was marched from said Hanover to Roxbury in said State & there joined a regiment commanded by a Col. Bailey, I think, and I then continued in the service for the term of my enlistment which was two months
In the year 1776 in July or August, I think, I enlisted again at said Hanover into the service, in a company commanded by Capt. Chamberlain, and was marched from thence thro' Hartford & New Haven in Connecticut & thence by water to New York & there joined the regiment commanded by Col. Casey of Bridgewater Ms. I continued in the service at New York about six weeks, then went up the river about two miles with the regiment into barracks where we staid until the British evacuated the city - we then marched to Harlem Heights & there had an engagement with the enemy - then went to White Plains and there had another battle with the enemy - then marched to a place called Cooton and was there stationed over the public stores, and there continued until I was dismissed which was according to the best of my recollection between four and five months - making the whole term of my service between six & seven months, and I declare that I have no documentary evidence that I do not know of any person by whom I can prove the performance of the service aforesaid.
Joseph Torrey
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 any agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the agency in the
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Joseph Torrey
Before Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate for said County
We, Isaiah Waters a clergyman residing in the town of Chesterfield and Dyer Bancroft Esq. residing in Chesterfield hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Joseph Torrey who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 79 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbor- hood 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, both credible witnesses. Isaiah Waters Before me Samuel Hinckley Judg. of Probate  Dyer Bancroft
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 and the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Samuel Hinckley Judg. who has signed the preceding certificate, is resident in  of Probate for said and that who has also signed the same, is a resident in  County and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Samuel F. Lyman Register 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 Joseph Torrey for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Samuel F. Lyman Register

4761
Joseph Torrey
Prob 6 Months
5. & 14 ob.
21 Dec 1832
D 173.
Samuel Hinkley Esq. Nathampton Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Joseph Forsey  of Hampshire Cty in the State of Mass -  (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? 79 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.     In 1775 — 2 — privE Gen. Capt P. Stetson Bt. Bailey   76 July — 4 or 5 — " " Chamberlain, " Co. 1st  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? White Plains, Harlem Heights -  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Hanover  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence, living witnesses -  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Defective time not deferred - 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. H. P. Blair Examining Clerk.

Washington, D. C., upm , 190 2
Madam:
In reply to your request of 4 ult , received 5 ult , for a statement of the military history of Joseph Torrey  29.308 a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Autumn 1775. 2 mos. Priv. Prince Stetson Bailey Mass.   July or Aug 1776. 4 mos. Priv. Chamberlain Carey Mass.                              
Battles engaged in, Harlem Heights and White Plains Residence of soldier at enlistment, Hanover, Plymouth Co. Mass. Date of application for pension, Aug 20. 1832. His claim was allowed. Residence at date of application, Sheffield, Hampshire Co. Mass. Age at date of application, 79 yrs.
Remarks: No data as to family.
Very respectfully,
Abs M. E. Lytle  S.  501 N. Main St.  Mt. Vernon. Ohio.
Commissioner.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Hampshire ss.
I, SAMUEL F. LYMAN, Register of the Court of Probate within and for said County of Hampshire, do hereby certify that Sylvan Bancroft Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition was taken, was, at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly and regularly appointed, and that the signature thereto annexed purporting to be his, I know to be genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this twenty ninth day of March . A. D. 183 3 -
Sam F. Lyman Register of Probate.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire ss: March 27. 1833
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Hampshire aforesaid Joseph Torrey of Chesterfield aforesaid who being duly sworn deposeth & 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 two months, I served as a private soldier, as first stated in my declaration, to which this is annexed. — For four months I served as a private soldier also as is stated secondly in my said declaration; and for such service I claim a pension. Joseph Torrey
Before me Dyer Barnard Jt Justice of the Peace and I hereby certify that the aforesaid Joseph Torrey is a person of truth & veracity and that his affidavit is entitled to full credit. D Barnard Jt Justice of the Peace

4761
Joseph Darcy Chesterfield Frank Co Md
David Hickley Northampton Bedford Frank Co Md
FOURTH SECTION. Proof of Service.
indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
the pensioner, and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too
and the particular rank he held, at the last dinner the pensioner is to be paid according to the grade of
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Joseph Torrey Hampshire County Mass. 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? no 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? no 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? no 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? no XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? no Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 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? yes 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 the 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.
†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 authenticated 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 end 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.

29508 Very INVALID.
File No. 29,508
Joseph Lurey P. Rev. Mr.
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 421
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Hist sent to Mrs M. E. Laytle Mt Vernon, O. - April 18. 1910

Mt. Vernon Ohio April 4
9. 29508 Torrey
Commission of Pension Washington D. C.
Dear Sir
Can you give me any an information of Edward. Wilkinson Who marched out of Easton. April 19. 1775 Serving under Capt. Macy Wm. Serving 6 days also as Corporal in Capt. Josiah Keith. Co. of Col. Jaggard. Rgt. Mass Marching from Mass. to R.I. This man Edward. was my Great-grand father. I want to

to get his birth & death. and a Statement of this. Mon. I am trying to establish my self. as a great grand daughter - of Edward William his son Dudley William born in Easton Mass. was my grand father. & Dudley William born in Easton 1833 Mass. was my Father. now you see I have every thing but Edward. and. I must get his death & Birth also can you tell me of Joseph Lurvey. born June 21 1754. Son of William Lurvey. was a Soldier in the R. Ev Thanking you for your trouble

I remain very Respectfully your Leleoir William Lytle
Mrs M. E. Lytle 501 N. Main St. Mt Vernon Ohio.
33
P.S. you will see I am trying to establish myself a D.A.R.