Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,200, Elkanah Whiting, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Whiting, E. L. Kanah
NUMBER _____
$ 30.200
CONTENTS

211275  Massachusetts  Elkanah Whiting
of Norfolk in the State of Mass — who was a priv & Serj. in the Comp. — commanded by Captain Pond — of the Reg. — commanded by Col. Reed — in the Mass — time for 8 Mo pr. $26.66 " " 12 do do } 6.80 $33.46
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass — at the rate of 33 Dollars 46 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of Aug. 1833 — and due to M. Everett Wrentham
Arrears to the 14th of Mar. $66.92 Semi-ant. allowance ending Aug. 16.73 $83.65
Recorded by J. O. White Revolutionary Claim, per June 7, 1832. Clerk Book, E. Vol. 2. Page 93.
77 Norfolk

Elkanah Whiting
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Sept 3 rd 1832.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Elhanan Whiting is borne upon the pay Master roll of Capt Oliver Ponds Company in Joseph Read's Regt for the period of three months & seven days from the second of May 1775. The name of said Elhanan Whiting is also borne upon the pay roll of Capt Samuel Fisher (no regt) for the period of fifteen days from the third day of March 1781.
Edward D Bangs. Secy
I further Certify; that for the eight months service of 1775, in which the applicant claims, there are no Rolls in this office beyond the beginning of August in that year.
Edward D Bangs Secy

Edward Whiting 12840
Meliah Everett
Wrentham

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Norfolk ss.
On this twenty fifth day of August in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Judge of the Probate Court now sitting at Wrentham in and for said County, Ebenezer Whiting a resident of Wrentham in said County, aged seventy five 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 Wrentham
on the fourteenth day of March A. D. 1757, and that there is a record of his birth on the town records : that he was in the United States service from about the first day of May A. D. 1775, to about the 1st day of January A. D. 1776, 8 Months as a private soldier in the Massachusetts Militia or State Troops : that he was residing at Wrentham
when he entered the service ; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Capt. Oliver Pond in Col. Joseph Reed's Regiment
: that he marched from Wrentham to Walpole , from Walpole to Needham from Needham to Raynham : that he served at Raynham with no of the regular troops ; and
regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received no written discharge: that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at Wrentham . & that he has a documentary evidence of a part only of this service
act the first day of March A. D. 1781, to the middle day of April A. D. 1781 about as a sergeant in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at Wrentham
when he entered the service ; that he drafted and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Capt. Samuel Fisher  that he received a discharge
: that he marched from Wrentham to Rehoboth , from Rehoboth to Bristol from Bristol to Portsmouth or Rhode Island : that he served at Portsmouth on Battle Hill with several with no of the regular troops ; and
regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received no written discharge. & that he has no documentary evidence of a part only of this service except to what appears from the records of the Secretary of the Navy
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from the day of A. D. 17 , to the day of A. D. 17 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 to from to : that he served at with of the regular troops ; and
regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received no written discharge.

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.
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.
Elkanah Whiting
We Deacon  Revere  Elisha Fish a clergyman, residing in the town of Wrentham
Wrentham  for many and George Hovey
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Elkanah Whiting who has residing in Wrentham subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 75 - 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 as aforesaid.
Elisha Fish George Hovey
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 for many of the terms and served as he states. And the court further certify that it appears to them that Elisha Fish , who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the said Wrentham ; and that George Hovey who has also signed the same is a resident in Wrentham and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Sherman Leland Judge of Probate
I Samuel Havin , Reg d of the Court of Probate aforesaid , do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Elkanah Whiting , for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Samuel Havin

I George Hawes of Wuntham in the County of Norfolk aged twenty years testify and say that Ethelred Whiting to my knowledge was in the United States since for the second period of time mentioned by him in the within statement. George Hawes
Norfolk 1/ August 21 1932 Subscribed I swear to
I further certify that before me Melatiah Everett Justice The above named George Hawes is a credible witness. The foregoing statement full faith I credit. To be given to the person and to Melatiah Everett Justice of peace

I Ezra Carpenter of Taphurst in the county of Norfolk aged seventy seven years, testify and that Ephraim Whiting to my knowledge was in the United States since and served for the past period of time some time by him in the within Statement Ezra Carpenter
Norfolk
August 21 1832 Subscribed & sworn to
I further certify that the above named Ezra Carpenter in all his words & that full faith is credit to be seen in his testimony Melatiah Everett Justice of the Peace

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 Melatiah Everett Esquire, before whom the annexed depositions were taken No 1. & 2. 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 as  on each of the same is genuine and true.
In Witness Whereof, I have subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of said Commonwealth hereunto at Dedham, this twenty sixth day of July A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty three .
Jairus Ware

No 12. 840.
Elkanah Whiting
Pauls 8 Mrs
Sept 1. 12 day
9 72
Letter 17 May 1833
Q 1401
152 180
Melanch. Event
Wentworth Mass

BRIEF in the case of Elkanah Whiting of Norfolk County in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court.  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 75. 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 — — 8 — — Private Gen. Capt. Oliver Lord, Col. Jos. Reed —   1781 — — six weeks. — Sergeant. " Saml. Fisher.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? no battle.  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Wrentham Massachusetts.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? The acts of the Sess. of State in Massachusetts prove that document served 3 months 7 days. First term 1815. Long the Second — The affidavits of Ezra Carpenter & Geo. Shaw prove that he was in Wrentham, but the date of the document is not certain.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Yes. The various affidavits are not connected with the Clerk's seal as required — The proof does not correspond with the declaration — 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
P. H. Hearns Examining Clerk.

30.200 Rev INVALID.
File No. 30200
Elkanah Whiting Leig Rev Mr
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 449
[Arrangement of 1870.]

12840
Elkanah Whiting
Melahiah Everett Wrentham 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 Ebenezer 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, in part, or rather as to that of the service claimed - 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? yes.
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? no input
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? No.
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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? 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.

War Department Pension Office May 17. 1833
Sir
I herewith return the documents in support of the claim of Alkanah Whiting they being insufficient to authorise the inscription of his name on the Pension List Mr Bangs in his certificate states that the claimants name is born on the muster roll of Capt Ponds company for the period of three months and seven days from the 2 d of May 1775. and on the pay roll of Capt Fishers Company for 13 days from 3 rd May 1781. From this certificate it would appear that the claimant served only 3 mo and 22 days. Mr Bangs should therefore give an explanation stating whether or not it appears from his records that the claimants service expire at the end of each of these terms
I am Respectfully Your Obedient Servt J L Edwards
Melatiah Everett Esq. Wrentham Mass.