Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 20472, Aaron Wait, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Wait, Aaron
R 20472
CONTENTS

To the Honorable the Senate, and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled;
The undersigned, Harriet Wait Rogers, widow, in her ninetieth year, relict of Nathl. Leverett Rogers merchant of Salem, in the County of Essex, State of Massachusetts, respectfully represents:
That she is the youngest and only surviving child of Aaron Wait, late of said Salem, merchant, deceased.
And, that by two papers recently and accidentally found among the effects of said Aaron, and also a recent Certificate of the Commonwealth of said State, it appears, that;
He was a soldier of the Continental Army of the Revolution;
First, That, by one of the above-so found papers, signed by Timothy Pickering, jr, Colonel, on December 4 th 1776, at Salem, the said Aaron Wait was draughted according to law, as a soldier, to hold himself in readiness, &c; (a certified copy of which is hereto annexed.)
Second; That, from the above mentioned Certificate, dated August 23 d 1879, signed by the Sec y of said Commonwealth, said Aaron Wait was a private in the company of Capt. Joseph Hiller, according to the Pay Roll of said Comp y , dated July 6 th 1777, at Providence, R. I., in Col. Jonathan Pitcomb's Regiment of militia, and was two months in the service of the United States. (This Certificate is hereto annexed.)
Third: That, by the other above so found paper, dated Camp on Rhode Island, August 25 th 1778, and signed by Samuel Flagg, the said Aaron Wait was reported to him, so sick , as to be unfit for service, and of no use in tarrying there; and, being unable

from the want of suitable accommodations, to be taken proper care of, he was advised, with hopes of his recovery, and of regaining his company, to make the best of his way home. (A copy certified, of which hereto is annexed.)
The aforesaid Harriet Wait Rogers avers the above to be all of her knowledge of her said father's service as a soldier, of which, she has but recently, within the last two years past, been informed:
But, she would further add, that he was of incalculable service in the cause of Independence, as the papers herewith accompanying, shew, by reason of supplying (to a large amount) the American Army while besieging Boston, in August 1775, with Gunks, clothing &c (of Wash leather, Deer skin &c) - which he sold and delivered the Quarter Master General.
Also, by loaning his earnings to the Continental Ships of War, - on prize shares; -
And, as an Owner (largely) in more than Seventy Privateers and West Indiamen, mostly carrying a Letter of Marque, - many large new ships built at Boston, Danvers & New Mills - near Salem, and elsewhere; - some making, from 1777 to 1783, - the year of peace, each, several cruises, thereby harassing, exceedingly, the Enemy.
And the said H. W. Rogers avers, that it is not known to her, that her father, ever, or any one for him, ever claimed or received from the United States any, whatever, Pension, Bounty, or otherwise; which might have been so claimed, received, or otherwise, as legally, equitably, or in any manner otherwise so due him, at the time of his decease, in March, A.D. 1830, aged 86 or 88 years, and leaving no widow.
Wherefore, the said Harriet Wait Rogers, conceiving herself equitably entitled, - reminding, it would contribute to the comfort of her declining days; -
Humbly petitions and prays Your Honorable Bodies, - considering all the above circumstances, to allow and grant her, such sum as equitably might have

been, with a mind, so due her honored father, or any other sum, in consideration of his services, which may seem proper.
And moreover, by way of inducement, she would remark that her said husband also was a soldier, in the War of 1812, - a member of a company at Salem, called the "Gunnery Guards" composed mostly of shipmasters, for defence and protection of the seaboard; and that on several occasions of alarm, &c, he turned out with them under arms, - once or twice, at least, at midnight, and marched to meet the rumoured landing of the enemy. Yet, nevertheless, they were from not being 14 days, in service, though deserving, not by law, entitled to any pension.
All the above averments and statements, as required, she is ready to verify; In which, beg leave to join, her two only surviving children:-
And they, also, pray that the above petition may be granted,
Salem, Mass., November 17 th , A.D. 1879.
Harriet Wait Rogers
Augustus Dodge Rogers
Edward S. Rogers

No.
20472
, Ex'r.
REJECTED
Rev
OLD WAR WIDOW.
Harriet Wait Rogers daughter of Aaron Wait Revolutionary War. died at March 1830
1-0
other claim.
Rejected
, 18
Clerk.
Application filed April 7, 1887.
Attorney:
P. O.
April 8/81 Hon. George B. Loring informed that no claim can be allowed. White.

66
(Copy)
Aug. 5, 1775.
Received of Mr. Aaron Waitt One thousand and sixty eight pounds five shillings and eleven pence, for polishes he del. d to Y e Quarter Master General of Y e American Army for Y e Company.
(S c . "a S d ler" A.D.R.)
Stephen Cook. W

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(Secretary's Department.)
Boston, August 25 th 1879.
I hereby certify that it appears by the Pay-Roll of "Capt. Joseph Hillers Company in Col. Jonathan Fitcomb's Regiment of Militia in the service of the United States" dated "Camp at Providence July 6 th 1777", "Vol. II. Rhode Island Service", page 81, that Aaron Wait of Salem was a private in said Company and two months in the service of the United States as a member of said Company.
Witness the Seal of the Commonwealth.
Henry D. Pierce, Secretary of the Commonwealth.

R This Rejected No. 9487. MINOR'S BRIEF Allied Atty. Rev. War.
Claim No. Soldier, Aaron Wait
Submitted for final action April 7 , 18 81 , by Levis C. White , Ex'r.
Immediate cause of death, _____ _____
Remote cause, _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
Medical Reviewer.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.  Revolution
Act of July 14, 1862, and subsequent acts.
ORIGINAL PENSION OF MINOR CHILDREN.
Aaron Wait  Harriet Wait Rogers  Children of Rank, Rev. War Company, Mass. Line Regiment, _____
Guardian, _____ Residence of Guardian, _____ County, and State of _____ Post Office, Salem, Mass. Attorney, Hon. George B. Loring informed that no claim can be allowed. Fee, $ _____ Articles of agreement _____ having been filed. Rate of pension, $ _____ per month, commencing _____, 18____, the date of _____, and two dollars per month additional to each as follows:
  By former marriage. { Born, _____, 18____ } { Commencing , 18____   { Sixteen, _____, 18____ }   { Born, _____, 18____ } " , 18____   { Sixteen, _____, 18____ }   { Born, _____, 18____ } " , 18____   { Sixteen, _____, 18____ }   { Born, _____, 18____ } " , 18____   { Sixteen, _____, 18____ }   By last marriage. { Born, _____, 18____ } " , 18____   { Sixteen, _____, 18____ }   { Born, _____, 18____ } " , 18____   { Sixteen, _____, 18____ }   { Born, _____, 18____ } " , 18____   { Sixteen, _____, 18____ }   { Born, _____, 18____ } " , 18____   { Sixteen, _____, 18____ } 
Payments on all former certificates covering any portion of the same time to be deducted.
ADMITTED, Rejected April 8, 1881.  Lewis C. White  , Examiner. APPROVED, for Ry Sec. 4742 Apl. 9 th , 1881.  J. D. Putnam  , Reviewer.
DATES SHOWN BY PAPERS.
  Enlistment, in July , 18 77 .  Minor's app. filed, April 7 , 18 81 .    Muster into rank, Served no months .  Guardian appointed, _____, 18____.    Discharge, _____, 18____.  Claim completed, _____, 18____.    Death, March , 18 80 .  Former marriage, _____, 18____.    Invalid app. filed, _____, 18____.  Death of former wife, _____, 18____.    Invalid pension paid to _____, 18____.  Last marriage, _____, 18____.    Widow's app. filed, _____, 18____.  Death or marriage of widow, fe prior to soldier , 18____.    No Widow survived soldier, 18____.   
CAUSE OF DEATH, _____ PLACE OF DEATH, _____  Hon. George B. Loring informed that no allowance can be made. No letter needed. The claimant is about 90 years old.

INCIDENTAL MATTER.
ALLEGATIONS OF GUARDIAN.
Loyalty of Guardian,
Loyalty of Wards,
SUMMARY OF PROOF.
GUARDIANSHIP.
OTHER MINORS.
FORMER MARRIAGE.
The marriage of
to
is shown by
DEATH OF FORMER WIFE.
LAST MARRIAGE.
The marriage of
to
is shown by
DEATH OR RE-MARRIAGE OF WIDOW.
DATES OF BIRTH OF WARDS.
CUSTODY OF CHILDREN BY FORMER MARRIAGE.

PROOF AS TO SERVICE.
The Adjutant General U. S. A. reports the following military history of the soldier:
PROOF AS TO DEATH.
1st. Report of Adjutant General. 2d. Report of Surgeon General. 3d. Certificate of Disability. 4th. Testimony of Army Surgeon.
5th. Testimony of Officers. 6th. Testimony of Fellow Soldiers. 7th. Testimony of Attending Physician. 8th. Other Testimony.
NAME OF WITNESS. DATE OF FILING.