Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14131, Nathan West, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Nass
West, Nathan
N. 14/31
Marcy
CONTENTS

+
Reputed July 12, 1839
Massachusetts Marcy West.
widow of Nathan West, Decd: * who died on the 1st: November, 1838 - of Bristol in the State of Massachusetts who was a private in the _____ commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt - commanded by Col: Hathaway in the Mass _____ line for 2 years, - * on roll, act 7 June, 1832 -
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 80 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834. 2 o November, 1838 -
Certificate of Pension issued the 29th day of June 1839 and sent to A. Russell Taunton, Mass: -
Arrears to the 4th of Mar: 1839 $26.89 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept 40. 00 $66.89
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 o - }
Recorded by M c Cart Clerk, Book A Vol. Page 62

15394. Massachusetts
Nathan West
of Bristol in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain _____ of the _____ commanded by Col. Hathaway in the _____ line for _____.
State of Mass
Inscribed on the Roll of _____ at the rate of 80 Dollars _____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 th day of June 1833 and sent Hon J. S. Hedges Present
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $160- Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. 40- $200-
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. N. Blair Clerk, Book _____, Vol. 2, Page 92.
80 mable

A. West
[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page]

State of Massachusetts - Bristol ss.
On the thirtieth day of August A.D. 1832, before the Judge of the Court of Probate - for the County of Bristol holden at Sigh- ton (#) in said County, by adjt. & in open Court, perso- nally appeared Nathan West, aged seventy nine years, 24th day of  on May last, an inhabitant & resident of Dartmouth in said Coun- ty & State, who being sworn according to law, doth on oath, make the following decla- ration, to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832, that he entered the service of the United States & served under the following named officers, viz. that, in the year 1775 the first of the month of May, he enlisted into a Compa- ny commanded by Capt. Thomas Kemple, & served eight months near Boston, chiefly in Roxbury, being then an inhabitant of said Dartmouth; but being born in Mid- dleboro, County of Plymouth; that in January 1776, he enlisted again into the service, & served three months in a Company commanded by Benjamin Dillingham, which he performed at Winter Hill near Cambridge, in part & partly on Dorchester Heights - that he also served six months in a Compa-

pany commanded by Benjamin Dilling- ham at Fair Haven, then Dartmouth & at a Fort on Point called Nobsco- t, in that town & a little below the village - & after that, he served for three months in a company com- manded by Eleazar Hathaway a citizen of Fair Haven village That in 1777, he enlisted as second ser d months more in a company commanded by Capt. Claghorn, who was of said Dartmouth & in a regiment commanded by Col. Hathaway of Acetown in said  near county - said service being at How- lands Ferry in the State of R. Island - That afterwards he enlisted & served three months, under said Capt. Clag- horn, on R. Island partly a party on Connecticut Island, & on Nasa- gansett neck, at a place called Watch Hill - the British not then being on R. Island - I have no record of my age & I do not know of many record there - That he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State - Witness Attest
Nathaniel West

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year first above written H. Baylies, Judge of Probate

I John Sherman of New Bedford, (formerly Dartmouth) in the County of Bristol State of Massachusetts, aged seventy  eighty three years in March last  years , testify & say that I have long well acquaint- ed with Nathan West of Dartmouth, & that I was in the service of the country with him, viz, in the year 1780 at R. Island & Narragansett- for three months, & in a company commanded by Captain George Claghorn John Sherman
Bristol - August 11 th 1832
Subscribed & sworn to before me
eldar Bradford Just Peace
Said Sherman is confined to his house but is a highly respectable & creditable witness! J. B. Woodford
W. Howard Tapp
_____ a clergyman, a citizen & inhabitant of Dartmouth aforesaid testify & say, that we know the said Nathan West, that he is about seventy seven or eight as we believe that he is respected & believed to have been a soldier

die in the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion -
Howard Griffith Lebedea A. Macomber
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year first above written
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate
Bristol J. August
A.D. 1832
Then the foregoing was subscribed as true before me, & I certify that said is a regular clergyman & said a credible & respectable inhabitant of Dartmouth
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 certifies, that it appears to them that Howard Griffith who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in Dartmouth, and that Lebedea A. Macomber, who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same town, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Bristol ss. S
I, Anselm Bassett, Register of the Court of Probate, in and for said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Nathan West of Dartmouth, for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office the day and year first above written.
Anselm Bassett

I John Hathaway of New Bedford, former- ly Dartmouth in the State of Massachusetts County of Bristol, aged seventy seven years, testify as say, that I am well ac- quainted with Nathan West of Dart- mouth, that he was in the company com- manded by Capt. Thomas Kempton, in 1775, in which I was also, for eight months, to wit from first of May to last of December, at Roxbury near Boston, & part of the time in Brookline the town adjoining — that the said Nathan West was also with me in the company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Dillingham for three months, viz. from first of January 1776 to first of April fol- lowing — part of said three months we were stationed on Winter near Cambridge, & part at Dorchester Heights — that said West & myself were dismissed & returned home together, we living in said Dartmouth, part of which is now New Bedford — John Hathaway Bristol Co. New Bedford, August 11-1832

He said John Hathaway subscribed a made solemn oath to the truth of the within & foregoing deposition before me
Eldon Bradford
Said John Hathaway Just. Peace is well known to me & is a credible man - Eldon Bradford
I, John Hathaway of New Bedford, formerly a part of Dartmouth in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts, aged seventy six years, testify as say, that I have long been well ac- quainted with Nathan West of Dartmouth & was acquainted with him at a time before the commence- ment of the revolutionary war, in 1775, being then a fellow townsman of his - that in 1776 I was in a company commanded by Capt. Benj. Dillingham for six months, & soon after three months under Capt. Hathaway stationed both times at Fair Haven, then a part of Dartmouth aforesaid, & on the eastern side of the river accushnett - but a part of said time was stationed at a duty

in a fort in Fair Haven, a little below the village, on a point called Nobs-cott, & that Nathan West after named was with me in said company, & service being nine months - he being a Private Soldier; & I was well ac- quainted with him the whole of the time above mentioned.
Bristol G. Bristol  Joby Hathaway
New Bed Feb. 11 th 1832
Subscribed & sworn to before me
Alvan Boardman Just Peace
1. Joby Hathaway above named is a creditable character & well known to me as a worthy man
Alvan Boardman Just Peace
John Shearman after named is also truly respectable & credit a fair man & of unimpeached credit
Alvan Boardman Just Peace

Nathan West on oath declares, in explanation of his first declaration within, that the first six months service at Nobs cott in Dartmouth, alias Fair Haven, was soon after his three months at Winter Hill Dorchester (in first part of 1776) beginning in April according to his best recollection - & Three months following at some place was immediately after the last said term, & ended in the winter of 1776-1777 - Then soon after but is not certain of the precise time of year it was at Ronland's Ferry & six months on the near on main, & the British then on R. Island - & he attempted to go on with whale boats one night with others but were discovered & did not land - That some time after he believes in 1780, or thereabout but cannot decide, he was three months under Capt Claghorn at Narragansett Island Connecticut & on R. Island, the enemy having then left the Island - That at Hardlands Ferry also for six months, he was under Capt Claghorn - He further saith, that he has no record of his enemy is impaired
Nathan his West mark
Witness Richard Williams Jr.
Bristol Co. State of Mass ts May 15 th 1833 Then Nathan West appeared & made oath to the above declaration by him signed, before me
Alden Bradford
Just Peace
Also certify that R. West is well known to me, is very aged & infirm both in body & mind
Alden Bradford Just Peace
Deposition of Nathan West Nathan West MS ts No. 272

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss. I Amos Barrett Register of the Court of Probate in the said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that Alden Knapp Justice of the Peace in the said County of Bristol and that the foregoing signature to the foregoing certificates purporting to be his are in every respect genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this twenty first day of May Eighteen hundred & thirty three
Amos Barrett
on roll roll 17 pages 73 from 22 June 1850 to 31 July 1851 1780. = 8 a. 2 d.

10272 Nathan West
Private 2 years
$80 - 4 14 06 May 4 1895 P. 372
A Bapst En Taurian Maf

10.272
BRIEF in the case of Nathan West of Dartmouth 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? 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. As a Gen.     May In 1775 ✓ 8 Private Capt McKeampten Co 3. enlisted   Jan y 1776 ✓ 3 do Capt B Dillingham do   not stated ✓ 6 do Ditto do   do ✓ 3 do Capt Eben Hathaway do   1777 ✓ 6 do Capt Claghan do   not stated ✓ 3 do Col l Hathaway Reg t enlisted   Capt Claghan Co 3.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Dartmouth - Mass s  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th & 6 th term supported by a witness - & the traditional evidence of two others - one a clergyman - the latter asserted to be credible persons -  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? defective - The Official Character & signature of the Magistrate not verified by the Clerk. 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
E. Stephens Examining Clerk.

4780
Mary West widow of Nathan West -
died 1 Nov - 1838

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss
On this fourth day of February in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine personally appeared before Oliver Prescott Judge of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mary West a resident of Dartmouth in said County aged eighty three years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 7 th 1838 entitled "an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows"
That she is the widow of Nathan West late of the said Dartmouth deceased, who was a private soldier in the war of the Revolution and served, as she believes, two years and more. She further declares that her husband the said Nathan West was a pensioner of the United States under the act of Congress of June 7 th 1832. and she refers to his declaration & the proofs therewith exhibited, for evidence of his said services.
She further declares that she was married to the said Nathan West on the Twenty ninth day of January in the year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Eight; that her husband the aforesaid Nathan West died on

the First day of November in the year Eighteen hundred and thirty Eight, that She thinks her said husband was in the service at the marriage, but has no evidence of this service unless it may be found in the declaration and proofs above referred to; therefore She cannot say that She was not married to him prior to his leaving the service; but she declares that the marriage took place previous to the first day of January. Seventeen Hundred and ninety four, viz at the time above stated. her Witness El Haskell. Hope Marcy J West mark
Sworn to and Subscribed on the day and year above written. Before me.
Oliver Prescott.
I Oliver Prescott Judge of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Bristol & Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereby certify that Mary West the above applicant for a pension cannot by reason of bodily infirmity attend the Court Oliver Prescott

I Eli Haskell of New Bedford in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged Sixty three years on oath testify and say that I was well acquainted with Nathan West late of Dartmouth in said County deceased who was a soldier in the Revolution - that the said Nathan West died at said Dartmouth on the first day of November in the year Eighteen Hundred and thirty eight and that his widow Mary West has remained a widow ever since. Eli Haskell
Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Bristol ss February 4 th 1839. Then Eli Haskell who has subscribed the foregoing deposition, and who is well known to me and is a credible witness, made oath to the truth of said deposition. Before me. Oliver Prescott Judge of Probate

5605
Mary West of Nathan Massachusetts
admitted Rev. $80
vol 17. page 73 on roll from 31 July to 31 Oct 1780. 3-
died 1 Nov 1838
Act 11 July 1836
A. Bapst Dawton Mass

Bristol & Dartmouth January twenty Ninth one thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty Eight then Joined together in Marriage Nathan West of Dartmouth and Mary Astor of Middleborough
Abner Lewis Elder
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the Record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows January 29 1778
Attest
Joseph Gifford { Clerk of the town of Dartmouth
I Joseph Gifford above named depose & say that I hold the office of Clerk of the town of Dartmouth in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts & that the above is a true extract from the records of said town with the exception above named as certified by me
Joseph Gifford { Clerk of said town of Dartmouth
Bristol J. New Bedford January 1. 1839.
Sworn to before me.
Edw. Marshall Justice of the Peace.

Prob.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol County ss. I Anselm Barrett Registe of the Court of Probate in for said County do hereby certify that Joseph Gifford at the time the within affidavit was sworn before him, was at this time in a Justice of the Peace in for said County and that the signature to the within certificate purporting to be his is genuine -
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto my hand & the seal of said Court this 18 day of February 1839 - A. Barrett

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol County ss. I Anselm Barrett Register of the Court of Probate in for said County do hereby certify that Joseph Gifford at the time the within affidavit was sworn before him, was at this time in a Justice of the Peace in for said County and that the signature to the within certificate purporting to be his is genuine -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at the seal of said Court this 18 th day of February 1839 - A. Barrett

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss
On this fourth day of February in the year Eighteen hundred and thirty nine personally appeared before Oliver Prescott Judge of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mary West a resident of Dartmouth in said County aged eighty three years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of the act of Congress passed July 4 th . 1836, and of the Resolve passed
That she is the widow of Nathan West late of the said Dartmouth deceased, who was a private soldier in the war of the Revolution and served, as she thinks, two years and nine; that her said Husband the said Nathan West was a pensioner of the United States under the act of Congress of June 7 th 1832. and she refers to his declaration and the proofs therewith exhibited for evidence of his said services.
She further declares that she was married to the said Nathan West on the Twenty ninth day of January in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy Eight. that

her husband, the said Nathan West died on the first day of November in the year Eighteen Hundred and thirty eight and that she has remained a widow ever since as will appear from the evidence hereto annexed.
Marcy her X West mark
Witnesses:
Eld Haskell
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written
Oliver Prescott
I Oliver Prescott Judge of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Bristol and Common- wealth of Massachusetts hereby certify that Marcy West the foregoing applicant for a pension cannot by reason of bodily infirm- ity attend the Court.
Oliver Prescott.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol County ss - I Amos Barrett Register of the Court of Probate in for said County do hereby certify that Oliver Prescott is Judge of said Court of Probate and that the signatures to the foregoing certificates purporting to be his are genuine -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court This Eighteenth day of February Eighteen hundred & thirty nine
A Barrett

June 5, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mrs. Mae Wolf Winthrop, Maine
Nathan West, S. 11713 Nathan West, W. 14131 Nathan West, W. 19596 BA-J/AMHF:MLB
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the addresses of three soldiers with name Nathan West who were listed as pensioners under Numbers 27227, 31235 and 26855.
Your citations do not pertain to the records of this office, so the information given below of the three soldiers with that name found on the Revolutionary War records of this office may not pertain to the ones in whom you are interested. To obtain the dates of last payment of pension, and the names and addresses of persons paid, in the claims of the three found on the records of this office, you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
Nathan West, Certificate No. 21600, issued October 1, 1833, rate $41.33 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act June 7, 1832, New Hampshire Agency.
Nathan West, Certificate No. 15394, issued June 11, 1833, rate $80 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act June 7, 1832, (Mass.) and his widow, Marcy West, Certificate No. 2704, issued June 29, 1839, rate $80 per annum, commenced November 2, 1838, Act July 4, 1836, Massachusetts Agency.
Nathan West, Certificate No. 9385, issued April 16, 1819, rate $8 per month, commenced May 27, 1818, Act March 18, 1818, New York Agency, and his widow, Martha West, Certificate No. 1384, issued March 24, 1851, rate $96 per annum, commenced July 1, 1848, Act February 2, 1848, New York Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

Nathan West Bap. Act 7 June 1832 to what time paid? Pen Offic. June 28. 1839
Asso. Ld 1836 p st . 1 st Nov. 1838 JH

J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington

Taunton Mass. Feb. 18. 1839
Sir,
Accompanying this, is the application of Mary West Widow of Nathan West late deceased, for a Pension —
I am requested to say to you, that Mrs West, on account of loss of memory &c, could not state whether her late husband served in the war of the Revolution after their marriage, but thought he did — Her Agent therefore advised her to make two applications one under the Act of 1836 & the other under the Act of 1838; — and leave it to the records or rolls in your office, to determine — This therefore will account for the two applications —
Any communication which you may be pleased to make relative thereto may be made to me —
Very Respectfully Your obedient Servant
H. Edwards Esq. Com r of Pensions Washington —

Mr West has stated that he has no record of his birth - but has stated he was b. v. 79 last May 24 th now nearly 80 - He says he enlisted each time a war never drafted -
The clergymen - & a justice of Peace have certified in his favor, as may be seen in his papers - & John Shearn, John Hathaway & J. Baker Hathaway are all pensioners, & truly credi- ble & respectable A. Broadford, Jr. C.

J. L. Edwards Esq. Counsellor at Pensylvania

Nathan Nest
10.272

10.272
BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Wathan West which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 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? — no 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? VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 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?

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?
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?
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? — 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?
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? — 1 st & 4 th & 7 th not 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 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.

Rev WIDOW, &c.
1933 June 5. Mrs. Mae Wolf referred to Gen. Acctg. Office for date of last payment etc (See Ltr. in Clm. W. 19596 of Nathan West) — M.R.B.
File No. 14131
Mary West Widow of Nathan West.
Priv. Recv. West.
Act: July 4 th 1836.
Index: — Vol. M , Page 321
[Arrangement of 1870.]