Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11,902, Moses Wood, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Wood, Moses
S 11,902
Carded.
CONTENTS

Wood Moses Mass. 5/1902

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex ss.
On this thirteenth day of November , in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court, before the Honourable Judge of the Court of Probate, in and for the County of Middlesex aforesaid, now sitting, Moses Woods a resident of Arlington in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty two 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 7, A. D. 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:
That he was a minute man in the fall of 1774 in the company of Capt. Isaac Davis of Concord. On the 19th day of April 1775 he marched with said company to Concord where the British were present near the bridge in Concord when the British fired on the Americans & killed his Captain (Davis) a man of the name of Hosmer was also killed near said Lieutenant - he with his company followed the British to Boston - It was encamped in the old village called Stone's Pond in Cambridge - After being there a few days he enlisted for eight months & was appointed a Sergeant & continued to serve in that capacity during the eight months & was then dismissed & returned home - Some of the company stayed some weeks longer - His officer during the eight months, was Capt. Smith of Lincoln - John Beal of Acton was lieutenant & John Hartwell of Lincoln was ensign. The company made up by the enlistment were all or nearly all of Acton & Lincoln - Thomas Thorp, Joseph Chaffin, John Oliver & John Smith are all now living in Acton - Some of the same company in said eight months service. The 8 months terminated the last of December of the year 1775 - His company belonged to the Regt. of Col. John Nixon - The Nixon Line Col. & John Buttrick of Concord was major. It was stationed at different places in Cambridge & Charlestown - was not in the battle of Bunker Hill being at the time sick - Knowlton's Rec. & Gen. Sullivan, Ward, & Putnam were there during said eight months - His whole service was eight months & 10 or 12 days -
In 1776 some time in June enlisted for five months as a substitute for one Reuben Davis of Acton, who was drafted to go to Tienderoga - Joshua Parker of Westford was the Captain, John Beal of Acton in that part now Carlisle was the lieutenant - The men were from several towns & they went in small squads to Tienderoga - His party of six or seven went with Lieut. Beal - His Regt. was commanded by Col. John Reed of Littleton - Mr. Emerson of Concord Chaplain - was encamped on a height not a south west of the old fort, perhaps 100 rods from its remains - there until his time was nearly out when he was sent to Albany with part of the company & at that place his time was out & he was dismissed - returned home by way of Great Barrington, Springfield & Worcester - got early in December being dismissed about the last of November - served out five months - There is one man in Acton now living, viz. Abal Procter who knows of the last service - In the year 1778 in May the town of Acton was called on for three men to the north river at West Point & the town readily complied - Daniel White & Jesse Davis & they three went in company to Poughkeepsie in New York by way of Hartford some time for eight months - Here they were employed in working on the fort at West Point; His service was

Wades Woods
First trip to spot
Woods, Moses Mass. S. 1902

and Richard Richardson captain of Lieut Burroughs of Concord In the summer he worked on the part of the fort then called Fort Putnam was taken from his company & was under the direction of Col. Kosciusko A Frenchman who was called Captain Dillinger or some such name His company was marched down towards White Plains but he being bad to the blacksmith business, was detained at West Point at work in the blacksmith shop in the fort - helped take up the great iron chain across the North River nearly opposite the fort, at the setting in of winter, & worked on it preparatory to its being put down in the Spring - His company having gone, he stayed a month be- yond the time he engaged for & did not get home till early in March 1779 as he remembers, it was on a dark meeting day when he got home - His engagement was for eight months. He stayed nine months. Daniel White who went with him is the only man living who was with him. He went into the wagon service immediately after joining the army & was dismissed sooner than applicant was employed in different places - He remembers an officer of the name of Malone at West Point. There he was a Col. There was a Regt from Carolina there - Saw Genl Washington at West Point - He never recd a written discharge as he recollects - He was born in Appell but not came present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state,
Acton in 1791. & as lived there since was born on the 27th of February 1750 - no record of his birth as he also cannot tell the place his Regt as well as he was so often taken out of the rank to be employed the work has a smith Moses Woods
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid J. P. P. Ray Prob We, Francis Tuttle a clergyman, residing in the town of Acton - and Thomas Thorp residing in said town - hereby certify, that we are well ac- quainted with Moses Woods who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; - that we believe him to be eighty two years of age; that he is respected and believed, in the neighbourhood 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. J. P. P. Ray Prob
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 above-named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certify, that it appears to them that Francis Tuttle who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in said Acton & the late reprinted and that Thomas Thorp who has also signed the same, is a resident in said Acton - and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit. It also appears that the only clergyman residing in said town has been recently settled, & also now absent on a journey & is a stranger to applicant J. P. P. Ray Prob
I Isaac Tinker Register of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Middlesex, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Moses Woods for a pension. I also certify that Francis Tuttle whose own proper signature is set to the depositions of Thomas Thorp, Daniel White & Abel Procter, were annexed, is a portion of the Deed within said copy In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid. Isaac Tinker Reg

4675
Massachusetts
Moses Wood
of Middlesex in the State of Mass who was a Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain  of the Regt. commanded by Colonel  in the Mass line for 8 mos. service 12 " " }
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 8 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 th day of Jan'y 1833 and also State of Rep.
Arrears to 14th of Sep r 1832 $129.94 Semi-ann. allowance ending 43.33 $173.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H.  Clerk, Vol. 2 Page 99.

Moses Wood
Sept 8 Months Pawah 14 D
22
other
$86.66
Hon:
Edw d Gurnett

BRIEF in the case of  Moses Woods of the County of Middlesex  in the State of Mass.  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 82 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 Apr. — 8 — Sergt. Gen. Col. Nixon, Capt. Davis   "76 Substitute — 5 for Reuben Davis — Private Col. Read, Capt. Heald   "78 — 9 — Capt. Richardson  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Concord  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Acton  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Depositions  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Levin Bell Examining Clerk.

Apr - 9 - 1902 - His. C. Rufus H. Wood Bultr. Md.
Res trans
11,902 ✓ INVALID.
File No. 11,902
Mary B. Wood Sergt. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1882
Index: — Vol. A, Page 416
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I Thomas Sharp of Acton in is the county of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of seventy six years do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Moses Woods of Acton in the county & Commonwealth of said and I was well acquainted with said Woods in the year AD 1775 and was with him at the Battle at Concord & followed the British to Cambridge and after that said Woods & myself enlisted for the term of eight months and was stationed at Cambridge & Charlestown the whole of said term Our Capt name was Smith of Lincoln First Lt name was John Heald of Carlisle 2 d Lt name was Hartwell of Lincoln. Our Col name was John Nickson. Lt Col name was Thomas Nickson Thomas Sharp
Middlesex ss Acton December 18 1832 Then the above named Thomas Sharp personally appeared and made oaths that the above affidavit by him subscribed was just & true Before me, Francis Little Justice of the Peace
Middlesex ss Acton Dec 18 1832 I certify that the above named Thomas Sharp is a man of truth & respectability
Francis Little Justice of the Peace

I Daniel White of Acton in the County of Middlesex Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of seventy two years do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Moses Wood of Acton in the County of Middlesex Commonwealth aforesaid and was acquainted with said Wood in the year seventeen hundred & seventy eight said Wood & myself enlisted into the service for the term of eight months and marched to Pickett Hill in the state of New York from there I marched to White Plains said Wood was taken sick on other duty about the forts I am satisfied said Wood served his term but for after the term expired I went to his left and received his wages for him. Our left commander was Richardson of Cambridge the other officers I am not certain but believe Bouroughs to be one of the Lt's after I arrived at White Plains I enlisted into the artillery & served as waggoneer in said company
Daniel White
Middlesex ss Acton December 18 1832. Then the above named Daniel White personally appeared and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed was just & true.
Before me
Francis Little Justice of the Peace
I certify that the above named Daniel White is a man of truth and respectability
Francis Little Justice of the Peace
Middlesex ss Acton Dec 18 1832

I Abel Procter of Acton in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age seventy eight years. do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Mores Woods of Acton in the County & Commonwealth aforesaid and I was known to said woods being at Woburn in the Militia serving for the term of five months in the year 1776 I think beginning about the first of July and ending the first of December in said year I was not in the company with said woods therefore do not recollect any of the company officers The Col. name was Jonathan Dyer of Littleton & the Col. I believe was Brown of Salisbury
Middlesex ss Acton December 18, 1832
Abel Procter
Then the above named Abel Procter personally appeared and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed was just & true Before me
Francis Little Justice of the Peace
Middlesex ss Acton December 18, 1832
I hereby certify that the above named Abel Procter is in the opinion of the subscriber a man of truth
Francis Little Justice of the Peace

11902
Moses Wood
Apr. 13, 1832, 82
Acton Mass
Born Feb. 27, 1750 Pepperell Mass.
Apr-19, 75 Acton Mass
Capt Davis
" Smith
Col. Fr. Nixon
Sergt. S. Mass
June 76, Apr Joshua Parker
Col. John Reed
5 m
May 78.
Apr Richd. Richardson
Col. Koscinski
9 mos
But Concord
Capt Davis was there Killed

Moses Wood
Hon' E. Everett

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Moses Woods 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
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 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 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? yes
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.