Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14900, William Wood, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Wood, William
S. 14900
carded
CONTENTS

5384 New Hampshire
William Wood
Drafted in the State of N H who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by Col [blank] in the [blank] time for 23 M th 7 Days Mass.
aw. aug. 3. 08
Inscribed on the Roll of N H at the rate of 77 Dollars 43 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 th day of Feby 1833 and since [blank] St. Hubbard (St of Rep)
Arrears to 4th of Sep r 1832 $116.14 Sem=ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 33 38.71 $154.85
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by G H sp Blair Clerk. Book D. Vol. 1 st Page 194

I James Wood, born in Brookfield, Massachusetts, now living in Atstead New Hampshire more than seventy one years of age testify and say, that William Wood formerly of said Brookfield, now of Canaan in the county of Grafton state of New Hampshire enlisted in the revolutionary army and served in said army in the company commanded by lieutenant Carroll in col. Lamare's regiment of militia, for the term of eight months in the year 1775, being the first eight months of the revolutionary war. - That in the year 1776 his brother Thomas Wood being drafted to serve three months in capt. Hovey's company of infantry - in col. Conner's Regiment of militia the said William Wood took his place and served as his substitute for said term of three months - That at the expiration of said three months said William Wood enlisted in said army in capt. John Wilbott's company of infantry in col. Holins' regiment of militia and served in said company for the term of three months, & that after said last three months had expired - troops being wanted to guard the stores, he the said William Wood volunteered and served one month longer under capt. Woodbury of Sutton - That A.D. 1777 the said William Wood was drafted to serve in said revolutionary army, in capt. Daniel Gilbert's company and did serve in said company at Bennington in the state of Vermont about

five weeks, when he was dismissed, as were all the others who were drafted at the same time I served with said William during the first term of eight months, that is to say in the same regiment, & was also in the army during the other terms above mentioned and saw him almost daily. - I further say that after the last mentioned term of service in S d Giltens Company, the said William Wood was again drafted to serve in said army in capt. John Bannister Company of infantry, in col. Warner regiment for the term of three months, and served said term at Saratoga in the state of New York and at the city of New York - I further say that in the year 1778 the said William Wood was absent about four months in the service of the United States in transporting continental stores from the vicinity of Brookfield, Mass. across the country to Valley Forge in Pennsylvania for the use of the army at that place
James Wood
Chisholp. Aug. 1832
Then said James Wood made oath before me that the above affidavit contains the truth and nothing but the truth - And I hereby certify that in my belief the said James Wood is a man of veracity and truth
J. Hale, J. Pease

Cheshire. Aug. 10. 1832
I Salma Hale, Clerk of the Judicial Court in said County certify that Salma Hale is a Justice of the peace in and for said county - and that the foregoing is his (my) own signature. - In testimony whereof I hereunto affix the seal of our Superior Court of Judicature.
S. Hale, Clerk

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William D. Wood 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? 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?
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? Yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 2nd & 5th
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, deposeh 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.

Williams Wood
Female
23 mo & 7 days
adm
$77.43.
Hon J C Hubbard J. C.

BRIEF in the case of  William Wood of Canaan  County of Grafton  in the State of N. Hampshire,  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In open Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 75
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.     Enlisted 1 st part of May In 1775 8 private Gen. Learned } Maj ty Militia Lieut. Canall }   Summer of 1776 3 Substituted for H. Woods Col. Converse } Infantry Capt. Hove }   thinks in Oct r 1776 3 private Col. Holman } Maj ty Militia Capt. D r Wilcott }   at expiration of his service 1. longer Capt. Woodbury }   volunteer & second drafted in summer 1777 1 7 Capt. D r Elliott }   discharged thinks Sept 1777 3 Col. Duree }   was in the same service & summer 1778 4 Capt. John Banister } Maj ty Militia from Brattlefield, recruited Canaan to Valley Forge, Pa.  
5. In what battles was he engaged? not any
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Brookfield Massachusetts
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses & traditional evidence
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? not properly attached
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Chas. G. Wilcox Examining Clerk.
31 st Jan 1833

William Wood's Deu n
23 months 7 days
10 Richard
of the of Miss

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
State of New-Hampshire, } ss. County of Grafton
On this 24 th day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Judges of the Probate Court for said County, now sitting, William Wood a resident of Lebanon in the County of Grafton and State of N. H. aged 75 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, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated
That he enlisted in said service at Breakfield in the first part of May A.D. 1815 in the company commanded by Lieut Col. Gorrall of Sullivan Rifles. (The Capt. being sick never joined the company) of Col. Lawrence's regiment (Lieut Col. Keyes being for Holman being officers of the same Regiment) Rifles. Militia - That he joined his Regiment at Nashua - That he enlisted for the term of Eight Months - That he fully served said term of Eight months in said Company at said Nashua
That he was employed in making Breast works at Nashua & in building posts at Worcester Point
That in the summer of the year 1816 his brother Isaac Wood was drafted to serve three months in said war in Capt. Hovey's company of Infantry in Col. Lawrence's Regiment of Massachusetts Militia that he took his brother's place and served as his substitute for the term of three months in said company - that this service was performed at Horse-neck & Bob's Ferry on the North River in guarding stores - that Lt. Col. Lawrence, Major Lawrence and Major Hovey were then the other field officers of the Regiment - Duty to guard the public stores
That at the expiration of the said last three months, he thinks in Oct 1816 he enlisted in said war for the term of Three months in Capt. Solomon's company of Infantry in Col. Holman's Regiment of Mass. Militia and did serve in said company said term of three months
That after said last three months had expired, that he being entitled to guard the stores he volunteered & served one month longer in the company commanded by Capt. Woodbury - The two last named services were performed on North River -
That in the summer of 1817 he was drafted at said Breakfield to serve in said war in Capt. Daniel Estlin's company & did so serve at Bennington Vermont for Nine weeks and was then dismissed as well as others who were drafted at the same time - This company was attached to no regiment to his knowledge - It's duty was to

country in Col. Holman's Regiment of Penn. Militia and served in said company said term of three months. That after said last term of service had expired, that he being entitled to spend the time he volunteered & served one month longer in the company commanded by Capt. Woodbury. The two last named services were performed on North river.
That in the summer of 1777 he was drafted at said Brattlefield to serve in said war in Capt. Daniel Gilbert's company & did so serve at Brattlefield Vermont for five weeks and was then dismissed as well as others who were drafted at the same time. This company was attached to no regiment to his knowledge. It's duties were to be on the alert at Brattlefield.
That in his return home to Brattlefield, he thinks in the month of Sept. 1777, he was again drafted for the term of three months to serve in said army said three months in said war in Capt. John Bonner's company of Col. Warner's Regiment of Penn. Militia & did so serve said term at Saratoga N.Y. & at King's Bridge N.Y.
That in the spring & summer of 1778 he was in the service of the United States in transporting Continental stores from the vicinity of Brattlefield Mass. across the country to Valley Forge Pennsylvania for the use of the army at that place for the full term of three months. That he was born in Brattlefield 1757 - He was of age there - was living at that place when called into service - Since the war has lived in Alstead N.H. & Canaan where he now lives - Volunteered & spent when drafted & a substitute - Genl. Lincoln had the command when at Saratoga. Received only one discharge - has no documentary evidence.
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 24th  Aug  1832  William Wood Before me Edward Wetmore Judge of Probate We, George Kimball residing in Canaan and Jonah Clark residing in Canaan hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with William Wood , who has 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 the day 24th  Aug  1832  Geo. Kimball  Jonah Clark Before me Edward Wetmore Judge of Probate
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 certifies, that it appears to them that Geo. Kimball who has signed the preceding certificate, is a just near resident in the town of Canaan and that Jonah Clark , who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Canaan - and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Edward Wetmore Judge of Probate I, Moses Dow Clerk 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 William Wood for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twenty fourth day of Aug A.D. 1832  Moses Dow

Perkins
✓ 14900 INVALID.
File No. 14,900 William Wood Priv. Rev. war.
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 16
[Arrangement of 1870.]