Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18672, John Wright, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Wright, John
S. 18672
carded
CONTENTS

John Wright Maine
Providence
7 Marks
also
Maine
2533
14043
Nathaniel Coffin Esq.
Wiscasset
Maine

BRIEF in the case of John Wright 60 of Lincoln 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? 74  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.     Died or No. In 1777 drafted about 6 Private Gen. Grown Col. North   returned in April 6th May 1778. about 1 " Gen. Hinchley   drafted afterwards 1779  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Woolwich Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional. Two living witnesses.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The first time is not exactly specified — one of the witnesses is not competent to be credible 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Payson
Examining Clerk.

10.20.3 Maine
John Wright
of Lincoln Co in the State of Maine who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Shaw of the Regt commanded by Col North in the Maine time for 7 Months  Private Mass.
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 25 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 rd day of Maine 1833 and sent Wash. D.C. Col. Fin  Wiscapet Maine
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $ 46.66 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Sep. " 11.67
$58.33
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. D. Adams Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 15 Page 63

John Wright -
14043.
12
ss
s

I John Sedgely agea seventy four years - living in Bowdoinham in the County of Lincoln on oath do say, that I well know John Wright of Walwich, that he is about seventy four years of age. That in the latter part of the year 1777  in November, I think he was with me in a company commanded by Capt Grant in Rhode Island, & served in said company till sometime in the latter part of May 1778, when he was discharged & I returned with him to Boston - John Sedgely
Lincoln ss. At the Court of Common Pleas August 12 1832 The sworn to in open Court before me John Ruggles Judge of said Court Attest Nathl. Coffin Clerk
State of Maine.
LINCOLN, ss.—I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that the annexed papers signed by the Judge and attested by the Clerk, contain the original proceedings of the Court of Common Pleas, at a special session thereof holden at Wiscasset in said county, by the Hon. John Ruggles one of the Judges of said Court on the twelfth day of September A. D. 1832, in the matter of the application of John Wright for a Pension. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this sixth day of October A. D. 1832. Nathl. Coffin CLERK.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June, 1832.
STATE OF MAINE, } COUNTY OF LINCOLN, } ss.
ON this twelfth day of September personally appeared in open Court, before John Ruggles a judge of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting, John Wright a resident of Woolwich in the County of Lincoln and State of Maine, aged seventy four 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, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated, as follows - viz
That he was drafted to go to Rhode Island & went in October or November 1777 returned home in April or May 1778. Capt. Grew from Woolwich was our Captain & Moses Hilton our first Lieutenant & Samuel Peabody our Ensign. Col. Noble was Col - went from Woolwich to Boston, thence to Providence, thence to Tiverton, by the way of Bristol - stationed at Tiverton to prevent the enemy from coming off - discharged verbally at Tiverton by our Captain, who told us on parade that we were discharged & must get home as well as we could - Drafted afterwards into Capt John Hinckley's Company at Northbury to go on the Poyganee expedition - our company wanted a drummer & my brother Joseph Wright, was a good one & had lately come from the army at Cambridge & he by agreement took my place as a substitute, after I had served in said Hinckley's company one month - this I think was in the spring of 1779.
And to the interrogatories propounded under the instructions of the War Department I answer as follows viz: That he was born in 1755 in Georgetown - has no record of his age, suppose it may be found among the town records of Georgetown - lived in Woolwich when called into service lived there since the Revolutionary war & now live there - was both times drafted - has already stated the officers names - was discharged verbally, & as above stated - Any of his neighbours can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his Revolutionary services; but he will particularly refer to Barnabas Sleeper & Joseph D. John Shaw of said Woolwich
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
John Wright
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Before
John Ruggles
Judge of said Court.

WE, Barnabas Hodge , a blacksmith, residing in the town of Miscapit adjoining said Woolwich and John Shaw of said Woolwich residing in the town of Woolwich hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Wright who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy four 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.
Barnabas Hodge John Shaw
State of Maine.
LINCOLN, ss....Sworn and subscribed this twelfth day of September A. D. 1832.
Before me, Bailey Linsley of the Peace
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 certifies, that it appears to them that Barnabas Hodge who has signed the preceding certificate, is a blacksmith resident in the Miscapit and that John Shaw who has also signed the same is a resident in the Woolwich and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
John Ruggles J. P. Attest Nathl. Coffin Clerk
State of Maine.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
DANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that Sire Bailey Linsley of the Peace Esq. whose name is affixed to the above certificate, as a Justice of the Peace is legally commissioned and duly qualified to such, and that the name so affixed is his own proper signature, to me well known.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas this 12 th day of September A. D. 1832.
Nathl. Coffin CLERK

WE, Barnabas Hodge , a clergyman, residing in the town of Misericord adjoining said Woolwich and John Shaw of said Woolwich residing in the town of Woolwich hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Mayhew who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy four 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.
Barnabas Hodge John Shaw
State of Maine.
LINCOLN, ss....Sworn and subscribed this twelfth day of September
A. D. 1832
Before me, Bailey Earle of the Peace
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 certifies, that it appears to them that Barnabas Hodge who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the Misericord and that John Shaw who has also signed the same is a resident in the Woolwich and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
John Ruggles J. M. P. Albert Nathl Coffin Clerk
State of Maine.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
DANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that Isaac Bailey Esq. whose name is affixed to the above certificate, as a Justice of the Peace is legally commissioned and duly qualified to such, and that the name so affixed is his own proper signature, to me well known.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas this 12 th day of September A. D. 1832
Nathl. Coffin CLERK.

Depo. of Joseph Wright for John Wright.

I Joseph Wright of Woolwich in the County of Lincoln a State of Maine, aged seventy years, on oath depose & say, that John Wright of said Woolwich is my brother, that in the year 1777 he enlisted into Capt. Grants Company in said Wool- -wich to go to Rhode Island, or was drafted, I rather think he was drafted. he with the Company marched from Woolwich in the fall of the year 1777 and returned home the latter part of May following - I clearly understood that he served in that Company six months & some- -thing afterwards -
In the year 1779 said John Wright was drafted to go on the expedition to Penobscot, called the Bangobene expedition, he was drafted into Capt John Hinckley's Company, which was raised in Boothbay, said John went & entered said Company & served in it one month, and then I went & took his place as a substitute by request of the Captain, & said John then returned home - they wanted me for a drummer, & that was the reason the exchange was made - Joseph Wright
State of Maine - Lincoln p. Sept 21. 1832 - Personally appeared the above named Jo- -seph Wright before me Jeremiah Bailey one of the Justices of the Peace within for said County of Lincoln - After due examination & caution to testify & declare the whole truth maketh oath to the truth of the foregoing Dep- -osition by him signed in my presence - The aforesaid Deponent is a disinterested person & of good credit, his whose testimony, confidence may be placed -
Bailey Justice of the Peace

State of Maine.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
LINCOLN, ss—I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that Sara Bailey Esq. whose name is affixed to the annexed paper, as a JUSTICE OF THE PEACE is legally commissioned and duly qualified to act as such, and that the name so affixed is his own proper signature, to me well known. IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas this sixth day of October A. D. 1832.
Nathl Coffin CLERK
Depe

18672 INVALID.
File No. 18672
John Wright Pri Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 418
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Wright, which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy 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? yy 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? yy VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy 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? yy

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?
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? yes
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? one in writing - the other oral
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? 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 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.