Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,190, for Jeremiah Stimson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Stimson, Jeremiah
Yr. 10.190.
CONTENTS

Application for Pension Jeremiah Stinson's Declaration.
7141.
Hon. Fairfield H.R.

State of Maine -
County of York, ss - On this twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty two personally appeared in open court before the
Court of Probate now sitting at Limberick in the County of York, to wit: Nathaniel Stimson a resident of Limberick in the County of York & State of Maine aged seventy 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, 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers & served as herein stated -
I was born in Biddeford, County of York, Maine in 1762 June 17th - I was drafted in said Biddeford in 1778 in November & March. Benjamin Pike Esq. Maine was my Captain, My Father Josiah Stimson, was Lieutenant - Goodwin of the Town of Kysum in said County, whose christian name I don't recollect was our Major. John Frost was Colonel & served in that campaign five months - We marched from said Biddeford to Providence Rhode Island - Staid there but a few days - Then marched to Hartford Connecticut & made but a short stop there - Then we marched to Danbury & New York, Staid there a few days - Then we marched to the North River (Tarry Town) & there marched to High Bridge N. York & staid there till our time was out, & I was discharged there, I had no written discharge - We were engaged in no battle, in our campaign - I have a record of my age at home in my Family Bible
Afterwards in September I think in 1779 was drafted in the Town of Biddeford to serve in the Penobscot campaign - I served in Captain Cousens company I think his christian name was William - Daniel Littlefield was our Major, who was drowned in Penobscot Bay - we sailed from Saco in June, I think 1779 and we hauled in to Portland & staid there till our fleet was collected - then we sailed for the Penobscot River, & landed at Bagadisee a place so called at that time, now called Castine. In landing we had a rough skirmish in landing but we drove the Enemy. afterwards several large English Vessels came in & drove us up the River, & when our time was out we had to make the best of our way home through the woods. Generals Lovell & Peleg Wadsworth were our Generals - I was drafted for three months, & when my time was out had no discharge.
I have no proof of my first period of service - & know of no living witness who was with me - My last three months service I think I can prove by person or persons who were out at the same time - I think I can prove my last service by William Henderson - My memory is not distinct as to all particulars - I remember Joseph Patterson was wounded by a musket ball in the night in his ankle - I helped carry him to our tents -
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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 & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Merrill Stimson

I have no proof of my first period of service - & know of no living witness who was with me - My last three months service I think I can prove - by person or persons who were out at the same time - I think I can prove my last service by William Henderson - My memory is not distinct as to all particulars - I remember Joseph Patterson was wounded by a musket ball in the night in his ankle - I helped carry him to our tents -
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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 & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Gene Stinson
Mr. Elias Lilly a clergyman residing in the town of Simeon's and Abner Lilly residing in the town of Simeon's hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jeremiah Stinson who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy two years of age - that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid - Eliza Lilly Abner Lilly
And the Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter & after perusing the papers submitted 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 that Elias Lilly who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the town of Simeon's and that Abner Lilly who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Simeon's and is a credible person & that their statements are entitled to credit - I William Cutter Allen Register of the Court aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jeremiah Stimpson for a pension -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office the twentieth day of August A. 1832 - Wm. Cutter Allen, Augusta of Penobscot.

Jeremiah Hinson
Capt. Col.
Nov. 78 Pike - Frost - 5 Mo - R.P. - Court at York - subit. 3 mo. of Allen who says June 79 Cousins. 3 mo. Bagaduce - Majr Littlefield - no Col

No 7.141
Maine
Jeremiah Stimson
Suspended
Let to Hon John Fairfield 28 Dec 1832
10190

Act of July 22, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
10,190 P. O. Jeremiah Stimson
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____ REJECTED , 18 .
Discharged: _____ , 18 .
Application filed: _____ , 18 .
Alleges: _____ _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____ , 18 .

I Samuel Bradbury of Limerick in the County of York Esquire - aged Seventy Three years. do declare on oath, that I resided in Biddeford, County of York, State of Maine during the Revolu- tionary War - was born in said Biddeford, and resided there until I removed to said Limerick - which is about thirty three years since - and since that time have always resided in said Limerick.
I have been well acquainted with Jeremi- ah Stinson, (formerly of said Biddeford and now of said Limerick) ever since I was a child. I well remember that said Stinson went into the revolutionary service twice - I knew him at the time, he was a neighbour to my father's. I saw him when he started - once he went in the service to the Southern army - to New-York I think, & was gone several months. Afterwards he went in an ex- pedition down to the Penobscot at Bangor. The particular years of his services I cannot positively remember - His services as a sol- dier were well known & talked about in the neighbourhood at the time.
Said Stinson has always been a respectable man, and a person of truth and veracity.
Sam Bradbury
Joseph Woodbury

State of Maine—
York ss. December 12 th 1875. Then personally appeared before me, a Justice of the peace within and for said County, Samuel Brodbury, who signed the within deposition, and made solemn oath to the truth of the same — And I hereby certify that the said Samuel Brodbury is a personal acquaintance of mine, & that he is a credible witness, fully entitled to be believed —
Joseph Howard Jr., Justice of the peace
Malaga, Maine.
York ss. I William Cutter Allen, Registrar of the court of Probate for the county of York aforesaid, hereby certify that Joseph Howard, Esq., is a Justice of the Peace for and within the county of York, as above stated, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his, is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this fifteenth day of December A.D. 1875.
Wm. Cutter Allen Registrar of Probate

Levi Stinson Me.
5. 13. 13. 17
Set 12. 600, John L. Fairfield 28 Dec 1831
Harvard
Hon. Mr. Fairfield H. R.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Leviathan Stinson 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? 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? No 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?
The best evidence is not produced
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?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
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?
2nd & 4th & 5th & 6th & 7th
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.

William Henderson of Parsonsfield, in the County of York and State of Maine, was seventy six years old. The fourteenth day of last March, I was in the Campaign at Bagaduce, so called in Maine - now called Castine - I was drafted in June, 1862 for three months, and served my time out. I went from Parsonsfield Maine, and was in Captain Benjamin Lothrop's Company - Daniel Littlefield was our Major - Elisha Hemenway was our Adju- tant. We lay in Portland till our fleet was collected - I remem- ber that immediately on our return from that service to Penobscot aforesaid, that my Brother in Law Robert M c Kenney, who was out in the same Campaign with me - & who returned from Bagaduce through the woods - told me, that Ebenezer Dean born then of said Dean - now dead, and Jeremiah Stimson then of Biddeford, and now of Litchfield in this county, returned through the woods together. I cannot recollect positively of knowing said Stimson per- sonally - but I knew at the time of my discharge, that the said Stimson was out with us, in our Regiment - I have no doubt that the said Stimson was there - I have been acquainted with him quite intimately, ever since - & he and I have talked it over a great many times - & many years ago he has frequently related particulars to me which neither he nor any other man could have told unless they were there personally - & on service. I think I saw the said Stimson once there - the second morning after we landed at Bagaduce - but I cannot swear positively - My Brother in Law Robert M c Kenney aforesaid has told me about he & the said Dean, Boud & Stimson, being obliged to kill & get a horse, on their return through the woods - and the said Stimson has frequently told me the same story - The said M c Kenney is now dead; he died several years ago. The said Stimson has often, many years, told me over the names of the Officers - Soldiers - the drowning of a man in Penobscot Bay - the wounding of Joseph Patterson - & many other particulars - I think I cannot doubt in the least, that the said Stimson served in the Bagaduce Campaign three months - same as I did -
William Henderson

York Is. February 19 th 1833. Then personally appeared William Fenderson and made oath to the truth of the fore- going deposition by him submitted, before me the Sub- scribe - and I hereby certify that the said William Fenderson is a credible witness.
Joseph Henshaw Justice of the peace.
State of Maine.
Jan. 5. I William Cutter Allen, Registrar of the court of Probate for the county of York aforesaid, hereby certify that Joseph Henshaw, Esq. is a Justice of the Peace within and for said county as above stated, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this fifteenth day of December, A.D. 1835.
Wm. Cutter Allen, Registrar of Probate.

State of Maine, County of York - I Jeremiah Stimson of Kennebec in the County of York and State aforesaid, declare on oath in order to correct and amend my former declaration, made before the Hon. William A. Hayes, Judge of Probate for said County of York, August 20 th A.D. 1902, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1902. - I was residing in Biddeford, County of York, State of Maine at each period of my entering the service. The first time I served a substitute for Jeremiah Allen, then of said Biddeford now of Saco, Me. drafted for three months (in December A.D. 1878 according to the best of my recollection) I served my term of five months and was discharged at Pictou New York, but did not enter discharge. I returned directly to Biddeford aforesaid, after my discharge. I am not certain but what said Allen was drafted at first for  three months, but I am certain that I was his substitute and that I entered the service about the first of December 1878 & was discharged the first part of April 1879. At the time of making my first declaration, I did not think to state that I was a substitute. Jeremiah Allen above mentioned is now living in Kennebec in the County of York & State of Maine, and I think I can prove the service aforesaid by him. There is not any other person living, that I know of, by whom I can prove that service. I thought I could prove it by Edward Stimson who was in my mess & served with me but on inquiry have found that he is dead. The circumstances of my service & other particulars are mentioned in my first declaration to which this is ad- ditional. I cannot recollect any other officers or regiments than those I have in name - Danbury which I stated to be in New York. I believe is in Connecticut. I served all the term of five months as a private soldier.
When I entered the service, as stated in my former declaration

laration, June 1779 - I went as substitute for Joseph Merrill. Then of said Biddeford who was drafted for three months. I went in his room and served out my time of three months or until we were disbanded. I had no other charge at the time. Our forces were driven into the woods and we made our way back with great suffering & peril. Captain Ezekiel Farber then of Biddeford, now dead, was our pilot through the woods - We were obliged to kill and eat a horse on our return to prevent starvation. I knew
Robert of Saco who was in that campaign - at Bangor - but I can't recollect Robert McKeeney or Ebenezer Dyer who is mentioned in Mr. William Bradburn's report of his deposition. Aaron Ayer one of my neighbors, was with me, & he was shot through the neck & died there - I returned from that campaign to Biddeford - and resided in Biddeford until I removed to Litchfield where I now live. I have lived in Litchfield about 40 years.
I did not name in my first declaration that I was a substitute for Joseph Merrill, for I did not know that we bought of me, as I performed the service for him - said Merrill I understand is now living in Saco county of Ind. Maine - I have sent to him but his faculties are so impaired, I am told that he is utterly incapable of doing any business, or to give any regular account of ancient transactions to be relied on -
Joseph H. Howard Esq. before whom I made this declaration. Elder Elias Lilly, Abner Lilly, Samuel Bradburn Esq. and many other men generally can testify to my character for veracity or good - & their belief of my services as a soldier of the Continental.
Witness Joseph H. Howard J. reniah Glimson

York 4 Simsbury December 5 th 1835 — Then per- sonally appeared Jeremiah Stimson, and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration as then subscribed — And I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the said Jeremiah Stim- son, that he is a person of unquestionable verac- ity — and I believe that he seemed in the Revolution- ary war, as he has in his declarations set forth for the term of eight months.
Joseph Howard, Justice of the peace.
2. * additional deponent Jeremiah Stimson
4. deposition of Jeremiah Allen
State of Maine
York ss. I William Cutter Allen, Register of the Court of Probate for the county of York aforesaid, hereby certify that the foregoing certificate is a true copy of the original now on file in said court, and that the above signature and the signature attached to the certificate attached to the deposition of Jeremiah Allen, herewith annexed are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have here- unto subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office this fifteenth day of December, A.D. 1835.
Wm. Cutter Allen, Register of Probate.

[Faint, illegible handwriting at the top of the page]
His
[Faint, illegible handwriting in the middle section]
York St. Simsbury December 7 1805
Then personally appeared Jeremiah Allen and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed, before me the subscriber, and I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the said Jeremiah Allen, and that he is a credible witness, fully entitled to the trust.
Joseph How act Justice of the Peace