Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 33713, for Joseph Stearns, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Stearns, Joseph
NUMBER
Mass.
S 33713
CONTENTS

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Stearns, Joseph
S 33713
CONTENTS

(3,015)
Massachusetts Roll
Joseph Stearns
Capt Moore
private Massachusetts Line - 1781. 3 years
in the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
subscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 4 th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 th of Sep. 1818 and forwarded to Stephen Minot Esq. Attorney Mass'ys
Arrears to 4th of Sep. 1818. $40:26
Semi-ann. all'ee ending 4 Mar. 1819. 48.00
any 5 mos 1/30. $88:26
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued
Fewsbury, Middlesex Co.
Application sent to Col. Moore at New Bedford New Bedford, Sept. 1818

Joseph Steams
3015
26 Sep '18
Residence
[Large handwritten signature, possibly "AM"]
100
THOMAS D. PORTER

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
MIDDLESEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Concord, within and for the County of Middlesex, on the second Monday of June A. D. 1820.
Before the Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Esquire, Chief Justice,
and WILLIAM WETMORE, and } Associate Justices STEPHEN MINOT, Esquires, } of said Court.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Joseph Stearns resident in Billerica - in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 3,015, now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
"WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM."
"I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818,  Joseph Stearns  late a Private in the army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the "Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the fourth day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen  "Given at the War Office of the United States, this twenty eighth day of September one thousand eight hundred and eighteen  L. S.  J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War,"
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
SCHEDULE,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
  " One Chest . . . . . $ 2 00   Two Tables . . . . . 1 75   Six Chairs . . . . . 1 --   White & brown earthen ware . . . . . 3 --   Iron ware . . . . . 7 --   Handmills, shovel & tongs . . . . . 2 50   Farming tools . . . . . 5 50   One Stove . . . . . 10 --   One Grindstone . . . . . 1 50   6 cedar barrels . . . . . 1 50   One brass Kettle . . . . . 6 00   $ 36 75 
The Declarant's family consists of himself & wife and three children under the age of twenty one years, his age is fifty eight

the age of his wife fifty four, his daughter Lillias seven teen his daughter Mahala's eleven his son Jerome nine whose health has been very poor from his birth The declarant's occupation is that of a labourer, he has been troubled with lameness in his left ankle seventeen years, his wife is a woman of a very feeble constitution and has been so for about twen- ty years. The said Stearns further declares that he enlisted into the service during the Revolutionary war on or about the first of March A D 1780 to serve for three years, was attached at first to Captain Learned's company, fourth Massachusetts Reg t and was then stationed at West Point afterwards was attached to Captain William Moore's company in the same Reg t and was honorably discharged at the close of the war
Joseph + Stearns //
Attest M c Preston

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Stephen Minot a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
11 I, Joseph Stearns , do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. Schedule annexed. and that the aforesaid declaration & schedule by me subscribed is correct & true So help me God Joseph Stearns.
Middlesex ss. C. C. C. P. June Term, A. D. 1820
Then the abovenamed Joseph Stearns , took and subscribed the aforesaid Oath before me,
Stephen Minot Judge of said Court.
I, ABRAHAM BIGLOW, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is
Thirty six dollars & seventy five cents
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Cambridge, in said County of Middlesex, on this 20 th day of July , 1820
Attr.
Abraham Biglow

Joseph Stearns. Jr
42
April 4. 1818
Not on the rules
further evidence
Admitted
Stephen Minot Esq r
Haverhill, Mass. -

I, Joseph Stearns of the age of 54 years, declare and say, that I am a resident citizen of the United States; that I reside in and belong to the town of Tewksbury in the County of Middlesex, in the Middle Circuit, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: — I further say that in the year 1781 I enlisted into the Army of the Revolutionary war as a private soldier, for the term of three years. I entered the service in March 1781 in Capt. Moor's company, in the 4 th Regiment of the Massachusetts Line, then under Colonel Shepherd but afterwards under Col. Jackson; that I served therein until sometime in June 1783 after the war, & then was honorably discharged, at New Windsor, in New York state & came home: — That I have lost the discharge: — I also say that I am, by reason of my reduced circumstances in life, in need of assistance from my country for support: and that I never had any assistance for Pension allowed me by the laws of the United States. Teste, Stephen Minot. Joseph his Stearns mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Middlesex ss. April 4. 1818 Then the above named Joseph Stearns made solemn oath that the said declaration by him subscribed is true before me,
Stephen Minot { Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit
I Josiah Stearns, depose and say that I well knew that the said Joseph Stearns enlisted for the three years service as he states; and afterwards I saw him in said service; I always understood he served all the time he mentions, & after he came home in 1783 I know he had a regular discharge, which I saw: — I also know he is very poor & in need of assistance for support,
Josiah Stearns
Middlesex ss. April 4. 1818 Then the above named Josiah Stearns made solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true, before me,
Stephen Minot { Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, etc.

Whereupon, it appearing to my satisfaction that the said Joseph Stearns did serve in the Revolutionary war, as stated in his declaration aforesaid that the said Stearns, Spaulding, & Wilson are credible witnesses against the common enemy, I now certify & transmit the testimony in the case of the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the Department of war, indigent circumstances, & in need of assistance for support.  Stephen Minot. { Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit.
I, Asa Spaulding, of Billerica, depose that I well know the within named Joseph Stearns. I was in service with him, & do know that he served as he has within stated, more than two years of his term he mentions, but I cannot precisely tell how long he did serve.  Asa Spaulding
Middlesex ss. August 3. 1818 Then the above named Asa Spaulding made solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true, before me,  Stephen Minot, Judge etc.
I, Isaac Wilson depose & say I know the within named Joseph Stearns, I was in the service with him, & know that he did serve the whole time he specifies within -  Isaac Wilson  Teste, Stephen Minot
Middlesex ss. September 5. 1818 Then the above named Isaac Wilson made solemn oath that the said deposition by him subscribed, is true, before me  Stephen Minot, Judge etc. —

Caleb Whiting of Boston, was wood-wharfer } }
Isaac Wilson near Portis Farm.
know of Jos. Stearn's serving in the army. —

To the Secretary of the department of War, Sir, please to transmit the certificate of allowance of my pension, under the late law, to Stephen Minot, Esqr. of Haverhill Ms. who will forward it to me. Fruksbury April 4. 1818 John Purtt Joseph his X Stearns mark

33713 Key INVALID.
File No. 33,713
Joseph Stearns Pa. Rev. War.
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 397
[Arrangement of 1870.]