Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,123, for Elijah Stevens, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass Dial Service Princeton.
Stevens, Elijah
R 10.123
CONTENTS

Elijah Stevens
25. 000
Ve.
Cornet Ic Wagman B
ans? Mr. G. Evans abt. 10: 1850

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.
State of Maine } S.S. County of Oxford }
On this twentieth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court, before me Stephen E. Dyer Judge of the Court of Probate &c. within & for said County of Oxford, now sitting at Livermore in said County, Elijah Stevens a resident of said Livermore aged sixty six years on the eleventh day of October next, 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 naval service of the United States as a volunteer, about the last of September A.D. 1878 and served on board the Schooner Hornet carrying eight four pounders on her main deck & several swivels, under the Command of Capt. Nathl. Bently, with the following crew viz, Peter Bently, Freeman Lincoln, Cornelius Jones, Gideon Stevens and others whose names he does not recollect, for the term of about five months - Said Schooner sailed from New Bedford (Mass) about the last of October A.D. 1878, nearly a month after he entered the service as aforesaid, and cruised several months between the American coast and the West Indies, took one small prize the name of which he does not recollect, and returned to the United States and entered the port of New London, (Conn.) where he was verbally discharged about five months from the time of entering the service as aforesaid - The name of one of the Lieutenants who served during said service, was Howe - the name of the other officer he does not recollect.
And the said Elijah Stevens further States that he entered the naval service of the United States as a volunteer on board the Brig Hazard and serv'd eight months under the following officers viz Capt. David Williams, Lieut. Little, with the following crew, viz, Clark Hunter, Curtis, Hovey & others, officers & marines whose names he does not recollect and sailed sailed from Boston about the first of October

AD 1779 some days after he entered the service as aforesaid, and cruised across the Atlantic ocean twice, took several prizes one of which was the English ship of war Active and returned to Boston aforesaid in June  July AD 1780 when where he was verbally discharged.
And the said Elijah Stevens further states that about the last of August 1780 he shipped on board a merchant vessel at Warren (R.I.) and sailed for the West Indies where the said vessel was lost in a hurricane on the south side of the island Hispaniola (the crew being saved) and he the said Stevens with several of said crew went on board a sloop from Virginia & sailed for some port in that state & on our passage were taken prisoners and carried to the island of New Providence & there confined three months and then escaped & arrived in safety at Cape Francis (Hispaniola) where he enlisted as a volunteer with one Martin Estabrook on board an American armed vessel being a Letter of Marque, (name not recollect) and sailed for Boston, but was landed verbally discharged at Chatham (Cape Cod Mass) about three months after his said enlistment - and he is unable to recollect the names of the officers or any of the crew except the said Martin Estabrook .
And the said Stevens further says that he was born at Taunton in the of State of Mass, on the eleventh day of October AD 1766 that he has a record of his age on a blank leaf in his Bible, that the place of his residence at the times he entered the naval service as aforesaid was Warren, (R.I.) that for several years after the close of the Revolutionary war he followed the seas for a living, and in the fall of the year 1787 he removed to the town of Livermore (Maine) and has continued to reside there up to the present time - The manner of his being called into the service was by entering voluntarily and performing the duty of a common sailor. That he has before stated the names of all the officers under whom he served & of the several crews with whom he served so far as he is able to recollect - That he never received a written discharge & had no other living at the time he entered said service.
And the said Stevens further states that Jonas Weston, a clergyman and William Goffe  Episcopa Pettengill a credible person, both of whom reside in his present neighborhood will testify to his character for veracity & their belief of his revolutionary services as before stated. - And the said Elijah Stevens is unable at the present time to obtain the testimony of any person who was in the service with him as aforesaid -
The said Brig Hazard carried fourteen double-fortified six pounders on her main deck and two four pounders on her quarter deck & several swivels. In the said action with the said ship of war Active , the said Hazard lost eight men killed & had eight men wounded - And the said Active during the same engagement lost sixteen men killed & had sixteen men wounded, among the wounded was her Captain and among the killed one of her Lieutenants. As she has no documentary evidence of proof of Proposition who can testify to said service.
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 - which the said Stearns in addition to the evidence accompanying this statement, refers to the Hon. C. Holland, Representative in Congress from Oxford District, with whom he is acquainted, who will testify to his character for veracity & his belief of my serving as before stated in this application.
Given to & subscribed the day & year above expressed in open Court. Elisha P. Dyer Stephen Emery, Judge
We Jonas Weston a Clergyman residing in the Town of Livermore in the County of Oxford & State of Maine, and James Weston  Elisha P. Dyer residing in the same town of Livermore hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Elijah Stearns of said Livermore, an applicant for a pension under "An act supplementary to the act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution," that we believe him to be in the sixty sixth year of his age, that he is reputed and in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a seaman in the naval service of the United States as stated in his application for a pension, and that we concur in that opinion - conc. Sept 11 Elisha P. Dyer
STATE OF MAINE.
OXFORD COUNTY, ss. I, RUFUS KING GOODENOW, Clerk of the Judicial Courts in and for said County of Oxford, hereby certify, that Jonas Weston Elisha P. Dyer  James Weston whose genuine signature is annexed to the foregoing Depositions of Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Oxford.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, this 11th day of October in the year A. D. 1832
Rufus King Goodenow
Clerk of Oxford County Courts.

State of Maine
Oxford ss. September
29th 1836
Personally appeared the said Jonas Weston and Hiram  Elisha Pease and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the foregoing certificate by them subscribed, before me the subscriber - The said Jonas Weston being known to me as a clergyman resident in said town of Livermore & the said Hiram  Elisha Pease resident in the same town of Livermore as a credible person, whose statements are entitled to credit
Reuel Haskell Justice of the Peace.

And the said Court hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department, that said applicants were engaged in the naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, and served as he states - he having adduced the certificate of Tony Weston, a Clergyman as friend of Elijah Pettibone, on oath duly administered, in corroboration of his own declaration - it being inconvenient for said persons to attend personally in Court.
Stephen Emery Judge
I Joseph G. Cole Register of the Court of Probate hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Elijah Stevens for a pension
Joseph G. Cole Register
89,

June 7, 1940
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mr. Albert S. Bryant North Leeds Maine
ELIJAH STEVENS R. 10123 BA-J/MLB
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Elijah Sever who served in the Hampshire County militia from Shelburne, Massachusetts; Elijah Stevins who served from Boston on board the brig, "Hazard", Captain John Foster Williams, and Elijah Stephens who died April 13, 1818, aged eighty-two years and was buried in Noyes Cemetery at Livermore, Maine.
There is no claim for pension or bounty land on file based upon service in the Revolution of an Elijah Stephens who died in 1818 and no claim, whatever, of a Elijah Sever. The record of an Elijah Stevens with Massachusetts Sea Service has been found. His record follows as found in the papers of the claim for pension, R. 10123, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
Elijah Stevens was born October 11, 1766, at Taunton, Massachusetts; the names of his parents were not stated. His father died prior to the Revolutionary War.
While a resident of Livermore, Maine, to which place he had moved in 1787, Elijah Stevens applied September 20, 1832, for pension which might have been due on account of his service in the Revolutionary War. He stated that, while living in Warren, Rhode Island, he volunteered about the last of September, 1778, on board the schooner, "Hornet", Captain Nathaniel Bently, and that one Gideon Stevens (relationship not stated) served with him on that tour of five months, during which they took one small prize; that he volunteered as "Boy" on board the brig, "Hazard", Captain Williams, which sailed from Boston about the first of October, 1779, took several prizes including the English ship of war, "Active",

and that he was discharged at Boston in May or June, 1780; that he shipped on board a merchant vessel at Warren, Rhode Island, which sailed to the West Indies, but was lost in a hurricane south of the Island Hispaniola, that he with others went on board a sloop from Virginia, and that while on their way back to that state, was taken prisoner, carried to the Island of New Providence, held three months when he made his escape and arrived in safety at Cape Francis, Hispaniola, where he entered on board an American armed vessel, being a letter of marque, and was discharged at Chatham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, after having served a tour of about three months.
Elijah Stevens' claim for pension was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of six months' service which was the requirement of the pension law.
After the Revolutionary War, Elijah Stevens followed the sea for a living.
It is not shown in the claim whether or not the soldier ever married, and the date of his death is not shown.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

Wart Department Pension Office Nov 28. 1833
Sir
The documents in support of the claim of Elijah Hise have been examined and are accompanied herewith. Before a final determination  decision can be had in his case, evidence must be produced to show that the Schooner Hornet was a public not a private armed vessel & also  his also of his having served on board of her. Evidence must also be produced to show that the  he served on board of the Brig Hazard by other service set forth in his declaration as having been performed on board of private armed vessels, are not produced for, by
I am Yr
R. Washburn Esq Atty Livermore Maine

Ho. Rep. Mar 29.
J. L. Edward Esq
Sir
Neal Washburn Esq of Livermore, Maine, writes to me that "more than a Year ago" the papers of Elijah Stevens for a pension, were forwarded to you, & he has not been able to learn whether a decision has been made. Will you have the goodness to inform me?
Yours R't Serv't
Geo. Evans

Worth Livermore June 16. 1854
Dear Sir
Enclosed is the certificate of the Secretary of State of Mass s proving the service of Elijah Stevens under Capt Williams in the Brig Hazard as public vessel in the service of the State of Massachusetts Bay during the revolutionary war for the term of four months & 18 days — This is all the evidence that can be found in the Secretary's office. I hope it will be sufficient taken in connection with the statement of Mr Stevens to bring him within the act of 1832. He is a respectable man & dread the assistance of his country, and would not intentionally testify to anything that is not strictly true. He says that it has always been his impression that the Hazard when he sailed in her was fitted out for a six months cruise & that she was on the ocean about that term of time, & that he enlisted about a month before the Brig sailed & was not discharged until about a month after her return. Such is his case & if he can be placed on the pension list without violating the rules & regulations of the Department it will rejoice the heart of one who espoused the cause of his country in his early youth. The other service described in his statement was no doubt performed as he relates & he was not aware of any distinction between public & private service on board an armed vessel — He considered it all public — Will you be good enough to acknowledge the receipt of the certificate & inform me if any thing further be necessary to a favorable decision for the petitioner —
With Great Respect Sir, your Ob t Serv t
Reuel Haskell
Certificate
4 th 18 th day in May —

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, May 19 th 1834.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of "Elijah Stevens," as a Boy, on a Pay Roll for the Officers, Seamen & Marines, belonging to the Brig Hazard, in the service of the State of Massachusetts Bay, Commanded by J. N. Williams, where he is allowed from Decem r 2 d 1778. to April 20 th 1779. four Months & eighteen days. — — — — — m d 4-18 Elijah Stevens claims for services of six or seven months under Capt. Williams, on board the Brig Hazard; but his name is not found on the rolls, except the above mentioned roll. Edward D. Dyer Secy
Vol. 2

Wasech
P.O.
July 30 th 1834
Sir
The only service on board a public vessels of war stated in Elijah Hemen's declaration is the 8 months service  that on board the Massachusetts Brig Hazard. This service appears by the roll of that vessel in the office of the Secretary of the State to have been but 4 months instead of the eight months claimed 18 days. This is not therefore sufficient to bring the claim within the provisions of the Act of June 1832 & it has been accordingly rejected. The papers remain on file
Richd. Washburn Esq. North Scituate Mass

Re Warbleam 30 July 1834 O.6.
Rec Vol 32 Page 186-

Maine
Elijah Stevens
Rejected
ans? Rev. G. Evans apt. 10: 1854. (Concord, Mass.) see letter R. Warick 30 July 1854
10123

From: Mass. Soldier's and Sailor's in Rev. War Vol.XIII, Page 1003.
Sever , Elijah, Capt. John Wells's co. of Hampshire Co., Militia; enlisted Sep. 22, 1777 ; discharged Oct. 23, 1777; service, 1 mo. 2 days, under Col. David Wells, in Northern department. Roll dated Shelburne.
From: Mass. Soldiers and Sailors in Rev. War, Vol.XIV, page 990.
✓ Stevins , Elijah, Boy, State brig, "Hazard" ; commanded by Capt. John Foster Williams ; engaged Dec. 2, 1778; discharged Apr. 20, 1779; service, 4 mos. 18 days. Roll dated Boston.
The following inscription I copied from a rough field stone about 30 years ago, the elements have effaced it so it cannot be read now.
"Elijah Stephens (A Soldier of Washington) died Apr. 13, 1818, at et. 82." This soldier is buried in The Noyes Cemetery, Livermore, Maine. A.S.B.
Albert S. Bryant

North Leeds, Maine, Apr. 29, 1940.
Veterans Administration, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir's;-
What more information can you give me regarding this Elijah Stephens , under any spelling of the sir name ?
Your Truly,
Albert S. Bryant

1940 June 7 - Hrt to A.S. Bryant - mp 8
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
10,123
P. O. Elijah Stevens Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18 Final List of 1852, Rejected Suspended Service, shown fellow- member of rejection. Application filed: _____, 18 "He did not serve 6 mos."
Alleges: _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contra
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18