Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16431, for Abel Kent, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Continental
Kent Abel
816431
Mass.
CONTENTS

1831
New Hampshire
Able Kent
of Grafton in the State of N.H. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by Col. Little in the N.H. line for 20 days
Inscribed on the Roll of N.H. at the rate of 66 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 th day of March 1832 and sent Leonard Wilcox Grafton Cy N.H.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $ 99.99 Semi-annual allowance ending 4th March 33.33 $133.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. H. Blair Clerk Book D. Vol. 1 st Page 165
Date of death Nov 10 1833

9118
Abel Kent
1 Year & 8 Month
Admission
M.B.E.
$66.66.
Leonard Melcox Nford Kraftaly m!!

9118
BRIEF in the case of  Abel Kent  of Lynn of Suffolk Co  in the State of  New Hampshire (Act 7 June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Judge of Probate  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? —  3. How old is he? 80  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.     Apl '75 to last Dec - at expiration of above term — 8 — — private Capt. Perkins - Col. Moses Little   1 "  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Bunker Hill & slightly wounded  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Newburyport Massachusetts  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Solomon Wentworth  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
As Olerymans Certificate
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. B. Easton Examining Clerk.

Abel, Kent Lyons N.H. 9118.

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 27 th day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Judges of the Court of Probate for said County, now sitting Aluel Kent a resident of Lyman in the County of Grafton and State of N. H. aged 80 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
In the month of April in the year 1775 a few days after the Lexington Battle he enlisted into a Company of Militia commanded by Capt. Benj a Perkins of Newbury Port in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Col Moses Little's Regiment for the term of eight months was led on to Bunker Hill by said Col Little, was in the Battle of Bunker Hill the 17 th June 1775 was then slightly wounded in his left hip, after the Battle marched to Cambridge Common where he was stationed a short time, from there marched to Charlestown and was stationed on Prospect Hill until the expiration of the eight months for which he enlisted being the last of December in the same year - And at the expiration of his first enlistment he enlisted again under the same Officers at Prospect Hill in said Charlestown the last of December 1775 for the term of one year continued on said Prospect Hill until the British left Boston, he then marched with the Regiment for New York, marched through Providence to New London in Connecticut then took shipping and landed on Long Island continued there a short time with the Regiment, he was then sent to New York City with others for the purpose of repairing Gun Stocks he being a Mechanic, continued at the City of New York until it was evacuated by the Americans - afterwards joined his Regiment at Kingsbridge and marched to White Plains so called, was then stationed a while, from there marched with Gen l Lee's Division through New Jersey (where Gen l Lee was taken prisoner) continued his march across the Delaware about fifty miles above Philadelphia and marched down against Trenton, where he joined Gen l Washington's Army (which was stationed in Pennsylvania opposite Trenton in New Jersey) crossed the Delaware with Gen l Washington's Army to Trenton where he continued until about the first of

New Jersey crossed the Delaware with Genl Washington's Army to Trenton where he continued until about the first of January 1777, his term of Enlistment having expired, was dismissed and returned home to Newbury Port, having served in all the full term of One year and eight months from the first term of his Enlistment
He has no documentary evidence of his service and he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service - he was born in the town of Newbury Port in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the year 1752 - he has a record of his age in his family Bible known of no other record - he lived in said Newbury Port when called into service and until March 1791 - he then removed to Lynn in the County of Essex and State of New Hampshire where he has since and now lives -
The Volunteer - He recollects two other enlistments at Bristol this one of which was recommended by Col. Whitehead & the other by Col. Varnum - He refers to Rev. Mr. Eddy's Sermons for a letter to Mason Esq. who lived in his neighborhood & can testify to his character as to veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution
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,
Abel Root
Sworn to and subscribed, the day & & year aforesaid
We, Ebenezer Denny residing in Lynn & Jonathan Mason residing in said Lynn hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Abel Root , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 80 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a sol- dier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day & & year aforesaid
Ebenezer Denny Jonathan Mason
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 Ebenezer Denny who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the town of Lynn, and that Jonathan Mason who has also signed the same is a resident in the town of Lynn & a Just of Peace and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Edward Fletcher Judge of Probate Clerk of the Court
I, Moses Dorr do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Abel Root for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twenty seventh day of Augt. A.D. 1832.
Moses Dorr

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF PENSIONS WASHINGTON
July 18, 1931
Mrs. Ada Kent Phipps 557 East Clinton Street Frankfort, Indiana
Rev.& 1812 Wars Section EHL
Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.16431, that Abel Kent was born in 1752, in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
While residing in Newburyport, Massachusetts, he enlisted in April, 1775, "a few days after the Lexington battle", served eight months as a private in Captain Benjamin Perkins' Company, Colonel Moses Little's Massachusetts Regiment, and was in the battle of Bunker Hill, where he was slightly wounded in the left leg.
At the expiration of this service, he re-enlisted, served as a private under the same officers, "crossed the Delaware with General Washington's Army to Trenton", and was discharged January 5, 1777.
After the Revolution, he continued to reside in Newburyport, Massachusetts, until 1791, when he moved to Lyme, Grafton County, New Hampshire.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 27, 1832, while residing in Lyme, New Hampshire.
There are no data as to his family.
The above is the history of the only soldier named Abel Kent found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator.
date of birth not found in A.B.

Rev.
Frankfort, Ind. 557 East Clinton St. June 22, 1931.
United States Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Will you kindly search the record for data regarding Revolutionary War service of Abel Kent of Mass. and Conn. His sons were Abel Jr., John, Carlton . I especially want the record of the father of Carlton Kent.
Thanking you,
Very Sincerely
Mrs. Ada Kent Phipps

16.431 INVALID.
1931-July 18 - 7 dict. to Mrs Add. Kent Phipps Ech.
File No. 16.431
Abel Kent
Prv Rev War
Act: June 7 th 89
Index:—Vol. A , Page 204
[Arrangement of 1870.]

9118 Abel Kent
Leonard Wilcox Mford Grafton Cy NH

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative in red ink, will apply to the claim of Abel Kent 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 ? Yes
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?
Yes Yes
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?
_____
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?
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 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
†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.