Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6576, for Rufus Macomber, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Macomber, Rufus
NUMBER
Mass
R. 6576.
CONTENTS
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.

V 34. 484.
Rufus Macomber. Mass.
Rejected
Rufus Macomber Frampton, Mass.
Bristol Co. Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ) BRISTOL, ss. )
At a COURT of PROBATE holden at Taunton in and for said County on the Seventh day of November one thousand eight hundred and thirty- two Seven , before the Honorable Horatio Oliver  Prentiss  Baylies , Judge of the Probate, &c. for said County, personally appeared Zenas Mamber - a resident of Taunton - in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged Seventy six years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832, make the following declaration.
and further declares as follows, in reply to the interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of War; to wit:
1. Where, and in what year were you born!
Ans. That he was born in Taunton in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight on the twenty second day of October in that year.
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it?
A. There is a record of my age on the town books of Taunton -
3 Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer - He has resided in Taunton from his birth to the present time -
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom?
Answer - He believes that at one time he enlisted and was drafted at another time -

5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.
Sometime in Seventeen hundred and Seventy Six, after the British had left Boston, he served as a soldier at Dorchester and on Castle Island in the vicinity of Boston, two months and more. He thinks it may have been three or four or five months. He thinks this service was under a Capt. Milner , but is not certain — He well recollects that Nathan Dean was Lieutenant of said Company — He refers to the records in the War Department for the proof of this service — He thinks he enlisted in this service —
He further says that he was drafted to serve in Sullivans Expedition to Rhode Island in Seventeen hundred and Seventy eight — Does not recollect the name of the Captain under whom he served — Does recollect that Oliver Davenport was Lieutenant of said Company — In this service he first went to Slades Ferry, then to Tiverton and then on the Island of Rhode Island and was there in the

time of the battle: but was not engaged in the battle because at that time he was attached to a boat - After the battle he was marched to Providence & thence to New Bedford - I was there employed in guarding the shores - He thinks this service might have been under Capt. Ichabod Searle and was for two months or more - He refers to the Records & Rolls in the War Department for the evidence of this service -
(1780) (1781) He further says that according to his present recollection - he was drafted and ordered to Rhode Island & to carry provisions with him for one week: and that he went; but cannot state how long he was in this service: but that he received six dollars in specie for said service - Neither can he be certain as to any of the Officers under whom he served at this time; but thinks it was under Capt. Thomas Dean was one of our Lieutenants
He further says that he does not know any person now living, who was with him at either of the times aforesaid -
He further says, that the reason why he did not make application for a pension previous to this time, is, because he had always understood, until very recently, that it was necessary to prove six months service at one time, to entitle him to a pension -

6. Were you a Soldier or an Officer? if a Soldier, did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and, if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? if an Officer, did you ever receive a commission, and if so by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
Answer - A. Soldier - He never to his recollection received a written discharge -
7. State the names of the persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
A - Rev d Thomas Andrew A. Berkley in said County of Bristol - Hon. Francis Douglass & Hon. Samuel Crocker both of Taunton in said County of Bristol -
And the said Rufus Macomber - doth further declare that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State, or (if any) only on that of the agency of the State of
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Rufus Macomber Oliver Prescott Judge of Probate.
WE [blank] and [blank] residing in [blank] residing in the same [blank] hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Rufus Macomber - who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy eight 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.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
[blank] Judge of Probate.
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 abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Samuel Crocker who has signed the annexed preceding certificate is [blank] resident in the Town of Taunton in said County of Bristol, and that Francis Douglass who has also signed the same is a resident in said Town, and are credible persons, and that their [blank] statement is entitled to credit.
Taunton Jany. 5. 1838 -
Oliver Prescott Judge of Probate. [blank] Register of Probate.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } BRISTOL, ss.
I Anselm Bassett Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Rufus Macomber of Taunton in said County, for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court the day and year last above written.
A. Bassett

Rufus H. Macomber Marble.
in lib. to A. Bapst, May 1, 1838 " " to same Sept. 21, 1838
65-76

Macomber, Rufus. Mass. R. 6576
A petition addressed to the Hon. Henry Gardner Esq. Treasurer of the Commonwealth. To pay the bearer of same the money due the subscribers upon Capt. Edward Blake's muster roll. Col. Thomas Carpenter's regt. detached from the county of Bristol for the six days expedition for the state of R. I. in 1780. signed by the members of same. has been removed from this case to be sent to the War Dept.
Sent to War Dept. Jan. 16. 1913 L. A. Sept. 26. 1911

Jan 22.
Grace
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions
Washington - DC

Taunton Mass - Jany. 17. 1838.
Sir,
By this mail I forward you the application of Rufus Macumber of this town for a pension — any communication relative thereto may be made to me — Very Respectfully Your Obt Servt A. B. Alward
J. L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington —

June 14
J. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Trenton Mar. June 7. 1838
Sir, The accompanying documents are to be annexed to and made a part of the declaration of Rufus Macomber of this town for a Pension - Mr. Macomber's mind is somewhat impaired & his recollection very feeble - He cannot state the length of time he served in the Army of the Revolution - He therefore does not and cannot expect a Pension unless he is entitled to it, by evidence from the rolls, of the length of his services - Mr. Macomber as I am credibly informed has always maintained a good character for truth -
Very Respectfully
Your Obedt Servt A. Bassett
H. Edwards Esq. Com te of Pensions Washington

Rufus Macomber.
76. Wilbur - Vol. 24/p 8. not in
78. Schabod Leonard Vol. 2 183 - Jan. 1 mo 157
80. Edward Blake R D P 7 mo - 6 ds
July 28 - R D P 2 days p 105

6546 P. O.
Rufus Macombe Service:
Enlisted: REJECTED , 18
Discharged: , 18
Application filed: , 18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
Recognized. Contract
Cert. of Dis. Searched for , 18

We Samuel Crocker and Francis Baylies both residing in Freetown in the County of Bristol in the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Rufus Mamber who is an applicant for a pension: that we believe him to be twenty eight years of age: and that we believe that he was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. We further certify that he is reputed to be a man of veracity —
Dated at Freetown Dec. 23. 1837
Sam. Crocker Francis Baylies
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss - December 23 d 1837. The Hon. Samuel Crocker and the Hon. Francis Baylies made oath to the truth of the above statement. by them subscribed — Before me A Basset, Just. of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss. I Anselm Barrett Register of the Court of Probate in & for said County do hereby certify that Godfrey P. Arum and Anselm Barrett are Justices of the Peace in & for said County and that the signatures to the foregoing certificates purporting to be theirs are genuine -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this seventeenth day of January Eighteen hundred & thirty eight - A. Barrett

I Abigail Dean of Taunton in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged 73 years, do testify and say, that at the commencement of the Revolutionary War I was living with my Father in the Town of Taunton. And according to the best of my recollections in the Summer of 1776 my Brother Rufus Macomber left home and was said to be in the Army in the vicinity of Boston I recollect of hearing him say that Nathan Dean of Taunton was an officer in his company and whether my Brother was absent from home at this time three four or five Months I am not now able to say
I also testify that my Brother was absent from home and was said to be in the army in the State of Rhode Island it was in the Summer of 1777 or 1778. I recollect of hearing him say when he returned, that he had suffered much in a severe Storm which happened in the month of August and while he was in service, And whether he was absent from home at this time more than two or three Months I do not recollect, but I do recollect of his going to Larrums a number of times, once at Rhode Island when the French troops came to Newport.
And my Brother Rufus Macomber is now in full life and Resides in the Town of Taunton. aforesaid
Abigail Dean
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol County
St. Taunton September 7. 1837
Then personally appeared Abigail Dean above named who is a credible witness and made oath to the truth of the above declaration by her subscribed
Before me Godfrey Robinson Justice Peace

ms 24 f 8
Mearns roll 2
Joshua Wilburs
Francis Rept
in 76

Rufus Macomber of Taunton in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy Nine Years and upwards, an applicant for a Pension under the Act of Congress of June 7. 1832, makes the following in addition to his former declaration now on file in the Pension Office at Washington -
And now the said Macomber says that by reason of old age, lapse of time & loss of memory, he cannot undertake to state with certainty the first name of Capt. Wilbur, under whom he thinks he served, as first mentioned in said declaration: but he thinks and believes his first name was John - Nor can he state the name of the Colonel who had the command of the Regiment to which he was attached - Nor can he now state with certainty the period of this service - Nor can he now recollect the name of one individual private that served with him and therefore cannot prove this service - He therefore relies upon the Massachusetts Roll, if any such there be, for the time when, and the length of this service: and unless a roll can be found, which will prove this service, he does not expect it will be allowed him - He further says & believes this service was performed in Seventeen hundred & seventy six

and after the British had left Boston - While at Castle Island, he was employed a portion of the time in hewing  bricks or in other words, beating off the mortar which adhered to bricks that had before that time been laid near the Fort on said Island, in preparation to being laid again - That he was otherwise employed in repairing said Fort -
As to the second service mentioned in his said declaration, of two months or more in seventeen hundred and seventy eight, for the reasons aforesaid he cannot now state with precision, the length of said service - He however thinks and believes it was in a company commanded by Captain Ichabod Searle, in Col. Miller's Regiment - That he then served as a private, marched from Taunton to Bristol in the State of Rhode Island, thence on to the Island of Rhode Island & thence to Nausetucket on the westerly side of Providence River - That in this service he was employed in guarding the shores - That he thinks this service was performed before Sullivan's Battle, so called, in that year - That he does not recollect any person now living, who was with him in said service - He must therefore again rely upon the rolls for proof of this service -
Said Member further says that since he made his declaration, he has been furnished

with the accompanying document, which he has no doubt was found among the papers of the late Capt. Edward Blake, late of Fountin aforesaid, dec d . who was an Officer in the Army of the Revolution - That the signature on this said instrument purporting to be his, was, as he verily believes put there by himself - He now recollects performing some service under said Blake and believes it was performed as stated in said instrument -
Said Macomber further says that he now recollects receiving thirty dollars, at one time for services in the Army of the Revolution & thinks it was at the time first mentioned in his said declaration -
Said Macomber further says that he never heard of any person bearing his name, excepting his son, now about 30 years of age -
The above are all the facts he can now state in addition to his former declaration - He therefore submits to the decision of the Commissioners of Pensions - Rufus Macomber
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss. June 6. 1838. Rufus Macomber made oath to the truth of the above instrument by him signed Before me A. D. Russell Justice of the Peace -

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss. I James Spratt Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in for said County do hereby certify that Amos Burdick is a Justice of the Peace in for said County & that the signature to the within certificate purporting to be his is genuine - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this twentieth day of June 1838. Ja. Spratt