Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13506, for John Hunt, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Bunt, John
S. 13506
CONTENTS
carded

3650
Massachusetts
John Hunt
of Hamp t , in the State of Mass who was a P t of Art y in the company commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by Col d Symonds in the [blank] line for [blank] 20 th Reg t Inf ty [blank] [blank] [blank] [blank] [blank] [blank] [blank] [blank]
Entered on the Roll of [blank] at the rate of 78 Dollars 20 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 th day of Dec r 1832 and sent to [blank] [blank] [blank] [blank] [blank]
Amount to 1 th of Sept 1832 $117.30 Pension allowance ending [blank] 34.10
$151.40
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by [blank] Clerk Book [blank] Vol. [blank] Page 76

BRIEF in the case of  John Hunt -  of  Franklin Co  in the State of  Mass -  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Yes Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 79 years  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.     In 1778. March - - - privt Capt. Richards - Col. Dyer   1779. Oct 10 - - - " Lieut. Linsley   1779. Feb 1 - - 2 " Capt. Linsley   1779. July 1 - 5 18 " Col. Stone   1782. Feb 10 - 7 12 privt Col. Linsley   to 11 April 1783  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Norfolk Co  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence living witnesses documents  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? None 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Examining Clerk.

Jashua French Atty. for John Hunt
No. 599

John Hunt
Declaration

DECLARATION,
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE BENEFIT OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS OF THE 7TH OF JUNE, 1832.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss. COUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE. }
ON this Sixteenth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court, before me Samuel Hinkley Judge the court of Probate for said County now sitting, John Hunt a resident of Amherst in the County of Hampshire, and State of Massachusetts, aged Sixty nine 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 provision made by 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. (viz) he was born in the town of Braintree in the County of Suffolk , which was then in the County of Suffolk in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the twenty third day of April A.D. 1763 , where he resided until the year A.D. 1785 he removed to Boston in the County of Suffolk aforesaid, and there resided until the year A.D. 1809 he then removed to Amherst in the County of Hampshire his present place of residence, where he has ever since resided - he has no record of his age except his family record, - that he enlisted on the first day of May A.D. 1778 as a private in the Militia or State troops of Massachusetts for thirteen Months , and immediately marched to Boston in Massachusetts , and there served the whole of the time in the Company commanded by Capt. Richards under Col. Simons there being but two Companies stationed there at that time as he believes, and was dismissed at the end of the term - About the tenth of October of the same year he again enlisted as a private in the Militia aforesaid for the term of thirteen Months , and served in Boston in the Company wherein Lt. Linsfield was lieutenant (the Capt's name he does not now recollect) and under Col. Simons's command, and dismissed at the end of the term - February first A.D. 1779 he again enlisted as a private in the Militia aforesaid for the term of thirteen Months under Capt. Abner Crane and served in his Company, said term in the town of Boston aforesaid and was discharged the first of May following - The first of July A.D. 1779 he enlisted in the Militia or State troops of Massachusetts for the term of Six Months and served in Providence and Rhode Island said term of enlistment in the Company commanded by Capt. Luke Howell and Col. Tyler's Regiment , and was discharged at Newport in Rhode Island the first of January following - About the tenth of September A.D. 1782 he entered the Service at Boston in the State of Massachusetts as a Substitute for a person whose name he does not now recollect, and whose name was then struck from the roll and the present applicant's inserted in its stead, it was in the Militia or State troops of Massachusetts , and served eleven Months at Boston aforesaid in the Company commanded by Capt. Simons  Lincoln and Lt. Whitman , there was no other Company stationed there at that time, he was discharged in June A.D. 1783 - he does not recollect as he ever had any written discharge in any of said terms of Service - Making in the whole twenty seven Months or two years Service as a Private -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State, or (if any,) only on that of the agency in the  State of
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Before me Samuel Hinkley Judge of Probate for said County
We, Nathaniel Perkins a clerk residing in the town of Amherst and Jonathan Cook residing in Amherst hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Hunt who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Sixty nine 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, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Nathaniel Perkins Jonathan Cook
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 Nathaniel Perkins who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clerk resident in Amherst and that Jonathan Cook who has also signed the same, is a resident in Amherst and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Samuel Hinkley Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Hunt for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this Sixteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two -
Samuel Hinkley Register

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, July 24 1832.
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
John Hunt served in "Capt Abner Francis Company, in the service of the United States doing duty at Boston" for three months and two days from his enlistment Feb. 2 1779 — also in "Capt Luke Howells Company, Col. Nathan Tyler Regiment" from July 13. 1779 to January 1. 1780. —
Edward D. Dangs Secy

Gide: Helen Affidavit
John Stuart

I Gideon Stetson of Ashhurst in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts yeoman of lawful age do testify and say, that I am well acquainted with John Plant of Ashhurst aforesaid, and that he enlisted with me as a soldier in the war of the revolution in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred and Seventy nine under Sargeant Levi Hayden for the term of Six Months, we afterwards joined the Company commanded by Capt. Howland in Col. Tyler's Regiment, we served together in the same Company five Months in the State of Rhode Island, the last month I was detached into an other Company but have no doubt he served the whole of the term - then term expired the first of January Seventeen hundred and eighty - and from then the disponent saith not - G. Stetson
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampshire County ss.
June 27. 1832 Then personally appeared He is well known to me and is a credible witness Gideon Stetson subscribed to the above affidavit, and made solemn oath to the truth of the same -
Before me William Conway justice of the Peace Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire ss. I William Stoddard Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth for the County of Hampshire do certify that William Conway by whose signature is affixed to the above certificate, was at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly commissioned and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth in that full faith and credit is now ought to be given to his acts and attestations done in that capacity - and that the signature to said certificate is known by me to be the handwriting of the said William Conway.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County Common Pleas for said Commonwealth the twentieth day August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty two
W. Stoddard Clerk

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
No. 10
I Silas Ware clerk of the Judicial Court in and for the County of Norfolk hereby certify that Theron Metcalf and Silas Paine Esquires are Justices of the peace within and for the said County duly appointed by the Executive authority of said Commonwealth Commissioned and sworn and that their Certificates on the Depositions hereto annexed (marked A. & B) are genuine and true.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of the said Commonwealth at Dedham in said County this twenty sixth day of July A.D. one thousand eight hundred & thirty two
Silas Ware

Elizur Hunt. Dep. for John Hunt.

I Ephraim Hunt of Canton in the county of Nor- folk & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, depose & say that I am now in the seventieth year of my age - that I enlisted in the year 1781, for the term of three years in Captain Amos Lincoln's company (of which one — Whitman was Lieutenant) in Colonel Crafts' Regiment - Massachusetts Line - & I served till the termination of the war. And I further depose & say that John Hunt (then Suffolk) then of Braintree, in said County of Norfolk, but now of Amherst in the County of Hampshire, in said Commonwealth, served with me, in the same company, for the term of nine months, to the conclusion of the war; he being a substitute for another soldier. We were discharged with me Ephraim Hunt Ephraim
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk ss. At Dedham in said County, on this 26 th day of July, A.D. 1832, the abovenamed Ephraim Hunt personally appeared - & subscribed & made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing statement - before me - & I believe him to be a man of veracity.
Theron Metcalf Justice of the Peace in & for the said County of Norfolk

I Joshua French B of Randolph in the County of Norfolk (and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawfull age, do testify & say, that John Hunt of Amherst in the County of Hampshire & Commonwealth aforesaid, served as a soldier in the war of the revolution in the State of Massachusetts, in Boston in the last part of the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & seventy eight & the first part of the year one sixteen hundred & seventy nine - six months in the State service under the command of Col. Duran (Other officers forgotten) during all of which time I the said Joshua French served in the same company with the said John Hunt (and further deponent saith not) Joshua French
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk ss July 23 rd 1832 Then personally ap- peared Joshua French subscribed to the above affidavit and made solemn oath to the truth of the same Before me Silas Paine Jr Justice of the Peace

Reuben
✓ 13.506 INVALID.
File No. 13 576
John Hunt of Arty Bn. New York
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index: Vol. 1 , Page 156
[Arrangement of 1870.]

4599
John Hunt
Map
Print of Inf 16 Mtn Battery
Dr of Arty 7 th 1 st
21 21
Abby
5-8-20.
Thaman Conkey E
Amherst
Mass

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Hunt Hampshire County - Va. 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? no 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? ✓ 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? ✓ 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? ✓ XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? ✓
 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.

name of soldier "not" furnished
John Underwood Col.
James L. Edwards Esq. Mar Def ts Bureau Washington D.C.
ans? Sept. 27. 1832
John Wood 132
Main 13.506

Portance July 27 th 1832
Sir. The enclosed papers have been examined by you & the objection you made was that no such company as Dorsey's could be found for that no such Brigade as Scott's. I do not remember which. Hunt has a recollection in me & is positive that his statement is correct. He says that Dorsey served as Field Officer . That the company was commanded by a Capt. Lieutenant named Phinney or Finny . & there were five troops 6 pounds to the company. Hunt maintains a good reputation as an honest farmer of a very small property - being a life estate merely in a small farm & is now old & infirm, without children to help him.
He has no other evidence, the men being dead or unknown to him & Deloffre who testified before he believes is now dead. So that he has no better chance under the late act than under the act of 1818.
Perhaps the fact he never states that Dorsey served as Field Officer & that he commanded the company may throw some light on the subject.
Yours respectfully Your obedt Servt John Duddleston