Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9435, for Abraham Shaw, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Shaw, Abraham
R. 9435
CONTENTS

Weymouth Massa. August 29. 1859.
Sir:
In the year 1853. the letter, of which a copy is herewith given, was received by me, and given to one of the heirs of Abraham Shaw, deceased, by whom it was retained until recently.
In April last, letters of Administration were granted to Daniel Holbrook of this town, on the goods & estate of said Abraham Shaw, deceased, and he wishes to know whether any thing is due the estate on said claim, and if so, whether it can be obtained now.
The deceased left nine children but no widow.
Will you give the Administrator, through me, such information as will enable him to have the claim of the said Abraham Shaw examined and determined?
Very Respectfully E. F. Hall - for Daniel Holbrook Adm r .

Weymouth (Mass) Nov. 29. 1852
Sir The heirs of Abraham Shaw deceased, formerly a Soldier in the U. S. service, are desirous to ascertain whether any thing is due them for the service of their father, from the Government. Abraham Shaw enlisted at Abington in this State about the year 1783 and served on Fort Independence in Boston harbor, under Col. Perkins, Lieut. Treat and Lieut. Burbank - the name of his Capt. they are not able to state.
These heirs are poor and unable to incur any expense in making the usual application in such cases, until they have ascertained that something is due - will you therefore, if not inconsistent with the rules of your Department, inform me whether any thing is due to them, and give such information that the proper application may be made by them therefor, and oblige Your Obedt. Servt Elijah F. Hall

map 5 Abraham, Shaw
A Hampshire Massachusetts
Rejected 25 May 1835
13963
J. H. Lord Weymouth Mass 1835

BRIEF in the case of  William Shaw  so of Plymouth in the State of Mass.  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 66  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.     June In 17 83 substitute 8 Private Major Daily Col Derbeck  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Abbingdon Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? two living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? the 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Sayton
Examining Clerk.

Abraham Shaw
17963
[Faint, mirrored handwriting from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original text.]

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH, ss.
ON this thirtieth day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before Hon. Wilkes Wood of the Court of Probate now sitting at Hingham within and for said County of Plymouth, Abraham Shaw a resident of Shington in said County of Plymouth, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Sixty six 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. 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. That is to say, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
About the first of June 1783 he entered the service of the United States in the War of the Revolution as a substitute for one Silvenus French now living at Randolph in the County of Norfolk who had enlisted for the term of three years & had served two years & four months as he informed him. and this declarant entered to serve the remainder of said term of enlistment and did duty for that period being eight months on the Castle now Fort Independence in Boston Harbor. Gov Hancock was in command, Col. Burbeck & Col. Treat were Officers, Major Samuel Bayley now living at Weymouth in the County of Norfolk was orderly sergeant in the Company. He can refers to the depositions of Major Bayley & Mr. French which are hereunto annexed.

He was born in Weymouth in the County of Norfolk in the Year 1766 & removed to Abington when very young. He lived in said Abington at the time of said enlistment & now does. He thinks his birth is recorded in the town records of said town of Weymouth. He was in no battle & had no written discharge.
He is
Abraham Shaw
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Attest Jacob H. Lord Register

We, _____ a clergyman, residing in the town of _____ and _____ hereby certify, that we are well ac- quainted with _____ who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
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 who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of and that  who has also signed the same, is a resident in the  and is person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
By the Court Attest Jacob H. Lord Register
I, Jacob H. Lord 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 Abraham Shaw for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this thirtieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two .
Jacob H. Lord

Samuel Bayley of Weymouth in the County of Norfolk & Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged Seventy four years do testify and say that in January 1780 I enlisted as a soldier in the War of the Revolution and did duty for a number of years & did duty as orderly sergeant upon the Castle now Fort Independence in Boston Harbor then under the command of John Hancock Esq. Col. Kimball resided there also as second in command & Col. Treat as third in command I am acquainted with Abraham Shaw who now resides in the town of Abington in the County of Plymouth & is an applicant for a pension. I further declare & say that said Abraham Shaw served as a private soldier in the War of the Revolution on the Castle in the company of which I was orderly sergeant. I do not now recollect the precise time when he enlisted or was discharged but I perfectly recollect his being in said company & from conversations with him & the relation of small events that took place I have no doubt that he served the period of eight months as he declares he did. I have always known Mr. Shaw & he is reputed & esteemed to be a person of truth & veracity.
Sam l Bayley
Plymouth J r . August 30. 1832
Sworn to & subscribed in open Probate Court the day & year aforesaid Attest Jacob H. Lord Register

M. B. H.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Sur. Bf. 9435
Bureau of Pensions,
Rev. War.
Washington, D. C., February 6 1906
Sir,
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Abraham Shaw , a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ( or his widow's ) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     June 1783 8 mos. Burbeck, Mass   Treat. "                                                          
Battles engaged in, None stated.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Hington, Plymouth Co. Mass.
Date of application for pension, August 13. 1882.
Residence at date of application, Hington. Mass.
Age at date of application, Born in 1776 at Weymouth, Norfolk Co. Mass. Died prior to Aug 12. 1857
Remarks: This claim was rejected on the grounds of no proof of service. He left no minor. He left nine children. Names not stated.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Ab. 6. History to Frank H. Shaw.
M. B. H
REJECTED
9435
P. O.
Abraham Shaw
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized.
_____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Alvan Shaw
Reprinted extended
6th Edition 27 June 1835
E. F. Hall, May 6. 1853 Same Sept. 5/59
= 1832 =

Abington, Mass. June 1 st 1835
This may certify that Mr. Abram Shaw a citizen of this town is a reputed soldier of the war of the revolution, & served as such, in a company raised for the defence of Castle & Governor's Island, commanded by Hon. Thomas Cushing Esqr., from June 15 th 1782 to Aug. 24 th 1783.
Lucius Alden, Pastor of the 3 rd Church. Abington, Mass.
Micah Pool Justice of the Peace

There is an error in the letter of June 27. 1835. All the proofs except the declaration make the service commence in June 1782. The date in the declaration is evidently an error. perhaps clerical

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Sturminster Newton
Page 6
Mr. Jacob H. Lander Esq. Clerk of Probate Court Plymouth M.S.
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I Silvanus French of Randolph in the County of Norfolk & State of Massachusetts of lawful age to give evidence do testify & say that I was a Soldier in the War of the Revolution & enlisted in the Year 1780 in the month of February for the term of three years to serve as a Soldier in the Castle near Port Independence in Boston Harbour. I served in pursuance of said enlistment two years & four months & then engaged Abraham Shaw now then living at Abington in the County of Plym- outh to serve out the remainder of my term of enlistment which he did being eight months. I am acquainted with the said Shaw and knew that he fully served the remainder of my term of enlistment.
Silvanus French
By mouth of his August 31. 1832 Then personally appeared the above named Silvanus French and made oath that the above declaration by him subscribed is true
Meah Pool Just. Deac.
Before me Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss. Jacob Howland Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth being a Court of Record do hereby certify that Meah Pool Esq. is a Justice of the Peace for said County & that I believe his name as above subscribed is his true & genuine signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this fifth day of October A.D. 1832. Jacob Howland

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, May 23 rd 1835.
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 Abram Shaw, as a private, is borne on the Abstracts of pay due to the Officers and Soldiers of a Company, raised for the defence of Castle and Governors Islands. Commanded by the Hon ble Thomas Cushing Esq r where he is allowed from June 15 th 1782, to Jan y 24 th 1783. Seven Months & ten days. — £ 10 W m . Tufts. Dep y Secretary.

June 27 Ms. A. 9. 2. 21
James L. Edwards Esq Commission of Pleaders Washington City D. C.

Plymouth June 23. 1835
Dear Sir
The enclosed papers I send you at the request of Abraham Shaw whose papers are on file in your Office. I do not recollect the period of time when you consider the War to have terminated.
Yours &c
J. H. Lord

Q
Rockland. Jan 5. 1906.
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir
Will you kindly send me the military record of Abraham Shaw, of Abington Plymouth Co. Mass. who applied for a pension under the act of June 7. 1832. We have found two old papers among old letters and I am anxious to know what the records are, and why he did not get his pension. Is there any of the old correspondence there that

could throw light on the subject.
Yours Respectfully
Frank H. Shaw. Rockland, Mass. #111 East Water St.

Copy.
June 27, 1835.
Sir:
In the original declaration of Abraham Shaw of Abington, he alleges that in June, 1783 he became the substitute of Silvanus French, who had enlisted for three years and served to within eight months of the expiration of his time. In Mr. French's deposition he alleges his original enlistment to have been in 1780, but the evidence of Samuel Bailey, who was orderly Sergeant of the company, positively fixes the date of French's enlistment to the 3d of February, 1781, precisely agreeing with Mr. Shaw's original declaration.
In addition to the certificate of Mr. Bangs showing that by the pay abstracts Abraham Shaw served from 15th June, 1782 it will be proper to show when Mr. Shaw enlisted and was discharged, in order that the various statements may be corrected. The time of the service is very material as no service after 3d September, 1783 is computed.
J. H. Loud, Esq., Plymouth, Mass.
May 6, 1853.
Sir:
The claim of Abraham Shaw was suspended in 1835 in consequence of a discrepancy in the proofs. His declaration stated that he entered the service in 1783, while the other proofs in the case concur in the fact that it was from June, 1782 to January, 1783.
Upon certificate of a Court of Record of proof of the death of Abraham Shaw, leaving no widow, and of the names and number of his surviving children, the case will be examined and determined.
Elijah F. Hall, Plymouth, Mass.