Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 26,140, Bilya Wright, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Wright Bilya " Billya Patience
No. 26,140
CONTENTS

10366
Massachusetts
Billyo Wright of Plymouth in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Sargent of the Regt. commanded by Col. Gookins in the Mass line for 12 months
Dale
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 40 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of Apr 1835 and Leut J. B. Thomas Plymouth Mass
Arrears to the 14th of Mar '35 $80.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept " 20.00 $100.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. G. D. [Signature] Clerk, Book E Vol. 3 Page 90
70 Plymouth

Massachusetts. 1028
Patience Wright dec d widow of Billya Wright dec d who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832 and who died on the 11 th Oct. 1836, of Plymouth in the State of Mass who was a Pvt. in the Company commanded by Captain Gargent of the Regt commanded by Jacobs in the Mass, line for 12 mos.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 11 875 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836 funding 11 Oct. 1836
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of Jany. 43 and sent to E Clarke. Brighton. Mass
Arrears to the 4th of Semi-annual allowance ending
[Act July 7, 1838]
Recorded by Theo. L. Woodley Cle Book A Vol. 1 Page 12
Payable to
(over)

Zebedee, Barzilla E, William, George E, and Otis Wright, Betsey Bradford, Mira Alley, Annis Bancroft and Laura Ann Tillson, only surviving children of said Patience Wright
Reported
A new certificate was issued in this case under the opinion of the Atty. Genl. of 2 d Sep: 1842 & Resolution of Congress of 16 Aug: 1842.

Billya Wright Massachusetts
No 6188.
Plate 12 Months
$10.00
Geo Thomas Esq Falmouth Mass

BRIEF in the case of Billya Wright  Plymouth County in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court.  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 68 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 1779 Entered " 9 " Private Gen. Cornwall   Spring 1780 " " 3 " " Col Jacobs Regiment   Capl Sergeants Company   12 Months  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Plymouth Co. Massachusetts,  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Two Living witnesses & traditional  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
C. Little
Examining Clerk.

"The following Marriages Consummated by the Rev d Ezra Sampson.
"Billya Wright and Patience Ellis, July fifth - one thousand seven hundred and eighty six."
Billya Wright died October fourteenth, one thousand eight hundred and thirty six."
I certify that the above is a true copy of the Record with the exception of the dates, which are expressed in the Record in fair legible figures, as follows, viz, July - 5 - 1786 - and October 14. 1836.
Lewis Bradford { Clerk of the Town of Plympton in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I Lewis Bradford above named, depose and say: that I hold the Office of Clerk of the Town of Plympton in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and that the above are true extracts from the Records of said Town of Plympton, with the exception abovenamed as certified by me -
Lewis Bradford, Clerk of Plympton as above stated.
Also I further certify, that to my knowledge, the aforesaid Patience Ellis, now the widow of the said Billya Wright, is yet living in said Plympton, and has not been joined in Marriage since the time she was joined in Marriage with the said Billya Wright.
Lewis Bradford { Town Clerk of the said Plympton, August 9, 1838. { Town of Plympton.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth County ss. Plympton August 10th. 1838 Then personally appeared before the Subscriber Lewis Bradford Town Clerk of Plympton and made oath that the above Declaration by him subscribed is true before me - Jonathan Parker { Justice { of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Jonathan Parker Esq is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & that the above is his true & genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand & the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this thirtieth day of August 1838.
Jacob H. Lord

William Wright Plymouth Massachusetts
No 6188.
Thousand eight hundred and thirty
day of
in the year of our Lord one
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this in the matter of the application of for a pension do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court of the Court of
person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
also signed the same, is a resident in the
and that
and is a eligible
who has
who has signed the proceeding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH, ss.
ON this thirteenth day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Common Pleas now sitting at Plymouth within and for said County of Plymouth, Billya Wright a resident of Plympton in said County of Plymouth, and Common- wealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy Eight 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 relinquis- es 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.
(9 Months) That He enlisted in the Company commanded by Captain Herrick in Colo. Jacobs Regiment in the year 1779 for the Term of Nine Months Stationed at Newport Tiverton and Swansey in the State of Rhode Island guarding the Sea Shore I Believe General Cornwall commanded the State Troops
(3 Months) That I enlisted in the Spring of the year 1780 - in the Company commanded by Capt. Sargent and served in said Company Three Months Stationed at Cambridge in the vicinity of Boston To guard Stores and Major Brown's office who was a Murderer Mother

In the Several Enlistment Named I Served twelve Month I Lived in the town of Plympton Massachussetts and have Resided in said town of Plympton to the present time my Birth was in the year 1764 and Record in Town Records of Plympton I never received any written Discharge I am known to Richard Cooker Selectman of Plympton Levi Bryant Jun Esqr of Plympton Benjamin Ellis Esqr of the Town of Lower Litchfield in the State of Vermont
Sworn and Subscribed unto the Day and year aforesaid
Billya Wright
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid in the said town of Lower Litchfield
Attest M c Clusker Clerk

We, Elijah Dexter a clergyman, residing in the town of Plympton , and Lewis Bradford  James Clarke , residing in the Town of Plympton Mass hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with the said Billya Wright who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty 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 we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Elijah Dexter Lewis Bradford
in the town of Plympton Mass 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 Elijah Dexter who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Plympton and that Lewis Bradford who has also signed the same, is a resident in the Town of Plympton and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
By order of the court. Albert G. Messinger
I, John B. Munroe of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Billya Wright for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
J. B. Munroe

1349 Patience Wright
admitted Ph. 1784 #40.
papers at 7 June
J. H. Lond.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Plymouth ss.
On this seventeenth day of August in the Year One thousand eight hundred & thirty eight before the Hon. William Wood Judge of Probate for said County personally appeared Patience Wright a resident of Plympton in said County, Widow, aged seventy one years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7. 1838 entitled "An Act granting half pay & pensions to certain Widows". That she is the Widow of Billya Wright late of Plympton aforesaid deceased who was a soldier of the Revolution & served as is set forth in the declaration of the said Billya Wright now on file in the Pension Office at Washington, for which services he was a pensioner of the United States under the Act of June 7. 1832 his Certificate being dated April 5. 1833.
She further declares that she was married to the said Billya Wright on the fifth day of July in the Year One thousand seven hundred & eighty six by the Rev. Ezra Sampson; that her husband the aforesaid Billya Wright died on the fourteenth day of October in the Year One thousand eight hundred and thirty six; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January in the Year Seventeen hundred & ninety four viz: at the time above stated. Patience Wright mark
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year first above written Before me and I certify that said

Patience Wright by reason of advanced age is unable to travel to attend Court.
Wilkes Wood
Plymouth Y. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that H. Wilkes Wood is Judge of Probate for said County & that the above is his true & genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this thirtieth day of August 1858.
Jacob H. Lord
X

Patience Wright.
Mass.
abt 7. July 38
40 $ from 4 march 36 to 14 oct. 36 to Feb v 37 Barzillai E., William, George E. & Otis Wright Betsey Bradford Mi sa Alley - Annis Ban croft & Laura Ann James  Tillson , only surviving children
Elijah Clarke Brighton Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. County of Plymouth ss.
On this twenty ninth day of December eighteen hundred and forty two. Personally appeared before me. William H. Saele a justice of the Peace in and for the County of Plymouth. George E Wright, a resident of Plympton in said County, thirty eight years of age, who being duly sworn according to law doth on his Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain arrears of pension allowed to his deceased Mother, Patience Wright. That he is the lawfull child of the said Patience Wright, who died in the aforesaid town on the twelfth day of October eighteen hundred and forty one, and left the following named children who now survive her, viz. Mrs Betsey Readford, Deborah Wright, Barzilla E Wright, William Wright, George E Wright (himself), Mrs Mira Alley, Celia Wright, Mrs Annie Bancroft, and Mrs Lucia Ann Dillison. That his Mother the said Patience Wright, was pensioned under the Act of the seventh of July A.D. 1838, and her pension commenced on the day of the death of her husband Billya Wright which took place on the fourteenth day of October eighteen hundred and thirty six, and he now claims in behalf of himself and the above named lawfull children of the said Patience Wright, arrears of pension from the fourth of March 1836, to the fourteenth day of October, in the year eighteen hundred and thirty six, at the rate of forty dollars, per annum, which sum was paid to his aforesaid Mother at the agency at Boston in the State of Massachusetts.
George E Wright
I swear to and subscribe on the day and year first above written; and I further certify that the above named children are the lawfull children of the sd. Patience Wright and the declarant is a respectable & credible person -
Before me, Wm. H. Saele, Justice of Peace
3

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Secretary's Office January 2. 1843
I hereby certify that at the date of the within attestation Wm. H. Sohier was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Plymouth.
Witness the seal of the State.
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Widow  WIDOW, &c.
File No. 26,140
Patience Wright Wid of Billie Wright Ben Mass-Sims
Act July 7th 1838
Index: Vol. W , Page 362
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Billya Wright Maps. Act-7 June 1832 to what time paid?
Pen. Office
Nov 12. 1838
Dec 14 th Oct 1836 paid to that period
JA

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Billya Wright 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? 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? Yes.
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? Two living witnesses
XIV. †If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? Yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Yes.
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? Yes.
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? Yes.
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 each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
† 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 authenticates 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 ends 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.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

I Samuel Church formerly of Plymouth Now of Holiston in the County of Plymouth State of Massachusetts of the age of Seventy two years testify and say that in the Spring of 1780 I enlisted in the war of the American Revolution for three Months and went to Cambridge and joined Colt's Sargents Company and served three Months I Further testify and say that I knew Billya Wright of Plymouth who was in said Sargents Company and served three Months said Wright Now resides in Plymouth and Previous thereto Resided in Plymouth Samuel Church
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
By me Joseph H. McMurray Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas being the Court of Records in the County of Plymouth certify that Jonathan Parker before before the affidavit was known to be a true copy of the same for the County of Plymouth - and that his name thereto subscribed is his true signature In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this twentieth day of August A.D. 1832
J. H. McMurray

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth County ss August 7th 1832 then the within named Samuel Churchill personally appeared the within named before the Subscribers and Made oath that the within Deposition by him subscribed is true Soc d Deposition is a credible witness
Jonathan Parker Justice of the Peace
Samuel Churchill for Betsy Knight

I Simon Loring of Plympton in the County of Plymouth State of Massachusetts aged twenty years testify and say that I was a soldier in the Revolutionary war in the year 1779 in Capt. Harkins Company and Colo. Jacobs Regiment Stationed at New Bedford and Swertown in the State of Rhode Island I further testify and declare that I knew Bellamy Wright of Plympton and that he was a soldier in said Harkins Company and continued there throughout the engagement which was nine months to the best of my recollection and have always known said Wright ever since that time and has resided in Plympton Simon Loring

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County ss
July 24th 1832 then personally appeared the within named Simon Loring before the subscriber and made oath that the within Deposition by him subscribed is true & further certify that he is a Man of truth
Jonathan Parker Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I Wm H Warner Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, being a Court of Record, in the County of Plymouth certify, that Jonathan Parker herein before whom the foregoing affidavit was known to be a part of the record for the County of Plymouth - And that his name subscribed is his true and proper signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court on this twentieth day of August. 1832.
Wm H Warner Clerk

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth County ss. December 30 th 1842. —
This certifies that it hath been fully shown that Patience Wright, the widow of Isaac William Wright late of Hampton in said County of Plymouth deceased, died on the twenty day of October A.D. 41. leaving Betsey Bradford, Zebulon Wright, Dorrilla E. Wright, William Wright, George E. Wright, Mira M. Illey, Betsey Wright, Annie Bancroft and Laura Ann Tilton her only surviving children & Heirs at Law. — Witness my hand and seal of office the day and year first above written
Wilkes Wood Judge of Probate for said County of Plymouth —

Massachusetts. 1028
Patience Wright of Plympton widow of Billya Wright, die?
who was a pensioner under the Act of 7 June 1832 and who died on the 14th October 1836, of Plympton in the State of Mass'ts who was a private in the Comp'y commanded by Captain Sargent of the reg't commanded by Col Jacoby in the Mass'ts line for 12 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Boston at the rate of 40 Dollars per per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834. 15th of October 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of Novr 1838, and sent to J. H. Lous, Esqr Plymouth, Massachusetts
Arrears to the 4th of Sept r 1838 $75.55 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar '39 20.00
$ 95.55
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by D. M. Curdy, Clerk, Book A. Vol. 1. Page 143.