Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 28773, for Isaac Jones, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Jones, Isaac
S. 28773
CONTENTS
of July 29, 1758 at Falmouth, Me. res at end. Topsham, Me. pres in 1833. Bowdoin Lincoln Co. Me.

Maine N o 27,423
Isaac Jones of Bowdoin in the State of Maine who was a private in the Comp y command by Captain Pattins of the Reg t command by Col l McCobb in the Massachus ts line for
6 2 m on the
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 21 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 rd day of March 1834 and Issued to E. Kavanagh, A. R.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1834. 64 9 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Sept " 10 8 = 75 8
{ Revolutionary Claim, { Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by R. Rundell Clerk Book 6 Vol. 1 Page 24

Isaac Jones - 28.108
Nathl. Grotun
Balt
• Me

Application of Joan Jones for a pension

State of Maine County of Lincoln . S.S. At a Court of Common Pleas. held at Topsham, in said County on the fourth Tuesday of August. A. D. eighteen hundred & thirty three personally appeared in open Court before Ezekiel Whitman Esquire, Chief Justice thereof. Isaac Jones a resident of Bowdoin in the County of Lincoln & State of Maine, aged seventy five years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following decla- ration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provi- sion made by the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he was drafted into the Ser- vice of the United States, to go to the siege of Bayaduce, on the Penobscot Bay with the middle of the month of June in the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy nine that at the time he was drafted he lived in Topsham, and proceeded immediately to Hous- ed harbor, and there was mustered in Capt. Asa Patten's Company, which was part of Col. Samuel M. Cobb's Regiment, - he embarked with this company on board a transport and sailed with the American fleet for the Penobscot and arrived before Baya- duce, a British fortified post. This appli- cant landed with the American troops and was in the action between them and the British, which took place at landing, he continued there during the siege, and retreated of the Penobscot river with the American forces -

and marched thro' the woods to the Kenne- bec river, and then proceeded down that river, and was again mustered at Coxe's Head on Kennebec river, under Capt. Lester Putnam and served till the end of the year, the service at Coxe's head was in building a fort and guard duty, at the end of the year he was dismissed by Capt. Putnam, but had no written discharge, and returned back to Topsham, making his term of service that year of six months and one half - This applicant was born in the town of Halmouth, in the State of Maine, on the twenty ninth day of July in the year 1758. has a record of his age in the Family bible, He lives in Topsham in said State when called into service, and about Forty years since he removed to Bowdoin an adjoining town to Topsham, where he has lived ever since. He is known to John Bandford  Melcher & Abraham Howland of Topsham who were a soldiers at Paganene with him and can testify to his services, and to Johnson Jacques, Esquire, and John Snow both of Bowdoin, who can testify to his character for truth & veracity - He further declares that there is no clergyman in his town. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present and he declares that his name is not

on any pension roll of any State.
Isaac Jones
Sworn to subscribed the day & year aforesaid before
Ezekiel Whitman } Ch Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the State of Maine
We Johnson Jaques a justice of the Peace and John Snow, both living in Bowdoin, in the State of Maine, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Isaac Jones who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, he has been long a magistrate in the county of Lincoln, that we believe him he seventy five years of age, that he is respected and believed in his neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion. Johnson Jaques John Snow
Sworn to subscribed, the day & year aforesaid
before me Nathl Grafton Justice of the Peace
and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigating of the matter & putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the forenamed applicant was a Revolutionary soldier to all as he states, and the Court further certifies that he is the same person as John Snow who signed
State of Maine.
LINCOLN, ss— I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that the annexed paper, signed by the Judge and attested by the Clerk, contains the original proceedings of the Court of Common Pleas, at a special session thereof holden at Topsham in said County, by the Hon. Ezekiel Whitman Ch. Justice one of the Judges of said Court on the 30 th day of August A. D. 1832 in the matter of the application of Isaac Jones for a Pension. IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this 10 th day of October A. D. 1832 Nathl Coffin CLERK.

on any pension roll of any State.
Isaac Jones
Sworn to subscribed the day & year aforesaid before
Erskine Whitman } Commissioner of the Court of Common Pleas for the State of Maine
We Johnson Jaynes a justice of the Peace and John Snow, both living in Bowdoin, in the State of Maine, hereby certify that we are well ac- quainted with Isaac Jones who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, he has been long a a magistrate in the county of Lincoln, that and be- lieve him he seventy five years of age, that he is respected and believed in his neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion. Johnson Jaynes John Snow
Sworn to subscribed, the day & year aforesaid.
before me Nath Grafton justice of the Peace
and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigating of the matter & putting the interroga- tories prescribed by the War Department, that the afore- named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier as well as he states, and the Court further certifies that Johnson Jaynes, and John Snow, who signed the proceeding certificate are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Erskine Whitman
Attest Nat. Coffin Clerk

28,108
Sam Jones
Adm d or purch 1 1/2 months $21.66
Ans d Hon Mr. Kane: encl, apt 25: 1854
Nathaniel Groton
Baths
Maine

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office.
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Isaac Jones
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     1779 - 6 15 Private  Saml. M c Call  Col l  Acting  Captain  75  Testimonial Evidence  John Sandford &  Abraham Howland,  living Witnyses -  Certificate of Secretary  of Massachusetts in  office of department   
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d), with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) 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.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted 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 that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
affidavit of Magistrate Done credible person his discharge in his town 2 living witnesses - obtained that the claimant served as he states, the best evidence now found among the Rolls in the Office of Secy of Massachusetts
the best evidence now found among the Rolls in the Office of Secy of Massachusetts

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To 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? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of 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. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 that 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

28 773
Rey INVALID.
File No. 28 778
Isaac Jones
His Rev War
Act: 1 st June 32"
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 214
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Certificate for Isaac Jones.
Commis n . of Pensions will be pleased to push this certificate into the application of Isaac Jones for pension now on file in his office

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, November 5 th 1833.
* 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 Isaac Jones, as a private, is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Ather Patten's Company, in Col. Sam l McFobb's Regt. where he is allowed from July 6 th to Sept. 24 th 1779, two
Ex. M. months and nineteen days
m d 2-19
Isaac Jones claims for further services under Capt. Ather Patten, in 1779, the rolls of which are not found in this Office.
Edward D. Bangs Secy

Abraham Howland's deposition in Isaac Jones application -
certified by the clerk of the court

State of Maine.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
LINCOLN, ss—I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that Nath l Groton Esq. whose name is affixed to the annexed papers as a JUSTICE OF THE PEACE is legally commissioned and
duely qualified to act as such, and that the name so affixed to his own proper signature to me well known.
IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas this thirty first
of the day of August
A. D. 1832
Nath l Coffin
CLERK.
one thousand eight hundred & seventy seven Isaac Jones came to live with me in Topsham, and lived with me in the spring of the year 1779 in the month of June of that year he was detached to go to Bagaducee in the expedition against the British then in possession of their forces - I found Isaac Jones a gun & equipments to go. He set out about the middle of June, and was gone till the defeat he belonged to Capt. Lester Patten's company he returned across the woods to Kennebec river, and then joined Capt. Patten's company which was stationed at Cox's head on Kennebec river, he did not return till the latter end of that year he was at that time about eighteen or nineteen years old and an apprentice to me. He lived with me till the year 1782 - I have
Witness my hand
Nath l Groton sw. q. m.

I John Sanford of Topsham in the State of Maine, in the eighty second year of my age, testify and and declare on oath, that I am well acquainted with Isaac Jones of Bowdoin, in the State of Maine, in the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy seven Isaac Jones came to live with me in Topsham, and lived with me in the Spring of the year 1779 in the month of June of that year he was detached to go to Bagaducee in the expedition against the British then in possession of their forces - I found Isaac Jones a gun & equipments to go. He set out about the middle of June, and was gone till the defeat, he belonged to Capt. Lector Patten's company he returned across the woods to Kennebec river, and then joined Capt. Patten's company, which was stationed at Cox's head on Kennebec river, he did not return till the latter end of that year he was at that time about eighteen or nineteen years old and an appren- tice to me. He lived with me till the year 1782 - I have
1779 18

been acquainted with him ever since he is a respectable man and has been a justice of the peace - and his statements are entitled to credit. I did not go to Bagaduce myself but know of Isaac Jones going. And I received his wages as apprentice, in old continen- tal money, seventy five Dollars of which was worth about one Spanish Dollar - He received no wages as he was my apprentice
John Van Ford
State of Maine County of Lincoln ss - August 29. 1833
This day personally appeared John Sandford who deposes the foregoing affidavit by him signed to be certified to reduced to printing and having read & subscribed the same made oath that the same & every part thereof was true.
I further certify that said Sandford is a man of truth & veracity and entitled to credit on oath.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day & year aforesaid.
Keith G. Groton
Justice of the Peace

I Abraham Howland of Topsham, in the State of Maine, aged seventy one years, on oath do testify and declare, that I am well acquainted with Isaac Jones of Bowdoin, in the County of Lincoln, I should think him to be seventy five years old. I knew him since the commencement of the war of the Rebellion and then lived in the same town with him, he was an apprentice to Capt. John Safford now living. In the month of June 1879 I was drafted out of Capt. James Stewart's militia company, to go on the expedition against Bangsboro on Penobscot. Isaac Jones was drafted at the same time, and we went together from Topsham to Lewiston and then mustered in Capt. Asa Patten's company, & embarked on board a transport & went to Bangsboro. Jones was with me, and served during the siege, we retreated up the river & crossed the woods to Kennebec and then, in Capt. Patten's company at Cox's Head, & helped build a fort at that place, and then served till the end of the year 1879 - Isaac Jones was a soldier & in actual service, that time, making as near as I can remember six months & one half of service. I have known Isaac Jones ever since - He is a respectable man as to character.
State of Maine. } County of Lincoln } August 30. 1883.      Abraham Howland
This day personally appeared Abraham Howland who has signed the foregoing declaration, and after fully examining the same made oath that the same & every part thereof is true. I further certify that said Abraham Howland is a man of truth & veracity & so reputed in his neighborhood.
Witness my hand      Nathl. Croton Sec. of Pen.

Does Isaac Jones case come within the rule in all respects -
Ans - He appears in person in open Court, he makes his declaration in Lincoln County where he resides, his age 75 years stated - he served in 1779. 6 mo 15 days - he states with precision his services he relinquishes all other claims to pension; the Court give their opinion. The Clerk gives his certificate - Seal has a decree.
1. He states he was born in the town of Falmouth Maine July 29. 1758. 2. Has a record of his age in the family Bible. 3 a . He lived at Topsham Lincoln County when he went into service. 4. He was drafted - no substitute - 5. Served M c Cobb Col n under Patten Capt. 6. Never received any written discharge was dismissed. 7. He states Johnson Jacques & John Snow to whom he is known -
If this be so is it not a clear case?

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Jones, Isaac GRADE Private LINE New Jersey
WARRANT NUMBER 8427 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED December 20, 1792 To Ezekiel Day, Adm r .
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.