Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,311, for Peter Manning, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Manning, Peter
S. 29,311
CONTENTS

15873 Massachusetts
Peter Manning of Middlesex in the State of Mass a who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Haskell of the R t P commanded by Col. Whitcomb in the Mass a line for 14 months $23 ea mo
Rate & Mth
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of $50 - Dollars 25 - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th day of Aug 1833 and sent to Sam l Kana Foster Mass a
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $118.46 Semi-annual allowance ending 1 st June 29.61 $148.07
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { for June 7, 1832. } Recorded by W. Green Clerk Book E Vol 2 Page 53 (53)
77 Middletown

Declaration of Peter Manning
Yours obediently Peter Manning
1822
1822

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Middlesex ss. May the Seventh day of August A.D. 1883. On this day personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Sessions now sitting at Boston within and for the County of Middlesex in the Commonwealth aforesaid Peter Manning of ... aged seventy five years.
Who being 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That is to say
1 That he was in the first eight months service, at Concord and that recently in the Company of Capt. Andrew Haskell Lieut. ... of Lancaster ... Whitecomb's Regt. ... the start forces, where he served out his term of eight months and was discharged the last of December A.D. 1775 ... In May A.D. 1776 he engaged to serve in the vicinity of Boston and joined in the Company of Capt. William ... Col. Joseph Whitcomb ... of the Massachusetts forces for a Company of ... months, he joined his Company, and was taken by Ensign Jonathan Sawyer of the Company as his assistant and duty on Hog Island in Boston harbor and was also stationed at Nantasket and continued in service with his Company until the first of December of that year ... 3. ... 1775 ... 4. In August A.D. 1777 he was drafted to go to the Northern Frontier by Capt. Greenleaf of Lancaster who commanded the militia Company to which he then belonged to oppose the progress of Burgoyne's Army ... ordered into ... Company in Col. ... Regt. when they proceeded to Bennington and from there joined the main Army and continued with them until he had served six weeks, when he was discharged, but for the term of service he has not been able to procure any documentary evidence, nor does he now know any person living who was with him on that service. The third term of service above described was the second in order of time. He served in all eight months in 1775 - nine months in 1776 & six weeks

weeks in 1777 - and his whole service was eighteen & half months -
He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity, whatever except, the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll, of the agency of any State, subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Sworn to and
Middlesex ss. David Palmer a Clergyman residing in the town of Townsend in the county of Middlesex and Solomon Jewett jun r of the same Townsend - hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Peter Manning who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Before me Rev d . Dana Justice David Palmer Solomon Jewett
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that after the investigation of the matter, and 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 David Palmer who has signed the preceding Certificates is a Clergyman resident in the town of Townsend in the county of Middlesex and is a credible person, and that their statement is correct. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this Seventeenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty three
The foregoing Certificates of David Palmer and Solomon Jewett are hereby certified to be true and correct copies of the originals on file in the office of the War Department, and also a copy of the deposition of Peter Manning annexed hereto as Exhibit A .
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex, to wit,
At the Court of Probate begun and holden at Eaton on the Seventh day of May within and for the County of Middlesex A. D. 1833 On the application of Peter Manning claiming to be a Soldier of the Revolution, the following interrogatories were propounded to him to wit:
1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Answer, I was born in Lancaster Ms on the 25 Nov r AD 1758 1758
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it?
Answer, I have a family record of my age in my possession -
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer, I was living in Lancaster - I removed to Taunton in 1785. and lived there till AD 1800 when I removed to Pepperell and lived in that Town six years, then I removed back to Taunton in Feb y 1806 where I 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?
Answer, In the first eight months I was a volunteer - In the second I was drafted by Capt Greenleaf who commanded the Company in Lancaster and in the seven months since I was a volunteer.
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 service?
Answer, At Cambridge I saw Genl Washington, Ward, Lee Green and Whitecomb - At Dorchester I saw Col. Lynde At Bennington I saw Genl Stark.
6. 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?
Answer, Paul Gerrish by Saw Brooks Esq. Mr Abner Adams, Paul Adams, and Thos Spaulding and Rev d David Palmer -
7 did you ever receive any discharge from Peter Manning service? Ans r  I never had any such discharge
Subscribed & sworn to the day A year aforesaid before J. P. May Probate

Peter Manning Middlesex County Massachusetts
17 Mo 23 day Purch-
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Saint Dana Groton Massachusetts

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 subjjoined 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 Peter Manning Middlesex County Massachusetts
   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.     Served 1775 — 8 — private { Capt Haskell, Colonel Whitcomb, 75 years Lancaster County Massachusetts Traditional evidence, one Witness & one piece documentary evidence papers correctly attached   Enlisted May 1776 — 2 15 — " Capt Warner, Col Whitney   Enlisted July 1776 — 2 — " Capt White, Col Cushing   Draft. Aug. 1777 — 1 8 — " Capt Lancaster, Col Cushing   17 23  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. 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

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 enquiry 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 place 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.
□ 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.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Oct. 25 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 Peter Hanning served as a private soldier in the company of Capt. Andrew Haskell in the regiment of Col. Asa Whitcomb for the space of 2. months & 22 days, from the 15 th of May 1775.
Edward D Bangs. Secy
Secretary's Office Nov. 15 th 1832 I further certify that Peter Hanning is here on a Pay roll of Capt. John White's company in Col. Job Cushing's regiment, service made up, for 1. month and 8. days, in the company of Militia, from the 26 th of July 1777. Again, on a Muster roll of Capt. William Warner's company in Col. Josiah Whitney's regiment, service made up for 2. months and 15. days, from the 17 th of May 1776.

Again, Peter Manning is borne on a Pay roll for Capt. William Warner company in Col. Whitney regiment in the service of this state from the the 1 st of August to the 1 st of November 1776.
Again Peter Manning is borne on a Pay roll of the same officers, for the month of November 1776.
I further certify that there is no other roll of Capt. Andrew Haskell company in service in A. D. 1778 —
Edward D. Bangs Secy

Affidavit of John Warner in the case of Peter Manning with his Deeds & papers
25028
Sam m Dana Groton Mass

I John Warner, of Harvard in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy, four years, now one of the United Society of Believers, some time called Shakers, now residing, in a family, at Harvard do declare and say that when the war of the revolution commenced, in A.D. 1775. Then professing different views of war, from what I now entertain, I engaged as a soldier in that war, and on went to Cambridge into the eight months service, some time, about the first of May I enlisted into the Company of Capt. John Andrew of Lancaster have L t Andrew Haskell of Lancaster, his L t was Kendrick --- and the Company was in Col. Asa Whitecomb's Reg t of Mass. forces, our Reg t was stationed on Prospect hill (after Brinker hill battle), and I well knew one Peter Manning, who then lived in Lancaster, who was afterwards a saddler as I understood, and who is, now said to live in Townsend Mass and I well know, that said Manning was a soldier in said Capt. Andrew Haskell's Company, and that he joined the same, at Cambridge and served eight months, and was dismissed, with his Company, the last of December, or first of January A.D. 1776 John Warner
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
On the twenty eighth day of September in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and thirty two, before me the Subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, within, and for all the Counties, in said Commonwealth, personally appeared Elder John Warner, and made his solemn affirmation, under the pains, and penalties of perjury, that the foregoing affirmation by him subscribed, is just and true in all its particulars.
Sam. Dana
And I do further certify that the above named John Warner is a Minister and credible witness, a man of good character, entitled to credit in all places. Sam. Dana Justice of the Peace