Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4012, for Obadiah Stephenson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Stephenson, Obadiah or Stevenson
S. 4012
carded.
CONTENTS

from Pa. 7075- Pittsburgh of Stephen Adiah Stevenson of Portage Co in the State of Ohio who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Fairfield of the Regt commanded by Col. Barrister in the Massachusetts time for 13 mos. from '75
Dec. 5. 1833 transp to Ohio Pittsburg from H. Sept. 1833 notice to Cyrus Prentiss of Ravenna Ohio same day
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of Feby 1833 and sent to J. Whittier Esq. Ravenna O.
Arrears to 4th of March 1833. $86.66 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept 1833 21.66 $108.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk Book 6 Vol. 8 Page 24

No 9. 437.
Obadiah Stevenson
Portage County
Ohio
from 1775 print 13 months
$43. \frac{3}{4}
John Whittlesey.

BRIEF in the case of of Portap
Obadiah Stevens of the County of Oliver in the State of (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? 76 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.     Vol In 1775 Summer 4. Private Capt Fairfield, Bannister, Major   Vol ~ 1776. 5. do   da da 4 do  
5. In what battles was he engaged? None stated.
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Chesterfield Massachusetts
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Not defective
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
H. G. Evans Examining Clerk.

943 2 Obadiah Stephenson's Application

State of Ohio } On this 28 th day of August 1832 personally Portage County } appeared in open court before the Judges of the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio now sitting Obediah Stephenson a resident Charlestown in the County of Portage and State of Ohio aged seventy five Years. who being duly sworn 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 th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated.
That he volunteered in the army of the United States from the Town of Chesterfield Hampshire County State of Massachusetts in the Summer of 1775 under Captain John Gainsfield Christopher Bannister Major that from Ches- terfield he marched to Roxbury and was stationed on Dorchester Heights there he erected a but threw up Breast work and there up remained four months and was discharged from that place and returned to Chesterfield. That in 1776 he volunteered from the Town of Chesterfield State of Massachusetts the names of the Officers he cannot recollect that from Chesterfield he marched to New London in the State of Connecticut and remained there five months and was discharged from New London and returned to Chesterfield. And that in the Year 1776 he volunteered from Chesterfield in the State of Massachusetts (the names of the Officers he cannot recollect) that from Chesterfield he marched to Springfield Massachusetts and was stationed at that place to guard the Military Stores and was from that place discharged at which place he served four months making his service in all thirteen months - he never received a regular dis- charge - he for the State he knows of no person living who can testify to his services.
He hereby relinquishes every claim what ever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any State agency of any State.
Obediah Stephenson

Where and in what Year were you Born
Ans. I was Born in the Town of Hingham State of Massachu- -setts
Ques Have you any record of your age and if so where is it Ans I have a record of my age in the Town of Hingham with the Town clerk in said the Town.
Ques Where were you living when called into service Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live
Ans I was living in the Town of Chesterfield State of Massachusetts at the time of my enlistment and since that time I have resided in Charlestown in Pulaski County and State of Ohio
How were you called in to service - were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute! Ans Volunteered
Ques State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with you the Troops. where you served such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service
Ans I cannot answer any of foregoing questions
Ques Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so. by whom was it given and what has become of it
Ans I never did receive a regular discharge
Ques 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
Ans I offer Mr Pliny Cook & Thomas Deming I swear to and subscribe the day and place of birth before me John H. Skinner Capt. Col. 2 d

State of Ohio } We Pliny Cook of Charlestown Portage Portage County } County and State of Ohio and Thomas Damron of the same place do hereby certify that we are well acquainted Obediah Stephenson who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that he believes him to be 76 years of age that he is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion - and he further states that he is a man whose character for truth and veracity is unimpeach- able
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year } Pliny Cook aforesaid Before me John N. Strimer Dept. Clerk } Thomas Damron
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 Pliny Cook and Thomas Damron who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the Township of Charlestown and county of Portage aforesaid and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I George Kirkum clerk of the Supreme Court of the state of Ohio for the county of Portage do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of application of Obediah Stephenson for a pension.
Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty ninth day of August A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Geo. Kirkum Clerk.

Application for A Transfer
The State of Ohio, Portage County ss
On this fourth day of September A.D. 1833 before me the Subscriber a justice of the Peace for the said County of Portage State of Ohio personally appeared Olediah Stephenson who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Capt John Fairfield in the Regiment commanded by Major Banister in the service of the United States that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Ohio (Cincinnati agency) that he now resides in Charlstown Portage County Ohio where he intends to remain and wishes his name transferred from the Cincinnati agency to the Ohio Pittsburgh Agency The following are his reason for wishing it transferred viz That it is nearly three hundred miles from Cincinnati and no direct communication whereas Pittsburgh is but one hundred miles and almost daily communication
Olediah Stephenson
Sworn and Subscribed before me the day and year above mentioned
J. V. Gardner J. Pease
I certify that I am well acquainted with Olediah Stephenson and know him to be the person who subscribed the above affidavit
Cyrus Prinkle
I hereby certify that Cyrus Prinkle who has subscribed and sworn to the identity of Olediah Stephenson above is a person of truth and veracity —
J. V. Gardner J. Pease
The State of Ohio Portage County ss
I Geo. Kirkum Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County, certify that John V. Gardner is a Magistrate as above, and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his, are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this 6. day of September in the year 1833. Geo. Kirkum Clerk.

Rev. Rev.
4012
INVALID.
File No. 4012  Stephenson  Obadiah Stevenson  Bi. Mass. M.
Act: June 7, '32
Index:—Vol. A , Page 357
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Job Thompson Val Coosard Obad. Stephenson
Confine
Her Transfer. 90
111111
William Lloyd
100 Barnesburg, Pa. Washington City
St. Paul.

26 13.00
J L Edwards Esqr

1833 Ravenna Portage County Ohio Sept 7 th J L Edwards Esq Sir Sir,
I herewith return you Saml Austin's papers with the proper certificate of the time of his death also Ichabod Lord's papers - both of which we hope will prove correct, also V. Coosard, O. Stephenson and John Thompson's application for a Transfer - you will please return answers to me as soon as they are acted on. Col. Daniel Tilden feels extremely anxious fearing that his paper have miscarried, he applied some time since for an increased pension and has heard nothing - respecting it since - He is in very needy circumstances. I remain Very Respectfully Your obedient humble servant Cyrus Prouty
Austin & Lord's papers taken out

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Obadiah Stevenson 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? In part 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? No — Two Citizens XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No 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? Yes 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? 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? Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? XVI. † Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? Answered
 EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which 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 shewn 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.