Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18671, James Wright, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Wright James
S. 18671
carded
CONTENTS
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Middlesex ss.
On this Seventeenth day of August - AD 1832 Concord personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas  Private , now sitting at within and for the County of Middlesex in the Commonwealth aforesaid
James Wright of Carlisle in the 32 nd year of his age
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 In the month of February A.D. 1776 he enlisted for two months in the Company of Capt. Archibald Wheeler of Leicester in Col. John Robinsons Regt. of Mass. forces, he was stationed at Barracks No 2 East of Cambridge College where he did duty served out his two months and was discharged. 2 In A.D. 1776 he engaged for six months to go to Nantasket and enlisted in the Company of Aleisha Brown of Concord Lts Andrews and Prador in the Regt. of Col. Isaac Whitney of Hanover , he repaired to Hull on Nantasket roads and there served out his two months and was discharged. 3 In A.D. 1777 he engaged to go to  Bennington he enlisted in the Company of Capt. Aaron Jewett Lts Wheeler and Gibson , in Col. Reads Regiment, (as he believes) he went about the middle of July and was appointed a Sergeant in the Company - he did duty with his Company, he was stationed at Bennington , then marched to Coats morn, then back to Bennington and having served two months was again discharged.

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, Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
J. O. May - James Wright a Clergyman residing in the town of
in the county of  hereby certify that we are well acquainted with  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,
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 the Rev. Stephen H. Hildreth accompanying  who has signed the  Certificates is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Carlisle in said County and Deacon John  is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. J. O. May Clerk 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 James 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
Francis Hildreth
And I further certify that John Abbot and Francis Tuttle Esqrs are Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex: and that their respective signatures to the captions on the Depositions of Silas Chandler, Elijah Hild and John O'Keer appear to be their proper signatures.
Francis Hildreth
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Court this eighth day of May in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty three
Francis Hildreth

No. 1. Declaration of James Wright
This Case contains four Papers No. from 1. to 4. inclusive
Please to send my best to my agent Sam. Dana by Gorton Ms.
Wright, James Mass. 518671

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex, to wit,
At the Court of Probate begun and holden at Corners within and for the County of Middlesex on the seventeenth day of August A. D. 1832. On the application of James Wright 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,
In Westland, January 5. 1861.
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it?
Answer.
Answer, I have no record, but my name is recorded on the Census back of Westport
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? Answer,
In the 1860s, In the year 1861. I moved to Wakefield. Me in 1862 I moved back to Westford. As in 1862 I moved to Carlisle where I have since lived.
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.
Answer, I saw Gen. Lincoln at Borington. Gen. Wan in after at Cambridge. Dr. John Johnson  Chase  Chase  Chase Esq. New Bedford. Mr. Simon Harris . Mr. Harris Letts
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.
Answer, Capt. Aaron Fletcher. Dr. John Nelson Esq. Rev. Abel Root. Mr. Cyrus Root. Rev. Mr. Howland. Lieut. Field. John Root Esq. Did you ever receive any discharge from service? Ans. I never rec. any such discharge.
7 Did you ever receive any discharge from service? Ans r I never rec d any such discharge
James Wright known to — J. P. May W. B. R.

The letter to John Nelson
Oct 21. 1833
9.6
80 New Bedford
21175 21.175
Massachusetts
James Wright
of Carlisle in the State of Mass who was a Sergeant in the Comp y commanded by Captain Wheeler of the Reg t commanded by Col. Robinson in the Mass line for 2 Mo. Serv ce $10 8 " " " 26.66
Total $36.66
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 d day of Aug t 1832 and put t S. D. D. A. S. Boston
Arrears to the 14th of Mar ch $73.23 Pension allowance ending Sep r 1833 18.33 $91.66
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. J. A. Atkin
Recorded by J. A. Atkin Clerk, Book E, Vol. 3, Page 93

James Wright
16.774
Supt 2 Mr
Pkt 8.
10 1606
May 3 1893
P. 372
Sam Dana Esq
Groton Mass

BRIEF in the case of James Wright  of Carlisle in the State of  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In open court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy eight  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 Feby In 1776 2. Private Col o Robinson Capt o Wheeler   1776 6 " Col o Whitney Capt o Brown   1777 2 Sergeant Col o Read Capt o Jewett  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None Named  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? In Westford, Vt  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Three living witnesses and traditional evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Not attached agreeably to the regulations 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Examining Clerk.

James Wright
Wright, James Mass 5/8/71

We Stephen Hull a Clergyman residing in Town of Carlisle in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth and John Jacobs of the same Carlisle hereby certify that we are well acquaint- ed with James Wright who has subscribed the annexed Declaration, and that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age, that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier in the revo- lution and that we concur in that opinion Subscribed and sworn on the 20 th day of August AD 1832.
Commonwealth of Mass a Middlesex ss. Stephen Hull. Aug 20 Subscribed and sworn before me Sam l Dana Jr Esq r John Jacobs for all the Counties in said Commonwealth

18671 INVALID.
File No. 18671
James Wright Colg Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 418
[Arrangement of 1870.]

16774
James Wright
✓ Alaska Exp Boston Mass

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
James Wright 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?
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 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.

Affidavit of 2 Silas Chandler in the case of James Wright

Silas Chandler affidavit
Affidavit of Silas Chandler in the case of James Wright

I Silas Chandler of Watford in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being seventy seven years of age do testify and say, that I am well acquainted with James Wright of Carlisle in said County and that in the year 1777 we were both enlisted into the same company. The company was commanded by Capt Aaron Jewett of Littleton in said County. The 1 st Lieut was Sherin of Townsend in said County and the 2 nd Lieut was Gibson of Ashby in said said County. The Col's name I do not now recollect. We went about the middle of July in said year and returned as I think in the middle of Sept. The said James Wright was a sergeant in the company in which I was. We went to Bennington in the State of Vermont.
Silas Chandler
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss. August 15 th 1832 Then the above named Silas Chandler whom I certify to be a man of veracity, and to whose declarations full credit may be given, came personally before me the subscriber a justice of the Peace for said County of Middlesex and signed the above affidavit and made oath that the same contains the whole truth relative to the transactions therein stated.
John Abbott Justice of the Peace

Affidavit of John Oliver in the case of James Wright

Affidavit of John Oliver in the case of James Wright

I John Oliver of Acton in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of eighty three years do testify and say that I am acquainted with James Wright of Carlisle in the County of Commonwealth aforesaid, in the year A.D. 1776 in the month of Feb said Wright enlisted and went to Cambridge for two months and served that time under Col. Robertson of Westford and left Ana Wheeler of Sudbury in said County and was regularly discharged
John Oliver
Middlesex ss August 17, 1832 Then the above named John Oliver personally appeared and made oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed was true
Francis Little Justice of the Peace
I certify that I am acquainted with the above named John Oliver that he is a man who is disinterested & a man of truth
Francis Little Justice of the Peace

Affidavit of Abijah Read in the case of James Wright

Abijah Read
affidavit in the case of James Wright

I Abijah Reed of Westford in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being seventy eight years of age do depose and say, that I am well acquainted with James Wright of Carlisle in said County and that in the year 1776 we voluntarily enlisted for six months in the company commanded by Capt A. Brown of Concord in said County. The 1 st Lieut was Abraham Andrews of Woburn in said County and the 2 d Lieut was Silas Proctor of said Westford. The Col was Josiah Whitney of Harvard in the County of Worcester in said Commonwealth and the Lieut Col was named Jackson as I think. We passed the time at Hall in said Massachusetts, and never left the place of our enlistment. Abijah Reed
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss. August 15 th 1832 Then the above named Abijah Reed, whom I certify to be a man of veracity, and to whom declarations full credit may be given, came personally before me the subscriber a justice of the peace for said County and signed the above affidavit, and made oath that the same contains the whole truth relative to the transactions therein stated.
John Abbot Justice of the Peace