Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10878, for William Hunt, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Hunt, William
S. 10878
cardeal
CONTENTS
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4698
New Hampshire
William Hunt of Wolfeboro in the State of N.H. who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Reed of the Regt commanded by Col. Drown in the Mass. line and Mustering 19 mo. and 12 days
Inscribed on the Roll of New Hampshire at the rate of 64 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of March 1833 and subscribed
Arrears to 4th of March 1833 - 139 32 Pension allowance ending Sept 4. " 32 33
$161 65
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1833
Recorded by E. H. Gynasty Book 20 Vol. 1 Page 161

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 th of June 1832 -
On this twenty third day of August 1832 - personally appeared in open court, before the Hon Aaron Matson Judge of the Court of Probate for said county of Cheshire now sitting.

all British, as little was done. The company was organized at Newton from Northbridge, Lehigh Valley - Newton - was enrolled and formed at Allentown. Went to Reading - then to Lancaster Point after which - the Governors Island - all of which places they were stationed for a long time. In the organizations employed in repairing the Forts and military works until the month of November 1778 - the said William Smith was ordered to New Bedford through the above series which continued for some time. The company came off the Island and was stationed at Lancaster Point in November aforesaid.
In May 1778 the said William Smith enlisted into a company commanded by Capt David Butcher of Northbridge, his former company being disbanded. of Lehigh Regiment of Pennsylvania militia or State troops for eight months. But Smith was a member of Capt Butcher's at this time. The company went to Lancaster, Fishkill, Poughkeepsie & White Plains, and were in these quarters during the summer. In the fall the company returned to Fishkill, N.Y. quarters, and remained in their quarters by their own side of Fishkill mountain until the expiration of said term. In eight months, at which time they were disbanded at Fishkill. The said William Smith re-enlisted in January 1779 - General M'Clure commanded the Brigade.
In August 1779 the said Smith enlisted for three months into a company of Pennsylvania state troops Capt Benjamin Ash of Allentown - in Col. Lucas Pennsylvania Regiment. Lieutenant Robert Smith was an officer of said company, and the

...of fathers... sides. - He was serving in the north... ...when called into the service... 7th 1777... and in 1778... ...received any written discharge from either of said services. and he has no documentary evidence and has found no persons, after an inquiry to the place of his residence, who can testify, and he knows of no person who came to his services except the persons who have an interest in the matter.
He hereby relinquishes any claim to a pension or an annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State. Since the Revolution, the said Agent has lived in Swansey, fifteen years, there, & town there and Richmond all in the State of Pennsylvania where and now resides in said Richmond. That he has not lived in Richmond long enough, to have gained any reputation there for Revolutionary services. but prefers the Honorable Elijah Bolding and Capt Elihu Blake both of Swansey, who can testify to his being believed to be a Revolutionary soldier at

the time he lived in said Swansea, and to his character for veracity.
Wm Hunt
Sworn and subscribed the day and year Aforesaid
before me Horos Watson Judge of Probate
We Elijah Belding and Levi Blake both residing in Swansea New Hampshire hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with William Hunt of Richmond, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be sixty seven years of age. That at the time he lived in said Swansea, which was about twenty years, commencing about forty years ago, he was respected and believed in the neighborhood where he then resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Elijah Belding
Levi Blake
Sworn and subscribed the day and
year Aforesaid before me Horos Watson Judge of Probate and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after further the interrogatories prescribed by the War department that the above named Applicant was a revolutionary soldier and deserves as he states and the court further testify that it appears to them that Elijah Belding and Levi Blake who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of Swansea in said County of Cheshire adjoining said Portsmouth and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Horos Watson Judge of Probate
I Asa Parker Register of the Court of Probate for the afore- said County of Cheshire do hereby certify that the foregoing con- tains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Hunt for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty third day of August A.D. 1832 - Asa Parker Reg of Court of Probate.

10.778 William Hunt
Alma 19th day March

10.778.  BRIEF in the case of  William Hunt County of Cheshire in the State of New Hampshire (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? 67.  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.     Sub. In 1776 8th Jan'y 42 As a private Gen. Capt. Batchelder, Col. Tyler   Sub. 1776 April 7 do. Capt. S. Reed, Col. Drew, Drury   Enlisted 1778 May 8 do. Capt. David Batchelder, Col. Wood, Genl. Mc. Dougall   " 1780 Aug. 1st 3 do. Capt. Benj. Reed, Col. Paine, Lieut. Robt. Taft   19 12  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? North Bridge, Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional & witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Waugh Examining Clerk. Feb. 11, 1833.

copy made of decla. Aug 23. 1832

(HF 42)
Date Feb. 8, 1922
Name Wm Hunt No. 810878 War of Red
Photographic copies wanted of 1 pieces, consisting of 1 pages.
Remarks: W. Wilson Ext. 1100 Chief Record Div.
Serial 6030 Law Clerk. No. _____

BUREAU OF PENSIONS Finance Division
JAN 28 1922 19 _
Chief of Rev. War Section Sir:
I have this day received from Miss A. Louise Sanders draft No. 228,421 for $ 2 10 / 100 requesting post office addresses as per letter herewith.
Copies mailed Feb. 8/1922 R Law DW
Very respectfully, O. J. RANDALL Chief of Division.
[Signature]
Law
107 Winyah Avenue, New Rochelle, N.Y.
January 24, 1922
✓ $2.10 rec'd. M.O. for v m K
Div.
of the 20" instant received. money order for two dollars and ten nt for photostat copies of papers sion claims, listed below.
  3 Revolution, 3 pages   " " 2 "   " " 4 "   11 " 5 " 14 
certification of the above.
truly yours
A Louise Sanders
211 35

Law
107 Winyah Avenue, New Rochelle, N.Y.
January 24, 1922
✓ $2.10 rec'd. m.o. for v.m.K.
Mr. Washington Gardner Rev. War Section, Record Div. Bureau of Pensions Washington D.C.
Sir:
Your prompt reply of the 20" instant received.
I am enclosing a money order for two dollars and ten cents, ( $2.10) in payment for photostat copies of papers in Revolutionary War pension claims, listed below.
  Samuel Hosmer, W. 19683  Revolution,  3 pages    Samuel Jones, S 30516  "  2 "    Willaim Hunt, S. 10878  "  4 "    Asahel Wheeler, W, 26011  "  5 "  
14
I do not wish for certification of the above.
Very truly yours
(Miss) A Louise Sanders
011 35

Jan. 20, 1913.
Miss A. Louise Sanders, 207 Winyah Ave. New Rochelle, N. Y.
Madam:
In response to your letter of the 17 th instant, you are advised that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford information in regard to any Josiah Witherell.
Photostat copies of papers in Revolutionary War pension claims will be furnished under the provisions of the Act of Aug. 24, 1912, at the rate of fifteen cents per page, with twenty-five cents extra, in each case, for certification if that is desired. The proper amount should be forwarded to this Bureau by money order drawn to the order of the Secretary of the Interior.
The number of pages to be copied is as follows:
Samuel Koemer, W. 19683, Revolution, 3 pages Samuel Jones, S. 30516, " 2 " William Hunt, S. 10878, " 4 " Asahel Wheeler, W. 26011, " 5 "
Theophilus Witherell, 21 st Regt. U. S. Inf. War of 1812 ( no service in the Revolution ) 5 pages.
Very respectfully,
Walter H. Fisher Commissioner.

Commissioner of Pensions Bureau of Pensions Washington, D.C.
Re. Revolutionary pensioners.
Dear Sir:
I have been informed that you have in your department copies of the affidavits filed by soldiers of the Revolutionary war who applied for pensions. I have further been informed that it is possible to secure "photostatic" copies of these affidavits at a cost of fifteen cents (15¢) per page. Is or rather are these statements correct? If so, I should like to secure photostatic copies of the affidavits of the following men:
List of Pensioners, Vol.I. Sessions 25 Congress
3. 1019683 196 . Samuel Hosmer, Mass. mil. on pension roll 1855 ae 75 5. S20262 285 . Theophilus Witherell, priv. 21st reg't, U.S. Inf'ty: placed on pension May 29, 1818 — not Rev. 2 S30516 Marshall  used Samuel Jones, ae 75. on roll in 1855. Died Feb;20, 1855
List of Pensioners, Vol.IV. Exec. Document 55.
4 S10878 P.104 William Hunt, private Mass. militia.
Samuel Hosmer was from Acton, Mass Theophilus Witherell, from Pembroke, Mass Samuel Jones, from Acton or Concord, Mass. William Hunt, from Sudbury, Mass.
Is it not possible that there are omissions in the compiled and published list? There are some others that I want but could not find. none Josiah Witherell, (b. 1754, d. 1840) was in the war from Pembroke and as he died in the poorhouse, he would probably have applied for a pension. Will you please have him looked up and reported on to me? Also, the record of Capt. Asahel Wheeler (b. 1741, d. 1822) of Sudbury, Mass. 2026011 Jerusha  (3)
Perhaps I have been misinformed concerning the "Report of the Secretary of War on Revolutionary Pensioners 1816-1852". If it is not possible for you to investigate the records for me, please inform me how I may obtain the copies. If it is possible to investigate for me and report on the number of pages in the records of each one and the cost, please do so as possible promptly that I may send a check for the amount and obtain the desired information contained in them.
I thank you very much in advance.
Very truly yours
A. Louise Sanders (Miss) A. Louise Sanders
19 pages 5-cfg

10878 INVALID.
Reuben
File No. 10,878
William Horn
Priv. Rev. War
Act: June 7 1832
Index:—Vol. a , Page 186
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1922 Feb. 8. Copy mailed to A. P. Daniels.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Hunt 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? 2 witnesses 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? _____ 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? 3. 6. 7.
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.

Alfred Smith Williams Islands and

I Solomon White of Scituate in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts aged 78 years testify that before the Revolution my home was in Rehoboth Massachusetts, and was acquainted with William Hunt then of Rehoboth now living in Rehoboth Massachusetts.
In the year 1778 I was drafted on an alarm for six weeks, in service in the Massachusetts Militia at Providence Rhode Island, in Capt Peter Perrin's Company and Col William Lydon's Regiment - and went six weeks, and was stationed in the College at Providence.
Said Hunt was at the same time in service in the United States Service in Capt Hatch's Company of Artillery in Rhode Island. I have said Hunt from a boy and recollect that he was as young as I presume is a substitute as he was not at that time of an age sufficient to be drafted.
Solomon White
State of Massachusetts Bristol ss August 23, 1832
Solomon White, who is known to me as a credible witness, personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit, by him subscribed.
Before me
Levi Chamberlain for Clerk
Cherhiep. Aug. 24, 1832
I Salma Hale, Clerk of the Judicial Court in said County, certify that Levi Chamberlain is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and that the foregoing signature is in his own hand writing. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix the seal of said Superior Court of Justice.
S. Hale, Clerk

Upolu - William D. Dutton
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]

I Frederic Taft of Uxbridge in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Lawful age do testify and say, that I served a term of Duty of eight months beginning in May in the year 1770, in Capt. David Batchelder's Company in Col. Ezra Wood's Regiment, we were Stationed at different places near the North river in the State of New York - I remember William Hurst now of Richmond in the County of Northbridge the & State of New Hampshire, but formerly of Douglas  during said time in Coun- ty of Worcester aforesaid, belonged to our said Company & we were all dismissed together after our time of service expired, by Gen- l. M c Dougall without a written discharge, near at Pikkil village in the State of New York, and further the deponent saith not. Frederic Taft
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester ss. Uxbridge August 14 th 1832. Then personally appeared Frederic Taft Esq r , who signed the above Deposition & made Solemn Oath to the truth of the same. I further certify that I am well acquainted with the said Deponent & know him to be a person of truth & a credible witness.
Benjamin Adams Justice of the Peace
I certify that Benjamin Adams is a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Worcester Mass. John Davis

I Levi Morse of Douglas in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age Depose & say that I am personally acquainted with William Hunt of Bichonard in the County of Cheshire & State of New Hampshire & that some time in the month of August Seventeen hundred & Eighty, sd Hunt enlisted with me - in the Massachusetts State Troops, engaged in the revolutionary Service of the United States & served with me at West Point in the State of New York Three months, in the Regiment commanded by Col - Bands, & in the Company commanded by Capt Benjamin Read, in which Company Robert Doot was Lieutenant - And further - your Deponent saith not -
Levi Morse
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Worcester - Sp. August 13 - 1832
Personally appeared Levi Morse & Made oath that the facts stated in the above Depositions by him - subscribed are substantially true
Before me - Robert P. Church Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Worcester, ss.
I, Abijah Bigelow, clerk of the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Worcester, do certify, That Benjamin Adams and Robert P. Church, Esquires, before whom the foregoing affidavits of Frederic Taft and Levi Morse, were subscribed and sworn to, are Justices of the Peace, for said County - and that the signatures of said Justices thereto subscribed, appear to be in their own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the County Seal, this eighteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Abijah Bigelow, Clk.