Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,234, John Wright, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Wright, John
NUMBER
S. 30234.
CONTENTS

Massachusetts John Wright
of Billerica in the State of Massachusetts who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Hinden of the Reg t commanded by Col. Dodge in the Massachusetts line for aid in other regiments
19 months
State & Middle
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 63 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of March 1833 and sent Hon. J. Nelson Newburyport Mass
Arrears to the 14th of March 33 - 126, 66 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept r 31 66 158 32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by
B. Ellis
Clerk,
Book
D
Vol.
2
Page
92
79 Middlesex

719 John Wright
Marshall Preston

7119  BRIEF in the case of John Wright County of Middlesex 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  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.     Enlisted In 1775. 19 th April — 8 14 Private Gen. Capt. S. Ayinden, Col. E. Bridge Major John Brooks, Genl. Putnam   " 1776 Feb — 2 — do. Capt. John Ford, Col. S. Robinson   " 1776 — — 6 — do. Capt. T. Fitch, Col. Brewer, Genl. Gates   " 1777 — — 3 — do. Capt. S. Bancraft  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Concord, Bunker's Hill,  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Middlesex City. 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? They are not connected with the Clerk's Seal as required. 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Waugh Examining Clerk. Jany. 25. 1833.

John Wright Application 7119.

Thomas Goodwin Deposition — for John Wright

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Middlesex ss.
On this seventeenth day of August  AD 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas  Probate , now sitting at Concord within and for the County of Middlesex in the Commonwealth aforesaid John Wright , a resident of Billerica in said County aged seventy six years and Commonwealth aforesaid. 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 on the morning of the 19th of April 1775, the alarm being given that the British regulars had come out of Boston, he marched as a militia man, to Concord, & was in the fight there - soon after entered into said service for the term of Eight months, marched to Cambridge, was attached to Capt John Heinden's Company - William Blanchard, was Lieutenant and Ebenezer Stickney was Ensign in Col Ebenezer Bridge's Regiment of which John Bridge, the late Governor of Massachusetts, was then Major - During this time was in the Battle of Bunker Hill, generally called Bunker Hill Battle; saw General Putnam in command that day frequently giving orders - General Washington arrived soon after & took command - went out with a number of Volunteers, as far as Watertown to meet him with his troops - served out the said 8 months and fourteen days over; - staid the said fourteen days over to wait for the arrival of the new recruits. Again in 1776 in the month of February he enlisted at said Billerica to go to Cambridge again for the term of Two months, under Capt John Ford of Shelburne marched immediately to Cambridge, was then attached to Col John Robinson's Regt. - served out the said two months at Cambridge & returned home to Billerica in April following - During this time, his company, one night, was marched over very secretly, on to Dorchester Heights to build up some Breast works there - soon after which the Enemy evacuated Boston. Again in the same year, 1776, he enlisted at said Billerica, into said service for the term of six months for the Northern Campaign, under Capt. Zachariah Dill. of Groton, marched the fore part of July he thinks, first to said Groton, then in company by Dr Prescott, then in the Company to Skeensborough in York State, where he waited a few days for boats to take them to Niagara - arrived at Niagara on the 11th of Aug where they joined 2 or 3 Regiments under Genl. Gates - was attached to Col. Brevoort's Regt. then served out his six months, was released & returned home again to Billerica, the time not recollected, but it was in the winter - During this time the Enemy came up one day from Crown Point on the Lake, & after being fired upon by our troops, they retreated back. Again in 1777 he enlisted at Billerica, in October, for the term of three months to go to Cambridge to guard the Hessian Prisoners, under Capt James Ban- croft of Reading, marched to Cambridge & the Prisoners arrived in three or four days after - served out his said three months & returned home again to Billerica does not recollect the time, nor any field officers, as his Company remained stationary by themselves on Winter Hill - Has no documentary evidence & knows of no person he can prove who can testify to his second & last term of service; the other two terms are proved by the Deposition hereto annexed. - never received any discharge.

He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity, therefor 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
John Wright
We
Nathaniel Whitman a Clergyman residing in the town of Billerica  Lowell in the county of Middlesex State of  Massachusetts hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Wright who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be seventy  six 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,
Nathaniel Whitman Samuel Whiting
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 Nathaniel Whitman & Samuel Whiting  Nathaniel Whitman who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the said  Lowell  town of  county of  Billerica  Lowell and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. P. P. [unclear] Clerk of the Court of
I Isaac Tinker do hereby certify that the foregoing contains, the original proceedings, of the said Court, in the matter of the application of John Wright for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this seventeenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two
I also certify that Marshall Preston Gage whose own proper signature is set to the certificate of the Dispositions hereunto annexed is a justice of the Peace within & for said County of Middlesex In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this seventeenth day of August A.D. 1832 Isaac Tinker

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex, to wit,
At the Court of Probate begun and holden at Concord within and for the County of Middlesex on the seventeenth day of August A. D. 1832 On the application of John 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 Wilmington in said County, on the 29 th day of June A.D. 1756
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it ?
Answer,
His Birth is recorded in the Town Records of said Wilmington.
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live ? Answer,
Lived in said Billerica, when he enlisted & has lived there ever since he was sixteen years of age -
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,
On the 19 th of April, aforesaid he turned out as one of the Militia & went to Concord, on the alarm being given as aforesaid - The other times, there being a demand for soldiers to go into the service, he enlisted. -
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,
as before stated in his Declaration -
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,
Rev. Nathaniel Whitman - Thomas Goodwin - John Baldwin Esq.
John Wright
Maddison p August 17, A.D. 1832 Sworn to in open Court
At Isaac Fiske Pres.?

I Amos Foster of Leeksbury in the County of Middlesex, of seventy eight years of age, do hereby testify and say, that in the year, 1775, immediately after the battle at Concord, on the nineteenth of April in the same year, I enlisted into the service, to go into the Army, for the term of Eight months, & served that term at Cambridge. - That Mr John Wright of Billerica, enlisted into the service at the same time I did, and served the same term, at Cambridge with me - That we belonged to different companies, but in the same Regiment. Col Ebenezer Bridge, was the Colonel of the Regiment. - I served under Capt Bray & Walker, who was killed at the Battle at Bunker Hill, and our Lieutenant John Flint, then took command of the same. Said Wright, served in Captain John Horrenden's Company - I was then well acquainted with said Wright, and saw him daily, was often on guard, and on fatigue duty with him - we stood at Cambridge fourteen days in the service after our Eight months had expired, to wait for the new enlisted soldiers to come in to take our places -
I further testify & say that in the year, 1776, I again enlisted to go to the North for the Northern Campaign for the term of six months, I think, that about the first of July of the same year, as soon as our Company was collected, we marched on to the North, to Ticonderoga.

I then served through that campaign, and suppose about six months, because it was winter and snow upon the ground, when we were returning - That said Wright was with me in the service, during the same campaign - we both then belonged to the same company, under Capt. Zachariah or Zachariah Fitch of Grafton, in Col Samuel Brewer's Regiment -
Amos Foster
Middlesex ss. June 27 th 1832 - Then personally appeared the above named Amos Foster, who is a credible person. and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed
Before me Marshall Preston, Jus of the Peace -
Amos Foster for his right

I Thomas Goodwin of Billerica, in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Seventy five years of age, on oath testify & say that in the year 1861, I enlisted into the service to go into the army, for the Northern Campaign, for the term of six months, - Soon after I enlisted, about the month of June, as near as I can recollect, we marched on to Boonsboro, that I served from the time we marched as I have before stated, until the month of December following. - I further testify that I am well acquainted with Mr John Wright of Billerica, & that the said Wright, served through said campaign as I well recollect seeing him in the service, at that time - we did not belong to the same company
Thomas Goodwin
Middlesex ss. June 28. 1882 Then personally appeared the above named Thomas Goodwin, who is a credible person and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed
Before me. Marshall Preston Jus of the Peace

30 234 Rev INVALID. am
File No. 30 234
John Wright His Rev. Rev
Act: June 29 th
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 471
[Arrangement of 1870.]

adult private
19 months
63.33

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John 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? yes 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? No
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.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Wright, John GRADE Private LINE New York
WARRANT NUMBER 7974 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED October 12, 1790 to Conrad Seeber, assignee or Leeber ?
*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.