Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7000, for Robert Mason, Connecticut

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
born
Mason, Robert
R 7000
CONTENTS

State of Connecticut County of Hartford } ss
On this 6 th day of June 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for the District of (Wanby now sitting) Robert Mason a resident of the town of Simsbury in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut aged 83 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 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.
personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace for the County of Hartford in the State of Connecticut Robert Mason of Simsbury in said County and State who being duly sworn deposes 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 up than the periods mentioned below - and in the following order, that he volunteered in the Year 1776, as a private in the Company of foot commanded by Capt Charles Cane of the militia marched to Boston and served a term of not up than one Month, dont recollect if joining any Regiment was discharged at Boston - this was in the summer. That in the Year 1777 he entered the service as a Volunteer herein under the said Captain Charles Cane for a term of not up than two Years - That a part of this term he served under Captain Asahel Purn in Colonel Jonathan Pitkin's Regiment and a part of the term in Col Stokes Regiment That he marched to Albany, Fort Hill, Paterkill

Hosmerick, and Danbury was at Danbury soon after it was burnt that he entered on this term of service in the Spring of the Year 1777 - and was discharged at Hosmerick some time in the Spring of 1779 - Having completed the full term of two Years - and for such service I claim a pension
Robert Mason
Sworn to and subscribed the day and Year aforesaid before me Isaac Griffin Suster of the peace
That during the aforesaid term of service he was in no General battle but had frequent skirmishes with the Enemy - That he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can produce who can testify to his service. He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity whatsoever except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any State.
Robert Mason
Sworn and subscribed to the day and Year aforesaid before me
Isaac Griffin
Judge of Probate for the District of Litchfield - con.
And to the Inquiries as presented by the War Department the applicant answers as follows viz,
 1. was born at Bolton in Con. 19 th day of April 1750. O.S.  2. has no record of his age -  3. lived in Simsbury Con. when called into service that in the Year 1781 - he moved to Vermont said then 12 or 13 Years then returned to Simsbury where he now lives and where he has lived ever since  4. Volunteered the whole  5. Recalls General Parsons and Regiment Recalls General Roper and General Isaac Clark  6. had a discharge from service but lost it  7. Saw M c Comb Esq. Rev M c Asa Cornell Rev M c Edward Hon Elisha Phelps - 
Robert Mason

Sworn to and Subscribed the day and Year aforesaid before me Jacob Griffin Judge of Probate for the District of Granby
and this Court doth give as their opinion that the Statement of the aforesaid applicant is true
Jacob Griffin Judge of Probate for the District of Granby
We Allen M c Lean a clergyman residing in the town of Farmington County of Hartford and State of Connecticut do hereby certify that one and well acquainted with Robert Mason who has subscribed his name to the above declaration that he believes him to be 83 Years of age that he is a republican believes in the scriptures when he believes it has been a soldier of the Revolution and that one concurs in that opinion
Allen M c Lean
Elijah St John
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and Year aforesaid
before me Jacob Griffin Judge of Probate for the District of Granby
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 said as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Allen M c Lean who has signed the preceding Certificate is a clergyman, residing in the town of Farmington County of Hartford and State of Connecticut, and that Elijah St John who has also signed the same is a respectable person and that their statement is entitled to credit
Jacob Griffin Judge of Probate for the District of Granby

AFFIDAVIT AND POWER OF ATTORNEY.
STATE OF Connecticut } ss. Simsbury, COUNTY OF Hartford
Be it remembered, That, on this Eighth day of January A. D. 1853, I, Mary M. Vining. do make known and declare that I am the daughter and heir-at-law to Robert Mason who was the _____ wife of a Revolutionary soldier, who served _____ years, under the command of
_____ in the forces raised by the State of Connecticut - and that he and his said wife were married about the month of A. D. _____ that he died about the month of February 1835
A. D. _____ and that his said wife also died about the month of aged 82 years. A. D. _____ and that a pension of _____ dollars a year was drawn by said
_____ on account of said services, and so continued until the year A. D. 18_____, since which time nothing has been received by either, or the heirs of either of said parties.
And that claimant is now 58 years of age; and it is understood and believed that there are arrearages of Pension, and other claims due for said services: Now, THEREFORE, the true intent of all this is to qualify and irrevocably appoint and empower ALFRED J. WORKS, of New Haven City and County, State of Connecticut,
as my Attorney, with power of substitution, to investigate, substantiate, demand, and receive the avails of, said claim or claims, and to say and do all things relative thereto, as amply as I might do: hereby ratifying every thing said or done by my said Attorney, or his substitute, in virtue hereof; ALSO, revoking all Powers of Attorney, or other authority previously given for any such purposes.
Attest,
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, day and date first above named.
Mary M. Vining
L. S.
Subscribed, sworn to, and acknowledged before me, the day and year first above indicated.
Lucius I. Barber Notary Public.

sion on file in this Bureau.
Robert Mason P. File 7000
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1776 1 mo Private Charles Cox Conn.   Spring 1777 2 yrs Charles Cox Jonathan Pitkin   Admijah Burr Hooker  
Battles engaged in, infrequent skirmishes Residence of soldier at enlistment, Lindbury, Hartford Co. Conn. Date of application for pension, Apr. 3, 1832 Residence at date of application, Lindbury, Conn. Age at date of application, B. Bristol, Conn. Apr. 19 1750 A.S.
Remarks: This claim was not allowed, for the reason that he gave no satisfactory proof of his alleged services. Soldier died in Feb. 1835. At death Mary M. Waring was 58 years of age in 1833.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
Dear Sir. -
Will you kindly give me the military history with details of Robert Mason who is said to have been born in Groton Conn., in 1749 and died in Simsbury Conn. in 1835. He married Chloe Case in 1777.
They removed to Castleton Vt. returning to Simsbury in 1799.
His service was probably with the Vermont troops, but he was living

in Connecticut at the date of his application for a pension.
With many thanks.
Very truly yours Mary F. Martin Consulting Registrar
30 High St - Bristol Conn Dec. 12. 1910

910, Dec. 19. Hist. to Mrs. Mary F. Martin.
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
10000
P. O. Mason Robert H. Gray Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: REJECTED _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Connecticut
Robert Mason
rejected
See letter to Joel Griffin
18 th Sept 1833 -

RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by A. Mae D. 14/12/10
Claim No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant _____
Soldier Robert Mason
Service Vt., Conn.
Additional Service Rev.
No. _____ claim, State records _____, 191 _____
No claim, combination records _____, 191 _____
REMARKS:
No Wid. any service " Rej except Reg. 7,000 (Conn.)

No 14.100
John Blake 6329
Robert Mason
Joab Griffin West Grunby Count?
John Funderbough
Woodstock etc

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 M. ...  Robin M. ... 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  no 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  no see question 5 VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes  no 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  no See the Regulations IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes  no 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  no

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? 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? 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? no
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes  no
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 in some cases
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? not all
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.
Witnesses should give a detailed account of their services.

Robert Mason
Dalmatian —
16329.

State of Connecticut - County of Hartford, Estate of Henry ss On the 3 rd Day of August 1932 - Personally appeared before me Joel Griffin Esq. Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Hartford - now sitting as Receiver Mason of Mason of Simsbury in Hartford County & a Resident of same aged Eighty two years who being first duly sworn according to law both on his oath made the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1932 that the benefits of the Service of the United States under the following named Acts of Congress in time of war are - that the benefits of the Service under both Select base in 1976 - Went to Boston then a tour of our mouth or more I was during the time of the war. The again benefits of the Service under the Select base in 1977 as a volunteer for two years or more the basic term of time. He does not know. Remember - In the time of Service I was under the Select base. The greater part of the time of the remainder of the time under both Select and Base - our troops during this time were part of the time under base for a Pittsburgh & a part of the time under base in Washington and frequently I am not sure but I cannot say that we were under his command or any time. - In the time of Service we were at Albany, Fishkill, Peekskill, Harrisburg

Deming & Parsons the claim - That having done his full term of Service out the War was ended but has no written discharge to produce - The further claim that the War in no General Battle but had frequent skirmishes with different portions of the Army - That at the time the battle the General Service the War a Division of Home of Service - The has no documentary evidence of his Service as aforesaid - upon me
The undersigned does claim whatever the Pension or Annuity should be the present I declare that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency of any State - I swear to the best of the knowledge of Robert Mason I swear upon me Isaac Griffin said man
We William Mitchell & Jeffrey O'Keefe both now residing in the town of Simsbury in Hartford County do hereby certify that we are now Will Agents with Robert Mason who has Subst. He was the above declaration that we believe him to be 72 years of age - & that he is entitled to believe in the neighborhood where he resides to have been one of the Revolution - & that we believe in that opinion - Sworn to about the day & year aforesaid - William Mitchellson Jeffrey O'Keefe I swear upon me and before me that I have been

and the above has been heard in the His Opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories put by the War Department, that the complainant was a victim of the prostitution here, in the States — & the Court further believes that it appears to him, that William Matlockson & Jeffrey O'Keefe, who have signed the foregoing interrogatories are both residents of Town of Simsbury & are credible persons that their testimony is entitled to credit — Isaac Griffin Judge
I Joshua D. Jewett Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Simsbury do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of Robert Mason for a Pension —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 9 th day of August 1832 — Joshua D. Jewett Clerk
I hereby certify that the above named Isaac Griffin is Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Simsbury & that the above is his genuine signature Joshua D. Jewett Clerk

Random leave for Robert Mason -

On this day of Sunday in Herk Co County of Lowville age 80 years old that I have been acquainted with the Colonel Mason of Lowville that I know the War in the Service of the United States in the War of the Revolution and according to the best of my recollection the War in the Service about four years at different times — I saw him at Little Pikeville, New Point, Albany & Saratoga & other places during the War — and the War under which the War, & cannot now remember — I was with him some part of the time of the War & was not knowing of his said War — Date of Sunday July 31, 1832 — Reuben
Herk Co County ss Sunday July 31, 1832 — Personally appeared Reuben Case & made solemn oath to truth of the above deposition by him Subscribed — Before me Joel Holcomb Justice Peace I further certify that the above named Reuben Case is a credible & distinguished Witness Joel Holcomb Justice Peace

I Joshua R. Scott Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Franklin do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of Robert Mason for a Pension — In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office this 6 day of June 1833 — Joshua R. Scott Clerk
I Joshua R. Scott Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Franklin do hereby certify that Jacob Griffin Esq. is Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Franklin & is also a Justice of the Peace within the County of Hartford in the State of Connecticut duly qualified Clerk as such Judge & Justice & that his Signature here impressed below his is his genuine Signature In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office this 6. day of June 1833 — Joshua R. Scott Clerk