Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,396, for Joseph Putnam, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass
Putnam, Joseph
S 2 9 3 9 6
CONTENTS

15.915  Massachusetts  Joseph Putnam of Essex — in the State of Massachusetts who was a Sergeant in the Massachusetts commanded by Captain Prince of the Regt. commanded by Col Putnam in the Massachusetts line for 11 m Sept 3 Mass. 8 p.m.  M ts
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 81 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of Aug y 1832 and Susanna B. Merrill Salem
Arrears to the 4th of Nov y 1831 $163.32 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th p m 33 40.83
$304.15
Recorded by C. C. Gilley { Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. } Clerk Book E , Vol. 2 , Page 65
by Essex

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS: COUNTY OF ESSEX, ss.
On this second day of October A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the HONORABLE DANIEL APPLETON WHITE, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, now sitting, Joseph Putnam , a resident of Danvers , in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, aged 86 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, 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:
That after the Battle of Lexington, in April 1775 he enlisted as a Volunteer at Danvers and served Eight months till end of the year in Capt. Prince's Company in Col. Hutchinson's Regiment in the Massachusetts Line on the Continental establishment at Cambridge:
That in the fall of 1776 he enlisted as a a Sergeant and drafted man in Capt. Pool's Company in Col. Cogswell's Regiment of Massachusetts Militia and marched therein from Essex County to Fairfield and Horseneck in New York and served therein about Three months and was, as in the former tour, honorably discharged:
That in the fall of 1777 he again enlisted as a a Sergeant and drafted man and served Five months in Capt. Jon a Proctor's Company in Col. Gerrish's Regiment of Massachusetts Militia and was stationed at Winter Hill near Boston, guarding Burgoyne's troops there:
That in 1778 he again as a Sergeant enlisted and served Three months in Col. Gerrish's Regiment, and he thinks in Capt. Pool's Company, guarding Burgoyne's troops at Cambridge:
He was born in 1746 at Danvers and has always resided there: he had no written discharge or certificate of birth: he is known to Eleazer Putnam Esq. and all the adult citizens of Danvers:
He is now totally blind: and from loss of memory he is unable to state more exactly the dates and length of his service but from the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods abovenentioned above and in the grades herein stated.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
his Joseph Putnam
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
D. White
JUDGE OF PROBATE.
We, Milton P. Braman a clergyman, residing in Danvers aforesaid, and Z. Porter Esquire, a magistrate, residing in Danvers aforesaid, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Putnam who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 86 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
+ Milton P. Braman,
Subscribed and sworn to before me George Esgood Justice of the Peace
Z. Porter
+ The said Joseph Putnam is not personally known to me, but by such report, & on such authority as I think unquestionable M P Braman

No 26091
Joseph Putnam Essex County Massachusetts.
11 Mr. Supt 8 " Prob 19
55 66 26 66 81 66
Buy Merrill Salem Mass?

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Joseph Putnam Essex County Massachusetts
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Enlist 1775 - 8 - private Bap Prince, Colonel Hutchinson 86 years Dedham Traditionary evidence Three Witnesses certified credible -   Enlist 1776 - 3 - serg? Capt Pool, Col Cogswell Massachusetts papers correctly attached   Enlist Fall 1777 - 5 - serg? Capt Proctor, Col Gerrish   Enlist 1778 - 3 - " Col Gerrish, Capt Pool  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d), with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, 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 for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  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 services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. 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. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 that 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 shown, 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
☞ The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration. ☞

O/ W. & N. Div. I 29396 L. W. B.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 30, 1896.
Madam:
Replying to your request for information concerning the military record of Joseph Putnam, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you are advised that he made application for pension Oct. 2, 1832, at which time he was residing in Danvers Mass., and 36 years of age, and his pension was allowed for eight months' actual service as a private, and eleven months' service as a sergeant in the Mass. troops, Revolutionary War; a part of the time he served under Capt. Prince and Col. Hutchinson. He enlisted at Danvers, Mass.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Miss Martha L. Putnam, Groton, Mass.

56.
Enam ass
29 396 INVALID. Recy
File No. 29 396
Joseph Putnam Seiz Recd
Act: June 1 st 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 329
[Arrangement of 1870.]
July 30 Valdr. pence to Miss Martha L. P. Groton, N

3538
Neo Aus

Joseph Putnam Sergeant
26.091
Please address reply to Brig. McCall Salem Mass.

I Amos Tapley, of Danvers in Massachusetts aged 83 years, on oath depose That I am well acquainted with Joseph Putnam, now resident at Danvers - I know that he served in Capt. Pool's Company in Col. Cogswell's Regiment of Massachusetts Militia as much as Two Months in the autumn of 1776: I served in the same Company: we both were drafted at said Danvers - I was the second lieutenant - we marched to Fairfield, in Con- necticut and thence to Horseneck in New York: and were there when Fort Washington was given up: I recollect hearing the Cannon fired there. - I also recollect that said Putnam served the 8 months in 1775 in Capt. Prince's Company at Cambridge.
Amos Tapley
State of Massachusetts Essex County to wit: -
Sept. 28. 1832 Then the above named Amos Tapley, a credible, and disinterested witness, subscribed and made oath to the above Affidavit before
Brig. Merrill Dist. Peace,

Rev. Pease
I, Asa Tapley, of Danvers aged 71 years, on oath testify That Joseph Putnam, of Danvers, served in the fall and winter of 1777 and 1778 as a soldier in Capt Jon t Proctor's Company in Col. Grootish's Regiment of Massachusetts Militia, stationed as guards of Burgoyne's troops at Winter Hill near Boston: I served at the same time and have no doubt that the said Putnam served Five Months, as I did.
Asa Tapley
State of Massachusetts Essex/s: Sept. 29. 1832
Then the said Asa Tapley, a credible and disinterested witness, subscribed and made oath to the above affidavit before Brig t Merrill Dist. Pease.

And the said Court hereby declares its 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 Rev. Milton P. Braman who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman resident in Danvers and that the said Zerubbabel Porter who has also signed the same is a Magistrate resident at Danvers and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
D. H. White Judged Probate
I, NATHANIEL LORD Junior, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Putnam for a pension, and that George Osgood and Benjamin Merrill are Justices of the Peace in and for said County duly qualified and their signatures on the annexed affidavits are genuine
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this seventh day of May , A. D. 1833.
Nath. Lord Jr.

J. Timothy Putnam, of Danvers in Massachu- setts, aged 69 years, on oath testify that I know that Joseph Putnam, now of Danvers, served the first 8 months of the Revolutionary War from April 1775 to end of that year at Cambridge in Capt Prince's Company in Col Hutchinson's Regiment of Massachusetts troops. Timothy Putnam
E/322/3: Dec r 12 th 1832 Then said Timothy Putnam, a credible & disinterested witness subscrib- ed & made oath to the above before me George Osgood Just. Peace

Groton, Mass. July 23 rd , 1896.
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:—
Will you please send me the Revolutionary War Record of Joseph Putnam of Danvers, Mass.
He was a soldier in the war, and in after years received a pension from the government. A record of his service will greatly oblige, Yours Respectfully.
Martha L. Putnam.