Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,105, for Abram Smith, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Smith, Abram
S 17/05
CONTENTS
card
res. at m. Middleton, Essex Co. Mass. Feb. 2 1855 res. in 1844 Bradford, Merrimack Co. N. H. etc.

4. 232.
Rep.
New Hampshire Co. Abram Smith
of Merriack in the State of New Hampshire who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt commanded by Col Smith in the N. Hampshire line for 11. Months 3. days, Mass.
Inscribed on the Roll of Concord at the rate of 37. Dollars _____ Cents per annu to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of May 1845 and sent to Samuel Jones. Bradford, Merrimack Co.
Arrears to the 4th of
Semi-annual allowance ending
increased from $30.
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by M. S. Evans Clerk Book C6, Vol. 1 Page 119.

A Smith
8183
Mr. J. M. Harker
H.R.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
United States of America State of New-Hampshire, } ss. County of Merrimack
On this twenty eighth day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Judges of the District Court of the U.S. for N.H. District , now sitting, Abram Smith a resident of Bradford in the County of Merrimack and State of N. H. aged 77 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 he first enlisted in February 1775 in the town of Middleton in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts his place of residence in Captain Asa Prince's Company of what was then called minutemen in Colonel Newell's Regiment for the term of eight months Captain Prince lived in the town of Danvers and Colonel Newell in the town of Lynn in said Massachusetts. he first marched to Lexington in a body of Militia commanded by Captain Fuller of Middleton and was in the Battle with the British about the 19th of April 1775 and soon after the Battle returned home, and the last of April was called out by Captain Prime, and Marched to Cambridge in said State, and on the morning of the Battle of Bunkerhill he marched from Cambridge on a picket guard of about 500 under General Green, and arrived on the hill soon after the Battle commenced. General Warren commanded, and stayed in the intrenchment until the British got possession of the other end of the intrenchment and he then retreated, and was stationed at a place called Prospect Hill, and served eight months under said Prime and were all discharged in a body, and he does not recollect of having any other discharge And in the year 1776 he enlisted in Captain Benjamin Epps or Ipps Company of Danvers in said Mass as a soldier in Col. Smith's Regiment Col. Hinckley's Lmt. Col. for the term of three months and Marched to a place called Prospect Hill in sight of Boston, and served his time out and were all discharged verbally in a body, - he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person, whose testimony he can prove except Jonathan Wright, for the last service whole - seven or eight months
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,
Sworn to and subscribed, the day of August 28th  Smith year aforesaid Charles Witter Clerk.
We, Jonathan Rowe residing in Bradford and Stephen Ward residing in Bradford hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Abram Smith , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 77 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
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 certifies, that it appears to them that Jonathan Rowe who has signed the proceeding  any certificate, is a Minister resident in the neighbourhood and that Stephen Ward , who has also signed the same is a resident in the neighbourhood and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
1, Charles Witter
Clerk of the District Court of the do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Abram Smith for a pension.
U.S. for N.H. District
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 28th day of August AD 1832

8183 Abram Smith
Phila
9 Mar
adm
of 14 th
18029, 32
$30 -
Page 189
Rev J. M. Harper House Reps

BRIEF in the case of Abraham Smith of Bradford
in the State of N 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? 77 Years
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.     Alpr. 2 In 17 75 " 6 " Private Gen. Col. Prince C. Howard   76 " 3 " " Col. E. E. Epps C. Smith  
5. In what battles was he engaged? Lexington
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Middleton Mass
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses, documentary proof, traditional evidence, incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Written evidence
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Witnesses not stated as credible
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
A. H. Atkinson Examining Clerk.

New Hampshire Abam Smith
Badford in the State of N.H. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain  of the Reg t commanded by Col. J. Smith in the  time for 9 Mo. Mass.
Inscribed on the Roll of  at the rate of 30 Dollars  Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of Jan'y 1830 and sent to  S. F. Farnum Esq. of 
Arrears to 14th of Sept 1832 $45-- Semizant. allowance ending 4 March - 15--
$60--
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. F.  Clerk Book D. Vol. 125 Page 185.

1st letter to S. Jones, August 21.
1837.
" to S. Jones, Nov 6. '44
" By H. Proque, Apr 22. '45

17105
INVALID.
File No. 17105
Alma Smith
Prin. Co. Tex.
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. / , Page 357
[Arrangement of 1870.]

A. Smith No 1232
Payments to be made at Portsmouth N H by the Pres of B d Bank Agent for paying Pension- ers, in the Agency of N H
Issued new Certificate 11 mo 3 days
3 —
deduct what has been paid —
Sam l Jones Bradford
Recorded by J. H. S. 93 Blair Clerk, in Book D. Vol. 12
Merrimack Valley 185 N.H.

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
4232
I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 7th June, 1832, Abram Smith of the State of New Hampshire who was a Private in the Army of the Revolution,
is entitled to receive Thirty dollars and  cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1834, and payable semi-annually, on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this Fifteenth day of January one thousand eight hundred and thirty- Three
Lee Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned. }
J. L. Edwards

Bradford N.Y. May 9 th
May 12. 1895.
Per to case
Free Mahan
Pigeon City
D. C.
Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner Washington

Bradford, Merrimack Co. N. H. May 9 th 1845
Hon. J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Sir, Last evening I received a line from B. F. Rogers Esq in answer to one I sent him some time since, enclosing a copy of a letter from you dated, Pension office April 22 nd 1845 which is as follows, "Sir In reply to yours of the 19 th inst I would inform you that I addressed on the 6 th of November last a letter to Samuel Jones Esq of Bradford N. Hampshire appraising him of the increased allowance to Abraham Smith and requiring the return of his certificate" Respectfully yours &c J. L. Edwards B. F. Rogers Washington D.C. Com.
now friend Edwards, no such letter has ever been received by me, and this was the first information I have ever had that the papers were received at your office, and I loon no time in forwarding the Certificate, hoping that justice will now be meted out to him, You may forward to me the necessary Papers as soon as convenient and after thanking you for your kindness I remain yours as ever Samuel Jones

May 2, 1845.
to Hugh Eaton
4 Folly Wood, admin-
Per. Jan 23/45.
J. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.

1845
Bradford Merrimack Co. N.H. April 28.,
Hon. J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir, I forward you Two applications for arrears of Pension one for the benefit of the widow Phebe Eaton and the other for the benefit of the widow Polly Ward, which I wish you to attend to, as soon as convenient, and send me word-&c.
The application of Abram Smith, a Revolutionary Pensioner for arrears of Pension made last fall I have not heard from, I forwarded the proof of eleven months service, his Pension Certificate is for nine, will you see that justice is done him, I wrote not long since to B. F. Rogers, to ascertain if I could, why his application has not been attended to, I think it must have been mislaid, I wrote to Mr. Norris in the winter to attend to it, Norris wrote that he had not heard the result but expected to soon, nothing further from him since, if the application is found or not, do have the goodness to send me word. I am yours as ever. —
Samuel Jones,

Col. Smith's Regiment. He died in the summer of 1862.
Aug. 21/50
Bradford NH Aug 16
Hon J. L. Edwards Commission of Pensions Washington City D. C.

Bradford N.H. August 16, 1837 Friend Edwards Sir, You will pardon me for writing at this time, when I inform you that in a casual conversation with Mr. Abram Smith of this town a Revolutionary Pensioner under the act of 1832 "his Pension Certificate was dated 15 th January 1833 No. 4232." he said that he served eleven months and a few days, and as his Pension Certificate was only for nine months, I took down a minut of his service which I wish you to compare with his declaration, as I took no copy and soon knew until recently, but what he was allowed for all the time he served, and on enquiring of him, why he did not name it before, he said he did not know but his pension was for the whole time, he lives in a remote part of the town and is seldom from home, if you were acquainted with the man you would not doubt his assertion.
Service He first enlisted in February 1775 in the town of Middleton Mass in Captain Asa Paine's company, in what was then called minut men for the term of eight months Capt. Paine lived in Danvers Mass, he belonged to Capt. Ephraim Fuller's company of Militia in said Middleton and when the alarm reached Middleton, had that the British had left Boston and had killed our men at Lexington he was ordered into service by Capt. Fuller, and marched to Lexington and was in a skirmish with the British near Lexington and followed them on their return to Boston as far as Prospect hill, when they stayed a day or two when Capt. Fuller & Co were all dismissed and he returned to Middleton and in a few days after he was called into service by Capt. Paine and marched to Cambridge Mass and joined Colonel Newell's Regiment and he thinks was under Gen. Green as Commander, he was in the Battle on Bunker-hill Gen. Warren then Commanded he was slightly wounded was in the entrenchment when the British entered and he retreated off of the hill and was afterwards stationed on Winter hill and Prospect hill until he had served his term of eight months, when they were all dismissed in a body and he returned to Middleton. In the winter of 1776 he enlisted in Captain Epps or Epps Company of militia or Bay troops for the term of three months and marched to Winter hill near Boston and joined Col. Smith's Regiment, Ferrick was Lieutenant Epps was

from Danvers Mass he was in the service when the British left Boston, and served his time out and they were all discharged and he returned home to Middlesex where he lived several months and then moved to Bedford Mass where he lived 6 or 7 years and then moved to Bradford his present place of residence. Now Sir I wish you to compare this statement with his Declaration, it is possible that I might have made a mistake in writing his Declaration, as I wrote several on the same day when all were present if so I wish to have Justice done him, but if you find this statement to agree in substance with his Declaration you will correct the error, I wish to have an answer as soon as convenient in the mean time I remain yours with respect and esteem.
Samuel Jones

Sept 25. 1844
Adolf
Abn Smith
N.H. Sept 32
for in account
BRADFORD, N.H.
Sept 21
Hon. J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D.C.
Free

Bradford, Merrimack, County, N.H. Sept. 20 th 1844 Friend Edwards. The enclosed Application and certificates are to be used in Abram Smith's case Mr. Smith made application under the law of the United States, of the 7 th June 1832, I wrote his Declaration "but kept no Copy" sometime the last of January 1833 I received a Pension Certificate for him for 9 months service (No 4232 and dated the 15 th day of Jan y 1833.) I then did not know then, but what it was for his whole service, nor until some years after, on being informed by him, that he did not receive any more than one that was out not so long as he was, by over two months to use his language , on questioning him I immediately wrote to your department and I hardly know what answer I received, he has several times spoken to me about it, and on the 5 th of Sept. I called on him to execute a Power of Attorney, he named it again and said he was not delt justly by me. I wrote the inclosed application to the Sec. of War, and received his reply. he Smith told me that Mr. Knight served 3 months with him, and to day I went and took his deposition, enclosed, all we want is right and justice in this case, the proof shows 11 mo. or more besides what he served under Capt. Fuller, I know not what you require in such cases, but certain it is, that he should have 2 months pay in addition to what he has received each year from 4 th March 1831- if no more, Your early attention to this is earnestly solicited and will be kindly appreciated by your humble servant.
Jas M c Lanes

P.S. One thing further Mr Knight said he gave his Deposition in when Mr Smith made his former Declaration.

1775 Roll. 8 and 3.
1776 — 3. 11. 30
General Joseph Justice of Penn.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston; Sept 10. 1814.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Abraham Smith of Middlebury is found in the roll, of Capt. W. A. Prince, from April 27. to Nov 30. 1779.
There are no rolls of Capt. E. Fuller April 19. 1775 and Capt. Dyer or Dyer in 1775 in the Office.

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Clegg, Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Application for certificate of Revolutionary Services made
By the party who rendered the service,
The State of New Hampshire
County of Merrimack, Town of Bradford
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his office of my service in the War of the Revolution,
In 1775 I lived in the town of Middleton in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and belonged to Captain C. Fuller Co. of militia, and in the month of April was called out by Capt. Fuller and marched to Lexington and fought the British, and sometime after the British retreated to Boston, he returned home, he had in the month of February previous or or minute man enlisted in Captain Prince's volunteer company for the term of 8 months and was called into service by said Prince and marched to Cambridge and joined Col. Dowsell's Regiment, the officers of the Co. were Capt. Prince, Jonathan Wilkins Lieut., Archibald Batchelder Ensign, and served Eight Months, was in the Battle on Bunkerhill,
In 1776 he enlisted in Captain Ipper or Epps Company, (Ipper was from Danvers Mass.) for the term of three months and Marched to Winterhill near Boston, was in the service when the British left Boston, and belonged to Col. Smith's Regt. Horick was Lieut. Col. - and served 3 months. he cannot tell how long he served under Capt. Fuller
I am now Eighty nine years of age and my memory does not enable me to state my services more fully than above stated.
Witness my hand this fifth day of September A.D. 1844
Abraham Smith
Signed by said Abraham Smith in my presence
General James Justine of Peabody

I Jonathan Knight of Bradford in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire Aged Ninety the 24 th day of April 1844, depose and say that I am well acquainted with Abram Smith of Bradford aforesaid, when we were young we were school mates, and lived in the town of Middleton in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and in the month of December 1775 or the first of January 1776 said Abram Smith, myself, a man by the name of Wilkins, and another by the name of Fanny and I think one or two others I do not now recall their names enlisted in said Middleton as soldiers for the term of three months in Captain Ipps & Epps Company of Danvers I think his name was Benjamin Ipps or Epps I do not know how he spelt his name but that was what he was called, I believe there was six went from Middleton, the Company first met at Danvers Mass. and marched on to Charlestown Mass and if I mistake not joined Col. Smiths Regiment, five of our mess I now remember viz, Ebenezer Bailey, Phinehas Wilkins, Israel Fanny Abram Smith & myself there were all from said Middleton we were stationed on what was called Ploughed Hill, near to that part of Charlestown which was burned by the British, our duty was to stand on Guard, my turn came about every third night we were so nigh the British Guard, that we often held conversation with them the night before the British left Boston I stood on Guard, we fired I believe from their forts into Boston the night before the British left, which I think was Saturday night, and they left on Sabbath day, I saw them marching or going down 2 and 2 from their fort on Bunkerhill in the morning and passing over to Boston, they left images on their fort draped in red, after their shipping left, I went up to their fort on Bunker hill, and then returned to Ploughed hill and stayed until our time was out and we were discharged and Smith and I returned to Middleton, and lived there a number of years, and then Smith moved to Bradford where he now lives, and I soon after moved to Hillsborough a town adjoining and afterwards to Bradford I am a Revolutionary Pensioner and am Pensioned for the same three months service
Jonathan Knight
The State of New Hampshire
Merrimack ss. The above Deposition subscribed and sworn to this twentieth day of September Anno Domini 1844 Before me. Samuel Jones
And I certify that Jonathan Knight, the above affiant is a credible person, and retains his memory
Justice of the Peace & Quorum through the State.

Jonathan Knight of Bradford in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire, depose and say that I am well acquainted with Abram Smith of said Bradford and served with him in the same Company three months as a soldier in the Re- volutionary War in Captain Ipsos Epps Company and Smith and Heath were the Colonels and we marched to Prospect-hill near Boston in the year 1778 I think in the months of Feby March and April, and it was the same Smith which is now present here, our place of residence at that time was Middleton in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
State of New Hampshire Merrimack ss August 24 th 1832 Personally appeared Jonathan Knight above named and made solemn oath that the above certificate by him subscribed is true. Before me. Samuel Jones Justice of the Peace & of the Quorum
State of New Hampshire Merrimack ss I Charles Witter Clerk of the District Court of the United States for the District Court of the United States for the District County do hereby certify that Samuel Jones is a Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum within and for said County and that I believe his signature above is genuine.
Witness my hand and the seal of said Court at Concord this 28 th day of August 1832.
Charles Witter Clk

I certify that Jonathan Knight who signed the within deposition is a credible person whose testimony for truth and veracity would not be questioned in any court of law - and that he is a disinterested witness -
August 24th 1832 -
Samuel Jones Justice of the Peace of the Quorum

Washington D.C. April 19 th 1845
Sir:
I send you herewith a copy of a letter recently received by me from Samuel Jones Esq, desiring me to make certain enquiries, at your Office, in relation to a Pensioners Certificate &c, and in his behalf, I would most respectfully ask your attention thereto.
Very Respectfully your O bt . Servt.
Benj. F. Ploger
J. L. Edwards Esq Commission of Pensions