Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5167, for Simeon Pratt, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Pratt Simeon
S 5167
CONTENTS
Carded

15541
Massachusetts
Simon Pratt
of Plymouth in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain J. Allen of the Regt. commanded by Col. Hall in the Mass line for 11 months & 12 days
Mass
74 Plymo
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 34 Dollars 67 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of June 1833 and sent to Jacob H. Simon Pratt Plymouth Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $119 34 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept., 17 33 $80 67
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. H. Atkinson Clerk, Book 2 Vol. 2a Page 64

Simeon Pratt
20675
person and that their deposition is entitled to the same credit as that of any other person who has signed the foregoing certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court
for testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this
day of in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and thirty

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH, ss.
ON this eighth day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of  the  Wilkes Wood Judge now sitting at Hadleyborough within and for said County of Plymouth, Simeon Pratt a resident of Bridgewater in said County of Plymouth, and Common- wealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy two 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. He hereby relinquis- hes 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. That is to say, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
that he enlisted in Coph. Abiel Dime, company for a Willis St. H. Samuel Paul 2 nd Lt. William Barr the Ensign, for three months in 1776. for three months, & served that time in said company as a private, one month at Roxbury & two months at Dorchester Heights. Nathan Alden then of Bridgewater now of East Bridgewater was an orderly sergeant in said company -
that he enlisted in Coph. Abner Washburn company for three months & served that time on Castle William near Boston. Fuller was Ensign, Leavitt Thayer now of West Bridgewater was with me in the year 1778.

that he enlisted in Capt. Nathan Alden's Company for three months & served that time in said Company at Bristol Rhode Island - in Col. Hall's Regiment - Eliza Ann for John Benson of said Bridgewater was with me at Bristol & also Hohnan Nathan of East Bridgewater was also there - This was in the winter of 1776-7
that he was six weeks at Bristol in R. I. Near the close of the war, Cushing was Col. & commanded the troops at Bristol & James Allen was Major - the Company He was in had no Capt. & he does not remember the Lt. or Ensign & does not know of any person now living that was with me at Bristol - It was an alarm -
& he says that he was born at Bridgewater in 1759. & have always lived in said Bridgewater & his my birth is recorded in the town books - He never had any written discharge, & was a private in said companies - that he is known to Artemas Wheeler & Nathan Ladd for Esquires of said Bridgewater serv'd served as a soldier of the Revolution the full period of three months & two weeks & was at said Bridgewater when he enlisted as aforesaid swore to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Simeon Pratt Attest Jacob H. Lord

We, _____ a clergyman, residing in the town of _____ and _____ residing in the _____ hereby certify, that we are well ac- quainted 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 we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Richard M. Hodges who has signed the accompanying  preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Bridgewater and that _____ who has also signed the same, is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
By the Court, Attest
Jacob H. Lord Register
I, Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Simeon Pratt for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of my office, this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two .
Jacob H. Lord

20675 Simson Pratt Mass
March 10 Nov 12 days
33 33 1.34 34.19 J H Lord Plymouth Mass

BRIEF in the case of  County of Plymouth
Simeon Pratt  in the State of Massachusetts  (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? 72 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.     Enlist In 1776 — 3 — private Gen. Capt. Pierce,   " 1778, " 3 — Washburn   " 1777 — " 3 — " Alden Col. Hall   " 1783. " 1 12 " Col. Cushing  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? (None)  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bridgewater,  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living 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.
Dr. Clegg Examining Clerk.

Rephan
5164
INVALID.
File No. 5164
Simeon Pratt
Brut Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1832.
Index:—Vol. M , Page 302
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Gimson Pratt which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Y II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Y 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? Y 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? Y VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Y VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Y no VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Y IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Y 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? Y

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? a clergyman only
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? Several witnesses
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?
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? ys
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? ys
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? ys
XVI. † Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? ys
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
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 offices 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.

I Nathan Alden of East Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth the state of Massachusetts of the age of 81 years testify & say that I was a soldier in the company, commanded by Capt Abiel Pierce  Stockwell , stationed at Roxbury one month & at Dorchester nights two months, & Simeon Pratt now of Bridgewater, & now an applicant for a pension, was a soldier & served in the same company three months in 1776 - & we were discharged at the same time. I have always known said Simeon Pratt. I further testify and say, that Nathan Alden of Bridgewater, my father, was a Captain of a company, which was stationed for three months in Bristol Rhode Island in 1776, 1777 and that I have found among his papers a list of said company in said service, and that Simeon Pratt's name is borne on said list, which I have no question is the same Simeon Pratt above spoken of. My father is not living, which said list is now in my possession. Nathan Alden
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County ss. 8th Aug. 1832 - Then the above named Nathan Alden personally appeared, and made oath, that the above Dep- osition by him subscribed is true - and I hereby certify, that said Nathan Alden is a man of truth and good character. Before me Wm. Thomas

I Leavitt Thayer of West Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts of the age of 71 years testify and say, that I was a soldier in the Company under command of Capt. Abram Washburn, stationed and doing duty at Fort Castle William, now Fort Independence, in Boston Harbor. I further testify and say, that Simon Pratt of Bridgewater, now an applicant for a Pension, was a soldier and served in the same company, which service was three months. We served and were discharged at the same time. I have always known said Simon Pratt since that period.
Leavitt Thayer
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County ss.
8 th Aug. 1832. Then personally appeared the above named Leavitt Thayer and made oath, that the above Deposition by him subscribed is true. And I further certify that said Deponent is a credible witness. Before me. Wm. Thomas, Justice of the Peace

I Jonah Benson of Bridgewater in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts being seventy two years of age do testify and say, that I served as a private in the Revolutionary war in the year 1776-7- three months in the Company of which Nathan Hemen was Captain and John Whitman and Elijah Ames were Lieutenants, that we were stationed at Bristol Rhode Island - That I was well acquainted with Simion Pratt of Bridgewater aforesaid who is now an applicant for a Pension under the law passed at the last session of Congress, that said Pratt entered the service with me at that time and served in the same Company during the whole of said three months - And I have seen the said Simion Pratt this day and know him to be the same person of that name who served with me the three months as aforesaid -
Jonah Benson
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County ss - Personally appeared this third day of September 1832 Before me Artemas Hale a justice of the Peace for the county of Plymouth Jonah Benson and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true - I further certify that the said Jonah Benson is a man of good character and that his testimony is entitled to full credit -
Artemas Hale justice of Peace

I Richard M. Hodges a Clergyman residing in Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth, hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Simon Pratt of said Bridgewater mentioned in the annexed affidavit and that he is a man of credibility and that his statement is entitled to credit.
Bridgewater Sept. 3. 1832
Richard M. Hodges.
Sworn and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid
Before me Artemas Hale Justice of Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that William Thomas & Artemas Hale Esquires are Justices of the Peace in & for said County & that I believe that their names subscribed to these papers are true & genuine sig- natures.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Probate Court for said County this thirteenth day of De- cember A.D. 1832
Jacob H. Lord