Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18673, Joseph Wright, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Wright, Joseph
NUMBER
S 18673
CONTENTS
carded

10.196 Maine
Joseph Wright
Died June 24, 1841
of Lincoln in the State of Maine who was a R. & H.W. in the Company commanded by Captain Minckley of the Regt. commanded by _____ in the _____ une for 6 mos Private 5 " " Drummer 3 Mass.
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 38 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 d day of March 1833 and last Math. Coffin Wiscapit Maine
Arrears to the 4th of March 33 $76.66 Pemi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 11 19.17 $95.83
117.21 40 rub
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. H. Adams Clerk Book 6 Vol. 1 st Page 63
1841

State of Maine.
LINCOLN, ss—I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that the annexed paper, signed by the Judge and attested by the Clerk, contains the original proceedings of the Court of Common Pleas, at a special session thereof holden at Wiscasset in said county, by the Hon. John Ruggles one of the Judges of said Court on the twelfth day of September A. D. 1832, in the matter of the application of Joseph Wright for a Pension. IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this sixth day of October A. D. 1832.
Nathl Coffin CLERK.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June, 1832.
STATE OF MAINE, } ss. COUNTY OF LINCOLN, }
ON this twelfth day of September personally appeared in open Court, before John Ruggles a judge of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting, Joseph Wright a resident of Woolwich in the County of Lincoln and State of Maine, aged Seventy 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 7th, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated, as follows Viz
That he enlisted as a volunteer in Capt John Berry's company the first of June in the year 1777 for six months Col. Gerrish was the highest officer - latter part of the time he marched to Enfield in Connecticut to guard the prisoners taken from Burgoyne - on his return to Winter- Hill (first of December following) he was dismissed verbally, having served out the time.
Afterwards in the spring of the year 1779 he entered at Woolwich as a substitute for his brother John Wright, in Capt John Hinckley's company, John Potter Lieutenant to go to Penobscot on the Bagaduce expedition - his brother had been drafted for six months on this expedition & had then served only one month - he Joseph Wright went on that expedition & served out the remaining five months part of the time on the expedition & the remaining part of the time on his return was employed in building a fort near the mouth of Penobscot River at Loxley Head - Genl. Covel was first in command & General Wadsworth second on the Bagaduce expedition - was at the battle at Bagaduce, now eastern.
And to the interrogatories propounded under the instructions of the War Department he answers as follows Viz - That he was born in Georgetown in said State of Maine in 1742 - has a record of his age at home in an old account book which was taken from his mother's mother by the Town clerk of said Georgetown - suppose that the record of his age may be found among the records of said Georgetown - lived in Woolwich when called into service, & since the Revolutionary war, & now live there - The first time he volunteered - The second, a substitute for his Brother John Wright as before stated - recollects the name of Col. Gerrish at Cambridge - on the Bagaduce expedition, Genl. Covel was first in command, Genl. Wadsworth was second - was dis- charged both times verbally by the Captain - Any of his neighbors can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his Revolutionary services, but he will particularly refer to Barnabas Hodge & Mesrs. Dyer & John Dyer of Woolwich.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Joseph Wright
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Before
John Ruggles
Judge of said Court.

WE Barnabas Hodge, a Clayman residing in the town of Winthrop or vicinity of Woolwich and John Shaw residing in the said Woolwich hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Joseph Wright who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy 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.
Barnabas Hodge John Shaw
State of Maine.
LINCOLN, ss....Sworn and subscribed this twelfth day of September
A. D. 1832
Before me, Dailey Justice of the Peace
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 Barnabas Hodge who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clayman resident in the Winthrop and that John Shaw who has also signed the same is a resident in the Woolwich and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
John Ruggles J. C.P. Attest Nathl. Coffin Clerk
State of Maine.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
LINCOLN, ss....I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that Dea Dailey Justice of the Peace Esq. whose name is affixed to the above certificate, as a is legally commissioned and duly qualified to act as such, and that the name so affixed is his own proper signature, to me well known.
IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas this 12 th day of September A. D. 1832
Nathl. Coffin CLERK.

Joseph Wright
14042
✓
-
5
[Faint, illegible handwriting or bleed-through]

Joseph Wright, Maine
Drummer 5 Mts
Pioneer 6 Do
11
Adm
14042
Nathl Coffin Esq Winthrop Maine

BRIEF in the case of Joseph Wright 60 of Lincoln . . . in the State of Maine (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Spencer  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 70  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.     1 st June 1799 In 1799 volunteer 6 private Gen. Derry   Spring 1799 substitute 5 Drummer Gen. Hinkley. Gen. Lovell  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? non mentioned  a battle at Castine  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Woolwich Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional. Three living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George S. Dyer
Examining Clerk.

Benj. Grover's depon. 42 in Joseph Wright's case.

I Benjamin Grover of Woolwich in the County of Penobscot and State of Maine aged seventy one years, do hereby depose and say, that I am well acquainted with Joseph Wright of Woolwich in said County, and believe him to be seventy years of age, in seventeen hundred & seventy nine  seven , said Wright & myself both served as soldiers in Capt. John Hinkley's Company on the expedition to Penobscot called the Penobscot expedition - I recollect of seeing him in the Company at Penobscot, and on our return to Boston had on the Kennebec river where we were discharged - Benjamin Grover
State of Maine Lincoln ss. Sept 19 th 1832 - - - - - Personally appeared the above named Benjamin Grover before me Jeremiah Bailey one of the Justices of the Peace within the said County of Lincoln before due examination having been to testify & declare the whole truth maketh oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him signed in my presence The above named Deponent is a disinterested person of good credit in whose testimony confi- dence may be placed - J. Bailey Justice of the Peace
State of Maine.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
LINCOLN, ss.—I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the Coun- ty of Lincoln, do hereby certify that Jeremiah  Jer. Bailey Esq. whose name is therein affixed to the annexed paper, as a JUSTICE OF THE PEACE is legally commissioned and duely qualified to act as such, and that the name so affixed is his own prop- er signature, to me well known.
IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas this Sixth day of October A. D. 1832.
Nathl. Coffin CLERK.

Henry Green's depon. 22 in Joseph Wright's case.
I John Wright of Woolwich in the County of Lincoln State of Maine aged seventy four years, on oath depose & say, that Joseph Wright of said Woolwich is my brother, that in the revolutionary war, I cannot now recollect the year, but it was the year that Benjoine was taken, a draft was about to be made in said Woolwich & my brother Joseph Wright foresaid enlisted into Capt. John Berry's Company to go to Cambridge near Boston, said John enlisted for six months and went to Boston & was gone six months, for I will recollect that I had to carry on the farm without him that season - I will recollect he went away the first of June and returned home in December following -
In the year 1779. I enlisted into Capt. John Hinckley, for Company for six months to go to Penobscot - after I had served one month, a drummer was wanted, and said Joseph being a good one, he was substituted took my place at the request of the Captain, I went and served out the other five months in said Hinckley's Company - This was at the time called the Bangobean expedition - after the return from that expedition, said John served out the time in said Company on Penobscot river assisted in building a fort.
State of Maine -
Lincoln ss. September 27, 1852. Personally appeared the above named John Wright before me Ebenezer Dickey one of the Justices of the Peace within for said county of Lincoln after due examination & caution to tell the whole truth, maketh oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him signed in my presence. The above said Deponent is a disinterested person of good credit in whose testimony confidence may be placed -
Ebenezer Dickey Justice of the Peace

18 673 INVALID.
File No. 18,673
Joseph Wright Dummer Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vcl. 1 , Page 418
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Depo. for Joseph Wright
Thomas Lomliards Deposition I sealed up to be opened in Taker before me cont
William Stinson Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Lincoln

I Thomas Lomhard of the age of Seventy two years do Testify and Say that I was well acquainted with Joseph Wright of Woolwich in the County of Lincoln none the State of Maine, in the year 1778, and that he was a Soldier or a Drummer in the Company commanded by Capt. John Berry of Bath in said County under command of Colonel Jacob Gaisch of Newburyport Massachusetts - for the term of six months & that I served the same time in the same company. Thomas Lomhard
Lincoln ss August 27 - 1832 Personally appeared Thomas Lomhard and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him signed before me
William Stinson Justice of the Peace in the County of Lincoln
State of Maine.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
LINCOLN, ss— I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that William Stinson Esq. whose name is affixed to the annexed paper, as a JUSTICE OF THE PEACE is legally commissioned and duly qualified to act as such, and that the name so affixed is his own proper signature, to me well known.
IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas this sixth day of October A. D. 1832.
Nath Coffin CLERK.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Joseph Wright 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 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? /// 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? /// 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? /// Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? /// 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? /// XVI. † Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? /// 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 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, Joseph GRADE Private LINE New Jersey
WARRANT NUMBER 8859 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED June 16, 1789 to Thos. Coyle, assignee
*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.