Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18674, Thomas M Wright, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Wright, Thomas M.
S. 18674
CONTENTS
carded

N o 18496 Vermont
Thomas M. Wright of Windsor Co. in the State of Vermont who was a Pr. V Corps in the Continental Army commanded by Captain Billings of the Regt. by Col. Lamed in the Mass. Troops time for 14 months Corps. 51.33 10 " Pr. 33.33 $84.66
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 84 Dollars 66 2/3 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6. day of Sept. 1833 and sent to G. E. Males Barnard Vt.
Arrears to the 14th of Sept. 1833 211.66 2/3 Semi-ann. allowance ending March 1834 42.33 2/3 254.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk Book E Vol. 3 Page 98

STATE OF VERMONT, WINDSOR COUNTY, ss. }
On this sixth day of August A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Probate Court of Hartford District now sitting, Thomas M. Wright a resident of the county of Windsor and State of Vermont, aged Eighty 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.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
That he enlisted in May 1775 in Hardwick State of Massachusetts in Capt Sam Billings Company in Col. El. Sarnes Regiment in the Massachusetts line and served eight months and was stationed at Roxbury the whole time - Was at Roxbury in the time of Bunker Hill battle - In March 1776 about the time the enemy left Boston I enlisted at Hardwick Mass. in Capt John Shepard Company, Col. Elisha Porter's Regiment for the year service and expected to go to Quebec when I enlisted - We were marched from Hard- wick to Hadley where we were detained a week or ten days from Hadley we marched to Bennington Vermont where we were stopped 3 or 4 days from thence we marched to Skene'sboro' now called White Hall State of New York where we stopped a few hours for boats and from thence we went by boats to Ticonderoga where we stayed 3 or 4 days and from thence we went by water to St Johns in Canada and from thence to Chambly where we stayed 2 or 3 days and thence to Sorell where we stopped some time and where we made a small beginning of a fort - We were there in occu- pied for the Small Pox - from there we were ordered to Montreal - We afterwards built a fort at Lachine and was afterwards at St Johns about one month and from thence went to the Isle aux Noix where we stayed a fortnight or so - From there we took the side in boats and carried them to Brown Point - after landing the sick we went back and afterwards returned to Brown Point where we stayed about one month - from there we went to Ticonderoga where we stopped a few days - from there we moved to a place then called Orwell Independence in Vermont where we commenced an encampment - I was later sick the last of Sept and remained so till about Nov 1 - The Regt after this was ordered to the South - I was sick and went to Guil Pates

after a discharge I gave me a pass to go into the country - I returned home - I never received any pay after this - In Dec 1776 or Jan'y 1. 1777 I enlisted in Capt Stone's Company Col. Sparhawk's Reg't. First in a Warner's Brigade and served three months mostly in New Jersey - I enlisted about July 1. 1777 in Capt Nevell's Company in Col. Danforth's Keyes Regiment for six months and First Spencers Brigade - we were marched into the State of Rhode Island and first stationed at Providence - from there to Bippell's Mills - and then at Kingston - we were afterwards quartered at Little Compton and other places not recollected - afterwards back to Providence where we stayed until we were dismissed our time being out Jan'y 1. 1778 - we were discharged by Genl Spencer - during the aforesaid period I was fourteen months a Corporal - The day after the battle of Lexington I went there as a minute man and was there about a fortnight. I was born the 14th day of December Anno Domini 1750 in Greenwich Massachusetts.
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 and year aforesaid. }
L. Marsh, Register
Thomas M. Wright
We, Preston Taylor a Clergyman residing in Barnard and Samuel Richmond residing in the same place, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Thos. M. Wright who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 82 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the } day and year aforesaid. }
L. Marsh, Register
Preston Taylor Samuel Richmond
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 Preston Taylor who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in Barnard, and that Samuel Richmond who has also signed the same, is a resident in Barnard and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Lyndon A. Marsh Register of the Court of Probate of the District of Hartford do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas M. Wright for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this ninth day of August A. D. 1832.
L. Marsh, Register

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Thomas M c Wright , a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. L. 18,674.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apl. 19. 1775 ✓ Minute man ✓  must be Lexington ✓ Mass.   May 1775 8 mos. Corporal Samuel Billings Ebenezer Learned "   Mch. 1776 8 mos. Private John Shepard Elisha Porter "   Dec. 1776 or Jany. 1777 3 mos. " Stone Sharhawk "   July 1, 1777 6 mos. Corporal Ebenezer Newell Danforth Keye "  
Battles engaged in, ✓
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Eul. at Hardwick, Mass.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 9. 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Barnard, Windsor Co., Vt.
Age at date of application, to Dec. 14, 1750, at Greenwich, Mass.
Remarks: _____
It is not stated that he was captured by the Indians.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

G. de Lion Newton depo for Tho. M. Wright

I Gideon Newton of Barnard in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont of lawful age do testify and say that I was acquainted with Thomas M. Wright in the year 1777 that in the month of July in the same year I well remember that said Wright enlisted in the service of the United States in the Massachusetts line for the term of six months, that he marched from Hardwick in Massachusetts to the State of Rhode Island and that he was gone six months - He said on his return he had drew out his enlistment - We were then both of the same Town of Hardwick aforesaid which was then our place of residence -
Gideon Newton
State of Vermont Windsor County ss. Barnard August 13 th 1832 Then Gideon Newton personally appeared and after being carefully examined and duly cautioned made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed contains the truth and nothing but the truth and I certify that the deponent is a man of truth and veracity - before me Jos B. D. Merrill Justin Pease
State of Vermont } Woodstock County Clerk's Office 14 th August 1832 Windsor County ss. } I Benjamin Swen clerk of Windsor County Court, do hereby certify, that Joseph B. D. Merrill is one of the Justices of the Peace within said County, and that the above is his signature - In testimony whereof I hereunto affix the seal of said Court and subscribe my name the day and year last above
Benj Swen.

18674 INVALID.
1914 July 24. Hist. to Mrs. Saml. H. Ruggles.
File No. 18674
Thomas M Wright
Copel Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 418
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Bureau of Pensions Washington D.C.
Gentlemen -
Will you kindly give me Revolutionary record of one Thomas A. Knight who respond- ed to the Lexington Alarm - he moved to Barnard Vermont before 1780, in which year he was captured by Indians.

Respectfully Yours (Mrs.) Sarah H. Ruggles Windsor Vermont.
just.
July 16 th 1914

No 5464
Thos M Wright Vermont.
✓
14 mo's Corp. 10 " Private
G. E. Wales Esq Barnard VT

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Thos M Wright
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? and 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 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? No VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes 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? None IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes 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?
It is a seal in full

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?
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? No
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? He has not
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? Does
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? Are
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 the 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.
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 authenticated 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 end 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.

Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Windsor and State of Vermont at Barnard in said County of Windsor this 23 rd day of May A.D. 1833 Thomas M. Wright who being duly sworn deponeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot positively swear 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 grades —
For eight months I served as a corporal in Capt Samuel Billings Company in Col. Eben. Darrow's Regiment of the Massachusetts Troops — For eight months I served as a soldier in Capt John Shepard's Company in Col. Elisha Porter's Regiment of Massachusetts Troops under Genl. Dake — For three months I served as a soldier in Capt Stone's Company and Col. Sparkhaws Regt. & Genl. Jon q Warner's Brigade of Massachusetts Troops — For six months I served as a corporal in Capt Eben. Newell's Company & Col. Danforth Keyes Regiment in the Massachusetts Troops in Genl. Spencer's Brigade — and for such service I claim a pension — Thomas M. Wright
George E. Wales Justice of Peace over

Windsor Vt. June 13. 1833. I enclose thee the following mounted letter & which is a portion of the Plan for Windsor to wit: - Warren Esdaile

Sol. Aikins depo. for Thos. M. Wright.

I Solomon Aiken of Hardwick in the County of Caledonia in the State of Vermont, of lawful age, Do testify and say, that when the troops which took an expedition into Canada from the United States, and retreated before the army of Gen. Burgaine in the year 1776; and when the said troops arrived at Tiendarraga where they made a stand, by meeting a reinforcement of troops from the States, among whom the Deponent saw, in military service, Thomas Martin Wright , with whom he was acquainted, being from Hardwick; in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the native place of the Deponent. The Corps in which the said Wright served, or the time of his service, is not designated. And further the Deponent saith not.
Solomon Aiken.
State of Vermont Caledonia County ss. Hencowich April 6 th 1879 Then personally appeared Solomon Aiken signer of the above Deposition and made oath to the truth thereof before me Ethan A. Visscher Justice of the Peace

Sim. Newton Depo. for Th. M. Wright
Sim. Newton

I Timothy Newton of Bernard in the County of Windsor State of VT of Lawfull age Testify & Say that I Was well acquainted W th Thos M c Wright then of Herkwick Worcester County State of Massachusetts in the year 1775 that the said Wright enlisted in Capt n Billings Company & Col d Lamard Regiment as Colonel for the term of Eight Months & served his enlistment at Roxbury in the Massachusetts line that in the year 1777 the said Wright enlisted in Capt n Hovey Company & Col d Sparrowhawk's Regiment for the term of 3 months in the Massachusetts line. & served out his enlistment in the War New Jersey. Principally at Bown Brook Timothy Newton
State of Vermont Windham County ss I Timothy Newton do hereby certify that on this day personally appeared and took solemn oath that the above affidavit is true to the best of his knowledge the truth and nothing but the truth that the said Timothy Newton is a truthful person B. D. Merrill Justice of Peace

State of Vermont } Woodstock County Clerk's Office August 14 th 1832 Windsor County } I Benjamin Swan Clerk of Windsor County Court
Do hereby Certify that Joseph D. Sanforth is one of the Justices of the Peace within your said County and the within is his signature. —
In Testimony whereof I have affixed the Seal of said Court, and subscribe my name, the day and year above. —
Benj. Swan

Quarter Alexandrina affidavit for Tho. M. Wright.
18
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original document.]

I Quarters Alexander of Hartland in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont of lawful age do testify and say - That I was waiter to my father in the Revolution- ary war who was a Captain in the Massachusetts line - This Regiment was in the years service so called and after the return of a part of said Regiment from Quebec where they had been ordered I well knew Thomas M c Wright now of Barnard in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont out as belonging to said Regiment - and continued to know said Wright until I marched into the State of New Jersey - my recollection is that said Wright was left behind sick - This was in Col. Elisha Porter's Regiment in the Massachusetts Troops and said Wright belonged to Capt. John Shepard's Company in said Regiment which was in the years service - and this was in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy six -  Quarters Alexander
State of Vermont Windsor County ss.
Barnard July 4. 1832 Then the aforesaid Quarters Alexander person- -ally appeared and made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed contains the truth and nothing but the truth -
Before me J. B. D. W  Joseph B. D. Justice of Peace
State of Vermont, Windsor County ss. Office August 14 th 1832 I hereby certify that Joseph B. D. W  Joseph B. D. Clerk of Windsor County Court, Bennington County, and that the above copy is his signature -
In Testimony whereof I hereunto affix the Seal of said Court, and subscribe my name the day and year first above -
Benj. Green Clerk
I also certify that said Alexander is a qualified Justice of the Peace for the County of Windsor

Five Newton Depo. For Rev. M. Wright.

Timothy Newton of Benjamin in the county of Windsor and State of Vermont of lawfull Age Testify and say that I was acquainted with Thomas M c Wright in the year 1777 that in the month of July in said year I was informed that said Wright Enlisted in the service of the continental States for the term of six months that M c Wright then Went with M c to the State of Rhode Island, and that he was from six months, and since when he returned that he had service out his Enlistment and further that the Deponent with me
Timothy Newton
State of Vermont Windsor County ss. Bennerd August 10 th 1832 Then Timothy Newton personally appeared and after being duly sworn and lawfully examined, took solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed contains the truth, and nothing but the truth. I certify that the Deponent is the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing affidavit B. D. Merrill Justice Peace
State of Vermont Windsor County ss
Woodstock County Clerk's Office 14 th August 1832. I Benjamin Swan Clerk of Windsor County Court, Do hereby certify that Joseph B. Davenport is one of the Justices of the Peace within said County and that the above is his signature - In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of said Court and subscribe my name the day and year last above - Benj Swan

Barnard Mt
June 24. 1823
Please address Geo. Elwood Barnard Mt in answer to this application
George Elwood

Prina Haskell for Phoebe Wright

I Prince Haskell of Barnard in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont of lawful age do testify and say That in the year 1776 I was at Ticonderoga in the service of the United States at Mount Hope west of Ticonderoga about a mile and Thomas Wright was during the same period stationed at Mt Independence on the east of Ticonderoga - I frequently see him and well know that he was in the service of the United States at the time and place aforesaid - Prince Haskell
State of Vermont Windsor County ss. Barnard August 13th 1832 Then Prince Haskell personally appeared and after being carefully examined and duly cautioned made solemn Oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed contains the truth and nothing but the truth and I certify that the Deponent is a man of truth and veracity. Before me J. B. D. D. D. Justin Pease
State of Vermont } Woodstock County Clerk's Office 14th August 1832 I Benjamin Swan Windsor County ss. } Clerk of Windsor County Court, do hereby certify that Joseph B. D. D. D. is one of the Justices of the Peace within your said County, and that the above is signature. — In Testimony whereof I hereto affix the Seal of said Court and subscribe my name day & year last above —
Benj. Swan