Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30582, for Benjamin Mead, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Mead, Benjamin
830582
CONTENTS

10.246.
Massachusetts
Benjamin Spear of Rutland in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Thompson of the regt commanded by Col Baldwin the Spear time for 7 Mths.
Mr
74 Mackin
Inscribed on the Roll of Spear at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 th day of Mar 1833 and sent Rufus Putnam Rutland Mass
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $246.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept " 11.66
$58.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by S H S P Blair Clerk Book 8. Vol. 2 nd Page 52.

5938
Benj n Mead
Private
7 Months
Alb. d
$23.33.
Rufus Putnam Rutland Mass.

BRIEF in the case of  Benjamin Mead  of Rutland in the State of  (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.     Sept. In 1777 " 1 " Private Gen. Thompson Col. Balam   Apr 2 78 " 3 " " Col. Harrington   Sept. 78 " 3 " " Col. Chase Col. Stark  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Wooden Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses & traditional evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Omitted to relinquish his claim to other pension,  I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
K. K. Acorn Examining Clerk.

State of Massachusetts, County of Worcester ss.
On this sixth day of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court, before the Hon ble the judge of the Court of Probate now sitting at Worcester within and for the said County of Worcester Benjamin Mead a resident of Rutland in said County 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 — That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated — That in the latter part of the month of September in the year 1777 he entered said Service as a volunteer in Capt Samuel Thompson's Company and, as he believes, Col. Baldwin's Regiment, was marched from Holden in said County where he then & during the Revolution resided, to Bennington in the State of Vermont, & thence to a place called Tiets Mills in the State of New York, and soon after from thence to Fort Edward — That he served at Fort Edward, Saratoga and vicinity for the term of one month, in which time Genl Burgoyne surrendered, and that he was discharged in the latter part of October 1777 — That he again entered the service of the United States as a volunteer April 2. 1778 for three months under Capt Nathan Harrington, and Major Read the Colonel he does not recollect — That he was marched to Roxbury in the State of Massachusetts and after about two weeks service at that place he was selected one of the guard over the captured troops of Genl Burgoyne, and marched to the town of Rutland in the State of Massachusetts, & there served during the residue of said term of three months on guard duty — and that he was discharged July 2 nd 1778 — That he again entered the service of the United States in the latter part of

of September 1778 as a volunteer for the term of three months under Capt Chase, Colonel Spearhawk & Genl Heath, and marched to Dorchester in the State of Massachusetts, at which place mostly, but partly in its vicinity he served in garrison and fatigue duty, the said term of three months, and that he was discharged in the latter part of December 1778 - that he has no documentary evidence of his services -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and de- clared that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State -
And the said Mear further declares that he was born in Holden in said County of Worcester in October 22 d 1759 - That he has no record of his age in said town - That he was living at said Holden when called into service - That he now lives in Rutland in said County of Worcester where he has lived most of the time since the Revolutionary war - & ever since he left said Holden - That he entered the service as a Volunteer - That he never received a written discharge from the service, but only a verbal dismission - That he does not recollect the names of the Regular Officers who were with the troops where he served, he being then very young - and that there were but few Regular troops where he served except at Fort Edward & vicinity - That his services were the performance performance of fatigue & guard duty almost entirely - That he is known to Rev. Josiah Clark - Silly Flint Esq. Rufus Putnam Esq., Joel Darius Esq. & Joseph King in his neigh- borhood who can testify to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution -
George Mear
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year above said. Nathl Darrow Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester

I Willard Mead of Holden in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged 75 years do testify that I am well acquainted with Benja- min Mead of Rutland in said County of Worcester and who formerly resided in said Holden in the time of the Revolutionary War, that we then lived together, being Brothers, — that I well remember that the said Benjamin left home in the latter part of September 1777, in the habit and equipments of a soldier, and I understood that he had volunteered for one month's service to go against the troops of General Burgoyne who was then said to be in the state of New York — That the said Benjamin was absent from home until the last of October of the same year (1777) — that I well recollect going with a horse (in company with other persons) to help him home — That I met him twelve or fifteen miles on the Road toward that part of the state of New York where Burgoyne surrendered returning home and in company with others who were reputed to have served as soldiers at the surrender of Burgoyne — Willard Mead
State of Massachusetts } ss. County of Worcester } ss.
On this twenty fourth day of August A. D. eighteen hundred & thirty three the said Willard Mead, who subscribed the above Deplantation, per- sonally appeared before me the subscriber and made oath to the truth thereof. And I further certify that the said Mead is a man of veracity and a creditable witness.
Yours William Preston of Preston

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
S. F. 30,582
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Benjamin Head a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Sept. 1777 1 mo. Pvt. Samuel Thompson Baldwin Mass.   Apr. 2. 1778 July 2. 1778 Nathan Harrington Major Read   Sept. 1778 3 mos. Mason Chase Sharhawk        
Battles engaged in, Surrender of Burgayne. Residence of soldier at enlistment, Holden Worcester Co. Mass. Date of application for pension, Sept. 6. 1852 His ch. was al. Residence at date of application, Rutland Worcester Co. Mass. Age at date of application, born Oct. 22 1759 at Holden, Mass. Remarks: ✓
Respectfully,
brother Willard
Commissioner.

30 582 Rey INVALID.
1916 March 13 High. Lofine S. Powell. V. L. M.
File No. 30,582
Benjamin Mead
His Rev. Mrs.
Act: June 7 th 33 rd
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 268
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Benj n Mear Application for a pension
This case is the case of Rufus Putnam Esq r Rutland Vt.

We Josiah Clark a clergyman and Rufus Putnam residing in Rutland in the State of Massachusetts, County of Worcester hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Mead, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy two years of age, that he is respected & beloved in the neighbor- hood 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 Before Nath. Faine Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester Josiah Clark Rufus Putnam
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 Josiah Clark who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resi- dent in the town of Rutland aforesaid, and that Rufus Putnam who has also signed the same is, a resident in the said town of Rutland and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Nath. Faine Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester
I, Josephus Wheeler Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Benjamin Mead for a Pension & that Rufus Putnam and Samuel Damar before whom the annexed affidavits were made and sworn to the same in and for said County, in full credit, and that they signed the same.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court, this 7th day of September A.D. 1832.
Josephus Wheeler Reg t of said Court in Massachusetts.

Joseph Garfield of Spencer in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts about Twenty four years of age, testify and say that I am well acquainted with Benjamin Mead of Rutland in the County aforesaid, who at the time of the Revolution was a resident of Holden in said County of Worcester, that I knew him to be a soldier in the Service of the United States from April 2 d 1778 to July 2 d 1778, the term of three months, at Roxbury and Rutland in the State of Massachusetts, under Capt Nathan Harrington - and I also knew him, the said Mead, to be a soldier in said Service for the further term of three months at Boston and Dorchester, commencing in the latter part of September and continuing until the latter part of December of the same year, 1778, under Capt Maydell Chase that we served together during said terms.
Joseph Garfield
State of Massachusetts
Worcester County
On this twentieth day of August 1832 personally appeared Joseph Garfield, who signed the above Affidavit, and made oath to the truth of the same. Before me
Rufus Putnam Justice of the peace and I further certify that the Garfield is a credible witness
Rufus Putnam Justice of the peace

I Thomas Davis of Holden in the county of Worcester State of Massachusetts (Yeoman) Late a Revolutionary Soldier - Seventy eight years of age - do testify and say That I was a soldier in the company com- manded by Capt. Samuel Thompson. That Benjamin Mead now of Rutland was a soldier in said company; That the said Mead serv- -ed there in One month in the year 1777 - That the service the S d Mead rendered in S d company was by Marching from Holden to Bennington - from there to Fort Edward in the State of New York. That the S d Mead was present when General Burgoyne surrendered and finally distinctly and perfectly recollect the S d Mead and that he served in the Army of the Revolution in S d Thompson's company as stated above in the year 1777 One full month. Holden August. 27, 1832.
Thomas Davis
Worcester S.S. at Holden August 27, 1832. Then Personally appeared the above named Thomas Davis and made solemn Oath to the above dep- -osition. That it contains the truth and nothing more and I further say that I am personally acquainted with the S d Thomas Davis - and certify that he is a man of truth and a creditable witness - Samuel Damar Justice of the Peace

5938 Benj n Mead
Rufus Putnam Rutland Mass

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Henry Mead 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? Yes 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? Yes 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? No - Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes 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? Yes

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? Yes Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? Yes 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? Yes 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? Yes
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.

W. P. Revo. Clifford H. Spec March 2 nd 1916.
To The Com. of Pensions -
Dear Sir, Can you tell me anything in regard to a Rev. soldier Benjamin Mead. by name. ? Did he ever receive pension or? He was from Mass. & I think he lived in Rutland some of the time. Major Gen. Geo. Gordon Mead A. S. Army was also a relative of Benjamin Mead.

Cannot seem to find much about this Mr Benjamin Mead, on file among records in war department.
He was my great grand- father and I thought I might be able to join the D. A. R. as he was a Rev. soldier.
Thanking you in advance for your trouble in search- ing records &c.
I remain
Respectfully Yours.

Mrs. Jessie S. Powers. Alford. Columbia Co. New York. Lock box 104. (Albany St.)