Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11872, Joseph Wormwood, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Noase.
Wormwood, Joseph
Yr. 11872
CONTENTS

Jas Wormwood
Mar 20 th 52
Beacon and roof
to J. A. Dean
J. M.
Mr. Dean
J. A. Dean
Edsworth
Maine.

State of Maine County of Hancock
Be it Known, that on this thirty first day of December A. D. 1852 before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Benjamin Wood  formerly Benj. Woodworth, & son of Joseph Woodworth resident of Bar Harbor in said County, and made oath according to law that he is the legal heir of  the identical man who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution, and who has heretofore made application for the benefit of the Pension Act of 1832 that he is directly interested as a claimant in said pension and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Countermanding and revoking all Powers of Attorney, and authority heretofore given, I hereby constitute and appoint G. W. BENNETT , of Ellsworth, Maine my true and lawful Attorney, to prosecute the claim of Joseph Woodworth for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers or documents in relation to said claim on file in the Department at Washington City, or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive for my exclusive benefit, the certificate which may be issued for said claim, which certificate I wish made payable at the Washington City, D. C. Agency; to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
#changed by act Leg l of Maine
Sworn to, subscribed and Acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe the said Benjamin Wood to be directly interested in said claim as set forth, and to be the identical party therein alleged.
R. Long Justice of the Peace
State of Maine County of Hancock
It is Hereby Certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Clerk of the Court of  Supreme Judicial Court of Hancock County that Benjamin Wood the party who has sworn to, and acknowledged the foregoing Declaration and Power of Attorney is the child of the reputed soldier aforesaid. I further certify, that R. Long Esq. before whom the preceding affidavit and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged, was, at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, and that the signature purporting to be his, I believe to be genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office,
this Twenty third day of April 1853
P. W. Peey , Clerk as aforesaid,
1. Claimant's name or names in full.—2. Post Office address. 3 "That he is the identical man," or, "that she is the widow of the identical man," or, "that he or she is the legal heir of the identical man," &c., &c. 4. Leave this line blank.—5. "He is," "she is," or "they are."—6. Revolutionary soldier's full name.—7. Claimant's signature.—8. Claimant's name.—9. Magistrate's signature. 10. "Identical," "widow of," or, "child of."—11. Magistrate's name.—12. Clerk's signature.
N. B.—Should two or more heirs join in the foregoing, the plural should be substituted for the singular number.

Joseph Wormwood
18990
✓
18990

State of Maine County of Hancock 3 p -
In this thirty first day of October A D 1832, personally appeared Joseph Wormwood of Surry in said County of Hancock & State of Maine in open Court before the Hon. Job Nelson Judge of the Probate Court now sitting in Ellsworth in said County of Hancock - aged seventy five 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 th 1832 -
That he entered the service of the United States as herein stated to wit. The first time the people of Kennebec & Arundel in Maine were much terrified, fearing the enemy would land & in May 1775 shortly after the battle of Lexington, sent a man on to Congress to petition to have some Soldiers stationed there - The Congress commissioned a man by the name of James Hubbard who lived in what was Wells then but Kennebec now to raise some Soldiers to guard the Country around there - He the said Wormwood then enlisted as a Volunteer under sd Hubbard in May as near as he can recollect - He was in service under him guarding the Country about there till September about four in on the when the Captain discharged a part of the Company & took the rest & went to Cambridge. He sd Wormwood was then discharged - He does not recollect any of the other officers - He was in no engagement - there were frequent alarms from different places & the Company would march to the places, but it would generally turn out to be false alarms - Once he recollects of marching nearly to Saco twelve miles but before they got there they met an express saying that the vessel supposed to be British was an American one. Had no Barracks but the Captain used to quarter us at private houses & find us rations & he supposes the Captain recd pay from Congress for it but don't know

In the fall of the same year as near as he can recollect & in the month of November as he thinks, when the term of service of some of the Continental army was out, which was stationed at Cambridge, orders came on for the Militia to be turned out to fill up the lines till the Continental army was filled as I understood. As soon as the orders came he enlisted as a volunteer under orders from Col Littlefield of Wells. After the Company was filled up they were notified to appear at Col Littlefield's house to choose officers. Daniel Littlefield of Wells brother to the Col was chosen Capt. A Mr Hill was chosen 1 st Lieut. & a Mr Perkins 2 nd Lieut. don't remember their Christian names. We then returned home & had orders that day to March. The going was very bad. He thinks they waited till snow came before they marched but cannot recollect the precise time but thinks it was in December. We marched thro Old York Portman the Kittery Hampton & to Cambridge (Mass) & were stationed there on Prospect Hill. There were three Regiments there. He went into Col Witchcock's Regiment. Thinks the commanding officer there was a Major Box as he was called. Suppose he was Major General but don't know only he was called Major Box. Was there thro the winter & part of the spring & was there discharged & reached home about the tenth of May 1776. There was no battle while he was there. but shots exchanged occasionally. The British left Boston while he was there. He cannot tell how long he was in service but to the best of his recollection it was about six months from the time he enlisted till he was discharged. There were three Colonels there - One Col Witchcock one Col Little & can't recollect the other. He has no documentary evidence of his services - never had any written discharge as he can recollect. He Mr Samuel Maddocks of Bucksport Me & a Mr Joseph Whittmore of Beebe are now living & know of his service & their testimony will be got if possible & sent on with this application - Elder Benjamin Lord, clergyman of Surry & Mr Dominicus Blood of Surry are acquainted with me & can testify as to my character for veracity & as to their belief

of my services - He was Born at Wells or what is now Kennebec June 10 th A D 1756 - was residing there at the time he was called into service & left there about forty six years since & have since resided in Surry where I now live - There is no record of his age that he knows of - He has none - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid - 3 Joseph Wormwood J r Wilson Judge of the Court of Probate
We Benjamin Lord & William Morgan clergy- men residing in the town of Surry & Dominicus Flood residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Wormwood who has sub- scribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy five years of age - that he is reputed & believed to have been a Soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion -
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Benj t Lord William Morgan Dominicus Flood
Before me J r Wilson Judge of the Court of Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Depart- ment that the abovenamed applicant was a revolu- tionary soldier & served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Benja- min Lord & William Morgan who have signed the preceding certificate are clergymen resident in Surry aforesaid & that Dominicus Flood who has also signed the same is a resident of Surry & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit
J r Wilson
Judge of the Court of Probate

I N. Williams Register of the Court of Probate within & for the County of Hancock aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceed- ings of the said Court in the matter of the appli- cation of Joseph Morris Wood for a pension - & that the Hon. Job Nelson Esquire is Judge of Probate of the Court of Probate within & for the County of Hancock aforesaid & that the signatures hereby annexed purporting to be his are genuine -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this thirty first day of October A.D. 1832
N. Williams Register of the Court of Probate

State of Maine } S.S. County of Hancock }
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within & for said County of Hancock - Joseph Wormwood of Surry in said County, who being duly sworn deposes & saith, that by reason of old age & 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 & in the following grades - For four months I served as a private under one Capt Hubbard - for six months I served as a private under one Capt Littlefield & went to Prospect Hill & for such service I claim a pension Ellsworth Aug. 6 th 1833 Joseph Wormwood
Subscribed & sworn to.
Before me Joseph A. Wood Justice of the Peace
Hancock
I H. Williams Register of the Court of Probate for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that Joseph A. Wood is a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Hancock aforesaid, & that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this thirtieth day of October A.D. 1833 - H. Williams Register of the Court of Probate

18,990
Joseph Wormwood
Ma
J. A. Dean - Dec 27. 1853
1832

November 10th 1832
I Joseph Whitmore of Deer Isle doth certify and say through age and other infirmity and not having any personal acquaintance with Joseph Wormwood since the close of the war in the year of our one thousand seven hundred and eighty three but was well acquainted with a man in the service by the name of Joseph Wormwood and from circumstances that took place in the Army which he relates I have no doubt that he is the same man
Joseph Whitmore
Deer Isle November 10th 1832
The above named Joseph Whitmore personally appeared and made oath to the above instrument by him subscribed to be true according to the best of his knowledge
Before me
Richard Warren Justice of the Peace
Deer Isle Aug 8th 1833. And I the said Justice do hereby certify that Joseph Whit- more who has signed the foregoing Deposition is a man of respectable standing in Deer Isle & a man of credibility — Richard Warren Justice Peace
Hancorp.
I Wm Williams Register of the Court of Prob- ate for the County of Hancock aforesaid do hereby certify that Richard Warren is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County & that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this thirtieth day of October A.D. 1833 Wm Williams Register of the Court of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, August 7 th 1834.
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 Amos Wormwood, as a private, is borne on a Muster roll of Capt. Noah Mc c Littlefield's company, to guard the Sea Coast, in the County of York, stationed in Wells and Arundel, where he is allowed from July 10 th 1775, Six Months and six days. — — — m. d. 6-6 No other, by the name of Wormwood is borne on the above mentioned roll. Joseph Wormwood claims for services under Capt. James Hubbard, and Capt. Daniel Littlefield, in 1775 & 76, but no such Captains' rolls are found in this Office.
E. M.
Edward D Bangs. Secy
In the returns of Littlefield's Co while at Kittery Amos is returned as belonging to it

11,872
P. O.
Joseph Woodward
Service:
Warmwood
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
REJECTED
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.

18990 Joseph Wormwood Maine Letter to H. S. Davis 23 Feb 1835
Suppl
11872
J. A. Wood Esq. Ellsworth Me.

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 Wormwood 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? 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's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes
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? No
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? No
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 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 oath 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.