Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 28803, for Rufus Mason, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Continental Mass.
Nason, Rufus
D. 28803
CONTENTS

4481 10
New York
Rufus Mason of Moriah in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Brown of the Regt commanded by Col Root in the Massachusetts , time for 14 months and 7 days
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 47 Dollars 42 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of January 1833 — and sent to Amherst Mason Moriah Essex Co NY.
Arrears to 14th of Sept 1832 $ 71. 13
Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Mar 33 23. 71
$ 94.84
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Ebenezer Cromwell Clerk, Book D Vol. 5 Page 175
Death not in A B

State of New York } Essex County } ss
On the 13 th day of August 1832 Personally appeared before me
Ambrose Mason one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County of Essex and State of New York. Rufus Mason a resident of the town of Maria in the County aforesaid aged seventy three years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare the following declaration in order to attain the benefits of the act of bankruptcy passed the 7 th of June 1832
That he entered the service of the United States as a Volunteer under the Command of Capt. Daniel Brown Col. ————— Foot and marched from Lanesboro- ugh County of Berkshire and state of Massachusetts to the west into the County of Rensselaer in the state of New York took several forays and returned often about eight or ten days — this was in the year 1777 — that about the middle of June the same year he volunteered under the Command of Capt. David Wheeler — Major Hyde Col. for three months Miles Powell — and marched for Ticonderoga N.Y. but met the enemy at Fort Ann. where he was engaged in an action with the enemy after which the party retreated to Fort Edwards where they were employed in guarding and removing the military stores at that place the enemy pressing hard upon them rear; after being detained in this service for one half of the term of his enlistment he was discharged together with others (it being resolved by the offi- cers to discharge one half of the regiment to return home on account of the approaching harvest) that after a very few days stay at home he was called upon to go to Burlington Vermont to oppose a party of the enemy under the Command of Col. Baum which had been sent out by Gen. Burgoyne to destroy the military stores at that place. And immediately entered upon this service under the
Ambrose Mason a true copy of —————

Command of Capt Daniel Brown Col. --- Simons and marched direct to that place and the 16 th of August was engaged against the enemy and took the party prisoners from them went with the prisoners as far as Leesborough where he was dismissed from any further service under this engagement --- being out about two weeks ---
That about the first of October same year he went to Swansey in the state of Massachusetts where he volunteered for one month under the Command of Capt. Pleg Peck Major --- Marched to go on to Rhode Island and march for that place and served the term of his enlistment and was dismissed this was called Gen. Spencer's expedition
That in the year 1778 he enlisted under the Command of Capt Peck of a said for a term of three months and was employed in guarding the shores along Rhode Island served the term fully and was dismissed
and on the first of February April same year That after this he volunteered for a term of one year and nine months and was placed under the Command of Capt. --- Hastings at Cambridge (Md.) but was soon transferred to the Command of Lieutenant Woodley and joined Col. Henry Sackman's Regiment at Rhode Island and on the 29 th day of August same year was engaged in a battle with the enemy on Rhode Island and continued in service under this enlistment until the last of October having served eleven months when he hired a sub- stitute to perform the remainder of the term and and and returned back to his former place of Residence in Leesborough aforesaid
That in these several alarms he was out in all making a term of time of at least one month making in all an aggregate amount of actual service of one year two months and ten days that he can find no record

now living who can testify to his services— That 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
Reuben Major
Sworn and Subscribed to This 13 th day of August 1833 before me
Am brose Mason a bridge of Essex County on a plea
I hereby certify that after taking down the facts stated in the above declaration from the mouth of the claimant I propou- nded to him the following questions and received from him the answers as the stand answered to the questions
Question 1 When and in what year was you born
Ans. I was born in the town Warren in the County of Bristol in the state of Rhode Island in the year 1759.
" 2 Have you any record of your age if so when is it. I never knew of any—
" 3 When did you live when first called into the service where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you live now
When I first entered the service I lived in Lansdowne aforesaid and have lived there ever since until about one year past which time I have lived at my present place of residence (Maine) —
" 4 How were you called into service were you a drafted Billed you a volunteer or were you a substitute if a substitute for whom
" I was a volunteer in all cases of my service
Am brose Mason a bridge of Essex County on a plea

5th state the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops when you served such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service —
While at Fort Ann I recollect Gen. Nicholson and Col. Nicholson Col. Bowen and a Col. Lane a Capt. Warren — While at Rhoadesland there was Gen. Glover's Brigade and Gen. Warren's Brigade and the general circumstances of my service is contained in my declaration
6th did you ever receive a writing discharge if so what has become of it
I never received any written discharge whatever —
Forbush Mason a Judge of Dist. Com. Pleas
I hereby further Certify I have for several years past been personally acquainted with Rufus Mason who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and that for quite a number of years before my personal acquaintance with him I knew him by reputation he being an intimate acquaintance of my father's that he has ever supported a good moral character for truth and veracity and he is reputed in the neighborhood where he has formerly resided as well as where he now resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that I concur in that opinion — And that I am personally acquainted with Gersham Lane a Clergyman of this town and Conner S. Barker Esq. and

Subscribed and  sworn to the Certificate hereunto annexed and that thing statement contained in the said Certificate is entitled to credit And that the said Rufus Mason is in consequence of bodily infirmities unable to attend on the County Court at their sessions as I very believe from his appearance and statements to me and that he has presented to me a statement signed by the Rev. John Leland of his former place of residence (Lansborough) states that he is a man of good moral character
Ambrose Mason a Judge of Essex Com. pleas
We the under signed inhabitants of the town of Mansfield in the County of Essex formerly of Lansborough in the County of Berkshire in the State of Massachusetts do hereby certify that we have been personally acquainted with Rufus Mason who has sworn and subscribed to the above declaration for many years and that he has ever been reputed as a man of the revolution for many years that we have examined his said declaration and believe the facts therein contained to be entitled to credit that he is a man who has ever supported a good character for truth and veracity - Gardner S. Perkins
Levi Northrop Nathaniel Mason
Given
this 18th
1832 before us -
Ambrose Mason a Judge of Essex Com. pleas

State of New York Essex County ss
We Gershom Lane a clergyman of the town of Manlius in the said County of Essex and State of New York and Gardner T. Barker of the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Rufus Mason who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy five years of age - that he is respected and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Gershom Lane
Gardner T. Barker
Sworn & subscribed to this 13 th day of August 1832 before me
Ambrose Mason a Judge of Essex Com. Pleas
Ambrose Mason a Judge of Essex Com. Pleas

The Secretary will please direct his communications to Archbishop Mason Esq. Mariah Essex County N.Y. who is duly authorized to receive and answer any communication on the subject of this Claim —
Rufus Mays
State of New York } I, Catherine H. Williams deputy County of Essex } Clerk of the County of Essex and acting Clerk in the absence of the Clerk do hereby certify that Nathaniel Howden is a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Essex duly appointed and sworn and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and believe the signature "Nathaniel Howden" to be his own proper hand writing The Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hands and affixed the Official Seal of the County of Essex this 22 nd day of August 1832
C. H. Williams Deputy Clerk
378

I Rufus Mason of the age of seventy three years being first duly sworn according to law do depose and say that in addition to the facts contained in my "Declaration" made the 13 th of August 1832 in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed the 7 th of June 1832
While at Brimington (etc.) (August 1777) I became acquainted with and fought under the Command of Gen. John Stark and Col. Isaac Stafford. I also saw at that place Col. Seth Warner & Col. Smith
That while serving my term of three months under Capt. Peck in (1778) I was under Col. John Dazet Lieut. Col. John Hathaway and Major Peleg Hall. Gen. Carrawall was Commander at that Station -
That while performing the last service mentioned in my "Declaration" I was under Command of Col. Asa Barnes. and if I am not mistaken Capt. Newell commanded the Company at that time -
That from the long lapse of time, the loss of recollection and the fact that I have no one with whom to converse on the subject of my services in the Revolutionary war I am unable to recollect further particulars
Sworn and subscribed This 18 th day of December 1832 before me -
Ambrose Mason a Judge of Essex Court
Rufus Mason

Sir I have received the papers forwarded to the war department by Rufus Moore in aid of his pension claim, together with a brief of the objections made to them by you. I have presented them to him and obtained such corrections as he is able to make -
The only objection made as an omission on his part, is that he has not given the names of the officers with whom he served, in conformity with the regulations of the war department.
With respect to the first service mentioned under "Capt. Daniel Brown & Col. Root" he is unable to recollect any other officers having any command over the party in which he served. Gen. Seymour commanded the Northern army at that time "(1864)" - While on his second tour mentioned while at Fort-Lee, it will be observed that he gives the names of "Gen. Nicholson, Col. Nicholson & Col. Lane & Capt. Warren; and while at Rhodestown in a subsequent tour of service he was acquainted with Gen. Glover and Gen. Vernon who commanded Brigades at that place. in his answer to the 5th interrogatory
Such other particulars as he is able to recollect will be found in a supplementary affidavit made by him and hereto subjoined as part of his "Declaration."

3778 The remaining Objection contained in the said brief is that the papers are not authenticated as the regulations direct
The seal of any Court is affixed by the Clerk and is so acknowledged in the said brief, which is all the seal used by any officer of any Court, and by none but the Clerk; a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas has no seal of office in this state, he subscribes as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the County for which he is appointed and in which he acts, this is deemed sufficient in all cases of the most statutory kind. And the papers forwarded in this case were all attached in the order in which they were returned, and no paper appears to have been improperly attached as I am able to discover-- having placed them in the order and attached them by Common seal  my own hands
It appears that the Certificate of Gresham Lane and Gardner S. Barker was not sworn to at the time of the state of the papers; it was but through inadvertency I had omitted to certify it as so done, it is now done, and the papers with such amendments as the claimant is able to make are again humbly submitted

If further reports should be discovered it is hoped that the department will give such further direction as to enable the Claimant to comply with the regulations as far as his case will admit.
Respectfully your Obedient Servant
Ambrose Mason a trustee of Essex Company

Rufus Ambrose Mason 3778
New York.
Augt. 27 1832 Oct. 31 1832
Page 8.
56.16
admitted 14 mo. 7 days
Ambrose Mason Esq. Moriah Essex Co N.Y.

3778
BRIEF in the case of  Rufus Mason, Moriah,  Co. of Essex  in the State of New York.  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Judge  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? It does.  3. How old is he? 73 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.     In 1777 "8 or 10 days" Volunteer Gen. D. Brown, Col. Root. (Col.   "latter part June 1777" 1 1/2 mo private Capt. D. Wheeler, Maj. Hyde, Col. D. Brown.   "after a few days" 14 " Capt. D. Brown, Col. Simons.   about 1 st Oct. 1777 1 mo " Capt. P. Peck, Maj. Mearns.   1778 3 " Capt. Peck.   April 1. 1778 7 " Capt. Hastings, Lt. Moseley, Col.   "in 3 different alarms" 1 Th. Jackson.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Hort Ann; Bennington, W. & Rhode Island.  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Louisburgh, Berkshire co., Mass. 
 7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  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.
W. Havett  Examining Clerk.

Brewster
28-803
INVALID.
File No. 28,803
Rufus Mason
Rev Rev
Act: 7 th June 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 255
[Arrangement of 1870.]