Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31169, for Cornelius Jones, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Jones, Cornelius
S. 31169
Mass. Sea Service
Privateers.
CONTENTS
Jan 30, 1762 in Farmington, Bristol Co. Mass there at end. In 1829, Mrs. Turner, Oxford Co. Me.

18-264 Maine
Cornelius Jones.
Oxford Co in the State of Maine he was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Fales of the Regt. commanded by Col. — in the Mass s — for 2 mos 4 d. Seamen Mass s Service 21. 26 — 70. Privates
Enscribed on the Roll of Maine the rate of 81 Dollars 40 Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of Aug t 1833 and dated
W. R. Porter Turner
arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $162. 80 emigrant allowance ending Sept. — 40. 70
$203. 50
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book E Vol. 1 Page 24

STATE OF MAINE.
COUNTY OF York ss.
ON this 17 th day of August A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate of said County now sitting, Cornelius Jones a resident of Turner in the county of York and State of Maine, aged 70 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. And he first sets forth, that in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the thirtieth day of January, he moved from said Taunton to Turner where he now lives in a house commanded by Captain Noah Hall in Col. French's Regiment was then stationed at White Hill Cambridge, and Dorchester Point. His father Sylvester Jones, was a Lieutenant in said company. That he was next in Randall's company (same year) 1776, and was then stationed at Castle 776, for the term of three months, and was then stationed at Howland's of Captain Samuel Hales of the Massachusetts State troops, and was again at Howland's Ferry Rhode Island for the term of three months, and after serving in said company, through said enlistment, went at Warren Rhode Island under the same Capt. Eben. Dean for the term of three months, and which he served throughout, and was a Lieutenant there, at that time, in the same company. His next was for ten guns, as a Sailor, Captain Hallett commander, and sailed in her the 2 months & more. While on board of the Tyannu-side, we had two battles with captured her. Another with a letter of Marque Ship of 20 guns, & 300 tons, and loaded. That he then engaged again in the land service, by enlisting for a term of three months through said enlistment on Rhode Island, which expired in October same year, 1778. He armed Ship George of 20 Guns Capt. Billman, commander, after stores for the captured off the Capes of Delaware by a British Frigate of 36 Guns, called, and was detained as a prisoner in New York three months more, thus making his service as herein specifically set forth, amount in the whole to thirty two months, and cruises, besides, in various Privateers during that war, and was in prison two or three times, when my discharge.-
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. Cornelius Jones
Stephen Emery, Judge of Probate.

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 applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states, the said applicant having adduced the depositions of Silvester Jones & Dan Pratt, under oath duly administered, in corroboration of his own declaration.
Stephen Emery, Judge
I Joseph G. Cole Register Clerk of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Conelius Jones for a pension.
IN testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this seventeenth day of August A. D. 1832.
CLERK.
Joseph G. Cole Register

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, May 17 th 1833.
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 on examining the Navy Rolls in this Office, it appears that the Brigantine Tyrannicide was employed by this State as a public armed vessel, in the years 1776, 1777, 1778, and 1779, - and during those years was commanded by Capt. John Fisk, afterwards by Capt. Jonathan Haraden, - then by Capt. John Cabot, - and then by Capt. Allen Hallet.
On Capt. Allen Hallet's roll of his Crew, is found the name of Cornelius Jones, whose time of entry was February 27, 1779, - was discharged April 30, 1779, - and he is allowed two months and four days' service.
No evidence respecting the ship George is found in this office.
Edward D. Bangs Secy

STATE OF MAINE.
OXFORD COUNTY, ss.
I, RUFUS KING GOODENOW, Clerk of the Judicial Courts in and for said County of Oxford, hereby certify, that STEPHEN EMERY, whose genuine signatures are annexed to the application of Cornelius Jones for a pension, which application is hereunto annexed, is Judge of the Court of Probate in and for said County of Oxford; and that JOSEPH G. COLE, whose genuine signature is annexed to the same application, is Register of said Court of Probate.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, this seventeenth day of August in the year A. D. 1832
R. K. Goodenow { Clerk of Oxford County Courts.
STATE OF MAINE.
OXFORD COUNTY, ss.
I, RUFUS KING GOODENOW, Clerk of the Judicial Courts in and for said County of Oxford, hereby certify, that
William K. Porter
whose genuine signature is annexed to the foregoing Depositions of Sylvester Jones and Dan Pratt , is a Justice of the Peace in and for said county of Oxford.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, this seventeenth day of August in the year A. D. 1832
R. K. Goodenow { Clerk of Oxford County Courts.

Cornelius Jones, Application for pension, under act of June 7. 1832.
No 5586.
he was born in the town of Taunton in the county of Bristol 1762. There was a family record of his age & he knows of no other. That 1787. And that he first enlisted as a private soldier into a company in January (he thinks) 1776 for the term of Four months , and Massachusetts, and served throughout his said term of enlistment; and his last under an enlistment for the term of Six months , in Captain Mathew William Boston Harbor. & served faithfully through said term He again enlisted, in the first part of December Perry & vicinity, and served throughout said term, under the command mediately upon his last enlistment, as aforesaid, being out, he enlisted more into a company under the command of Captain Ebenezer D. he arrived home therefrom about the first of June 1777. - He having enlisted into the his company in November same year, (1777) returned home in February 1778. His father aforesaid, Sylvester Jones service was on board of the State Brig of War Triumvirate off last of February or the first of March 1778, on a cruise, which lasted three the enemy, one of which was with a British privateer of 16 Guns, and with Beef and Pork, and took her and brought her into Boston. - Four months , in Capt. Jacob Boskins' (company) of the Massachusetts State troops, and that he Afterwards, in January 1779 he embarked, as a sailor, on board of the Public Army to one of the West India Islands, and on our return passage our ship was & believe, the Callitee . That he was in the George four months before Captain in all at that time Seven Months . That the aforesaid terms of land & naval twenty nine months , of which will appear by the annexed evidence. That he was six captured from on board said privateers. That he has no recollection of having received

I Sylvester Jones of Fayette in the county of Kennebec, and State of Maine, on oath declare, that I was born in Farmton in the county of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the year 1760; and that Cornelius Jones now of Turner in the county of Oxford and State of Maine, is my brother, and that he was born and lived in said Farmton through the War of the Revolution, save the time he was in the service of his country during that war.
My brother Cornelius, and myself enlisted as private soldiers into a company commanded by Capt. Noah Hall in Col. French's Regiment (of the Revolutionary Army) in the early part of the year 1776, for the term of four months , and our said company was then stationed at Winter Hill Cambridge, Mass, and Dorchester Point, and my said brother continued to serve faithfully the whole of said time. Our father the late Sylvester Jones was a Lieutenant in said company. — I also knew of my said brother, Cornelius, enlisting and serving for the term of six months , on Castle William in Boston Harbor in the company under the command of Capt. Mathew Randall in the same year, 1776. —
I further knew of my said brother, Cornelius, enlisting and serving (as a soldier) under Capt. Samuel Hales, for the term of three months , at Howland's Ferry, Rhode Island, in the year 1777. — I knew also of my brother, Cornelius, going out in a Brig of War, belonging to the State of Massachusetts, called the Triumvirate, as a Sailor, for a cruise of three months , in 1778. — I afterwards knew of his enlisting and serving as a soldier, for the term of three months , in the company under the command of Capt. Jacob Boskins, stationed in Rhode Island in 1778. — I knew also, by report in our family, that my brother Cornelius went out in the public armed ship George (as a sailor) after stores for the Army, to the Station one of the N. P. Islands, and I always understood (turn over)

that he was captured in said ship, on her return voyage off the Delaware, and that he was carried into New York City as a prisoner, having been on the voyage from Malta, and a prisoner three months more, making in all at that time, Seven months . — Phineas also, by report, in the family, at that period, of his having enlisted and served (previously) for the term of three months , as a soldier, at Warren Rhode Island in the winter of 1778. —
June July 19. 1832.
Sylvester Jones
State of Maine.
Offord U.S. July 19. 1832. Then the abovenamed Sylvester Jones made oath to the truth of foregoing affidavit by him subscribed, before me, and I am also state that the said Jones is in my opinion, entitled to full credit, as a witness! —
William W. Porter Justice of Peace.

State of Maine.
County of Oxford S.S. On this ninth day of May A.D. 1833; Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in & for said County, Cornelius Jones of Turner in said County, an applicant for a pension under the act of June 7. 1832. Who, being duly sworn, deposes & 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 four months, I served as a private soldier in Capt. Cook Hall's company the officer named in my declaration made the 17 th of August last, under the act aforesaid; For six months I served as a private soldier in Capt. Matthew Randall's company, the officer named in my aforesaid declaration; For three months I served as a private soldier in Capt. Samuel Pales' company; For three months, I served as a private soldier, in Capt. Ebenezer Dean's company; For three months more I served as a private soldier under the same Capt. Dean; For three months, I served as a common sailor on board the Brig of War Tyannide belonging to the State of Massachusetts; For three months, I served as a private soldier under Capt. Jacob Hoskins; For seven months (including the time I was detained as a prisoner) I served as a common sailor on board the Ship George of 20 guns belonging to said State of Massachusetts; and for such service I claim a pension.
Cornelius Jones
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
William K. Porter, Jus. Pac. for said County.

31169 Rev INVALID.
File No. 31,169
Cornelius Jones Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1894
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 215-
[Arrangement of 1870.]

STATE OF MAINE.
OXFORD COUNTY, ss.
I, RUFUS KING GOODENOW, Clerk of the Judicial Courts in and for said County of Oxford, hereby certify, that
William R. Porter Esq whose genuine signature s annexed to the foregoing Deposition of Cornelius Jones, Sylvester Jones + Dan Pratt ya Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Oxford.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, this 13th day of May in the year A. D. 1833
RK Goodenow { Clerk of Oxford County Courts.

Ms 5586
Cornelius Jones
Adm
L. 400 Leaman
21.26 .. priv
24 -
 8.53  70.  2.86  81.39 
 28.75  9.25 W.R. Porter Turner Maine

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Cornelius Jones  which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 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? 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 - see Issue 5 VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 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?

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? c XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? c 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? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 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? no 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 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.
He must produce from some public authorised officer of whatever state the vessel in which, he alleges, he served belonged to, that such was the fact—

I Dan Pratt of Turner in the County of Oxford and State of Maine, aged Seventy years, do testify and say, that I was born in Taunton in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and that I have been from youth up, well acquainted with Cornelius Jones, now of said Turner, but formerly of said Taunton, where he was said to have been born, and where I knew him to reside during the War of the American Revolution, excepting the time that he was, as well as myself, engaged in the service of his country. —
I first knew the said Jones to be engaged as a soldier in the American Revolutionary Army, when he was stationed at Winter Hill Cambridge, and Dorchester Point Mass, and at that time he was in a company under the command of Capt. Noah Hall in Col. French's Regiment, and he served there for the term of four months , this was in the early part of the year 1776, and the said Jones' father, Sylvester Jones, was a Lieutenant in the same company. Afterwards, in the same year, I knew of the said Jones being a soldier in the American Service at Castle William Boston Harbor, in a company, I think, under the command of Capt. Matthew Randall, and he was there for the term of Six Months. —
I knew of the said Jones also going to sea in one or two of the public armed vessels during said War. I particularly remember of hearing of his going out in the Triumvirate, and in the Ship George of that period; and that he was taken and detained as a prisoner in New York, having been captured on board of the Ship George. I also understood that he was a prisoner in Rhode Island, at the time I was there in 1778. in Sullivan's expedition into
Said State.
Turner July 26. 1832. (Justice's certificate on the other side.)

State of Maine.
Offad SS. July 26. 1832. Then personally appeared the within named Dan Pratt, and made oath, to the truth of the within affidavit, by him subscribed, before me, and I can also certify that the said Pratt, is in my opinion, entitled to full credit as a witness. — William K. Foster, Justice of Peace.