Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11,867, Noah Worcester, Mass. N.H.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Worcester Noah
S. 11,867.
N. H.
Carded.
CONTENTS
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76 Middletown
21. 6 46 Massachusetts Noah Worcester of Middlesex in the State of Mass. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain How of the Regt commanded by Col Prescott in the Mass  ★ time for 9 months & 5 days Small 2 " 4 35 " Large Mass. Aug N. H. ★ May 31/05. Records completed
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 40 - Dollars 14 - Cents per annum. to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 th day of Oct 1836 and sent Claimant Brighton Mass.
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1833 $103.35 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept 30 - 20.47 $122.82
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. } Recorded by Adson Clerk, Book 2 Vol. 2 Page 98

18716 North Worcester Mass
  Super  21m  25 day    Post  9  5     12  "  
Reg d to swear to the parishes - the length of each term of service    3.63  30.56    62  7.33    3.63  2.05    23.05  40.94  
5.14
June 4. 1833
  P. 412  40.942     81.88     20.47     102.35  
Isaac Lake Cambridge Mass
Clarent Bingham Mass

BRIEF in the case of  vs of Middlesex
Noah Worcester in the State of Mass (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? of course  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 74  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. As a Gen.     April In 1775. enlisted 8. private Capt Dow Col Prescott   Then engaged and did stay 6 or 8 weeks longer Capt Emerson   1777. volunteer 2. 25 fifer Col Nichols Genl Stark   "  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Battles of Dunkers Hill and Bennington  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Hollis N.H. 
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary / some living witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers are not attached agreeably to the regulations the witness and one Magistrate not certified
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Payson Examining Clerk.
The applicant concludes his statement by saying that he thinks his whole service during the war was one year

J. S. 1 John Worcester

Jesse Worcester of Hollis in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire being fourteen years of age in April 1775; do well remember that my brother Jo- -ah, now Rev. Joab Worcester of Brighton Mass D.D. did on the memorable 19 th of April 1775 in a company of about 60 men commanded by Capt Reuben Dow of said Hollis marched to meet the enemy who had commenced hostilities at Lexington and he soon enlisted and understood for eight months, after which he engaged again and continued in the service from the time of his enlistment in April until about the forepart of Feb. except that soon after the battle of Bunkerhill went and took his place about two weeks to give him oppor- tunity to visit his friends at home
In the summer of 1777 at the time of the along when Tienda- -ruga was besieged, he marched in a company commanded by Capt Daniel Emerson of said Hollis. A number of days after there was another call when I myself went in a company commanded by Lt Eben Jewett we had proceeded but about 40 or 50 miles before we met the troops who went first returning. Tiendataga being left by our troops. How long my brother was gone I cannot say. The same summer and soon after he went in the com- pany commanded by Capt John Goss of said Hollis who joined the Regiment commanded by Col. Wood Nichols of Antherest and General Stark's Brigade. He was as I have good reason to believe in the battles of Bun- kerhill and Bennington and continued in the service both campaigns until honorably discharged. He was, I understood Fife Major of the Regiment Jesse Worcester
State of New Hampshire Hillsborough ss - on this 27. 1832 Then Jesse Worcester the person whose name is to the above deposition subscribed appears and makes oath that the same is just & true in all its particular ten according to the best of his knowledge & belief Before me C. H. Atherton Jus Peace

I hereby certify that the witness named Jesse Ware is a credible witness -
July 2 d 1833 -
Chas H. Atkinson
Jus. Peace
I Andrew Wallace, clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the county of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire, certify that Charles H. Atkinson above named was on the twenty seventh day of August A.D. 1832 was, and ever since has been and now is a justice of the Peace for said county as aforesaid, and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his, are genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name, this second day of July in the year of our Lord 1833.
A. Wallace clerk

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex ss.
On this Thirtieth - day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court, before the Honourable Judge of the Court of Probate, in and for the County of Middlesex aforesaid, now sitting, Noah Worcester a resident of Brighton in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged nearly seventy four years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath  affirmation , make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, A. D. 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: - The narrative as written by
himself in the first person is as follows - On the nineteenth of April, 1775 I marched from Holliston N.H. for Concord, Lexington and Cambridge, Mass. as a volunteer under the command of Captain Reuben Dow of said Holliston. At Cambridge, instead of  going to returning home, I enlisted for eight months, or to the close of the year - still under the command of Captain Reuben Dow - whose company at their own request became a part of the Regiment commanded by Colonel William Prescott of Pepperell, Mass. When the term of eight months was about to close, it was found that the lines were likely to be left too defensible, and those who declined engaging for the next campaign were requested to tarry for six or eight weeks to allow time for organizing a new army. I was of the number who agreed to stay in the army for the six or eight weeks, but I am not able to state for certainty which was the term. I however continued in the service for the term requested; and I continued with the remnant of Colonel Prescott's regiment in the company commanded by Lieut. John Goss, who had till then been Lieutenant under Captain Dow. In 1777, when the country was alarmed by General Burgoyne's approach to Ticonderoga, I again became a volunteer under the command of Captain Daniel Emerson of the aforesaid Holliston, and marched with him for Ticonderoga. But on arriving at Cavern-ditch in Vermont, we had intelligence that Ticonderoga was taken in the possession of Burgoyne; and we then returned to Holliston, after an absence of eight or ten days. Soon, however, there was a call for a brigade to be raised to be commanded by General Stark. enlisted I think early in July  and was in service till his Brigade was discharged. The term of enlistment I think was twelve months. The regiment to which I belonged under General Stark was commanded by Colonel Mose Nichols; I was in the battle of Bennington hill, and the battle near Bennington. During the whole of my services I was a musician, a fifer of the company to which I belonged - While under General Stark I was appointed Major fifer of his brigade. Since writing the above I have had reason to think that my brother Joseph Worcester came to Cambridge, after the battle of Bennington hill and took my place for ten or fourteen days, that I might return home for that time. The whole of my service as nearly as I can recollect was about twelve months, deducting the days my brother served for me. I see no reason of next page

Uliah Wright

Brighton June. 18. 1832
This may certify that I Uriah Wright was a Soldier in 1775 in Capt. Reuben Dows company of Hottes, New Hampshire which company was annexed to the Regiment commanded by Col. William Prescott, And that Noah Worcester formerly of said Hottes, but now of Brighton Massachusetts, was the Yifer of the said company to which I belonged, and was in the service from the day of Lexington Battle to the close of the year.
Uriah Wright
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss June 18 th 1832 then personally appeared the above named Uriah Wright and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit
Before me Edward Sparhawk Justice
The above named Uriah Wright appeared to me to be a credible witness. Edward Sparhawk Justice of the Peace July 1 st 1832
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss. I. Isaac Fisher Deputy of the Court of Probate and for conformity of Middlesex hereby certify that Edward Sparhawk whose own proper signature is set to the above certificate, is a justice of the Peace within said county of Middlesex.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of said Court this nineteenth day of October in the year of our Lord 1832
Isaac Fisher

Affidavit of N. Worcester

Affirmation of Noah Worcester.
September 4 th 1833. Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, in the County of Middlesex, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Noah Worcester of said County; and having duly affirmed, deposed and said; That, by reason of age and con- sequent loss of memory, he could not affirm positively as to the precise time of his service in the revolu- tionary war, but according to the best of his re- collection he served not less than the periods men- tioned below, and in the following grades:      Mo.  Days      First Campaign from April 19th to the end of the year.  8  11    Second enlistment - Six weeks -  1  12    Third do. on Alarm -  -  8    4 th do. -  2  0     12.    
That he served 16 months as a fifer of a company; and 2 months as major fifer of a Brigade
Edw. S. Parkhurst Justice of the Peace

Noah Worcester
18716
to left with ledge

And the following Interrogatories were propounded to him to wit
1. Where & in what year were you born?
Answer - In Hollis, N.H. Nov. 25, 1758.
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it?
Answer I have a record in my possession, taken from the town records of Hollis.
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
Answer, I was living in Hollis, when called into service - since I left the service I have lived in Plymouth, Thornton, Salisbury all of N.H. - now in Brighton, Mass.
4. How were you called into service, were you drafted did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute, for whom?
Answer In all my services I was a volunteer, and not drafted, nor a substitute.
5. State the names of some of the regular officers, with whom you served?
Answer Generals Washington, Ward, Putnam, Lee, Sullivan, Gates and Stark.
6. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for services as a soldier of the revolution.
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 any state,
Affirmed & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. J. P. P. Gay Probst Noah Worcester
We, William Adams a clergyman, residing in the town of Brighton, and James Baldwin Thaddeus Thaddeus residing in said Brighton hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Rev. Noah Worcester who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; - that we believe him to be nearly seventy four 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.
Affirmed W. Adams Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. J. P. P. Gay Probst Thaddeus Baldwin
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 certify, that it appears to them that
William Adams who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in Brighton and that Thaddeus Baldwin who has also signed the same, is a resident in Brighton and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. P. P. Gay Probst
I, Isaac Fisher Register of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Middlesex, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Noah Worcester for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Isaac Fisher
X Jonas Wood, who has testified on oath, has stated that the person who has stated he is now a myrtaker, and has stated it at three months. What I have written is to the best of my recollection, and is as I did it as I dared to be in narrating facts which occurred more than fifty years ago. Noah Worcester

Certificate of Magistracy of Daniel Abbot

I Andrew Wallace, clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire, certify that Daniel Abbot of Dunstable in said County is a Justice of the Peace for said County of Hillsborough and that he the said Daniel Abbot has been a Justice of the Peace for said County for three years now last past.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of Office, and subscribed my name this second day of July in the year of our Lord 1833.
A. Wallace clerk

Jonas Wood Depl o on Noah Worcester
Application

I Jonas Woods of Dunstable in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire in the seventy third year of my age, testify & say, that in the year one Thousand seven hundred & seventy seven, I lived in Holles in said county and there, in the summer of that year I enlisted as as a soldier into the Company commanded by Capt. John Goss, of said Holles, which Company joined the Regiment commanded by Col. Moses Nichols, in Genl Stark's Brigade and was present & engaged in the battle of Bennington in the Revolutionary Army, commanded by said Stark - The term of my enlistment in said Company was for three Months, which I served out and received a regular discharge from the General - I further depose that I was then well acquainted with Noah Worcester, then of said Holles, now of Brighton in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, who had before that time been my School Master, that he enlisted into said Company for the same term of time, which I did, and served out the same - He enlisted as a musician in said Company & was afterwards appointed Fife Major to said Stark's Brigade - He was in the battle of Bennington and after the expiration of his term was honorably discharged & returned home to Holles - Jonas Woods
State of New Hampshire -
Hillsborough ss. Sept. 3 d - 1832. Then the above named Jonas Woods personally appeared & made Oath that the above Affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before Danl. Abbot Jun. Peace
I certify that the above named Deponent is a witness entitled to full credit -
Danl. Abbot Jun. Peace

I Stephen Dow of Hollis in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire of lawful being 74 years old age, testify and say that in the war of the American Revolution, that the Company commanded by Capt. Ruben Dow of said Hollis started for Cambridge and that Isaac Worcester of the town Hollis was one of said Company and started as a fifer in said Company; and I well remember hearing heard my Father said Capt. Dow say that said Isaac Worcester went to Cambridge was in the Battle of Bunker Hill and served the time of his enlistment and was a good Soldier. and I find said Isaac Worcester name on the Roll of my Father. said Ruben Dow which he left in my possession; and that the Company commanded by said Capt. Dow joined the Massachusetts troops under the command of Col. William Prescott. In the summer of AD 1777 when Pionta- negue was besieged I marched in a Company commanded by Lieut. Ebenezer Jewett of said Hollis in order to join the army and proceeded untill we met the Company commanded by Capt. Daniel Emerson of said Hollis who had marched a number of days previous.

and I well remember walking with said Worcester on our way home who had been with said Emerson; I also remember said Worcester going in a company commanded by Capt. John Goss of said Hollis who joined the Regiment commanded by Col. Moses Nichols, I also remember hearing the Father of said Noah Worcester on coming out of Hollis meeting house on a Public auction informed the People he had some good news for them, that he had received a letter from his son, the aforesaid Noah Worcester and when the People had gathered around, read the letter giving the first and a particular account of General Stark's
Victory.
Hollis August 30 th 1832. Stephen Dow
Hillsborough Jp s , August 30 th 1832.
Personally appeared Stephen Dow and made Oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me Benjamin Pool Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that the above named Stephen Dow is a credible witness.
Benjamin Pool Justice of the Peace

I Andrew Wallace, clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire, certify that Benjamin Pool within named on the thirtieth day of August AD 1832 was, ever since has been and now is, a Justice of the Peace for said County of Hillsborough, as within mentioned, and that the foregoing signatures, purporting to be his, are genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name, this second day of July in the year of our Lord 1833.
A. Wallace Clerk
Stephen Dow for Norther

Geo. Wm. Crump Acting Comr of Pensions

Brighton Sept. 1833.
Dear Sir,
I now send the affidavit or affirmation requested, which I think is all that your notice requires. I also return to you all the papers, not knowing what will or will not be needed. The reason why I omitted to send the affidavit when I wrote the second time was this: In the cases in which I had doubts as to which of two terms of service was correct, I stated the lower term, as I have done in what I now send.
Yours respectfully
Noah Worcester.
Geo. Wm. Brunt Acting Comm for Pensions.

Hon. L. G. C. Sec'y of War Washington D.C.

Brighton July 4. 1833
Sir, I think I have at length obtained all the certificates required by your notice relating to the credibility of my witnesses, and the official character of the persons who took the depositions.
In regard to the objection that I had not been sufficiently definite as to the terms of my service under the several enlistments, I have still to regret that I have not been able to obtain any further certificates. Indeed I know not that any man is now living who served with me in the same company under either of the two short enlistments which were stated indefinitely - one at 6 or 8 weeks - the other at 8 or 10 days. I must therefore in each case reduce the term to the lowest time mentioned, tho' I am still in doubt, and think the highest term as probably the more correct.
   Mo. Days     1. From April 19th to the end of the year 8. 11   2nd enlistment Six weeks 1. 12   3d on the Alarm 0. 8   4th enlistment two months 2. 0   total 12.  
I mentioned the fact that during the first enlistment my brother came and took my place for a few days. As he and I both belonged to the same family, and as I had a man in my place while on furlough, which others had

not, I suppose that no deduction should be made; but I freely submit the matter to your decision. And if it was not the intention of the Act of Congress that so short a term of service as the 8 days under my third enlistment should be allowed, that you will of course deduct. The whole is now submitted by
Yours respectfully
Noah Worcester
The Hon. L. Gass Secretary of War
P.S. I served as fifer of a company 10 months as Major fifer of a Brigade ————— 2 11
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original document.]

1876 Noah Worcester
office, the certificate of a member of congress; proving the official character and signature. In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public attached to the certificate.
under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being inserted that must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which are written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper supplemental thereto.
ONKRE YAT: MUSE OF SWANSON'S POETRY
LOUIS XIV. Proof of Service. played in any civil process.
Mr Noah Worcester Brighton 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 Noah Worcester which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy
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? yy
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? yy
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy
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? yy
EXPLANATORY NOTES
For present matter see the notes on the following pages

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? yy
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?
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? Ad
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yy
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?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yy
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, deposeeth 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."
You must make an affidavit agreeably to the above form Aug 28/1833

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 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 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.

Rev War
11867 INVALID!
File No. 11,867
Noah Worcester Prv. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1882
Index: Vol. A Page 415-
[Arrangement of 1870.]