Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14687, for Amos Thomson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Thomson, Amos or Thompson
S14687
bearded
CONTENTS

21. 199. Massachusetts
Amos Thompson
Resided in the State of Mass was a priv. of Inf. in the Col. of Capt. Wood of the Dept. Co. Col. Read in the War of for 6 months & 2 days service 15 " 2 " { Claim and died before estate his widow Mary Thompson
scribed on the Roll of Merit at the rate of 16 Dollars 30 Cents per ann. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of Oct 1833 B and to C. S. Selous for her
Amount to the 4th of Mar. 34 $ 16.30 Pension allowance ending June 29. 41
$ 98.71
{ Revolutionary War Act June 7, 1833
Recorded by [Signature] Book E Vol. 2 Page 5
new Certificate issued to Mrs. C. S. Selous Mass. Nov. 29. 1833.
21. 199. 163 16.30 82.41 98.71

Roxbury November 21 st 1833
Sir
Enclosed, I transmit  return to you the Pension Certificate of the Widow of Amos Thompson, deceased, in which there is a mistake of a year, as to the time of his death, he having died on the 15 th of June 1833 . If upon examination it should appear, that the mistake is in the certificate of the Court, you will perceive that it is merely a clerical error , as he made his declaration, in open court, some time in August 1832
Respectfully Yours Colt Sergeant J. D. Cland Roxbury Massachusetts
James L. Edwards Esq. Comm r of Pensions Washington City

Amos Thompson
21793
73
E. Island

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Norfolk ss.
On this twenty sixth day of August in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Judge of the Court of Probate . now
sitting at Wrentham in and for said County, Amos Thompson a resident of Bellingham in said County, 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 7th A. D. 1832.
THAT he was born at Bellingham
on the ninth day of November A. D. 1757, and that there is a record of his birth in the Records of Bellingham that he was in the United States service from about the first day of May A. D. 1775, to the first day of January A. D. 1776 since as a private in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at said Bellingham
when he entered the service ; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Samuel Cobb of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Joseph Read
: that he marched from Bellingham to Roxbury, from  to  from  to  to
: that he served at said Roxbury with some  some  some of the regular troops ; and
no regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received no written discharge : that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at said Bellingham & that he has no documentary evidence of this service
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from about the first day of November A. D. 1776, to the first day of May A. D. 1777 since as a private in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at Bellingham
when he entered the service ; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Peter Cushing of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Croft
: that he marched from Bellingham to Boston, from  to  from  to  to Watertown
: that he served at said Watertown with some  some  some of the regular troops ; and
no regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received no written discharge.
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from about the first day of July A. D. 1777, to the first day of October A. D. 1777 since as a private in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at Bellingham
when he entered the service ; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Peter Cushing of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Pierce
: that he marched from Bellingham to Stillwater, from  to  from  to  to
: that he served at said place with some  some  some of the regular troops ; and
no regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received no written discharge.

about the first day of May  October A. D. 1780, to the first day of May  June A. D. 1781 3 months as a private in the Massachusett Militia : that he was residing at Bellingham when he entered the service ; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Benjamin Read of the Regiment whose Colonel he does not recollect : that he marched from Bellingham to West Point from to  from  to  through Springfield he does not recollect any regular troops or officers who served with him at the end of his term served no combatant duties : that he was in no battle and that he has no documentary evidence except what may be found in the files of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
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 first aforesaid.
Anas Thompson
We Samuel Darling
clergymen , residing in the said Bellingham
and Willard Weeks
residing in Wrentham
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Anas Thompson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration ; that we believe him to be 74 years years of age ; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed as aforesaid.
Samuel Darling Willard Weeks
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certify that it appears to them that Samuel Darling, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergymen , resident in the said Bellingham ; and that Willard Weeks, who has also signed the same is a resident in Wrentham and the credible person ; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Herman S. Leland Judge of Probate
I Samuel Haven, Reg d of the court of Probate aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Anas Thompson, for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Samuel Haven.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Norfolk ss. On this twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three, personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable Court of Probate now sitting at Wrentham in & for said County, Mary Thompson a resident of Bellingham in said County aged seventy two years who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath declare that Amos Thompson of said Bellingham (who on the twenty one day of August A.D. 1832) died, on the fifteenth day of June last
The Court hereby certifies that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the original thereof, and that the same has been attested by the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
That she is his lawful Widow, & that she has been informed & believes, that her said husband served in the Revolutionary War as follows (viz) Under Capt Samuel Cobb in Col Joseph Read's Regt for the period of eight months commencing May first 1775. Under Capt Oliver Cushing in Col Crafts Regt for the period of six months & seven days commencing October first 1775. Under Capt Peter Dunning in Col John Cushing's Regt for the period of three months & twenty four days commencing August 17 th 1777. Under Capt Benjamin Read in Col John Rands Regt for the period of three months & eight days commencing October 12 1780, in all the above as a private in the Massachusetts Militia. For these services she claims a pension for that period of time which elapsed between the fourth day of March one thousand eight hundred & thirty, one to the day of the death of her said husband. And she hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that the name of her said husband is not upon the Pension Roll of the Army of any State.
Mary Thompson
Subscribed & sworn to this day & year first of our Lord, & the Lord hereby certify, that it has been proved by satisfactory evidence, that said Amos Thompson died on the day above mentioned & that the said Mary Thompson is his lawful widow.
Isaac D. Dike
I Samuel Haven Register of the Court of Probate aforesaid hereby certify that the foregoing is the original proceeding of the said Court in the matter therein described.
Witness my hand and the seal of the said Court hereunto affixed the day and year first above written. Samuel Haven.

21793 Amos Thompson Mass Died 15 June 1833 Mary Thompson Widow
4.16 24.96 5. 14. 16. 112 16 26.08 2 2608 7 50 21 112 " 76 30
P. 419 Private Arty 6 Mr 7 days " Infy 15 2 21 9 G. L. Leland Esq Roxbury Saml Haven Esq Dedham  Mass  Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Amos Thompson 60 of Norfolk  in the State of  Mass (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open court  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.     to Marh Militia May In 1775 enlisted - about 3 7 Private Gen. Capt. Babb. Col. Read   Nov. 1776 " about 3 24 Ensign Gen. Putnam Col. Rice   Octo 1780 " 3 8 " Gen. Lord Col. Sargent   21 9  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Ballingham Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional - a document and one living witness 
 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? the papers are not attached agreeably to the regulation the witness is not sworn credible - non the Magistrate properly certified  I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Payson
Examining Clerk.

Mary Thompson
E. Leland

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Aug 31 st 1832.
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 Thompson is borne upon the Pay rolls of Capt Perez Cushing in Col Crafts Regt for the period of six months & seven days from the first day of November 1776; also on the Pay Rolls of Capt Peter Peiximan's Company in Col Job Cushing's Regt for the period of three months & twenty four days from the seventeenth day of August 1777 also on the Pay rolls of Capt Benjamin Read's Company in Col John Bards Regt for the period of three months & eight days from the twelfth day of October 1780
Edward D Bangs Secy

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I Seth Holbrook of Bellingham in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do testify and say that I was born in Bellingham aforesaid, in the Month of November 1758. That I have been acquainted with Amos Thomson (now deceased) from his youth and know that he enlisted under Capt. Samuel Cobb. Col. Reads Reg t . as a volunteer for eight Months and served as a Private during that term. He enlisted soon after the battle of Lexington which was on the 19th of April 1775. I was in the same Company with him and served the same length of time; we were stationed at Roxbury a town adjoining Boston, at the time the British troops were in possession of the latter. The particular day we enlisted or the day we were discharged I cannot now recollect; But the time we enlisted for was eight Months, and I am certain we served the time for which we enlisted.
Norfolk, ss. Seth Holbrook On the nineteenth day of August in the year of Our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty three. Personally appeared the above named Seth Holbrook and was examined and sworn according to Law, to the truth of the foregoing Deposition. And I do further certify that I am acquainted with the said deponent and know that he sustains a good character and that his testimony is entitled to full credit. Dated at Bellingham Aug. 19. 1833.
John C. Scammon / Justice of Peace
According to order of Court J. H. and J. Pitkin

21 793
Amos Thompson
E. Leland
Notbury
Moss

B R I E F objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Amos Thompson 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? no 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? Certified by two citizens
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?
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? 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 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.

Payments to be made by Guest: W. Br. Sh. Boston.
Have a new Certificate in this case - to bear date 28 Oct. 1853 - 4
Massachusetts insert in
the face of the certificate "Eighteen hundred and thirty three," instead of "1832" &c
Recorded in Book E. Vol. 2. page 85. by G. B. Stiles. Clerk.

War Department Revolutionary Claim
Mary Thompson widow of Amos Thompson deceased late of Norfolk, Massachusetts, who died 15 th of June 1833, is entitled to receive the amount which was due the said doc d from 4 th March 1831, up to the time of his death which is to be paid by the Pension Agent at Boston, Massachusetts, agreeably to the provisions of the Act of June 7 th 1832. at the Rate of Seventy Six 30/100 dollars. Per annum
Given at the War Office of the United States this 28 th day of October 1833
L. S. Chap Secretary of War
Examined and Countersigned
J. S. Edward Commissioner of Pensions

Joshua Lazell Deposition.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I hereby certify that I am not interested in the above entitled matter (see also that he is not interested in the above entitled matter) and that the above entitled matter is true to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. Given under my hand this 13th day of August 1832. Daniel Thurber Jr. of Peace.
I Joshua Lazell of Mendon in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth aforesaid, do testify and say that I was born in the Town of Hingham in the County of Plymouth in the Month of August in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and fiftythree. - That I have been acquainted with Amos Thompson of Bellingham in the County of Norfolk for about sixty years, and know that he was a Soldier in the Army of the American Revolutions. He enlisted in the Spring of the year 1775, soon after the battle of Lexington for eight Months, - He served under Captain Samuel Cobb, in Col. Read's Regiment, during that term, and was stationed at Roxbury at the time I was stationed at Cambridge in a neighbouring Camp, near Boston. He then enlisted for six Months, in Capt. Perez Cushing's Company, Col. Crafts Regiment of Artillery and served that time at Boston and Nantasket. - In the year 1777, He again entered the Army and was at the taking of General Burgoyne. this tour was for three months which he served in Capt. Peter Simmons Company. - He was also at West Point in the year 1780. as a Soldier, and at the time of Arnold's attempt to surrender the works at that place, but the time he served there is not recollected. He has always sustained the Character of an honest man, and a man of truth.
And further the Deponent saith not
Joshua Lazell
Worcester ss. On the sixth day of August in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and thirtytwo personally appeared the above named Joshua Lazell, and was examined & was sworn according to Law, to the truth of the foregoing Deposition before me (caused by order of Law) Daniel Thurber Jr. of Peace. Subscribed to Protest

Revised
1468 4 INVALID.
File No. 14.687
Amos Thompson
Prin. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 374
[Arrangement of 1870.]