Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10881, for Nathan Hunt, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Hunt, Nathan
S. 10881
CONTENTS
carded

15555 New Hampshire Nathan Hunt of Nashua in the State of New Hampshire who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Hunt of the Reg t commanded by Col l Brooks on the At t  ★ line for 11 months
★ Mass. Line Records corrected Mich 2/4/5
Inscribed on the Roll of N Hampshire at the rate of 36 Dollars - 67 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 rd day of Aug 1833 and due 6 50 Parker Phipps N Hampshire Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 $ 73.34 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept 18.33 $91.67
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. D. Edson Clerk, Book 2 Vol. 1 st Page 90

Nathan Hunt,
N Hampshire
Pmt 11 Mths
16 06
Apl 28/839
20/10
P 355
A. Hunt,
a Parker
Jaffrey
N H

BRIEF in the case of Isaac of Cheshire
Nathan Hunt in the State of  N.H. (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? 72  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.     Octo or Nov In 17 77 enlisted 8 Private Capt Hunt. Col Brooks   1778 6 " Col Gerish  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Wilmington Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional two living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? one witness is not certified as credible 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Sawyer
Examining Clerk.

Declaration of Nathan Hunt of Gaffney Cheshire Co. N.H.
20/18

Declaration,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE, COUNTY OF CHESHIRE, ss.
On this fourth day of Dec r A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Hon. Aaron Watson, Judge of the Court of Probate for said County.
now sitting, Nathan Huest a resident of Jaffrey, in the county of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire aged seventy two 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 7th, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That is to say — That the very last of October or first of November 1777, after the surrender of Gen. Burgayne, and as soon as the news of that event reached Acton in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Mass. where he then resided, he enlisted into Captain Simon Hunts Company, of which Emerson Cogswell and James Parks were Lieuts — for the term of five months — That he with the rest of Capt. Hunts Company marched immediately to Prospect Hill near Boston, and arrived there before the prisoners taken with Gen. Burgayne, and that he did serve said five months being employed in guarding said prisoners after their arrival, and that the Regt. during this term was commanded by Colonel Brooks — That he then again enlisted for, and served six months under the same Company officers and doing the same duty, but the Regt. was commanded by Col. Gervish.
He was born in Acton aforesaid in the year 1760 — has no record of his age but there is one in Acton — Was living in Acton as before stated when called into the service, has lived there and in Jaffrey N. Hampshire since the war.

We Benjamin Prescott and Paul Hunt both of Gaffrey in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire, do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Nathan Hunt who has made ap- =plication for a pension under the Act of Congress of June 7 th 1832 — that we live in his immediate neigh- =bourhood; that we believe him to be seventy two years of age — that he is reputed and believed in the neigh- =bourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion —
Benj a Prescott
Paul Hunt
State of New Hampshire Cheshire ss. Gaffrey Dec r . 3. 1832. The above named Benjamin Prescott & Paul Hunt made solemn affirmation that the above certificate by them subscribed is in their belief true.
Oliver Prescott Justice of the Peace I hereby certify that the above named Prescott & Hunt are Creditable witnesses and that I am well acquainted with them.
Oliver Prescott Jus. Peace

and now lives in said Goffrey — Enlisted voluntarily as before stated — Does not now recollect that any other Regiments were at Prospect Hill during the time he was there, nor any other officers except those before stated — Does not think that he ever received any written discharge — Benjamin Prescott Esquire and Paul Hunt live in my immediate neighborhood and can testify as to my character for veracity and belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Nathan Hunt
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
before me Aaron Motion Judge of Probate
We,
hereby certify, that we are acquainted with who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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 the day and year aforesaid.
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 certi- fies, that it appears to them that Benjamin Prescott Esq. and Paul Hunt who have signed the Annual certificate are residents in the town of Goffrey and are unable persons and that their statement is entitled to credit, and that they would not appear in court without too much expense and inconvenience to the applicant and the applicant living at distance from any clergyman is not known to him as a soldier of the revolution. Aaron Motion Judge of Probate I, the Parker Register of the Court of Probate for said County of Cheshire hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court in the ter of the application of Nathan Hunt for a pension.
testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this fourth day of December A.D. 1832.
The Parker Register of said Court of Probate.

20718 Nathan Hunt
Mr Parker E Jeffrey D W

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Nathan Hunt , 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? /// 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? Certified by two citizens
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? yy
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? yy
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? yes and no one
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? yy
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yy
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 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.

Can it be necessary to get the certificate of a Clergyman when the service is so well provided? — Possibly the certificate can be had, but the applicant lives in a very remote part of the Town, and has always belonged to a small society of Baptists who have never had a settled minister.
The magistrate who took Merrill's Affidavit has certified "according to the best of his knowledge and belief," which was all he could do, as Merrill was but partially known to him. Will not this answer?
Asa Parker

Nathan Merrill. Affidavit.
for Nathan Hunt,

I Nathan Merrill of Milford in the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire of more than sixty nine years of age testify and say that about the months of April or first of May in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight Nathan Hunt of Acton in the County of Middlesex in the State of Massachusetts entirely & served about six months in Captain Simon Hunt's Company in Colonel Gerrish's Regiment to guard Burgoyne's troops at Ticonderoga Hill, and I further say that the said Nathan Hunt now of Jaffrey in the County of Cheshire in the State of New Hampshire is the same Nathan Hunt that served in said Hunt's Company Nathan Merrill
State of New Hampshire Cheshire S.S. Jaffrey August 14th 1832 Then the above named Nathan Merrill made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true
Before me Oliver Prescott Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that according to the best of my knowledge and belief the above deponent is a credible witness
Oliver Prescott Justice of the Peace
Cheshire ss. December 10. 1832
I Salma Hale Clerk of the Judicial Court in said County certify that Oliver Prescott is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and I further certify that the two foregoing are his signatures, testimony whereof I have unto office the Seal of our Superior Court of Judicature
S. Hale Clerk

Rev. 1881
10881
INVALID.
No. 10881
Nathan Hunt
Pr. Rev. War.
Act: June 1 th 82
Tex:—Vol. 2 , Page 186-
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Jonathan Harrington's Affidavit for Nathan Hunt

I Jonathan Harrington of Lexington in the county of Middlesex in the State of Massachusetts of more than seventy-four years of age testify and say that about the month of October or first of November in the year seventeen hundred seventy-seven Nathan Hunt of Newton in the county of Middlesex aforesaid entered and served in Capt. Simon Hunt's company in Col. Brooks' Regiment to guard Burgoyne's troops at Prospect Hill. And I further say that said Nathan Hunt continued there till I left the service about the month of April following said November, & that said Nathan now of Jessup in the county of Cheshire in the State of New Hampshire is the same Nathan Hunt who served in said Simon Hunt's company.
Jon a Harrington
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex ss. Nov r 10 th 1832. Then the above named Jonathan Harrington a credible witness personally appeared and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before me J. Moulton Justice of the Peace

Jonathan Shumington's Affidavit for Nathan Hunt
!
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. —
Medalison ss. I Elias Phinney, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Middlesex, do certify that Nathaniel Mulliken Esquire is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County of Middlesex, and that his name set to the within cer- tificate is his own proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & af- fixed the seal of said Court, the fifteenth day of December 1832. —
E. Phinney

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Hunt, Nathaniel GRADE Private LINE Massachusetts
WARRANT NUMBER H374 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Mar. 25, 1790 to — not shown —
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.