Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15931, for James Masterman, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Masterman, James
8 15-931
Mass. Sea Service
CONTENTS

V. Maine 18.119
1873 Sept 13. David Masterman that there are no arrear due on account of rate allowed or for time prior to the Commencement
James Masterman
Resident in the State of Maine who was a for Seaman in the Company commanded by Captain Minot of the Regt commanded by Col Dunbar on the ship and time for 11 mo 10 d  Mass Land Service 8 or 10 d seaman
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 61 Dollars 31 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of July 1833 and sent to R. C. Vose Present
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 - $122.62 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept - 30.65 $153.27
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 1 Page 33

James Masterman f
10812
Private - M ch Troops.
Col. Bruges regt. - 8 months.
Capt. Minot's Co. 3 "
Maine.
Brig Hazard - 3 "
Capt. J. F. Williams } 3 "
Same _____ 3 "
Prof E. D. Bangs certificate of _____ 11. 05 service traditional evidence, 8. - 19. 05
added
11 mo. - pri
8 mo 5 ds Seaman -
R. b. Rose. 36. 66 Augusta, 24 65 med 1. 31
Oxford County Public Office, Public Library

State of Maine
Oxford County ss. On this 18 th day of September A.D. 1832 personally appeared before the Court & Probate now sitting James Masterman a resident of Weld in the County of Oxford and State of Maine aged 73 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7 1832
That at Billerica in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts in June 1775 he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer, and joined the regiment commanded by Col. Durgée at Charlestown in the County & State of said Major Montague commanded the Brigade, he was not attached to any particular company and did service there as a private for the term of eight months, and was then dismissed.
At said Charlestown in the summer of 1776 he was drafted into a company commanded by Capt. John Minot of Chelsea in said State & joined said company at Boston. Gen. Heath was commander of the forces stationed at Boston & Roxbury. He continued in the service of the United States as a private at Boston as aforesaid for the term of three months and was then dismissed. In the spring of the year 1777 he again entered the service of the United States as a sailor on board the Brig Hazard belonging to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at Boston for the term of three months, and went on a cruise among the West India Islands and then continued until the term was expired and then returned to Boston having served as aforesaid three months. As soon as the said Brig Hazard was ready for sea which was but a few weeks he again entered the service as a sailor on board said Brig and went on a similar cruise to the West Indies for the term of three months, at the expiration of said term he again returned to Boston and was then dismissed. John Foster Williams was the commander of the Brig in both of the aforesaid voyages. Joseph Kinnicum was first Lieutenant & Peter Kinnicum was second Lieutenant and acting sailing master.
He was born in Charlestown aforesaid in the year 1759. There was probably a record of his age, which was destroyed when the town was burnt. He lived at said Billerica when
Capt. D. Brigg, Chelsea

first called into the service. after the revolutionary war he lived at Billerica in Massachussetts he then removed to the town of Deering in the County of Hillsborough State of New Hampshire where he resided about twenty years he then removed to Weld in the County of Oxford State of Maine where he has resided for twenty eight years last past & still resides. he has no documentary evidence and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. he never received any written 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.
James Masterman
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Before
Stephen Emery, Judge
We Joseph Baker and Joseph Baker Junr residing in the town of Weld in the County of Oxford State of Maine hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Masterman who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and that we believe him to be seventy three 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 and we know him to be a person of truth and veracity.
Joseph Baker
Joseph Baker Jr.
I. Freeman Ellis of Weld aforesaid, Esquire, hereby cheerfully concur in the certificate of Joseph Baker & Joseph Baker Jr. and certify the same as they have done in the foregoing certificate.
Freeman Ellis

And the said Court hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states, he adducing the certificate of Joseph Bales, Joseph Bales & Freeman Ellis, Esquire, credible persons - (there being no clergymen, at the present time, in Wildersford.) in corroboration of his own declaration.
Stephen Emery, Judge
I Joseph Cole Register of the Court of Probate hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Eastman for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this eighteenth day of September A.D. 1832.
Joseph Cole Register

August 11, 1930
Rev.& 1812 Wars Section AWF:MLB
Mrs. H. B. Allen 1205 Lee Street Jefferson City, Missouri
Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 15931, that James Masterman was born in 1759, in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
While living in Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, he enlisted in June, 1775 and served eight months as a private in Colonel Durgee's Regiment.
In 1776 he enlisted and served three months as a private in Captain John Minot's Company, Colonel Dike's Massachusetts Regiment.
He entered the service as seaman and served from June 30, 1778 to October, 1778, on board the Massachusetts State Brig "Hazard", commanded by John Foster Williams.
He again entered the service as seaman December 1, 1778, and served until April 20, 1779, on board said Brig, commanded by John Foster Williams. the same
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 18, 1832, while a resident of Weld, Oxford County, Maine, where he has resided for 38 yrs.
He died in 1842.
There are no family data on file.
The above noted is the history of the only soldier named James Masterman that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner
next time add after his last record pension in Billerica, Mass. and find his marriage & burial. He died about 20 yrs. later moved to Weld, Oxford Co. Me.

Weld Maine Sept 3 rd 1879
J H Baker Esq. Commissioner
Off the Pension Office Dear Sir Will you Pleas call up the Pension claim of James Masterman and see if thair ant a bout 10 or 12 hundred dollars behind When he died that has never been paid he was a member of the navy and he drew a Pension of 64 dollars which that two thirds of a Pension that leaves a bout 32 dollars a year Which is unpaid and the rest of the Back Pension Which remained back of the first he drew he was in the War of 1776 till its close He died in or a bout 1842 He wa 80 3 years of age When he died
Will you Pleas answer as soon as you can
15119 151931 Pleas address
David Masterman Weld Maine

MMR
February 25, 1924
Henry R. Drowne Fraunces Tavern, Cor, Broad & Pearl New York City.
Sir:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 15931 it appears that James Masterman was born in 1759 in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
While living in Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts he enlisted in June 1775 and served eight months as a private in Colonel  Colonel Durgee's Regiment.
In 1776 he enlisted and served three months as a private in Captain John Minot's Company, Colonel Dike's Massachusetts Regiment.
He entered the service as seaman and served from June 30, 1778 to October 1778 on board the Massachusetts State Brig "Hazard" commanded by John Foster Williams.
He again entered the service as seaman December 25 , (Dec. 1,) 1778 and served until April 20, 1779 on board said Brig commanded by John Foster Williams.
He was allowed pension on his application executed

September 18, 1832 while a resident of Weld, Oxford County, Maine. He died in 1842.
There is no family data on file.
Respectfully,
Andy
Miss Wilson said not use soldier's data as he was wrong in the Commissioner. years, see state report.
I could not find him under Col. Durkee in Conn. service or a Maj. Montague under Col. Durkee, so I spelled it Dungee as in Ill. & did not say what state -

P
15931
INVALID.
1924 Feb 28 - Hit to Henry R. Droone - MMK 1930 Aug 17 - 1724 R. Mrs. H. B. Allen - 1930 1932 July 21 - Shot to Hon. Frank H. Jar - MMK
File No. 15931
James Masterman Seaman Pre War
Act: June 7" 32
Index: Vol. 1 Page 245
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Sons of the Revolution
in the State of New York
Fraunces Tavern Corner Broad & Pearl Streets
New York City
Jan. 22, 1924.
1842 5-4/3 8
Pension Bureau, Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
Will you please give me the Revolutionary service of James Masterman who was born April 4th and Baptized April 8, 1759 in Charlestown, Mass. Married Oct. 19, 1780 to Hannah Dows and died in Weld, Mein, May 10, 1842. Tradition says: "When the Revolutionary War broke out he was 16 years old, He served as cook in the army for a time, and afterwards shipped in a privateer. He became a half-pensioner."
Yours very truly,
Henry Russell Drowne
Secretary
HRD. HT

FRANK H. FOSS 3D DIST. MASSACHUSETTS
COMMITTEE: POST OFFICE AND POST ROADS
Congress of the United States House of Representatives Washington, D. C.
July 15th, 1932
Mr. W. E. Morgan, Director of Pensions, Veterans Administration, Washington, D. C.
My dear Mr. Morgan:—
I have been requested to obtain, if possible, the record of one James Masterman , who was a soldier in the Revolution. Masterman was a sailor as well as a soldier and was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, on the 4th of April 1759. He is reported to have lived in Deering, N. H. and also in Weld, Maine, where he died and is buried.
Some of his descendents are anxious to mark his grave and are looking for this record to place on the marker.
Thanking you, I am,
Very truly yours,
Frank H Foss. M.C.

Jefferson City, Mo. July 7, - 1930.
Pension Department, Washington D.C.
Gentlemen: My ancestor only James Masterman of Wald Maine served in the American Revolutionary War and I would like to know what year he joined the army, where, and what month and year he was discharged.
Thanking you for this information I remain, Yours truly,
Emeline B. Allen.
Mr. H. B. Allen, 1205 Lee St. Jefferson City, Mo.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, July 1 st 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 the name of James Masterman is borne on "a pay roll of Capt. John Minst's company in Col. Dike's regiment for the use of a gun & blanket for each non commissioned officer & soldier for the month of December A.D. 1777. & for January & February A.D. 1777, in the service of the State of the Massachusetts Bay," as having been a private, but the roll does not shew any further particulars of service.
3.
Ed. That the name of James Masterman is borne on a "pay roll of the officers, seamen & marines of the state armed Brig Hazard commanded by John Foster Williams, Esq." as having been paid for three months & sixteen days service as a Seaman from June 30 th 1778. to October 1778 -
3.14
And that the name of James Masterman is borne on a "pay roll for the officers, seamen and marines belonging to the Brig Hazard in the service of the State of Massachusetts Bay commanded by John F. Williams from the day of their enlistment to 20 th April 1779," as having served as a Seaman from December 1 st 1778. to 20 th April 1779. & was paid for four months & nineteen days service.
4.19
11.05
Ed

And that there are no rolls of Col. Duryee's regt. or of Troops under Maj. Montague to be found in this Office.
Edward D. Bangs. Adj.

July 22, 1932
BA-J/MHF:MLB
XXXXXXXXXXXX
JAMES MASTERMAN S. 15931
Honorable Frank H. Foss House of Representatives
My dear Mr. Foss:
Reference is made to your letter of July 15, relative to the record of James Masterman, a soldier and sailor of the Revolutionary War.
The data contained herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 15931, based upon the Revolutionary War service of James Masterman.
He was born in 1759 in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
While living in Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, he enlisted in June, 1775, and served eight months as a private in Colonel Durgee's regiment. In 1776 he enlisted and served three months as a private in Captain John Minot's company, Colonel Dike's Massachusetts regiment. He entered the service as seaman and served from June 30, 1778, to October, 1778, on board the Massachusetts State Brig "Hazard", commanded by John Foster Williams. He again entered the service as seaman December 1, 1778, and served until April 20, 1779, on board the same brig commanded by the same officer.
After the Revolutionary War soldier resided in Billerica, Massachusetts, and from there moved to Deering, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, where he resided about twenty years, then moved to Weld, Oxford County, Maine.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 18, 1832, while a resident of Weld, Maine, where he had resided for twenty-eight years.

James Masterman died in 1842.
It is not stated whether soldier was ever married.
One David Masterman was of Weld, Maine, in 1873, no relationship to soldier shown.
The foregoing history is that of the only soldier named James Masterman that is found in the Revolutionary War records of this office.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator