Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,956, for Asa Lord, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Lord, Asa
S 18956
Carded.
CONTENTS

10.10% Massachusetts
Asa Dyer
Orange in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Morgan of the Regt. commanded by Col. Mason in the Mass line for 12 months
M c Aslin
7 th Franklin
inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts the rate of 50 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 th day of March 1833 and sent Hon. Geo Grennell Springfield Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1835 $80.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4/Sept. " 20.00
$100.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Abraham D. Dyer Clerk Book 6 Vol. 20 Page 49

Asa Lord
22,349
Pm at
12 Monthly
40¢
E. Alvora Esq
Greenfield
Mass!

BRIEF in the case of  Asa Lord  of  Orange  in the State of  Massachusetts  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In open court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers   Years, Months, Days. Gen.     In Jan'y In 1778 6 Private Col: Mason Capt: Morgan   " July 1780 3 " Col: Rand Capt: Stearns   " " 1781 3 " Col: Denny Capt: Sibley  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None named  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? At Athel  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Four living witnesses and traditional evidence —  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? correctly authenticated 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Examining Clerk.

Asa Lord Orange
22349
Asa Lord's declaration

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress of June 7 th 1832.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts ss. County of Franklin
On this nineteenth day of September A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Hon. Richard E. Newcomb Esq. Judge of the court of probate, now sitting within and for the said county of Franklin, Asa Lord a resident of Orange in said county of Franklin and state of Massachusetts, aged seventy years the first day of October now last past, 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 of June 7th 1832.
About the first day of January 1778, at Attle in the county of Worcester, he voluntarily entered the service in a Company commanded by Capt. Morgan, of which Brown was Lieutenant, in Col. Mason's Regiment, and marched from thence to Springfield in the then county of Hampshire in said state of Massachusetts, and there continued for the term of six months, and was there dismissed on the second day of July in the same year. —
That he again enlisted in said service as a private soldier, at said place in the month of July in the year 1780, in a company commanded by Captain Stearns , of which Townsend was first, and John Rogers was second Lieutenants, in Col. Rands Regiment, and marched thence to West Point , and

from thence marched to White Plains , and there, and in that vicinity continued for three months, the time for which he enlisted, and was then dismissed, sometime in the latter part of October of the same year.
And that he again in the month of July 1781, voluntarily enlisted as a private soldier in the said service, at said Albany for three months, in a company commanded by Capt. Sibley, and to the best of his recollection in Col. Drury's Regiment, and again marched to West Point , where he was stationed for about a month, during which time he was employed in labour at fort " William " in waiting upon the masons who were repairing said fort and in doing guard duty under the command of a Sergeant. From thence went to Fishkill landing , and was there, under a Sergeant, employed in unloading waggons & loading boats, and doing guard duty, until the said three months had expired, into about three weeks, when he was taken sick and went to the hospital, where he remained till within about two days of the expiration of said three months, when he again returned to West Point , and was there dismissed. and that the circumstances above related respecting the last mentioned period of service was unfavourable to his having such a knowledge of the Officer commanding and stationed at West Point , as he otherwise would have had, had he performed the service in his own proper company & Regiment; and that he knows of no person living, who was with him for the last mentioned three months, in said service.
That he was born in Albany aforesaid, on the first day of October 1761, and has a record of his age in his bible, lived in said Albany when he entered said service; has lived there since the revolutionary war, until he

removed to said Orange, where he now lives; and has never, at any time, received a discharge. and that he was living in Orange about forty years & more since he left Orange
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.
Asa Lord
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. R. E. Peasecomb
Judge of Probate
Jesse Worrick & Moses Johnson & Lina Goodell We and residing in the town of Orange aforesaid, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Asa Lord, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy years of age; and that he is respected and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Jesse Worrick
Moses Johnson
Lina Goodell
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid -
R. E. Peasecomb
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 named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states - And the court further certifies that Jesse Worrick, Moses Johnson and Lina Goodell who have severally signed the preceding certificate are resident in said Orange and are credible persons; and that their statement is entitled to credit. And that no clergyman resides in said Orange.
R. E. Peasecomb
Judge of Probate

Asa Lord's
declaration
Asa Lord
Orange
22349
I Elijah Alvord Register of the said Court of Probate do hereby certify that the within contains the original proceedings of the court aforesaid in the matter of the application of Asa Lord for a pension.
In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of the said court this nineteenth day of September A.D. 1832
E. Alvord Reg. Prob.

P
18956
INVALID.
am
File No. 18956
Miss Lord
Re Rev War
Act: June 7 th 92
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 228
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Deacon E. Goodwin
Testimony
Asa Lord Orange

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Franklin ss. I Elijah Alvord, clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the county of Franklin, do hereby certify that Parley Barton Esq. before who the four affidavits herunto annexed purport to have been taken and sworn to is a Justice of the Peace for the said county. And that his name subscribed to the several certificates of caption therunto sub-joined appears to me to be his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said court at Greenfield on the twenty second day of January A.D. 1832
E. Alvord Clerk

I Solomon Gates of Lawful age of Orange County of Franklin and commonwealth of Massachusetts do testify and depose, that I am personally acquainted with An Lord of Orange and commonwealth aforesaid, that he performed the service of a private soldier with me in the Revolutionary War in the Massachusetts Militia line, in Capt. Morgan's company, for six months, the term expired for which we en- gaged for about the first of July in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight, said Lord resided in the town of Athol at the time, we entered the service in the fore part of the month of January in the year 1778
Solomon Gates
Orange August 27 1832
Franklin ss. Then the above named Solomon Gates made oath to the above affidavit by him subscribed the day and year
Before me Darley Bartol, Justice of the Peace

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T. Yates
Le Havre
I hereby certify that the within named Solomon Gates is a person of upright of moral character and unvasty

I Royal Humphreys of lawful age in the Town of Athol, in the County of Wor- cester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do testify, and depose, that I am personally acquainted with Asa Lord of Orange in the County of Franklin, and said Commonwealth of said, that he in the year 1778 on the second day of January, turned out as a citizen hunter, and faithfully performed performed his duty as a private soldier in the Revolutionary war in Capt Morgan's company, and later then in  the  Massachusetts , in Massachusetts line Militia line. for the term of six months his term of time for which he engaged expired on the second day of July 1778. said Lord at the time of his entering the service resided in the Town of Athol in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of said Furthermore I depose and testify and say that I performed duty in said Capt Morgan's Com- pany in the Revolutionary war for the term of six months in the year 1778. I further say that he was  noted  at  Springfield  Massachusetts  of age Orange August 23 rd 1832 Royal Humphrey
Franklin J s August 23 rd 1832 Then the above named Royal Humphrey made oath to the above affidavit by him subscribed to the truth of the same before me
Parley Barton Justice of the Peace

I hereby certify that the within named Royal Humphrey who has been subscribed to the within affidavit is a person of repute of moral charac- ter and veracity.
Darley Barton Justice of Peace
Royal Humphrey Affidavit

I Adonijah Ball of Athol in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age do testify and affirm, that I am personally acquainted with Issa Lord of Bangor County of Franklin and Commonwealth of said that said Lord in the month of July in the year seventeen hundred and eighty, entered volunteered and engaged to do Military duty in Capt. Stearns Company and Col. Band Regiment in the Revolutionary war, in the Massachusetts Militia line for the term of three months as a private soldier and was stationed at West Point in the State of New York, I entered the Army at the same time with said Lord in Capt. Stearns Company, and we both served as private soldiers for the term of three months, said Lord resided in the Town of Athol in Worcester County and Commonwealth of said when he entered said Capt. Stearns Company, and said Lord is seventy years of age
Adonijah Ball
Cranage August 23 rd A. 1832
I hereby certify that the above named Adonijah Ball who has subscribed to the above affidavit is a person of moral character and veracity Dutley Boston Justice of Peace
Franklin August 23 rd 1832 Then the above named Adonijah Ball made attests the above affidavit by him subscribed to be the truth before me. Dutley Boston Justice of Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Franklin ss. On this twenty third day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace within and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Deacon Elijah Goddard of Athol in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth aforesaid, who on his oath declares, that Dea Lord of Orange in the County of Franklin aforesaid ap- pliant for a Pension under the act of Congress of June A.D. 1832, was at work for my Father in said Athol, and that I have no doubt but that it was in the month of July A.D. 1831 and that I know during the time said Lord agreed to work for my Father, it was said he enlisted in the Military service of the United States, and I do know that he left my Fathers employment, and I feel confident he did not return to complete his term of labour for my Father. I have no reason to doubt but that he served out his full term of en- listment Elijah Goddard
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid before me Parley Barton Justice of Peace
I hereby certify, that the above named Elijah Gaddard , who has subscribed to the above Affidavit , is a person of report of moral  character & veracity . Daley Barton Touchin of Peace

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Asa Lord 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? yes 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? no XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? yes 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? yes Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes 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? yes XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes 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.