Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,285, for Ebenezer Lawrence, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Lawrence, Ebenezer
S. 29,285
CONTENTS

75,908 15,7718 Massachusetts
Ebenezer Lawrence
of Middlesex in the State of (Mass) who was a private in the Comp. — commanded by Captain Foy of the Reg. — commanded by Col. Aida — in the Mass line for 13 Mo.
Cash & Notes
Inscribed on the Roll of (Mass), at the rate of 42 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 day of Aug., 1833 and Little N. Richardson (Colonel)
Arrears to the 4th of Aug. '33 $ 86.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep. '33 21.66 $ 107.32
Recorded by { Revolutionary Claim, } P. C. Stiles Clerk, { Act June 7, 1832. } Book E. Vol. 2, Page 50
76 Middlesex

No 6607.
Dec 1. 188. on (page 1.17)

Commonwealth Middlesex
of Massachusetts.
ss.
On this twenty second day of August A.D. 1892 personally appeared in open Court before the Hon. Judge of Probate now sitting at Charlestown within and for the county — aforesaid
William Ebenzer Lawrence aged seventy four years, resident of Charlestown
Who being 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
in the eighteenth year of my age — the day after Martin Luth King there was a general alarm — I volunteered & went to Market St. with many others & remained there on duty half a month or more, & he here under Capt. Weeks of Woburn — We had no regiments formed that I remember, of the new volunteers —
In 1776 I believe the first part of year volunteered to go to Canada — marched to Charlestown under Capt. Samuel Day of Woburn — in Col. Gage's Regiment — then marched to Ticonderoga near Lake Champlain — there was a battle on the Lake in October — remained there till July & December — then returned to Woburn, & there discharged in December — having served my time out of six months
1777 — engaged for five months to guard prisoners & public property at Cambridge — in Col. Lord's Regiment — Col. Ebenezer Brooks Regiment — Col. Wood's Regiment — I believe was Chief Quartermaster — discharged in April 1778 having served five months
In 1778 volunteered to meet the British & was put into Capt. Dix Company — Col. M'Intosh's Regt — Genl Sullivan — Chief Quartermaster — was in a battle in August — we retreated to Meriden & were defeated at Pawtucket — having served a month & a half every regularly discharged on each engagement — have no discharge
5 1/2 1/2

on which, except the affidavits annexed -
He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity whatever, 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 aforesaid
Ebenezer Lawrence S
We Wymen Winthrop of Wadsworth , a Clergyman residing in the town of Wadsworth in the County of Chautauqua hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ebenezer Lawrence who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be seventy four years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid,
Wymen Winthrop S Joseph Bennett S
And the said Court thereupon proceeded to propound the following interrogatories, which he answered under oath, as follows:
1. Where and in what year were you born?
Answer, in Wadsworth, aforesaid, in the year seventeen hundred & fifth, seven
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it?
Answer, I have, in Wadsworth, County of Chautauqua
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
always in said Wadsworth
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, volunteered - time different terms
5. State the names of some of the regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served, such Continental, and Militia Regiments, as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service?
Answer, General Gates - Chf. Commander - New York - Genl. Mather, Campion a part of the army -
6. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution?
Answer, Rev. Joseph Bennett - Col. Will. Russell - Col. John Wade - Doct. Silvanus P. Hildreth - Wymen Winthrop - Deacon Wymen & Ebenezer Lawrence

And the said Judge of Probate does hereby declare his opinion, that after investigating the matter & petition the interrogatories presented by the War Department, that the alias-named applicant was a soldier of the Revolution & he read as he states.
J. P. Gray Probate
I Isaac Piske 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 Stephen Lawrence for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal on this day and year first above said Isaac Piske
I also certify that Wyman Hubbard whose own broken signature is set to the certificates on the depositions of Jonathan Eames, Isaac Reed and Jonathan Foss, herewith annexed, is a justice of the Peace within & for the County of Middlesex.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this twenty second day of August A D 1832.
Isaac Piske

6607 Ebenezer Lawrence
Mar 13 1833
776.8
1606 Apr 29 1833
P 361
Wyman Richardson Upton Mass.

6607
BRIEF in the case of  Ebenezer Lawrence of Middlesex Co in the State of Mass (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? u  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.     18 June '75 1 for more private Gen. Belknap - No Reg. Capt. Fay - Col Reed   first part of June '76 to Dec. 6 " Capt. Ford - Col Brooks   in 1777 - to April '78 5 " Capt. Dixie - Col McIntosh   in '78 1 15 "  
5. In what battles was he engaged? battle of Rhode Island under Sullivan
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Woburn
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
Three living witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Depositions not properly authenticated
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
H. C. Easton
Examining Clerk.
24 Jan 33

29 285 Rev INVALID.
File No. 29,285
Ebenezer Lawrence Rev Me
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 286
[Arrangement of 1870.]

6609
Ebenezer Lawrence
Wyman XXXX Richardson
Woburn 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 Ebenezer Lawrence 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? Yes 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? Yes
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 has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Yes Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 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? 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 the 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.
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 authenticated 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 end 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.

your child for Edward Lawrence 5 March 1946-

Jonathan Tidd of Wolson in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby certify that he is now seventy five years of age & has ever been acquainted with Ebenezer Lawrence of said Wolson, Yeoman - & he L t being in the same Company of Militia, in Wolson volunteered on or about the first of June in the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy six, to march to Canada, or towards them 1878 for the term of six months, I march- ed to Windsorage, & were at Lake Cham- plain, during a skirmish or battle with Bangue, said Lawrence served with myself in the same company during five months under Captain Samuel Day of Wolson, dis- chd. Jonathan Tidd, Regiment returned home on the twenty fifth day of December in said year & said Law- rence informed me he returned a day or two before Jonathan Tidd
Middlesex ss August 3. 1832 When the above named Jonathan Tidd who is a credible witness & entitled to cred- it, personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the foregoing af- fidavit by him signed - Before me Hyrum Richardson Justice of the Peace

From Head for Chief Laurens 5 months 1777.

Isaac Reed, now of Lexington, formerly of Walum in the County of Middlesex - Mass. Swears - twenty six years of age, testifies that I have from a boy, been well ac- quainted with Ebenezer Lawrence & his son Walum Lawrence.
1779. In the year nineteen hundred & seventy seven, the 28th of October & or the forepart of December I was drafted from the Station to march to Cambridge in said County, to guard prisoners of war & public property. I was put under Capt. Edward  Edward  Sturtevant  Sturtevant , a part of the time some part of the time, under Capt. Sturtevant  Sturtevant . - During our Officer were changed, now & then. I cannot distinctly remember every one. Col. Sturtevant  Sturtevant commanded the Regiment = Sturtevant  Sturtevant . I remained there on duty from 5- March & was dismissed the forepart of April 1779. - said Lawrence was in the same Company with me, during the whole time, we were together at the same time. I can recognize Isaac Reed.
Middlesex ss. August 13. 1872. Then, the above named Isaac Reed, who is a credible witness & his testimony entitled to confi- dence - personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the above affidavit in his affidavit - Before me, Myron D. Dinsmore Justice of the Peace

Jan. 1862 for Rev. Lawrence 6 weeks - 177 D. c.

Jonathan Eames of Wilmington in the County of Middlesex Commonwealth of Mas- sachusetts, of the age of one seventy years of age, testifies & says that he has been acquainted with Ebenezer Lawrence of Wol- verton in said County, for fifty five, or six years - some time in the month of July seventeen hundred & 80 1880 volunteered to march to Rhode Island, for the term of six weeks, & said Law- rence also volunteered for the same service, & we were both in Captain John Dix's Company, in Col. McEntosh's Bri- gade. I was in an engagement in the month of August same year. said Lawrence & myself served the time we engaged, & were discharged at the same time & place.
Jonathan Eames
Attestas to August 3 rd 1882. Then the above named Jonathan Eames, who in a small article I entitled to some down, personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit before me. Before me, Stephen H. Richardson Justice of the Peace