Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3,754, for Matthew Taft, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Mass
Jafr, Matthew
S. 3,754
carded
CONTENTS

No. 7. 701.
Ohio  Pittsburg Matthew Tapp.
of Ashtabula in the State of Ohio who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Woodbridge of the Regt commanded by Col Taylor in the War - Militia time for 6 weeks this year 1779. —
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio - Pittsburg at the rate of 20. Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 1th day of March, 1831. & sent to James Hendry Clerk Ashtabula Co Ohio
Certificate of Pension issued the 21. day of March 1833 and sent to James Hendry Clerk of Ashtabula Co. Ohio
Arrears to the 1th of March 1833. $ 40 00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4. Sept. " 10 00
$ 50. 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by T. J. Evans. — Clerk, Book E Vol. 8. Page 129.

20199 Mathew Taft Ohio
Admitted for 6 Months from 1779 $30-
Sam d Hendry CLK Jefferson Ashtabula Co. Ohio

BRIEF in the case of Mathew Sapt  County of Ashtabula in the State of Ohio  (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?  3. How old is he? 70  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.     Vol In 1779 — 16 Private Gen. Col Tyler Capt Woodbridge  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Franklin Co Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? none 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Ebenezer Forest Examining Clerk.

State of Ohio Ashtabula County ss.
On this 24 th day of September personally appeared in open court
the Court of Common Pleas now sitting Matthew East a resident of Kingsville in the County of Ashtabula and the State of Ohio aged seventy years who being just and 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 7. 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as therein stated.
Field Officers: Col. Nathan Sayer, Lieutenant Col. Putnam and Major Symaw. Company Officers: Capt. Joshua Woodbridge, Lieutenant David Smith and Ensign Sackett. That the said claimant entered the service the first of July 1779 and left the same the last of December of that year. That he served one period of six months only under the engagement and under the same Field and Company Officers. That at the time of his entering the service he resided in the town of Shelburne then County of Hampshire, now County of Franklin and State of Massachusetts; that he entered as a six months volunteer, and was in no battle during the time he was engaged. That he marched across almost the entire breadth of the State of Massachusetts, thro' Hingham, one of the towns in the State of Connecticut, first to Providence and afterwards to Newport, Rhode Island.
That he served with no Regiment or Company of Continental troops, or was never paraded, inspected or ordered to march with any; while at Providence, he was encamped a part of the time on the left of a Regiment of Continental troops, said to be, or to have been commanded by a Col. Webb.
That he was encamped with his Regiment at Providence about four months when Col. Tyler with his command sailed to Bristol, where he tarried a few days, then crossed the ferry and marched to Newport.
That when the claimant remained with the Regiment till December when Capt. Woodbridge with his company was detached back to Providence, whither the claimant marched with him, and remained until dismissed the service at the period above stated. While at Providence the claimant saw one General Officer in his ordinary uniform, understood by all the soldiers at the time to be General Gates, and another in very elegant uniform, said to be General Sullivan. While at Providence the claimant

recollects the regiment of Continental troops above mentioned, drew a supply of clothing consisting of the uniform of the British Army; and that a number of British prisoners on board a brig and in a prison ship and lying off Fort Point, one night rose and attacked the guard in the cabin, finding their way there by bursting thro the partition that was from some cause defective overpowered that guard but did not finally succeed in making their escape - At Newport he saw the remnant of a regiment of Blacks, who at that time, that is the for part of the winter, were in a suffering condition, being almost destitute of both shoe and clothing - While at Newport the claimant recollects, the Captain of a British vessel supposing his countrymen were in possession of the place, ran his vessel into the Harbour along side of the wharf, where she was boarded by our troops, and captured - That the claimant fears that he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service - HE hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to any pension or annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state Matthew Taft Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid -
Sept 29
We Jacob Bailey a clergyman residing the township of Kingsville and Stephen Mottiger residing in the same place hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Matthew Taft, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy years of age, that his reputation and belief in the neighborhood where he lives to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in the opinion - Jacob Bailey Stephen Mottiger 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 stated
And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Jacob Bailey clergyman who has signed the same is a resident in the township of Kingsville, that Stephen Mottiger who has also signed the same is a resident in the same township and is a credible person and that their statements are entitled to credit

These statements are entitled to credit.
I Samuel Hendry Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Matthew Taft for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of Office this 24th day of September A.D. 1832. Sam. Hendry Clerk.
Ms. A. 9. 2. 20199

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
83707
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of _____ a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     July 1779 6 mos Lt. John Woodhull Nathan Tyler Mass.                                     
Battles engaged in, _____  Residence of soldier at enlistment, Williamstown in Vermont  Date of application for pension, July 24 1892  Residence at date of application, Springville, Pittsburg Co. Ohio  Age at date of application, 70  Remarks: He was a member of the family of Samuel
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Culpeper service 9
Matthew Jaff - Mrs.
Mch. 21, 1917.
S. 3, 754.
For Douglas B. Thompson 1740 R St. N.W. Washington, D.C.

Rev. Knap
3454 INVALID.
File No. 3754
Matthew Galt Prin. Mass. Coll.
Act: June 7, '32
Index: — Vol. 88 , Page 368
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1917 Mar. 23 He. it. to Douglas P. Thompson. all 1918, Apr. 17. Bertha Galt He. it. to address Anderton Fr. (See carbon)

April 17, 1918
Mrs. A. E. Keith, 705½ West Granite Street, Butte, Montana.
Madam:
In response to your letter of the seventh instant, you are advised that in order to obtain the date of death and name of person to whom the arrears of pension were paid in the case of
"Matthew Taft, Cert. No. 7701, issued March 21, 1835, for $20 per annum, from March 4, 1831, under the Act of June 7, 1832, at the Ohio (Pittsburg) Agency",
you should forward this letter to
The Auditor for the Interior Department, Auditors' Bldg., 14th and B Sts., S. W., Washington, D. C.
Very respectfully,
E. C. Thomas Acting Commissioner.

Butte, Mont., April 7, 1918.
Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Will you kindly tell me the date of death of Matthew Taft, a soldier of the Revolution, who received a pension under act of June 7, 1832.
said Matthew Taft was inscribed on the roll of Ohio-Pittsburg as rate of $20. year, to commence 1831, March, sent to Samuel Hendry, clerk, Ashtabula Co., Ohio. He was at time of application a resident of Kingeville, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, aged 70. His Revolutionary service was in Massachusetts, of which I have a full record,
I wish to know the date of his death, Did his widow, Mary Crocker Taft, draw a pension after his death, and when did she die?
Information will be greatly appreciated by:
Bertha Taft Keith (Mrs. A. B. Keith, )
Address: 705½ West Granite Street, Butte, Montana.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Mathew Taft 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?
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?
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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
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?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 1, 2, 6, 7
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.