Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,488, for Nehemiah Leonard, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Leonard Nehemiah
S 18488
Carded
CONTENTS

6713
Massachusetts
Jeremiah Leona
Priest in the State of Mass who was a Pirate in the company command by Captain  of the  by Col. Bryant in the Mass line for  } Pirate } 
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 82 Dollars 32 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 day of March 1833 and sent G L Hodge  
Arrears to 14th March 1833 $1040 Penzant. allowance ending March 1833 211
$205.80
{ Revolutionary Claim Act June 7 1832
Recorded by  Book D Vol. 25 Pag 193

16,783
Nehemiah Leonard
17 Months Private 17 " Corporal 24 " Alms'd 2 Vicksburg 11/40
Feb 20 1833
62 260
982 02
J. L. Hodges 18 R

16.783  BRIEF in the case of  Nehemiah Leonard  of Bristol Co  in the State of Mass  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? about  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 77  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.     July '75 6 private Gen. Capt Perry Col. Sargent   1876 Jan 15 2 do Capt Frow Col. French   June '76 6 do Capt Smith Col. Whitney   Dec 76 3 do Capt Clapp Col. Daggett   March 77 2 do do   Sept. 77 6 Subst. corporal Capt Cobb Col. Keyes   Apl 78 1 corporal Capt Noddy   Augt 78 about 1 private Capt Keith Col. Daggett  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Mansfield Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 6 living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Right 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. C. Easton Examining Clerk. 124 Feb 1833

I D J
Nicholas Leonard was born February 13. 1755
A true copy of Record Attest John Laurence Downton
Newton August 30 th 1832.

I Daniel Woodward of Taunton in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts being seventy-four years of age do hereby testify & say, that that I have long been acquainted with Nehemiah Leonard of Mansfield, and that he the said Leonard served in the war of the American Revolution in a company with me, as a soldier in said war, one campaign of six months, under Captain James Perry of Easton, and in Col. Sergeant's Regiment we entered the service in July 1775 and concluded the said  our campaign on the last day of that year, and we were stationed at Cambridge near Boston.
& we were called State Troops of Massachusetts.
Dated at Taunton August 29 th 1832. Daniel Woodward
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss. Before me, one of the Justices of the Peace County) for the County of Bristol, personally appeared Daniel Woodward subscribed to the above affidavit & made oath that the same is true in all its parts according to his best knowledge & belief. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and quality this 29 day of August, A.D. 1832. Groom Leonard Justice of Peace

Nehemiah Leman
1853
J. L. Hodges A. R.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, }
BRISTOL, ss.
At a COURT OF PROBATE holden at Taunton in and for said County on the twenty eighth day of August — one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, before the HONORABLE HODIJAH BAYLIES, Judge of the Probate, &c. for said County, personally appeared Nehemiah Leonard a resident of Mansfield in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy seven years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832, make the following declaration. That he served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War twenty seven months in the whole. In 1775 he served under Capt. James Perry six months. In 1775 he served under Capt. Dyer two months. In the same year he served under Capt. Josiah Smith six months, & towards the close of the year, in Dec r , he enlisted under Capt. Abiel Clapp for three months. In 1777 he served, according to the best of his recollection, under Capt. Abiel Clapp two months & in the same year he served under Capt. Silas Cobb six months. In 1778 he served under Capt. Isaac Hodge one month, & in the same year he served under Capt. Josiah Keith one month.
and further declares as follows, in reply to the interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of War; to wit:
1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Ans. That he was born in Boston in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty five .
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it?
He has a record of his birth in his great Bible, now at his house, in said Mansfield.
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
When called into service he lived in Mansfield, once a part of Boston. Since the Revolutionary War he has lived in said Mansfield part of the time, & part of the time in Boston, Sharon, Boston & Easton, all in Massachusetts. He now lives in said Mansfield.
4. When you were called into service, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom did you serve?

Since the Revolutionary War he has lived in said Mansfield part of the time, & part of the time in Boston, Weymouth, Boston, & Easton, all in Massachusetts. He now lives in said Mansfield.
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom?
In 1775 he enlisted for eight months & served six. In 1776 he enlisted under Capt. Foss for three months & in the same year he enlisted under Capt. Joseph with six months, and in the same year he enlisted under Capt. Abiah Clapp for three months. In 1777 he thinks he enlisted but knows that he served in the company commanded by Col. Clapp, two months. In the same year he was a substitute for Samuel Dyer and served under Capt. Dyer, six months. In 1778 he was drafted in April & served under Capt. Dyer one month. Same year in September he was drafted & served under Capt. Dyer one month.
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.
In 1775 he enlisted in July for 8 months, but did not serve but six. He served in the company commanded by Capt. James Perry, in the regiment commanded by Col. Sargent. Ephraim Jackson was Lieutenant Colonel of said regiment. He was marched from Mansfield to Cambridge & was stationed near the College the whole time, at the expiration of which, he was verbally discharged by Capt. Perry. General Washington was there at the time. During this time a fort was erected near Craig's Point, so called. During the time some Indian Chiefs visited the place, & Gen. Washington ordered the troops to parade to show their strength.
In 1776 he enlisted under Capt. Israel Foss in Col. French's regiment for two months & in Feb y he was marched to Winter Hill, so called, near Needham, & there stationed about one month, & then marched to Dorchester Hill, now South Boston, & there he was stationed until the British left Boston, at the expiration of the two months service, he was verbally discharged by said Capt. Foss. During this time a Redoubt was erected on Dorchester Point, but it was abandoned the night before the enemy left Boston in consequence of the heavy firing of the British upon the Redoubt. Three men were killed. In the same year (1776) about the first of June he enlisted for six months, & served under Capt. Josiah Smith, in Col. Whitney's regiment. He was marched from Mansfield to Quincy, & from thence, by water to Nantasket, now Hull.

where he was stationed the whole term of time, at the expiration of which he was discharged verbally by Capt. Josiah Smith. Col. Gilbert was lieutenant of the company in which he served. Col. Miller was the lieutenant of the regiment.
In the same year, some time in December, he enlisted for three months under Capt. Abial Clapp, in Col. Daggett's Regiment. He was marched through Taunton to Howland's Ferry, in Rhode Island, & there stationed to the end of the three months of enlistment, at which time he was discharged verbally by Capt. Abial Clapp. Abial Mitchell was the Major & a McCaslan was lieutenant of the company regiment commanded by Col. Daggett. During his stay at this place, he volunteered volunteered with others to go on to the Island, then in possession of the British, as a foraging party, which was performed with good success.
In 1777 about the the beginning of March, he enlisted according to the best of his recollection, for two months & served that time under Capt. Abial Clapp, according to the best of his recollection. He was marched from Mansfield through Rehoboth to Gardner's Neck, so called, & there stationed about one month, & then marched to Providence in Rhode Island; where he part services, & at the end of the two months services, he was discharged by Capt. Clapp, according to the best of his recollection. David Rimmer of Mansfield was lieutenant of the company to which he belonged.
In the same year, sometime in September he entered the service under Capt. Silas Cobb, as a substitute for Samuel Leonard, his brother, who was sick at the time. He was marched from Mansfield to Wade's Ferry & there stationed for a short time & then marched to Red Bank, so called & there stationed a short time. From thence he was marched to Providence where he was stationed until the time of enlistment had expired which was six months . He was verbally discharged by Capt. Silas Cobb. Benjamin Water was lieutenant of the company to which the said Leonard belonged. Capt. Cobb's company belonged to Col. H. ...

He was sick at the time. He was marched from Mansfield to Rhode Ferry & there stationed for a short time & then marched to Wickford Station, so called & there stationed a short time. From thence he was marched to Providence where he was stationed until the time of enlistment had expired which was six months . He was verbally discharged by Capt. Silas Cobb. Benjamin Pratt was Lieutenant of the company to which the said Leonard belonged. Capt. Cobb's company belonged to Col. Hovey's Regiment —
In 1778 he was, in April, drafted & served one month under Capt. Isaac Hodge. He was marched from Mansfield to Little Compton, in Rhode Island, & there stationed the whole time; at the expiration of one month, he was verbally discharged by Capt. Isaac Hodge. John Deane was Lieutenant of the company to which he belonged. According to the history of his skull, that this draft was in consequence of alarm about the time of General Sullivan's expedition upon the Island. Said expedition failed.
In the same year (1778) at the time of Sullivan's expedition upon the Island, in the month of August  September , on an alarm, he was drafted to serve during said Sullivan's expedition & served under Capt. Josiah Keith about a month. He was marched from Mansfield to Bristol in Rhode Island, where he crossed the Ferry on to the Island, & was immediately engaged in battle with the enemy — this was in the morning & the battle continued all the day, & at evening the British retreated. He soon left the Island & went by water over to Rhode Island's Ferry to Swerthton where he staid until discharged by Capt. Josiah Keith. The company in which he served belonged to Col. Daggett's Regiment. All the services performed by him were in the Massachusetts Troops.
Was Woodworth John Kelburn

6. Were you a Soldier or an Officer? if a Soldier, did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and, if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? if an Officer, did you ever receive a commission, and if so by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
He was at every service a common soldier - except in 1777 while he served under Capt. John Cobb, he served as a corporal, six months, & in 1778 while he served under Capt. Isaac Hodges, he served as a corporal, one month. He never received a written discharge, but at the expiration of every service, he received a verbal discharge from his Captain.
7. State the names of the 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.
Capt. Edward Perkins, Capt. John Cobb, Lieut. Mason Cobb, Doct. Benjamin Pillsbury, all of Mansfield.
And the said Jeremiah Leonard doth further declare that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State, or (if any) only on that of the agency of the State of Jeremiah Leonard
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
H. V. Darylee Judge of Probate.
WE Nathaniel Stone Clergyman residing in Mansfield in the County of Bristol aforesaid and Richard Green Esq. residing in the same Town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jeremiah Leonard who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy seven 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 to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Nathaniel Stone and Richard Green H. V. Darylee , Judge of Probate.

WE Nathaniel Stone Clergyman residing in Mansfield in the County of Bristol above and Noland Green Esq. residing in the same Town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jeremiah Leonard who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy seven 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 to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Nathaniel Stone Jun  Noland Green H. Barylieff , 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 abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Nathaniel Stone Jr. who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Mansfield in said County of Bristol, and that Noland Green Esq. who has also signed the same is a resident in said town, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
H. Barylieff , Judge of Probate.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, BRISTOL ss.
I Anselm Bassett Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jeremiah Leonard of Mansfield in said County, for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said Court the day and year first above written.
Anselm Bassett

When I ...
Washington July 22 nd 1833.
I hereby certify that on the cause may be given to the testimony of John Gilbert and Daniel Woodward - the preceding witnesses
James L. Hodges
Rebecca Ann
1833
J. H. Hodges K. R.

I John Cobb of Mansfield in the county of Bristol & Commonwealth of Massachusetts being seventy four years of age, do hereby give evidence, tes- tify & say, that Stephen Leonard of said Mans- field, did, in the year 1777 serve in the company commanded by Capt Silas Cobb, in Col. Hovey's regiment, but how long I do not now recollect. This service was rendered in the six months cam- paign, so called. At the time said Leonard acted in the capacity of a corporal. & further in 1778 accord- to the best of my remembrance, he the said Leon- ard was drafted & served under Capt Isaac Hodges one month, as a corporal & was stationed at Little Compton the whole time. John Cobb
Bristol ss Mansfield September 18 th 1839. Then personally appeared the above named John Cobb & made solemn oath that the above statement by him subscribed is just & true Before me Roland Green Justice of the Peace
This may certify that the above named John Cobb is a credible witness
Roland Green

I further certify that the within named John Cobb is a creditable person Roland Green Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Bristol ss
I Anselm Basset Register of the Court of Probate in for said County of Bristol, hereby certify that Roland Green and Cromwell Leonard before whom the annexed affidavits were sworn to, are Justices of the Peace in for said County of Bristol & that the signatures purporting to be theirs are genuine — In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court the eighteenth day of October A. 1832.
Anselm Basset —
N.B. I have no doubt but John Selle whose name appears as a Justice of the Peace to the testimony of Zachariah Britton is a Justice of the Peace from bearing evidence and other circumstances, but I never saw his commission — His name is placed in the Register as such — A Basset

I John Presbury of Taunton in the county of Bristol, & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being of Lawful age, do testify & say, that, in the winter of 1776, about the first of Feb y . I, then a youth, joined Capt. Israel Hovey's company, at Winter Hill, near Cambridge, & marched with me, in said company, to Dorchester. His term of time of service was about two months.
John Presbury
Bristol ss. August 28 1832. Then the above named John Presbury made solemn oath, that the above statement, by him subscribed, is just & true, according to the best of his knowledge.
Before me, Roland Green, Justice of the Peace.
I further certify that the above named John Presbury is a creditable person.
Roland Green Justice of the Peace

I 18488
INVALID.
File No. 18488
English Land
18488
Act: Land Act 1848
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 222
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I William Dunham of Mansfield in the county of Bristol & Commonwealth of Massachusetts being of lawful age do hereby give evidence to say, that, in 1778, I schemed to leave Mansfield, early in the month of August accor- ding to the best of my knowledge drafted & served some time some time on Rhode Island at the time of Sullivan's expedition but how long said then I do not recollect. William Dunham
Bristol ss. August 28 1832 then personally appeared the above named William Dunham & made solemn oaths that the above statement by him subscribed is just & true.
Before me Roland Green Justice of the Peace
I further certify that the above named William Dunham is a creditable person Roland Green Justice of the Peace

"There are 7 of us that were in the Battery Company back in March... soldier... in the County of Bristol... in 1778... under the command of... captained by... Easton July 28th 1832"
Test Joshua Britton
Subscribed Zachariah X Britton mark
Easton July 28th 1832 appeared before me the above Deponent subscribed Zachariah Britton and made solemn oath that the above statement was just & true according to the Best of his Remembrance John Selce Justice of the Peace
I the undersigned hereby certify and say that Jeremiah Leonard of Mansfield in the County of Bristol was a soldier at Bantagh it in the Revolutionary war was months in the year 1776 under the command of Capt. Josiah Smith and Lieut. John Gilbert in Col. Whitney's Regiment... was with a quarter with him... and was in the same company with him John Gilbert
Bristol Jr. August 28 1832 then personally ap- peared the above named John Gilbert & made solemn oath that the above his statement is just & true. Before me Boi and Green Justice of the Peace

I further certify that the within named John Gilbert is a credible person Roland Green Justice of the Peace

16,783
Nehemiah Leonard
I. L. Hodge H. R.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Nehemiah Leonard which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Y II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Y 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? Y 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? Y VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Y VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Y VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Y IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Y 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? Y

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 ?
Y
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 ?
Y
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 ?
NO (B out of 6)
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct ?
Y
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 ?
Y
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct ?
Y
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily ? And, if not, which of them is not so answered ?
Y
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.