Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5693, for Nathaniel Lincoln, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Lincoln, Nathaniel
S. 5693
CONTENTS
Carded

2852.
Massachusetts
17 Nathaniel Lincoln of Bristol in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain  of the Regt commanded by Col. Mitchell in the War time for 9 Mos 12 Days
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 31 Dollars 32 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 th day of Dec r 1832 and sent to Babbett Taunton Mass
Arrears to 14th of Sept 1832 $40.98 Pension allowance ending Dec 31 15.66 $62.64
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. & B. Blair Clerk, Book D. Vol. 2 nd Page 64.

2974 Nathaniel Lincoln Taunton Bristol Co Mass
7 Mo 4 1/2 days
Alm d 9
$31.02
Asa Baddele Taunton Bristol Co Mass

BRIEF in the case of Nathaniel Lincoln  of Bristol Co in the State of Mass.  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 68 Years of Age  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.     In 17 79 May 42 Private Gen. Capt. Haskin   " June 1 - " Cobb   " 80 3 - " Franklin Col. Clegg   " 3 - " Haskin " a. Pitchell   " 1 - " "  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Barnstable  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living Witnesses. Traditional Evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Defective Time of last service not defined. 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. H. S. Blair Examining Clerk.

3974
Nathaniel Lincoln
Esq.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ) BRISTOL, ss. )
At a COURT of PROBATE holden at Taunton in and for said County on the twenty ninth day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, by the Before the Honorable HODIJAH BAYLIES, Judge of the Probate, &c. for said County, personally appeared Nathaniel Lincoln a resident of Taunton in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged sixty eight 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as hereinafter mentioned, to wit, under Capt. Jacob Harkins, whose other officers of the company and regiment are forgotten; again under Capt. Simon Pott whose other officers of the company and regiment are forgotten; again under Capt. Nathan Franklin, whose company officers are forgotten; again under Capt. Jacob Harkins whose first name and other officers are forgotten; again under Capt. Jacob Harkins Lt. Joseph Wilson & John Bart, Col. Abiel Mitchell & Col. Sands, again under the said Capt. Jacob Harkins Lt. Harkins, other officers of the company and regiment forgotten; and the particulars of his several services he will state in his reply to the fifth subjoined interrogatory;
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 Taunton in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty three .
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it? The record of my birth is in the Book kept by the said Town of Taunton for the purpose of recording births in said Town according to law, a certified copy of which record by the present Town Clerk of said Town is hereto annexed.
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? I lived in said Taunton when called into service, and except a few short absences have lived there ever since;
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? I voluntarily enlisted four times, the last time was drafted; always either in the Militia or State Troops.

4. How were you called into service ; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? I voluntarily enlisted four times, the last time was drafted; always either in the Militia or State Troops
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. Under Capt. Haskell, the first time I entered in the beginning of May in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy nine and served six weeks; we marched from Taunton on the nineteenth of said month to Hogland's Ferry in Little Compton in the State of R. Island and were stationed there guarding the coast against any incursion of the enemy from the Island, one night we were attacked by a party of Hessians, but repelled them; there was no other regiment near us; the same summer I again entered under Capt. Cobb and marched to Providence in R. Island and there performed garrison duty for one month when the Company was dismissed; in the latter part of September in the same year I entered under Capt. Franklin, on the first of October we marched from Taunton to Providence and staid there a few weeks, thence we went in boats to Bristol in said State and staid there a few days, thence we crossed the Ferry to R. Island on the twenty fifth of October the day on which the British evacuated Newport; there were three regiments; Col. Jackson's Regiment of Continentals who formed the front, our regiment next and Col. Webb's regiment of Continentals in the rear; we marched to Newport and were there quartered during the remainder of our term which was three months; Lt. Col. Cobb of Jackson's regiment was with us, he who was afterwards aid to Gen: Washington; in the month of July Seventeen hundred and eighty I entered again under Capt. Haskell and served three months, we marched on the last day of July to Howland's Ferry thence crossed to R. Island and were stationed during the said term at Burt's Hill and employed in fortifying it, there were two regiments there; but I do not remember who commanded the other; in the month of November or December following in the same year last aforesaid I entered again under said Capt. Haskell, we marched to Howland's Ferry crossed to R. Island and were stationed about four weeks on Quaker Hill, what particular duty the Company was on there I do not remember having been taken from the ranks by Lt. Stack for his servant; I believe ours was the only Company there of our regiment, and I do not know if any other troops were there; for proof of my services under Capt. Cobb, and the two last services under Capt. Haskell I refer to the annexed affidavits; I do not know the names of any other officers with us. 1m: 2 weeks 1m: v 3m: 3m: v 1m: v

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? I was a private soldier; I had no written discharge; it was the custom to parade the Company for the men to return their equipments and be dismissed from the parade by their officers, when they returned home at the expiration of the term for which they were enlisted or drafted.
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.
The Reverend Robert James L. Hodges Esq. of said Taunton & Joseph Wilbar of said Taunton, there is no clergyman in my immediate neighbourhood.
And the said Nathaniel Lincoln 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 Nathaniel Lincoln
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
WE James L. Hodges residing in Taunton and Joseph Wilbar residing in the same Taunton hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nathaniel Lincoln who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixtyeight years of age; that he is reputed believed , in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Joseph Wilbar  James L. Hodges Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. H. Baylies, Judg. 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 Wm James L. Hodges who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident in the Town of Taunton in said County of Bristol, and that Joseph Wilbar 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. Baylies, 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 Nathaniel Lincoln of Taunton in said County, for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court the day and year first above written.
Anselm Bassett

Rechny
5693
INVALID.
File No. 5693
Nathaniel Lincoln Print Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. M , Page 223
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Nathaniel Lincoln the son of Ichabod Lincoln and Hannah his wife was born in Farmington October 19 th 1763
As appears on Record in Conn Book
Not. Alfred Williams Clerk

I, Philip Knapp, of Raynham in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy seven years, do testify & say that I know Nathaniel Lincoln of Taunton in said County, and knew him in the revolutionary army. I was in the same Company with him, under Cap t Jacob Haskins, in the months of May & June in the year seventeen hundred and seventy nine, and we served at Poygan's Ferry in the Town of Little Compton in the State of Rhode Island one month and a half. I have seen him this day in Court and at once recognised him as my old fellow soldier, our service at said Ferry was to guard against the crossing of the enemy from R. Island to the Main. Philip Knapp
Bristol 30 August 28 th 1832. Then the above named Philip Knapp personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him Subscribed Before me Godfrey Robinson Justice Peace

I, Preserved Harkins of Taunton, in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, aged Seventy years, testify under oath, that Nathaniel Lincoln of Taunton aforesaid served in the same company with me, in the War of the Revolution, in the latter part of the year 1779, under the immediate command of Capt. Joseph Franklin of Rehoboth, Mass., three months . We both enlisted and served that period, commencing our service in Providence; - being afterwards ordered to Bristol - and thence to the Island of Rhode Island and thence to Howland's Ferry where we were discharged. Preserved Harkins mark -
attest James L. Hodges.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Bristol ss. Taunton August. 29 th 1832.
Then personally appeared Preserved Harkins and made solemn oath, that the foregoing statement, bear- ing his mark, is true according to his best know- ledge & belief - Before me,
James L. Hodges, Jas. Provis.

I Dier Pratt of Seekonk in the County of Bristol & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy seven years, do testify & say, that I am well acquainted with Nathaniel Lincoln; and that I recollect that he was in the revolutionary war, a soldier in the Company commanded by Capt. Simeon Cobb, and that he was on service in Providence in Rhode Island while I was also there in another Company under Capt. Matthew Randall, performing their guard or garrison duty; how long he served then I cannot remember; I understood Capt. Cobb's company enlisted for two months service; I often saw said Lincoln then at said time; but cannot say what time he staid; I do not recollect the year, believe it was in the winter of seventeen hundred seventy eight & seventy nine. Dier Pratt
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss. August 13. 1832. Dier Pratt made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him signed.
Before me A. Bassett Justice of the 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 Nathaniel Lincoln Bristol Co Mass 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? 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? yes 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 And is the official character and signature of the magistrate 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? yes 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.

The subscriber, Rufus Godfrey, a resident of Taunton, Mass, aged seventy one years, testifies, that according to his personal knowledge, Nathaniel Lincoln of Taunton aforesaid, enlisted and served in the Army of the Revolution, three months , on the Island of Rhode Island, in the year 1780, under the command of Capt. Jacob Perkins, Lieut. Joseph Wilson and Ensign John Burt, all of Taunton aforesaid, as a private in the same company with myself; And that he, the said Nath l Lincoln, also served with me about one month as a private in the company commanded by Capt. Jacob Perkins and Lieut. Nathan Stock both of Taunton aforesaid, in the winter of 1780, near Quaker Hill, so called on the Island of Rhode Island. Rufus Godfrey
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Bristol St. Taunton Aug. 15: 1832
Then personally appeared Rufus Godfrey, and made solemn oath that the foregoing statement by him made and subscribed in my presence, is true according to his best knowledge and belief.
Before me
James L. Hodges, Jr. Paris