Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15676, for Briggs Thomas, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Thomas, Briggs
8 15 676
CONTENTS
Card: d

July 15, 1832 81 Plym
15352  Massachusetts
Briggs Thomas
He enlisted in the State of Mass who was a Lieut in the Company commanded by Captain Turner of the Regt commanded by Col. Baily in the Revs time for 6 months & 3 days
Mili
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of - $81 - Dollars 33 Cents per annum, commences on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of June 1832 and sent to H Son Plymouth Mass
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 $162.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. 40.67 $203.33
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by McAdams Clerk, Book Vol. 29 Page 84

7789
Briggs Thomas
Lieutenant 6 mo 43 days adm'd
5-06
age 18 1835
P. 349.
J H Loud Plymouth Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Briggs Thomas,  of  Marshfield  in the State of  Mass;  (Act 7th June, 1839.)
 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? Eighty years.  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. As a Gen.     enlisted In 1775 Oct 1. 1 15 15 Lieut. Capt. H. Turner Col. Bailey   2 7 " do Col. Coney   1776 Jan 2 " Major Turner Col. J. Hall   — Nov 10 " Capt. H. Dingley "   6 mo. 3 days See new declaration  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Marshfield  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? A clergyman & J. Alden certify to traditionary evidence, John Thomas, proxy applicant to have been in service as Lieut. — Mathew Kent, proxy, like source, Thomas Nagay, proxy, 2 days service as Lieut. in 1776. — Mathew Thomas, proxy, same with Capt. Dingley in 1776 — for 7 days. — Bedford Baker, proxy, 2 days service in the Young Comp. 1775.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
D. Kimb. Examining Clerk.
15 7 3/103 90 15 25

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH, ss.
ON this twenty first day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Hon. Wilkes Wood Judge of the Court of Probate now sitting at Duxbury within and for said County of Plymouth, Briggs Thomas a resident of Marshfield in said County of Plymouth, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty years, 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 passed June 7, 1832. 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. That is to say, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
In the year 1775 Dec 1st - He entered said service for six weeks, as a volunteer in Captain Thomas Turners Company in Col. John Baileys Regiment, belonging to the Continental Army, said company met at Pembroke in said County, to choose Officers, he was chosen Lieutenant, the company then marched to Roxbury, in the County of Norfolk, was employed while there in defending the line, he served the said term of six weeks - was then discharged and returned home. He immediately enlisted again in said Captain Thomas Turners Company, then in Col. Gageys Regiment of Massachusetts Militia; met at Abington to choose officers, was again chosen Lieutenant, and marched to said Roxbury, where he served nine weeks, was employed while there, a part of the time in defending the line and a part of the time in taking possession of Dorchester Heights. He was then discharged and returned home in April 1776, the British having evacuated Boston. 3d. In the fall of the year 1776. There was a call for a Regiment from this State to go to Rhode Island, to guard the Island against the British. The first of September he was drafted to join said Regiment (Col. Jeremiah Hall) he went directly to Howlands Ferry, where he joined his company (Captain John Turner) and then marched with his company to Newport Rhode Island, where he was stationed one month, at the expiration of said month his company was sent to Howlands Ferry to guard the fort, where he remained one month longer, was then discharged, and returned home through Tiverton, Freetown, Middleborough, Plympton, Halifax and Pembroke. 4th. In November 1776. On an alarm, Col. Jeremiah Hall's Regiment to which his company, commanded by Captain Thomas Dingley of Marshfield, belonged, was called out and ordered to Bristol, Rhode Island, to defend the place against the British,

...the petition of the late of ... passed June 1, 1835. 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. That is to say, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as hereinafter stated.
He went with his company, served ten days, and then returned home. He does not recollect ever receiving a written discharge from any or either of the terms of said service above described; nor has he any documentary evidence of said service. He received a Lieutenant's commission signed by the Council of the provincial Government, which commission is now lost. — John Thomas.
Nathaniel Hunt, Bradford Baker Thomas Rogers and Nathaniel Thomas, now living, are the only persons whose testimony he can procure to testify to any of the services above and within specified, and their dispositions are hereunto annexed.
He was born in Marshfield Oct 28th O.S. 1751. His birth is recorded in the Crown records of Marshfield, at Marshfield. He lived in Marshfield when he entered said service, has lived there ever since, and now lives there. He volunteered or enlisted for each term of said service, except the first time he went to Rhode Island, he then was drafted.
He was in no case a substitute. He has named all the Officers, he now remembers under whom he served, also all the important circumstances of his services aforesaid. He is known in his present neighbourhood to the Revd Martin Parris and to Mr Waterman — and others who can testify as to his character for veracity, and the belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid.
Briggs Thomas
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid Abel Jacob B. Lord Register

We, Martin Parris - - - - - a clergyman, residing in the town of Marshfield and Judah Alden residing in the town of Duxbury - - - hereby certify, that we are well ac- quainted with Briggs Thomas , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty - - - years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Martin Parris. Judah Alden
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Attest Jacob H. Lord Register
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 Martin Parris who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Marshfield and that Judah Alden Esq. who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Duxbury and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
By the Court Attest Jacob H. Lord Register
I, Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Briggs Thomas for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twenty first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two!
Jacob H. Lord

John Thomas of Kingston, Plymouth County, ss.
I John Thomas of Kingston, Plymouth County, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, testify & say that my father was Genl. John Thomas of the Revolutionary Army, and that Briggs Thomas now of Marshfield in said County is my Cousin, and that during the Revolutionary war in the year 1775 & 1776 I was frequently at my father's quarters in Roxbury adjoining Boston, and during the years 1775 & 1776 I will remember to have often seen, and often at my father's quarters, Lieutenant Briggs Thomas aforesaid, who came with a Company of Militia, of which Thomas Duran was Captain, and I further testify that when my father left Roxbury to go to Canada, his furniture baggage & effects were sent to Kingston under the care of Briggs Thomas aforesaid the fore part of April 1776 - - and further testify that I am now sixty six years old, & have always been intimately acquainted with Briggs Thomas from that time to the present - - & further your deponent saith not -
John Thomas
August 20. 1882

Plymouth p. August 20. 1832 Then John Howard signed of the mother's affidavit appeared before me and thereby  swore on the true belief of his conscience -
how all my dear friends I hope to see you all again

I Nathaniel Kent do hereby affirm and say that Briggs Thomas was a Lieutenant in the Militia in a Company commanded by Capt Thomas Turner and I think and I think from circumstances that he was at Roxbury and attached to Col. John Bailey's Regt in latter part of the year 1875 but my memory does not now serve me so as to be positive as to that fact. he was discharged from his first service and was absent about ten days and then returned again under the same Capt some time in the beginning of the year 1876 and continued there until after the British troops evacuated Boston. I was myself there all the time -
Nath Kent
At Plymouth August 11 1882 then Nathaniel Kent made Oath to the truth of the above depou- -tion by him signed before me Joseph Alden Justice of Peace
I the within named John Lord Jr do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the above named Nath Kent and that his testimony is entitled to credit. John Lord Jr

I, Thomas Rogers of Marshfield in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, aged eighty years, on oath do testify and say that Briggs Thomas of Marshfield aforesaid was lieutenant in Captain John Turner company, in Col. John Cushing's Regiment of Massachusetts Militia; and that he served with me two months at Newport and at Howlands Ferry in the State of Rhode Island, in the fall of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six in the war of the American Revolution; and that Jeremiah Hall was lieutenant Col. in said Regiment. and further saith not.
Thomas Rogers
Plymouth ss. August 18 th 1832. Then the above named Thomas Rogers made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true. Before me John Ford Jr. Jus: Pacig.
I, the said John Ford Jr. do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the above named Thomas Rogers, and that his testimony is entitled to credit. John Ford Jr. -

[Faint, illegible handwriting at the top of the page]
That [illegible]
Nathaniel Thomas, Affidavit.

I, Nathaniel Thomas of Marshfield in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Briggs Thomas of said Marshfield, who claims the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7 th A.D. 1822. entitled an act "supplementary to an act for the relief of the surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Revolution" and that he was a Lieutenant in Captain Thomas Dingley's Company of Militia in the second Regiment in said County of Plymouth, in the Revolutionary war, and that to the best of my knowledge he served as Lieutenant in said Company seven days at Bristol in the state of Rhode Island in the month of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six, said service was performed at at the time when said Regiment was called to said Bristol on an alarm.
Nath l Thomas
Sworn and subscribed this twenty first day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Before me. John Ford Jr. a Justice of the Peace in said County.
I, hereby certify, that I am well acquainted with the above named Nathaniel Thomas; and that his testimony is entitled credit.
John Ford Jr.

I, Bradford Baker of Marshfield in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy five years, on oath do testify and say that Briggs Thomas of said Marshfield, in the last part of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy five was a Lieutenant in Captain Thomas Turners company in Col. John Barlys Regiment in the Continental army, and served two months in said company at Roxbury in the County of Norfolk, and that I the said Bradford was a private in said company at the time of said service, and further saith not.
Bradford Baker.
Plymouth ss. August 20th 1832. Then the above named Bradford Baker made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true. Before me John Ford Jr. Jus. Peace.

I, the within named John Ford Jr do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the within named Bradford Baker, and that his testimony is entitled to credit.
John Ford Jr

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Plymouth Y. I Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth being a Court of Rec- ord do hereby certify that Thomas P. Beal, Fredal Al- den and John Wood jr Esquires are all Justices of the Peace in & for said County & that I believe that the name of each where purporting to be subscribed upon the cer- tificates to this & the annexed depositions is the true & genuine signature of said justice.
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand & the seal of said Court this twenty first day of August in the Year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
Jacob H. Lord

B
15676
INVALID.
File No. 15676
Briggs Thomas
Lieut Genl War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 374
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Massachusetts County of Plymouth } ss.
April 29 th 1833. Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in for said County, Briggs Thomas, within named, who being duly sworn, deposes and saith, that by reason of old age and conse- quent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his rec- ollection he served not less than the period mentioned below, in the following grade - For six months and three days I served as a Lieutenant; and for such service I claim a pension.
Briggs Thomas L t
(Sworn to and subscribed before) John Ford Jus: Pacis.
Plymouth J. I. Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that Mr. Ford J. P. is a Justice of the Peace for said County & that the above is his signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this third day of May A.D. 1833 Jacob H. Lord

7789
Miss Thomas
J H Lord Plymouth 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 Briggs Thomas 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? No The rank which he held in his 3 & 6 times of service not stated 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? ay
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? ay
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? ay
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? ay
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? ay
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? ay
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? ay
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 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 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.