Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30151, for Jedediah Taylor, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Taylor, Jedediah
S. 30151
CONTENTS

21. 376
Massachusetts
Sediah Taylor
of Hampden in the State of Mass who was a Fifer in the Comp. commanded by Captain Parker of the Regt. commanded by Col. Wells in the Mass. line for 8 Mo. 7 Ds.
$29 28. 54 $30 12
$60 24 15 06 $75 30
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 30 Dollars 12 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of Sept. 1833 and to Sister Millard Westfield
Arrears to the 4th of Apr. 33 $ 75 30 Semest. allowance ending 1st Mo. 34  15 06 $90 36
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by G. C. Stiles Clerk. Book E Vol. 2 Page 88
Dead - see letter to Pen. of Hon. Blair, Sept. 8. 1836

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County of Franklin. SS.
On this second day of October, in the year Lord eight- een hundred & thirty two, personally in open Court, before Oliver B. Morris judge of Probate, the same being a Court of record now sitting at Westfield, within & for said County, Sedediah Taylor Esq. a resident of Westfield aforesaid, aged eighty during the present month, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following officers, & served as herein stated - He enlisted as a minute man at Westfield aforesaid, in a company commanded by Capt. Washburn Parks of the same Westfield, in the month of March seventeen hundred & seventeen hundred & Seventy five. That he enlisted as a fifer for said Com- pany. That on the twentieth or twenty first of April following, the morning after the news of the battle at Lexington reached Westfield, he with the principal part of the Company marched under the command of Lieut. Sargent & Lieut. John Shepard Capt. Parks very soon after through Springfield & Worcester to Roxbury near Boston. General Ward & General Thomas were in command. That General Wash- ington arrived at Cambridge, while he was there - that he was absent from home in this town of duty six or seven weeks -
Also in Seventy six, about the first of September an alarm came to Westfield where I resided for a turn out of militia, to march to the City of New York, or near there. That he volunteered as a fifer at Westfield aforesaid, into the Company commanded by Capt. John Kelley, Lieut. Zechariah Bush & Lieut. Ebenezer Sackett all of the same Westfield. Col. John

Colo John Morse of Westfield, Colo. Willis of Hatfield & Major May of Chesterfield were with the Detachment - that he marched through New- Laven, Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford, Eastchester & Westchester, New York which was then in the possession of the British - that the troops were then led back to White Plains, under the command of Gen Lincoln - that Gen Washington was there - & the troops were then ordered to entrench themselves, which was done - On the twenty eighth of Septem- ber the British troops under the command of Gen -h Clinton & Heister made an attack - Several hundred were killed on each side - No mate- rial advantage was gained by either party - Colo Brooks Regiment suffered severely - Gen. Mc. Douglas who commanded to the point where the heaviest loss was sustained - Soon after the British took Fort Wash- ington - the said Taylor was in the Battle of the White Plains - he thinks he was absent from home in this town of duty three months.
Also, in the latter part of June in the year Seventeen hundred & seventy seven, an alarm came to Westfield for a turn out of militia, to go the North- -ward - that he volunteered at Westfield as soon as I marched under the command of Capt. John Kellogg, through Pittsfield, Lenox & Barrington to Fort Edward - that he was some of the time at Black Creek & Brattle field  bank - that he was at Barrington the day after the defeat of Colo. Parmachute that he then returned to Westfield & in a few days marched from Westfield to Worcester as a guard to the prisoners taken at Barrington That on his return to Westfield from Worcester an another alarm came for a turn out to arrest Gen. Burgoyne - that he volunteered at

(Nasby) I enlisted into a Company commanded by Capt. David ^ I marched through Pittsfield to Saratoga, & was sta- tioned on the north side of the North River that he was not actually in the general engagements, but among skirmishing that took place in the vicinity. That he was present there when Burgoyne's army surrendered & gave them stack their arms. Saw Gen. Burgoyne Gen. Phillips &c. Soon after returned to Westfield having been absent in the two last campaigns as he very believes at three months & a half. He does not know of any living witness, by whom he can prove the last mentioned service. That he never received any written discharge - he was born in Westfield aforesaid on the 27 th of October 1752, as appears by the records in the Town Clerk's office & of course will be eighty years of age the 27 th of the present month. That he has resided in said Westfield from the time of his birth to the present time, except his absence in the service aforesaid & is known to most of the inhabitants who have resided there any considerable time.
He hereby relying wishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Jedediah Gaylord
Mrs. Isaac Gaylord, in testimony residing in Westfield aforesaid & James Fowler residing T.B. Town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jedediah Gaylord Esq., who has subscribed to & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be of the age he and has stated, that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he

he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.
Isaac Knapp James Fowler
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named Applicant was a revolutionary soldier, & served as the states - and the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Isaac Knapp who has signed the foregoing certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the Town of Westfield aforesaid & that Jas Fowler Esq who has also signed the same, is a resident of the same Town, is a credible person, & that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Justice Willard, Register of the Probate Court for the County of Hampshire aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings, of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Jedediah Taylor Esq. for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office, this second day of October in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & thirty two.
Justice Willard
Register

Isabella Taylor
23098
Boston

I Saul Fowler of Southwick, in the County of Hampden & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Esq., do hereby say that I am seventy two years of age, that I have been acquainted with Jeremiah Taylor Esq. of Westfield, in said County, which then embraced what is now called Southwick from my earliest remembrance, that S d Taylor & myself volunteered as minute men, under the command of Capt. Washburn Parks of said Westfield, previous to the battle of Lexington; when news of that battle arrived at Westfield, S d Taylor marched as a officer under Capt. Parks - I went as far as Springfield as a fifer, also, for said Company - I then left the Company of S d Taylor & others, went on to Roxbury as it was understood. I then resided within a few rods of S d Taylor, when he was at home. He was absent, I believe six or seven weeks.
In the latter part of the summer, in the year seventeen hundred & seventy six, I think in the month of Septem- ber, an alarm came. The said Taylor turned out as a volunteer & marched under Capt John Kellogg of said Westfield, for New York or White Plains. He was absent, according to the best of my present recollection, as much as three months.
In the month of June, the latter part I believe, the said Taylor & myself volunteered to go to Fort Edward we marched under the command of Capt. David Moseley. We went to Fort Edward, I was absent according to present impression, about six weeks - I

I understood that S r . Taylor went out as a volunteer, to the taking of Burgoyne.
Sam l Fowler
Hampden S t . August 23 d , 1832. Then the above named Sam l  who Fowler Esq, with whom I have been long personally acquainted, who is a credible Witness & a man of truth & veracity, personally appear- -ing, subscribed the foregoing affidavit & made sol- -emn oath to the truth of the same. Before me, William Blair Just. of the Peace.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
County of Hampden
ss:
I Justin Willard Register or Clerk of the Court of Probate within and for said County of Hampden, the same being a Court of Record do hereby certify that William Blair is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County and was so at the time of the execution of the foregoing deposition before him, and that the name William Blair signed to the proceeding certificate I believe to be his proper signature and hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this twenty third day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
Justin Willard Register.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, as above certified, within & for the County of Hampden Jehieliah Taylor Esq. named & signer of the fore- going application, who, being duly sworn de

Deposeth & saith, that, by reason of old age, & the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his services, at the several times mentioned by him in the foregoing applica- tion, but according to the best of his recol- lection he served not less than the periods mentioned below & in the following order - for seven weeks at Roxbury in 1775 - for three months at White Plains, in the year 1776 - for six weeks at Fort Edward in 1777 & its vicinity for his first tour of duty to the Northward, & for two months the second tour of duty at the time of the taking of General Burgoyne in the same year of that 1777, making eight months & seven days in the whole - I served as a soldier during all the campaigns aforesaid - and for such service I claim a pension.      Gedeon Taylor
County of Hampshire so August 10 th 1833.
Then the above named Gedeon Taylor signed the foregoing affidavit, & made solemn oath to the truth of the same. Before me,
William Blair Just of the Peace.

23098
Isaac Taylor Mass
506
Hyper 8 mo Hyday Alma
29.28 5
Justice Willard Clk Court Hampden Co Wendell P.O Mass

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, showing the Service of Isaac Taylor Hampden Massachusetts
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Enlist 1775 about minute man Capt { Pvt { Genl { Col { White Plains Roxbury 80 years "   Vol 1776 3 fifer Col { Genl { glow. New York Westfield Revolutionary   { 1777 about 180 stabed Same { Genl { Burgoyne's defeat Norwalk Mass Evidence   { Morley { Saratoga 11 Witness   { + in the two last towns at least } 6 months White Plains Ble. Creek Worcester Rushfield Saratoga  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted: This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers, the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  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 services. 
6. { To 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? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. 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.
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant. The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons - one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of 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 _____; 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 that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

30 151 Rev INVALID.
File No. 30,151
Jedediah Taylor Stifer Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 413
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Sept 8
Judiah Taylor
No 21375
Hon. J. L. Edwards
FREE
Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D.C.

J. L. Edwards Esq. Sir, I herewith send the papers that were forwarded to the Pension office in Boston. They were not acceptable because the period of age was dated more than three months previous - They were returned, stating that a new pension must for be procured, or the papers forwarded to you for your approval, which it was stated you probably would do - As the parties are widely separated & the amt. due very small, we have adopted the latter course, which we hope you will approve - Yours very respectfully -
William Blair