Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31200, for Elnathan Lake, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Mass. R.R.
Lake, Ethan
NUMBER
S 31200
CONTENTS
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6156 Massachusetts
Ebenezer Dake
of N. Berk in the State of MASS who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Pierce of the Regt. commanded by Col. Walcock in the Mass line for 2 years
R.I. May 2nd 1831
Enrolled on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of $80 Dollars Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23rd day of Feb 1833 and sent to Mrs. D. Hodges House Reps
Arrears to 14th of Sep 1832 $120.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 11 Mar 33 16.00
$136.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by O. H. Mason Clerk, Book D Vol. 20 Page 97

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Bristol ss. On this fifth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Judge of the Court of Probate of Wills &c. now sitting at Dighton in and for said County, Ebenezer Lake a resident of Seekonk in said County, aged seventy nine 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 7th A. D. 1832.
THAT he was born at Rehoboth in said County of Bristol — on the twenty eighth day of June A. D. 1753, and that there is a record of his birth in said Rehoboth : that he was in the United States service from the nineteenth day of April A. D. 1775, to the nineteenth day of Oct. A. D. 1775 as a private in the Massachusetts State Troops : that he was residing at Said Rehoboth
when he entered the service ; that he enlisted for six months and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Samuel Bliss , Lieuts. Joseph Allen & Oliver Walker in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Walker in General Heath's Brigade : that he marched from Rehoboth to Boston — , from Boston to Worthington — from Worthington to Dorchester Point : that he served at the above named places  with during said time — of the regular troops ; and
no regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received no written discharge : that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at
Said Rehoboth & in Seekonk which was formerly a part of Rehoboth
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from some time in January A. D. 1776, to some time in January A. D. 1777 as a private in the Rhode Island State Troops : that he was residing at Said Rehoboth
when he entered the service ; that he enlisted for one year and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Benjamin Pierce a part of the time and a part of the time under the command of Captain Simeon Martin  Simeon Martin was lieutenant till Capt. Pierce got his discharge when he was commissioned Capt. in Col. Babcock's Regiment afterwards : that he marched from Bristol to the Island of Rhode Island : that he served at the above named place  with for the period aforesaid with none of the regular troops ; and
no regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received no written discharge.
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from some day of February A. D. 1778, to some day of May A. D. 1778 as a private in the Rhode Island State Troops : that he was residing at Said Rehoboth
when he entered the service ; that he enlisted was drafted for three months and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Isaac Stickles , Lieuts. Samuel Carpenter and James Horton in the regiment commanded by Lieut. Col. John Duggell & John Hubbardston : that he marched from Rehoboth to Bristol , from Bristol to Wickford Neck : that he served at Wickford Neck  with for the period aforesaid with none of the regular troops ; and
no regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received no written discharge.

Ebenezer Lake son of Joseph Lake born June 28th 1755 As of record in the Town Clerks Office in the Town of Rehoboth.
Rehoboth October 6th. 1832.
Attest James Blanding Town Clerk

I Joel Bown of Seekonk in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged 72 years, being duly cautioned and sworn, do testify and say, that Elnathan Sahu now resident in said Seekonk, in the Month of July in the year of 1780 was drafted and served five  five weeks in the Company with me commanded by Capt Joseph Willmuth Lieut Samuel Brown, in Col Thomas Carpenter's Regiment, was Stationed at Kingston & Howland's Ferry, in the State of Rhode Island and were frequently together during said term of five weeks - Joel Bown
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol County ss
Seekonk October 2 nd 1832 Then personally appeared Joel Bown who after being duly cautioned made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed
Before me Minhas Kent Just of Peace
And I further certify that the above named Joel Bown is a credible witness
Minhas Kent Just of Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss.
I Anselm Bassett, Register of the Court of Probate in & for said County do hereby certify that Allin Hunt is a Justice of the Peace for said County of Bristol & that the signature to the within Affidavit purporting to be his, is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court, this thirty first day of October eighteen hundred & thirty two.
Anselm Bassett

I Jonathan Peck of Cumberland in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island aged 73 years, being duly cautioned and sworn according to law, do testify and say that, Elnathan Lake now residing in the Town of Seekonk & Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the Month of January in the year A. 1776 enlisted into the Rhode Island State troops at Prov- idence and served one year on the Island of Rhode Island in the Company under the command of Capt Benj r Peene; Lieut. Simeon Martin & Philip Martin in the Regiment commanded by part of the time by Col e Babcock & a part by Col e Safford & at the same time was Stationed at Howland's Ferry, near said Island, and frequently. Saw said Lake during the time aforesaid; also that said Lake in the Month of February in the year A. 1778 enlisted and served three Months at Warwick neck (so called) in the Company commanded by Capt s Isaac Hicks, Lieut Samuel Carpenter & James Horton in the Regiment of Col e John Dazgith & John Hathaway, & served the same term in the same Regiment although in another Company, also that said Lake enlisted and served two Months with me on the Island of Rhode Island in Sullivan's Expedition but to what Company he belonged I do not now recollect; Also that said Lake served one month in the Company with me at Howland's Ferry, (so called) in the Company commanded by Capt s Joseph Willmuth, & Lieut ment Nathan Allen in Col e Thomas Carpenter's Regiment

in General Spencers Expedition so called, against the Island of Rhode Island. Jonathan Peck
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol County ss
Seventh September 29 th 1832
Then personally appeared Jonathan Peck, who after being duly cautioned on the Solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed, and I further certify that said Jonathan Peck is a man of truth and a credible Witness in the premises
Before me Allen Hunt Just of Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Bristol ss.
I Anselm Bassett, Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County, do hereby certify that Allen Hunt is a Justice of the Peace for said County of Bristol & that the signature to the within Affidavit purporting to be his, is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court, this thirty first day of October eighteen hundred and thirty two.
Anselm Bassett

Also that he served two months in the Rhode Island State troops commencing some time in July 1778 that he was residing at said Rehoboth when he listed as a substitute for Noble Mason of Barrington R.I. deceased, that he served said period on the Island of Rhode Island in what was called Sullivan's expedition in Gen. Cornwall's Brigade but does not recollect any of his company officers, was prevented from being in the engagement of 29th of August by sickness. He recollects Gen. Sullivan & Gen. Greene regular officers were there & at the end of said service received no written discharge. —
Also that he served five weeks in the Massachusetts State service commencing in July A.D. 1780 that he was residing in said Rehoboth when he was drafted, that he marched from said Rehoboth to Howland's Ferry & served said time in Captain Joseph Willsmarth's company & Col. Moses Carpenter's Regiment was in no battle & received no written discharge — that since the revolution has resided in said Rehoboth, & Seekonk which was once a part of Rehoboth
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. Elmathan Lake Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate
We Wheeler Martin Esquire Seekonk aforesaid
a clergyman, residing in the Town of
and Gideon Peck
residing in Rehoboth
Adjourned Seekonk hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Elmathan Lake who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy nine 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 as aforesaid. Wheeler Martin Gideon Peck
H. Baylies, 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 certify that it appears to them that Wheeler Martin Esq. , who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the Town of Seekonk — ; and that Gideon Peck who has also signed the same is a resident in Rehoboth and they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate
I Anselm Bassett 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 Elmathan Lake for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Anselm Bassett

16,729 Elnathan Lake
Irma D. Gray Elmira
V. L. Woodge, HR

16,729  BRIEF in the case of  Ebenezer Lake  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? 79  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.     19 Apr '75 to 19 Oct '75 to 177 6 private Capt Bliss Col Walker   Jan 76 to Jan 77 1 " { Capt Pierce } Col Patcock { Capt Martin }   Feb 78 to May 78 3 " Capt Hicks - { Colonel Daggett   July 78 to 2 Subst. — — { Hathaway his company officer } Genl Cornell, Brig Genl   July 80 1 5 private Capt Wilmarth Col Carpenter  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Wrentham?  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Rehoboth & Seekonk  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 2 living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Right 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. C. Easton Examining Clerk. 13 Feb 1833

31200 Rev  INVALID.
File No. 31,900
Elnathan Loke
Rev Rev War
Act: June 1 st 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 286
[Arrangement of 1879.]

16,729 Christian Lake
Private 2 Years Adm'd
J. L. Rodgers 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 Jonathan Lake 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 ? No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it ? No
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 ? C
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 ? Yes
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 ? Yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct ? 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 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.