Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 37609, for Robert Leathhead, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass. Sea Service Navy
Leathhead, Robert or Bell
S. 37609
CONTENTS

14, 428 Maine
Robert Speakhead alias Robert Bell
of Truro in the state of Maine who was a private in the ship Alliance in the regiment commanded by Colonel Capt Boody of the New England line, for the term of three  fifteen months.
Inscribed on the roll of Maine at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence the the 22 of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 of Sept 1819 and sent to Mr C Vose Augusta Maine
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1819  131.66 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4th March 1820  48
16 13/20 mo $ 179.46
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
66-20
Kennebec
Continued
Application sent December 20. 1820 to Robert B Bell, Augusta, Maine

State of Maine.
415
Copy
KENNEBEC COUNTY, ss.
ON this fifteenth day of June , 1820, personally appeared before  in open court before  Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset, being a Court of Record for said Counties, proceeding according to the course of the common law, having original jurisdiction, unlimited in amount, keeping a record of their proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Robert Leathhead or Bell aged Sixty four years, resident in Anson in the County of Somerset within said Circuit, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows, viz. in the Company commanded by Captain and Regiment commanded by Colonel  of the line of the State of in the Naval service upon the Continental Establishment, for the period of three years part of the time on board the ship Protector commanded by Capt. Williams and part of the time in the ship Alliance commanded by Capt. Berry as a mariner that he then shiped by the name of Robert Bell that his original declaration was made before Judge Weston on the twenty second day of April 1818; that he is now on the Maine Roll, and that his pension certificate is numbered 14428 . And I, the said Robert Leathhead do further solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
Robert Leathhead or Bell
The following is a Schedule of my whole Estate and income, necessary clothing and bedding excepted, viz: one cow and calf of the value of seventeen dollars, three sheep and three lambs value of four dollars and fifty cents. Old household stuff, besides necessary bedding of the value of eight dollars, one old chain and two old hoes both worth two dollars. I have no debts due to me that can be collected and I owe as much as fifteen dollars. The income of the above property does not exceed three dollars a year. My occupation is that of a labourer; but from age and infirmity am unable to do but little labor. My family at home consists of myself, my wife Jane aged seventy five years, who from age and infirmity is quite helpless and blind, and my daughter Margaret who is quite out of health. Except the foregoing, and my necessary bedding and clothing I have no estate or income whatever.  Robert Leathhead

Subscribed, sworn to and declared both the oath and schedule, on the fifteenth day of June 1820 before me.
Nathan Weston Jr C.J. C.C.C. Pleas.
A true copy
Attest Simon Davis clk.
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original oath and schedule filed in the Clerk's Office at Bridgewater in the county of Somerset November 8, 1820
Attest
Wm Allen by Clerk of Courts Somerset county
Robert E. Vose, Augustus Maine
maine
14428 Maine
Robert Southwick or B.W. of Bristol

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I Robert Leathhead, aged Sixty years, born in Scotland, but now a citizen of the U. States, resident therein thirty eight or thirty nine years, of Anson in the District of Maine, upon oath testify and declare that, having deserted from the British service and fearing detection I took in the American service the name of Robert Bell - Bell being the family name of my mother. By the name of Robert Bell I shipped in December 1780 as a mariner for a cruise on board the continental ship of war Protector of twenty six guns, at Boston commanded by Capt Williams. After we had cruised about six months, and had taken two or three prizes the ship Protector in which I served was taken by the British Frigate Porpoise of 40 guns and a Sloop of war in company. I was then put on board a British Sixty four gun ship, and compelled to serve about six months or more, and escaped from her at New York in December 1781. I went to Boston, and in the same month of December 1781 I again shipped as a mariner, on board the continental ship Alliance (by the name of Robert Bell) being a ship of war of thirty six guns commanded by Capt But Berry. I went in this ship to L'Orient in France, to the Havanna, to the Cape of Good Hope, but did not enter the harbor at the Cape, and returned from the Cape of Good Hope to the U. States - We took and sent in the L'Orient as part of the Jamaica fleet. I was to the best of my recollection verbally discharged from this ship at Providence after the peace in the fall Spring of 1783, after having served in this ship, by the name of Robert Bell as aforesaid, and for the reasons aforesaid, towards two years. From my reduced circumstances, I am in need of the assistance of my country for support. And I do hereby relinquish all my claim to any pension, heretofore allowed me by the laws of the U. States, if any; but I am not to my knowledge borne on any pension list whatever. I request that I may be placed upon the pension list for the District of Maine. Not knowing where any of the officers or mariners who served with me now reside, if living, I am unable to procure other or further evidence of my service. Robert Leathhead
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Somerset Co.
On the twenty second day of April A.D 1818, Robert Leathhead above named, after having been carefully examined, made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration, by him subscribed.
Before me Nathan Weston Esq.
Chief Justice C. Court C. Pleas, Second Eastern Circuit

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I Arthur Dinsmore aged sixty five years, of Anson in the District of Maine, upon oath testify and declare that I am well acquainted with Robert Leathhead within named. From his reduced circumstances, he needs the assistance of his country for support. He sustains the character of a man of truth.
Arthur Dinsmore
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
General J. B.
On the twenty second day of April A.D 1818, Arthur Dinsmore above named, after having been carefully examined, made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition but does not subscribe.
Before me Nathan Weston Esq.
Chief Justice C. Court C. Pleas, Second Eastern Circuit
Admitted to 10 Oct 1819 Arthur Dinsmore County of Somerset Prost. Nathan Weston for: Henry
April 22. 1818
Robert Leathhead, Munroe Ship Robert Leathhead - from Dec 1780. 1 year. Ship Alliance, Bangor, for Dec - 1781 to Feb 1783.

Invalid
WIDOW
Mary
File No.
37609
Robert Leathhead alias Capt. Bell Marine
Ship "Alliance" Revolutionary
Act
March 18. 1818.
Index: Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Maine.
I William Allen Esq. Clerk, for the County of Somerset of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the second Eastern Circuit, embracing the counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and that the original was exhibited in open Court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, including debts due to the declarant therein stated, is thirty one dollars and fifty cents; and not deducting therefrom the amount of what the declarant owes, as set forth in said Schedule, the value of said property in the opinion of said Court, is thirty one dollars and fifty Cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this Eighth day of November 1820.
William Allen Esq. Clerk of said Court for the County of Somerset

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
To the Honorable the Secretary of the Department of War of the United States.
I the subscriber, being Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Second Eastern Circuit of Massachusetts, embracing the Counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset, do hereby certify to your Honor, that Robert Heathhead , a citizen of the United States, now resident in Anson , in the said County of Somerset , in the District of Maine, on the twenty second day of April , A. D. 1818, made application to me to receive his declaration under oath, and such other evidence, as was in his power to produce; and to transmit the same, and the proceedings had thereon, to your Honor; that he might be placed on the pension list of the United States, agreeably to the provisions of an Act, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed March 18, A. D. 1818, which declaration, and the other evidence produced by the said applicant, is hereunto annexed.
And I do further certify to your Honor, that after a full examination of the said applicant, and a careful consideration of the evidence in the case, it appears to me that the said applicant did serve as a mariner in naval service of U.S. , in the war of the revolution, against the common enemy, upon the continental naval establishment, for more than nine months, as stated in his declaration aforesaid; and that from his reduced circumstances, he needs the assistance of his country for support.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the Seal of the Court in which I preside, to be hereunto affixed, this twenty second day of May in the year of our LORD one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
Nathan Weston  per C. West C. C. C. Pleas 2 d E. Circuit

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
KENNEBEC, ss.
THE Subscriber, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts, held within the said County of Kennebec, hereby certifies, that the Honorable NATHAN WESTON, Junior, Esquire, before whom the annexed proceedings were held, is Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Second Eastern Circuit of Massachusetts, embracing the Counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset ; and that by the direction of the said Judge, I have affixed unto his Certificate bearing his signature, the seal of the said Court in which he presides.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand : Dated at Augusta, in said County of Kennebec, this tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
Stm Davis

I Jonathan Merry of Boston. Suffolk County, Massachusetts do hereby upon oath certify and declare that I served on board the Alliance. Capt. Berry, in the war of the revolution. from December 1781. until the close of the war when we were discharged at Providence in the spring of 1782. Robert Leathhead, otherwise called Robert Bell, has this day applied to me in person, and from a careful examination of the said Leathhead, and from circumstances by him stated, which he could not otherwise have known I am fully satisfied that the said Leathhead, did serve on board the Alliance as he has in his declaration stated. The said Leathhead, serving as a marine, is a different person from myself, (being a gunner,) accounts to my mind for my not personally knowing the said Leathhead. I am now on the pension roll, for Mass- achusetts.
Jonathan Merry
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Kennebec County July 27. 1819.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
Robert C. Vose. Justice of the
And I Certify that the above named Jonathan Merry is in my opinion a credible witness & disinterested

I Nathaniel Service, of Boston County of Suffolk Massachusetts. - pension under the late law of Congress do hereby upon oath certify and declare that I was served on board the Alliance Frigate from December 1781. to April 1783. - and I am well satisfied from circumstances. that Robert Bell, alias Robert Leethard served on board said ship during the term I did. and was discharged at Providence. the said Bell served as a Marine. I am now on the pension Roll of Mass. - the said Bell has this day applied to me for pension Natl Service
Kennebec County July 26. 1829 Commonwealth of Massachusetts Personally appeared before me Nathaniel Service, who is to me well known as a credible & disinterested witness and he made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed ————— Before me Robert C. Dore, Justice of Peace

Anson April 9. 1810
We the subscribers, Inhabitants of the town of Anson in the County of Somerset & State of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that Robert Leathhead of sd. Anson, is a person far advanced in life, has a very slender constitution, & by reason of infirmity of Body is quite unable to support himself by labour. has a wife between seventy & eighty years of age, who is very feeble and unable to labour - in consequence Mr. Leathhead's age & infirmity & poverty he has not been taxed for his Poll for a No. of years past he has now become so reduced as to property as to require the assistance of his Country for support
John Moor } Selectmen Wm. Lasker } of D. R. Billings } Anson
Bayer Bryant
Dan Steeward
James Dingmore
Jesse Wilson
Servt. Williams
James Collins