Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13,870, for Nathan Maxson, Rhode Island

SERVICE
NUMBER
Rd
Maxson, Nathan or Maxon
13870
CONTENTS
carded

N o 11.871 Pennsylvania
Nathan Maxon ★
of Susqueh. Co. in the State of Penn a ? who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Burdick of the R. Gt. commanded by Col. Tappan in the R. Island Mil. time for 15 months
Nathan Maxon ★
Entered on the Roll of Pensioners June 27/1832
Entered on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of 50 Dollars Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8. day of July 1833 and sent to A. Denno Esq. Montrose Pa.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 100.00 Pemi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep. 1833 25.00
$125.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, Book E. Vol. 5 Page 39

State of Pennsylvania Susquehanna County
Personally appeared before Hosea Tiffany Esquire one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Susquehanna Nathan Mayson of the township of Hanford in said County aged Seventy four years, and an Applicant for a pension, under the Act of Congress of the seventh day of June 1832, and being duly sworn according to Law in answer to the interrogatories presented by the regulations of the War Department under said Act of Congress, doth on his Oath depose & say. 1 st That he was born in the town of Westerly in the County of Washington, (then Kings) and State of Rhode Island on the ninth day of Dec r 1758 2 nd He has a family record of his age now in his possession, which he copies from that of his father. 3 rd That when called into service he was living in the town of Hopkinton Washington County - Rhode Island, that he resided in Hopkinton aforesaid until the year 1800, when he removed to the County of Susquehanna where he now lives. 4 th - That when he first entered the service he joined the Militia, that in 1778 he enlisted in the Rhode Island State troops for nine months. 5 th That the names of the Officers with the troops where he served were Col. Tappan Lieut. Col. Hawkins & Major Phillips. That he cannot now recollect the names of any others, the general circumstances detailed in declaration. 6 th That he has no recollection of ever receiving a written discharge. 7 th That least as he swears to John Thatcher have testified to his character for veracity and belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution - That he believes his neighbours generally, to whom he is known would testify to the same.
And the said Nathan Mayson on his Oath doth further depose and say - that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot positively swear positively as to the precise length of his services further than is contained in his declaration, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades. For six months during the year 1777 I served as a Militia man in the Rhode Island Militia. For nine months in the year 1778 & 1779 I served by enlistment in the Rhode Island State troops - the circumstances of which are more fully detailed in his declaration and for such service I claim a pension. That there is no Clergyman who resides in his immediate vicinity - the nearest being about three miles - and with whom

This Deponent is but very little acquainted May 24. 1833 personally appeared before the subscriber, the said Nathan Maxson to me well known as a man of Credibility & to whose testimony full credit may be given, and subscribed and made oath to the foregoing deposition
Nathan Maxson
Wm Tiffany J.P.
State of Pennsylvania Susquehanna County p. 3
I Asa D. Moeck (Notary Public) of the County of Common Pleas of said County do hereby certify that Rosco Tiffany Esq whose signature in his own proper hand writing appears subscribed to the attestation of the above and foregoing deposition is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Susque- hanna duly Commissioned and qualified as appears of record, and that full credit should be given to his Official Acts.
In Testimony
Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Montrose, the twenty fourth day of May A.D. 1833.
Asa D. Moeck Not
(Mirrored text from reverse side) He is but very little acquainted

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Susquehanna County ss—
I Alfred Giffany of the Township of Brook- lyn County and State aforesaid being duly sworn according to law do depose and say that I am acquainted with Nathan Maxson whose papers on his application for a pension are here unto annexed that I became acquainted with him about thirty two or three years ago that at that time I frequently heard said Ma- xson tell of being in the Revolutionary army and believe he has served as stated in said application. Further saith not— Alfred Giffany This may certify that I am acquainted with Alfred Giffany the foregoing statement and that he is a man of the strictest veracity and affixed his name and sworn to the above affidavit before me This 24 th day of May A.D. 1833
Alfred Giffany Justice of Peace
State of Pennsylvania Susquehanna County ss
I Asa D. Mock Jr. Notary Public of the County of Common- Pleas of said County do hereby certify that Hosea Tiffany Esq. whose signature in his own proper handwriting subscribes appears to the attestation of the above affidavit is an act- ual Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly Commissioned and qualified as appears of record— and that full faith and credit should be given to his Official Acts—
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Montrose the twenty fourth day of May A.D. 1833.
Asa D. Mock Jr. Pro

1849 Nathan Waxon Susquehanna Co. Pennsylvania
Admitted 15 mos $ 50.00
Asa Dimock Montrose Susquehanna Co. Pennsylvania
E

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 subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. These 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 Nathan Maxon Susquehanna Co. Penn
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Dec. 1776 2 Priv. None mentioned Age 73 Traditionary   1777 4 " — — Hopkinton   enlist June 1778 9 " Col. Voffen Lieut Col. Hawkins. Maj. Philips Washington Co. R. Island  
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, _____ of the Court of _____ 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) _____, who has 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 days 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 the 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.
see note k
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 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 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.

Revised
13870 INVALID.
File No. 13870
Nathan Maxson ★
Dis. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832.
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 239
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Nathan Maxson ★ Records corrected June 27, 1906.

Top - 26.
Nathan Mason Pension Application
10049

State of Pennsylvania Susquehanna County } ss On this tenth day of September A.D. 1882 personally
appeared in Open Court before The Honorable William Thomson and Davis Demock - Associate Justices of the Court of Common Pleas of Susquehanna County now sitting - Matthew Mason, a resident of the township of Hanford in the said County of Susquehanna and State of Pennsylvania, aged Seventy Three 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 th 1832 -
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as hereinafter stated -
He joined the Militia on an alarm at Hopkinton, in Washington County and State of Rhode Island in December 1776, under Capt. Jesse Benedict, Lieut. Nathl. Benedict, and marched with his Company to the South Ferry on the Narragansett Shore and remained there guarding the shores until some time in February 1777 - having remained in service about two Months when he was relieved by other Militia - was discharged and returned home.
Afterwards during the year 1777 - at four different times he was called out in the Militia to guard the shores - at one time under Lieut. Asa Mason, at another time under Capt. Phineas Mason, at another time under Lieut. Henry Wells and again under Lieut. Libbus Cottrell - was out total best of his recollection about One Month each time, making four Months Service.
And the said Matthew Mason on his Oath further states that he again entered the service of the United States at Hopkinton aforesaid about the first of June 1778 by enlisting into the Rhode Island State Troops for Nine Months - under Lieut. Zachariah Mason, and marched to East Greenwich, crossed the Bay North of Bristol and across at Slades Ferry and from thence to Tiverton in Newport County - and was attached to a Company commanded by Capt. Benjamin West, 1 st Lieut. Phineas Peckham and 2 d Lieut. Charles Hewitt - The Regiment was commanded by Col. Tappan Lieut. Col. Hawkins and Major Phillips, in General Officer Cornell's Brigade - Brigade Major John Handy, the Adjutant of the Regiment to which he the said Matthew Mason belonged was Charles Handy - At the time of Gen. Sullivan's expedition was marched out to Rhode Island and remained

then until after the Battle 28 th of August, 1778 - was in the Battle, retreated with the Army from the Island and was marched again to Trenton, and remained there until the 16 th of March 1779. The time for which he enlisted having expired, he was discharged from the service and returned home. That during his enlistment he did not serve with any Continental troops.
That he has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person whose testimony, he can produce who can testify to his service.
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, to his knowledge -
Sworn to and subscribed in Open Court September 18 th . AD 1832
Nathan Marson
Asa D. Dinsmore & Prob
WE Asahel Sweet - - - - - Residing in the Township of Hanford County of Susquehanna and State of Pennsylvania, and John Thacher - - - - - Residing in the same place hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Nathan Marson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy three 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 to and subscribed in Open Court the tenth - day of September AD 1832.
Nathan Marson Asahel Sweet John Thacher
Asa D. Dinsmore & Prob
And the 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 certify that it appeared to them, that Asahel Sweet - and John Thacher who have signed

the preceding Certificate are residents in the township of Han- ford in the County of Susquehanna, and are Credible persons and that their Statement is entitled to Credit- Right Court.
Asa Demock h Pres
State of Pennsylvania
Susquehanna County p. 3
I Asa Demock h Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the Matter of the application of Nathan Mason for a pension -
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, at Montrose the tenth — day of September A.D 1832 -
Asa Demock h Pres