Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29937, for David Kentfield, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Kentfield, David
S 29937
CONTENTS

Massachusetts
David Kentfield
Belchertown in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Foster of the Regt commanded by Col Gidley in the Mass line for 8 Mos 10 Days from 1775.
Mr. Kentfields application submitted by Mr. Freeman on the 20th Nov 1832 & on that day sent to Mr. K at Belchertown Mass
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 27 - Dollars 77 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 st day of October 1832 and sent William Fenton Gloucester Mass
  Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832  $ 41.65    Penzant. allowance entling 21 Mar 33  13.88     $55.63  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. B. Clerk Book D. Vol. 2. Page 62.

David Stuart full Forwarded by Wm Ferson Gloucester Mass
1002556
Prab 8 Mo & 10 days
Adm o JLG
$27.77
William Ferson Gloucester Mass

BRIEF in the case of David Rootfield of Belcherstown in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy nine 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.     In 1775- 8 10 Private Maj Foster Col Maley  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none named  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Belcherstown Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses  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.
L. L. Adison Examining Clerk.

No 2.555
map
Rei Tekt

DECLARATION,
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE BENEFIT OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS OF THE 7TH OF JUNE, 1832.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss. COUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE. }
ON this fifteenth day of August  1832 personally appeared in open court, before Hon. Samuel Kimball  the court of  Probate for said County now sitting, Daniel Kenfield a resident of Belchertown in the County of Hampshire, and State of Massachusetts, aged 99 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 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following - - - - - served as herein stated. vir I entered the service of the
united states in the troops of Massachusetts soon after the battle at Lexington and served in a company of Artillery commanded by Capt. Maj. Thomas Walt Foster of Hadley from the last of April A.D. 1775 to the eight day of January A.D. 1776 making a term of service of eight months and ten days when it was dismissed; the time for which I enlisted being expired. The other Officers of said Company were Lt. Capt. Josiah Lyman of Belchertown Lt. Horton. Lt. Bryant both I believe of Boston and Lt. Daniel Smith of Belchertown.
That said Company was stationed at Cambridge That part of the time we occupied a room in the third story in the College Building, until the school- -ars returned when we went on to the little common so called - was in an engagement when a British Frigate was burnt. we then stayed at Chelsea ten days when we returned to Cambridge - most of the Company consisted of Men from Boston and its vicinity and that I know of no one now living that belonged to said Company who can testify to my services. That my name was never on the pension roll of the Agency of any state - That I was born in Belchertown and always lived in said Town. That I shall be eighty years old on the twenty second day of September A.D. 1832. but cannot find the family record on the Town Records
I further declare that I had no written discharge That I entered the service voluntarily. Richard Gridley was Colonel of the Regiment to which I belonged.
That I often saw General Washington. that I fre- -quently carried provisions to his quarters which were west of Cambridge at the Vassel House if I rightly recollect the name of the House -

Aged as he has stated in his foregoing declaration
I Justus Forward of Belpre town aforesaid do certify That I am well acquainted with David Kirtland who has subscribed the foregoing declaration, that he lived a near Neighbor to me & lived with my Father about one year after he returned from the Army That I believe he served as a soldier according as he has stated in his declaration & aged as he has stated always sustained a good Moral Character for Truth and veracity. Justus Forward

He hereby relinquishes every claim 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
David Kentfield
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Before me Samuel Himesclay Judge of Probate in D. County
We, Justus Lawrence residing in the town of Belchertown and Isaac Drown residing in Belchertown hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with David Kentfield who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 79 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.
Justus Lawrence
Sworn, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Samuel Himesclay Judge of Probate
Isaac Drown
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 Justus Lawrence resident in Belchertown who has signed the preceding certificate, is and that Isaac Drown who has also signed the same, is a resident in Belchertown and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Samuel Himesclay Judge of Probate
I, Sam l F. Lyman 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 David Kentfield for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two -
Sam l F. Lyman Register

Depositions to be used in the application of David Kentfield of Belchertown for a Pension

I Stephen Shumway of Amherst in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age do testify and say that I was a Soldier in the Beginning of the Revolutionary war under Capt. Jonathan Dandwell of Belchertown. That I went from Belchertown. Our Company was stationed at Roxbury and Dorchester. That I understood that David Kentfield of the same Belchertown was out in a company of Artillery under the Command of Capt. Maj Thomas Wait Forster which was at that time stationed at Cambridge although I did not see him there I have always understood that he was there and have no doubt of the fact. His character for truth and veracity has always been good so far as ever came to my knowledge. Stephen Shumway
Hampshire ss August 23 rd 1832 Then Stephen Shumway subscribed to the foregoing Deposition Personally appeared and made solemn Oath according to Law to the truth of the same
Before me Justus Forward Justice of the Peace
I certify that I am well acquainted with the above named Stephen Shumway and that he sustains a good character for truth and veracity so far as has ever come to my knowledge and I believe his deposition to be true. Justus Forward

I Thadus Fairfield of Belchertown in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age do testify and say that soon after the battle at Lexington I marched for Boston in the company under the command of Capt. John Coombs and served eight month and was stationed at Cambridge while there I frequently saw David Kentfield who went from Belchertown about the same time I did. He was not in the company that I belonged to but was in a company of Artillery. I frequently saw Josiah Lyman and Daniel Smith who were officers to the company of which the said David Kentfield belonged. Thadus Fairfield
Hampshire ss August 25 th 1832 Then the above named Thadus Fairfield personally appeared and after being duly sworn according to Law made solemn oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is true. Before me Justus Forward Justice of the Peace
I certify that I have always been acquainted with Thadus Fairfield the aforesaid deponent and that he sustains a good character for truth and veracity and I believe his deposition to be strictly true. Justus Forward

I Erastus Kentfield of Enfield in the County of Hampshire and commonwealth of Massa- -chusetts of lawful age do testify and say that I was knowing to David Kentfield going into the service of the United States at the beginning of the revolutionary war, that he was gone about Eight or nine Months, the time I do not now fully recollect
Erastus Kentfield
Hampshire ss August 15 th 1832 Then the above named Erastus Kentfield Personally appeared and after being duly sworn according to law made solemn Oath the deposition by him subscribed was true Before me Justus Forward Justice of the Peace I certify that Erastus Kentfield sustains a good Cha- -racter for truth and veracity and that I believe his deposition to be true Justus Forward
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire ss I Solomon Stoddard Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth for the County of Hampshire do certify that Justus Forward Esquire whose signature is affixed to the foregoing certificate was at the date thereof one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the said County duly commissioned and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to his acts and attestations done in that capacity and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justus Forward and believe his signature hereunto to be genuine In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court at Common Pleas for said Commonwealth this twenty fifth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
S. Stoddard Clerk.

29937 INVALID. Rev Rev
File No. 29,937
David Kintfield His Rev. Rev.
Act. June 7 th 32 nd
Index — Vol. 2 Page 215
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Daria Standfield Forwarded by Mr. Ferson Gloucester 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 which require further proof or explanation. David Rentfield
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? he has
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? he has
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? he has
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes, in his favor
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? The seal is affixed, the inscription is good

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? 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? 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? They are all answered in his declaration
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.
† 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
‡ 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.