Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,891, for Gideon Hunt, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Hunt, Gideon
S. 18891
CONTENTS
Carded

10.157.
Massachusetts
Gideon Hunt
of Bristol in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain [blank] of the regt commanded by Col [blank] in the [blank] line for 14 (14) Days
Entered on the Roll of [blank] at the rate of 17 Dollars 8 3/4 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of [blank] 1833 and sent to the Duty Boston [blank]
Arrears to the 14th of [blank] 1833 $95.74 Pension, allowance ending 2 [blank] 23.93 $119.67
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. N. Blair Clerk, Book [blank] Vol. 20 th Page 31.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Norfolk ss. Franklyn.
On this Eighth day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Sessions now sitting at Franklyn within and for the County of Norfolk aforesaid
Gideon Hunt of Milton aged sixty nine years
Who being 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, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That is to say
That during the Revolutionary War, on or about the first of July in the year seventeen hundred & seventy nine he enlisted as a volunteer in a company of Massachusetts State troops commanded by Captain Howell of Boston Regiment commanded by Colonel Sylvan, he enlisted at Braintree, marched to Providence, remained there four months, from thence proceeded to Rhode Island & was stationed at Newport two months, & was there discharged after a service of six months - & two days
On the first of May seventeen hundred & eighty he enlisted as a volunteer at Braintree in a Company of Massachusetts State troops commanded by Captain Champlaine of Boston, He marched to Boston, was stationed there the whole period of his enlistment & formed part of the garrison of the place. The company was employed in guarding Fort Hill & prisoners of War - His whole service in this enlistment was eight months - & nine days.
He has no documentary evidence to prove his service, but his twin Brother Isaac Hunt still survives & resides at Milton. His deposition is hereto annexed.
His whole period of service was fourteen months - & eleven days.

He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity whatever, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll, of the agency of any State. Gideon Hunt his X mark Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Attest E. H. Derby
. 1.
We
Jason Houghton & Samuel Gile the latter
a Clergyman residing in the town of
Milton
in the County of
Norfolk
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
Gideon Hunt of Milton
who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid,
Jason Houghton Sam l Gile.
. 1.
And the said Court thereupon proceeded to propound the following interrogatories, which he answered under oath, as follows:
1. Where and in what year were you born?
Answer,
In Braintree, the eighth of September 1763
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it?
Answer,
It is recorded in the family Bible now in the possession of one of my sons
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer. In Braintree; for the last thirty years I have lived in Milton
4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute, for whom?
Answer,
I volunteered
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 service?
Answer,
General Gates & Colonel Tyler besides others that I have heretofore enumerated.
6. 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?
Answer,
The Rev d Mr Gile & Mr Thomas Hunt

7. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service of 1812, by whom was it given & what has become of it
Answer. I received no written discharge - It was not usual to give any - Attest G. B. Derby Gideon Hunt his mark
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that after the investigation of the matter, and 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 Samuel Gile who has signed the preceding Certificates is a Clergyman resident in the said State & that John Houghton residing in said State is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Sherman Lee Clerk of the Court of
I Samuel Havin, Register of the Court of Probate aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Gideon Hunt for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this eighteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Samuel Havin.

Isaac Hunt of Milton in the County of Norfolk & Commonwealth of Massachusetts I am, on oath deposes & says that during the Revolutionary War on or about the first day of July A. D. seventeen hundred & seventy nine he enlisted as a volunteer in a Company of Massachusetts State Troops commanded by Captain Howell & Regiment commanded by Colonel Tyler, marched to Rhode Island & served six months until January seventeen hundred & eighty when he was discharged —
Subsequently on or near the first day of May A. D. one thousand seven hundred & eighty he enlisted as a volunteer in a Company of Massachusetts State Troops commanded by Captain Champlaine in a detachment under the command of Major Rice of Boston, was stationed at Boston during this term of service & served in this Company for the term of eight months —
On both these occasions Gideon Hunt of said Milton a twin brother of this deponent who still survives &

is an applicant for a pension, enlisted with this deponent & served with him in the Massachusetts State troops during both terms of service, a period of fourteen months, & at the expiration of each term of service was honorably dis- charged =
Albert E. Hackett Dealy
Israel Hunt his X mark
Sworn to before me this 10th day of September 1832
Before me Leland Judge of Probate

7422
Sideon Hunt
Private
14 Mo 11 Days
116
$217.87
Heurket
E. Heurket Derby
Boston

BRIEF in the case of  Sideon Hunt  of  Milton  in the State of  Mass  (Norfolk Co)  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Sixty 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.     volunteer In 1779 July 1 — 6 2 As a Gen. Capt Howdell, Col Tyler   in 1780 May 1 — 8 9 — Capt Champagne   says his whole service was 14 days & 11 days.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Braintree,  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? A. Chapman & A. Houghton can give traditional evidence. Isaac Hunt, giving 14 M's names. B. D. Wamp. Sec. 5. certifies to the whole service from state records.  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.
J. K. [Signature] Examining Clerk.

18891 INVALID.
File No. 18891
Guido K.
Ph. Rev. W.
Act: June 7, 89
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 436
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Gideon Hunt which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? neg II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? neg 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? neg IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? neg 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? neg VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? neg VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? neg VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? neg IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? neg 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? neg

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? yes
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? no
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? no
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? answer
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.

7422
Gideon Hunt

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Sept. 3 d 1832.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that
Gideon Hunt served as a private in the Company commanded by Captain Luke Howell, for four months & eighteen days, from the 13 th of July A.D. 1779 & that he also served as a private in the same company, & in the same year, for two other terms consisting, one of twenty days & the other, of one month & three days.
He also served as a private in Captain Caleb Champlaine's company, for one month & twenty three days, from the 9 th of June A.D. 1780, for three months from the 1 st of August 1780, & for three months minus days from the 1 st of November 1780 —
The time employed in all his services amounts to fourteen months eleven days
Edward D. Bangs Secy