Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31206, for Solomon Leonard, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Leonard, Solomon
S. 31206
CONTENTS

5763
Massachusetts
Solomon Leonard
of Bristol in the State of (Mass) who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Hales of the regt commanded by Col Doggett in the (Mass) line for 6 Mos 17 Days
Inscribed on the Roll of (Mass) at the rate of 21 Dollars 88 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of Feby 1833 and due from (from) G S Hodge At of Rep
  Arrears to 14th of Sept 1832  $32.82    Semi-ant. allowance ending 2 Mar 33  10.94     $43.76  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by S. H. S. B. Clerk , Book D. Vol. 2 nd Page 97.

5883
Solomon Leonard
Bristol Co
Mass. Private 6 Mos 17 Days
14.06 Alma Dec 21. 1832
$ 21.88
A Cassett
Taunton Bristol Co
Mass. P.M.

BRIEF in the case of Solomon Leonard  of Bristol County in the State of Mass -  (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? 72 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.     In 1777 April 1 — As a privt Gen. Capt. T. Wilby   Sept 2 — " " Simeon Cobb   Oct 1 — 3 — " " Samuel Fales - Col. Daggett   Nov 1 — — 10 " " Jonathan Shaw   Dec 1 — — 7 " " 20-  
5. In what battles was he engaged? none
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Raynham
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence, living witnesses -
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct -
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. H. S. Blair Examining Clerk.

Solomon Leonard
C.2?
5883.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS,
BRISTOL, ss.
At a COURT OF PROBATE holden at Taunton in and for said County on the twenty ninth day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, before the Honorable HODIJAH BAYLIES, Judge of the Probate, &c. for said County, personally appeared Solomon Leonard a resident of Taunton — in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged Seventy two years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832, make the following declaration. That he entered the service of the united States under the following named officers and served as herein after stated. To wit, I volunteered under Captain Joshua Wilson of Taunton, John Shaw of Raynham & Simon Dirdall of said Taunton in the month of April 1777 for one month, & served at said term at a place called Howlands ferry the place where we were marched from said Taunton. I will state further particulars of my service in my answer to the fifth interrogatory. and further declares as follows, in reply to the interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of War; to wit:
1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Ans. That he was born in Raynham in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty nine & on the 30 th day of May of said year —
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it?
Ans. There is a record of my age in the office of the Town Clerk of Raynham which is hereto annexed.
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Ans — I lived in Raynham when called into the service — I have since lived in Raynham & Taunton
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom?
Ans, I never was drafted, but at all my time of service I enlisted voluntarily. I was once a substitute and it was for Jonathan Hall of Raynham (now deceased).
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served; such Conti-

4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? Ans, I never was drafted, at all at all my time terms of Service I enlisted voluntarily. I was once a Substitute and it was for Jonathan Hall of Reynham (now deceased).
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. The above Said Howlands Ferry is in the State of Rhode Island, I have no Documentary evidence, & there is no living witness that I know of by whom I can prove the above Service - I must therefore depend upon my own Statement as it is hereinafter confirmed and supported in this Declaration. and at the expiration of Said term I was verbally discharged by my officers.
2 I again enlisted for a Second campaign & it was for two months into Captain Simeon Cobb Company and it was as I think in September 1777, & we were Stationed in Providence in R.I. a part of the time near the College in Said Providence & at the expiration of Said term I was verbally discharged by Captain Cobb & returned home - I refer to Abner Field Affidavit to prove this my Second Campaign -
I again engaged as a Substitute for Jonathan Hall and it was my Third Campaign. and

And for three months, & I engaged on the first day of February 1778 under Captain Samuel Hales of Taunton and in Col Daggett Regiment. I marched from said Taunton to Block Island in May. and there remained on, and about the shores at that place, until the expiration of said term. I was then discharged by my officers & returned home - I refer to Col Dean's affidavit to prove that my third campaign.
10 Days
I also served at two several alarms, and they were as follows to wit. The first was ten days at Sullivan expedition (so called) on R.I. in Capt. Jonathan Shaw's company in 1778. - and the second alarm was in the month of September of the same year & at New Bedford when the enemy burnt that place & I served one week at that time in said Shaw's company.
7 Days
I understood our troops in which I served in my several campaigns to be Massachusetts State troops or Militia.
I well remember of seeing General Sullivan when

at that time in said Shaw's Company.
I understood our troops in which I served in my several campaign to be Massachusetts State troops or Militia.
I well remember of seeing General Sullivan when I was stationed at Providence, & Gen. Cobb, on the I. I have seen many others of the principal officers whose names I have now forgot.
Solomon Leonard son of Edmund Leonard & Mary his wife was born May 30. 1759 as appears per record
Winslow T. Elk. of Benjamin

6. Were you a Soldier or an Officer ? if 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 ? if an Officer, did you ever receive a commission, and if so by whom was it signed, and what has become of it ? Ans, I was a Soldier, I never had a written discharge, & I never had a commission
7. State the names of the 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. I refer to
the Revd Enoch Sanford of Praynham adjoining Taunton And to the Revd Pitt Clarke of Norton adjoining said Taunton & the Hon. James L. Hodges of said Taunton
And the said Solomon Leonard — doth further declare that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State, or (if any) only on that of the agency of the State of  Massachusetts
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
H. Baylies , Judge of Probate.
WE Pitt Clarke — James L. Hodges — Solomon Leonard — Taunton — Norton — Taunton — residing in Norton adjoining Taunton hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Solomon Leonard — who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration ; that we believe him to be about Seventy Two 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.
Pitt Clarke , James L. Hodges .
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
H. Baylies , Judge of Probate.

WE Pitt Clarke  Taunton — and James L. Hodges — residing in Norton Adjoining Taunton hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Solomon Leonard — who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be about Seventy Two 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.
Pitt Clarke  James L. Hodges
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
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 certifies, that it appears to them that Pitt Clarke who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Norton in said County of Bristol, and that James L. Hodges who has also signed the same is a resident in said Taunton , and is a credible person, and that their and statement is entitled to credit.
H. Baylies ,
Judge of Probate.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } BRISTOL ss. }
I Anselm Basset Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Solomon Leonard of Taunton in said County, for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said Court the day and year first above written.
Anselm Basset

31206 Rev INVALID.
File No. 31206
Solomon Leonard
Rev Rev Rev
Act: June 1 st 35 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 241
[Arrangement of 1870.]

5885
Solomon Leonard
@
W. Bapst Sawyer 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 Solomon Shaw Bristol County Mass - 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? yes 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? 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 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? no Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 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 the 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 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 authenticated 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 end 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.
14 - Certified as required

I Obed Dean of Taunton in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts being eighty one years of age do hereby give evidence & say, that I have been acquainted with Solomon Leonard for a great number of years, and he the said Leonard was a soldier in the Army of the American Revolution & served in a company with me one campaign of three months & it was on the first of the January of the year 1770 when we were  I was drafted, & we entered on duty and we marched on said day to Nades Ferry in said State where we served said term. and our company was commanded by Captain Samuel Fales of Taunton & Lieutenant Seth Cooper, and & Solomon Snow of Rehoboth was our Ensign, & and Col Daggett was our Colonel & we were sent up from the main body of the regiment to keep guard at said ferry. and we were considered as State Troops of Massachusetts. Said Leonard served as a waiter to Ensign Snow.
Dated at Taunton August 18 th 1832
Obed Dean
Witness my hand Dec. 29, 1832. I certify that Obed Dean, who signed the above affidavit, is a disinterested and credible witness -
Ensign Leonard Just. of the Peace Ensign Leonard

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol } ss. Before me, one of the Justices of County } the Peace within and for said County of Bristol personally appeared Alfred Deane Subscribed to the within affidavit and made oath that the same is true in all its parts In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & quality this 10 th day of August 1832 Corrnel Leonard Justice of Peace

I John Gilmore of Praynham in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts being seventy three years of age do hereby testify & say that I have long been acquainted with Solomon Leonard of Taunton and and that he the said Leonard served as a soldier in the army of the American Revolution in a company with me in the year 1778 at an alarm at the time of Sullivan's expedition (so called) on Rhode Island ten days - in Capt Jonathan Shaw's company - And according & belief to the best of my recollection he the said Leonard was a soldier in a company with me at New Bedford one week said company was commanded by the above said Jon a Shaw - It was in September 1778.
Taunton 27 th August 1832
John Gilmore
Bristol Commonwealth of Massachusetts County ss. Before me, one of the Justices of the peace within and for the County of Bristol personally appeared John Gilmore subscriber to the above affidavit and made oath that the same is true in all its parts - In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & quality this 27 day of August A 1832
Ebenezer Leonard Justice of Peace
Bristol p. Dec. 29. 1832. I certify that John Gilmore who signed the above affidavit is a disinterested and credible witness -
Ebenezer Leonard Just. of the Peace
Ebenezer Leonard

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss. I James Spratt Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that Honorable Leonard Hoag, Nathaniel Lathrop Esqrs. whose sig- natures are affixed to the within Voucher certificates are Justices of the peace in the said County of Bristol, and duly qualified to administer oaths.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, this eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred & thirty-three - J. Spratt

I Abner Field of Taunton within the county of Bristol, Gentleman of lawful age, do testify and say that I was drafted a soldier in the year 1777 for two months, and served under Capt Simeon Lobb of Taunton in the county aforesaid, Solomon Leonard of said Taunton, enlisted and was a soldier in Capt Lobb's company, and served with me the term of two months in 1777. We were stationed a part of the time at the college and a part of the time on the hill the other side the river. I am well acquainted with said Leonard and have been for more than fifty years years, his character for truth is good, and it is a common report among those acquainted with him, that he has been a revolutionary soldier, and has performed other services than those above mentioned
Abner Field
Bristol 15 August 24 th 1832 Then personally appeared before me the above named Abner Field and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed Gerrit Smith Justice of the Peace

I hereby certify that the within named deponent (Obiesor Yeels) is, according to the best of my knowledge, a disinterested and credible witness, and entertain no doubt of the truth of his affidavit against Luther Fisher. The Bear