Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,936, for Samuel Leeman, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Leeman, Samuel
S. 18936
CONTENTS
Carded

Maine 11.531
Samuel Leeman of Lincoln Co in the State of Maine who was a Pr. in the Company commanded by Captain Leeman of the Regt commanded by Col McCobb in the N. Hampsh. line for Troops - - - - - 6 Mo Private - - - $20.00.
Died Apr 30, 1833
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 20 Dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 th day of May 1833 and sent to Nathan Coffin, Wisneset, Me
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 40.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Sept " 10
$ 50.00
Revolutionary Claim, Encl June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J. Sprague Clerk Book E Vol. 1 Page 31

Samuel Leeman
3
22406
A. D. 183
CLERK.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the day of Court of Common Pleas this

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June, 1832.
STATE OF MAINE, } ss. COUNTY OF LINCOLN, }
ON this 27th day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before John Rugg - Esq. Justice of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting, Samuel Leeman a resident of Bristol in the County of Lincoln and State of Maine, aged Sixty nine 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 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 he enlisted and entered the service in the Massachusetts line on the first of May 1781 the year Cornwallis was captured, - was enlisted by Lieut. Lithgow in the company commanded by Captain Berg. Sement for six months - was verbally discharged in November following after serving out the time for which he was enlisted. During that time the said company was stationed at Cox's Head at the mouth of the Kennebec River in Maine. Col. Samuel McCobb was commanding officer of the Regiment - and he enlisted at Cox's Head. Samuel McCain was a corporal under Capt. Parker in the same Regiment, and will be able to testify to the above service, which was in protecting the coast from the depredations of the enemy with whose boats they had several skirmishes.
And to the interrogatories propounded under the instructions of the War Department, he answers, that he was born in Woolwich Maine, April 1763, - has no record of his age unless it be on the town records of Woolwich - That he was living at Woolwich before his enlistment and continued to live there four or five years after the war and has ever since resided in Bristol in the County of Lincoln, Maine, where he now lives & that he had no written discharge. That Samuel Yates & Henry Chamberlain Esqrs. of said Bristol are his neighbours and can testify to his good character and to his reputation of having served as above.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Before
Samuel Leeman John Ruggles - Judge of said Court.

State of Maine.
LINCOLN, ss—I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that the annexed paper, signed by the Judge and attested by the Clerk, contains the original proceedings of the Court of Common Pleas, at a special session thereof holden at Bristol in said county, by the Hon. John Ruggles one of the Judges of said Court on the 27 th day of November A. D. 1832, in the matter of the application of Samuel Leeman for a Pension. IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this 27 th day of November A. D. 1832.
Nathl. Coffin CLERK.

WE, Samuel Yates + Henry Chamberlain residing in the town of Bristol and  residing in the hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Samuel Leeman who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; 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 of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Henry Chamberlain Samuel Yates
State of Maine.
LINCOLN, ss....Sworn and subscribed this twenty seventh day of November A. D. 183 2
Before me, John Ruggles J. C. C. P.
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 Samuel Yates who has signed the preceding certificate, is resident in the town of Bristol and that Henry Chamberlain who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. It also appears that there is no Clergyman residing in the vicinity of said applicant who could, without too much inconvenience or expense attend the court.
State of Maine.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
John Ruggles J. C. C. P. Attest Nathl Coffin Clerk
LINCOLN, ss....I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that Esq. whose name is affixed to the above certificate, as a Esq. is legally commissioned and duly qualified to act as such, and that the name so affixed is his own proper signature, to me well known.
In TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas this day of
A. D. 183
CLERK.
3 Samuel L. 2

22406
Samuel Leeman Lincoln Co. Maine
Admitted 6 mos $20.00
Nathan Coffin bld Lincoln County Maine

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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 shew 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, shewing the Service of Samuel Leeman Lincoln Co.
Name
   Period when service rendered. Claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     enlist May 1781 6 capt Le- mont- col Mc- lellan- Me- 69 Wool- wich Maine Traditionary Living Witness  
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) _____ 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 day 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.
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 making 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 [i] 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.
R Newman John

March 11, 1935
XXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/EWL Samuel Leeman-S.18936
Mrs. Ovena J. Ockey Joseph F. Smith Memorial Building 80 North Main Street Salt Lake City, Utah
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Samuel Leeman, a Revolutionary War soldier and a pensioner.
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.18936, based upon the military service in that war of Samuel Leeman.
Samuel Leeman was born in April, 1763, in Woolwich, Massachusetts(Maine). The names of his parents are not shown.
While living at said Woolwich, Samuel Leeman enlisted May 1, 1780, served in Captain Benjamin Lemont's Company, Colonel Samuel McCobb's Massachusetts Regiment, was stationed at Cox's Head at the mouth of the Kennebec River and served six months.
After the war, he continued to reside at Woolwich, Massachusetts(Maine), for four or five years, then moved to Bristol, Lincoln County, Massachusetts(Maine).
Pension was allowed on his application executed November 27, 1832, while residing in Bristol, Maine.
The soldier died April 30, 1833, place not shown.
There are no data as to his family.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
Did not find sol. on mss. ST V.
Found Capt Lemont in Col McCobb's Regt in '80 at Cox's Head Me.
so did not refer to witness statement that service was in '77.
AB

THE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF UTAH JOSEPH F. SMITH MEMORIAL BUILDING 80 NORTH MAIN STREET SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
FEB 21 1935
February 13, 1935
Veterans Administration Naval Building Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
Will you please send us a copy information shown in your records in connection with the pension granted Samuel Leeman , who appears in a list of Maine Revolutionary War Soldiers receiving pensions as follows:
'35 Samuel Leeman, Mass. Mil. private age 70 Lincoln County, Maine, d. 30 April 1833.
Sincerely,
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF UTAH Research Department
By Mrs. Ovelna J. Ockey
SW:A

P 18936
1935-Mar 11 - Dist to Mrs Verna J. Okey - 864
INVALID.
File No. 18936
Edward G. ...
...
Act: ...
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 222
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Deposition of Samuel M c Lean taken for Samuel Leeman

I Samuel M c Clain of Lawful age do testify and say to the best of my Recollection in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten that I was a soldier in the Col. Samuel M c Clain of George Town Penobscot so called at that time, and Samuel Seaman who was a soldier with me at the same time and we entered for six months and I do say that Samuel Seaman did prove at this time out as a good and faithful soldier and Capt. Gordon Parker was our Captain
furthermore the deponent saith not
Bristol July 16 th 1832
Samuel M c Clain
Bristol July 16 th 1832
On the sixteenth day of July one thousand eight hundred and thirty
State of Maine.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
LINCOLN, ss— I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that Samuel Yates Esq. whose name is herein affixed to the annexed paper, as a JUSTICE OF THE PEACE is legally commissioned and duly qualified to act as such, and that the name so affixed is his own proper signature to me well known. IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas this 27 th day of November A. D. 1832.
Nath. Coffin CLERK.
Mr. Seaman is in my opinion a man of veracity & a disinterested witness
Samuel Yates

I Samuel M c Clain of Lawful age not estop and say to the best of my recollection in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Twenty Seven That I was a Soldier and ser t colonel Samuel M c Clain of George Town Kentucky so called at that time and Samuel Seaman of which was a soldier with me at the same time and we entered for six months and I do say that Samuel Seaman did serve this time out as a good and faithful soldier and Capt d Gordon Darker was our Captain
furthermore the deponent saith Not
Bristol July 16 th 1832 Samuel M c Clain
Bristol July 15 th 1832
On the sixteenth day of July one thousand eight hundred and thirty two the above said deponent was examined and cautioned and sworn agreeable to law to the deposition of one said by him subscribed taken by the request of Samuel Seaman on me
Samuel Yates Justice of the Peace
I further certify that the above named M c Clain is in my opinion a man of veracity & a disinterested witness
Samuel Yates