Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10961, for Carter Knight, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Knight, Carter
S. 10961
barred
CONTENTS

4821.
Massachusetts
Carter Penright
of the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain _____ of the reg t commanded by Col. Spearhall in the Mass line for 2 Years
74 March
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of Jan'y 1833 and sent from C. Davis St of Rep s
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $120 — Pemi-ant. allowance ending 2 Mar 33. 40 —
$160 —
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. B. Clerk Book D. Vol. 20 th Page 62

I Joseph Farwell of Lancaster in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy three years on the ninth day of August last past upon my say that in the fore part of April A. 1777 I enlisted into the service of the Revolution for the purpose of making cartridges and taking care of the military stores for the army of the then United Colonies, at Springfield in said Commonwealth, that I entered under the command of Ebenezer Dugg - that I remember Col Mason, that I well remember that Carter the Knight the of Harvard in said Worcester County now of Bolton in said County served with me in the same kind of duties at said Springfield as I believe faithfully for the space of eight or nine months and further saith not
Dated at Lancaster the 8 th Sept 1832
Joseph Farwell
Worcester ss September 8 th 1832 The above named Joseph Farwell personally appear before me the subscriber and made oath that the above instrument by him subscribed is true
Before me Samuel J. Houghton Just. of the Peace
I hereby certify that I am acquainted with the above named Joseph Farwell and that implicit confidence may be given to his testimony.
Samuel J. Houghton Justus Pacis

I Theophilus Wheeler Register or Clerk of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester in Massachusetts do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Carter Knight for a Pension; and that Samuel S. Houghton before whom the affidavit on the other side of this paper, and the on the annexed paper, were made, is a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Worcester duly commissioned & sworn to the the signature which purports to be his signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this twenty first day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Theoph. Wheeler Reg. said Probate Court
The affidavits made on this paper, there not being room for it in the Pension applica- tion annexed. J. Wheeler Reg.
Joseph Barnes Esq. in Carter Houghton's case

DECLARATION, in order to secure the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
COUNTY OF WORCESTER, ss.
ON this Twentieth day of November in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Probate now sitting at Lancaster  Carter Knight a resident of Bolton in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 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 7th 1832.
THAT he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
 1. That in A D 1775 he volunteered his services as a Soldier some time in May and joined the Company of Capt. Josiah Whitney (as he believes) who was afterwards a Col. and did duty with the Company as a Soldier for about three weeks and was back for his shop, and continued like some time in June when the Company being filled up for the eight months and he was dismissed at the end of three weeks service. —  2. And in November one Samuel Tenny of Hamden who was a private Soldier in the same Company was desirous to return home, and procured me to take his place in the Company which belonged to Col. Reg t of the Mass s Forces and he was accordingly received as his Substitute for the residue of his term, and he was stationed on a hill Southwesterly of the College and was employing in making a fort and doing guard duty until the time of said Tenny expired the last of December having served for him seven weeks.  3. Some time in February or March A D 1776 he engaged to do duty in the Neighborhood of Boston and he enlisted into the Company of Capt. Andrew Knowlton of Lancaster and he believes the Company belonged to Col. Marshall's Reg t he joined his Company and paraded in Lancaster, least they did not join his Company until they arrived at Noddles Island in Boston harbor till the latter part of March the Company remained in the Island about one month and built a fort when orders came for them to go to Nantasket Island where they landed on a fort in that Island and were there about six weeks when they went on to Castle Island, and they were occupied in strengthening and were occasionally at Dorchester point, where and was occasionally employed as a Clerk for the Officers and he remained in service from the time of his engagement seven months and two weeks when he was dismissed.  4. In November or December of the same year A D 1776 he engaged to go to New Jersey and enlisted in the Company of Capt. David Nourse of Bolton knights  reg t  Col. Easton his Company was in the Regiment of Col. Josiah Whitney Col. Easton his Company proceeded thru Worcester and thence crossed Connecticut river to New York and New Jersey and there served three months with his Company and was then released and allowed fourteen days pay and rations to reach his home in that when he was making a sum of three months and fourteen days. —  5. In A D 1777 he engaged to go into service for a year and enlisted under Ebenezer Fogg of Lancaster and was ordered to Springfield in Mass s where he was employed under Capt. Fogg in making Cartridges for the Army, there was a large number of men in the same employ and one Col. Mason appeared to have the Command of all the forces, the Laboratory in which he was employed was on the street in Springfield Southwesterly of the center. Joseph Farnwell and Bernard Farnwell were employed in the same work in which he continued under Capt. Fogg until he served out his year as he believes, and he thinks a written discharge was given him from 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.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Before NATH l DOWNE Probate For the County of Worcester
Carter Knight

We Isaac Allen a Clergyman residing in the Town of Bolton and Jonas Houghton residing in the same Town — hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Carter Knight — who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be about  seventy years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and-subscribed the day and year above said
Before me Isaac Allen  Jonas Houghton Samuel Houghton Just. of the Peace
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 mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Rev. Isaac Allen — who signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the Town of Bolton and that Jonas Houghton — who has also signed the same is a resident in the same Town — and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
NATHANIEL D. PROBE For the County of Worcester
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 this _____ day of _____ in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty
And at the same Court the following Interrogatories were propounded to him, to wit:
1 When and in what year were you born? Ans: I was born in Lancaster as I have understood on the 11 th of Jan y AD 1759 2 Have you any record of your age and when is it? I have no family or written record. 3 Where were you living when called into service when have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live? Ans: I was living in Hanover when called into service, and I have lived in Hanover and Bolton since 4 Have you been called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a Substitute and if a Substitute for whom? Ans: I was a Substitute for Samuel Henny some weeks all my other services were by enlistment and voluntary. 5 State the names of some of the Officers you saw in service. Ans: I saw many Officers and troops but can not call to mind their names some Gen. John Whitcomb — 6 Did you ever receive any written discharge from service — Ans: I believe that I received a written discharge at Springfield, but I long since lost it having no motive to preserve it very securely. — 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? Ans: Hon. Elias Doleman and Stephen D. Gardner, Samuel Houghton Esq. May Jonas Houghton and the Rev. Isaac Allen all of Bolton. Carter Knight

Philemon Boust
Dep.

I, Philemon Priest of Harvard in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy ninety years on the Eighteenth day of Oct. last just depose and say that some time in the latter part of Nov. A.D. 1776, hearing that men were needed at New Jersey I volunteered my services under Capt. David Nurn of Bolton and marched thro' Worcester crossed Connecticut river thence to New York crossed the River Hudson at Peks Kill or rather below and arrived at New Jersey and I further depose & say that Carter Knight then (I believe) of Harvard said of Bolton in said Worcester County was in the same company & performed faithful services for three months & fourteen days and were honorably dismissed by our officers - and I further say & depose that I am acquainted with the said Carter Knight and place implicit confidence in his integrity the names of some of the officers - viz Col. Josiah Whitney of said Harvard Lt. Col. Carter - Lt. E. Davis and Major Mason - & further saith not. Philemon Priest dated at Harvard Aug. 29 th 1832. Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester ss Harvard Aug. 29 th 1832
Personally appeared the above named Philemon Priest, before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace within & for the said County of Worcester and made solemn oath that the above instrument by him subscribed is true
Before me Samuel S. Houghton Justice of the Peace I hereby certify that I have been acquainted with with the above named Philemon Priest for many years and that implicit confidence may be given to his testimony
Samuel S. Houghton Justice Peace

Carta Knight
Private
2 years
adm
$80-
Hon. J. L. Davis
A.R.

BRIEF in the case of  Carter Knight of the County of Worcester  in the State of Mass.  (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? 73 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 1775 May — — 21 Private Gen. Capt. Josiah Whitney   " Substituted for 1 Sam. 21 Finney Same   "76 Feby — 7 15 Private Col. Marshall, Capt. Haskell   " Dec. — 3 14 dito Col. Whitney, Capt. Purse   "77 1 — — d. Col. Mason, Capt. Flagg  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Harvard  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Depositions  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  Regular 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Levin Bell Examining Clerk.

Rev. War
10.961 INVALID.
File No. 10.961
Carter Knight Briv. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index: —Vol. a , Page 210
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Sparta Knight
Hon. Mr. Davis H.R.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Barter Straight 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? 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? 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 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.