Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 3738, for Benjamin Thompson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Thompson Benjamin Mary
N 3738 B.L.Wt 14974-160-55
CONTENTS

Paid into the Treasury under the Act of the 6 April 1838 - from 4 th September 1836 to 4 th September 1837 - amt notified 16 May 1838
To Rhymn
Issued on the 20th of February 1831 the rate of 10 Dollars — — Cents 1/2 commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Paraphrase of Russian text from the 19th century dated 1835
Bills to be paid by March 1837 $10.00 General expenses during the year 10.00 $20.00
{ Revolutionary Era, See June 7, 1832.
Recorded by H. H. Clary Clerk Book 6 Vol. 2 Page 83

120.266-Act March 3/55-
March 8/55-
Mary Thompson wid of
Benjamin Thompson Pris. soldier
Mary Thompson. div of Benjamin, Pris
Map: South line.
Ms 14974
Revolutionary War
Ad: 160 acres Jan 1, 24/56,
Map July 18/56
ms
Vol. I. page 60
Moses Bates Esq Plymouth Mass

981 Massachusetts Mary Thompson Widow of Benjamin Thompson who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 20 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
13. September 1850 Certificate of Pension issued the 14th day of Decemr. 1850 and sent to Mr. Al Wood Esq Middleborough Mass..
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act July 29, 1848, Page 40 Vol. C

8476
Benjamin Thompson
In Role of member 6 Months
Due 6 Months
J H Lord Plymouth Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Benjamin Thompson  of  Middleborough  in the State of  Mass.  (Act 7th June, 1839.)
 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 eight 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.     enlisted In 1780 June 6 As a Gen. Stark Capt. H. Turner Col. H. Jackson (Continental, refer to records in the War Dept.)  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Middleborough, Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Samuel Bragg gives the Compt service.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
A. Kutz Examining Clerk.

Benjamin Thorne
8476.

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH, ss.
ON this eighth day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before Hon. Wilkes Wood Judge of the Court of Probate for said County now sitting at Middleborough within and for said County of Plymouth, Benjamin Thompson a resident of Middleborough in said County of Plymouth, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Sixty eight 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 7, 1832. 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. That is to say, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
In June 1780 he enlisted in the Continental Army, joined the Army at West Point in the Company commanded by Capt Thomas Thorne, Col Henry Jackson's Regiment in Gen Stark's Brigade, in which campaign he served for the full term of six months. He was in no battle. It was at the time Andre was executed. He had a discharge but is not yet able to find it after a considerable search. Samuel Briggs of the same town was in the same Army but not same company and his deposition is annexed.
He was born in Middleborough 1764 & has at ways resided in said town. He presumes his birth is recorded in the Town Records of

said town of Middleborough. For this term of service the premium his name is on the rolls in the Department of War.
Beef 7 Thompson
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Attest
Jacob H. Lord Register

We, town of residing in the acquainted with declaration; that we believe him to be reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
and
a clergyman, residing in the
hereby certify, that we are well as who has subscribed and sworn to the above years of age; that he is
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
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 who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of and that who has also signed the same, is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
By the Court Attest Jacob H. Lord Register
I, Jacob H. Lord 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 Benjamin Thompson for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two .
Jacob H. Lord
of

I Samuel Briggs of Plympton in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being of lawfull age to give evidence do testify and say that I was six months in the year seventeen Hundred and eighty with Benjamin Thomson of Middleborough in said County of Plymouth; said Thomson was a soldier in the Continental Army and the six months was spent in the City of guarding around the City of New York it being at the time the British had possession of York town
Samuel Briggs
Plymouth ss August 8 th 1832 On this day the aforesaid deponent was lawfully examined and sworn to the truth of the above deposition to be used by the above named Benjamin Thomson in proving his claim to a pension agreeable to an act of Congress of June eighteen — Hundred and thirty two
Seth Eaton Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Love a Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that Seth Eaton Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit was made is a justice of

the Peace for the County of Plymouth and that I believe the name thereto subscribed is his true & genuine signature In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this eighth day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. Jacob H. Lord

I. George Pickens Town Clerk of the town of Middleborough, Massachusetts, here certify, that in the record of marriages in said town, the marriage of Benjamin Thompson & Mary Bourne, is recorded as follows. viz August Thirty-first Seventeen Hundred & Eighty- Eight. Benjamin Thompson & Mary Bourne, both of Middleborough. Solemnized by. attest Joseph Barker
I. George Pickens, above named depon & say, that I hold the office of Town Clerk of the town of Middleborough, Mass. & that the fore- going is a true extract from the record of marriages in said town, with the exception of the date, which is expressed in the record in full, legible figures, as follows. viz August 31, 1788.
George Pickens Town Clerk Middleborough August 6 th 1852
Hymnstown July August 1852. Personally appeared the above- named George Pickens, & knew said to be the true of the foregoing statement, by him subscribed.
Before me.
Wm. H. Wood Justice of Peace

I. George Pickens Town Clerk of the town of Middleborough, Massachusetts, hereby certify. That in the record of deaths, in said town. The death of Benjamin Thompson is recorded as follows viz.
One Thousand Eight Hundred & Fifty one. September Thirteenth. Benjamin Thompson aged 87. Years.
I. George Pickens, above-named, depose & say that I hold the office of Town Clerk, of the town of Middleborough, Mass. & that the foregoing is a true extract from the record of deaths, in said town, with the caption of the date which is expressed in fair legible figures, in the record, as follows. 1851. September 13 th , aged 87.
Middleborough Aug. 6 th 1852.
George Pickens
Wymouton Jn. August 1852.
Personally appeared the above-named George Pickens, & made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement, by him subscribed.
Before me
Wm. H. Wood Pastor of Church.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Plymouth ss. I certify that William H. Wood Esquire before whom the accompanying acknowledgment was made, was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace for the said County, duly authorized to administer oaths and take acknowledgments, and that his signature thereto is genuine.
Witness my hand and the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of the said Commonwealth for Plymouth County. This sixteenth day of August A.D. 1852.
Wm V. Whitman } Clerk of the } said Court

14766 Mary Thompson, aid of Benjamin,
July 7 th 18 8
W m H. Wood, Middleborough, Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County Ys. On this first Tuesday of August in the Year One thousand eight hundred & fifty two before the Probate Court for said County at Plymouth now held at Middleborough in & for said County personally appeared Mary Thompson a resident of said Middleborough, Widow aged Eighty five years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the Acts of Congress passed granting Pensions & half pay to certain Widows
That she is the Widow of Benjamin Thompson late of said Middleborough deceased who was a Private in the Army of the Revolution & served as set forth in his application for a Pension now on file in the Pension Office at Washington, for which service he received a pension of Twenty dollars per annum under the Act of Congress passed June 7. 1832
She further declares that she was Mar-

ried to the said Benjamin Thompson on the Thirtieth day of August, in the year Seven hundred & eighty-eight, that her husband the aforesaid Benjamin Thompson died at said Middleborough on the Thirteenth day of September in the year Eighteen hundred and Fifty-one, and that she has remained a Widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Mary Thompson
I hereby certify, that the foregoing Declaration of the above named Mary Thompson was read to, subscribed and sworn to by her the day and year first above mentioned. Be she me.
Aaron Hobart, Judge of Probate for said county -

Plymouth Jb.
I Moses Bates Jr. Register of the court of Probate for said County of Plymouth hereby certify that the foregoing is the original declaration which was signed and sworn to at a court of Probate held at Middleborough on the first Tuesday in August current. That Hon. Aaron Hobart is the Judge of Probate for said County duly commissioned and qualified, and that the foregoing is his genuine signature duly signed in open court.
In testimony of which I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of the court of Probate this ninth day of August in the year eighteen hundred and fifty two.
Attest
Moses Bates Jr.
Register of Probate

State of Massachusetts, County of Plymouth. } ss
On this Mountain Day of April, A.D. one thousand eight hundred & fifty, five, personally ap- pears before me, William H. Wood, a justice of Peace, in & for said County aforesaid. Mary Thomp- son, aged eighty-eight years, a resident of Middle- borough, in the State of Massachusetts, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Benjamin Thompson, deceased, who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, that the said Benjamin Thompson received a pension for many years previous to his death, by reason of his services as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and that she, the said Mary Thompson, has also re- ceived a pension, as widow of said Benjamin Thomp- son, since his decease, all of which will appear from the records & files of the Office of the Commissioner of Pensions.
She further states that she was married to the said Benjamin Thompson in Middleborough, on the thirty first day of August A.D. 1788. That her name before marriage was Mary Bruns, that her said husband died at Middleborough on the thir- teenth day of September 1851, and that she is still a widow.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Betsy Land to which she may be entitled under the act of March 3 rd , 1855.
Mary Thompson
Sworn to & subscribed before me, the day & year above written.
Wm H Wood
Justice of Peace.

State of Massachusetts Weymouth County
The Freedom D. Rounseville & Harriet B. Rounseville Having been duly sworn, depose & say that we well knew Benjamin Thompson who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, when widow were applied for Betsy Lane. That we knew him for more than twenty years before his death, which occurred at Middleborough, about three years ago. That we knew he died about that time, because we attended his funeral.
That we have known his widow from his death to this time, that she is unmarried and that we are distantly related.
Frederick D. Rounseville, Harriet B. Rounseville.
Subscribed & sworn to before me this twenty-fourth day of April, 1855. M c H. Wood Justice of Peace
It is hereby certified that satisfactory proof has been submitted to me the undersigned a Justice of Peace, by the affidavits of Frederick D. Rounseville & Harriet B. Rounseville of said County & State, who are personally known to me, who are entitled to credit, & who state they have no pecuniary inter- est in the result of the foregoing application. That Mary Thompson the applicant for Betsy Lane in the foregoing application, is now unmarried, and

That she is the widow of the late Benjamin Thompson who was a Revolutionary Pensioner and that the said Benjamin Thompson died at the time above stated.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twentyfirst day of April 1855.
M c H. Wood, Justice of Peace.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County of Plymouth, ss.
I certify that M c H. Wood, before whom the foregoing declarative acknowledgment was made, was at the date thereof, a justice of peace, in said county, duly authorized to administer oaths & take acknowledgments, and that his signature thereto is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court for said County and Commonwealth this third day of May A.D. 1855.
W. H. Morton
Clerk of said Court

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 3738
Mary Thompson Widow Benjamin Thompson Br. Rev. War
Act: July 27, 1818
Index:—Vol. M. , Page 269
[Arrangement of 1870.]

✓ 14.9/4
3 Mrs Amy

PM: Oct 29 th July. 48, Mass. R. H. D.

Commenced by John Manley, if so, if the name of Moses Ayer, appears upon such roll.
Moses
Ayer, Alleged in his life time, that at Boston, Mass. in Mch: 1777, he shipped for one year as a man

No 16766 Mary Thompson widow of Benjamin Nap
21 st i. 189 at 29 July 48
3 rd and Dec 10/52
29 July 1848

Pension Office
Dec 10 1882
Map Roll
Act June 2 1832
20 $ per annum
Benjamin Thompson pri To what time paid? J. Triplett
J. S. Gallerher Esq 3 auditor
Died 13 th Sept. 1851, Paid to his death.
B. J. B.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Benjamin Thompson 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? — 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? 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? 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? no 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? no XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? answered
 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.

I. Gamaliel Rouseville, of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth, & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on oath depose & say, that I have known Mary Thompson, of said Middleborough, widow of Benjamin Thompson, for more than Fifty years last past. That she is the widow of Benjamin Thompson, who was a private in the Army of the Revolution & who drew a pension from the United States, up to the time of his death. That he deceased on the Twentieth day of September, in the year one Thousand Eight Hundred & Fifty one. & that the said Mary Thompson, who now applies for a pension, has not married since the death of the said Benjamin Thompson, but still remains his widow.
Yours! Rouseville
Plymouth Jn. August 16 th 1852.
Personally appeared the above-named Gamaliel Rouseville, & made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement by him subscribed
Before me-
Wm H. Wood
Justice of Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth County.
I certify that William H. Wood Esquire, before whom the accompanying acknowledgment was made, was, at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace for the said County, duly authorized to administer oaths and take acknowledgments, and that his signature thereto is genuine.
Witness my hand and the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of the said Commonwealth for Plymouth County this sixteenth day of August A.D. 1862
Wm. H. Whitman
} Clerk of the said Court

Com te of Pensylvania. Washington 2

Middlebury, Me Aug. 18 th 1852. ]
To the Govr. of Pensylvania.
I herewith transmit the declaration of Mary Thompson, & affidavits of marriage, identity, & death of her husband. Made by her for the purpose of drawing a pension.
I am
Yours truly Wm. H. Wood

Treasury Department,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
May 14 - 1838.
Sir.
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Benjamin Thompson a Pensioner on the Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of twenty Dollars and " " Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1836 to the 4 th Sept. 1837
Respectfully, yours,
Alison K. Parrish Comptroller
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

Brief in the case of Mary Thompson widow Benjamin County and State of Massachusetts act 29 July 1848 + after 1 July 1848
Claim, ("original," or "for increase." )
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditional, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Husband was a pensioner at 20/ per annum act June 7 1832 -
Record proof of marriage
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Name and residence of Agent
Wm H Wood Middleborough Mass
Thornton Tiptlett
Examining Clerk.

14,974-160 Hon. L. S. Haynes
Mar. 5, 1836 Benj. Thompson
[Faint mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]
3 3 7 7 5 5
Recorded page 194 RD Vol. 1, p. 103

Warrenton
March 5 36
Sir,
I'm compliance with yr request of the 27th ult. & trans a rep of the court of Pleas, with the papers in the case of Benjamin Thompson verus etc.
Hono
C E Haynes
H R