Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18475, for Samuel Johnson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Johnson Samuel or Johnston
S. 18475
boarded
CONTENTS

Apr. 22, 1880 Statement sent Ezra B. Stearns East Ridge N. H. - see slip inside.
13.442 Ohio Pittsburgh Samuel Johnston
of Abilene in the State of Ohio, who was a Sgt. in the Co. commanded by Captain White of the Regt. commanded by Col. Smith in the Mass line for 1000. 42 days
First Sergeant. 15.00. 7 days 12 days Rations. 24.66. $39.66.
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio Pittsburgh, at the rate of 39. Dollars 66. Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24. day of July 1833 and sent to Sam. Hendry. C.C. Jefferson
Arrears to the 4th of March. 1833. 79.32 Sem-ant. allowance ending 4. Sept. 33. 19.83.
$99.15.
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. H. Palmer Clerk, Book 6. Vol. 8. Page 116.

1790p. Samuel Johnston
13.442
Return
Adm 10. Months 8 12 days 3 months Whereof as Serv
 ? 15. —  7. 23. 33  " 1 11/22  39.66 
Samuel Hendry Clerk Jefferson Ashlandville

BRIEF in the case of Samuel Johnson County of Adams in the State of Ohio (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Subordinate Judge  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? yes  3. How old is he? 79 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.     1800 June In 1775 1 - 12 Private Gen. White / officer  White recollected   1801 March 1776 2 - " Gen. Sanger  Col. Smith   1778 3 - Adjutant Col. White  Col. Jones  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Lancaster, Massachusetts  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Tradition  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers are in order, objection to neg. 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richard Elliott Examining Clerk.

Saml. Johnson
17901
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1111111111

The State of Ohio, } Ashtabula County, } ss.
1882
On this 20 th day of October personally appeared before me, Jonathan Gregory, one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, Samuel Johnson, a resident of the township of Geneva in the County of Ashtabula and State of Ohio, aged seventy nine years, who being first sworn accu- ringly to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, deposes and says that he is true to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as is herein stated.
He first enlisted as volunteer, about the middle of December 1775, for six weeks, and left he believes the last day of January 1776.
The names of his Field Officers under this enlistment he does not remember. The Captain of his Company, Nathaniel White.
His next enlistment, also as a volunteer, was some time in the month of June, 1776, for the term of six months, and he left some time in the month of December of the same year.
Field Officers, Major General Patricum, Brigadier Gen. Fellows, Colonel Forster Smith. Company Officers, Captain Samuel Sawyer, Lieutenant Nathaniel Sawyer, Ensign Elazer Belknap.
His third enlistment, likewise as a volunteer, was on the 1 st day of April, 1778, for three months, and he left the service about the first of July of the same year. Field officers, Maj. Gen.
Heath, Colonel Jones. - Company Officers, John White, Junior, Captain, Nathaniel Beman, Lieutenant. Under this last enlistment he was orderly sergeant.
In each of these cases he went into actual service at the time of enlistment, and left as is above stated.
He resided at the several times he entered the service in the town of Lancaster, County of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts.
Under the first enlistment he marched from Lancaster aforesaid to Roxbury in the same State, and as he understands for the purpose of relieving a part of the Militia on duty there from the State of Connecticut.

Massachusetts.
any state of mass.
Under the first enlistment he marched from Lancaster aforesaid to Roxbury in the same State, and as he understands for the purpose of relieving a part of the Militia on duty there from the State of Connecticut.
Under the second Enlistment, he was marched from Lancaster to New Haven in the state of Conn. and thence Embarked for New York.
Under his last enlistment, he marched from Lancaster to Roxbury, where he remained about two weeks, and thence to Battle William, where he remained until the expiration of his term.
We have no documentary evidence in confirmation of these statements, and there are no persons living within his knowledge to whom could refer, to substantiate these accounts; unless it should be an aged relative in New Hampshire, of whose present existence he is uncertain, and if living he is 87 years old.
He was acquainted with Col. Burbank, Chief Engineer at Battle William, and Col. Davis, the Commandant of the Battle during the time he was there.
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.
Jonathan Gregory
Samuel Johnson
We the undersigned  Perry Pratt a clergyman residing in the township of Hopedale of Gardner and Abisha Lawton residing in the town township hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Johnson, and that we believe him to be seventy eight years and eleven months old, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Perry Pratt. Clergyman Abisha Lawton

I, Jonathan Gregory, Associate Judge as aforesaid, do hereby declare my 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 I further certify, that Perry Scott who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the township of Hurstfield and that Hislop Hawton resident of the township of Scipio who has signed the same is a credible person, &c. That their statement is entitled to credit. And I do further certify that at the last sitting of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Ashtabula this applicant was unable to attend by reason of bodily infirmity.
Jonathan Gregory Associate Judge
The State of Ohio Ashtabula County, ss 3
I Sam d Hendry Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Ashtabula aforesaid do hereby certify that the Honorable Jonathan Gregory who has subscribed his name above, in his own proper hand writing is one of the Associate Judges of the said County, duly commissioned and sworn agreeably to the Laws of the State of Ohio and that to his acts as such full faith and credit are due —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at Jefferson the 20 th day of October A.D. 1832 Sam d Hendry Clerk

18 475
INVALID.
Cur
File No. 18 475
Samuel Johnston Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 447
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Copy of statement from this case furnished to Ezra S. Stearne of East Ridge, N. H. for historical purposes connected with the history of Ashburnham Mass.

U. S. Pension Office.
Samuel Johnson - of Geneva, Ashtabula Co. # Ohio - Oct. 20 th 1832 - aged 79 -
Alleges - Enlisted about the middle of Dec 1775 - for six months. his capt. was Nathaniel White.
Again enlisted in June 1776 for six mos. - served under Maj. Genl. Putnam, Brig. Genl. Fellows, Col. Jonathan Smith, Capt. Saml Sawyer, Lt. Nathaniel Sawyer, & Ensign Eleazer Belden.
Again enlisted Apr. 1 st 1778. for three mos. - served in the Co. of Capt. John White Jr. - the Creek. being Nathaniel Beman - during his service he was Orderly Sergt.
On his first enlistment they marched to Roxbury & relieved a part of the militia on duty near from the State of Conn.
On his second enlistment they marched to New Haven & were embarked for New York.
On his last enlistment they marched to Roxbury - remained there about two weeks & then went to Castle William.
Says that he lived at Lan- caster, Mass. at the time of his enlistments.
He speaks of Col. Burbeault as the Chief Engineer at Castle William. & of Col. "Ravier" as the Commandant of the Castle while he was there.

Samuel Johnson

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Samuel Johnson exhibit 6 o 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's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?  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? yes  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?  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? 
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.