Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30160, for Barnabas Thayer, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Thayer, Barnabas
S. 30160
CONTENTS

74 Norfolk
21. 459 Massachusetts Garnabas Thayer Norfolk in the State of Mass who was a Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain Thayer of the Regt commanded by Col _____ in the Mass line for D r M o s P w a 2 nd Sergeant
Court & Miller
Inscribed on the Roll of a Mass at the rate of 85 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Sept 1833 and sent E. E. Liliana Roy, Wm. Mass
Arrears to the 1th of Sept 1833 $212.50 Semiant. allowance ending Sept 34 — 42.50 $255.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. H. Atkinson Clerk Book E Vol. 2 Page 85

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, August 10 1833.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that B. [illegible] (Dix)
6 " 21
Under Capt Isaac Thayer, in Col Thomas Mawhaff's Regiment, as a private, for the period of six months & twenty one days, commencing June tenth 1778
2 " 5
under Capt Moses French in Col Jonathan Pitcomb's Regt, as a private, for the period of two months & five days, commencing May fifteenth 1779 This service was performed in Rhode Island Town not mentioned, - Under
2 " 10
Capt Thomas Nash, in Col. David Cushing's Regt, as a private upon Fort Hill in Boston, as a private for the period of two months & ten days, commencing December twentieth 1779 - & under Capt Thomas [illegible] in Col Eben
3 " 20
Thayer's Regt as a Sergeant, for the period of three months commencing July twenty second 1780 - It appears by the roll that part of the company was stationed at West Point, & part at Rhode Island.
6 " 12
I further certify that the name of Barnabas Thayer is borne upon a pay roll of the six months men, raised by the Town of Weymouth to reinforce the Continental army, & is therein stated to have served, as a private, for the period of six months & twelve days commencing July 12 th 1780. The names of the Officers do not appear upon the roll but it appears that he was in the 6 th regt of the Massachusetts Line Edward D. D. [illegible]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Norfolk ss. On this thirteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three, personally appeared, in open Court, before the Honorable Judge of the Court of Probate, now sitting at Quincy, in said County, Lucy Thayer, a resident of Weymouth in said County aged seventy one years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath declare, that Deborah Thayer of said Weymouth, (who on the seventh  seventeenth day of August A.D. 1832, before said Court of Probate, holden at said Quincy, made the necessary declaration, on oath, to entitle her to the benefit of the act of Congress passed June seventh 1832,) died, on the twelfth day of January last past, that she is his lawful widow, & that she has been informed, & justly believes that her said husband served in the Revolutionary War as follows (viz.) Six months & twenty one days, at Weymouth & Hull, commencing June tenth 1776 as a private in the Company of Massachusetts Militia commanded by Capt. Isaac Thayer of Col. Thomas Marshall's Regt.; also two months & five days, at Rhode Island, commencing May fifteenth 1777 as a private in the Company of Massachusetts Militia, commanded by Capt. Isaac Thayer of Col. Jonathan Trumbull's Regt.; also two months & three days, in Boston, commencing December twenty 1777, as a private in the Company of Massachusetts Militia commanded by Capt. Thomas Marshall of Col. David Cushing's Regt.; also six months & twelve days, in New York & New Jersey, commencing July tenth 1780, as a private, in the sixth Regt. of the Massachusetts line of the Continental army, of Gen. Poore's Brigade, but she cannot state the name of the Captain or Colonel. Lucy Thayer

Lucy - states that she verily believes that her said husband served another period of four months at Boston Roxbury commencing in December 1779, as a private in the Massachusetts Militia, but she is unable to state the name of any of the Officers. For these services she claims a pension for that period of time which elapsed between the fourth day of March 1831, & the day of the death of her said husband. And she hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, & declares that the name of her said husband is not, to her knowledge, upon the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Lucy X Thayer
Subscribed & second to the day & year first above said. And the Court hereby certify that it has been proved, by satisfactory evidence, that said Barnabas Thayer died on the day above mentioned, & that the said Lucy Thayer is his Lawful Widow.
Helenus Judge of Probate
Samuel Hovey, Register of the Court of Probate of said, hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter therein described.
Witness my hand and the seal of the said Court hereunto affixed the day and year first above written.
Samuel Hovey

70 88
Barnabus Thayer
Supt 3 Months
Phila 21
12 88
Phila 17 63
P. 341
Edwin S. Leland
Roxbury
79-
Mass
8500 2
170 00
42 50
58 606
21 250
Aug 23 1833

7088  BRIEF in the case of  Barnabas Thayer  county of Norfolk  in the State of Massachusetts (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? 72  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.     June In 1778 vol 7 Private Gen. Capt Isaac Thayer   Decem 1779 " 4 " Not mentioned   July 1780 " 6 " Gen Genl Major Porter La Fayette   1777 2 2 " Capt Moses French   1777 2 10 " Capt Nash   1781 3 — Sergt Capt Thomas Newcomb   again — about 6 12 Pvt not mentioned  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Weymouth  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional documentary & 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.
G. Waugh Examining Clerk. Jan'y 25 th 1833

Barnabas Thayer
Edwin S. Leland

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Norfolk ss. On this sixteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Judge — of the Court of Probate — now sitting at Quincy — in and for said County, Barnabas Thayer — a resident of Weymouth in said County, aged seventy two — 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 A. D. 1832.
THAT he was born at Weymouth in said County on the twenty third day of October A. D. 1759, and that there is a record of his birth in the First Church of Weymouth that he was in the United States service from the month of June A. D. 1776, to the last day of December A. D. 1776 sixteen months as a Soldier in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at Weymouth aforesaid when he entered the service ; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Capt Isaac Thayer
: that he marched from Weymouth to Hull , from _____ to _____ from _____ to _____ : that he served at Hull & Weymouth with none of the regular troops ; and none of the regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle and at the end of his service received no written discharge : that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at Weymouth
* Hull is usually called Scituate
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from the month of December A. D. 1779, to the month of April A. D. 1780 four months as a soldier in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at Weymouth aforesaid
when he entered the service ; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of He cannot recollect the names of any of the officers and knows of no particular that was in the service with him : that he marched from Weymouth to Boston , from _____ to _____ : that he served at Woburn & Boston with none of the regular troops ; and no regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle and at the end of his service received no written discharge.
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from the month of July A. D. 1780, to the month of January A. D. 1781 six months as a soldier in the States service : that he was residing at Weymouth aforesaid
when he entered the service ; that he was a Volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Gen. Lord — Gen. Lord was Brigadier Major La Fayette was commander of the Brigade
: that he marched from Boston to Springfield , from _____ to _____ from _____ to _____ to next point : that he served at Yellow Hill, Brandywine with the Infantry commanded by Gen. La Fayette some of the regular troops ; and Gen. Washington and Gen. La Fayette regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received a written discharge, but is not able to find it

Also that he was in the United States service in the year A.D. 1777 in a company commanded by Capt. Morris French. Two months and five days.
Also that he was in the United States service in the year 1777 & 78 in a company commanded by Capt. Shimer Stock two months and ten days. The term of service was three months as testified by Moses Blanchard.
Was also in the United States service in the year 1781 & 82 in a company commanded by Capt. Shimer Stock three months as appears by the certificate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth to him attested, which is the only documentary evidence he has been able to find.
But he is also sure that he has served about six months not mentioned above, as he will recollect that his whole service amounted to about two years and six months, but his memory has so failed that he cannot describe the residue of the 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 first aforesaid.
Barnabas Thayer
We James Perkins in said County
a clergyman, residing in the Town of Braintree
and John B. Noble Clerk of the Court of Probate residing in Raynham hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Barnabas Thayer who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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.
Sworn and subscribed as aforesaid.
James Perkins John B. Noble
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 certify that it appears to them that James Perkins , who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the said Braintree; and that John B. Noble who has also signed the same is a resident in said Raynham and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
This is probably documentary evidence
Sherriman Leland Judge of Probate
I Samuel Hawn , Clerk of the Court of Probate aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Barnabas Thayer for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Samuel Hawn

I Abner Blanchard of Weymouth in the county of Norfolk aged twenty seven years of age , testify and say, that Barnabas Sawyer within named was a soldier in the United States service in the War of the Rebellion and to my knowledge served as a soldier in said service during the third period of time within mentioned as he has therein stated. And also to my knowledge, the term of service under left the service as certified by the Secretary of War by the roll, was three full months.
Abner Blanchard
Norfolk p August 17 th 1852
Subscribed and sworn to before me Hilary D. Dole
I further certify that said Abner Blanchard is a credible witness. Hilary D. Dole

30 160 Rev INVALID.
File No. 30 160
Barnes Thayer Serg Rev War
Act: June 7 th 99
Index: —Vol. 9 , Page 418
[Arrangement of 1870.]

7088
Barnes Thayer
3715 236 100 881
John Stearns
E. G. Leland & Roxbury 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 Barnabas Thayer 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  NO
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
Yes  NO This must be coupled with in order that the Notes of service may be examined
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1852? Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes NOT RECORDED
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? documentary & witnesses
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? 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? 5 7
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.