Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S.17,532, for David Lane, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Lane, David
S. 17532
Carded
CONTENTS

15-41 15-47
Massachusetts
David Lane
of Middlesex the State of Massachusetts who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] Regiment by Col. [blank] in the [blank] Line for 2 [blank] Years
[Signature]
Inserted in the Roll of [blank] at the rate of [blank] Dollars [blank] Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the [blank] day of [blank] and [blank]
Arrears to the 14th of [blank] Semi-annual allowance ending [blank] $68.52
{ Revolutionary War } { Act June 7, 1832 }
Recorded by J. H. [blank] Clerk. Book [blank] Vol. [blank] Page 30.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Middlesex ss.
On this Seventh day of August A.D. 1882 Concord , personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas  Probate , now sitting at within and for the County of Middlesex in the Commonwealth
David Lane a resident of Bedford in said County & Concord at the of said - aged Seventy Three years
Who being 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 On the Morning of the 19 th of April, 1775 , being a member of the said Bedford Company of Militia on the alarm, being given he repaired with said Company to Concord , was in the fight there; on the retreat of the Enemy back to Boston , he returned home -
That during the 8 months service at Cambridge , the same year, he was a fifer of said Company, under Capt John Moore , and was then a member of Lincoln's Service in said Company in that capacity, at one time three weeks, at other times ten days or a fortnight at a time, in all ten months or more -
In 1776, in the month of February or March , he was drafted as one of the Beacon militia for two months service, marched immediately to Cambridge , was attached to Capt John Dinsmore's company in Col John Robinson's Regiment, served the one two months there & returned home to Bedford - time not recollected - Having this time the British left Bunker Hill & went into Boston - Sawyer's & Washington's , recollected names of the Officers, See, Coon, Putnam -
In 1777, he again entered service at Bedford , into said service for three or four months under Capt Stephen Russell of Dracut , marched in July or August, first to Bennington Vermont , arrived there the next day or next day but one after the Bennington Battle , then through Manchester, Rupert , to Battleton then through Sturminster about 17 miles to Ellington to Lake , opposite to Sturminster then to the North River Road to Stillwater and joined the Army under General Gates - then after some fighting between the Armies, the British retired then by Defence , built by the British , down as far as Saratoga , where he was discharged in November or December, it was in the Winter - has always held the impression, that was in the service aforesaid, at this time four months -
That no documentary evidence - never receiving any discharge - and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure as to his service during the 8 months service at Cambridge or above stated, except so far as the same is proven by the Deposition of Peter Haulk , hereunto annexed - The other terms are proven by the Deposition aforesaid -

He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a portion of annuity, except 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.
David Lane
We
Samuel Stearns, a Clergyman residing in the town of Bedford in the county of Middlesex & John Webber - of said Bedford - hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Lane who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be a man of good character and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid,
Middletown Aug. 17. 1832
Samuel Stearns
John Webber
Soon to be an Marshall Preston. Jur. of the Peace
And the said Court do hereby declare their 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 then - And the Court further certifies that it appears to them, that Samuel Stearns & John Webber who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the said Bedford & John Webber who has signed the same is resident in the said town and is a credible person, and that their statements are entitled to credit.
J. P. P. [Signature]
Clerk of the Court of
Isaac Fish - August 17 - do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of David Lane for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at office this seventeenth day of August - in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two
Isaac Fish
I also certify that Marshall Preston signs where own broken signature is set to the Certificate to the depositories accompanying this application is a part of the Pension within the said county of Middlesex. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal at office this seventeenth day of August A D 1832
Isaac Fish
The Rev. Mr. Stearns was unable to attend Court by reason of sickness. Marshall Preston Jur. of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex, to wit.
At the Court of Probate held and held at Concord on the seventeenth On the application of David Lane Interrogatories were propounded to him to wit:
within and for the County of Middlesex day of August A. D. 1832 claiming to be a Soldier of the Revolution, the following
1. Where and in what year were you born? Answer:
In Bedford in said County, on the eleventh day of March A.D. 1768-
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it? Answer:
His birth is recorded in the Town Records of Bedford.
3. Where were you when you entered into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? Answer:
Has always lived in said Bedford.
4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute for whom? Answer:
At Concord he turned out as a part of the Militia, at Cambridge in 1775, he was a volunteer, at Cambridge in 1776, he was drafted, in 1777 he enlisted.
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 service? Answer:
Officers - Genl Washington - Maj Genl S. Lee, Ward & Putnam. - Col Ebenezer Bridge, Maj. Brooks -
6. 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? Answer:
Rev. Samuel Stearns. David Lane John Clarke. Esq. Thompson Bacon Esq. Mr. Webber Esq. David Lane
Madison h In Probate Court August 17, 1832 Learned to read and write Attest Isaac Dike Pres.

of the County of Berkeley in the County of Middlesex in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty seven I do hereby certify that I well recollect seeing David King of Bristol in said County, in the service in the United States Army, in the Eight months service at said Bristol in the year 1865. That I am not able to say how long he served, but that I saw him so much there as to become well acquainted with him in said service that I am satisfied that he must have been in the service during said Eight months service, in all, over two months Peter Hunt
Middlesex ss. August 17 th 1882 Then personally appeared the above named Peter Hunt, who is a credible person to me a solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him above subscribed
Before me Marshall Proster, Pres of the Rev.

I Benjamin Sanders of Newbury in the County of Middlesex have now attained the age of seventy seven years of age on Revolutionary Pension, on oath testify & say that David Law of Bedford in the County of Middlesex at present, was a soldier with me, in the Revolutionary army, two months at Cam- bridge, in Capt John Lord's Company, Col John Robinson's Regiment, in 1776. —
Benj Sanders
Mid. Mass. August 3 rd 1832 Then personally appeared the above named Benjamin Sanders, who is a credible person & his testimony entitled to full credence, and made oath to the truth of the above statement by him subscribed.
Before me Marshall Preston Justice

I Samuel Whiting of Billerica, in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Seventy three years of age, do hereby testify & say that David Lane of Bedford in said County & Commonwealth aforesaid, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war & served there or four months, with me in the Northern Campaign in 1777 at the taking of Genl Burgoyne - that we were both members of the same Company commanded by Capt Stephen Russell of Dracut in Col Ballard's Regt. St Col Brown and Major Bryant. it has always been my impression that we were gone in said service at the time four months before we were released. that I was well ac- quainted with said Lane, while in the service & have been ever since.
Samuel Whiting
Commonwealth of Massachusetts x. Middlesex ss. August 10 th A.D. 1832. Then personally appeared before me the subscriber a justice of the peace within the said County of Middlesex Samuel Whiting who subscribed to above deposition and made solemn oath that the same is just & true to all its particulars according to the best of his knowledge & belief
Marshall Pierce Justice of the Peace

I Joseph Dows of Billerica in the County of Middlesex then in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Seventy two years of age testify & say that David Lane of Bedford, served in the Revolutionary war as a private in the year 1777 at the taking of Burgoyne, four months according to the best of my recollection, in Capt Stephen Russell's Company of Col Bullard's Regiment - that we were both in the service in the same company at that time.
Joseph Dows
Medford J. Aug. 3. 1832 - Then personally appeared the also usually known to me, as a person of veracity above named Joseph Dows, & made oath to the truth of the Statement by him above subscribed
Before me Marshall Preston Jus. Peace

David Lewis Joseph Do to David Lewis
7109.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Middlesex ss.
On this tenth day of April A.D. 1833 personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, within and for said County of Middlesex, David Lane, of Bedford in said County who being duly sworn, deposeth & saith, that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot 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 Two months in at Can bridge, in the year 1775. I served as a fifer, during the 8 months service
(For Two months in the year 1776. I served at Can bridge as a private
(For Four months in the year 1777. I served as a private in the Northern Campaign, at the taking of Burgoyne —
For which terms of service I claim a pension —
David Lane
Subscribed to this tenth day of April A.D.
1833 Before me Marshall Preston Jus. of the Peace
I do hereby certify that the above named David Lane is the same person who made oath to subscribed the original declaration to which this is annexed
Marshall Preston Jus. of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex County, ss.
I Isaac Tinker, Register & Clerk of the Court of Probate within the said County of Middlesex, do hereby certify that Marshall Preston Esq. whose own proper signature is set to the certificate of the affidavit and deposition hereto annexed, is a Justice of the Peace within the said County of Middlesex.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court at Cambridge this nineteenth day of April A.D. 1833
Isaac Tinker

17532 INVALID.
File No. _____
_____
_____
Act: _____
Index:—Vol. / , Page 217
[Arrangement of 1870.]

7109 David Land
Return this with the judges
Fees 2 Mths
Per diem 6
8
Capt. Genl Col Robinson
May 15
CE 287.
$27.25
Genl Nelson
D.C.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of David Lane 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? No 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? yes 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? 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 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.