Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30164, for Wales Tilden, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Noass.
Tilden, Wales
NUMBER _____
S. 30164
CONTENTS

21319 Massachusetts
Wales Tilden
of Plymouth in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Turner of the Regt commanded by Col Coyne the Mass line for Genl Washington
Mass
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 31 Dollars - 67 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of Sept 1831 and Dept No. 10. Genl Plymouth Mass
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1831 $ 79.17 Semi-ant. allowance ending Mar 31 1831 15.83
$95.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. H. H. H. Clerk Book 2 Vol. 2 Page 80
78 Plymo

Wales Siden
24479

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, county of Plymouth,
ss.
On this twenty seventh day of November Anno Domini 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Hon. Wilkes Wood, Judge of the Court of Probate, now sitting at Scituate within and for the county of Plymouth, Wales Tilden a resident of Marshfield in said county of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy six 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 the seventh 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 April 1775, he, being at Bristol in the District of Maine, enlisted as a private in Captain Caleb Turners company in Col. Bangs Regiment (the other officers are not recollected) and served in said company (which was stationed at Fort Penobscot) until the last day of December of the same year, was then discharged by the Captain and returned home. His duty while there was to guard the harbor. In the year 1778, he enlisted into Captain Joseph Clifts company of Marshfield, in Col. [blank] Regiment, joined said company in said Marshfield, and marched to Rhode Island, and served forty five days, the first part of the time said company encamped on Bath Hill, afterwards it marched down to the line, where it remained until ordered to Howlands Ferry to assist in taking the soldiers off the Island, it then marched to Patuxent, he was then discharged by the Captain, and returned home,
He does not recollect of ever receiving a written discharge from either of the terms of service above described; nor has he any documentary evidence of said service, Robert Turner and Lemuel Lapham now living are the only persons whose testimony he can procure to testify to any of the service above specified; he was born in said Marshfield, the 29th of August Anno Domini 1756 his birth is recorded in the town records of Marshfield, he was at Bristol aforesaid, when he first enlisted in said service, and after the term of his first enlistment expired he returned to said Marshfield, where he has lived ever since, he volunteered or enlisted for each term of said service, he never was drafted nor was he a substitute. He has named all the officers, he remembers under whom he served, and all the important circumstances of his said service, He is known in his present neighbourhood to Edward P. Little and Luther Rogers and others who can testify as to his character for veracity and the belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
whose depositions are herewith annexed,
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
attest G. H. Lord Reg.
We, Elijah Leonard, a clergyman residing in the town of Marshfield and Edward P. Little residing in the same town, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Wales Tilden who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy six years of age; that he is respected and beloved in the neighbour- hood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Elijah Leonard Edward P. Little
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid,
Wilkes Wood Judge of Probate.

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named Wales Tilden was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certify that it appears to them that Rev. Elijah Leonard who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clarge man residing in the town of Mansfield & that Edward P. Little Esq who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to cred it.
By the Court, Attest Jacob H Lord Register
I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Wales Tilden for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this ninth day of April A. D. 1833
Jacob H. Lord

24.11.79 Wales Tilden Mass
Private 9 th Mr 15 days C.W.
j.r.l. \begin{array}{r} 31.67\frac{1}{2} \\ 63.34 \\ 15.83 \\ \hline 79.17 \end{array}
J. H. Lord Plymouth Mass. Joseph Lord James Lord

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
June 18 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Wales Tilden  Residing in Plymouth County State of Mass
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Entered 1775 8 privt Capt Burner Col. Hildes 21 years Bristol Maine Living at Wadsworth   " 1778 1205 Capt Clift all not given { Wadsworth for the 8 mo Four not certified as Credible  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers :
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) 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 and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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 the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
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 and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration.(l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  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 services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  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. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

30164 Pg INVALID.
File No. 30,164
Wales Tilden
Li - Rev Mr
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 419
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I, Lemuel Lapham of Pembroke in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a Revolutionary soldier, aged seventy one years upon oath do testify and declare that Wales Tilden of Marshfield in the County aforesaid, - served as a private soldier in the war of the American Revolution, forty five days on Rhode Island in Captain Joseph Clift's company in the year Domini 1778. That being myself a soldier at the same time, and in the same company with him.
Massachusetts. Plymouth ss. Sworn and subscribed Lemuel Lapham this first day of November Domini 1832.
The deponent being a creditable witness, before me John Ford Jr Jus: Pacis.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for the County of Plymouth, do hereby certify that John Ford Jr Esq

is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & that the within signature purporting to be his is true & genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this ninth day of April A.D. 1833. Jacob H. Lord

Wales Titmouse.
H. Purdie

I Robert Turner of Bremen, (formerly part of Bristol State of Maine) a Revolutionary Soldier of the Provincial Troops Massachusetts Line, aged Twenty-six years upon Oath do testify and declare that I was well acquainted with Wales Tilden now of Marshfield County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts - that said Tilden came into Maine - at or about the same time I did and previous to the War of the Revolution - we enlisted in Col. Gargill's Regiment under Caleb Turner Captain, I enlisted as a Musician in said Turner's Company and said Wales Tilden as a Private Soldier in the same Company, same time in the Month of April 1775 and we served in said Company until the last day of December of the same year of 1775 at and about Pemaquid in said District making our time of Service at said enlistment eight Months (or thereabouts). The said Deponent is a cred- Robert Turner itable Witness.
State of Maine. Lincoln. August 17th. A.D. 1832.
Then the said Robert Turner personally appeared and made Oath to the truth of the foregoing statement by him signed. Before me, Sullivan Hardy, Justice of Peace.

State of Maine.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
LINCOLN, ss—I NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Lincoln, do hereby certify that Sullivan Hardy Esq. whose name is affixed to the annexed paper, as a JUSTICE OF THE
PEACE is legally commissioned and duly qualified to act as such, and that the name so affixed is his own proper signature, to me well known.
IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the
Court of Common Pleas this 31 st
day of August
A. D. 1832.
Nath. Coffin CLERK