Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17530, for John Lawrence, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Lawrence, John
S 17530
bearded
CONTENTS

15352.
Tit. to John Lawrence
Massachusetts
June 11: 47
John Lawrence
Bristol in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt commanded by Col Brewer in the Mass line for 12 mos Private 15 Days Pay
72 Bristol
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 42 Dollars 50 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of June 1833 and Sent Hon d J. Dodge Present
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1833 $ 83.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 21 Sep r 21.25 $104.25
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. M c Blain Clerk Book 8. Vol. 2 Page 50.

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF Plymouth Bristol ss.
ON this fifth — day of April — 1833, personally appeared in open Court, before Nedijah Baylies Judge — the Court of Probate — now sitting at Dighton — within and for said County of Plymouth  Bristol the Rev. John Lawrence — a resident of Freetown — in said County of Plymouth  Bristol , and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy — 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.
That in the latter part of July or about the first of August A.D. 1775, he went from said Freetown (where he then resided) to Roxbury in the vicinity of Boston (he then being but thirteen years of age) and took the place of his brother Joshua Lawrence, who was a private soldier in a company of Infantry commanded by Capt. Levi Brownville in Col. Preble's Regiment. That said Joshua some time previously had enlisted in said company for the period of Eight months. That he the said John, having heard that his brother the said Joshua was sick at said Roxbury and unable to do duty, went to said Roxbury as aforesaid and served in said company, as a Substitute for the said Joshua untill about the first of October of that year, as the said Joshua was during that time sick and at his home in said Freetown. That about the first of said October the said Joshua returned to said Roxbury and again joined said company, as he had regained his health, when and where he the said John was discharged by Capt. Brownville and permitted to return home. That he the said John did not receive a written, but a verbal discharge. That he served as a substitute for said Joshua, and as a private soldier in said company, two months at least, and he thinks and believes longer. That the term for which his brother Joshua enlisted, did not expire untill about the first of
(2. chs.)

2 o January A.D. 1776. - That said Joshua is not now living, but deceased about six years since. - That he was a resident of Mansfield in Vermont at the time of his death. - That Capt. Normansville's company was stationed, during the time that he the said John was a soldier in the same, at Red Bank where the company was generally engaged in guarding Boston Neck , as the British troops were then in the possession of Boston. - That he recollects the name of the Col. Colonel of the Regiment to which he belonged, was named Putnam. - That Henry Pierce of Middleborough was the first and Samuel Daker of said Freetown the second Lieutenants of said company. - He recollects that Col. Cotton commanded a Regiment of Infantry, which was stationed near to Col. Brewer's Regiment. - He does not recollect of any Continental troops being, at that time, at Red Bank, - There were many troops, however, as he remembers, stationed at that time in the vicinity of Boston. - His service he rendered as a soldier for the State of Massachusetts. - That he cannot state with any greater precision, than is above stated, the month or the day, when this service commenced or ended, but knows he served two months at least. - Evidence of this period of service will be found in the annexed affidavit, signed by Nathan Frown. - The magistrate who administered the oath to said Frown, not being acquainted with him or his character for veracity declined certifying respecting the same - In consequence thereof the said Lawrence applied to the Rev. Philip Hathaway who has certified as to said Frown's character, he being well acquainted with said Frown and his character - Said Philip is the same person & gentleman who has signed the certificate as to the reputation of the said Lawrence the applicant. -
And the said John Lawrence upon his oath aforesaid, further declares, that about the first of June A.D. 1776 (at said Freetown where he then resided) he enlisted for the period of six months as a private soldier in a company of Infantry commanded by Capt. Amasa Soper in Col. Thomas Marshall's Regiment. - That very soon, say in one or two days, after he thus enlisted, he was marched with that part of the company, that was enlisted in said Freetown, through Bridgewater (where they were joined by another part of the company) to Brain Tree in the County of Norfolk, and from thence they were transported by water to Nantasket roads, so called, in the Town of Hull in the County of Plymouth. - That he together with the company to which he belonged, and a part of Col. Marshall's Regiment, were then sta-

3 o -tioned about one month, where they were engaged upon guard duty and in erecting a fort. - That the Company was transported from Nantasket to the Islands in Boston Bay which was then called Castle William, where they were stationed until about (6 mo.) the first of December A D 1776 where he having served six months under Capt Soper and his term of enlistment having expired he was there discharged by Col. Marshall - That he did not receive a written, but a verbal discharge - That whilst he was at the Island he was engaged generally with the other Troops upon the Island in erecting a fort. - That he thinks (but is not certain) that there were a few other Troops at Nantasket besides that part of the Regiment to which he belonged - That the Regiment to which he belonged, was the only one, upon the Islands at the time he was there stationed - That the name of the Lt. Col. of the Regiment was Oliver Bradford and the sur name of the Major was Carver who belonged to Taunton in the County of Bristol. - Daniel Snow was the Lieutenant and Freeman Tabor the Ensign in Capt. Soper's company. - He recollects that Capt. Turner commanded a company and also Capt. Naudell commanded a Company, both of which companies belonged to Col. Marshall's Regiment - This service was rendered by him the said Laurence as a Soldier for the State of Massachusetts - That he cannot state with any greater precision than is above stated the day or the month when this service commenced or ended but knows that he served six months - Evidence of this service will be found in the annexed affidavit of Humphrey Tabor, who was a private soldier in Capt. Soper's company. -

41/15 And the said John Laurence upon his oath aforesaid further declares. That about the first of January A D 1777. at Freetown at that time being his place of residence, he commenced service as a private soldier in a company of Infantry commanded by Capt. Joseph Burt in Col. John Hathaway's Regiment, for the term of three months. That he the said Laurence went from said Freetown, to a place called the Gut in Fiverton Rhode Island, where he joined the company as the soldiers were ordered there to meet the officers of the company. That after the company met at the Gut, so called, he with the company was there stationed and he there served under Capt Burt, for and during the term of (3 mo.) three months , which expired about the first of April A D 1777, when he and the company were there verbally discharged by Capt Burt. That he the said Laurence did not receive a written discharge. That the company whilst there stationed was guarding the shores of the main land from the invasions of the enemy, as the British troops were then in the possession of the Town of Newport and the Island of Rhode Island. That one company which belonged to Col. Hathaway's Regiment, was stationed near the Gut, under the command of Manasseh Kempton. Robert Earl was Kempton's Lieutenant upon  of Col. Hathaway's Regiment as he thinks was stationed at at Godland Ferry, so called, which is about three miles below the Gut. That there was another company in Col. Hathaway's Regiment stationed near the Gut, under the command of Manasseh Kempton, - Robert Earl was Kempton's Lieutenant a part of Col. Hathaway's Regiment.

as he thinks and believes was stationed at Howland's Ferry. — Isaac Hathaway was the Adjutant of the Regiment — The names of the other field officers he does not recollect. — That he does not recollect of any Continental Troops being stationed at or in the vicinity of the Gut, during any part of this period. — That there was a Company of Artillery stationed a short distance from the Gut, which company he believes was commanded by Capt. Sawyer. — During this period of his service he was a Substitute for his brother Benjamin Lawrence who died about two years since, and always resided in said Freetown. — That said Benjamin was drafted shorter before he the said John commenced this term of service. — This service was rendered by the said John as a Soldier for the State of Massachusetts. — That he cannot positively declare the day of the month, or month when this service commenced or ended but thinks and believes that it commenced about the first of January and ended about the first of April A D 1777. — He is now however and is positive that he served at the Gut under Capt. Burt three months — Evidence of this service will be found in the annexed affidavit of subscribed by Thomas Butts who was a private Soldier in Capt. Burt's Company.
And the said John Lawrence upon his oath aforesaid further declares, that some time in the summer season A D 1777 (he cannot be positive of the month) he was called out upon an alarm from said Freetown where he then resided, with the Company

of Militia in which he was enrolled, under the command of his father Benjamin Lawrence in Col. John Hetherway's Regiment. That he was marched from his place of residence about sixteen miles to Fall River so called which was then a part of the Town of Freetown, but is now a part of the Town of Troy and which has since been taken from said Freetown and incorporated. That he and the company to which he belonged were stationed at said Fall River and that he there served under his father Benjamin Lawrence at least half of one calendar month , and he is very certain, longer. That after he had thus served he and the company were there on board discharged and dismissed by his father from further duty at time. That he served during this period as the orderly Sergeant of said Company . That this alarm was in consequence of an attempt of the British Troops to land at Fall River & burn the mills and village. That there were other companies at Fall River at that time, Col Joseph Durfee was at Fall River and the Lt Col of Col. Hetherway's Regiment - Oliver Reed (he thinks) commanded a Company which was stationed at Fall River at that time - Abraham Athley was the first Lieutenant and Peter Crapo the second Lieutenant of the company under his father Benjamin Lawrence. There were many Troops stationed upon the shore of the mainland below Fall River at that time. Troops were stationed for many miles as aforesaid to prevent the British Troops from landing from the Island of Rhode Island. That he does not recollect that any of the Troops were Continentals which were stationed upon the mainland at or below Fall River. The Troops were principally if not altogether Militia. That he cannot positively state in what

7 th month or months this service was rendered but is very confident it was in the Summer Season as before stated and in the Year 1777. This service was rendered by him for the state of Massachusetts. That he does not know of any person who is now alive by whom he can prove this service - That he has made diligent inquiries after the persons who were soldiers with him in the company under his father; but has not been able to find even one of them now alive -
And the said John Lawrence upon his oath aforesaid further declares, That about the first of August A D 1778 he then being a resident of said Free town he and others sufficient for a large company of Infantry volunteered to march upon the Island of Rhode Island under the command of Capt Oliver Reed and in a Regiment under the command as he thinks and believes of Col. Josiah Whitney. That in a day or two after he volunteered he and the other volunteers under Capt Reed, marched from said Free town to Howlands Ferry, so called, in Tiverton Rhode Island where after remaining a few days they were transported across the Ferry to the Island, and were then marched to Bath hill, so called, where they were supplied with ammunition and where after remaining about a week they & many other Troops were marched across the Island near to the Town of Newport, where they were engaged in throwing up redoubts and intrenchments in face of the forts redoubts, and intrenchments of the enemy - The company to which he belonged was stationed near to and in face of a strong fort of the enemy which was upon Donnie Hill, so called.

8 That they were stationed at Duncane Hill, about two or three weeks, and there engaged as aforesaid, although the American Troops suffered severely from the constant firing of the enemy, when they were ordered to retreat from their works across the Island to Howland's Ferry - That in obedience to that command a part of the Troops and the company to which he belonged retreated and crossed to the mainland at Howland's Ferry - That the next day after he and the company to which he belonged retreated, the remaining part of the American Troops that were upon the Island retreated and when they arrived at or near Butts and Quaker's Hills, so called a battle was fought between the American and British Troops - That he saw this battle but was not called into it and therefore took no part in the same - That this battle was fought as he thinks and according to his recollection on the 29 th or 30 th day of August aforesaid - That he and the company were discharged soon after the retreat, at or near said Ferry by Capt Reads That this discharge was verbal and not written - That he served at this time as a Private Soldier under Capt Reads and in this expedition which is commonly called Sullivan's expedition One month at least, and he thinks and believes longer. - That he thinks and believes, but is not positively certain that Joseph Durfee was the Lt. Col of the Regiment to which he the said Lawrence belonged - The name of the Major (1 mo.)

if there was one belonging to the Regiment he has forgotten - His father Benjamin Lawrence although a Captain served as a Lieutenant under Capt Read - Col Ebenezer White with his Regiment was stationed near the Regiment to which he the said Lawrence belonged - The name of his Brigadier General he has forgotten - He recollects that there were many Troops upon the Islands at that time, and that continental Troops were there but he does not recollect the names of their officers, except the names of Gen l John Sullivan and the Marquis La Fayette, both of whom were there at the time of this expedition - Gen Sullivan had the command of all the Troops upon the Island - He recollects that Gov r John Hancock was upon the Islands at that time and that all the Troops of the State of Massachusetts, who were then called the Troops of the Bay State were under his immediate command.
That he does not know of any person now living by whom he can prove this service - There is one person now living who if he had not lost his reason from great age would probably remember it - But that person's memory has become entirely lost, with his reason - And the said John Lawrence upon his oath aforesaid further declares (that besides the above and aforescribed periods of service which amount in the whole at least to twelve and an half months of service in the Revolutionary war) he was called out at several other and different times upon alarms, for which he has not ever received any compensation and shall not at this late period of his life claim any.

and the said Lawrence in order more fully to answer the Inter- -rogatories propounded by the Secretary of War, further declares that he was born in said Free town on the 30 th day of August A.D. 1762 - That his name and the time of his birth was recorded by his father in a family bible which belonged to his father - That after his father's death which took place about twenty five years since, that bible went into the possession of one of his the d r John's sister - That his sister who had the bible lives many miles from him - That the last time he saw said bible was about ten years since in his sister's possession & it was then nearly to pieces - That his place of residence at the several periods when he was called into the service was in said Free town where he now resides - That since the Revolution he has always resided in said Free town - How he was called into the service and also the names of his officers and of other officers, together with such regiments &c. as he recollects and the general circumstances of his service and the manner in which he was discharged are before stated in this declaration - He was a substitute during two of the Periods of his service; once for his brother Joshua and once for his brother Benjamin - The names of the persons who can testify to his veracity and in part to his services as a soldier are the same who have subscribed the annexed affidavits; and in addition to these he has no doubt that the Rev. Philip Hathaway and Ebenezer P. Hathaway can testify to his character for veracity, and their belief, that he rendered the aforementioned and described services - as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. John Lawrence Sworn & subscribed the day & year first above mentioned H. T. Baylies, Judge of Probate

No 25222
John Laurence Bristol County Massachusetts
Prate 12 Months Surst - 15 days
$42.50.
Wm. J. L. Hodges Present
Baptist Esg. Fawnton Mass.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 John Lawrence Bristol County Massachusetts
   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.     Disb'd Aug 17/75 about 2 — private Col. Rouseville Col. Brewer. 70 years Shepton Traditionary evidence & Clergymen   Enlisted June 1776 — 6 — " Col. Soper, Colonel Marshall. N. Jersey Certificate - certified credible. three   Served 1. Jan 1777 — 3 — " Col. Burt, Col. Hatheway Witnesses certified credible. papers properly attached   Called June 1777 — — 15 Orderly Sergt Col. Hatheway   Vol - Aug 1778 — 1 — private Col. Reed, Col. Whitney  
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), who has 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.
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.
Mode of authenticating papers.
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 [i] 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.

17530 INVALID.
File No. 17530
John Lawrence Pri Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 217
[Arrangement of 1870.]

We, Philip Hathaway — a clergyman, residing in the town of Freetown and Ebenezer P. Hathaway residing in the same Freetown — hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Lawrence — who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy — years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Philip Hathaway E. P. Hathaway
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
A. T. Dyer, Judge of Probate
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 Philip Hathaway who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Freetown — and that Ebenezer P. Hathaway who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same Freetown and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
A. T. Dyer, Judge of Probate
Commonwealth of Massachusetts — Bristol ss —
I, Anselm Bassett, Register of the Court of Probate for s d County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Lawrence — for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of s d office, this fifth — day of April — in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three —
Anselm Bassett

John Lawrence
Bristol Co. Mass.
May 13
Ms. A. 9. 2. 22
25222
A. Basset, Esq. Taunton Mass.

I Nathan Frownt of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts Bay after the year 1775. I do hereby certify and say that I enlisted in the year 1776 in the Revolutionary War in Capt Levi Fowle's Com- pany of Free Town and Merney Prince of Middleborough was the first Lieutenant and Lemuel Tabor of Free Town the Second; the enlistment was for eight months - I knew Joshua Lawrence of Free Town who was a soldier in the same Company with me which was in the Regiment commanded by Col. David Brown and the first putman Lieutenant Col. and in General Brigade Thomas I knew John Lawrence who came to camp I believe the first of August and as a substitute for his Brother Joshua. Served till his Brother came back to the Camp again who had been home to regain his Health was gone about two months or more at the best of my remembrance.
Hueytown October 12 th day 1892
betwen the  of Luanah & ✓ Marke
Bristol 15 October 12. 1832 Then personally appeared the Nathan Inman & made oath to the above statement before me Thomas Prout Jus of the Peace
Greencastle Octr. 12 th 1882 - I certify that I am well acquainted with Nathan Brown who subscribed the above declaration and that his character for truth is good & that his statement is entitled to full credence. — Philip Hetherway

I Humphrey Taber formerly of Dartmouth now Fairhaven in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts of the age of seventy six years Testify and say that I was in the War of the American Revolution in the year - 1776 six months at Nantasket and on the Cavel William near Boston in the State of Massachusetts in Capt Amos Dyer's Company, Lieutenant Daniel Snow and Ensign Freeman Taber and Thomas Marshall's Regiment I Commenced the first day of June and Left the first day of December
I knew John Leavance then of the town of Freetown and he was in said Company and served six months That was the Team of Intertment according to the best of my Recollection and belief Fairhaven September 8 1832 Humphrey Taber
Bristol Sept 8 1832 Then the above named Humphrey Taber personally appeared and solemnly swore to the above deposition by him subscribed together with his answers to the interrogations therein contained before me and I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the said Humphrey Taber that he is entitled to credit Jabez Taber Justice of the Peace

I Thomas Butts of Fry in the County of Bristol, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being in the Seventieth Year of my age, do testify and say, that I served as a private Soldier, in a company of Infantry in the War of the Revolution commanded by Capt. Joseph Bush in Col. John Hathaway's Regiment, for and during the term of Three months; that said company during said term was stationed at or near the Gun so called, which is about one mile below Howland's Ferry, so called, in and Diviston in the State of Rhode Island; that this period and term of service commenced (I think and believe) about the first of January A.D. 1777 and terminated (I think and believe) about the first of April of the same year — I know the term of service was three months, although I cannot be certain of the month or the day of the month when it commenced or terminated — That the company to which I belonged was engaged in performing guard duty to prevent the British Troops (they then being in the possession of the Town of Newport & the Islands of Rhode Island) from landing upon the mainland — I further testify and say that the Rev. John Lawrence served with me during the period of said Three months in said company as a private soldier, and was discharged by Capt. Bush at said Diviston — The company were discharged verbally — I had no written but a verbal discharge and presume that there was not any one in the company that had a written discharge, as we were all discharged together, verbally, by the Captain — Said Lawrence at that time was , and at that time is a resident of Dristown in said County of Bristol, and is the same person who then served with me, for whom I am now testifying and with whom I have always since been well acquainted — Thomas Butts
Bristol Sept. 24 th 1832 Then the above named Thomas Butts who subscribed the above declaration personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the same — Before me, Nathaniel P. Hathaway, Justice of the Peace
I certify that I am well acquainted with said Thomas Butts and that his character for truth is good and that he is entitled to credit — Dristown Sept. 24 th 1832 Nathaniel P. Hathaway, Just. of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Bristol ss. I Amos Barrett Register of the Court of Probate for said County of Bristol do hereby certify that Munroe Spooner, Job Fuber and Eliza Thane N. Hathaway are Justices of the Peace within the said County of Bristol and that the signatures to the foregoing certificates purporting to be theirs are, in my opinion & belief, genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this sixth day of April Eighteen hundred and thirty three — Amos Barrett
I further certify that Philip Hathaway who certified as to the credibility of Nathan Trowell, is the same Philip Hathaway who has certified as to his belief of the services of John Lawrence aforesaid, in the Revolution- ary War, and is a clergyman — Amos Barrett