Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31422, for Aaron Thrasher, Rhode Island

SERVICE
NUMBER
R. I.
Thrasher, Aaron
S. 31422
CONTENTS

73 Bristol
5758.
Massachusetts Aaron Thrasher
of Bristol in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Peck of the Reg t commanded by Col Sippett in the Mass R y line for 16 M th
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 53 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 th day of Feby 1833 and S r (H rs ) J Hodge (H of Rep)
Arrears to 4th of Sept r 1832 $79.99 Sem ant. allowance ending 21 Mar 33 26.66
$106.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H B l ain Clerk, Book D. Vol. 2 nd Page 86

Aaron Shusher
5888
Allia 16 months Private
Oct. 14 th
Nov 21 st 32
$53.33 P. 197.
A Russell Taunton Mass

BRIEF in the case of Aaron Thresher of Bristol 69- in the State of Mass - (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 72 Years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1776. Mass. - 7 - privt Gen. Capt. Peck. Col. B. Lippett -   77 July. - 1 - " " Carpenter " Jacobs -   78 - - 8 - " " Fuller " Jacobs -  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bristol 69  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional Evidence. Living 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.
Examining Clerk.

Aaron Thresher
I.D.R. 5888.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ) BRISTOL, ss. )
At a COURT of PROBATE holden at Dighton — in and for said County on the thirty first day of August — one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, before the HONORABLE HODIJAH BAYLIES, Judge of the Probate, &c. for said County, personally appeared Aaron Thresher a resident of Rehoboth in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy two years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832, make the following declaration, That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as hereinafter stated; to wit; under Captain Simon Peck, Sts Lawless & Joseph Reed in a regiment of the Rhode Island State Troops under Col. Christopher Lippett, Sts Col. & Major forgotten; again Capt. Nathaniel Carpenter St. Heat whom first name and the names of the other officers I do not remember; again Capt. Jacob Fuller, Sts Molton, under Col. Jacobs whom first name, and the names of the other officers I do not remember, and the particulars of his said services he will state in reply to the fifth subjoined interrogatory;
and further declares as follows, in reply to the interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of War; to wit:
1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Ans. That he was born in Rehoboth in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty .
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it? The record of my birth is on the Book kept by said Rehoboth according to Law for recording births, in said Town, a certified copy of which record is hereto annexed under the hand of the present Town Clerk of said Town.
3 Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Always in Rehoboth;
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom?
The first I last times I enlisted, the other time I was drafted.

4. How were you called into service ; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom ? The first & last times I enlisted, the other time I was drafted.
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served ; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. Under Capt Peck I entered on the first day of March in as I think the year seventeen hundred and seventy six we marched first to Bristol in the State of Rhode Island, staid there about six weeks guarding the coasts against any descent of the enemy from a ship that lay under the Island of Prudence, when that ship went away we went on to R. Island and staid some time at the north end of the Island throwing up intrenchments; afterwards we marched to Newport and there stood guard until the latter part of September in that year, when our regiment was ordered to New York, when I with several others were paraded and dismissed, as I suppose on account of my youth; so that though I enlisted for a year, I served only some months; - Under Capt Carpenter I was drafted into a company of militia for one month's service, the company was not attached to any regiment, we marched to North Kingstown in the State of Rhode Island, in the month of July in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven, and then guarded the coasts for said term against any descent of the enemy from a ship which lay under Conanicut Island; - Under Capt Fuller I enlisted in the militia, in the Spring of the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight, we marched to Fall River in the Town of Freetown now Troy in this State and there staid some months, guarding the coasts building flat bottomed boats, sometime in the fore part of August we marched to Howland's Ferry and joined in Sullivan's Expedition to Rhode Island, we marched first to Bull's Hill & threw up some intrenchments, then down to the lines near Newport and staid there sometime, then we retreated to Bull's Hill, and the next day was engaged; the night following we recrossed Howland's Ferry; I recollect on this expedition the Black regiment, and I frequently saw Gen: Lafayette; after the retreat our company marched to Little Compton and there guarded the coast until our term of service, to wit, eight months was nearly out, when we marched to Kingston & were then dismissed. For my first & last services I refer to the affidavits annexed; for the second I know none living who was with me & must as to that rely on my own word & character.
7m o
1m o
8m o

I was also on several alarms, to wit, one day, when the British landed and burnt some houses at Warren and some others which I cannot mention particularly; I was also engaged nine days on Spencer's secret expedition, marched to Fall River and thence to Fivelon and were there stationed in the Quaker meeting house; but I know of none living who were with me on these occasions.
Saron Shreeker son of Arthur Shreeker and his wife Sarah, born August 20th, 1760
As of Record in the Town Clerks office.
Rehoboth July 30th 1832
Attest James Blanding Town Clerk

6. Were you a Soldier or an Officer? if 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? if an Officer, did you ever receive a commission, and if so by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? I was a soldier I never had a written discharge.
7. State the names of the 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.
Reverend Childs Luther & Joseph Nichols Esq. both of Rehoboth aforesaid;
And the said Aaron Thresher doth further declare that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State, or (if any) only on that of the agency of the State of
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Aaron X Thresher Mark
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
WE Childs Luther a Clergyman residing in Rehoboth and Joseph Nichols Esq. residing in the same Rehoboth hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Aaron Thresher 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 to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Childs Luther Joseph Nichols
H. Baylies, 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 Childs Luther — who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman — resident in the Town of Rehoboth — in said County of Bristol, and that Joseph Nichols who has also signed the same is a resident in said Town, and is a credible person, and that their — statement is entitled to credit.
H. Baylies
Judge of Probate.
Register of Probate.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } BRISTOL, ss.
I Anselm Bassett — Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Aaron Thresher of Rehoboth — in said County, for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court the day and year first above written.
Anselm Bassett

31422 Rev INVALID.
File No. 31,422
Aaron Thrasher
In Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 431
[Arrangement of 1870.]

5.888 Aaron. Shushur
7.
At Bassett Shurton 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 Aaron Thresher Bristol 64 years 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? no IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? yes
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? yes
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? 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 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.

I, Wheaton Luther of Swanney in the County of Bristol and commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy four years on oath do testify and say, that Aaron Thresher of Rehoboth in said county of Bristol was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, that I was well acquainted the said Aaron Thresher before he entered the service. I understood that he joined Capt Loring Dicks, in Col. Lippitts Regiment of the Rhode Island State troops on the first of March 1776 that I saw him in said company at Bristol (R.I.) on the first of April of that year, and to my know- ledge he served in said company until the latter part of September of the same year, at said Bristol and on the Island of Rhode Island at Newport and Portsmouth - and he was dismissed from said company in the month of September aforesaid when Col. Lippitts Regiment marched for New York
Wheaton Luther
Swanney August 31. 1832
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Bristol ss. August 31. 1832. Then the above named Wheaton Luther personally appeared and made oath that the above declaration by him subscribed was just and true
Before me Wheaton Luther Justice of the peace
Bristol ss. January 17 th 1833. I further certify that the above named Wheaton Luther the deponent, is a credible witness - Wheaton Luther Justice of the peace

J. Wheaton Luther of Swansey in the county of Brida in the

I Asa Bliss of Rehoboth in the county of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Gentleman Aged Seventy one Years testify. & say that I enlisted in the militia in the spring of the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy eight Under Captain Jacob Fuller and we marched to Fall River in the town of Free town now Troy in this State and there staid some months guarding the coast some time in the fore part of August we marched to Howland's ferry and joined in Sullivan's expedition on Rhode Island we marched first to Butt's Hill from there down to the lines near Newport and staid there some time. Then we retreated to Butt's Hill & the next day was the battle - I was on Butt's hill and ready to be called into action but was not actually engaged the night following we recrossed Howland's ferry and I well recollect that Mr. Aaron Thresher of Rehoboth was with me in the several marches and services above- mentioned in Capt. Fuller's company - I recollect a regiment on the Island called the Black Regiment after the retreat our company marched to Little Compton and there guarded the coast until our term of service to wit eight months was nearly out when we marched to Tiverton and were there dismissed by a verbal Dismissal. Col. Jacobs I think was our Colonel and a man by the name of Moulton I think was our second Lieutenant our first Lieutenant do not recollect his name - I was born in Rehoboth and have always lived in Rehoboth and have always known Mr. Aaron Thresher ever since we were together as above mentioned - Dated at Rehoboth August the 30 th AD 1832 Asa Bliss
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss - Rehoboth August the 30 th AD 1832 -
Then personally appeared Asa Bliss and made solemn oath to the truth of the above Deposition by him signed - Before me. Samuel Bullock Justice of the peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss.
I James Spratt, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that Wheeler Dutton and Samuel Bullock Esqrs, whose signatures are affixed to the within & annexed Certificates, are Justices of the Peace in & for said County of Bristol, and duly qualified to administer oaths.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred & thirty-two J. Spratt

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss. January 19. 1833. This certifies that I have made diligent enquiry as to the credibility of Asa Bliss whose affidavit is herewith annexed and am satisfied he is a credible person & his testimony entitled to belief — A. Bassett Justice of the Peace & Register of the Court of Probate in for said County of Bristol —
I further certify that Samuel Bullen Esq. before whom said affidavit was sworn to, resides more than thirteen miles from Taunton & it would be inconvenient to send these documents to him for his signature as to the credibility of said deponent — A. Bassett
If the above is not a compliance of the requirements of the War Department, I will forward the papers to him, if they should be returned, for that purpose — A. Bassett