Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 20501, for Hezekiah Packard, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental Mass.
Packard, Hezekiah
S. 20501
CONTENTS
Carded

10.797 Massachusetts
William Paton who was in the State of Massachusetts who was a sergeant in the company commanded by Captain Heath of the Regt commanded by Col. Sargent in the Revolutionary War was for 20 months  service Continental
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 84 Dollars - 24 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of March 1833 and sent John S. G. to  the  State  of  Massachusetts
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $ 168.68 Semest. allowance ending Sept 1  12.17 $210.85
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1822 }
Recorded by H. H. Addon Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 2a Page 63
Date - Sub - Mar 13 - 37 En. Tra - do. do. Transferred to Maine from 4 Sept 1826 - Apr 3 - 37 -

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex ss. On this 18 th day of Aug Anno Domini 1832
On this 18 th  17 th day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court, before the Honourable Judge of the Court of Probate, in and for the County of Middlesex aforesaid, now sitting, Hezekiah  Hezekiah Packard a resident of Chelsea  Chelsea in the County of Middlesex 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, A. D. 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: viz —
In the summer of 1775, I enlisted for five months as a musician, & was mustered at Bridgewater my native Town in the company of Capt. Keith, & in the Regiment of Paul Dudley Serjeant. I march'd from said Bridgewater to Cambridge in Mass. ts & there serv'd out the full term of my enlistment, but receiv'd no discharge. At or before the commencement of 1776, I enlisted for a year in the same capacity & was mustered under the same Capt. Keith & in the same Regiment under Col. Serjeant. Soon after the British left Boston, the Regiment was station'd there, & then for a time at Bunker Hill, & afterward at Castle William, now Fort Independence. In about June, the same year, the Regiment was order'd to N.Y. & on reaching that place the Regiment was station'd at New Gate, where I remain'd in service with the Regiment until the City was evacuated, & then march'd with the Amer. Army to Harlem. I serv'd out the full term of my enlistment, but being sick & in the Hospital several weeks before the close of the year, I return'd to my native Town Jan'y 1777 without a regular discharge. In the summer of 1778, I again enlisted & volunteered for as a musician six months in the service of my country, & I march'd to Providence in the State of R. Island, & was in a Company commanded by a Lieut. Watkins, as the Company, as far as my recollection serves me, was not full, & was not organized into a Regiment. Thence I march'd by order to the shore opposite to Newport, & I went with the division of the army, order'd to the same place, in flat boats in the night & by moonshine to Newport, by direction as was understood of General Sullivan, who, it was understood, expected the aid of Count de Grasse in capturing that part of the Town occupied by the enemy. I serv'd the time for which I enlisted, but had no written discharge — I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension except the present & I declare that my name is not upon the pension roll of the agency of any State. Hezekiah Packard

Archibald Parkard (Declaration) No 6643.

I was born in Bridgewater Dec 6. 1762, a record of which is preserved in a family Bible. I was at Bridgewater when I first enlisted, & have lived 28 years at Wiscasset in the State of Maine as a Gospel Minister & am now one of the ministers in Shelburne, Mass - I recollect Lieut. Col. Micah Jackson in Col. Sargeant's Regiment, Capt. Mope, Capt. Wyly, Adjutant Doolittle -
and he further states that Mr. Alpheus Richard and the clergyman in Shelburne, is now absent & he is unable at this time to obtain his attendance or certificate - All the inhabitants, of Shelburne will know the applicant & particularly William Adams whose certificate is annexed. The Rev. Dr. Ripley of Concord a few miles distant has also been acquainted with applicant for the last forty years. Asa Packard was in company with applicant this testimony is annexed
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 any state,
Hez. Packard
We, Ezra Ripley D.D. Concord in a clergyman, residing in the County of Middlesex and William Adams Esq. residing in said Shelburne hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Rev. Hez. Packard D.D. who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; — that we believe him to be 70 years of age: that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Ezra Ripley William Adams
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Hez. Packard
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 certify, that it appears to them that Ezra Ripley D.D. who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in Concord and that William Adams who has also signed the same, is a resident in Shelburne and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. P. S. May Clerk
I Register of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Middlesex, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Hez. Packard for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Francis D. Dike

APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER.
County of York
ss. State of Maine
On this twentieth day of March 183 7 , before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of
York & State of Maine personally appeared Hezekiah Parkard who, on his oath, declares that he is the same
person who formerly belonged to the Company commanded by Captain James Keith in the Regiment commanded by Colonel
Dudley Sargent in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Massachusetts
from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the State (District, or Territory,) of Maine where he intends to
remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable, in future. The follow- are his reasons for removing from Chelmsford, Massachusetts,
to Saco in the State of Maine , viz. that he might be with his children.
Hezekiah Parkard
Sworn and subscribed to before me, } the day and year aforesaid. }
Samuel Ward, Justice of the Peace
□ The oath to be taken before a duly qualified Magistrate, whose official character and signature must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. The County Clerk, Secretary of State, or some other officer, must certify, under his seal of office, that the officer who administered the oath is a Justice of the Peace, Judge, Mayor, Alderman, or Notary Public, as the case may be, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
□ The oath must be supported by the testimony of some respectable person, as to the pensioner's identity. He must swear that the person who has taken the above oath, is the person described in the affidavit. The Magistrate must certify that the witness is a person of veracity; and the affidavit must also be authenticated in the manner above directed.
□ 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 be sent with the papers.
□ Mode of authenticating papers. —In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officers who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or small 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.

I, George Packard, of Saco in the County of York & State of Maine, Physician, testify and say, That Berzekeiah Packard who has subscri- bed and made oath to the within affidavit, is my father, and the identical person described therein.
George Packard
State of Maine York ss. Subscribed & sworn to this twenty fifth day of March A.D. 1837. Before me Lauriston Ward Justice of the Peace of the County of the Tasrum
I certify that the above named George Packard is a man of unquestioned veracity. Lauriston Ward Justice Peace
I John T. Scammon, County of the Customs for the port of Saco, State of Maine, do hereby certify that Lauriston Ward, who certifies as above, is duly qualified & qualified as a Justice of the Peace County of York, State aforesaid & that the affidavit above purporting to be his are genuine. in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this twenty fifth day March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty seven J. T. Scammon

664.3
Elizabeth Packard
7 years & 11 months Museum
71 C 2
L 315
14 06
Mar 28 1833
Hon J G Linsdall
Leominster
Mass Geo Varnum
Lowell Mass
11 E 11 S 11 E 8 S

6643  BRIEF in the case of  Hezekiah Packard of Middlesex Co in the State of Mass (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 70  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. As a Gen.     Summer In 1775- 5 musician Capt. Nash Col. Sargent   at or before the 3rd to Jan. 1776 1 do same same   beginning of '76 to Jan. 77-   in summer of '78 6 do Lieut. Watkins company not full and not attached to any Regt.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bridgewater  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  2 living Witnesses - credibility of one certified to  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Right  W. C. Easton Examining Clerk.  24 Jan 33

Resolution 20501 INVALID.
File No. 20501
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Act: ...
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[Arrangement of 1870.]

I Leavitt Thayer of West Bridge water, County of Plymouth, and State of Massachusetts, of lawful age, do testify and say, that I am seventy one years of age, that in my youth, I was very well acquainted with Hoseaiah Packard, who was born in North Bridgewater in Plymouth County aforesaid - and who is now a Clergyman in the Town of Chelmsford, in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts - In the year 1778 I entered in to the service of the United States in the war of the Revolution as a private in a Company commanded by Capt. David Packard, and in Col. Wades regiment, for six months - I first went to Providence, in the State of Rhode Island and commenced duty - And while on duty was stationed at various places in that State, and having served the period of six months, with the exception of a few weeks sickness. I was discharged and returned home. The said Hoseaiah Packard, enlisted into this service with me for the period of six months, and did service according to the terms of his enlistment.
Leavitt Thayer

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth County ss On the thirteenth day of August A. D. 1832. The aforesaid Deponent was examined, cautioned and sworn agreeably to Law to the Deposition aforesaid by him subscribed. Taken at the request of Nathaniel Packard, and to be used in support of his application for a Pension under the Law of the United States of June 7 th 1832. And I certify, that I am personally acquainted with said Deponent, and he is considered and respected to be a person of truth and veracity.
Eliah Whitman Jus. of peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for the County of Plymouth hereby certify that Eliah Whitman Esq. is a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Plymouth and that I believe the above signature to be his own proper handwriting.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this thirteenth day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
Jacob H. Lord Reg t of Court of Probate

I Asa Packard, of Lancaster in the County of Worcester, and born on the 10th of March 1745, Clerk, do testify and say, that I am well acquainted with Doct. Hezekiah Packard the applicant for a pension mentioned in the application to which this affidavit is annexed, and know that he was a fife in the service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War - and that while he was stationed at Roxbury in 1775  in the Commonwealth he was stationed at Cambridge, in the Commonwealth aforesaid - I frequently saw him during said year, know that he was in the army, and intention no doubt that he served the term of time he first states in his declaration - I further more testify and say, that I know that in 1776, he was in that part of the Revolutionary Army stationed in New-York, and well remember that he visited me several times several times while I was confined by reason of wound from a musket ball received in the service of the United States. The hospital where I was then confined was at East or West Chester, State of New-York - I well remember that said H. Packard did not leave the Army till sometime in January 1777. - I always understood that he enlisted a second time for one year, as one of the year's men, and have now no doubt that such was the fact, and that he served accordingly - It being inconvenient for me to attend Court is the reason why I make oath to this affidavit before a Justice of the Peace. -
Asa Packard
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester ss. August 1 st 1832. Personally appeared Asa Packard above named and made oath that the facts set forth in the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed, are true. Before me
W. B. Smith, Justice of the Peace.
Worcester ss. Ap. 5 1833 - I certify that I am well acquainted with the deponent above named the Rev. Asa Packard & know that he is reputed to be a man of truth & so I believe him to be
Joseph S. Kendall
M. 2nd Congress for Worcester Ninth District - Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester ss. I Abijah Bigelow, Clerk of the Judicial Court, holden within and for the County of Worcester, do hereby certify, that M c Name Smith, Esquire, before whom the within Affidavit was made and sworn to, is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County of Worcester, and that his signature thereto appears to me to be in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the County Seal, this Second day of August, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and thirty two.
Abijah Bigelow, Clk.

J. N. Edward Esq.
Dear Sir
A single defect in the certificate of the Magistrate as to the Character of a wit- ness I know, I hope, supplied by my own certificate - being well acquainted with Rev. A. Parkard the witness in question -
Yours truly
Joseph Headall
St. Westminster Mews
Apr. 5 th 1833 -

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
March 28 1833
SIR :
I return herewith the papers in support of the claims of the persons whose names are hereto annexed.
These papers are in several respects defective. Each case is accompanied by a brief. The objections are contained in the negative answers, in red ink, given to the questions.
Particular attention should be paid to the accompanying regulations and to the explanatory notes subjoined to the brief.
The extraordinary press of business in this office, arising from the great number of claims under the act of June 7, 1832, has hitherto prevented us from attending to the applications sent by you. The investigation of the cases presented under this law has been difficult and laborious, and notwithstanding the greatest exertions have been made by this Department, an earlier attention to your business has been found impracticable.
The brief has been prepared to meet all cases, and thus to save the excessive labor which would otherwise be imposed upon the office, and which would consume so much time as to render the delay two fold greater than it now is in the investigation of claims and writing letters. Each case is considered correct in all respects except in relation to those questions to which a negative answer is affixed. No other alteration or addition will be required.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pension
Am J. G. Knidale 2 Leicester 3 Mass 3
Hezekiah Packard

Mar 22
J. L. Edwards Esq. Comm r Pensions Washington D.C.

Commonwealth Bank, Pension Office Boston 15. Mar. 1837
Genl
Your letter of the 15 th inst. is received. - Hezekiah Packard, musician during the Revl. War and now a Pensioner on the roll of this Agency under the act of 7 th June 1832 at $54.34 per ann. has been paid up to 4 th Sept. 1836.
I am very respectfully, Yours ob t Serv t !
John R. Simpson President
J. C. Edwards Esq. Comm r of Pensions Washington D. C.

General Jackson
Ms Apts to main
Jun 1st NW Building Apr 3
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Pension Office Washington City
7 - 6

Recd March 28 1837
Sir,
at the request of Mr. Nathaniel Parker a pensioner, I have written to you his application for a transfer of his name to the agency for paying pensions in this state.
In your answer to his letter - the last time since then, you did not inform him whether or not he should remain on his present certificate of pension. But in as much as he is now, I might expect to remain a citizen of the state, & as a certificate requires payment to be made at Boston only, he has thought it probable
that a remainder of the old certificate might be required, and a new one issued payable at Portland in this state, or that an endorsement to the effect, should be made on the old one.
For this purpose it is enclosed. It not wanted please to return it and for a substitute, if used. Please also to inform him that out of the transfer of name to the agency in Maine, it would be -
Respectfully &c John H. Dummer
To James L. Richards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions City of Washington

6643 H. J. Packard
Hon. J. G. Kendall Leominster Mass John Warner Powell 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 Hezekiah Packard which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes 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? no
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.
REQUIRE 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.
REQUIRE 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.

Horace Rail Packard
Mar. 10.
Mr. Burnham
L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Pension Office War Department Washington D.C.

J. L. Edwards Esq., Commissioner of Pensions Pension Office, War Department Washington City, D. C.
Sir,
I have a certificate from the War Department dated April 25. 1833 allowing $84.34 a year. This sum has been paid at Boston semi-annually till Sept. last. Since that time I have taken up my residence at Saco in the State of Maine, where I expect to abide during the brief remnant of my days. It would be more convenient to receive the amount due me at the Deposite Bank in Saco or Portland, & the reason for taking this liberty of addressing you is, that I may have my claim for a pension transferred from Boston to Saco or Portland. If you will have the goodness to direct me in effecting the transfer & in affording any needed assistance, you will greatly oblige, Sir, your humble servant
Hezekiah Purnard
Saco Mar. 4 1837 -