Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 1316, for Benjamin Prince, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Prince, Benjamin Sarah
W1316
CONTENTS

Dup. Cert. ip o Oct. 6. 1835 and sent to Joseph Pake, Esq. Portland, Me.
8,963
Maine
Benjamin Prince of Falmouth in the State of Maine who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Whitney of the Mass line, for the term of one year
Inscribed on the Roll of the Dist of Maine at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 28 th of April, 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 th of Apr. 1819 and sent to A.K. Davis Esq. Paris, Maine
Arrears to 4th of Jan 1819, to date 81.53 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 th Sept. 1819 48.00
$129:83
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
continued on the roll under Law 1 st May 1820. Notification sent to John Masey Esq. 14 July 1820. Portland Me.

Benjamin Prince Private
Col Shinnys Regiment
Oct r 1775 - 1 year
Admitted
Benjamin Prince

To the Honorable Allion H s Paris Judge of the District Court for the District of Maine the petition of Benjamin Prince of Falmouth in said District as resident in the United States humbly shews that in the month of December in the year One thousand Seven hundred & seventy five he enlisted into the company of Capt Watkins of which Silas Burlark was the Lieutenant & Peter H Brown was the Ensign; said company belonged to the Regiment commanded by Col Edmund Phinney under whom was Lieut Col Samuel March & Maj Jacob Brown belonging to the Brigade commanded by Gen Israel Putnam - on the continental establishment After having served in said company one year he was honorably discharged in the month of December in the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy six - at Fort George. And your Petitioner further represents that he is not borne on any Pension list of the United States, and a general Pension therefor that he is now sixty three years of age - That by reason of his reduced circumstances, he stands in need of assistance from his country for support. Wherefore He which facts he is ready to verify and prove by his Oath and such other evidence as is required by an act of Congress passed the eighteenth day of March 1818 entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war, Wherefore he prays that his evidence may be received and his claim to a Pension be established as provided by said act, and that your Honor would transmit the same to the Honorable Secretary at War -
Benj a Prince

District of Maine April 20 th 1810 Then personally appeared Peter M. Brown and made solemn Oath that he was an Ensign in the Continental Establishment in the Revolutionary war, and that the within named Benjamin Prime enlisted under him in the year's service, and faithfully served in his Company for one year, and was honorably dis- -charged. And that he believes that the within state- ment made by said Prime is true — D. C. C. C. D. C. C. C.
District of Maine April 20 1810 Then personally appeared William R. York and made solemn oath that he was in the Continental estab- -lishment of the Revolutionary Revolutionary war and was well knowing that the within named Prime served as a year's man for one year in said war, and that he verily believes that the within statement is true W m : R g York
App. Section

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
MAINE DISTRICT, ss.
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty eighth day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, personally came Benjamin Prince the applicant named in the papers hereunto annexed, and after being duly cautioned and examined, made oath that the several statements by him made in the annexed application, signed in my presence, are wholly true.
And the said applicant further offered in evidence the affidavits of Peter W. Brown, and William R. Yorke, both soldiers in the revolutionary army, which depositions were signed and sworn to before me
And it appearing to me in the examination here had, that the several persons above named are credible witnesses, I do hereby admit the annexed declarations as evidence, and certify the same as being satisfactory proof to me that the said Benjamin Prince the applicant, served as a private soldier in the revolutionary war, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months and upwards in continuation on the continental establishment. And I do further certify, that from the declaration of the applicant made before me, under oath as aforesaid, it does appear that in consequence of his reduced circumstances in life, he is in need of assistance from his country for support; all which I do hereby certify and transmit to the Secretary of the Department of War, agreeably to the provisions of an Act of Congress, passed March 18, 1818, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war."
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused my official Seal to be affixed the day and year first mentioned.
Albin L. Parris
Judge of the United States in and for the District of Maine.

d/29. Benjamin Prince
Copy
to County of Cumberland att. J. Mussey jun. Clerk.
continued
8963
- 7 June 1829

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. DISTRICT OF MAINE, ss.
At a District Court of the United States begun and holden at Portland . . . within and for the District of Maine, on the first Tuesday, being the sixteenth . . . day of June and by adjournment from day to day, on the twelfth . . . day of June . . . in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty, before the Honorable ALBION K. PARRIS, Judge of said Court.
ON this twelfth . . . day of June . . . in the year above written, personally appeared in open Court, the same having "the power of fine and imprisonment," and being a Court of Record for said Maine District, Benjamin Prince . . . aged sixty three . . . years, resident in Falmouth in said District, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows, viz. as a private . . . in the company commanded by Capt. Watkins . . . in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Phinney . . . in the line of the State of Massachusetts on the Continental Establishment, as is more particularly mentioned and described in his original declaration, made on the 28 th . . . day of April . . . A. D. 1818, and on which said declaration his Certificate of Pension, numbered 8963 . . . was granted. And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818; and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818: and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed; that my occupation and ability to pursue the same, together with the number and other particulars of my family, are in fact and in truth as is particularly described on the back hereof, also subscribed by me.
Benjamin Prince
Sworn to and declared, on the twelfth day of June A. D. 1820.
BEFORE
Albion K. Parris
U. S. District Judge for the District of Maine.

SCHEDULE of the real and personal estate, (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) belonging to me the subscriber, viz:
Real estate — none —
Personal estate — one cow — one pig — one old horse a few articles of kitchen furniture only — I have no income and am in debt two thousand dollars
Benjamin Prince
Sworn to Before
Albion H. Barris U.S. Dist. Judge
SCHEDULE of the family residing with me Benjamin Prince . . . . who, by occupation am a Mariner . . . which I am not able to pursue by reason of age and infirmity
   NAMES. AGES. Capacity of each to contribute to their support.     Wife — Sarah . . . 58 . . a very feeble woman   Eunice . . . 28 . . able to take care of her mother & do housework  
Benjamin Prince
Sworn to
Before
Albion H. Barris U.S. Dist. Judge
1820 25 92

MAINE DISTRICT, ss.
I, JOHN MUSSEY, Junr. Clerk of the District Court of the United States for Maine District, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedules thereto annexed, are truly copied from the Record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is forty - - - - - dollars and thirty - - - - - cents. and no more
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this twelfth - - - day of June - - - A. D. one thousand eight hundred and twenty.
{ Clerk of the U. States District Court for Maine District.
$40.30

Reported
No 204 429 McAune
Sarah Prince widow of Benj n Prince who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private
Also Sine
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 40 Dollars 00
Cents per annum, to commence on the 28 th day of March , 1848. 21 st May.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 th day of June 1849 and sent to Joseph Morris Portland Me
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2 , 1848, Page 13 Vol. 1 29 th July, book C.

James Merrill Portland Maine
No 283
Sarah Prince mo of Benjamin Mr
act 29 May 1848
Manned 1796
insured and 21 May 48
Adm $40 a per An
Mr 21 st May 1848
Joseph Merrill Portland Mr

State of Maine Cumberland County } ss.
On this nineteenth day of December 1848 personally appeared before the Hon. Judge of the District Court of the United States for the Maine District, Sarah Prince, a resident of Falmouth in the County of Cumberland, aged eighty five years, who, first being duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by act of Congress passed July 29 th 1848, entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving widows of officers and soldiers of the revolutionary army"; That she is the widow of Benjamin Prince, a soldier of the Revolution and a pensioner of the United States, under the acts of March 1818 and May 1820; who enlisted for the year service, as a private, in Capt. Walkins company Col. Phinney's regiment, in the Massachusetts line of the Continental Service, in the war of the revolution.
She further declared that she was married to the said Benjamin Prince on the fifteenth day of December, in the year seventeen hundred and ninety six; that her husband, the aforesaid Benjamin Prince, died on the twenty first day of May, eighteen hundred and forty eight, and that she has remained a widow ever since.
Witness Catherine Ware
Sarah her  signature Prince mark.
I hereby certify to before me the undersigned this 19 th day December 1848 at the dwelling house of the said Sarah & I certify that the said Sarah is by reason her great age & bodily

infirmities, was unable to appear & make her declarations in court, which was the reason of its then being made at her dwelling house.
Asheville
District judge of the United
States for the District of Western

United States of America Maine District ss
District Clerk's Office
I hereby certify that the Honorable Ashur Ware before whom the foregoing proceed- ings were had is Judge of the United States in and for Maine District and that the several sig- natures therein purporting to be his are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said District Court this twentieth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight.
John Nufsey Clerk U. S. Dist. Court Maine

State of Maine Cumberland County } ss
I, John Noyes, of Falmouth, County of Cumberland, State of Maine, on oath, depose and say, that I am Town Clerk of Falmouth, and have in my possession all the books of Record belonging to said town. In one of said books purporting to contain a record of the intentions of marriage and the solemnization of marriages, I find the following viz- "Benjamin Prince of North Falmouth entered his name and purpose of marriage with Sarah Merrill of Falm o ., December fourth, seventeen hundred and ninety six".
The above is a true extract from said record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed in said record in fair legible figures - thus, December 4. 1796.
The marriage of the above named persons is thus recorded "December fifteenth, seventeen hundred and ninety six. Benjamin Prince of North Falmouth and Sarah Merrill of Falmouth".
The above is also a true extract from said record with the exception of the dates, which is expressed in said record in fair legible figures - thus - December 15. 1796
John Noyes Town Clerk of Falmouth Cumberland ss.
December 13. 1848. Then personally appeared the above named John Noyes, Town Clerk of Falmouth, and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit, by him subscribed
Before me,
James Merrill Jus. Peace

State of Maine Cumberland County } ss
I, Seward Merrill, of Portland, County of Cumberland and State of Maine, aged fifty eight years, on oath, depose and say; That I knew Benjamin Prince, late a revolutionary pensioner of the United States, and am acquainted with Sarah Prince, widow of the said Benjamin; that the said Benjamin and the said Sarah lived together as husband and wife for forty years, to my knowledge, previous to the death of him, the said Benjamin, on the twenty first day of May, eighteen hundred and forty eight; and that since then she has remained unmarried, and is still his widow.
Seward Merrill
Cumberland ss. Portland, December 19 th 1848
Then personally appeared the above named Seward Merrill, and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed.
Before me
James Merrill Jus. Peace
State of Maine
Cumberland ss. Portland, December, 19 th 1848
I, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Cumberland, hereby certify that Seward Merrill, the affiant above named, is entitled to the utmost credibility and belief.
James Merrill Jus. Peace

United States of America Maine District ss
District Clerk's Office
I hereby certify that James Merrill Toquin is a Magistrate duly authorized and commissioned as such for the County of Cum- berland in said District: — that the signatures to the annexed depositions, purporting to be his are genuine and that full faith and credit are due to his Official attestations.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and af- fixed the Seal of said District Court this twentieth day of De- cember in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight
John Mufsey Clerk U.S. Dist. Court Maine

Benjamin Prince, Mr Act 18 March 1818, #96 th pnam
To what time was he last paid?
Pension Office 5 G.L.A. June 4 49 5 Died 21 May 1848 p. in full W. Tyson

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 1316
Sarah Prince,
Widow.
Benjamin Prince,
Paris. Rev. War.
Act: July 29. 1848.
Index:—Vol. 8 , Page 139
[Arrangement of 1870.]

APPLICATION FOR A NEW CERTIFICATE.
State of Maine —
County of Cumberland — ss.
On this twenty ninth day of September 1835, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Cumberland personally appeared Benjamin Prince — who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Watkins in the regiment commanded by Colonel Edmund Phinney in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Maine — that he received a certificate, of that fact under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War; which certificate, on or about the thirty first day of August 1835 at or near Falmouth where he resided and has resided for many years he lost by fire — The same certificate being in his dwelling house which was burned & consumed with most of the contents on said thirty first day of August last. —
Sworn and subscribed to before } me, the day and year aforesaid. } first written
Benj t Prince
Joseph Pope, Justice of the Peace
NOTES.—The last four blanks are left for the applicant to set forth the time, place, and manner of the loss or destruction of the original certificate.
The oath to be taken before a duly qualified Magistrate, whose official character and signature must be properly authenticated.
□ If the Pensioner has never received a formal certificate, but has drawn his pension on a mere notification, as was the case in a few instances many years ago, he should leave out the above words in italics , and insert, in lieu thereof, " but has never received a formal certificate, and now wishes to obtain one. "
The Pensioner's oath must be supported by the evidence of another person as to identity. The person must swear that he well knows him to be the same person described in the above affidavit. The Magistrate must certify that the deponent is a person of veracity. This oath must also be authenticated by the certificate of the proper officer, under his seal of office, setting forth that the officer before whom the affidavit may be made is a Justice of the Peace, Judge, or Notary Public, as the case may be.
When a person acting as an agent or Attorney for a pensioner, loses the certificate, the affidavit of that person is also required, which must be authenticated as above.
□ 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.
□ No attention will be given to applications from persons who act as agents, unless they are known at the War Department, or are vouched for as respectable persons by some one who is known to the Department.

I, George Turner of Westbrook, do testify and say that I am well acquainted with Benjamin Prince who has signed and sworn to the within declaration, that he is the identical Benjamin Prince who has received a pension and who has lost his certificate by having it burnt in the house where he resided in Falmouth as I verily believe - the house was formerly owned by me, and was burnt on the thirty first day of August 1835 as he has stated \rightarrow
George Turner
State of Maine Cumberland ss: Sept 29 th 1835 Personally appeared George Turner above named whom I certify to be a credible respectable witness to me well known, & made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed
Before me
Joseph Pope, Jus. of the Peace

State of Maine. Cumberland County-ss.
I Nelson Vaughan, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts for the County of Cumberland do hereby, that Joseph Pope is a justice of the Peace, in and for said County, duly Commissioned and qualified; and that his signature aforesaid is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said County, this first day of Octo- ber in the year of our Lord 1835.
Nelson Vaughan

Portland Oct. 1. 1875.
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions,
Sir,
Mr Benjamin Prince has requested me to forward his application for a new Certificate; will you be pleased to issue one in his behalf & forward it to me,
Yours very respectfully
Joseph Pope