Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5123, for Zenas Norcut, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Norcutt, Zenas or Norcutt
S 5123.
Carded.
CONTENTS

Copies of papers sent to Hon. W. Baylies, H.R. Feb. 28. 1835.
15486 MASSACHUSETTS
Zenas Forcutt * of Middlesex in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Batchelder of the Regt commanded by W. Crafts in the War of the Rebellion here for Zenas Forcutt
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 100 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of June 1833 and sent to Plymouth Mass
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $ 200.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept  50.00 $250.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. H. Nelson Clerk, Book 5 Vol. 50 Page 54
* Zenas Forcutt. Records corrected, Apr. 20, 1804.

No 37
Garrison wealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth ss. On this eighth day of August eighteen hundred and
thirty two, personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth aforesaid now sitting present Wilkes Wood Esquire Judge.
Leenas Novell a Resident of Middleborough in the County aforesaid aged sixty nine 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 th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated. viz. That in the summer of the year 1777, the day or month
he now has no means of ascertaining, he enlisted as a private soldier into an Artillery Company commanded by Captain Batchelder, Ensign, Lieutenant, Eleazar White of this Town Sergeant. His Brother Ephraim, & two other Brothers who are now dead, enlisted into said Company at the same time. They all enlisted for three years; & thereupon marched to Boston & were attached to Col. Crafts Regiment of Massachusetts Troops. That they  they were stationed
at said Boston & at Castle William in Boston Harbour. was under different Captains & Officers during the said term; and during the term was in General Sullivan's army in his expedition on Rhode Island; that he served the term out; and was discharged in May, according to the best of his  his recollection, in the year 1780; but he he had no written discharge. That he knows of no person now alive who was with him in said service except his Brother of Ephraim aforesaid. That he was
born & brought up in Middleborough aforesaid & resided there at the time he entered, the service aforesaid & for many years since. But has lately lived in several other Towns

in this Garrison or elsewhere.
He further declares that in the year 1780 the day or month he cannot state he was hired by a class to serve for six months and entered a company of infantry commanded by Captain Green in Col. Vose's Regiment - part muster at Springfield, Chapts, & served in the state of New-York also was discharged at West-point. but has no written discharge That he knows of no person now living whose testimony he can produce who can testify to the last mentioned period of his service & that he has no documentary evidence of the services aforesaid in his possession.
That his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state and that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present. That he has no record of his age but he always told by his Parents that he was born in the year 1762 1763.
That Col. Rouse had commanded of the Regiment some part of the time in the first campaign aforesaid.
Leahy Harriet
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid Attest Jacob H. Lord Register

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss. Probate Court on the first Tuesday of August in the year eight hundred & thirty two & on the second day of said term.
Personally appeared in open Court Ephraim Norcutt of Middle- borough in the County of Plymouth aforesaid and made oath to the following declaration & statement by him subscribed, viz, that in the year 1777. in the summer season. Zenas Norcutt of Middle- borough, Brother of him the said Ephraim, enlisted with himself into a company of artillery commanded by Captain Baleh, & Ser t Lockstep & in which Ebenezer White then of said Middleborough was a Sergeant for the term of three years for the defense of the country: and thereupon they both marched to Boston and their company joined a Regiment com- manded by Col. Crafts of Massachusetts troops. was were stationed at said Boston & the Castle in Boston harbor and during the said term they said  his Brother was  himself with their company, went on what has been called Sullivan's expedition in Rhode Island; that they  they both served until May 1778 when they were both discharged but had no written discharges. That the Deponent has been informed & believes that all the officers under whom he & his Brother served as aforesaid are dead, and that he knows of no Soldier but his said Brother now alive who served with them in the aforesaid term. And further the Deponent saith not In appearing to the Court that he is he is a credible person & entitled to be believed Attest Jacob H. Lord Register
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the inter- rogatories prescribed by the War Department that the before named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.
By the Court, Attest Jacob H. Lord Register
I Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that the fore- going contains the original proceedings of the said

count in the matter of the application of Zenas Norcutt for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this eighth day of August in the Year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two. Jacob H. Lord
Z. Norcutt. - No. 1
Zenas Norcutt - 5503

5803 Jonas Sorett
Kind of City 2 years
14.06 Jan 18/1833
P-206
Isaac M. Dink Plymouth Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Zenas Norcutt  of  Middleboro'  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? 69 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. As a Gen.     Summer In 17 77 80 3 " " Private Artillery Gen. Gates Col. Heath  Putnam Gen. Balch Col. Putnam   6 " Private Col. Green Col. Putnam  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Middleborough  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living Witness  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Witness not stated as credible 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
H. H. Addison Examining Clerk.

5803 Zenas Streets
Isaac H. Lord Plymouth 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 Zenas Streeter 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?
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 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.
Apprs should be made to E D Bangs Esq Secy of the Natl Guard for evidence of the claim with same a Col Crafts Regt

Rekey
5123 INVALID.
File No. 5123
Zenas Norcutt First PW War
Act: June 7 th 1832.
Index:—Vol. M , Page 276
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Zenas Norcut. Records corrected. Apr. 20, 1904. [initials]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Feb y 28 th , 1833.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Zenas Norcutt is found on the Abstract of the First Company, in Col l Thomas Crafts' Reg t of Artillery - time of service ended August 1, 1777, - where he is allowed seventeen days. — m. d. 0 17 Zenas Norcutt's name is found also on another Abstract of said First Company, service ending Oct. 1, 1777, - where he is allowed two months. — 2 0 Zenas Norcutt's name is found also on a Pay Roll for Six Months' men, dated June 5 th 1780, - where he is allowed six months and seventeen days. — 6 17 9 4
Said Norcutt claims also for services under Capt. Ingersoll and Capt. Cushing, - says his services commenced early in the war, and continued two years, in and about Boston, and in Gen l Sullivan's expedition to Rhode Island. — He says he served in Col l Crafts' and Col l Revere's Reg t s of Artillery, &c. — but the rolls for these last services are not found in this office, containing his name.
Edward D. Bangs, Secy.
[over]

Since what has preceded, it is thought proper to add, that ample Abstracts of Wages and Pay-Rolls of the several Companies under which Mr. Norcutt claims, are here found, - in which only the Officers and Subalterns' names are set forth, - and the number of Privates, (say 12, 13, 14, or 15) are given, without their respective names, - at the precise time to follow Oct. 1, 1777, which is found, viz. - from Oct. 1777, to Dec. 31, 1778.
Edward D. Bangs Secy

We Joseph Clark, Physician and Wilson Wood Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth both resident in Middleborough hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Zenas Norcutt who has subscribed & sworn to the annexed declaration: That we believe him to be sixty nine years of age that he is respected & beloved in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
The said Zenas Norcutt belonging to no regular religious Society & being remote from any Clergyman is the reason why a certificate from a Clergyman has not been obtained. And furthermore that as well from our personal knowledge of the said Ephraim as from the uniform reputation among those best acquainted with him from the since the close of the revolution we can confidently state that the said Zenas entered the military service of the United States as early as the year 1777. and continued with occasional shifts in various corps, in the military defence of the Country to the close of the Revolution under different officers and in various campaigns.
Joseph Clark Wilson Wood
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss. County of Plymouth }
On the 13 th day of May 1833 personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace within & for the

County aforesaid the aforesaid Wilkes Wood and made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed and I further certify that the said Wood resides in the Town of Middleborough and is a person of veracity and that his statement is entitled to Credit -
Isaac Stevens Justice of the Peace
The commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth County
On this thirteenth day of May A.D. 1833 personally appeared the aforesaid Joseph Cook a person well known to me to be the person described in and who executed the above declaration by him subscribed and I further certify that the said Joseph Cook is a resident of Middle- borough and that his statement is entitled to full credit he being a person of veracity. -
Wilkes Wood Justice of the Peace
Isaac Stevens
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for the County of Plymouth, do hereby certify that Hon. Wilkes Wood & Isaac Ste- vens Esqrs. are Justices of the Peace in & for said County & that the foregoing signatures purporting to be theirs are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this fourteenth day of May A.D. 1833
Jacob H. Lord

Departure of Mr. Cook

I Joseph Clarke of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty seven years testify & say that in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty seven years I was the Surgeon of a Regiment of militia assembled in the State of Rhode Island for the purpose of expelling the British from the Island of Rhode Island which they then had possession of.
The American forces were under General Sullivan's command in chief and was called Sullivan's Expedition.
I will remember of seeing among the American troops assembled on that occasion a regiment of artillery called Col. Cross's Regt. and in said Regt. two individuals viz. Ephraim Norcutt & Zerar Norcutt of Middleborough aforesaid with whom I had been previously personally acquainted.
The said Regt. I then understood had marched recently from Boston Heights. The Surgeon of the said Regt. being absent I was requested by the Commander of said Regiment in which the said Norcutts were Soldiers to assist some of his men who were unwell, one of whom was the above named Ephraim Norcutt who had a sore leg which I dressed. I saw both these said Norcutts before the troops went upon the Island aforesaid and I also saw them after the retreat from said Island for a number of days and further the Deponent says not.
Joseph Clarke
Plymouth County ss. May 13 th 1833 Then personally appeared Joseph Clarke who has subscribed the above deposition a man well known to me to be entitled to full credit as a witness for truth & veracity and made oath to the truth of his above deposition
Before me Wilkes Wood Justice of the Peace Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that Hon. Wilkes Wood is a Justice of Peace in & for said County & that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office this fourteenth day of May A.D. 1833 Jacob H. Lord