Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,388, for Thomas Plummer, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Plummer Thomas
S 29388
CONTENTS

78 8/14
21.071 Massachusetts
Thos Plummer
Residing in the State of Mass was a private in the Conf. — commanded by Captain Myles of the Regt commanded by Col. Gerrish in the Mass. time for 8 mos 211 d.
(Miles)
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 28 Dollars 18 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of Aug , 1833 and Sister J. H. Plummer Haverhill
Arrears to the 4th of Mar  $ 57.56 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep  14.39 $ 71.95
Revolutionary Claim, rept June 7, 1832.
Recorded by P. L. Kelley Clerk Book E Vol. B , Page 65

Thomas Plummer
Declaration of Thomas Plummer
14057
Due Reflection Pension Office

Illegible cursive text with a large ink blot
Declaration of Thomas Plummer.
14057-

Signed and sealed anew, this thirtieth day of May, A.D. 1833.
Math. Lord Jr.
Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS: COUNTY OF ESSEX, ss.
On this Twenty fifth day of September A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the HONORABLE DANIEL APPLETON WHITE, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, now sitting, Thomas Plummer , a resident of Haverhill , in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, aged 76 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:
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:
In the beginning of the year 1775 he was a militia man in Captain Thomas Mighill's Company of Militia
That on the Nineteenth of April 1775 he entered the service at Roxbury as a Volunteer in Capt Thomas Mighill's Company of Massachusetts Militia in Col Samuel Gerrish's Regiment and marched to Cambridge and continued in service as a private at Cambridge, Brooklyn and vicinity till January 1 st 1776 a period of Eight Months and Eleven days when he was dismissed, has no discharge from the service.
8 11

Was born at Rowley March 10 th 1756 does not know whether recorded there or not. Was living at Rowley when called into service. Have lived in Haverhill nearly fifty years where I now reside. Generals Ward and Washington were at Cambridge Col Madi's and other Regiments were stationed there. Leonard White and M rs Mary Pingate Esq r David Howg r Herami Plummer of Haverhill can testify to my character and belief in my services.
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.
Thomas Plummer
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
R. H. D. Esq r
JUDGE OF PROBATE.
We, Henry Plummer a clergyman, residing in Haverhill aforesaid, and Charles White Esquire, a magistrate, residing in Haverhill aforesaid, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Plummer who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 76 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.
Henry Plummer
Subscribed and sworn to before me James H. Duncan  Charles White
Justus of Peace, Roxbury
[Signature]

And the said Court hereby declares its 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 Henry Plummer who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman resident in Haverhill and that the said Charles White who has also signed the same is a Magistrate resident at Haverhill and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
D. A. White Judge of Probate
I, NATHANIEL LORD Junior, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Plummer for a pension. Also, that James H.
Duncan esquire , whose name is subscribed to the two depositions hereto annexed, is a justice of the peace and quorum for said county, and that his signatures thereto are genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this tenth fifth day of September A. D. 1832.
Nath. Lord Jr.

I Samuel Lancaster of Haverhill in the county of Essex since commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of seventy- five years before said say that I entered the service of the U S as a Volunteer at Rowley in the company commanded by Capt. Thomas Nightingale and continued in service from the 19 th April 1775 to Jany 1776 a term of eight months. That I knew Thomas Plummer then of Rowley but now of Haverhill and can testify that he was a private in said company and served in it during the same term of time.
Sam l Lancaster
commonwealth of Massachusetts county of Essex ss. On this Eleventh day of September AD 1832 personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace and Jurorum for said county Samuel Lancaster and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true. And I further certify that said Lancaster is a credible Witness. James H. Duncan Justice of Peace & Jurorum Unus.

I Moses Hobson of Rowley in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of seventy seven years depose and say that I entered the service of the United States at Rowley in the company commanded by Captain Thomas Brightman and continued in service eight months at Cambridge Mass from April 1775 to June 1776. That I then knew Thomas Plummer then of Rowley but now of Haverhill and testify that said Plummer was a private in the same company and served in it during the said term of eight months.
Moses Hobson
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Essex ss on the Eleventh day of September A D 1832 personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace and known unto me for the County of Essex. Moses Hobson and made oath in due form of law that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true. And I further certify that he is a credible Witness.
James H. Duncan Justice of Peace

Thomas Plummer Mass
Phila 8 Mo 11 days
16 ob
May 22 1833
P. 405
1405 \frac{26 \ 11}{212} 287 \frac{1}{2}
J. H. Dunan
Haverhill
Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Thomas Plummer  60 of W.H.A  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? 76  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.     In 1795 entered 8 . . 11 Private Genl. Miles Col. Gerrish  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Roxbury Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary and two living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers are not attested agreeably to the regulations 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Taylor
Examining Clerk.

This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services.
Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.
L. W. B.
I.29383.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.
Oct. 27, 1893.
Madam:-
Replying to your recent communication you are advised that Thomas Plummer made an application for pension on September 25, 1832, at which time he was 76 years of age and residing at Haverhill, Mass., and his pension was allowed for 8 months and 11 days actual service as a private in the Massachusetts troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. Michill and Col. Gerrish. Place of enlistment Rowley, Mass.
Very respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.
Mrs. Florence T. Dutton,
132 Arlington St.,
Watertown, Mass.

OWM . . . B/ c. Dear Commissioner of Pensions
OLD WAR & NAVY OCT 21 1898 FILES.
Pension Office Washington D.C. OCT 19 1898
Dear Sir:
For genealogical and historical purpose, and to enable me to join the D.A.R. I respectfully request to be informed upon what service rendered by my ancestor, Thomas Plummer who was a resident of Rowley, in the war of the Revolution, upon which a land warrant was issued to him.
Respectfully Gloucester G. Dutton 132 Arlington Street Watertown Massachusetts.

Rev Sec
504 E Garvo St., Plymouth, Ind., Mar. 1, 1915.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C. —
Please send
me a copy of the pension papers of Thomas Plummer , a Massachusetts Revolutionary soldier.
Thanking you in advance for the favor asked —
Respectfully Yours,
(Miss) Theodora P. Aitz.

29 3 88 INVALID.
File No. 29,388
Thomas Plummer
Pa Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1822
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 394
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Oct. 27/98.
Mrs. Florence T. Dutton Watertown, Mass.
1915 March 9 - History to Miss Theodora P. Ritz. M.B.H.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Thomas Plummer a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. B. 29.388.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apr 19 1775 8 mos Pvt Thomas Mitchell Samuel Herrick Mass.                                                   
Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Bowley, Essex Co., Mass
Date of application for pension, Sept. 25 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Haverhill, Essex Co. Mass.
Age at date of application, born March 10, 1756. at Bowley, Mass.
Remarks: There is no family data on file.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

16057
Thomas Plummer
Chas. Minott James H. Duncan Esq. Hawthorne 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 Thomas Plummer which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy 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? yy 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? yy VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy 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? yy

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?
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? yes
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?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
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.
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 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.