Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,395, for Nathaniel Pulcifer, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Pulcifer, Nathaniel
S 29,395
CONTENTS

10-836.
Massachusetts Nathaniel Puleifer
Rebecca in the State of Mass who was a Serjt in the com ny commanded by Captain Sedding of the reg t commanded by _____ in the Mass line for 21 days.
State
Inscribed on the Roll of Spies at the rate of 105 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of Sept 1833 and sent to Harper Gloucester Mass
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $210 — Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 52.50
$262.50
{ Revolutionary Chum, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H McBlain Clerk, Book 3, Vol. 2, Page 63.
Spies 96

Nathaniel Palfrey
N o 6664.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Essex, Js.
On this eleventh day of August, 1832, personally appeared before the Hon. Daniel A. White, Judge of Probate of Wills, &c. for the County of Essex in the State of Massachusetts, Nathaniel Pulcifer, aged ninety six years (being unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity) 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 7th. 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
That he kept guard at Coffin's Farms in S d Gloucester in the early part of the year 1775; were frequent alarms; he marched to the different parts of the town. He enlisted for 9 months, the particular day and month not recollected; thinks it was after the battle of Lexington early in the spring 1775 as Sergeant in Lieut. Joseph Lanes company, Benj a Tarr was 2 d Lieut. stationed at Gloucester aforesaid as Sea Coast guards; and served therein until some time in the month of January or February 1776 when his term expired having served nine months; rec d . no written discharge.
That he again enlisted as a Sergeant for ONE YEAR in Capt. Daniel Kiddings company stationed at said Gloucester and served the full term of his enlistment in the years 1776 & 1777 but he does not recollect the day or month. If he ever had any discharge or his sergeants warrant, they are lost.
That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any State.
That he was born in said Gloucester on 29 th March, 1736. O.S. and that the same is recorded on the Towns Records. That he lived in said Gloucester when called into the service; has lived there since the Revolutionary War; and he now lives there.
That he entered the service above mentioned each time by voluntary enlistment; and that he has no documentary evidence as required by the War Department.
That he does not know of any person living in his neighborhood who served with him as above declared; that the Clergyman in his Parish has been dead several years and no one lives in his immediate vicinity who can testify for him. But he can produce many respectable persons who will testify to their knowledge of his service & character viz t . Col o William Pearce, Capt. Zebulon Stanwood, Mr. Joseph Moore and Tristram Coffin, Josiah Currier & Aaron Haskell. (That I am his son)
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid,
D r A d White Judge of Probate

I Joseph Moore of Gloucester, State of Massachusetts, aged 69 years, on oath testify, that I am well acquainted with Nathaniel Puleifer, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that well remember seeing him perform military as a Sergeant in a company of State troops Capt. Joseph Lane in 1775; that I recollect his standing guard at Coffin's farm; of seeing his halbert & accoutrements. After which I knew him perform military duty in a company of State troops in 1776 & 1777 commanded by Capt. Daniel Kiddings and stationed at said Gloucester; that Nathl. Puleifer, now present is the person who served as above declared.
Joseph Moore sw.
I Tristram Coffin of Gloucester, State of Massachusetts, aged 70 years, on oath testify, that I am well acquainted with Nathl. Puleifer, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that I have always lived within a mile of him; that my father's farm on the sea shore was much exposed to the enemy; that I remember his being called Sergeant Puleifer; and being stationed with a file of soldiers on said farm in 1775 ; saw them about every day. I particularly remember his being there in August 1775, when Capt. Livermore attempted to land at that part of the town; of seeing him fire at Livermore's boat from behind a rock; and prevented his landing at said farm, to destroy the buildings, as he threatened. I further recollect of his serving in Capt. Daniel Kiddings company in 1776; and believe he was not then stationed on the farm but in another part of the town. Tristram Coffin.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, ss
In this thirteenth day of August, 1832, before me William Ferson, Notary Public in said County, person-ally came Tristram Coffin above named, who subscribed and made oath to the declaration above written and I certify that said Coffin is well known to me as a credible person and his statements entitled to credit.
Witness my hand and Notarial Seal at Gloucester, the day & year aforesaid
William Ferson, Noty Public

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 certifies, that it appears to them that the foregoing certificate is a true copy of the original  who have signed the foregoing certificate is a true copy of the original  that Joseph Moore, Tristram Coffin, Josiah Currier and Aaron Haskell, who have also signed the same are residents in said Gloucester; are credible persons; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that the above named applicant is unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity.
D. H. Nute Judge of Probate
I Nathaniel Lord, junior, Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Palfrey for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this fourteenth day of August, Eighteen hundred and thirty two.
Nath. Lord Jr.
We Josiah Currier, aged 86 years and Aaron Haskell, aged 81 years, both of Gloucester, State of Massachusetts, on oath testify, that we are well acquainted with Nathaniel Palfrey, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 86 years of age; that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we have heard at the time, of his serving in Capt. Dames Vleaf's Gidelings Companies in 1775 and 1776-7 as he states: we have lived in the neighborhood together all our lives; and we concur in the opinion of his revolutionary services
Josiah Currier Aaron Haskell
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Essex, ss
On this thirteenth day of August, 1832, before me William Ferson, Notary Public, by legal authority admitted & sworn & dwelling in Gloucester in said County, personally came Josiah Currier and Aaron Haskell, above named, whom I know to be credible persons and of strict veracity, who subscribed and made oath to the above written statement.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Notarial Seal the day & year above named.
William Ferson, Noty Public

6664
Nathl Pulcifer
Augt 1 yr & 9 Mos
W B E
$105.
Yrs Ferson Gloucester Mass

66114
BRIEF in the case of Nathaniel Paleifer  of Essex Co in the State of Mass  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Judge  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? Yes  3. How old is he? 96  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.     thinks after battle of Lexington Spring of 75 - to Jan'y or Feb'y 76 1 9 Sergeant Lieut. Lane { served as Sea Coast guard }   In the years '76 & '77 1 Sergeant Capt. Giddings  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Gloucester  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? No living witnesses, - Tradition  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Right 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
+ Vol 86 p 139 Nov 1775 not on
Wm C Easton Examining Clerk. 24 Jan'y 1833

29395 Rev INVALID.
File No. 29,395
Nathaniel Pulcifer
Sergt Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 399
[Arrangement of 1870.]

6664
Nathaniel Palfinger
W. Fison Gloucester

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Nathaniel Fullefer 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? Yes 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 ? No
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's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service ? No
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 ? 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.
†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.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Pulford, Elisha GRADE Private LINE Connecticut
WARRANT NUMBER 6295 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Jan. 15, 1796 to — not shown —
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.