Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 37316, for Valentine Prentiss, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental Mass.
Prentiss, Valentine Prentice
S 37316 B.L. 749-100
CONTENTS

5988. Maine
Volentine Paentip, Sergeant,
Capt Alexander
Mass'tts line. War
in the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
inscribed on the Roll of the State of Maine at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 1 st of April, 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 th of Jan'y 1819 and delivered to B. L. Vose, Esq. of Augusta, Maine
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818. 5 mo. 4 d. 41. 06 semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 th Mar 1819. 48. 00
$89.06
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Hoarless
Continued
Not f d sent to R. Rose Augusta. Me. 15 July 1820

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
To the Honorable the Secretary of the Department of War of the United States.
I the subscriber, being Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Second Eastern Circuit of Massachusetts, embracing the Counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset, do hereby certify to your Honor, that Valentine Prentiss , a citizen of the United States, now resident in Harlem , in the said County of Kennebec , in the District of Maine, on the first day of April , A. D. 1818, made application to me to receive his declaration under oath, and such other evidence, as was in his power to produce; and to transmit the same, and the proceedings had thereon, to your Honor; that he might be placed on the pension list of the United States, agreeably to the provisions of an Act, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed March 18, A. D. 1818, which declaration, and the other evidence produced by the said applicant, is hereunto annexed.
And I do further certify to your Honor, that after a full examination of the said applicant, and a careful consideration of the evidence in the case, it appears to me that the said applicant did serve as a private soldier , in the war of the revolution, in the war of the revolution against the common enemy, upon the continental establishment, for more than nine months, as stated in his declaration aforesaid; and that from his reduced circumstances, he needs the assistance of his country for support.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the Seal of the Court in which I preside, to be hereunto affixed, this twenty third day of May in the year of our LORD one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
Nathan Weston  per C. Lunt C.C.C. Pleas 2 d E. circuit.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
KENNEBEC, ss.
THE Subscriber, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts, held within the said County of Kennebec, hereby certifies, that the Honorable NATHAN WESTON, Junior, Esquire, before whom the annexed proceedings were held, is Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Second Eastern Circuit of Massachusetts, embracing the Counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset ; and that by the direction of the said Judge, I have affixed unto his Certificate bearing his signature, the seal of the said Court in which he presides.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand : Dated at Augusta, in said County of Kennebec, this tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
J. Andrews

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I Valentine Prentiss, a citizen of the United States now residing of Harlem in the County of Kennebec do upon Oath certify & declare that I enlisted in January 1777. in the war of the revolution against the common enemy into the company commanded by Capt. Alexander, and regiment commanded by Col. Gration of the Massachusetts line - I continued to serve in said regiment and did duty as a sergeant until the close of the war and then took my honorable discharge at a near West Point in the State of New York on the 8 th June 1783. My discharge is herunto annexed. I have since the revolutionary war, resided in the District of Columbia -
Geo. W. Morton
Valentine Prentiss mark
Kennebec ss. 29 th January 1819. Personally appeared the above named Valentine Prentiss to me well known, and he made Oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed -
Before me
Edw. H. Harrifield Justice of the Peace
Know all men by these presents that I Valentine Prentiss above named do in consideration of one hundred dollars to me in hand paid by Robert C. Vose of Augusta in said County Esquire, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby sell, convey transfer and assign unto the said Robert C. Vose his heirs & assigns all my right, title and interest in and to certain Military bounty land granted to me for my revolutionary services as above stated, by the several laws of Congress - being one hundred acres, to have and to hold unto the said Vose his heirs, and assigns forever. This and their sole use and benefit. and I do covenant with the said Vose his heirs & assigns that I have good right to sell and convey unto the said Vose my said Military bounty land giving and granting said Vose full power & authority to receive in his own name and for his own proper use such certificate of my Bounty land as aforesaid -
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this twenty ninth day of January Anno Domini 1819. -
Witness Geo. W. Morton
Edw. H. Harrifield
Valentine Prentiss mark
Kennebec ss. 29 th January 1819. Personally appeared Valentine
Prentiss above named to me well known and he made solemn Oath to the truth of the above declaration & acknowledged the above instrument by him subscribed to be his free act and deed. Before me
Edw. H. Harrifield Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
We the subscribers do hereby upon oath testify and declare that we are well acquainted with Valentine Prentiss within, and we fully believe he served in the revolutionary war, as he has within stated - we have known the said Prentiss for many years, and have no reason to doubt his being the same person mentioned in the annexed honorable discharge -
Jonathan Gray
Kennebec ss. 30 th January 1819. Personally appeared Frederick W. Hammond & Jonathan Gray - above named to me well known and they made Oath to the above Certificate by them signed - and I do certify from my own knowledge that the above deponents are credible & disinterested witnesses.
Edw: Fairfield Justice of the Peace
I the Subscriber a justice of the Peace and Quorum and Also Clerk of all the Judicial Courts held within the said County of Kennebec certify that Edward Fairfield is a justice of the Peace in and for the County of Kennebec and duly qualified by the laws of this Commonwealth to take the acknowledgment of deeds and do the other duties of a Magistrate - In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official seal this first day of February A.D. 1819
John Davis
Valentine Prentiss

(749)
Valentine Prentiss
priv:
3 rd Mass Regiments
R. C. Vose assignee
Wentworth Feb: 12 th 1879
R. C. Vose

Volentine Prentiss, Harlem Serg t . Col. Smiths. Mass. Reg. 1777 to 1783.
April 1. 1818
Admitted 4

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I Valentine Prentiss, aged seventy two years, a citizen of the U. States, born in Woodbury in Connecticut, but now of Harlem in the District of Maine upon oath testify and declare, that in January 1777 I enlisted as a sergeant into the continental service of the U. States, for the period of during the war, against the common enemy into the company commanded by Capt Alexander, and regiment commanded by Col. Edward Wigglesworth of the Massachusetts line. I was afterwards transferred into Col. John Grates regiment of the Massachusetts line. Under this enlistment I served until November 1783, when I took my honorable discharge from the army at New Windsor or Snake Hill in New York. The discharge, after it was nearly worn out, I gave to Mr Redington to carry to Boston. I have not seen it since. I had previously served a year in the continental service from Jan 7. 1776 to Jan 7. 1777. in Col. Asa Whitcomb's regiment of the Massachusetts line. I was in battle on board the fleet on Lake Champlain in 1776 under Gen Arnold, and in the battle of the seventeenth October 1777 against Genl Burgoyne, and at the battle of Monmouth. I wintered one winter at Valley Forge. I am indigent, and in need of the pension of the government and have been blind three years. And I do hereby relinquish all my claim to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the U. States, if any; but I am not to my knowledge borne on any pension list whatever. I request that I may be put on to the pension list for the District of Maine.
Valentine his  V Prentiss mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Munroe G.
On the first day of April A D 1818, Valentine Prentiss above named, after having been carefully examined, made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration, by him signed, the same having been first distinctly read to him.
Before me, Nathan Weston then Chief Justice C. Court of Mass, Second Eastern District

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I William Holloway of Malta in the District of Maine of lawful age upon oath testify and declare that I am well acquainted with the within named Valentine Prentiss. I served in the same regiment with him under Col. Wigginworth in the continental service for three years. He is indigent, in need of the pension, and sustains the character of a man of veracity.
W. Holloway
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Kennebec Co.
On the first day of April A.D 1818 William Holloway above named, after having been carefully examined, made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition, by him subscribed.
Before me,
Nathan Weston Esq. Chief Justice C. Court
C. Pleas, Second Eastern Circuit

State of Maine.
I John Davis Clerk, for the County of Kennebec of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the second Eastern Circuit, embracing the counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and that the original was exhibited in open 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, including debts due to the declarant therein stated, is nothing
dollars and  cents ; and deducting therefrom the amount of what the declarant owes, as set forth in said Schedule, the value of said property in the opinion of said Court, is nothing  dollars and  cents
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this twentieth day of June 1820.
John Davis Clerk of said Court for the County of Kennebec

Valentine Prentiss
Constance
5988. Hartun
28 Jan '19
Mar 1819
Robert G. Vose Augusta Maine

True copy Attest— J. M. Davis clk.

Copy
432
State of Maine Kennebec County, ss.
On the seventeenth day of June 1820 personally appeared in open court before the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset, being a Court of Record for said Counties, proceeding according to the proceedings to the course of the common law, having original jurisdiction, unlimited in amount, keeping a record of their proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Jesse Prentiss residing in Harlem in the County of Kennebec who is duly appointed guardian of the person of Valentine Prentiss a person non compos mentis and incapable of taking an oath, the said Valentine Prentiss having served in the war of the Revolution upon the Continental establishment for the period of during the war, whose original declaration was made before Judge Weston on the first day of April 1818 he is now on the Maine Roll, and that his person certificate is numbered 5988. and the said Jesse Prentiss, guardian as aforesaid produces and exhibits the following schedule of the whole estate and income, necessary clothing and bedding excepted, & the said Valentine Prentiss, has no property or income in the world, except necessary clothing and bedding. He is seventy five years of age decayed and unable to labor and he and his wife Sarah aged sixty eight have no other dependance for support except from his pension and from his children. Jesse Prentiss guardian of Valentine Prentiss.
Subscribed, sworn to, and declared, on the seventeenth day of June 1820 before me Nathan Weston Jr CJ. C.C.C. Pleas.

L. W. B. I. 37316.
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.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.
November 11, 1898.
Madam:-
Replying to your recent communication you are advised that Valentine Prentiss made an application for pension on April 1st, 1818, at which time he was 72 years of age and residing at Harlem, Kennebec County, Maine, and his pension was allowed for his actual service as a sergeant in the Mass. troops, during the Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. Alexander and Col. Wigglesworth. Place of his enlistment not stated. He was born at Woodbury, Conn.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Mrs. Orinda D. Hornbrooke,
Lombard Street,
Newton, Mass.

nonloc.
Valentine Prentiss Orig. l Discharge.
The claimant to identify, &c. Conformably to printed Regulations.
8
M. ipd No 449

Return to sender
Free Mail
Hon. Joshua Gage House of Representatives Washington

Valentine Prentiss
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]

Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C., -----, 189----
Respectfully returned to the writer, who is requested to furnish, for purposes of identification, as much as possible of the information called for below.
Jno Lockhorn
Commissioner.
Full name of soldier:
Valentine Prentiss
Place of residence before service:
(Town, county, and State, if possible.)
Laudinsfield Mass
Place of residence after service:
(Town, county, and State, if possible.)
China Maine
Date of death (as near as possible):
Christian name of widow:
Did either he or his widow receive a pension?
Remarks:
Pensioned Feb 23 1819 from Apr 1, 1818 Mass Line
Your name and address:
Died Sept 4. 1822

L. W. B. I. 37316.
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.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.
May 17th, 1899.
Sir:-
In response to your recent communication you are advised that Valentine Prentiss made an application for pension on April 1st, 1818, at which time he was 72 years of age and residing at Harlem, Kennebec County, Maine, and his pension was allowed for his service as a sergeant in the Mass. troops, during the Revolutionary war. Place of his enlistment not stated. He served under Capt. Alexander and Col. Wiglesworth. He was born at Woodbury, Conn.
Owing to the fact that there is no appropriation by Congress for carrying on the so-called Revolutionary work this Bureau has found it necessary to decline to comply with requests for copies of the papers on file in the claims for pension of Revolutionary soldiers.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Mr. Sanford H. Dudley,
95 Milk Street, Boston, Mass.
Room 71.

Newton Mass. Oct 24 1898 Oct. 24, 1898
To the U. S. Pension Bureau —
I wish to obtain a full copy if possible of the account whereby my great-grandfather Valentine Prentiss (the name is variously spelled Prentiss, Prentice, Prentis, Prentas) a Revolutionary soldier, received his

Any information will be gratefully received
(Mrs.) Cordelia D. D. Hornbrook
South David St. Newton Mass.
pension.
He enlisted January 1, 1861, from Sandisfield Mass in the 3d Regiment for the War.
The Regiment was under Col. Edward Wigginworth Col. Calvin Smith and perhaps others. He received a grant of land in Harlem, now Ghana Maine, and, where he lived during his last years and died.

Valentine Printing or Company Berkshire -
Copyrighted
REGISTERED
of the Reg. Comp.
Your Mailed Service has been honored with the Trade of Merit for All H. years
Valentine Prentice B.L. Mt. 749-100 Mass. Oct 24 1888

Command,
J. Trumbull Secy
REGISTERED in the Books of the Regiment,
J. H. Lane Adjutant.
THE above Valentine Pintee soldier has been honored with the BADGE of MERIT for six Years faithful Service.
James Mellen L. Col. Comd.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
SECRETARY'S DEPARTMENT,
July 5 -
1818
BY THIS I CERTIFY, That it appears by public, official documents remaining in this Department, that Valentine Prentiss served as a Soldier in Sargent  Page Company, and Col. Smith's Regiment, (being one of the Regiments in the Massachusetts Line, and on the Continental Establishment,) in the American Army, in the War of the Revolution, from Jan'y 1. 1777 to Decr. 31 1780, being four years and a months. a for during war -
Halden Bradford
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

[Faint handwritten signature or mark]
O. W. & N. D. APR 11 1899 RECEIVED.
PENSION H APR 8 1899 S. OFFICE.

extra SANFORD H. DUDLEY, COUNSELLOR AT LAW & NOTARY PUBLIC, ROOM 71, 95 MILK STREET, BOSTON.
April 6/99.
Com d of Pensions,
Pension Dept., Wash n ., D.C.
Dr Sir: Valentine Prentiss , Sandisfield, Conn., enlisted "for the war", Jan'y 1, '77, and served in the 3 d Reg. (Conn., I suppose), and was honorablely discharged.
He removed to Harlem , now China , Kennebec Co., Maine, (then, District of Maine in Massachusetts), and April 1, 1818 , applied for a pension and later received it. Will you kindly look up the case and furnish me with a true copy of all the papers and memoranda in the case for which I shall be pleased to pay a proper charge for the service.
Very truly S. H. Dudley

broak ss.
37 316 INVALID. Rare
Nov. 11/98. Mrs. O. D. Horn Newton, Ma
File No. 37 316
May 17 '99 J. H. Dudley Boston, Mass
(Valentine) Plentiss Serg Peter Has
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 402
[Arrangement of 1870.]