Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,853, for Joseph Pratt, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental (Mass.) Pratt, Joseph S. 23,853
CONTENTS

New York 32,1238
Joseph Pratt, dec d
was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain _____ of the Mass s commanded by _____ in the Revolution time for 13 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831. Herpinale on the 8th January 1825 the day of his death Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of May 1844 and sent to Hon. Preston King Secy of War
Arrears to the 14th of March 1831 173.32
Semi-ann. allowance ending Payable to Joseph Pratt Lucinda Corbin and Adm. of Francis Pratt dec d , only surviving children.
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Thos. Knapp, Clerk, Book E 2 Vol. 4 Page 55
Letter from J. Pratt. 20. May 1844
Reported

No. 35,404,
Joseph Pratt dec d . of Canada.
N.Y.
act 7. June '32
Vol 14-2. '75-pri. 8 mo- No roll-76. Witnfs- 5 mo- adm d . 13 mo pri 43.33
To Joseph Pratt-Lucius de forbin adm d . of Francis Pratt dec d . or his surviving children to the 8 th of Jany '35 the day of his death. -
Hon Preston King R.H. Sillitoe Esq H.K. Ogdensburg N.Y.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston October 28 th 1839.
I hereby Certify, That at the date of his attestation Philo Seach Esq r was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Plymouth;
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John D. Sleeper
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

I Jacob Leonard of Bridgewater in the county of Plymouth Commonwealth of Massachusetts being in the eighty second year of my age do depose certify & say that I was well acquainted with Joseph Pratt of Bridgewater brother of Simeon Pratt that in the year 1775 I was fifer in the company commanded by Capt James Allen which was mustered into Col John Baileys Regiment for an eight months campaign at Roxbury near Boston. that Joseph Pratt was a Soldier in said company & served therein during the the campaign That in the year 1776 I was fifer in the company commanded by Capt Jacob Allen which was in Col Baileys Regt for a five months campaign at New York. Joseph Pratt was at that time a Soldier in the company commanded by Capt James Allen which was mustered into Col Baileys Regt & served therein five months at New York
Jacob Leonard
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County ss Be it known that on the twenty sixth day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred & thirty nine Before me the Subscribed Justice of the Peace for & within the county of Plymouth qualified by Law to administer oaths personally appeared Jacob Leonard the above subscriber who is a man of truth and veracity and made solemn oath that the above by him subscribed is true
Philo Leach } Justice of the Peace

I Simeon Pratt of Bridgewater in the county of Plymouth a Pensioner of the United States under the of Act of 1832 in the eighty first year of my age do asore testify and say that my brother Joseph Pratt late of Bridgewater deceased was a Soldier in the War of the Revolution in the year 1775 he enlisted into the company commanded by captain James Allen for an eight months campaign at Roxbury Massachusetts. the company I think was mustered into Col John Baileys Regt. I was not a Soldier at that time but was frequently then with my Brother. In the year 1778 I enlisted into the company commanded by captain Abel Pierce for a campaign on what was then called Castle William nor called Fort Independence and served three months my Brother Joseph Pratt was a Soldier in the same company and served therein the same time I think my Brother Joseph was a Sergt in this campaign Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth county ss.
Simeon Pratt
But it known that on this twenty sixth day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred & thirty nine Personally appeared Simeon Pratt the Subscribed above before me a justice of the Peace for and within the county of Plymouth qualified by the Laws of the Commonwealth to administer oaths and made solemn oath that the above by him subscribed is true. I further certify that captain Simeon Pratt above named is a man of truth and veracity
Philo Leach Justice of the Peace

State of New York St Lawrence County ss.
I, Lewis W. Curtis of Brockville in the County of Upper Canada being duly sworn deposed & saith, that he was personally well acquainted with the late Joseph Pratt deceased. That he died at Elizabethtown in said County on the Eighth day of January 1835. That he is personally well acquainted with Joseph Pratt the son of the said deceased & knows that he resides at Elizabethtown aforesaid. He has always understood from the said deceased that he left three children, the above named Joseph & one other son, one daughter & a girl, these three children. That Deceased had no wife living at the time of his death, & Deponent recollects of hearing him speak of having lost his wife many years before, but Deponent cannot say when. Deponent recollects hearing said Joseph Pratt deceased tell Deponent's father & others of his having served in the American army during the War of the Revolution, & that it was generally reputed among his acquaintances that he had served as a soldier in said war in the American or Continental army.
Sworn before me Sept. 17. 1842
John Brown Esquire
Lewis W. Curtis

Declaration to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832
State of New York St Lawrence County ss.
On this seventeenth day of September one thousand eight hundred & forty two personally ap- peared before the undersigned one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of St Lawrence & of the Degree of Chancellor at Law of the Supreme Court of said State Joseph Pratt, son of the late Joseph Pratt deceased, aged forty seven years, who being duly sworn according to law did depose & say, that he is a son of Joseph Pratt, late of the town of Elizabethton in the Province of Upper Canada, now deceased, who died on the eighth day of January one thousand eight hundred & thirty five at Elizabethton aforesaid. That he left surviving him three children & no more to wit, this Decla- rant, who resides in Elizabethton aforesaid, Sarah da' Corbin wife of Daniel Corbin residing at or near Chautauqua in the state of New York & Francis Pratt, who resides in Elizabethton aforesaid. That said Joseph Pratt deceased left no widow surviving him, his wife having died about twenty four years since. This declarant was informed by his said father before his death that he had served in the army of the Revolu- tion about three years, & that at first part of his service he served as a private & the latter part of the time as a Sergeant but Declarant does not remember, understanding from him the length of time that he served in each capacity. That Declarant was informed by his said father that he enlisted in the state of Massachusetts & that he served a portion of the time in that state & some in New York. That the deceased formerly resided at Bridgewater in the state of New York Massachusetts, as De- clarant understood from him. That he once resided in Conway in said state. That he removed to Chaut- auqua in the state of New York & from thence he came to Elizabethton in Upper Canada to reside a

few years before he died. That it was understood in the family from Declarants earliest recollection, his father was reported to have been a soldier in the War of the Revolution & to have served as a private soldier & as a Sergeant. This Declarant has no personal knowledge of the said services, but has obtained the affidavits of Jacob Leonard & Simon Pratt proving his said fathers services in the said War of the Revolution.
This Declarant claims for himself & his said Brother & Sister of one name, such pension as his said father would have been entitled to up to the time of his death, if he had personally made an application & obtained his certificate. Declarant states that his father was never, to his knowledge, applied for or received any pension, or other gratuity, for his said services in the said War of the Revolution, but defendant informed & by him & believes that when the pension law was first passed & he thinks in 1818, or soon after his father applied for a pension, but it was not granted, because he did not have served any one period nine months in the Continental Line.
This Declarant relinquishes all claims to any other pension or annuity for the services of his said father, except what has, at Claring under this application - (D)
And I the said Judge do hereby declare my opinion that the above named Joseph Pratt, deceased, was a soldier of the Revolution & served as stated in the said application. That he did during the time of his services in the said War of the Revolution further certify that the foregoing contains the original papers & proceedings before me in the matter of the application of Joseph Pratt in behalf of himself & others for such pension as their father would have been entitled to.
I further certify that the said Declarant is entirely blind & unable to travel to the place where the Court in the said County of St Lawrence are held & that could not safely attempt to attend said Court

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day & year first above written of the village of Poughkeepsie of said in the County of Hudson of said
A BROWN
State of New York Hudson County Clerk's office
September 20 th 1842
I, Alvin C. Law, Clerk of said County, do hereby certify that Anthony C. Brown of said County, is duly Commissioned & sworn a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County, & that I am well acquainted with his signature & that the foregoing signature of "A C Brown" is his proper hand writing, & that the signature to the proof of the affidavit of Lewis N. Curtis, hereto attached, is also in his proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court, on the day & year last above written
A C SMITH

State of New York,
St Lawrence County p: 2
I Gideon M. Davison clerk of the 4th Chancery Circuit of the State of New York do hereby certify, that at last a session of the said Court held before Hon. John Willard Vice Chancellor of the said 4th Circuit, held at the Court House in the Town of Canton in and for the County of St. Lawrence, on the 8th day of February one thousand eight hundred and forty four; Satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to said Court that Joseph Pratt, late of Elizabethton in the Province of Canada West, who is said to have been a soldier in the American army in the war of the Revolution, died on or about the 8th day of January 1835; at Elizabethton aforesaid; that he was at the time of his death and for several years previous had been a resident of said Province; that he left no widow; that he left three children, named Joseph Pratt, Francis Pratt, and Luinda, wife of Darius Corbin; that the said Francis Pratt has since died, that the said Joseph Pratt (Junior) resides at Elizabethton aforesaid; that the said Luinda resides at or near Champlaine in the County of Clinton State of New York; and that the said Joseph Pratt deceased, left no other children surviving.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my seal of office this 8th day of February one thousand eight hundred & forty four.
G. M. Davison
Clerk in Chancery
4th Circuit

Joseph Pratt due-
Let to R. H. Gillett Sep 29. 182
1 " " March 1 183
Act 7. June 1832.

Rootstown
23853 INVALID.
File No. 23853
Joseph Pratt
Wm Rev 222
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 327
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Ogdensburgh Januoy 6. 1818
Sir
In the case of Joseph Pratt deceased, I have your letter of the 29th ult: before me. In relation to the 3 months service at Coote (William) in 1778, I sup- posed it was proved sufficiently by the oath of Simon Pratt, but of that you must judge. Be so good as to turn to Simon Pratt's papers on file, in which I presume he gives a statement of his service & that will most likely show the name of the Captain but Joseph served under at that place, so that it will appear whether he has mistaken the time or the name of the officer. I presume such a reference will furnish evidence sufficient to satisfy you as to his three months service. The distance to his resi- dence is so great & the offense so large that it is desirable to get along without further expense, if possible. The claimant who was here is blind & too poor to be at any further expense, & it would be unfortunate to lose any portion of the claim considering his circumstances.
In my opinion it is desired
Will not proof of the death of the soldier entitled to a pension before a judge duly qualified answer the purpose? It costs considerable to go to an court with witnesses. Off this regiment can be got over, I trust it will. Yours truly
Col. L. Redmond
N. J. Elliot
Yours

P.S. If no further service is established by the reference to Simon Pratt's papers you may send a certificate for what is proved to be the occupation of N. H. Gellat

House of Reps March 11 1844
Sir
England I send you McGregor's - Letter - which at your convenience - may answer - if you please
I have the Honor to be yours truly G. South
L. Edwards Esq.

Ogdensburgh N.Y. Sept. 23. 1842
Sir,
I enclose you the Pension application of Joseph Pratt for the pay his father was entitled to under the act of 1832 at the time of his death. The affidavits prove some 16 months service for which the allowance is claimed. The applicant is perfectly blind & helpless, & hence his name is so written that it can hardly be read.
Mr. Pratt requests that his certificate be sent to me, if one is granted.
Your obedt servt R. H. Gillit
Col J. L. Edwards Com Pension