Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,548, for Joseph Pilsbery, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Pilsbery Joseph or Pillsbury
S. 18,548
Carded.
CONTENTS

6668 Maine.
Joseph Pillsbury
of Scarboro' in the State of Maine who was a private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Norrell of the Reg t commanded by Col. Tilcomb in the Massachusetts Militia and in other services 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th day of March 1833 and sent to Ben Audenoz
Arrears to the 4th of March 33  160 — Semi-ant. allowance ending 4/4/40  40 200
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by B. Clap Clerk, Book D Vol. 1 Page 78
Duplicate certificate issued May 6 th 1836 and forwarded to Jo- seph Dope Portland, Maine
Oct. 18, 1854.
Dup te certfe, issued Apr 11/49 and sent to, Freeman Bradford Portland Me.
abt 3 rd Aud. June 19. 1849 same Aug 15. 1849
The name is spelled with a single not double ll, and the duplicate cert. is made out on corrected.

Jos. Pilsener
John A. Underwood House of Reps

United States of America
Maine District p. - At a Special District Court of the United States begun & held at Portland within the said District on the twenty fifth day of October A.D. Eighteen hundred and thirty nine before the Honorable John D. Sleeper judge of said Court. On this twenty fifth day of October aforesaid personally appeared Joseph Pillsbury a resident of Scarborough in the County of Cumberland in said Maine District aged Seventy Seven 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 provision made by the Act of Congress passed the 7 th of June 1832. That he was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. That he enlisted at Berwick in the County of Oxford & State of Massachusetts in December 1775. under Capt. Moses Norris of Berwick Port 1775. Col. Jonathan Titcomb's Regiment for two years, as he believes. That he was marched to the Fort on Pemaquid Island at the mouth of the Kennebec & did duty there until March 1776 when he was marched to Prospect Hill near Boston where he remained between two or three months until the British evacuated Boston. When he returned to said Fort at Pemaquid Island he served in Col. Moses Little's Regt during some march & service at Prospect Hill. & returned to said Titcomb's Regt when he again reached said Fort & left there when he did not go to said Prospect Hill & who the Capt was he has forgotten though he believes it was Josiah Little. That after his return to said Pemaquid Island Fort he was under service there. that under Sergeant Daniel Knight. the Lieut Benjamin Sherman. & under Lieut Woodman & Lieut Benjamin Sherman until August 1778 when he was honorably discharged or dismissed, verbally by said Col Titcomb. & never had a written discharge. That he does not know that any of the officers are living. nor does he know of any private as living except Moses Cheney who served at the same time & when I left in the Fort when I was discharged. That he was born in said Berwick on the 23 rd Oct 1753 & moved from said Berwick to said Scarborough in 1795 where he has since resided. That his age is recorded as

the town books of said Newbury
He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to any a pension or an annuity, except the present & he declares that his name is not on any pension roll of any agency in any State.
Joseph Pillsbury
Given & subscribed the day & year of grace before me.
Arthur Ware
Judge of the United States for the Dist. of Maine
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War De- partment) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier as he states.
John Mufsey Clerk of the District Court of the United States for Maine do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Pillsbury for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court on this ninth day of November A.D. one thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
John Mufsey Clerk of U.S. Court Maine District

December 17, 1906.
Hon. A. L. Allen,
House of Representatives.
My dear Mr. Allen:
In reply to the letter of Mr. W. H. McLaughlin of Gorham, Maine, dated the 1st instant, addressed to you, and received in this Bureau on the 15th instant, I have the honor to advise you that from the papers in claim, Survivor's File #18548, it appears that Joseph Pilsbery was born October 23, 1753, at Newbury, Essex county, Massachusetts, where he enlisted in December, 1775, and served under Captains Moses Nowell and Josiah Little, Colonels Jonathan Titcomb and Moses Little in the Massachusetts Militia; he was stationed on Plum Island and at Prospect Hill, and was discharged in August, 1778.
He was allowed pension on an application executed October 25, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Scarborough, Maine.
The date of his death is not shown; for date of last payment of pension apply to the Auditor for the Interior Department, Treasury Department, citing the following data, "Certificate 6668, issued March 6, 1833, under the Act of June 7,

Hom. A. L. Allen.
1832, at the Maine Agency."
It is impossible for this Bureau to determine who was the last Revolutionary pensioner in the state of Maine as the records are arranged alphabetically according to names of pensioners, and not chronologically, nor by states.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

X
6667
Statement to Hon A L Allen H. of R.

3-446. (Old No. 3-646.)
Dr. _____
P. O. _____
Reputation _____
Reported by _____ Date _____
Claim _____
Examiner _____
1460b50m10-01
0-10

Joseph Dilsbury, Maine Role, art June 7 th 1832, at $80. Per Annum. -
For what time was he to be paid?
3 rd Auditor
Pension Office,
May 5 th 1836
R.B.
he was paid to the 4 th Sep 1835 - Pension not on file

18548 INVALID.
1906 Dec. 17 - History to Hon. A. L. Allen. H. of R.
File No. 18548
Joseph Pillsbury De Rev Mr
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. / , Page 444
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Sten Index
Joseph Pillsbury
5. 11. 12. 13.
P 196
Hon J. Audenon Ad/R

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Joseph Pillsbury which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
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?
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?
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? We does not state the terms for which he enlisted - we are the circumstances stated conformable to the general facts of the service in which he was engaged
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
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?

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?
No
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?
It does not appear that the best evidence is here produced. So long an engagement in such service is unusual. It may be shown by the records in the Secretary's office when the Fitzcumb's reg was in the service (at period)
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? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
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?
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 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.
at that

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Feb. 20 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 Joseph Pillsbury's name is borne on a Roll of Men, drafted from the Town of Newbury, for Six months, to reinforce the Continental Army, and on the 15 th of August 1779, he marched for Springfield, where he was mustered and sent on to West Point, where he served until the 20 th of February 1780, for which service he was paid, for Six Months & seventeen Days. . . . . m o days 6 17. Joseph Pillsbury Claims also for Two Years service under Capt Moses Nowell in Col o Titcomb's Reg t in 1775 & 1778 He was Stationed at Plumb Island till March, 1776, when he was marched to Prospect Hill, near Boston, & remained two or three months in Col o Little's Regiment, until the British evacuated Boston, when he returned to said Fort at Plumb Island, and again joined Col o Titcomb's Reg t & served under said Capt. Nowell until Aug. 1778. The Rolls for these services are not found in this Office. Edward D. Bangs Secy

H John Anderson Esq. Washington Post Office certificate

Mr Anderson Esq.
Boston Feb 21 1833
Sir,
I have recd your two Letters & a copy of the Cases of Mr Rose, which I had made diligent search for before I again since, but such is the deficiency of the Rolls of decease in the statements in Names, dates of service, that it requires a great deal more time, in search of for other Captains Rolls, in the same Regiment, to find the Applicants name for service stated, I have did Mr Watson the Three Certificates which contain all the service that can be found in the Office by three different persons Assistance & no one case has had so thorough search & to so little effect.
It was a common practice for the Capt to pay their Men off & make them give Receipts on the Rolls, which they kept for their security which has occasioned in part the deficiency, Extra lab & delays - Should I find any more service for either, I will record them so that they can be sent on let Mr Watson know it, Inclosed is the Certificate you sent to me which, I forgot to leave with the others which has induced me to write by same Mail as it was

to late to see him when I discovered it, with my papers when I got home.
I thought it an object to send a certificate for J. Bryant's services the smaller it serves to show the first & last service which I expect will have a good effect in evidence, & meet your approbation -
am with respect Yr. Able Servant
Elazar Homer

I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the within named Belsbury & at his request myself drew up his application or declaration for a pension & from my knowledge of the man & from the examination in respect to his services which took place at the time I have no doubt of the general & substantial truth of his statement & that he served not the least two years.
John Anderson Rep d in Congress from Massachusetts

Joseph Dilsbury
Maine for New Caledonia

Application for a New Certificate.
State of Maine County of Cumberland ss:
On this 28 th day of April 1836 - Before me the Subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Cumberland personally appeared Joseph Pilsbury who on oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company commanded by Captain Nowell, in the Regiment com- manded by Colonel Little in the service of the United States; that his name was, placed on the pension roll of the state of Maine, under the act of June 7. th 1832 - that he received a certificate of that fact under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War; - Which certificate on or about the twentieth day of December 1835 at Scarborough he lost - as follows - In his absence from home a grandchild of his got access to my chest and took out my pocket book which contained my certificate and carried it abroad and had it among some shavings when some joiners were working and lost it - the Pocket book was found open the next day & the certificate & other papers were missing and I verily believe that the certificate was among the shavings which were collected together & burnt on the day aforesaid when my grandchild carried out my Pocket book as aforesaid -
Sworn and subscribed to before me the day & year first aforesaid
Joseph Pilsbury
Joseph Pepe, Jus: of the Peace

I Robert Moulton of Scarborough in the County of Cumberland & State of Maine do testify and say that I have for twenty years past well known Joseph Pillsbury who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing affidavit. And that I do know that he is the identical person therein named - I also do know that he was a pensioner and has received a pension by virtue of the certificate which he has stated to have been lost - he is a man of veracity and I do believe he has lost his certificate as he has stated. - Robert Moulton
State of Maine Cumberland ss } Personally appeared Robert Moulton above named, well known to me, and whom I certify to be a respectable & credible witness and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed - Before me Joseph Pope. Jus. of the Peace
State of Maine Cumberland. ss.
I Wm D Vaughan, Clerk of the Judicial Courts for said County, certify the Joseph Pope is a Magistrate as above, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County this 30 th day of April A.D. 1836 Wm D Vaughan

Notes
Freeman Bruffra Portland Main

STATE OF MAINE.
CUMBERLAND, SS.
Clerk's Office, Judicial Courts, } PORTLAND, October 7th A. D. 1848. }
I  Chas. C. Harmon
CLERK OF ALL THE JUDICIAL COURTS.
In and for said COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, certify that
Stephen L. Waterhouse is an Acting Justice of the Peace, within and for the County of Cumberland as appears by the paper hereto annexed; that he is DULY QUALIFIED TO ACT as such; that the COMMISSION of the said Waterhouse is dated Jan'y. 24th A. D. 1843, and will expire Jan'y. 24th A. D. 1850.
and that the following this are Genuine.
SIGNATURE purporting to be
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court, for said State, the day and year first above written.
Chas. C. Harmon CLERK.

State of Maine
Cumberland Co. Be it known That before me Stephen L Waterhouse a justice of the Peace personally appeared in and for the County of Cumberland, Joseph Pillsbury a resident of Scarborough aged 95 years and makes the following statement in order to obtain a new pension Certificate in lieu of one which he has lost.
And the said Joseph Pillsbury says that he was placed on the Pension Roll under the act of 1832 at the rate of Eighty dollars per annum which pension he drew till the fourth day of March 1847, and he further states that at the time he received his half yearly stipend to wit from the 4th day of September 1846 to the 4th day of March 1847 he had his pension Certificate and that he lost it on or about the time that he received that last payment. He also states that he has made diligent enquiry for the same and that he cannot find it. He therefore requests the Commissioner of Pensions to issue to him a copy of his former pension Certificate which is lost and direct the Agent at Portland Maine to pay to him the arrearages due to him up to the 4th of September 1848 upon the production

of the proper vouchers. Witness Robert Moulton Joseph Pillsbury
Signed and sworn to on this Sixth day of October A.D. 1848
Before me Stephen L. Waterhouse J. Peace
I further certify that the above named Joseph Pillsbury is well known to me, that he is a revolutionary pensioner of the United States and that he is a credible person and the statements by him made are entitled to be believed.
Stephen L. Waterhouse Jus: Peace

I Henry Moulton of Scarboro in the County of Cumberland on oath depose and say that I am twenty six years of age and upwards and was born in said Scarboro and have always resided in said town from the time of my birth. Joseph Pillsbury of Scarboro is my Grandfather and has resided with me permanently for one year past and had made it his home at my mother's for the space of six or eight years before he came to live with me. He is a revolutionary pensioner of the United States and I have frequently been with him when he received his pension at the Agency in Portland and have seen him receive his money and have frequently seen his pension certificate. He was entitled to receive $80 per annum. Said Joseph Pillsbury has not received any payment since that which became due in March 1847. At the time he drew his last payment as aforesaid he lost his pension certificate and he has not been able to find it since. I have made many enquiries for it and have searched for it at the request of said Joseph Pillsbury but

have not been able to find it. I have no doubt it is lost. Joseph Pillsbury is between ninety and one hundred years of age.
Henry Morton
Cumberland Co. October Sixth 1848 Then person- ally appeared the above named Henry Mor- ton known to me as a credible witness & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him signed.
Before me
Stephen L. Waterhouse Jus. Peace

May 5 Mr. [unclear]
FREE
L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions —
Washington D.C.

Portland, Me. April 30. 1836
J. L. Edwards Esq. Comm. of Pensions
Sir, I forward the application of Joseph Pillsbury for a new pension certificate under the act of June 7. 1832. The original being lost, and as the be- liever is burnt - His pay was $80. per annum - Will you please forward to me a duplicate certificate for him - I
I am Sir very respectfully
Your obed Servt.
Joseph Pope.

Mr. Hanes will please return this Depo. to me within the reason of letter of December

I, Moses Cheney, of Newbury, in the county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy five years and upwards, in truth do testify and say, that I am well acquainted with Joseph Pillsbury who now lives at Scarborough, in the State of Maine, and who formerly lived in said Newbury, and do know that said Joseph Pillsbury was a soldier, in the army of the United States in the war of the revolution, and served as such at Plumb Island, at the entrance of the River Menimite, more than two years. I do know that the said Joseph Pillsbury, enlisted either in the latter part of the year 1775, or commencement of the year 1776, in the company commanded by Captain Moses Norris, and Regiment under Colonel Dumb, Massachusetts Militia raised as guards to the sea coast, and served at said Plumb Island, under said Norris, more than five months, and afterwards under Sergeant Daniel Knight and Lieutenants Benjamin Dyer and under Lieutenant Broadman and under Sergeant Butler, until late in the summer of 1778 or the commencement of autumn of the same year. I served in the same place and in the same company, under the same commanding officers, with said Joseph Pillsbury, between two and three years and then he was discharged and returned to said service.
✓ Moses Cheney
Newburyport October 19. 1832
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss. Town of Newburyport. October 19th 1832. Then Moses Cheney above named, who is personally made known to me personally came and made oath in due form of law in the truth of the above written deposition by him subscribed in my presence. I do also certify that the above named Moses Cheney, is believed by me to be a credible witness.
William O'Callaghan Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss: I John Prince Clerk of the court of Common Pleas for said County, being a court of Record, certify that W m O'Callaghan Esq r is a Justice of the Peace for said County and that his within signature is genuine. In Witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Salem this nineteenth day of October A.D. 1832
John Prince Clerk