Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33,511, for Joseph Pratt, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental Mass.
Pratt, Joseph
S. 33,511
CONTENTS

19.076. R
Massachusetts.
Joseph Pratt, 29
of Hampshire Co in the state of Massachusetts who was a Private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Pope of the regiment commanded by Colonel Sergeant in the Mass ts line, for the term of one year 1776.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 29 of April 1823
Certificate of Pension issued the 23. of Sept 1823 and Jenette H. L. Lyman Enf. Ad. Adm rs
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1823  33. 60
Semi anl. all'ce ending 4 March 1824  48
4 mo 6 8 / 30
$81. 60
32 1. 60
{ Revolutionary claim, Acts March 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820. & }
33. 60
March 1. 1823
John J. Hunt, May 10/60
Middlebury - Mass

10.259 Joseph Pratt N o 4 Private Col Gargants Regiment Massachusetts Line 1776 17 year
Certificate to be forwarded to Sam l . Hovey Esq r , of Northampton Massach s
where he was honorably discharged from

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Hampshire ss.
On this twenty first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & eighteen before the Hon ble Samuel Putnam one of the Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth personally came & appeared Joseph Pratt aged fifty five years now resident in Enfield in the County of Hampshire aforesaid a Citizen of the United States, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, oath on his oath, made the following declaration in order to obtain the pro- -vision of the late act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war" that he the said Joseph enlisted, at Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth in the Commonwealth, in the month of April 1776 - into the company commanded by Capt Fuller of the Massachusetts Line & into the regiment commanded by Col. Sargent for the term of one year that he continued in the service of the United States for the term of said year & until the expiration thereof when he was honorably discharged from

the D service. that he has lost the D discharge & upon diligent search is not able to find the same - That soon after his D first discharge he again enlisted in Middleboro in the county of Plymouth aforesaid as a private soldier into the company commanded by Capt Hawkins of the Massachusetts line & into the regiment commanded by Lt Col. Barton. for the term of fifteen months & that he continued in the service of the United States, in D Corps. for the D term of fifteen months & until the expiration thereof when he was honorably discharged from D service. That he has never had a written discharge from D last period of service - that he is in reduced circumstances & stands in need of the assistance of his country for support. that he never had received any pension from the United States or any individual State for D service or any part thereof - that he has no other evidence of D service now in his power -
Joseph Pratt
SW. 27
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Hampshire ss. Be it remembered that on the twenty first day of May 1818,

before me Samuel putnam one of the Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court of the said Commonwealth personally came & affirmed the above named Joseph Pratt and made solemn Oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him subscribed - And it appearing to my satisfaction that the said Pratt did serve in the revolutionary war for more than nine months, against the common enemy and that he is in reduced circumstances in life & stands in need of assistance from his country for support, I do now transmit the testimony & proceedings taken & had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the act of Congress made for that purpose.
Given under my hand & the seal of the S court 25 of May 1818.
S. Putnam Just S. J. Court of Mass t .
I Josiah Dwight Clerk for all the Judicial Courts for the County of Hampshire aforesaid do hereby certify that the above named Samuel Putnam is a Judge of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth - that the above signature is genuine being the proper hand-writings of said Judge & that the Seal annexed is the Seal of said Court.
Josiah Dwight Clerk

No 3.
Declaration & oath in open court, & Clerk's Certificate.

Schedule
District of Massachusetts } Hampshire County ss }
On this twenty ninth day of April 1823 personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of record, and being the Supreme Judicial Court, now held at Northampton within and for said County. Joseph Pratt aged sixty three years resident in Longfield in said County, who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows, he enlisted in January 1776 at Middlebury near Boston in the Company of Capt. Dole in the Regiment of Col. Sergeant for one year & he joined the Regiment immediately at Cambridge near Boston and he continued to serve in said Company and Regiment until January 1777 mostly in the State of New-York, and was at the end of the year regularly discharged at Pikes Kill in the State of New-York. he has a Wife aged fifty seven years, she is infirm, he has two young Children. Huldah & Joseph are aged sixteen years and the other fourteen they are not able by reason of bad health to support themselves - he is a day labourer but is unable to support himself and wife without the aid of his Country or by charity - And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of any property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby to diminish it or to bring myself within the provisions of the act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war." passed on the 18 th day of March 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed Joseph Pratt

Schedule of the Estate of Joseph Pratt of Enfield in the County of Hampshire & State of Massachusetts Applicant for a Pension taken by the subscribers this eleventh day of April in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred twenty three.
2 Cows 8.50 00 - 1 sheep 3.00 00 - 3 old Cows 2.00 00 - 1 old Cow 1.00 00 2 Old reeds 1.50 00 - 8 Chairs 3.00 00 - 2 old Tables 1.00 00 - 1 foot stool 50 00 1 old reel, 33 00 - 1 old Tub, 25 00 - 1 spinning wheel, 50 00 - 1 Bible 1.50 00 3 broken Witches, 30 00 - one Do, 50 00 - 1 Do 1.50 00 - 2 old Stalkers, 50 00 1 iron shovel, 8 00 - 3 old milk pans, 25 00 - one Cream Pot - , 10 00 2 Jugs, 16 00 - 1 Spicker, 33 00 - one basket, 16 00 - 15 plates, 83 00 12 Cups & Saucers, 42 00 - 1 Porringer 12 00 - 1 Bread tray 12 00 - 2 Looms, 20 00 2 Pitchers, 17 00 - 2 Glass Pottles, 25 00 - 1 Coffee Pot, 17 00 - 1 Coffee pot 10 00 1 Do steel yards 50 00 - 1 Sack of Glass, 50 00 - 1 Case Knives & Forks, 16 00 = $30.50
We the subscribers testify and say that we have viewed the property contained in the above schedule shown to us by Joseph Pratt above named on his property and are of opinion that the sums set against the respective items are their true value.
Eliphaz Reed Seth Tinkham Samuel Tinkham
Hampshire ss April 26 th 1823
Then personally appeared Eliphaz Reed, Seth Tinkham and Samuel Tinkham above named and made oaths to the above certificate by them subscribed before me Eliza Symon, Justice of the Peace. I certify that Eliphaz Reed, Seth Tinkham & Samuel Tinkham above named are disinterested and Credible witnesses.
Eliza Symon Justice of the Peace

I Solomon Stoddard Jun r Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for the County of Hampshire do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said 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 is thirty Dollars and fifty Cents. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this fifteenth day of May A D 1823.
S. Stoddard Jr. Clerk Sup. Jud. Court

Norwich, Connecticut, March 19. 1860.
Wm. Genge C. Whiting - Comm. of Pensions - Sir.
Joseph Pratt a native of Middlebury, Mass. enlisted at that place and served through the war as I un- derstand. He drew a pension till his death, which occurred some 15 to 17 years ago at Enfield Mass. - He leaves two children - a daughter, Huldah Downing, of Belchertown Mass., and a son Perez Pratt of Belchertown in this State. His son is an aged man, in indigent circum- stances, and is desirous to know if there is not some arrear of pay due to the father and also to bounty land, which pay and land his children would be entitled to. A Mr. Lang- ley of Belchertown Mass. has already drawn stand moved in the for Mrs. Downing. He re- resent Mr. Pratt. I will be much obliged if you will reply at an early day, and give the old gentleman all the information in your power.
Yours Obt. Servant
M. W. Galt

Joseph Smith
Mar 22-1860
PHBB
March 22-1860
Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

The enclosed application of Joseph Pratt was made to the War Office in 1810 and returned with a Pencil mark on the back of it - "Proof of service wanted" - He has traveled nearly 1000 miles for the Proof - he thinks he has now procured it - he is a very Poor man & needs his Pension.

Nº 7

The enclosed application of Joseph Pratt was made to the War Office in 1810 and returned with a Pencil mark on the back of it - "Proof of service wanted" - He has traveled nearly 1000 miles for the Proof - he thinks he has now procured it - he is a very Poor man & needs his Pension.

33 511
INVALID.
Rev
File No. 33,511
Joseph Pratt Pri Rev War
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 9, Page 328
[Arrangement of 1870.]

War Department, Pension Office, August 22 d . 1823.
Sir,
Your claim to a pension has been examined. — Your statements in the two declarations you have made differ so widely, that the claim is rendered very doubtful, because when the evidence does not agree, it is impossible to ascertain whether any or what part be true. — In one declaration you state that you enlisted at Bridgewater in April, 1776, in Fuller's company, and served one whole year — in the other, you allege that you enlisted at Middlebury in January 1776 in Popp's company, for one year, and was discharged in January 1777. — Until you make a satisfactory explanation under oath, the claim cannot be admitted. The papers will remain on our files. —
With due respect, J. L. Edwards
Mr. Joseph Pratt, Care of E. Lyman, Esq. Enfield, Massachusetts

I Joseph Pratt of Enfield in the County of Hampshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts under oath make this declaration that I enlisted in January 1776 at Middleborough Mass, into the Company then commanded by Capt. Saxe Col. Sargeants Regiment - The reason why I stated in my first declaration that the Company was commanded by Capt. Fuller was owing in some measure to my confused recollection, and to the circumstance, also, that Fuller (who was a Lieut. in the Company) at some period during the year, had the command, and was called Capt. I can alledge no other cause of stating, in my first declaration, that I enlisted at Bridgewater in April 1776 than what might arise from this circumstance, that although I enlisted in January, at Middleborough, I was not mustered until some time afterwards at Bridgewater, a neighboring Town, - and in April I think joined the Regt. - Another cause of error, in relation to dates, might have been owing to the circumstance of including in my declaration two periods of service, that of twelve Months, in Col. Sargeants Regiment - and another of fifteen Months in Lieut. Col. Pappan's Regt. - In addition to these reasons may be added the feeble and impaired state of my mind and recollection - I now, under oath, repeat the declaration, that I performed twelve Months service (wanting a few days) in Col. Sargeants Regt. - That the schedule of property heretofore made out & sworn to, a copy of which was forwarded to the Pension Office, included all the property which I possess - that I have not transferred, since the first of March 1818, any property, with a view to bring myself within the provisions of the act of Congress granting pensions to revolutionary

= solding &c - nor am I able with the assistance of my family, to obtain for them a comfortable support by labour, and I have no other resources upon which to depend for a maintenance - Joseph Pratt
Hampshire ss } September 1 st 1823 }
Then the said Joseph Pratt personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him subscribed
Before me Oliver Lyman - Justice of the Peace
We the Subscribers, Inhabitants of Enfield, are acquainted with Joseph Pratt, who has subscribed the foregoing statement, and do certify that said Pratt is a person of full body, with a mind much impaired - We further say that we believe him to be a man of veracity, and do place confidence in his declarations - and that he is now, and has been for several years past extremely poor -
Sept. 1 st 1823
Marshall S Jones
Leonard Woods
J. B. Wood
Oliver Lyman
Thomas Jones

No 6
State Juries
This Witness I swear that himself & Pratt belonged to Captain Dawkins's Comp'y & Topham's Reg't in 1779 - were mustered, & paid a year

I Amasa Bryant formerly of Middleborough of Massachusetts Commonwealth now of Hartland in the County of Windsor and State of Vermont testify and say, that while I resided in said Middleborough I was well acquainted with Joseph Pratt then of said Middleborough now of Enfield in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and was well knowing that said Joseph Pratt was in the service of the United States in the 1777 and that we both belonged to Capt. Perkins company of a Regiment commanded either by Col. Sappen or Stanton
Barton was Lieut Col, and that said Pratt served more than one year to my knowledge as said Pratt and myself were mess mates during the whole time
Amasa Bryant
State of Vermont } At Hartland in said Windsor County } County this 27th day of August AD 1821 Amasa Bryant well known to me to be a credible witness personally appeared and made solemn oath to the foregoing deposition by him subscribed Before me Elihu Smith Chief Judge of Windsor County Court

State of Vermont Windsor County ss
Woodstock County Clerk's Office
August the 28 th A 1821. —
I Benjamin Swan Clerk of the County Court within & for the County of Windsor, Do hereby Certify, that Elisha Luce is Chief Judge of said Windsor County Court, and that the within is his signature. —
IN TESTIMONY whereof I hereunto subscribe my name, and affix the Seal of said County Court the day & year above. —
Benj u Swan
A handwritten signature in cursive, reading "Benj u Swan", with a large, decorative flourish underneath the name.

p o 51
State prison
At- Peyton's -

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I Joseph Bump of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth, years of lawful age to give evidence, testify & say that Joseph Pratt late of Middleborough aforesaid but now of Enfield in the County of Hampshire & Commonwealth of the United States served into the Commonwealth aforesaid, enlisted as a private soldier into the Company commanded by Capt. Hawkins & Regiment of which I often was led. & Boston sent out in about the year A.D. 1778. that said Pratt this enlistment was for the term of fifteen months, and I know that said Pratt served the term out and was in it more than twelve months, that I was a soldier at the same time in the same Company & met with said Pratt, we were discharged at the same time & were together, but had neither of us any written discharge. And further the Deponent saith not. June 5 th 1820.
Joseph Bump
Plymouth ss. Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
On the sixth fifth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & twenty personally appeared the above named Joseph Bump and after being carefully examined & cautioned made oath to that aforesaid deposition by him subscribed - taken at the request of Joseph Pratt to be used  entirely by him to establish his claim to a pension from the  United States  extraordinary  of the  United States .
Before me Wilkes Woods Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum
I further certify that the above named Deponent is a man of truth & veracity & that I have known him & been acquainted with him for more than thirty years last past
Wilkes Woods Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum for the County of Plymouth

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
John B Thomas, Clerk of the Judicial Courts for the County of Plymouth, hereby cer- tify that the Hon. Wilkes Wood, is a Justice of the Peace, for the County of Plymouth, duly qualified, to administer oaths, and take dep- ositions and that the signature to the fore- going attestation is the true signature of the said Justice.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand affixed the seal of the Courts this thirteenth day of March A.D. 1821
John B. Thomas

No. 2.
Amasa Bryant's Df.

I Anna Bryant of Hartland in the County of Litchfield and State of Vermont. I testify and say that at the commencement of the revolution any war I resided in Middleborough County of Plymouth Commonwealth of Massachusetts and at that time Joseph Pratt now of Lenfield County of Hampshire Common- wealth of Massachusetts, then resided in said Middleborough and that sometime in the winter of the year 1776 said Pratt # I myself enlisted in Capt. Papes company Col. Sargents Regiment of the Massachusetts line for one year we immediately entered the service, we went into Boston soon after the British evacuated it stay'd in Boston a short time then went to Fort Independence and continued there till the 4th July 1776 Then March for New York we arrived at New Gate and was stationed there till after the Battle took New York from them said Regiment March and Skirmish in several places in the State of New York till the Regiment arrived at Pittsfield in New York at which place said Pratt stayed till a few days before his time was out, and then said Pratt and myself was discharged by Capt Pape in consequence of sickness Anna Bryant

State of Vermont } At Barre and in said County Windsor County } this 15 th day of June 1822 Amasa Bryant well known to me to be a credible witness Personally appearing made solemn oath that the foregoing depositions by him subscribed contains the truth and nothing but the truth Before Elisha Luce Chief Judge of Windsor County Court
State of Vermont } Woodstock County Clerk's Office Windsor County } June the 17 th A.D. 1822 I Benjamin Swan Clerk of the County Court within for the County of Windsor do certify that Elisha Luce is Chief- Judge of the County Court within and for said County and that the above is his Signature -
In TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto af- fixed the Seal of said Court, and subscribe my name the day & year last above
Benj n Swan

No 1. Thos Gibbs Deposition -
Deposition of no avail
New Depositions

I Thomas Gibbs of Pittsford in the County of Rutland & State of Vermont testify & say that at the commencement of the revolutionary war. or in the year 1776 in the summer, I was a soldier in Col d Sargeants Reg t and became acquainted with Joseph Pratt then of Middleborough. County of Plymouth Massachusetts who was a soldier in Capt d Pops Company in the same Regiment. and at Cambridge. where our Reg t was then stationed and afterwards was at Boston. and in the same summer the last of July the Reg t marched to New York State New York. where our Reg t remain a while & during the fall was was at New York. White Plains & different places. and afterwards went to Brandywine & during all the time aforesaid I was well acquainted with the said Pratt. and will recollect him and believe he was discharged a few days before his year was out. in consequence of sickness. & I have no doubt but the said Pratt is the same man that I was then acquainted with at the time aforesaid that has this day called on me for this deposition and further say not Pittsford 24 th August 1822
Thomas Gibbs

State of Vermont Rutland County
Be it known that at Pittsford in said County on the 24 th day of August A.D. 1822 Thomas Gibbs of Pittsford was known to me to be a man of veracity personally appeared & made solemn oath that the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed contains the truth & nothing but the truth lyon.
Gordon Newell Just Peace
State of Vermont Rutland County
I Robert Pierpoint Clerk of the County Court for the County of Rutland hereby certify that Gordon Newell Esq. is a Justice of the peace for said County of Rutland duly commissioned.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Rutland this 24 th day of August 1822 R. Pierpoint