Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,161, for Abner Pittee, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Pittee, Abner
S 18161
Carded
CONTENTS

10318-
New Hampshire
Abner Pittee
of Francestown in the State of N H who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain  of the  commanded by Col  in the  Mass line for 8  .
Inscribed on the Roll of N H at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 nd day of Apr 1833 and sent to  Brown Francestown N H
Arrears to the 4th of Jan 1833 $ 53.32 Semi-ant. allowance ending 2 Feb. 1833
$ 66.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H   Clerk Book  Vol. 1 st Page 110.

x o 147
Abner Pitten
8551

STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
County of Hillsborough, ss.
On this
30th
day of August. A.D. 1832
personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate, now sitting at Frances-town within and for the County of Hillsborough, in the State aforesaid, Abner Pitte a resident of the town of Frances- town in said county aged 81 years Who being 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 is to say,
On the 19th of April 1775 having previously enlisted as a minute man He was called into the service, & afterwards enlisted for eight months from the first of May - and under these enlistments served from said 19th day of April to the end of the year. He served in Capt. Joseph Guild's company in Col. Grayton's regiment. Other officers of the com- pany & regiment whose names he remembers were Lieut. Gay. Ensign Bueland & Lieut. Col. Vose. He was stationed at Dorchester and at Cambridge in Fort No. 2.
He was born at Dedham, Massachusetts March 24. 1751. has in his possession no record of his age - lived on Dedham, Massachusetts when called into the service - and since the Revolutionary War has lived, and now lives in Frances-town N.H. - never received any discharge from the service in writing. Hon. Peter Wood- bury and Hon William Bixby of Frances-town are persons in his present neighborhood to whom he is known who can testify as to his character for veracity

and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution
5881
He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity, whatever, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll, of the agency of any State, Alvin Pettee Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Colmund Parker. Judge of Probate
We Moses Bradford a Clergyman residing in the town of Frankstown in the county of Hillsborough aforesaid, and Thomas Fisher residing in Frankstown aforesaid, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Alvin Pettee who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be 81 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, Moses Bradford  Thomas Fisher
Colmund Parker. Judge of Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that after the investigation of the matter, and 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 Moses Bradford who has signed the preceding Certificates is a Clergyman resident in the town of Frankstown and that Thomas Fisher who has signed the same, is a resident in the town of Frankstown and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Colmund Parker — } Judge of Probate for said County of Hillsborough.
I Charles H. Atherton , Register of the court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Alvin Pettee for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said court, this day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.
C. H. Atherton
Register of Probate, for said county of Hillsborough.

STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
County of Hillsborough, SS.
At the Court aforesaid, On the application aforesaid, the following interrogatories were propounded to the said Abner Pittee and the following answers given, to wit:
1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Answer, at Dedham, Massachusetts, March 24, 1757
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it?
Answer, I have no record
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? Answer, I lived in Dedham, when called into the service - and since the Revolutionary War have lived and now live in Francestown, N H
4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute, for whom? Answer, I entered
5. State the names of some of the regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served, such Continental and Militia Regiments, as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service?
Answer, I believe all the particulars within my recollection required by this interrogatory are stated in my (foregoing) declaration
6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? Answer, I did not receive any written discharge
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution?
Answer, Hon Peter Woodbury & Hon William Biscoe of Francestown
Certified by
C. H. Hutton Register.

No 8551— Abner Pittee— Private 8 Months
The official char- acter & signature of the Magistrate not certified Nov 22 1832
of 26/66
Titus Brown
C. H. Atkinson Esq.
Franklin N. H.

No 8551.
BRIEF in the case of  Abner Pittee — of Francestown — in the State of New Hampshire — (Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open court.
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 81
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.     In 1775 Apr 19. — 8 — Private Gen. Capt Guild — Col Grayton —  
5. In what battles was he engaged? none
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? y Dedham. Mass. 5 — Francestown N.H.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary — one living witness — not certified to be credible —
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? correct except as to the authentication of the testimony of the witness.
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Sam H. Potts Examining Clerk.

18161 INVALID.
File No. 18161
Alma Mater
Rev. Rev. Rev.
Act: June 7 th 32.
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 297
[Arrangement of 1870.]

85-57
Abner Pithee
John Brown
C. H. Atherton Esq.
Frederickson
NH

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Abner Pittee 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? 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? yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 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? 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? 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? The affidavits of the claimant and the testimony of the living witness are properly attested and Calhoun 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 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.
† 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
‡ 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.

Secretaries Office
Boston Aug. 24. 1839.
Sir,
Upon a roll headed "Camp at Cambridge Oct. 6. 1775 - a return of Capt. Farnum's company company in Col. Frye's Regiment" we find the name of John Johanna entered as having enlisted in Boston. Date of enlistment not specified. . . . . On a roll headed - "muster roll of Capt. Joseph Smith's company in the 36 th Reg t of Foot in the Continental Army encamped in Fort no. 2. Oct. 5 th " we find the name of Abner Pithee who is entered as having enlisted the 3 rd of May.
We can find nothing concerning Samuel Bickford on any roll.
Very respectfully
your obed t serv t
John O. Bigelow
Hon. J. L. Cushing

J. Johnson Det.
Peter

I John Johnson of Francetown in the State of New Hampshire aged seventy three years depose that in the month of June, I think it was, 1775, being then a resident of Dedham in the State of Massachusetts I took the place of one Joseph Kingsbury of Dedham who had enlisted into the eight months service and belonged to Capt Joseph Guild's company in Col. Grayson's regiment; and I served in the same company in his stead from that time to the end of the year - Abner Pitter then of Dedham now of Francetown was a soldier in the company when I joined it & continued to do duty therein until the end of the year. And I have always understood & believed that the said Pitter then was in the service from the 19th of April preceding until that time
John Johnson
State of New Hampshire Hillsborough County ss. Sept. 3. 1832 - Then the above named John Johnson who is a reputable person and entitled to credit as a witness hereunto appeared & made oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is true Before me Titus Brown Justice of the Peace
I Andrew Wallace, Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire, certify that Titus Brown is a Justice of the Peace for said County as above, and that the foregoing signature, purporting to be his, is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of Office, and subscribed my name, this fourth day of December in the year of our Lord, 1832.
A. Wallace Clerk