Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33135, for Benjamin Morse, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Morse, Benjamin
S 33/35
CONTENTS

1947
Massachusetts.
Benjamin Morse, private, Massachusetts line - / Capt. of child, } 1777 to 1783
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 13 th of April, 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 th of July, 1818. and sent to the care of Edward Bangs, Westminster, Mass.
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818 - $: 37.87. and with after ending
4 months, \frac{22}{30} - $: 37.87
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Sutton, Worcester
C. E.

State of Massachusetts
I Benjamin Morse a Citizen of the United States, now resident at Sutton , — in the County of Worcester in the State aforesaid, do on oath testify and declare, that in the War of the Revolution, on the last day of February A.D. Seventeen Hundred & Seventy Seven
I entered and was engaged in the land — service of the United States on the continental establishment, and served accordingly from that time to the termination of the war
as a private Soldier — against the common enemy, without any interruption or absence: that I belonged to Capt Abraham Childs company in Col. Wilsons Regiment & Gen. Learned's Brigade in the first instance in Massachusetts Line was afterward under Capt. Walker in Col. Sprows Regiment
and that I left the service on or about the 10th of June Seventeen Hundred & Eighty Three — my discharge I have since lost the shadow at the time aforesaid and that, by reason of my reduced circumstances in life and poverty, I stand in need of assistance from my country for support, being now of the age of Sixty Eight years — with little property & my ability to support myself & family by my labor continually deceasing
And I hereby relinquish all claims to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States, if any may be or hath been so allowed.
Benj o Morse
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this 13 th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Eighteen pursuant to a law of the United States, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War," made and passed on the 18th of March, A. D. 1818, personally appeareth before me,
Edw Bangs Judge C. C. Com Pleas Western Circuit
the abovenamed Benj o Morse and after due examination and caution to testify and declare the whole truth, he maketh oath to the declaration aforesaid, and subscribes the same in my presence; and, on examination done by me the said Judge, it appeareth to my satisfaction that the said declaration is true.
up my hand & seal of said Court
Edw Bangs

I John Crane of Northbridge in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Mass hereby do testify & say that I have been for some years personally acquaint- ed with Benjamin Metcalf within named that he is a man of veracity and entitled to credit — —
John Crane
Worcstersh April 13 th 1860 personally appeared John Crane above named and was duly sworn to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed before me Benjamin Metcalf Justice of the Peace And also before me
Edward Bangs
Edward Bangs

I John Roberts of Grafton Mass County testify on oath that I resided in the house of Mr. Nathaniel Webb with his family in the years 1777 & 1779 in alliance with the Tories at the time I frequently saw him at the house
John Roberts New Bedford - Sept 20 th 1818 I swear to be on the oath before the Selectmen, and was within
Edward Bangs, Esq. Judge, State House Westminster Hall, Worcester County, Mass. Benjamin Allen, Massachusetts line, Revolutionary Claim. found on the rolls of Col. Webb's reg. (9 th ) Correct.

Act 1828 Settled at Treasury Coast with Invalid file # 33,135

Penn's Avenue Decr 25 1828
Sir
The Enclosure will state fully the object of this communication. Mr. Morse is an aged infirm man and I have no doubt enlisted for once service during the war. You will excuse his anxiety for doubtless the examination of claims goes forward with all possible despatch.
I have the honor to be
Your Obedt Servt
John Davis of Meep
P.S. I am desired to ask whether the heirs of one deceased since the passage of the law of 1828. can be used as claimants for arrears under that law where the person entitled have not been placed on the roll. Your construction of the act is desired.

33 135 Rev INVALID.
File No. 88,185
Benjamin Moore
Rev War
Act: 18 March 18 n
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 285
[Arrangement of 1870.]

To be returned to L. B. True Present

Mr. L. B. True Dear Sir
Will you please inform me if there has been any back pension money granted & paid (and if any how much) to George W. Rice being one of the heirs of the late Benjamin Morse of Sutton Mass.
If you will you will oblige your humble servant Jonathan H. Ryder one of the heirs of the said Benjamin Morse If you will notice this pleas direct to Jonathan H. Ryder East Holliston Mass. E. Holliston June 3 1853.
Hon S. P. Waldo
Dear Sir
I submit this to your better judgement to give him the information sought by him if you deem it expedient He is an entire stranger to me I know not why he should write me
Yours &c
L. B. True

No. of Original payments 856
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Aug. 26. 1828
Benjamin Morse, of Sutton, in the County of Worcester, in the State of Massachusetts has applied to the Secretary of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled "An Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution," approved the 15th of May, 1828. He states that he enlisted in the Continental line of the army of the Revolution, for and during the war, and continued until its termination, at which period he was a Sergeant in captain Walker 's company, in Col. Sproats regiment of the Massachusetts line; and that he received a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars, provided by the resolve of the 15th of May, 1778; and further, that he was not on the 15th day of May, 1828, on the pension list of the United States, and that he has received as a pensioner since the 3d of March, 1826, nothing .
The Third Auditor is requested to report how far the several statements are corroborated by the records in his office.
By order of the Secretary, H. D. Dikins.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
THIRD AUDITOR'S OFFICE,
1 st September 1828
It appears by the records in this office, that a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars has been issued to Benjamin Morse in the Massachusetts line.
It further appears that Benjamin Morse is now on the pension list of the  any  agency , and has been so since the 3 d March 1826 at the rate of  dollars per month.
The name of Benjamin Morse cannot be found among those of the Massachusetts line to whom Certificates for the gratuity of Eighty Dollars were issued -
It appears from the Muster Rolls of the Massachusetts line that a man by the name of Benjamin Morse, enlisted in the 9 th Reg t of said line on the 18 th February 1777 for the war and it is remarked opposite his name "transferred July 1780" Transfer? I. L. July 1780  Transfer?

Revolutionary Claims.
Under the act, entitled "An act for the relief of certain surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Revolution," approved 15th May, 1828.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
9 January 1829.
The annexed paper, relating to the claim of Benjamin Morse under the abovementioned act, is respectfully referred to the Secretary of War, with a request that he will be pleased to cause me to be informed whether it appears, by any records in the War Department, that the claimant has received, or is entitled to receive, the bounty in land granted by Congress for service in the Continental Line of the Army of the Revolution.
R. Ruth.
The Hon. the SECRETARY OF WAR.
War Depart
Bounty land Offic
10 Jany 1829
The records of this office do not show that Benjamin Morse of the Mass. line ever received or is entitled to bounty land of the United States Robert Taylor

For the purpose of obtaining the benefit of "An act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Army of the Revolution," approved on the 15th of May, 1828, I, Benjamin Morse of Sutton, county of Worcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby declare, that I enlisted into the continental line of the Army of the Revolution for and during the war, on, or about the first day of March, 1777, and continued in its service until its termination, at which period I was a Sergeant in his Captain Walker's company of the Massachusetts Line, and in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Sparat. And I do also declare, that I have no particular recollection of having received a certificate for the reward of Eighty Dollars, to which I was undoubtedly entitled by the Resolve of Congress of May 15th. 1778, and I also declare, that at that date I was a minor, and confined in the Gaol in the city of Philadelphia, a prisoner in the hands of the hands of the British forces, where I continued till about the 20th of June when, upon the evacuation of that city by the British Army, I was removed to the city of New York, where I was confined till the following month of July, when I was regularly exchanged, and immediately rejoined my regiment at White Plains and continued, uninterruptedly in the service till its termination, when I was fairly and honorably discharged. And I further declare that nearly thirty years since I sold to some person, my "bounty land," so called, being 100 acres promised by Congress to all who should enter the service for the term of the continuation of the war, when I lent the purchaser my Discharge, in order for him to prove my title to such lot of land, at the proper Office - but have not been able hitherto, to

regain possession of that Instrument.
And I further declare, that I was not, on the 15th day of March, 1828, on the pension list of the United States.
Benjamin Morse
Before me, Jonathan Leland, a Justice of the Peace in the County of Worcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, personally appeared this day, Aaron Adams, Nathan Chase, and Ambrose Chase, all of said County of Worcester, who did severally make oath, that Benjamin Morse, by whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed is generally reputed and believed to have been a Sergeant in the Army of the Revolution, in manner as therein stated. And likewise, that the additional statements by him made, in the foregoing declaration, are generally and fully believed to be true and correct.
Witness my hand, this sixth day of August, in the year One Thousand, eight Hundred and twenty eight. Jon a Leland.
I Abijah Bigelow, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Worcester, in the State of Massachusetts, do certify that Jonathan Leland, Esquire, before whom the foregoing Affidavits were sworn, was at the time a Justice of the Peace, within and for said County of Worcester, and duly empowered to administer oaths.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, this sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and twenty eight.
Abijah Bigelow, Clerk.

Sutton, December 18. 1828.
Wm L. Davis, Esq.
Mr. Benj a Morse, of this town was placed on the list of Revolutionary Pensioners, soon after the law of Congress, relating to this subject went into operation. His name was stricken off the list, upon the subsequent modification of this law. Early in August last, he made application to have his name placed on the list, agreeably to the act of Congress, approved May 1828. No information relating to the result of the examination of his claim, has yet reached him. If Mr. Morse has not presented satisfactory testimonials, he will, undoubtedly be able to do it, in every respect, unless his not having received a certificate , agreeably to the resol n of Congress of May 1780. should be a bar against his claim. He thinks he never received this certificate. At the time this was granted, he was a prisoner, confined by the British, in Philadelphia or New York, and for aught we know, may be still entitled to this reward. Mr. Morse feels much anxiety on the subject; and will feel himself under strong obligations to you

matter, and communicating the result to me, directed to "Wilkinsonville", as soon as you can conveniently attend to the it. Possibly you may obtain some information, in relation to the fate of his old claim for the reward of Eighty Dollars. In the declaration accompanying his claim, forwarded to the Treasury Department, Mr. Morse went considerably into detail, in relation to the time and circumstances of his service, discharge, &c.
I am, Sir, with respects, &c,
Jan w Leland.