Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30591, for Ezra Morton, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass,
Morton, Ezra
S 30591
CONTENTS

16302 MACHINERY
Ezra Morton of Kingston in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Powell of the _____ commanded by _____ in the Mass regt for 5 months State of
67 Physick
Inscribed on the Roll of MACHINERY at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of April 1833 and sent to J. C. S. Secretary of War Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $53.33 Semi-ant. allowance ending 11 Sept. " 13.33 $66.66
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. H. Addison Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 9 Page 32

6575
Ezra Morton
Private
8 March
W. C. E.
- Albany
For L Capt Gen for J L Adams
Jefferson
Plymouth Mass

65752  BRIEF in the case of Ezra Morton  of Kingston in the State of Mass  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 64  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.     July In 1781 8 Private Gen. Sergt. Bartlett of a Sgt. guard in the Harbour of Plymouth  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Plymouth  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Two living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Right 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. C. Easton Examining Clerk.
24 Jan 33

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH, ss.
ON this twenty first day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before Hon. Wilkes Wood Judge of the Court of Probate now sitting at Kingston within and for said County of Plymouth, Ezra Morton a resident of Kingston in said County of Plymouth, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged sixty four 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 act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. That is to say, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
That in July 1781, he enlisted as a soldier in the garrison of the Fort on the Gurnet in the outer Harbour of Plymouth, and lying on Massachusetts Bay - That a sergeant's guard constituted said garrison during the year 1781, the remaining years of the war - that Solomon Bartlett was the sergeant - and that this applicant there served in said garrison for the term of eight months.
And this Applicant says, that he served in the Militia as above specified for the term of eight months, and had no written discharge - That he was born in Plymouth in said County in the year 1768, and that his birth is on the records of said Town, and that he lived in Plymouth during the Revolutionary war. That he is known generally to the inhabitants of Plymouth and Kingston and especially to Thomas P. Beal Esq. Counsellor at Law, and Rufus Bradford Postmaster, who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services.
Ezra Morton

Sworn to and subscribed in Probate Court this day and year aforesaid.
Attest Jacob H. Lord Register

We, Lephaniah Willis a clergyman, residing in the town of Kingston and John Thomas Esquire residing in the same town hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Ezra D. Morton who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Sixty four years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Attest Jacob H. Lord Reg
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Lephaniah Willis who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Kingston and that John Thomas Esquire who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same town and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
By order of the Court
Attest Jacob H. Lord Reg
I, Jacob H. Lord  legit o of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Ezra Morton for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twenty first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two .
Jacob H. Lord

30591 Ray INVALID.
File No. 30,591
Ezra Norton
Rev. Rev. War
Act: June 1 st 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 284
[Arrangement of 1870.]

65-65
Ezra Morton
J. H. Lord Plymouth Mass

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Ezra Morton which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy 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? yy 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? yy VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy 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? yy

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's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? Yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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 ? Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily ? And, if not, which of them is not so answered ? Yes
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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
† 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 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.
☞ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

I John Burgess of Plymouth in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts of the age of sixty six years testify and say, that in the latter years of the war I served one two years in the garrison on the Gurnet, so called, in the outer Harbour of Plymouth - And I further testify and say, that I will recollect Ezra Morton then of Plymouth and now of Hingston and an applicant for a Pension, to have been a soldier and to have served in said garrison in the year 1781 in a Sergeant's Guard. I belonged to the guard and know that said Ezra Morton served in said garrison eight months. I have always known Mr Ezra Morton since that time. The name of the Sergeant was Solomon Bartlett.
John Burgess
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County ss.
15 th Aug. 1832. Then personally appeared the above named John Burgess, and made oath, that the above Deposition by him subscribed is true - And I further certify that said John Burgess is well known to me, and is a man of veracity and good character.
Wm Thomas, Justice of the Peace, and Commissioner appointed by the U.S. Circuit Court for the Mass. Dis. to take Depositions in all cases, in which they may be used in said Court.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth being a Court of Record do hereby certify that William Thomas Esq before whom the within Deposition was taken is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Plymouth & that his name subscribed to the within certificate is his true & proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this twenty first day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Jacob H. Lord

Ezra Morton
No 6575.
Given to John H. Morton in name of his wife Mary H. Morton the sum of five hundred dollars for the purchase of a house in the town of Boston. Witness my hand and seal this 15th day of December 1842.
Given to John H. Morton in name of his wife Mary H. Morton the sum of five hundred dollars for the purchase of a house in the town of Boston. Witness my hand and seal this 15th day of December 1842.
William Lloyd

I William Burgess of Plymouth in the County of Plymouth and state of Massachusetts of the age of seventy years testify and say that I was a soldier in the war of the Revolution in the garrison on the Gunnet, so called, in the outer Harbour of Plymouth over two  three years in the last years of the war. I further testify and say, that in the year 1781 - Ezra Morton now of Hingham, and an Applicant for a Pension was a soldier in the garrison for the term of eight months - while he was there a Serjeant & guard garrisoned the Fort. The name of the Serjeant was Solomon Bartlett.
William Burgess
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County ss. 15 th Aug. 1832 - Then personally appeared the above named William Burgess, and made oath that the above Deposition by him subscribed is true - and I further certify that said William Burgess is well known to me, and is a man of truth and good character.
Wm. Thomas, Justice of the Peace, and Commissioner, appointed by the U.S. Circuit Court for the Mass. Dist. to take Depositions in all cases in which Depositions may be used in S t Court.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Plymouth ss. To Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth being a Court of Record, do hereby certify that William Thomas Esquire before whom the above affidavit was made is a Justice of

the Lease & that his name thereto subscribed is his true & proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this twenty fifth day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two. Jacob H. Lord
Copia Morton
1065/25
William Lloyd