Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18,553, for Dier Pratt, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Pratt, Dier
S. 18553
Carded
CONTENTS

6716
Massachusetts
Dier Pratt
of Bristol in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt recommended by Col Putnam in the Spal line for 18 (May 24 Days)
Miles
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 62 Dollars 67 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 th day of Mar 1833 and June 1833 Lodge No of Rep
Arrears to 4th of Mar 1833 $125.34 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept " 31.33
$156.67
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H Blair Clerk, Book D - Vol. 2 nd Page 75.
79 Pension

hundred and...
Dear Pratt 9.S.R.
3987
Dear Pratt Edm.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, BRISTOL, ss.
At a COURT of PROBATE holden at Taunton in and for said County on the twenty eighth day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, before the Honorable HODJAH BAYLIES , Judge of the Probate, &c. for said County, personally appeared Dier Pratt a resident of Taunton in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy seven years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832, make the following declaration, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein after mentioned in reply to the fifth subjoined interrogatory; To wit, under Capt. Moses Merrill, in the regiment commanded by Col. Marsh; he does not remember the other officers of the Company or regiment nor the first name of the Col.; again under Capt. Robert Crossman & Abiel Macomber in a regiment commanded by Col. Thomas Carpenter, St. Col. Lane, a major major; again under the same Capt. Crossman, St. Col. Thayer, not then in any regiment, Brig. Gen. Godfrey had the general command; again under Capt. Lincoln Cobb, St. Col. Burt, don't recollect the Regiment; again under Capt. Rufus Barney, in a regiment commanded by Colonel Whittington, whose first name is unknown to him; again under Capt. Matthew Randall, St. Col. Nathan Hack & John Godfrey, don't recollect the regiment; again under St. Col. Nehemiah Pratt, not in any regiment; and he will state the particulars in his answers to the fifth interrogatory;
and further declares as follows, in reply to the interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of War; to wit:
1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Ans. That he was born in Taunton in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty five .
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it? The record of my birth is on the Book kept for recording births in said Town according to Law , a copy of which certified by the present Town Clerk of said Town is hereto annexed.
3 Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? I have always resided in said Taunton; but being on a visit to Gloucester in Maine I then first entered the service.
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? I generally entered the service by voluntarily enlisting; on two occasions being enrolled in the militia, the Company was ordered out by its officers and I marched accordingly; all my services were in the State Troops or militia.
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. Under Capt Merrill I entered in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five, in the Spring, but the month I cannot remember; we marched from Gloucester, through Portland to Cambridge near Boston; our company was stationed there in Fort No. 2. and was employed in completing that & assisting to build Winter Hill Fort, we served there eight months in the army besieging Boston; we were under the command of Gen. Putnam and the only other officers I recollect there were Col. Prescott, & also a Col. Patterson who commanded a New Hampshire regiment; we had no engagement with the enemy; but they cannonaded us at Winter Hill Fort and killed some men; under Capt Crossman I entered in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six I think in the month of September; we marched from Taunton, through Providence in R. Island to Hartford & Newhaven in Connecticut to a place called Horseneck, where we staid during our term of service, which was for two months; Col. Macintosh of Roxbury in Mass ts with his regiment co-operated with us; we had during the time one or two skirmishes with the enemy; one evening Gen. Parsons, of, as I understood, the Continental line, sent us word that the British would probably make an attack on us the next morning, and ordered us to maintain our position until he came to relieve us; the enemy did attack us, but retreated upon the approach of Gen. Parsons; again under Capt Crossman I marched from Taunton to Warren in R. Island and served there six weeks guarding the Coasts from any incursion of the enemy; this was in the months of November & December in the year last aforesaid; Under Capt Cobb, I marched from Taunton to Providence in R. Island, in the month of September in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven, and served there two months on guard as before; on these two last occasions I cannot remember what other troops, if any, were there; Under Capt.

4. How were you called into service ; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? I generally entered the service by voluntarily enlisting; on two occasions being enrolled in the militia, the company was ordered out by its officers and I marched accordingly; all my services were in the State troops or militia.
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served ; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. Under Capt Merrill I entered in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five, in the Spring, but the month I cannot remember; we marched from Gloucester, through Portland to Cambridge near Boston; our company was stationed there in Fort N o 2. and was employed in completing that & assisting to build Winter Hill Fort; we served there eight months in the army besieging Boston; we were under the command of Gen. Putnam and the only other officers I recollect there were Col. Prescott, & also a Col. Patterson who commanded a New Hampshire regiment; we had no engagement with the enemy; but they cannonaded us at Winter Hill Fort and killed some men; under Capt Crossman I entered in the year seventeen hundred and seventy six. I think in the month of September; we marched from Taunton, through Providence in R. Island to Hartford & Newhaven in Connecticut to a place called Horseneck, where we staid during our term of service, which was for two months; Col. Macintosh of Roxbury in Mass ts with his regiment co-operated with us; we had during the time one or two skirmishes with the enemy; one evening Gen. Parsons, of, as I understood, the continental line, sent us word that the British would probably make an attack on us the next morning, and ordered us to maintain our position until he came to relieve us; the enemy did attack us, but retreated upon the approach of Gen. Parsons; again under Capt Crossman I marched from Taunton to Warren in R. Island and served there six weeks guarding the coast from any incursion of the enemy; this was in the months of November & December in the year last aforesaid; Under Capt Cobb, I marched from Taunton to Providence in R. Island, in the month of September in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven, and served there two months on guard as before; on these two last occasions I cannot remember what other troops, if any, were there; Under Capt. Barney I entered in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight in what month I do not remember, we marched from Taunton to Howland's Ferry in Tiverton, R. Island, thence to Little Compton in the same State, thence back to said Ferry where we crossed to R. Island and marched to Butts's Hill, thence to the American lines near Newport, thence back to Butts's Hill, the next day the Battle of Quaker Hill was fought, our regiment was not engaged, it was under arms, and ready; but was not ordered to advance; the night after the Battle we re-crossed Howland's Ferry being the retreat of what was called Sullivan's expedition; I do not recollect any of the officers except Gen. Sullivan; I served on this occasion two months; Under Capt. Randall I marched from Taunton in the latter part of the year seventeen hundred & seventy eight, to Warwick  East Greenwich in R. Island State, and served there at Providence three months guarding the coast, as before; Under Lt. Pratt I marched from Taunton to Slade's Ferry and served there ten days in the year seventeen
8 m s -
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18 th 2 m s -
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2 m s -
3 m s -
10 days 18 m s 25 days.

hundred and eighty, the month I have forgotten, to prevent the enemy from landing from their shipping; for my services at Horseneck & in Sullivan's expedition I know of no surviving witness & have no documentary evidence; for my other services above stated I refer to the affidavits herewith annexed; I have since making the above statement I have discovered the evidence of Nathaniel Britton & procured his annexed affidavit.

6. Were you a Soldier or an Officer? if a Soldier, did you ever receive a discharge from service; and, if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? if an Officer, did you ever receive a commission, and if so by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? I was a soldier & never had a written discharge
7. State the names of the 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.
The clergymen on whose teaching I attended is absent at this time, I therefore name the Hon. James L. Hodges and James Woodward both of said Taunton, and the Reverend Pitt Clarke of Norton the town adjoining said Taunton;
And the said Deer Pratt doth further declare that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State, or (if any) only on that of the agency of the State of
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
WE Pitt Clarke of Norton a town adjoining Taunton and residing in James L. Hodges & James Woodward both of said Taunton aforesaid -  residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Deer Pratt who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be about seventy seven years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Pitt Clarke, James L. Hodges H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
AND the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter 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 Pitt Clarke who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Norton adjoining Taunton in said County of Bristol, and that James L. Hodges who has also signed the same is a resident in said Town, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate. Register of Probate.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } BRISTOL, ss.
I Anselm Bassett Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Deer Pratt of Taunton in said County, for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court the day and year first above written.
Anselm Bassett

Joshua Staples of Taunton in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy five years testify & say that I have known Dea Pratt of said Taunton for sixty years or more; That not long after the Battle of Lexington in 1775, said Pratt & myself being in the Town of Gloucester in Maine, whither we had gone in the same vessel together, then both enlisted into a company of militia commanded by Capt Moses Merrill, we then marched to Cambridge near Boston & were stationed in Fort No 2. We served together as soldiers in said Company eight months; at another time afterwards in the fall of the year I think in the month of September in the year seventeen hundred & seventy seven, said Pratt & I belonging to a company of militia under the Command of Capt Simeon Cobb, we marched in said Company from Taunton to Providence in the State of Rhode Island and staid there two months guarding the place against any attack from the enemy which then occupied Rhode Island.
Joshua Staples
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss. August 14. 1832 Joshua Staples made oath to the truth of the affidavit aforesaid by him signed.
Before me A Barrett Just. of the Peace
Dea Pratt the son of Noah Pratt & And Sarah his wife was born in Taunton March 31. 1755
As appears on Record in Town Book
Attest Alfred Williams, Town Clerk

Joshua Staples of Taunton in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy five years testify & say that I have known Dea Pratt of said Taunton for sixty years or more; That not long after the Battle of Lexington in 1775, said Pratt & myself being in the Town of Gloucester in Maine, whither we had gone in the same vessel together, then both enlisted into a company of militia commanded by Capt Moses Merrill, we then marched to Cambridge near Boston & were stationed in Fort N o 2. We served together as soldiers in said Company eight months; at another time afterwards in the fall of the year I think in the month of September in the year seventeen hundred & seventy seven, said Pratt & I belonging to a company of militia under the Command of Capt. Simeon Cobb, we marched in said Company from Taunton to Providence in the State of Rhode Island and staid there two months guarding the place against any attack from the enemy which then occupied Rhode Island.
Joshua Staples
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss. August 14. 1832 Joshua Staples made oath to the truth of the affidavit aforesaid by him signed.
Before me A Bassett Just. of the Peace
Bristol ss. June 15. 1833. Joshua Staples who signed the above affidavit is a disinterested credible person - A Bassett Just. of the Peace -

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss. I Anselm Bassett, Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that Anselm whose signatures are affixed to the certificates to Joshua Staples affidavit within, is a Justice of the Peace and qualified to administer oaths —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this fifteenth day of January Eighteen hundred and thirty three — Anselm Bassett

Washington Feb. 22 nd 1833.
I hereby certify that I have full confidence in the credibility of the witnesses in the foregoing declaration to wit - Nathaniel Britton, Stephen William and Deborah Staples -
James L. Stokes.

3987. Dion Pratt of Bristol Co. Mass.
Private 18 months 24 days Adm'd
St. 14th
Dec 29
$62.67.
P 196.
A Ballette Santa Bristol Co. Mass

BRIEF in the case of  Dier Pratt  vs  the State of  Mass (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? in Open Court  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  How old is he? 77 years.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. As a Names of General and field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1775- 8 p Gen. Putnam   76 2 n " Capt Merrill   " 1 14 n " Crossman   77 Febr 2 - " D. Barney   78 - 2 - Capt Cobb   " - 3 - " Brig Genl Barney   80 - 10 - " Brig Genl Rundle   Lieut. Pratt  
 In what battles was he engaged? Horse Creek  Where did he reside when he entered the service? Gloucester Maine  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses - Traditionary evidence  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. H. P. Blair . Examining Clerk.

I 18553
INVALID.
File No. 18553
Dier Pratt
Pin New War
Act: June 7 th 39
Index:—Vol. / , Page 303
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Dear Pratt
A. Basset

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Dies Prate of Bristol Co. Mass  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? 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? no 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? no And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? no 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 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.

I John Presbrey of Taunton in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy two years testify and say, that in the fall of the year seventeen hundred and seventy six D r Pratt, of said Taunton, enlisted  marched in the same company of militia to which we both belonged, under Capt. Obed Crossman, S t Benjamin Shores, in what regiment I have forgotten, but in the Brigade commanded Gen. George Godfrey, on an apprehended incursion of the enemy from Taunton to Warren in the State of Rhode Island and were employed six weeks in the months as I think of November & December in guarding the coasts opposite the Island, we were part of the time near Warren & part of the time, at Howland's Ferry in Tiverton in said State of Rhode Island, having crossed at Slade's Ferry. D r Pratt served the whole of the said term; at another time in the winter of the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight the said D r Pratt served with me in a company of militia commanded by Captain Matthew Randall; when we were stationed a part of the time at East Greenwich & a part of the time at Providence in Rhode Island; in all three months on this occasion, guarding the coasts as before; D r Pratt has been my neigh neighbour all my life; another time an incursion of the enemy from their ships being apprehended, the company to which D r Pratt & I then belonged, being under the command of S t Nehemiah Pratt, (the Capt. being dead,) was ordered to Slade's Ferry in Fallston, now Troy, in this State, where we guarded the Coast ten days, and said Pratt served that time there; this was in the fall of the year seventeen hundred and eighty.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts -
Bristol ss. August 14. 1832. John Presbrey made oaths to the truth of the above affidavit by him signed
Before me Anselm Barrett Just. of the Peace.

Bristol ss. Jany. 15. 1833. I certify that John Presbury who signed the within affidavit is a disinterested credible Witness — A Bassett Just of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss. I Anselm Bassett, Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County of Bristol do hereby certify that A Bassett whose signature is to a certificate or certificates to the within deposition of John Presbury, is a Justice of the Peace & duly and legally qualified to administer oaths — In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this fifteenth day of January A. 1833 — Anselm Bassett
Second copy

I, Nathaniel Britton of Raynham, Mass. aged eighty two years, testify under oath, that Deion Pratt of Taunton Mass, served as a private in the War of the Revolution two months, in what was called Sullivan's Expedition, on the Island of Rhode Island, in the same company with my self, under the command of Capt. Rufus Barney and Lt. G. M. (pro- tem), both of Taunton (there being no 2nd Lieut or Ensign) the Regiment being commanded by Col. Whitney of Worcester, Mass. This Service was rendered in the latter part of the year - 1778 commencing, as I believe, in August.
Nath: Britton
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss. Taunton August 28 th 1832.
Then personally appeared Nathaniel Britton, and made solemn oath, that the foregoing statement by him subscribed is true according to his best knowledge and belief.
Before me,
James L. Hodges. Rev. Pastor

I, Stephen Williams of Raynham, in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy nine years testify under oath that I served in the same company with Dea Pratt, of Taunton, Mass. in the War of the Revolution, at Horse Neck and other places in its vicinity, in the State of New York, two months, under the command of Col. Thomas Cuyler -ten of Rehoboth, Lt. Col. Lane of Norton, Capt. Robert Crossman, Lt. Abel Marston and 2nd Lt. Jacob Pratt of Taunton aforesaid; That the said Dea Pratt enlisted and served as a private, and that the campaign referred to was in the latter part of the year 1796. Stephen Williams
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss.
Taunton August 28 th 1832 Then personally appeared Stephen Williams and made Solemn oath that the foregoing statement by him subscribed is true according to his best knowledge and belief.
Before me
James L. Hodges, Jns. Paris

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss. I Anselm Bassett, Register of the Court of Probate in For said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that James L. Hodges is a Justice of the Peace within For said County of Bristol & duly qualified to administer oaths and that the signatures to the foregoing certificates purporting to be his are his genuine signatures —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this Fifteen the day of January Eighteen hundred and thirty Three —
Anselm Bassett