Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,372, for Henry Perkins, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Nass Navy
Perkins, Henry
$29,372
CONTENTS

10910 Massachusetts Henry Perkins Bristol in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Rempton of the Regt commanded by Col. Huggins in the Mass line for 5 Mos. Private H. " " " " "
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 32 Dollars 67 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of May 1833 and sent to Baptist Taunton Massachusetts Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $65.34 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. 16.33 $81.67
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. B. Addison Clerk. Book 2 Vol. 2 Page 64

Henry Perkins
18731
J. L. Hodges
HR

State of Massachusetts - County of Bristol.
On this second day of October, A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Judge of the Court of Probate now sitting at New Bedford in & for said County, Henry Perkins resident of Fairhaven in said State & County, aged forty  eighty four years. Who being first duly sworn, according to law, both on oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the Benefit of an act of Congress, passed June 7th A.D. 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, & served as therein stated, viz. That he enlisted for one month, in 1777, (being then an inhabitant of Dartmouth in said County, & now divided into New Bedford, Fairhaven, Westport & Dartmouth,) for one month & went in a company commanded by Capt. Manasseh Kempton of said Dartmouth, into the State of R. Island, & was stationed near Howland's Ferry in Tiverton, but was some of the time at Fall River, & some part down at Second & Little Compton - that one night, he went

on the Island, with fifty others, to watch the enemy. (Who then had possession of the Island?) I came off early next morn- ing. That George Claghorn was Lieutenant of the Company, who was afterwards a Captain - That in the Spring of 1779, he enlisted on board the Sloop Providence, Capt. Hacker, Commander, then fitting in the port of Bedford (in Dartmouth) for a cruise, & was on board during said cruise four months; during The said Sloop had twelve guns & nearly or about eighty men - that during said cruise the Sloop Providence fell in with the British Brigs Dili- gener of fourteen guns & between seventy & eighty men, & captured said Brig, after an obstinate & severe engagement, & that said Sloop also took a Schooner from the enemy, during said cruise; & brought both Brig & Schooner into Bedford or Dartmouth port - That the same year, towards the close

That after this, in A.D. 1780, he enlisted under Captain George Claghorn for three months, & marched to Butts' Hill on Rhode Island, & was there some time en- trenched - thence were ordered down to Newport, & from there soon were sent to Narragansett, in the south wester- ly part of R. Island State. & was some time at Point Judith & at Watch Hill & in the town of Charles Town in said State - Church was first Lieutenant & Simms was 2 d Lieutenant of said Company -
That he also served about four or five weeks, but cannot say precisely how long, yet is confident it was as much as four weeks, under Captain Manasseh Kempton, Capt. George Claghorn & Captain John Sherman, to go on the Elizabeth Islands to bring off stock lest the enemy should take them; & at the cove, so called near Bedford Village, to keep guard a week at one time, & a week or ten days at another time;

I also at a near apponagansett river a port, in Dartmouth aforesaid -
That he was born in Boston June 12 th A. D. 1748; that he was an inhab- itant of Dartmouth where the war commenced in 1775 - & has since resided in Dartmouth, now Fairhaven - That he knows of no record of his age - birth -
That he never received any written discharge, but was regularly dismissed at the end of each time for which he enlisted -
That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any State - Henry Paton
Subscribed sworn to the day & year first aforesaid N. V. Daylies, Judge of Probate

I David Mitchell of New Bedford, County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts, aged eighty — years, testify as say, that I am well acquainted with Henry Perkins of Fair-haven in said County & an adjoining town & both formerly part of Dartmouth; that he was in the service one month, in the State of R. Island, near Howland's Ferry on the eastern side of the Island in the year 1777 — in a company commanded by Capt. Henry Jenny — and that said Perkins was in the same company, at the time & place aforesaid. David Mitchell
Bristol p.
Octo 4 th 1832
Signed as a word, as true before me
Alden Bradford Jus. Peace
I further certify that in my opinion so far as I have heard & can judge said Mitchell is a credible man. He resides much of his time in an adjoining town — Alden Bradford Jus. Peace

I John Sherman of New Bedford, formerly part of Dartmouth, in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts, aged eighty three years, testify & say that I know Henry Perkins of Fairhaven in said County, & have known him ever since the year 1776 - that, in the year 1780, I was an orderly Sergeant in Capt. George Claghorn's company at in R. Island, at Butts' hill, & thence to Newport, & thence to Narragansett, at Watch Hill or and that said Henry Perkins was in said Captain Claghorn's company during three months, at the time & places above mentioned —
That he was also at the time in said Dartmouth near said New Bedford under Capt. Claghorn for a month; that he believes & is fully satisfied that the said Henry Perkins was there also in said company in the military service, but is not able to say exactly how long John Sherman.

Bristol - October first, A.D. 1889
Personally appeared John Sherman, within named, & subscribed and attested to the truth of the deposition within written & by him signed
Before me Alden Bradford
Jurat. Peace
I also certify, that said Sherman is very infirm & lame, & cannot go from home
I further certify Alden Bradford that S r Sherman is in all respects a credible man
Jurat. Peace We Daniel Hicks, a clergyman in the town of Dartmouth & Ober Haskaway resident & inhabitant of the town of New Bedford hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Henry Perkins who has subscribed & sworn to the annexed declaration, that we believe he is of the age of eighty four years as he has stated - that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revo-

lution, & that we concur in that opinion Daniel Hix                      Jabez Hathaway
Bristol, Octo: 2 d 1832
Sworn to as subs:cribed before me Alden Bradford Just. Peace I certify that S d Hix is a clergyman - & said Hathaway very credible A. Bradford, Just. Peace I Brownell Armsby of the age of twenty four residents of the town of New Bedford in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts, testify & say that I was on board the Sloop Providence, an armed vessel in the service of the State, in the year 1779, & that Henry Perkins & Fairhazen, formerly Dartmouth, was also a hand or sailor on board said Sloop that year, on a cruise of four months -
Brownell Armsby
Bristol - Octo. 2 d . 1832
Subscribed as sworn to at time
Before me
Alden Bradford Just. Peace
I also certify that said Armsby, so far as

I know or ever heard of, is a credible person in all respects -
C. A. Bradford Junk-Pearce
St. Peter's

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 Daniel Hix who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the Town of Dartmouth in said County of Bristol, and that Ebenezer Hathaway who has also signed the same is a resident in said the Town of New Bedford in said County, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
H. Baylies, Judge 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 Henry Perkins of Fairhaven 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

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss. I Anselm Basset Register of the Court of Probate for said County, do hereby certify that Alden Bradford is a Justice of the Peace in for said County, and that the signatures to the foregoing certificates purporting to be his, are in my opinion his genuine signatures. Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this thirteenth day of April Eighteen hundred and thirty three Anselm Basset

16, 731
Henry Perkins . . .
5 month Private H " Seaman adm'd
at 14.
Feb 21 st 1835
I 262
J. L. Hodge HR

16,731  BRIEF in the case of  Henry Perkins  of Bristol Co in the State of Mass  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 84  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.     '77 In 17 1 private Gen. Capt Rempton   '79 Spring 4 seaman Sloop Providence Capt Hacker   '80 3 private Capt Claghorn   4 or 5 weeks do Capt Rempton - Capt Claghorn   Capt Sherman - keeping guard  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? sea engagement  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Dartmouth Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Right 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
H. B. Eaton Examining Clerk. 13 Feb 1833

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section. MMHF
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF PENSIONS
January 8, 1930.
J. J. Perkins, Box 1020, Wichita Falls, Texas.
Dear Sir:
I advise you that the records of this bureau show a claim for pension on file on account of the services of only one Henry Perkins, War of the Revolution.
That soldier was born in 1748 in Boston, was a resident of Dartmouth, Massachusetts at time of enlistment and was a resident of Fairhaven, Massachusetts at time he applied for pension in 1832.
In this claim for pension of Henry Perkins (S.29372) he made no reference to his family.
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH, Commissioner.
[Faint, illegible text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from a form.]
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Henry Perkins , a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. S.F. 29372.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1777 1 mo Pvt. Manasseh Kempten Mass   * Apr 1779 4 mos. Serman — Hecker on the S.S. Providence   1780 3 mos. Pvt. George Blaghorn ✓ Mass   ✓ 4 Mos. Pvt. { Manasseh Kempten, George Blaghorn & John Sherman. ✓  
Battles engaged in *with Brig Diligence and also captured a schooner Residence of soldier at enlistment, Dartmouth Bristol Co. Mass. Date of application for pension, Oct 2. 1832. His claim was allowed. Residence at date of application, Fairhaven Bristol Co. Mass Age at date of application, born in Boston June 12 1748 Remarks: ∴ Dartmouth was later divided into New Bedford, Fairhaven, Westport and Dartmouth.  There is no family data on file.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Rev. S. J. May
117 Campbell Street. New Bedford, Mass.
The Commissioner of Pensions.
Dear Sir -
Can you give me any information about John Pitman who fought in the Revolution in Col. Archibald Crary's Co. He came from Newport. Also I should like to find out about a Henry Perkins of whom I know nothing except that he fought in the Revolution altho' it has always been said that he was in the Boston Tea Party. I do not know where he came from but he is buried in New Bedford. I shall be very grateful for any information that you can give me.
Sincerely,
(Mrs) Abbie E. P. Burdough.
Mar. 15, 1916.

29 372 Ray INVALID.
File No. 29,372
Henry Perkins His Rev Mrs
Act: June 7 th 89 7
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 319
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1916. Mch 29: history to Miss Abbie E. P. Burdlong. M.B.H.
1920- Jan. 6- J. J. Perkins adv. rel. to family data - MMNF

John R. [?] Dow
W. [?]
W. [?]
Sharon
16,731
Henry Perkins
L. L. [?] H. R.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Henry Perkins 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'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 ? No
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct ? 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 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.
See certificate of credibility & authentication of the justice

J. J. PERKINS OIL PROPERTIES WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS Box 1020
ASSOCIATED INTERESTS RUYLE FARM & OIL COMPANY PERKINS-SNIDER LEASE PERKINS & CULLUM WALKER & PERKINS ARCO OIL COMPANY TUCKER OIL COMPANY
January 2, 1930.
Mr. E. W. Morgan, Acting Commissioner, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
In looking through an old family Bible I find some reference to my great, great, great grandfather, Henry Perkins . I find one reference where he was married on December 25, 1763. We have good reason to believe that he was one of the participants in the Revolutionary War but have no actual knowledge of that fact.
We are not interested in any way in the pension end of the proposition and besides have no claim even if we were. I am interested solely from the standpoint of family history.
I think his home was perhaps at some point in Virginia at the time referred to.
If you could give me any data whatever as to whether or not there was a man by the name of Henry Perkins who served in the Revolutionary War and any information whatever in connection therewith, I would appreciate it very highly indeed.
Thanking you for any information which you are able to furnish me, I am
Yours very truly,
JJP-k