Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,642, for Jonathan Peterson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Peterson, Jonathan
S 30,642
CONTENTS
Blank lined area for contents entry
Blank lined area for contents entry

15622 Massachusetts
Jonathan Peterson of Franklin in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Wood of the Regt. commanded by Col. Spauld in the Mass line for 11 months
And a
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 36 Dollars 67 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1st day of July 1833 and Lieut. Col. Wood Greenfield Mass
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1833 $73.34 Semi-annual allowance ending 1st Sep r 1833 18.33 $91.67
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by William D. Wilson Clerk, Book 2 Vol. 22 Page 64
80 Franklin

N o 22294
Jonathan Peterson Franklin County Massachusetts
March 18 Mr  Monday
E. Hood Greenfield Mass.

County of Franklin  BRIEF in the case of Jonathan Peterson  in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Judge  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 78 years  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 two and three — 8 private Gen. Fellowes Cap. Abisha Toulson   Enlisted Dec. 1775 — 2 15 private Cap. Abel Penn , Col. Ward   Enlisted July 1776 — 5 — private Cap. Nathl Wood , Col. Carey   Enlisted 1778 — 3 — private Cap. Nathl Wood , Col. E. Sprout   Enlisted 1779 — — 7  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? White Plains,  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Plymouth County Massachusetts  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living Witness and traditional  8. 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.
Richd. S. Watts Examining Clerk

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
FRANKLIN COUNTY ss.
ON THIS first day of September A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Richard E. Newcomb Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the Probate said Commonwealth, now sitting at Greenfield within and for the said County of Franklin, Jonathan Peterson a resident of Colburne in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged Seventy Eight years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
at the Town of Middlebury in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth aforesaid which said Service in the year one Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy five I belonged to a Company of Militia under Capt Albinah Tinkham I was ordered with in the latter part of the Season I was ordered with the rest of the Company on an alarm we were ordered to Marshfield to be near the place and there remained a few days and was discharged at Brand home
at said Middlebury about the middle of December one Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy five I enlisted under Capt Albinah Tinkham for two months and one half in Col. Woods Regiment We marched to Roxbury and from there we marched to Dorchester there we was encamped and remained till my time of two months and a half was out and was discharged I returned home at said Middlebury On or about the first day of July one Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy five I enlisted for five months in the Newbera So Colled of Militia under Capt Nathaniel Wood in Col. Crary Regiment in General Follows Brigade from said Middlebury to Fort Defiance and there we were encamped until our time was out and was discharged from there we marched through the State
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. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Jonathan Peterson
WE, Aretas Loomis a clergyman and Charles Thompson a pastor of the福音 church
residing in said Colburne hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jonathan Peterson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy eight 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 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Aretas Loomis Charles Thompson
And the said Court to hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after 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 Aretas Loomis who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the said town of Colburne; and that Charles Thompson Esq is a minister who has also signed the same is a resident of the same town, and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit. And the said Judge also certifies, that the said applicant is unable to appear in court, by reason of bodily infirmity, that therefore, the said Judge proceeded to said Colburne and there received his declaration of examination under oath as aforesaid R. E. Newcomb Judge of Probate I, ELIJAH ALVORD, Clerk of the said Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, this day of in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty
Clerk.

Jonathan Peterson
Jonathan Peterson
Coturn
2294
Jonathan Bates
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss. I Elijah Alvord Register of the Court of Probate for the said County of Franklin do hereby certify that Richard E Newcomb Esq, before whom the within proceedings purport to have been had, is Judge of Probate for said county; that he personally delivered the said proceedings to me and that they are verified by his own proper signature which was subscribed by him in my presence.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court at Greenfield on the first day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
E. Alvord Reg. Prob.

Rhode Island and Connecticut by way of New Haven and then we took ship and went to New York and was stationed at Dock Street and remained there a while on more from then we moved up the river about four miles to a place called Chelsea Green and remained there till the fifteenth day of September then we were ordered to retreat and we returned to a place called Harlem Heights the next time the British took possession of the city and we remained there till about the tenth of October and the British went up the Sound and landed at East Chester at a place called Frog's Point where an army and there was some fighting we retreated from Harlem Heights across Kings Bridge and pitched our tents on Mile Square and soon after we moved to White Plains and there a battle was fought we remained at White Plains a short time and moved to Croton River and then I remained till my time of service was over which was about the first of December 1776 and was discharged at New York. At said Middleboro on the first day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight I enlisted for three months under Capt Nathaniel Wood in Col Ebenezer Drowne's Regiment Massachusetts from said Middleboro to Providence Rhode Island from thence to North Kingstown and there we remained till the first day of April when my time of service was over and I was discharged and I returned home as with discharge I do not know any longer where I was duty with my company at said Middleboro which I did belong to a company I was of Milford under said Alpheus Tenhove I was called out at an alarm at New Bedford where the shipping was burnt in the year 1778 during the day about one week and I was out at an other alarm at said New Bedford in the year 1779 about one week but I can not tell the precise month I think it was in the fall of the year aforesaid.

October 14, 1938.
F. C. Paine Pavilion New York.
BA-J/ILL Jonathan Peterson S. 30642
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to two soldiers with the name Jonathan Peterson, one of Duxbury, Massachusetts, and the other of Middleboro, that state.
The Revolutionary War records of this office have been searched on only one claim for pension found based upon service of a Jonathan Peterson of Massachusetts. The data which follow are found in the papers on file in that claim, S. 30642.
Jonathan Peterson resided at the time of the Revolutionary War in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.
In 1775, Jonathan Peterson belonged to Captain Abishai Tinkham's Massachusetts company, was called out to march to Weymouth, this service about eight days; he enlisted in December 1775, and served two and one half months as private in Captain Abiel Pierce's company, Colonel Ward's Massachusetts regiment, principally at Dorchester. He enlisted July 1, 1776, and served five months in Captain Nathaniel Wood's company, Colonel Cary's Massachusetts regiment, during which he marched to New Haven, was afterwards at Harlem Heights and was in the battle of White Plains. He enlisted January 1, 1778, and served three months in Captain Nathaniel Wood's company, Colonel Ebenezer Sprout's Massachusetts regiment, during which he marched to Rhode Island. Subsequently, he belonged to Captain Abishai Tinkham's company, was called out in 1778 and served about one week, and again in 1779 for about one week.
Jonathan Peterson was allowed pension on his application executed September 1, 1832, at which time he was aged seventy-eight years; the date and place of his birth and the names of his parents are not

shown. The soldier resided then in Colrain, Franklin County, Massachusetts. He made no reference to wife or children.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name of person paid, and, possibly, the date of death of this pensioner, you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, this city, and cite the following:
Jonathan Peterson Certificate #15622 Issued July 1, 1833 Rate $36.67 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832 Massachusetts Agency.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

30 642
Rev INVALID.
Aug 19, 1901 Helen L. Shaw Anamosa, Iowa.
File No. 30,642
1938-Oct. 14. Heir L. C. Payne - J.L.L. 1938-Dec. 20. Floyd Payne advised no other Jonathan Peterson - J.L.L.
Jonathan Peterson Dis Rev Mar
Act: June 7 th 89
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page: 319
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Jonathan Peterson 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? No 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? Witness 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? 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?
 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 shown 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.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I Joseph Purinton of Colerain Franklin County Massachusetts do hereby depose & say, that sometime in the latter part of December 1855 Jonathan Peterson with a company of militia came to my barracks at Roxbury & spent a night in my tent. He belonged to Capt Abiel Pierce company
I also depose & say, that about the last of June or the first of July 1856 I enlisted into Capt. Nathaniel Hood's company, & that near the same time Jonathan Peterson enlisted into the same company for five months service. He soon after marched to New Haven & thence sailed to the City of New York. He did duty together till the battle at White Plains. As I was ordered, after this battle, to do duty in the hospital I saw him no more during the remainder of the term, but suppose he served the full time of enlistment Joseph Purinton
Franklin County S.S.
Personally appeared before me one of the justices of the Peace in said County, on this first day of September 1852, Joseph Purinton of Colerain the writer of the above deposition. I made affirmation to the above deposition. And I do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with said Purinton, & do believe him to be a man of strict veracity. Before me Charles Thompson Justice of the Peace

Jon. Nelson
Joseph Merrill Esq. for Jon. Nelson
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Franklin ss. I, Elijah Alvord, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the county of Franklin do hereby certify that Charles Thompson Esq. before whom the within affidavit purports to have been given and sworn to is a Justice of the Peace for the said county. And that his name thereto subscribed appears to me to be his true and proper signature.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of the said Court at Greenfield on the first day of September A. D. 1832.
E. Alvord Clerk

THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS
Veterans Administration
Washington
D.C.
Dept, Rev war Records,

F.C. Paine Pavilion N.Y. Sept 1 1938 Veterans Administration Washington D.C.
Dear Sir, Several weeks ago you sent me on request some information on Richard and Ebenezer Davenport, Rev. Soldiers and particulars in regard to their later life, where they lived etc, many thanks for same it was quite a help to me,
Now there is one more I would like to get information like that on if possible, that is Jonathan Peterson who may later have been in VT, and western N.Y. Raleigh Pavilion, or Covington
I understand there were two of that name served from Mass, one from Duxbury and one from Middleboro, if you could send me information on them and their later whereabouts, or anything that would help I would be very grateful. The one I have in mind married Sarah Brightman who died at 102 in Youngs N.Y., F.C. Paine

THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS
Veterans Administration Washington
Rev Goldie Records
D.C.

Pavilion N.Y. Nov 14 '58
Veterans Administration Washington D.C.
Would you give me any information you may have on Jonathan Peterson of Duxbury Mass. a Revolutionary Soldier. I would also like his record if you have one on file.
I had information on one of the same name from Middleboro Mass.
Thanking you in advance for your trouble
Yours
Floyd Payne Pavilion N.Y.

I 30642
Jonathan Peterson 78 Sept 1 - 32, Coleraine, Franklin Co. Mass
1775 - 8 da Abisha Tinkham Mass. Mils.
Dec 1775 - 2 - 15 da Capt Abial Pierce Col Ward, Mass
July 1 - 76 Capt Nathaniel Woods Col. Cary 5 mo
Battle White Plains
Jan 1 - 78 - Nathaniel Woods Col. E Sprout 3 mo.
No record Brig. Newman

No. 1
Revolutionary
O. W. & N. DIV. AUG 14 1901 RECEIV.

Pension Bureau.
Revolutionary Records -
I wish to obtain record of Rev. Service of Jonathan Paterson of Rhode Island.
Also is there record of service of Benjamin Newman (Newman) of Conn.
Helen L. Shaw
Anamosa Iowa
Aug 10 th 1901

December 20, 1938.
Mr. Floyd Payne Pavilion New York.
RA-J/ILL Jonathan Peterson S. 30642
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Jonathan Peterson, of Duxbury, Massachusetts, a Revolutionary War soldier, and state that you have the record of the soldier with that name who served from Middleborough, Massachusetts.
The Revolutionary War record of Jonathan Peterson, pension claim, S. 30642, is that of the only soldier with that name found on the pension records of this office. The record of that soldier was furnished to F. C. Paine, Pavilion, New York, on October 14, 1938.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.