Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 36,743, for James Potter, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental (Navy)
Potter, James
S 36,743
CONTENTS

11. 444 R
Maine
James Potter
of Bowdoin in the state of Dist. of Maine who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Phinney of the Maquapachusett line, for the term of one year
Inscribed on the Roll of the Dist. of Maine at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 10 th of November 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 th of June 1819 and sent to R. C. Ware Esq. Augusta District of Maine
Arrears to 4th of Mar 1819; 3 21/31 mos $ 30.63 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 1 st S p 1819 $ 48 $ 78.63
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
11
[Handwritten signature/initials]
Genl P. sent to R. C. Ware Jan'y 18, 1821

James Potter Bowdoin Lincoln Co. p t Col. Phinney's Mass. Reg. 1776.
1 year.
Nov 10 th 1818.
Proof of service wanted
additional Judges Certificate as to credibility of Wit- ness procured R. C. Van
Admitted.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I James Potter, a citizen of the United States aged sixty three years, born in Topsham Maine, now resident in Bowdoin, Maine, upon oath testify and declare that early in the month of October  December 1775 I enlisted as a private soldier for the term of one year, in the war of the revolution, against the common enemy, upon the continental establishment, in Capt. York's company and Col. Plimby's regiment of the Massachusetts line. This period I fully out, and my time expiring while the regiment was on the march to Tyenderoga, I was honorably but verbally discharged at Norwich Vermont, the forepart of October  December , 1776.
From my reduced circumstances in life, I need the assistance of my country for support. And I do hereby relinquish all my claim to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the U. States, if any; but I am not to my knowledge true on any pension list whatever.
James Potter
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
December 17.
On the tenth day of November A.D. 1810 James Potter above named, after being carefully examined, made oath to the truth of the above declaration, by him subscribed. Before me.
Nathan Weston Jun C. Just C.C.C. Phas R E. Circuit

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
To the Honorable the Secretary of the Department of War of the United States.
I the subscriber, being Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Second Eastern Circuit of Massachusetts, embracing the counties of Lincoln, Kennebec, and Somerset do hereby certify to your Honor, that James Potter , a citizen of the United States, resident in Bowdoin, in said county of Lincoln in the District of Maine, on the tenth day of November , A.D. 1818 made application to me to receive his declaration under oath, and such other evidence as was in his power to produce, and to transmit the same, with the proceedings had thereon, to your Honor; that he might be placed upon the pension list of the United States, agreeably to the provisions of an act, entitled "an Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed March 18, A.D. 1818, which declaration, and the other evidence produced by the said applicant is herunto annexed.
And I do further certify to your Honor, that after a full examination of

The said applicant, and a careful consideration of the evidence in the case, it appears to me that the said applicant did serve, as a private soldier, in the war of the revolution, against the common enemy, upon the continental establishment, for more than nine months in continuation, as stated in his declaration aforesaid; and that from his reduced circumstances in life, he needs the assistance of his country for support.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the court in which I preside to be hereunto affixed, this tenth day of November, A. D. 1810.
Nathan Weston Hon. C. Just. C.C.C. Phas & E. Circuit.

40
242
82 James Potter
11.444 Lindley Sept 1879 Can
P. L. Vose. Augusta Maine.
James P. Smith Court of Common Pleas August Term 1879 Maine State Hampden Co. Me. John C. Dyer Atty. Nat. Coffin Esq.

Lincoln J. Circuit Court of Common Pleas August Term 1820 Received of said Allen N. Coffin Clerk A true Copy Allen Nat Coffin Clerk
242
140
82
James Datter
14411
Lincoln Sept 1819
Pl. Wase. Augusta Maine.

State of Maine.
I Nathl. Coffin Clerk, for the County of Lincoln of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the second Eastern Circuit, embracing the counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court ; and that the original was exhibited in open Court ; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, including debts due to the declarant therein stated, is
Nothing dollars and  not  cents, and deducting therefrom the amount of what the declarant owes, as set forth in said Schedule, the value of said property in the opinion of said Court, is  dollars and Cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this thirtieth day of August 1820.
Nathl. Coffin Clerk of said Court for the County of Lincoln

(copy)
342
State of Maine.
KENNEBEC COUNTY, ss.
ON this thirty first day of May , 1820, personally appeared before Nathan Weston Junior chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset, being a Court of Record for said Counties, proceeding according to the course of the common law, having original jurisdiction, unlimited in amount, keeping a record of their proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, James Potter aged sixty four years, resident in Dowdowhann in the County of Lincoln within said Circuit, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows, viz. in the Company commanded by Captain York and Regiment commanded by Colonel Prinney of the line of the State of Massachusetts upon the Continental Establishment, for the period of
One year
that his original declaration was made before Judge Weston on the tenth day of November 1818; that he is now on the Maine Roll, and that his pension certificate is numbered 11,444 . And I, the said James Potter do further solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
James Potter
The following is a Schedule of my whole Estate and income, necessary clothing and bedding excepted, viz :
I have no estate or income whatever, beside my necessary clothing and bedding. I have no family, and am entirely dependent upon the assistance of my county for support. Being aged and infirm, I am wholly unable to labor.
James Potter
Subscribed sworn to and declared both the oath and schedule on the thirty first day of May 1820.
Before me Nathan Weston Junior.
C.S. C.C.C. Pleas
A true Copy
Attest John Davis Clerk

April 11, 1940
BA--J/ANF Allen James Potter S. 36743
Mr. Abe. L. LeVine 701 South Gramercy Drive Los Angeles, California
Dear Sir:
The data which follow in regard to James Potter were obtained from papers on file in claim for pension, S. 36743, based upon his service in the War of the Revolution. This is the record of the only James Potter who served from Maine, during the War of the Revolution , found on file in the Revolutionary War pension records of this office.
James Potter was a native of Topsham, District of Maine. The date of his birth and names of parents were not given.
James Potter enlisted sometime in December, 1775, served one year as a private in Captain York's company, Colonel Phinney's regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed November 10, 1818, at which time he was aged sixty-three years, and a resident of Bowdoinham, Lincoln County, Maine.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to the Comptroller General, General

Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and furnish the following data:
James Potter Certificate # 11444 Issued June 4, 1819 Rate $8.00 per month Commenced November 10, 1818 Act of March 18, 1818 Maine Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

April 11, 1940
Mr. Abe. L. LeVine 701 South Gramercy Drive Los Angeles, California
BA-J/AWF Thomas Fisk-S.44819 James Potter-S.36743 William White B.L.Wt.2556-300-Capt.
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to the following soldiers of the Revolutionary War;
Thomas Carr served in the Massachusetts troops, as private in Captain Asabel Wheeler's company;
Silas Conant born August 15, 1740 in Concord, Massachusetts, died April 3, 1803;
Thomas Fiske born September 12, 1701, lived in Marlboro, and Wenham, Massachusetts, died September 28, 1778;
Edward Goddard born May 4, 1698 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, died October 13, 1777;
Nathan Goddard born January 28, 1725 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, died February 12, 1806;
Luke Haynes born June 22, 1762 in Sudbury, Massachusetts, died there November 27, 1826;
John Lawrence born November 30, 1740 in Waltham, Massachusetts, later lived in Concord, Massachusetts;
James Potter settled in Topsham and Litchfield, Maine;
William White born April 25, 1740 in Lexington, Massachusetts, died February 17, 1793;
Jonathan Woodward born January 27, 1747 or 1748 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, died in Orange, Massachusetts, in 1829;
The Revolutionary War records of this office have been searched and no claims for pension or bounty land
See his letter in Rev. War claim Thomas Fisk S. 44819 -

found based upon service of Nathan Goddard, Silas Conant, or Luke Haynes, under any spelling of those surnames.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information, it is not possible to comply in full with each request which requires so much time and research.
You are furnished herewith the Revolutionary War records of Thomas Fisk, James Potter, and William White. It is hoped these records will aid you in your research.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

36743
Rev INVALID.
1940-April 11 - Nishko Abe. L. Le Vine. See his letter in Thomas Fish S. 44819. awg
File No. 36743
James Potter Rev No 120
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index: Vol. 2 , Page 85
[Arrangement of 1870.]

M Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
KENNEBEC, ss.
THE Subscriber, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts, held within the said County of Kennebec, hereby certifies, that the Honorable NATHAN WESTON, Junior, Esquire, before whom the annexed proceedings were held, is Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Second Eastern Circuit of Massachusetts, embracing the Counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset ; and that by the direction of the said Judge, I have affixed unto his Certificate bearing his signature, the seal of the said Court in which he presides.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand :
Dated at Augusta, in said County of Kennebec, this tenth day of November in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
John Davis
#
I certify that the within named James Potter being satisfied upon further reflection that he enlisted in December and was discharged in December alterations were made accordingly in the within declaration, and he made oath thereto anew
Nathan Weston Junr

Lincoln to Bowdoin October 29 th 1818.
This may certify that Mr James Potter of Bowdoin who was out in the revolutionary service is a poor man and stands in need of help from his country
Moses Dennett George Rogers Charles Potter } Eldermen of Bowdoin

I James Dinslap of Ishipfield County of Lincoln of about Sixty Six or Sixty Seven years of age do Testify and say that in the year one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Six I listed as a Soldier to go into the revolutionary Service under Colt York for one year in Colt Phineys Regiment and when I joined Colt Yorks Company Mr James Potter of Bowdoin: who then belonged to the Town of Topsham was a Soldier in said Company and after we drove the enemy served in said York Company over nine months after I joined said Company: after we drove the enemy out of Boston we were stationed in Boston Six months then we set out for Penobscot and I was taken Sick on the way and further saith not
James Dinslap
Subscribed on the Seventh Day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen the above deponent was examined and cautioned and sworn to the the truth of the deposition aforesaid by him subscribed taken at the request of the said James Potter
By me Moses Dennett Justice of the Peace
Moses Dennett Esq. is a Justice of the Peace for the county of Lincoln; and I give credit to the above testimony.
The above deponent is I understand a Nathan Weston here present, and I am satisfied that he is, credible and disinterested. Nathan Weston here May 10. 1819.

I Samuel Eaton of Brunswick County of Cumberland of about Sixty four years of age do testify and say in the year one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Six I listed as a Soldier to go into the revolutionary Service under Ch't York for one year in Col Phinney Regiment and when I joined Ch't York's Company Mr James Potter of Bowdoin then of Topsham was a Soldier in said Company and served in said York's Company over nine months after I joined said Company after we drove the enemy out of Boston we were stationed in Boston Six month and then we marched to Ticonderoga and further South not
Sam l Eaton
Lincoln ss October Twentyninth in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen The aforesaid Deponent was examined cautioned and sworn to the deposition aforesaid by him subscribed Taken at the request of the said James Potter The deponent being so infirm in body and unable to travel is the cause of taking this deposition
Moses Dennett Justice of the Peace
Moses Dennett Esq is a Justice of the Peace for the county of Lincoln; and I give credit to the above testimony.
Nathan Weston Jur
I am satisfied that the above deponent is credible, and disinterested.
May 10. 1819
Nathan Weston Jur