Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21418, for David Pearson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Pearson, David
S. 21418
CONTENTS

Lead Letter to W. Moart 24. Nov 1839
78
Essex
5792 Massachusetts
David Pearson
Spex Co in the State of Mass. — who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Lent of the Regt. commanded by Little in the Camp in the line for Bunker Hill
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of May 1835 and sent to H. North Wadsworth
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $ 53. 32 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept. — 13. 33
$ 66. 65
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by W. L. Withering Clerk Book E Vol. 2 Page 54
died Aug 17, 1831 See original book

David Pearson Major
Full 8 Months
150 88
W. Hearts

BRIEF in the case of  David Pearson  vs of YS 14  in the State of Mass  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 76  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. As a Gen.     1 st April In 1775 entered 8 Private Gen. Capt Lunt Col Little  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Battle of Dunker's Hill  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Newburyport Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary and two living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Taylor
Examining Clerk.

(David Pearson)
15088

Declarations, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
State of Massachusetts: County of Essex, ss.
On this eleventh day of September (A.D. 1832), personally appeared in open court, before the Honorable Daniel Appleton White, Judge of the Court of Probate for the county of Essex, aforesaid, now sitting at Newburyport David Pearsall a resident of Newburyport, in the county of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, aged seventy six years and upwards, 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 th 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officer, and served as herein stated:
He first enlisted in the company commanded by Captain Ezra Lane, in the regiment commanded by Colonel Moses Little, Massachusetts Volunteers, in the month of April 1775 and immediately after the battle of Lexington marched with said company to Cambridge, and was stationed there, and at Prospect Hill (so called), and did duty in said company, the full term of Eight months, the term for which he enlisted, and was then discharged at Prospect Hill.
He was with said company engaged in the battle which was fought with the enemy on Breed or Bunker's Hill, in Charlestown.
He was born in Newburyport in the year 1756, but it is recorded on Town books and in Newburyport where he voluntarily enlisted, never had a written discharge. William Battle, William Wirt and Solomon H. Barron could testify to his character for veracity, and his services as a soldier of the revolution -
That he now resides in Newburyport aforesaid, was born, and has always resided there.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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.
David Pearsall D. A. White J. of Probate

We Rev d Charles W m Milton a Clergyman, residing in Newburyport aforesaid, and Asa W m Wildes Esquire, a Magistrate residing in Newburyport, aforesaid, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Pearson who has subscribed and sworn to the aforewritten Declaration: that we believe him to be Seventy six years of age & upwards that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Charles W m Milton
Subscribed and sworn to before
W m Wood Judge of Probate
A. W. Wildes
And the said Court hereby declares its opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and respecting 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 the Rev d Charles W m Milton who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman residing in Newburyport and that the said Asa W m Wildes Esquire who has also signed the same is a Magistrate residing at said Newburyport (and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.)
J. H. White Judge of Probate
I Nathaniel Lord Sunn Register of the Court of Probate for the county of Essex, aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of David Pearson for a pension. — Also that William Wood is a Justice of the peace for the said County of Essex, and that his signature to each of the affidavits annexed is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office this Eleventh day of September A D 1832.
C. Bath. Lord Jr.

I Amos Pearson, of Newburyport, in the county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty two years and upwards, do hereby testify and declare, that I am well acquainted with David Pearson of said Newburyport, and do know that said David Pearson enlisted in April 1775, in the company commanded by Captain Ezra Lunt, and in the regiment commanded by Colonel Moses Little; Massachusetts Militia, and that he served in said company, in the right wing of the Division called at Cambridge and Charlestown, until the last of December of that year. I do also know that he was in the battle which was fought with the enemy on Breed's or Bunker's Hill called; — I served in the same regiment with said Pearson, was in the same battle with him, and served the same time.
Newburyport July 17. 1832.
Amos Pearson
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Essex ss. Newburyport July 17th 1832. Then personally came Amos Pearson above named, who is personally known to me, and made oath, in due form of Law, to the truth of the above written deposition, by him subscribed in my presence. I do also certify that said Amos Pearson is believed by me to be a credible witness.
W. W. Ball, Justice of the Peace.

I John Cook, of Newburyport, in the county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged nearly seventy nine years, do hereby testify and declare, that I am well acquainted with Daniel Pearson, of said Newburyport, and do know that said Daniel Pearson was a private soldier in the Company commanded by Captain Ezra Lent, in the regiment commanded by Colonel Moses Little, Massachusetts Militia, and that he served in said company in the Eight months service recruited, at Cambridge and Charlestown from April 1775 to last of December of the same year - I was in the same regiment and served the same term of service with said Pearson -
Newburyport July 17. 1832
John Cook
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Essex ss. Newburyport July 17th 1832 - Then personally came John Cook above named who is personally known to me, and made oath in due form of Law, to the truth of the above written deposition by him subscribed in my presence - I do also certify that the said John Cook is believed by me to be a Credible witness.
W. O. Atkinson, Notary of the Peace.

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section MCS/eel
May 1, 1929
Mr. Charles F. Robinson 29 Hill Top Road Wellesley, Massachusetts
Sir:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.21418, it appears that David Pearson was born in Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts, in 1756.
While a resident of that place, he enlisted in April, 1775, served eight months as a private in Captain Ezra Lunt's Company in Colonel Moses Little's Massachusetts Regiment and was in the battle of Bunker Hill.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 11, 1832, at which time he was living in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
He died, August 17, 1839.
In 1839 reference was made to children and grandchildren, no names were  are stated, and the name of his wife was not given.
The above mentioned soldier signed as Pearson.
Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.

29 Hill Top Road Wellesley, Mass. 9 October, 1928
Commissioner of Pensions Department of the Interior Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I have a note in my possession as follows:
"Senate Document, 1st session, 23d. Congress; Pension Roll, 1835. From those in Essex County (Massachusetts) whose names were inscribed on the pension roll under act of Congress passed June 7, 1832; DAVID PEARSON , private, annual allowance $26.66; amount already paid, $79.98 x Mass. Militia; placed on roll May 30, 1833 when pension commenced. Age 78."
I have a suspicion that this name ought to be PARSONS. Can you tell me from his application for pension particulars about his military service and family?
Yours sincerely,
Chas. F. Robinson
(Charles F. Robinson.)

Revolution
21418 INVALID.
1929 May 1. hist. to Chas. F. Robinson "M.C.A."
File No. 21418
David Pearson
Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 317
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Newburyport November 13th 1839.
L. G. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
Will you allow me to forward you herewith a declaration of one of the Grand children of the late Daniel Pearson, a revolutionary pensioner of the United States deceased, whose certificate, was unfortunately for his children destroyed, and in their behalf respectfully to ask, that they may be allowed to receive the arrears of pension, due their late father at the time of his decease, which though small in amount, is of much importance to them?
With much respect Yr. most obedt Servt W. W. Gann

B R I E F objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of (David Pearson) 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? yy
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?
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? yy
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yy
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? yy
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yy
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, deposeeth 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.