Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21,846, for Peter Nichols, Massachusetts

Mass
Nichols Peter
N 21846
Molly
CONTENTS

See letter to Hon. L. Cap Nov. 18. 1835
79 Norfolk
10.131.
Massachusetts
Peter Nichols
of Norfolk in the State of Mass who was a Lieut in the company commanded by Captain  of the Regt commanded by Col. Revere in the Mass line for 2 years
State Only
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 4.00 Dollars  Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 th day of Jan 1830 and sent to  Belinda Root (M rs )
Arrears to the 4th of Jan 1830 $ 8.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Feb  2.00
$10.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. S. Blair Clerk Book 80 Vol. 2nd Page 57

Peter Nichols
7105.
Edwin S. Leland

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Norfolk ss. to wit On this fourteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Judge of the Court of Probate now sitting at Quincy in and for said County, Peter Nichols a resident of Cohasset in said County, aged seventy seven , 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 7th A. D. 1832.
THAT he was born at Cohasset aforesaid on the twelfth day of June A. D. 1755, and that there is a record of his birth in the First Church of Cohasset : that he was in the United States service from the eighth day of May A. D. 1777, to the thirty first day of December A. D. 1779 as a Captain Lieutenant in the Artillery of the Massachusetts State Troops that he was residing at said Cohasset on said eighteenth day of May A. D. 1777 when he entered the service; that he was appointed Captain Lieutenant and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Moses Lincoln & Lieutenant Colonel Paul Revere ; that he marched from Cohasset to Rhode Island , from Rhode Island to Boston & from Boston to Providence ; that he served at Providence with Glover's Brigade of the regular troops; and no regular officers were known to him: that he was in the battle of Rhode Island & Providence and at the end of his service received no written discharge: that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at said Cohasset
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the day of A. D. 17 , to the day of A. D. 17 , as a in the : that he was residing at when he entered the service; that he and served for the period aforesaid under the command of : that he marched from  to  , from to  from  to  : that he served at  with  of the regular troops; and regular officers were known to him: that he was in battle and at the end of his service received written discharge.
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the day of A. D. 17 , to the day of A. D. 17 , in the : that he was residing at when he entered the service; that he and served for the period aforesaid under the command of : that he marched from  to  , from to  from  to  : that he served at  with  of the regular troops; and regular officers were known to him: that he was in battle and at the end of his service received written discharge.

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 first aforesaid.
Peter Nichols
We Jacob Flint
a clergyman, residing in the Cooper
Cooper
and James C Boan
residing in said Cooper
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Peter Nichols who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides to have been a soldier Lieutenant of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed as aforesaid.
Jacob Flint James C Boan
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 Officer and served as he states. And the court further certify that it appears to them that Jacob Flint , who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in said Cooper ; and that James C Boan who has also signed the same is a resident in Cooper and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Thomas Leland Judge of Probate
I Samuel Haxon, Reg d of the Court of Probate aforesaid , do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Peter Nichols for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Samuel Haxon

Massachusetts 89
Molly Nichols widow of Peter Nichols decd. late of Norfolk in the State of Mass. who was a Capt Lieut in the Army pay commanded by Captain Mass of the P.M. commanded by Col. Reed in the Mass. line for 2 years Capt. of Artillery
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of $100 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831. And to be paid to her annually
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of Decr. 1836 and sent to Sister Mary Mass.
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1836 $2200.00 Pension allowance ending 4th Mar 1837 200.00 2400.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { for June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by M. L. Addison Clerk, Book Vol. 1 — Page 62

196
adm d 2 yrs Capt. Lieut. 400 th of Artillery.
de clu ch.
S. Neland Esq. Roxbury Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Norfolk ss On the Seventh day of September A D Eighteen hundred and thirty six personally appeared Molly Nichols of Cohasset in said County aged Eighty three before Hon ble Stephen Leland Judge of the court of Probation and for said County and being first duly sworn according to Law made the following Decla- -ration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress Passed July the fourth 1836 - That she the said Molly Nichols is the widow of Peter Nichols late of said Cohasset deceased to whom she was married on the twenty second day of December A D Eighteen hundred and thirty seven that her said husband was a Capt ain Lieutenant in the United States Service in the Revolutionary Army, That according to the best of recollection he belonged to Col onel Crafts Regiment of Artillery in Massachusetts State troops, and that he entered said service near the commencement of said War and served until its close, when he received an honorable discharge which has long since been lost, That he was a pensioner of the United States under the act of Congress of the seventh of June A D Eighteen hundred and thirty two as a Capt ain Lieutenant in the Artillery of the Revolutionary Army, That he died on the eleventh day of December 1835 and that she has ever since remained his widow - For a more particular account of his services she refers to the rolls and documents now in the War department at Washington forwarded by him to obtain his pension -
Molly her Nichols mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written and I hereby certify that the said Molly Nichols in consequence of bodily infirmity could not appear before a court to make the above Declaration S Leland Judge of Probate
I David Beal of Cohasset in the County of Norfolk and Common- wealth of Massachusetts aged seventy six do testify and say That I was well acquainted with Peter Nichols late of Cohasset deceased who died Dec r , Eighteen hundred and thirty five, that he was an officer of the Revolutionary Army in the class of Artillery and served according to the best of my recollection during the whole period of the war, That I am also well acquainted with Molly Nichols late the wife of said Peter but now his widow, that they were married during the revolutionary war and lived together in Cohasset until his death and that she has remained his widow ever since David Beal
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Norfolk County ss. September 7 th 1836. Personally appeared David Beal a credible witness and made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him sub- scribed before me S Leland Judge of Probate

I James C Doane of Cohasset in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged forty eight do testify and say that I was well acquainted with Peter Nichols late of said Cohasset deceased that he died last December leaving a widow Molly Nichols who is the same person who has subscribed and sworn to the within declaration, that I knew the said deceased to be a pensioner under the act of Congress of Jan 7 th 1832 - and that the said Molly still remains his widow
James C Doane
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk County ss. September 7 th 1836 Personally appeared James C Doane a credible witness and made oath to the truth of the above declaration to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed before me J. Selawel J. Probate
I Harrison Gray Otis Phipps pastor of the first Church in Cohasset do hereby certify the following to be a true copy from the records of said Church now in my possession "1827 Dec 22. Peter Nichols and Molly Faxon married by me John Brown"
I also certify that it appears by said records that at the time said record was made, John Brown was pastor of said first church in Cohasset -
H. G. O. Phipps
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk County ss. September 12 th 1836 Personally appeared the above named Harrison Gray Otis Phipps pastor of the first Church in Cohasset and made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed before me
James C Doane Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Norfolk ss.
Jonathan H. Cobb Register of the Court of Probate of the County & State aforesaid, hereby certify that Sherman Leland Esquire is the Judge of Probate the Court of Probate aforesaid and that James C. Doane is a justice of the Peace in & for said County of Norfolk

& that their several signatures above written are genuine & true.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of said Court this seventeenth day of September A.D. 1836.
Jonathan H. Cobb

7105 Peter Nichols
Sent baby 2 years
Alma
$6.00
E. J. Leland Esq.

7105  BRIEF in the case of Peter Nichols  County of Norfolk in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 77  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 1777-8 to May 2 7 23 Captain Lieut.: Gen. Capt Amos Lincoln; Lt. Col. Paul Revere, Genl. Glover, Continental Army.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Rhode Island, & Penobscot.  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Cohasset, Norfolk Co. Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary & documentary  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.
J. Waugh Examining Clerk. Jan'y 25. 1833.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those entered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Peter Nichols 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? Documentary evidence 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? _____ Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? _____ 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? _____ 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? 8. 7.
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.

To what time was Sister Nichols St. annuity 400$ pr. ann m paid at Mass. agency act 9. June 1832? Died 11 th Decr 1835 annuity paid to that period
G. W. French. Book 36
SA

SOLE AGENTS CLIMAX WINDOW-STOP ADJUSTER.
JOSEPH D. JEWETT.
WALTER Q. VAUGHAN
J. D. JEWETT & CO.,
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.
BUILDERS' HARDWARE, TOOLS AND CUTLERY, PAINTS, VARNISHES, ETC.
168 WASHINGTON STREET, AND 11 DEVONSHIRE STREET.
Pat. 1893-97.
Prevents Rattling or Binding of Window Sash.
TELEPHONE NO. 3303.
BOSTON, May 3. 1898
Com. of Pensions,
Gentlemen,
Will you please send to me the rec d of Lieut Peter Nichols a Revolutionary Veteran and a pensioner.
By doing so you will oblige,
Leland N. Pratt 168 Wash St. Boston

This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services.
Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.
L. W. B. W. 21846.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.
May 20, 1898.
Sir:-
Replying to your recent communication you are advised that Peter Nichols made an application for pension on August 14, 1832, at which time he was 77 years of age and residing at Cohasset, Mass., and his pension was allowed for two years' actual service as a Lieutenant in the Mass. troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. Lincoln and Col. Revere. He enlisted at Cohasset, Mass. His widow, Molly, made application and received a pension for the service of her husband as above set forth.
Very respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.
Mr. David N. Piatt,
168 Washington St.,
Boston, Mass.

Rev Sec en T
1114-21 st Ave., North, Seattle, Wash., Feb. 11, 1919.
Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen, -
Kindly send me a copy of Revolutionary War Record of Captain Peter Nichols of Massachusetts. And oblige
Geo. B. Dagg.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
N.F. 21.846
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Peter Nichols a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     May 6, 1777 Dec. 31, 1779 Capt. Lt. Amos Leitch Colts Artillery Mass.   Paul Revere        
Battles engaged in, Rhode Island and Penobscot
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Cohasset, Norfolk Co. Mass.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 14, 1832. His cl. recd.
Residence at date of application, Cohasset, Norfolk Co. Mass.
Age at date of application, born June 12, 1755, at Cohasset, Mass.
Remarks: died Dec. 11, 1835
He married Dec. 22, 1777 Molly Jones. She was allowed pension on an application executed Sept. 7, 1836, while a resident of Cohasset Mass. aged 83 years.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

MAY 30 1898
Mr. D. N. Pratt
Boston Mass. Check. 14 Hist. to Mrs. R. B. Dagg.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, July 26 1832.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that
Peter Nichols served as Captain Lieutenant in Beers's 6th Regiment of State Artillery, with the monthly pay of £19 from May 8. 1777 to Dec. 31. 1779, to which date his accounts on the books in this Office are made up, and no later. This regiment was first commanded by Col. Crafts, afterwards by Lieut. Colonel D. Bangs. See p. 60.