Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 13834, for Aaron Pratt, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Pratt, Aaron Silence
W. 13834
CONTENTS
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D. 16 Massachusetts
Sharon Pratt of Norfolk in the State of Mass who was a Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain Butler of the Regt commanded by Colonel Wash in the Dep line for 6 mos & 12 days
Mrs
Inscribed on the Roll of Wapachuck at the rate of 21 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of May 1833 and Sen E. S. D. Diana Eastman (Wash) Arrears to the 4th of March 1833  $42.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept , 10.67 $53.33
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by N. H. Merrill Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 Page 65
Norfolk

Aaron Pratt 13. 9 37
Edwin P Leland

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Norfolk ss. On this Exhth twenty second day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Judge of the Comt of Probate now sitting at Braintree in and for said County, Aaron Pratt a resident of Cohasset in said County, aged seventy one years, 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 on the fifteenth day of October A. D. 1760, and that there is a record of his birth in his family bible of his late father : that he was in the United States service from the month of November A. D. 1778, to the month of April A. D. 1779 five months as a private in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at Cohasset when he entered the service; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Lord of Weymouth of who's regiment he does not recollect : that he marched from Cohasset to Cambridge
: that he served with other Militia of the regular troops; and no regular officers were known to him: that he was in no battle and at the end of his service received a discharge but not in writing: that he left the service on about the month of April 1779 and that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at Cohasset : that he has no documentary evidence of this service
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the first day of August A. D. 1778, to the middle day of September A. D. 1778 43 days as a private in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at Cohasset when he entered the service; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Joseph Barker of Colonel McIntire's Regiment : that he marched from Cohasset to Rhode Island over Howland's ferry : that he served with Jackson's Regiment of the regular troops; and
General Sullivan of regular officers were known to him: that he was in the battle of Rhode Island that at the end of his service he received a discharge but not in writing and left the service about the middle of September 1778 : that he has no documentary evidence of this service
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 
: that he served with 
of the regular troops; and
regular officers were known to him; that he was in  battle
that at the end of his service he received a discharge  and left the service on 

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.
Saron Pratt
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.
We Isaac Flint a Clergyman and Isaac Pratt
residing in the Town of Cohasset residing in said Cohasset
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Saron Pratt who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy one 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.
Isaac Flint Isaac J. Pratt
Sworn and subscribed as aforesaid.
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 certify that it appears to them that Isaac Flint who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Cohasset; and that Isaac Pratt who has also signed the same is a resident in said Cohasset and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
The Court further certify that James Merrill & Andrew Bates whose depositions are hereto annexed are credible witnesses & that the names signed to the certificates thereto is the genuine signature of James C. Dorr & that he is a legitimate member of said Court & that the names of the members of said Court are as follows: James C. Dorr, Andrew Bates, James Merrill, Isaac Flint, Isaac Pratt
I Samuel Haxon, Register of the Court of Pensions aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Saron Pratt for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Samuel Haxon

6126
Massachusetts
Silence Pratt — widow of Aaron Pratt —
who was a Private
in the Mass. Line
Husb. die'd 13 th Apr. 1843.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 21 Dollars 33 — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843, and 13 th April 1843, when fr. per. com.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of Octo. 1846, and sent to
E. M. Stone, Boston.
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book 6, Vol. 2 Page 36.
J. H. M. Cox
Ref. 2 cups 1838 + 1843 with Lint Res.

9793
Silence Pratt widow of Aaron Pratt
Mass ts
Act 7 July 38
Husband died 18 th April 1843
Rejected

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston September 27. 1843
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Sherman Seland was Judge of Probate for the County of Norfolk.
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Wm. A. Bolles
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Norfolk. ss On this twenty six the day of September One thousand eight hundred and fifty three, personally appeared in  open Court , before Sherman Leland Eayre, Judge of Probate in, and for said County, Silence Pratt, a resident of Cohasset in said County, aged eighty three years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth upon her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision, made by the Act of Congress, passed, the 7 th of July 1838., and also to obtain the benefits of the provision, made by the Act of Congress, passed on the 3 d of March 1848. granting pensions to widows of persons, who served during the Revolutionary War.
That she is the widow of Aaron Pratt late of said Cohasset, deceased, who was a Private in the Revolutionary War and served in that capacity for a period of more than six months duration, for which service a pension was granted to him, by the United States, under the Act of Congress of June 7 th 1832. at the rate of twenty one dollars and thirty three cents per annum and for the names of the Officers under whom, and for a description of the Corps in which, he served, she respectfully refers to the declaration, on the files of the Pension Office, made by him at the time his pension was granted.
She further declares that she was married to the said Aaron Pratt, after he left the service, but before the first of January 1794. to wit on the twenty first day of November In the year seventeen hundred and, eighty one.
That her husband the aforesaid Aaron Pratt died on the thirteenth day of April last past, and that she has

Remained a widow ever since, and that she now resides at said Cohasset.
Her Silence Pratt
Sworn to, and subscribed on the day and year first above written. And I hereby certify that the said Silence Pratt by reason of incapacity inability to appear in court to make her declaration.
Before Isaac Judson Judge of Probate.
I Peter Pratt of Cohasset, in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. aged fifty eight years testify and say, that I was well acquainted with the above named Aaron Pratt. He died at said Cohasset, on the thirteenth day of April, last past. I am also well acquainted with the said Silence Pratt, She is the Widow of the said Aaron Pratt, and resides at said Cohasset. The said Aaron and Silence lived together, as husband and wife, in good repute, within my recollection fifty years previous to his death. And that he was a Pensioner of the United States, at the time of his death, under the Act of Congress of the 7 th of June 1832. as a Private in the Army of the Revolution at the rate of twenty one dollars and thirty three cents per annum.
Peter Pratt
September 26 th 1843
County of Norfolk ss. Personally appeared the above named Peter Pratt, who is a credible witness, and made oath to the truth of the above statement, by him subscribed
Before me
Isaac Judson Judge of Probate

November twenty first One thousand seven hundred and eighty one! Asa Pratt Jr and Silence Beal married
per me John Browne
I Joseph Osgood Pastor and Clerk of the first Church in Cohasset hereby certify that the above is a true copy from the Records of the first Church in Cohasset as made by the Pastor of said Church, except the date, which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures as follows "Nov 21 1781" =
Joseph Osgood
I Joseph Osgood above named, depose and say that I hold the Office of Pastor and Clerk of the first Church in Cohasset in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Church, as made by John Browne the former Pastor, with the exception above named, as certified by me
Joseph Osgood
Norfolk ss. September 26 th 1843. Sworn to and subscribed by the said Joseph Osgood.
Before me
Isaac Judson of Norfolk.

Aaron Pratt
Mass
Pratt 6 months 12 days
14-16 06
May 25 1833
1898/
S. 406
E. S. Leland
Roxbury
Mass

60 BRIEF in the case of  Saron Pratt  of Norfolk  in the State of Mass  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? John Court,  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 71  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.     Mass  Militia In 1797. inured 1798. 5 Private Gen. Col. Lord does not recd. let the Col or Regiment   1 h. " Col. D. Potter Col. M c Intosh Genl. Sullivan  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  Battle of Rhode Is d .  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Coatsfield, Mass Co. Norfolk  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary two living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers are not attested agreeably to the regulation - The witnesses are not entitled credible - nor the official character of the Magistrate certified  I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Payton
Examining Clerk.

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. 13534.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.
March 30, 1897.
Madam:-
Replying to your request for information concerning the military record of Aaron Pratt , a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you are advised that he made an application for pension on September 22, 1832, at which time he was 71 years of age and residing at Cohasset, Mass., and his pension was allowed for six months and twelve days' actual service as a private in the Mass. troops, Revolutionary war; a part of the time he served under Capt. Butler and Col. McIntosh. He enlisted at Cohasset, Mass.
His widow, Silence, made an application and received a pension for the service of her husband as above set forth.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Miss Mary E. P. Easton,
38 Elm St., Worcester, Mass.

20 Elm Street.
Worcester Mass Feb-26 th
97
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir.
Aaron Pratt My Great-Grand Father was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army. from the town of Hingham (now Cohasset-) The records at the state-house in Boston are few and as he drew a Pension, I would like to know for what service or injuries he based his claim. I wish to become a daughter of the Revolution. hence these inquiries. he died on the 13 th of April 1843, and

his wife Lilien Beal Pratt by act of March 3 rd or 30 th 1843 was allowed a pension at the rate twenty one dollars, forty three cents per annum. commencing on the day of Aaron Pratt's death; hoping to hear from you in due time I am
Sincerely Yours
Mary Ella Pratt Easton

V 9723
Silence Pratt
Mass Its
Suspended Letter to Wm Leland March 7th 1844
Act July 7 th 38

to my Easton - Mass.
Rev WIDOW, &c.
March 30. 1897 - His to Miss. Mary E. P. 38. Elm st. Worcester
File No. 13834
Silence Pratt
Widow of
Aaron Pratt
Pre New War
Act: March 30. 48
Index: - Vol. M , Page 141
[Arrangement of 1870.]

18937
Alma Pratt
E. S. Leland Esq.
Roxbury
Mass.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Saron Pratt 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? 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? no
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 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.

1433.
Silence Pratt (Mass s )
Act B Mar. 43
Ad d p
6m. 13 d 1
private
$ 21. 43 per an
to commence April 13 th 43 day of husband's death
William Leland Esq r Roxbury Mass

Roxbury Mass Sept 27 th 1843
Sir
Herewith I send you the declaration of Silence Pratt Widow of Aaron Pratt deceased for a pension under the act of Congress of July 7 th 1838. and also under the act of Congress of March 13 th 1843. Please to communicate with her, upon the subject, through me, and much oblige
Yours Obediently
William Leland
J. L. Schwarts Esq Comm r of Pensions Washington City
“ ”

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, April 18. th 1844
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the attestation hereto attached, Samuel Humphrey was a Justice of the peace for the County of Norfolk.
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Sleeper; Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
No. 73
Secretary's Office, April 3 1811
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
the name of Aaron Pratt is borne upon a pay roll of Capt. Elias Wilds (so April 3 1775 four months & 23 days); the names of the officers are not upon the rolls of said company, and there are no rolls of Capt. Lord in this Office.

Pensions Office March 7 th 1844
Sir
The papers in the case of Silence Pratt widow of Aaron Pratt claiming a pension under the Act of July 7 th 1838 have been examined and filed. The identity and date of the marriage are established. The Massachusetts Rolls for 1777 are at present in the office of the Secretary of State of that Commonwealth and his certificate should be produced showing that Aaron Pratt served as he alleges in his declaration five months under Captain Lord as a private.
Very Respectfully Y o b t Serv t J. L. Edwards
W m Leland Esq r Rosebury Mass as

I Jonathan Lewis of Weymouth in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being in the eighty fifth year of my age, do testify and say, that I served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War in guarding Burgoyne's troops at Cambridge Mass. in Col. John Brooks Regiment, and in a company commanded by Capt. Silas Wild of Braintree, I think, from November in the year 1777 to May in the year 1778, a term of about six months. Peter Lord of Weymouth was first Lieutenant of said company and Eldad Lord of Hingham was second Lieut. of the company. I well recollect the officers and a large number of the privates particularly those who were from Weymouth and Cohasset as I had resided in both of these towns. and well remember that Ebenezer Hunt, Samuel Hunt, David Trufant and David Lord of Weymouth and Aaron Pratt of Cohasset were privates with myself in said company during said term. Our station was at Fort No. 1. Many incidents of that service are yet fresh to my mind.
Jonathan Lewis
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk County ss. April 8 th 1844. Then personally appeared before me the subscriber a justice of the peace within and for said County of Norfolk, the above named Jonathan Lewis and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed in my presence is true, and I certify that the said Jonathan Lewis is well known to me and is a person of good reputation for truth.
Samuel Humphrey Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston October 3 d 1846
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Henry J. Turner was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Norfolk,
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Palfrey,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the resolution of Congress of the 23 d January, 1845. - Whereas the act of the
Whereas the act of the 30 th April, 1844, prohibited me from drawing a pension for the same period during which my husband was a pensioner, I now make the following statement under oath, to obtain the benefits of the resolution above mentioned. I am the widow of Aaron Pratt who was a private in the war of the Revolution; I have drawn a pension at the rate of Twenty one 43 / 100 Dollars per annum from the 13 th April 1843. and now ask for the amounts due me from the 4 th March 1836. to the 4 th March 1841. and from 4 th March to 13 th April 1843. when my former pension commenced.
Signed in presence of us Henry J. Furner Peter Pratt
Silence her x Pratt Mark.
to and subscribed before me, on this twenty first day of September 1846.
Henry J. Turner
Just. Pense Norfolk Co.
And I further certify that the declarant

is personally known to me, and that the is the same individual she represents herself to be in the foregoing affidavit
Henry J. Turner
Jst. of the lease Norfolk town
9723
Silence Cratt
Mass. 489
Act 38. Joint res- olution
admiral
6 mo. 12 ds/pri
21.33 from 4 march 36 to 4 march 41
also
act 3 march
43 - 21.33 to
13 apr 43 when her pension com- menced
L. M. Stone Esq Boston

Roxbury, Mass. April 18 th '44
Sir.
Herewith I send you evidence showing the service of Aaron Pratt, as a private in the Army of the Revolution. It appears that he was under a mistake when he made his declaration with regard to the name of his Captain. That Wild was the Captain and Load first Lieutenant. I hope the evidence will be sufficient to sustain the claim of his widow, Silence Pratt, for a pension.
Very Respectfully Yr Obt Servt
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Wm Leland
Comm'r of Pensions
Washington City
“ ”

Oct 6-26 Om map Joint Rec d Silvia Pratt
act 43-6126
PAID
PORT 10c
J. L. Edwards Esq r 1821 Court of Pensions Washington D.C.
Paid = ches 90

Boston, 3 d Oct. 1846.
Sir,
I enclose herewith the application of silence Pratt for the benefit of act 7 th July 1834. & joint resolution of 23 d Jan y . 1845.
I am. very resp y .
Your obt Serv t
L. M. Stone
J. L. Edwards Esq r Comm r of Pensions Washington D.C. }

11.112.
(500.)
Massachusetts.
Silence Pratt
Widow of Aaron Pratt - who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832 - and who died on the 13 th April 1843 - of Norfolk in the State of Massachus., who was a Private in the Comp y - commanded by Captain Butler - of the Reg t commanded by Col l McIntosh in the Mass. line for 6 mo. 12 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Boston, at the rate of 21 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of Octo. 1846 and sent to S. M. Store, Boston.
Total amount, $106.65-
and Joint Res. [Act July 7, 1838.] 23 Jany 1845. Recorded by S. H. Wood Clerk, Book D. Vol. 1. Page 65

6126.
Massachusetts
Vience Pratt
widow of Aaron Pratt
Mess who was a Private
in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 21 Dollars 43 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843. 13 th April, 1843. his death.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 th day of Sept r 1844 and sent to W m Xeland, Esq Roxbury Mass s
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A Vol. 1. Page 56.
Reported
2 Certfs. Act 1838 with J. Res. 1843 Sent Octo. 15: 1840 to L. M. Stone, Boston.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk ss.
I James Lincoln of Cohasset in the County of Norfolk & Commonwealth aforesaid aged Seventy one Do hereby testify and declare that I entered the service of the United States in the Militia of Massachusetts during the war of the Revolution in the month of November 1777 in the Company commanded by Capt Lord of Weymouth and served five months that I personally knew Aaron Pratt of Cohasset aforesaid and that he entered the service aforesaid at the same time with myself and served five months when we were discharged
James Lincoln
Norfolk ss. Sept 10 th 1832 Then personally appeared the above named James Lincoln and made oath that the above declaration by him subscribed is true before me James G. Deane Justice of the Peace annually sworn & court slit and probat

I hereby certify that the within deponent James Lincoln is a credible witness James G Doane. Justice of the peace

I Ambrose Bates of Cohasset in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy two Do hereby testify and declare that I entered the service of the United States in the militia of Massachusetts during the War of the Revolution in the month of August 1778 in a company commanded by Capt Joseph Boxter and served for the term of Forty three days. That I personally know Aaron Pratt of Cohasset now an applicant for a pension for Revolutionary services and that he entered said service and served the same time in the same company with myself in the capacity of corporal.
Ambrose Bates
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk ss Sept 18 th 1832 Then personally appeared the above named Ambrose Bates and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true. before me James G. Doane Justice of the Peace assisted by order of Court I hereby certify that the above deponent Ambrose Bates is a credible witness James G. Doane Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, May 31 1833.
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 Aaron Pratt served in Capt Joseph Dexter's Company, in Col M c Intosh's Regt, as a Corporal, for the period of one month & thirteen days commencing August fifth 1778
Edward D. Bangs. Secy
Exd L.