Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15158, for Jonas Parker, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
mass
Parker, Jonas Susannah
W. 15158
CONTENTS

Letter to Elijah Clark. 26. Sep. 1845
Massachusetts - 2,844
Susannah Parker,
widow of Jonas Parker,
Mass
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 11 th June 1827 of Middlesex in the State of Massachusetts who was a Pion. in the Comp y commanded by Captain Batchelder of the Reg t commanded by Briggs in the Mass s line for 8 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of April '39, and sent to Isaac Fisher, 6. Cambridge, Mass s
Arrears to the 4 th of March - $79.98 Semi-annual allowance ending /3.33 $93.31
{ Act July 7, } 1838.
Recorded by R Burgess Clerk, Book A Vol. 1- Page 120

(263H)
Parker
cut 7 July, 38
m 80 a 27
vol 14 p 20 - on
adm 2 26. 66/100
No deduction
Isaac Fiske Cambridge Mass

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, of the 7th July, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows,"
State of Massachusetts, } County of Middlesex } ss
On this thirteenth day of October, in the year eighteen hundred and thirty eight
Parker personally appeared before the Judge of the Court of Probate for said County, Susannah a resident of Reading, in the county of Middlesex aged eighty years, who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows;" That she is the widow of Jonas Parker of said Reading, who was a * private in the Army of the Revolution, and according to the best of her knowledge & belief, enlisted in Capt. Butchelder's Company, Col. Bridges Regiment at Cambridge, about the last of April, in the year seventeen hundred & seventy five, on the eight months service, & served there all that time.
And she positively declares that she is the widow of said Jonas Parker, and has never been married since his decease; and that at the time of the above mentioned enlistment he was a resident of said Reading, in the county & state aforesaid.
She further declares that she was married to the said Jonas Parker on the twenty eighth day of December in the year seventeen hundred and eighty; that her husband, the aforesaid Jonas Parker died on the eleventh day of June in the year eighteen hundred & thirty seven; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz. : at the time above stated.
Sworn to, and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before me, at her house in Reading she being too infirm to go from home —
L. P. Day
Subannah Parker Judge of Probate for said County
* Here insert the rank the husband held in the army, navy, or militia, as the case may be, and specify the service performed, as directed in rule numbered one of these regulations.

I William Parker of Reading in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts being seventy eight years of age do depose and say that my brother Jonas Parker of the same Reading enlisted in the war of the Revolution in or about the latter part of April A 1775 in to a company commanded by Capt. Batchelder which was stationed at Cambridge in said County for the term of eight months and did duty in said Company during said term, and although I was not there myself, yet I well remember of going to Cambridge to see him and saw him doing duty there in said Company and that he did not return till the close of the year seventeen hundred and seventy five, I am further say that he was out in other service in said War, I believe he was at Fishkill New York but under whom or how long I am unable to tell.
Sept October 1 st A 1838 William Parker
State of Massachusetts } ss. County of Middlesex } Reading Oct. 1. A. D. 1838.
Then the above named William Parker personally appeared & made oath that the facts stated in the foregoing deposition by him subscribed were true according to his best knowledge & belief. And I further certify that the said William Parker is a credible witness
Before me
Joshua Prescott Justice of the Peace

State of Massachusetts } ss. County of Middlesex }
I, Jonathan Weston of Reading in the County aforesaid, being eighty one years of age, do depose and say, that about the last of April in the year Seventeen hundred & Seventy five I enlisted in Capt Batchelder's company, Col Bridges Regiment, at Cambridge on the eight months service, & served there during all that time. And I well remember Jonas Parker of said Reading, who was in the same company with me at that time, & served with me through the above mentioned eight months - Jonathan Weston
State of Massachusetts } ss. County of Middlesex }
Reading Sept. 25 th 1838
Then the above named Jonathan Weston personally appeared, & made oath that the facts stated in the foregoing deposition by him subscribed were true, according to his best knowledge & belief. And I further certify that the said Jonathan Weston is a credible witness -
Before me
Joshua Pseudot { Notice of the Peace

Woburn, County of Middlesex Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I Oliver B. Coolidge, certify that it appears from the records in my possession that Jonas Parker and Susannah Leathe, were married by the Rev: John Marrett December the twenty eight, in the year of our Lord, seventeen hundred and eighty, And I certify that the above is a true copy of record, with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows, viz:
"Dec: 28 th 1780"
I Oliver B. Coolidge, above named, do depose and say that I hold the Office of Town Clerk, in the town of Woburn in the County of Middlesex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town of Woburn. —
Oliver B. Coolidge
Town Clerk of Woburn.
County of Middlesex ss:
October 9 th A. D. 1828.
Sworn before me, Nymon Richardson Justice of the Peace

State of Massachusetts } ss. County of Middlesex }
Reading Oct. 9, 1838.
I, Jonas Parker — of said Reading, being of lawful age, do depose & say, that Jonas Parker of said Reading, a soldier of the Revolution died on the Eleventh day of June in the year eighteen hundred twenty seventy  that Susannah Parker the present applicant is the widow of the said Jonas Parker, and has never been married since his decease -
Jonas Parker
State of Massachusetts } ss. County of Middlesex }
Reading Oct. 10, 1838,
Then the above named Jonas Parker personally appeared, & made oath that the facts stated in the foregoing deposition by him his subscribed were true, according to his best knowledge & belief. And I further certify that the said Jonas Parker is a credible witness -
Before me
Joshua Purott { Justice of the Peace

State of Massachusetts } ss. County of Middlesex }
2 d , Ephraim Parker of Reading in Said County, being of lawful age do depose & say, that Jonas Parker of Said Reading, a soldier of the Revolution, died on the eleventh day of June in the year, in the year eighteen hundred & twenty seven; that Susannah Parker, the present applicant, is the widow of the said Jonas Parker, and has never been married since his decease.
Ephraim Parker
State of Massachusetts } ss. Reading, Oct. 10. 1838. County of Middlesex }
Then the above named Ephraim Parker, personally appeared, made oath that the facts stated in the foregoing deposition by him subscribed, were true, according to his best knowledge & belief. And I further certify that the above named Ephraim Parker is a credible witness -
Before me
Joshua Pircott Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex County ss. I Isaac Pitkin Clerk of the Court of Probate in & for the County of Middlesex aforesaid hereby certify that Samuel D. Pitkin, Esq. is the Judge of said Court & that his signature written on the annexed paper is his genuine signature.
I also certify that John A. Prescott & William Richardson Esquires are respectively Justices of the Peace within and for said County of Middlesex duly appointed & qualified & their signatures respectively written on the annexed paper are their genuine signatures.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this seventeenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.
Isaac Pitkin Clerk

War Department.
PENSION OFFICE, JULY 17, 1888.
The following rules, prescribed by the President of the United States, and adopted by the Secretary of War, in order to carry into effect the Act of Congress of the 7th July, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows," are published for the information of applicants under that law:—
1. Applicants must produce the best proof the nature of the case will allow, as to the service of the deceased officer or soldier, and the time when he died. It must be clearly shown in what troop or company, and regiment or corps, he served, and the grade he held. Proof, as to service, must be had, either from the records of the War Department, the muster rolls, the testimony of commissioned officers, or the affidavits of persons of known respectability. Every applicant will make a declaration according to the subjoined form, before a court of record, setting forth, according to the best of her knowledge or belief, the name and rank of the person on account of whose service the claim is presented; the day, month, and year, (if possible,) when he entered the service, and the time when he left the same; and, if under more than one engagement, the claimant must specify the particular periods, and the rank and names of the officers under whom the service was performed; the town or county, and state in which he resided when he entered the service; whether he was drafted, was a volunteer, or substitute; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged; the country through which he marched, with such further particulars as may be useful in the investigation of the claim; and, also, if the fact be so, that the claimant has no documentary evidence in support of the claim. From the best sources of information, evidence must be derived as to the period of the death of the officer or soldier.
2. The legality of the marriage, and the time when it took place, must be clearly established; and it must also be shown that the widow was never afterwards married. Record proof, as to the marriage is always required, whenever it can be obtained. In a case where the town, county, parish, church, or family records afford no proof as to the period when the marriage took place, the fact must be established by the testimony of one or more respectable persons, whose credibility must be certified by the officer who may administer the oath. And, in order to prevent any mistake or improper use that may be made of the affidavit of an officer who may have the custody of records, from which he may make transcripts of the record, in relation to a marriage, the officer who may give his affidavit will, instead of copying the figures contained in the record, certify "that it is a true copy of the record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair, legible figures, as follows:" [Here copy the day, month, and year, in letters and figures, in exact conformity with the original. Then let him add the following words:]
"I, A. B., above named, depose and say, that I hold the office _____ in the county, town and state aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said _____ with the exception above named, as certified by me. A. B., Clerk of the _____ (or rector, or pastor, as the case may be.)
Sworn before me, C. D., Justice of the Peace.
And then will follow the certificate of the proper officer, under his seal of office, as to the official character and signature of the magistrate who may administer the oath. Where no record proof exists, other than the family record, the original record must be produced and sworn to by the person in whose possession it has been kept.
3. In a case where the service of deceased officer or soldier is clearly proved by record or documentary evidence, or the affidavit of a commissioned officer, showing the grade or length of service of the deceased, the particulars in relation to the service are not required to be set forth in the claimant's declaration; but she must swear, in positive terms, that she is the widow of the person whose service is thus proved. And no claim whatever can be sustained without positive proof of service.
4. In every case in which the deceased officer or soldier was a pensioner, the fact should be so stated, and the deceased pensioner so described, as to enable the Department to refer immediately to the evidence upon which he was pensioned, and thus facilitate the investigation of the claim of the widow.
5. Applicants, unable to appear in court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, before a judge or justice of a court of record of the county in which the applicant resides, and the judge or justice will certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the court.
6. Whenever any official act is required to be done by a judge or justice of a court of record, or by a justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State, or of the Territory, or of the proper officer or clerk of the court or county, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such a person is a judge, or justice of a court of record, or a justice of the peace, and that the signature annexed, is his genuine signature.
7. The widows of those who served in the navy, or as Indian spies, will produce proof, as nearly as may be, conformably to the preceding regulations, and authenticated in a similar manner, with such variations as the different nature of the service may require.
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
AN ACT
Granting half pay and pensions to certain widows and for other purposes.
Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That if any person who served in the war of the revolution, in the manner specified in the act passed the seventh day of June, eighteen hundred and thirty-two, entitled "An act supplementary to the act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the revolution," have died leaving a widow, whose marriage took place after the expiration of the last period of his service, and before the first day of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four, such widow shall be entitled to receive, for and during the term of five years, from the fourth day of March, eighteen hundred and thirty-six, the annuity or pension which might have been allowed to her husband in virtue of said act, if living at the time it was passed: Provided, That in the event of the marriage of such widow, said annuity or pension shall be discontinued.
SECTION 2. And be it further enacted, That no pledge, mortgage, sale, assignment, or transfer of any right, claim or interest, in any
annuity, half-pay, or pension granted by this act shall be valid, nor shall the half-pay, annuity, or pension, granted by this act, or any former act of Congress, be liable to attachment, levy, or seizure, by any process in law or equity, but shall enure wholly to the personal benefit of the pensioner or annuitant entitled to the same; and that before a warrant shall be delivered to any person acting for, or in behalf of, any one entitled to money under this act, such person shall take and subscribe an oath or affirmation, to be administered by the proper accounting officer, and put on file, that he has no interest in said money by any pledge, mortgage, transfer, agreement, understanding, or arrangement, and that he does not know or believe that the same has been so disposed of to any other person.
SECTION 3. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of War shall adopt such regulations and forms of evidence in relation to applications and payments under this act, as the President of the United States may prescribe.

Rev  WIDOW, &c.
File No. 15158
Susannah Parker Widow of James Parker Pri Rev War
Act: July 1 st 88
Index:—Vol. M , Page 112
[Arrangement of 1870.]