Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29986, for Ebenezer Mountfort, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Mass.
Mountfort, Ebenezer
NUMBER
S. 29986
CONTENTS

1507. 1-5
Massachusetts
Ebenezer Mountfort of Suffolk in the State of Mass who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Chamberlain of the Regt commanded by Col. Jones in the War time for 19 mos
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 63 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 th day of Nov 1832 and sent to H Derby Boston Mass
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $94.99 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 33. 31.66 $126.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. McBlain Clerk Book D. Vol. 2 nd Page 67.

3373
Ebenezer Mountfort
Mass
Seame 10 months March 9 th
19.
W.E.E
Admitted
E. Harket Derby Boston

BRIEF in the case of  Ebenezer Mountfort  of Boston  Suffolk Co. in the State of Mass.  (Act 7 June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? _____  3. How old is he? 73  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.     early in Feby '76 till Decr '76 In 17 _____ * 10 _____ Seaman Adm'l Schomberg Lynch* - Capt Ayres   about 1 Jan '77 - till Oct '77 about 9 _____ Soldier Capt. Caleb Chapman - Capt Simmons   He afterwards sailed in several privateers was twice taken prisoner  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Deverly  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? one living witness  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? all right 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. C. Easton Examining Clerk.
* Named principally by mention from Col. Glover's Regt. * As near as he can recollect 10 months

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Suffolk ss. Boston
On this sixth day of August personally appeared in open Court before the Municipal Court of the City of Boston now sitting at Boston within and for the County of Suffolk aforesaid
Ebenezer Mountfort of Boston aforesaid , aged seventy three years
Who being 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, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That is to say
That he shipped as a seaman on board the armed Schooner Lynch fitted out by the States in February 1776. as a cruiser. She was equipped at Beverly & manned principally by men taken from Colonel Glover's regiment. Her commander was John Ayres, her first Lieutenant Mr Roach, & Surgeon Dr Allen. He entered the service early in February 1776. & served until December following as near as he can recollect a period of ten months. She sailed on a cruise from Beverly on the sixth of March in pursuit of the British Fleet then leaving Boston & captured one of them which was sent into Portsmouth, she afterwards captured two others bound into Boston with troops, Highlanders.
About the first of January 1777. he was with others drafted to take the place of soldiers who had gone to the South & entered the provincial regiment commanded by Colonel Simmons & a company commanded by Caleb Champey. He entered this service at Boston & continued in it until October of the same year a period of about nine months.
He was employed principally in fortifying Boston & its vicinity. He afterwards sailed in several privateers, was twice taken prisoner & retained in captivity for a long time.
He has no documentary evidence of his services & knows of no person who can testify to his services in the State troops, but believes that his brother Joseph Mountfort can furnish some evidence as to his service on board the Lynch.
The two terms of his land & naval service amount, as nearly as he can calculate, to nineteen months.
Being young when he served on board the Lynch his wages were but eight Dollars per month.

He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity whatever, 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
Aug. 6. 1832. Sworn in open court before me Peter O. Thacher, Judge
Eleazar Mountfort
We James L. Mills & Edward T. Taylor the latter a Clergyman residing in the town of City of Boston in the County of Suffolk Joseph Mountfort of said Boston hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Eleazar Mountfort who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid,
E. T. Taylor James L. Mills Joseph Mountfort
And the said Court thereupon proceeded to propound the following interrogatories, which he answered under oath, as follows:
1. Where and in what year were you born?
Answer, In Boston, I cannot recollect the year, but feel confident I am 73 years of age. =
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it?
Answer,
I have no record but believe it was recorded by the Dead Mother Byles who has been dead for many years.
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer. In Boston.
4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute, for whom?
Answer,
I volunteered once & was drafted once.
5. State the names of some of the regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served, such Continental, and Militia Regiments, as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service?
Answer,
I have embedded in my declaration all I recollect on these subjects.
6. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution? A seaman of the revolution.
Answer,
The Reverend Edward T. Taylor & James L. Mills.

7 th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; if so, by whom was it given & what has become of it?
Answer I have no written discharge & do not confidently recollect that I ever received any. Ebenezer  now  out
Subscribed & sworn to Before me Peter A. Thacher Judge
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that after the investigation of the matter, and putting 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 it appears to them, that who has signed the preceding Certificates is a Clergyman resident in the credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I
Clerk of the Court of
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty
day of
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that after the investigation of the matter, and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and Seaman, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them, that Edward T. Taylor, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in Boston aforesaid and in pastor of the Seaman's Church of the Boston Port Society there, and that James S. Mills and Joseph Mountfort, who have also signed the said Certificate, are all credible persons, & that their statement is entitled to credit.
Peter A. Thacher Judge of the Mar. Nicholas L. Lord

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk ss
I, Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston, a court of record legally established in this Commonwealth do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Ebenezer Mountfort for a pension, that the Honorable Peter C. Macher is sole Judge of said Court and that his signatures on these papers are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court at Boston this sixth day of August A.D. Eighteen hundred & thirty two
Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk.
October 22 nd 1832 Norwellport
No. 3313

Joseph Mountfort. deceased in Ebenezer Mountfort

Joseph Mountfort of Boston in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged eighty one years on oath before me say that in the month of March 1777 I shipped as a seaman on board the armed Schooner Lynch then in the service of Congress and made a voyage in her to France. On her previous cruise in 1776 my brother Ebenezer Mountfort who still survives and this day applies for a pension sailed in her. This circumstance was often mentioned by the crew of the Lynch and often alluded to in our family. I also frequently heard about that time that my brother Ebenezer had enlisted as a soldier in the States Service & feel well assured that he did so on his return from his cruise in the Lynch. The said one first inquired over an errand.
Joseph Mountfort
(Municipal court of the city of Boston)
August 6 th A.D. Eighteen hundred & thirty two. Then Jo- seph Mountfort, above named made oath to the truth of the facts as set forth in the foregoing affidavit in open court
Attest, Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk of
said Municipal court,

I. S. C.
Sum. File - 29986
Rev. Mar.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.,
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Ebenezer Mountfort , 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.     Beverly Mass. Feb. 1776 10 mos. Seaman John Ayres. Cruiser "Lynch"   July 1. 1777 9 " Caleb Champney Simms Mass. Troops   He afterwards sailed in several privateers, was twice taken prisoner and held for a long time.  
Battles engaged in, none mentioned - captured three vessels.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Boston Mass.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 6. 1832 - allowed -
Residence at date of application, Boston, Mass.
Age at date of application, 73 born in Boston, Mass.
Remarks: Soldier's brother Joseph Mountfort of Boston at 81 in 1832 testified in case - no further family data
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

29986 Rev INVALID.
1906 May 11. History to Fisher Kuehr Rich - Ill.
File No. 29986
Ebenezer Mountain Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1824
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 284
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Aug 17. 1802 To
The Secretary of War - Washington -

Boston August 10 th 1832 14 State St.
Sir,
I have the honor to transmit to you the application of Mr Ebenezer Mountfort for a pension; the same has been duly authenticated by a Court of Record of this City, & is accompanied by the deposition of Joseph Mountfort—
I have endeavored to conform strictly to your Instructions & doubt not that the enclosed case is well substantiated. By forwarding to me the Pension Certificate you will confer a favor on
Yrs with the Highest Respect
E. Harket Deleg
Counsel to John Mountfort

3373
Ebenezer Mansfield
E Merket Derby Boston

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Elenegele v. Mountfort 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?
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?  Yes
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?  Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  Yes 
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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
‡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.

O. M. & N.
C
143 Summer Street Romeville, Mass. May 5, 1906
Pension Bureau Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:—
Is there the name of "Ebenezer Mount- fort " on the Revolutionary pension rolls or the name of his wife "Peggy" or Margaret Mountfort? It is known that this Ebenezer Mountfort was

a "Revolutionary Patriot" but I have been unable as yet, to find out just what service he performed Perhaps you can assist me?
Respectfully yours, Fisher Keeler Rice