Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 1928, for Robert Porter, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Nass.
Porter, Robert Elizabeth
NUMBER
N. 1928
CONTENTS
[Ruled lines for entries]
[Ruled lines for entries]

10519 Massachusetts
Robert Brater
of Norfolk in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Milder of the Regt. commanded by Col. Knowles in the Mass line for 6 months
M ch
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of - 20 - Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 th day of April 1833 and sent E. J. S. L. and Mary, Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $44.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending Sept 1 70.00
$114.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by K. M. Adams Clerk, Book 2 Vol. Page 65
72 Norfolk

x Robt Porter
4671.
Edwin S. Leland

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Norfolk ss.
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, Robert Porter a resident of Stoughton said County, aged 70 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 Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth on the fourteenth day of March A. D. 1762, and that there is a record of his birth in Bridgewater : that he was in the United States service from the last day of Decr A. D. 1776, to the first day of April A. D. 1777 therein as a Private in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at Stoughton  said
when he entered the service; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Theophilus Miller in the Regiment commanded by Col. Nicholas Dike : that he marched from Stoughton to the vicinity of Boston from there to Boston from there to there : that he served at said place the term with none 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 no written discharge: that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at Stoughton
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from about the 14th day of Augt A. D. 1779, to the about 15 day of Sept A. D. 1779 as a Private in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at Stoughton in said Norfolk County then Suffolk County
when he entered the service; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Joseph Richardson in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Dike : that he marched from Stoughton to the Isle of Rhode Island at Providence - from there to there from there to there : that he served at said place the term of service with none 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 no written discharge.
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the first day of Nov A. D. 1779, to the first day of January A. D. 1780 in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at Stoughton in said County then Suffolk County
when he entered the service; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Abel Richardson Captain in no other commander known to him -
: that he marched from Stoughton to Boston , from Boston to Roxbury from there to there : that he served at said place the term with none 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 no written discharge. that he was a Substitute for the room of  Ebenezer Herring of Dedham that he has no documentary evidence but what may

be found in the Secretarys office of this commonwealth to prove his services - that there is no person known to him by whom he can prove the last mentioned period of service
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Aug t 16 th . 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 Robert Porter served in Captain Joseph Richards company in the Detach- ment of Militia commanded by Captain Samuel Fisher one month and thirty days commencing Aug t 11 th A.D. 1779.
Edward D. Bangs, Secy.
I certify that it appears that search has been made at the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth for documentary evidence in this case & the above is all that could be found
Sherman Seland of Poland

be found in the secretarys office of this commonwealth to prove his services - that there is no person known to him by whom he can prove the last mentioned period of service
I Benjamin Bullard of Sharon in the County of Norfolk, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being of Lawful Age, do testify and declare, that I enlisted and served in the company commanded by Captain Theophilus Wilder in Col. Dikes regiment in the Revolutionary War - at Dorchester and in the vicinity of Boston three months commencing in December A.D. 1776. and that Robert Porter of Stoughton in said County was with me in the same company and according to the best of my memory served the same period of time that I did which was three months. and deponent further saith not - August 15th 1832. Benj: Bullard
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk County August 15th 1832. Personally appeared the above named Benjamin Bullard and made solemn Oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed. and upon strict inquiry into the character of the above named Bullard, I verily believe him to be a man of truth and that his word may be depended upon.
Done before me
Benjamin Washburn Justice of the Peace
I Samuel Hovey, Reg d of the County of Norfolk do hereby certify
that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Robert Porter, for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Samuel Hovey.

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. Robert Porter
We Isaac Smith
a clergyman, residing in the Town of
Stoughton and Benjamin Richards residing at Stoughton Randolph hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Robert Porter who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy years 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.
Sworn and subscribed as aforesaid.
Isaac Smith Benjamin Richards
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 Smith , who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the said Stoughton ; and that Benjamin Richards who has also signed the same is a resident in Randolph and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
And the court further certify that Benjamin Richards is a justice of the peace for the county of Norfolk & that the name signed to the certificate to the Department is his true name Samuel Haven, Regt of the Coast of Massachusetts , do hereby certify
that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Robert Porter , for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Samuel Haven.

Resides
351 Massachusetts
Elizabeth Porter widow of Robert Porter who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 20 Dollars 00
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 th day of Sept r 1847. and sent to
Benjamin Richards Randolph Mass.
Entered on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848. Page 75 Vol. 1 July Bank R

N 281.
Elizabeth Parris mo of Robert map
act 29 July 1848
Mamma 1794 Mistand died 1835-
Adms $20 00 Mr 4 March 1848
Benjamin Richaw Randolph map

Hon. J. L. Edwards Esquire
as soon as the within claim is disposed of in your department Please direct to Benjamin Richards, Randolph, Massachusetts yours respectfully Benj. Richards
Chas two of
Act 2
Mrs
Mrs
Adm
Mr 4
Benj

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Norfolk Town of Houghton J s . Married by the Rev. Edward Richmond Roberts Porter to Elizabeth Gay both of Houghton June fifth Seventeen hundred and ninety four
The above is a true Copy from the Records of Marriages in the Town of Houghton, with the exception of the date, which in the Record is expressed in fair legible figures as follows "June 5. 1794."
Attest Jabez Talbot Jr y Town Clerk of Houghton
I Jabez Talbot Jr above named do hereby certify that I held the Office of Clerk of the Town of Houghton aforesaid in the County and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Town of Houghton, with the exception above named, as certified by me
Jabez Talbot Jr y Town Clerk
Norfolk J s December 2 nd 1848
Subscribed and sworn to by the above named Jabez Talbot Jr Before me Joel Talbot Justice of the peace

State of Massachusetts
Norfolk County ss. - On this Eleventh — day of December, eighteen hundred and forty eight personally appeared Before me Benjamin Richards Esquire a justice of the Peace in and for the County of Norfolk in the state of Massachusetts aforesaid Elizabeth Porter a resident of the town of Stoughton in the County of Norfolk, and State aforesaid - aged seventy nine 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 provisions made by the Act of Congress passed the 29th day of July 1848. Granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows, that were married to revolutionary soldiers, before the first day of January eighteen hundred - That she is now the Widow of Robert Porter late of Stoughton in the County of Norfolk and state aforesaid deceased, who was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and was a pensioner of the United States, under the Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832. at the rate of twenty dollars per Annum, in consequence of his services in said War. He was a native of the town of Stoughton when he enlisted and entered the service and he served in several campaigns at different periods of said war. from 1775 to 1779. as a private and according to the best of her knowledge and belief under Captain Wilder Captain Symmes in Col John Reeds Regiment of Guards and in least Richards Company and others around the shores of Boston and in the state of Rhode Island as she is unable to give the particulars of his services, she would respectfully refer to his own declaration and papers now at Washington in the Pension Office which were transmitted there in proof of his services in the fall of the year 1832 and on which his pension was granted him as aforesaid, she further declares she was married to the said Robert Porter her late husband deceased on the Fifth day of June seventeen hundred and ninety four by the Rev Edward Richimond ————— the then settled minister in the town of Stoughton and that her late husband died on the eighteenth — day of August eighteen hundred and thirty five, that she was not married to the said Robert Porter deceased prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January eighteen hundred at the time above stated, she has not been married since the death of the said Robert Porter. that she is now a widow residing in S. Stoughton
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } Elizabeth Porter Norfolk ss. - Subscribed and sworn to by the said Elizabeth Porter, the day & year first above written. Benjamin Richards Justice of the Peace

State of Massachusetts
I Robert Porter of Stoughton in the county of Norfolk and state aforesaid, being of Lawful Age do testify and say that I am the eldest son of Robert Porter late of Stoughton in the county and state aforesaid deceased, that said Robert Porter my father died at Stoughton the eighteenth day of August eighteen hundred and thirty five, that he was a pensioner of the United States at the rate of twenty dollars up to the time of his death  his death , that Elizabeth Porter my mother who is now a resident of the said town of Stoughton is the Widow of said deceased, and has not been married since the death of her late husband Robert Porter and is now a widow, her maiden name before she was married to my father was Elizabeth Gay.
Robert Porter
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk County ss December 12th 1848
Then the above named Robert Porter, personally appeared and made Oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true, and I would further certify that the said Robert Porter is well known to me and is a person considered of truth and veracity, I further certify the words  words  inserted  inserted  before  before the same was subscribed and sworn to Before me Benjamin Rich and Justice of the Peace in and for said county of Norfolk

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston December 16 1848
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestations Benjamin Richards and Joel Talbot were Justices of the Peace for the County of Norfolk,
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to their 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.
Nathan D. Sleeper (Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth.)

2671 Robert Porter Norfolk Co Mass Rate 6 Months
14 06 Dec 21. 1832
R. Leland Roxbury Norfolk Co Mass 1833.

BRIEF in the case of Robert Porter of Norfolk County 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? 70  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 1776 - Dec r — 3 — private Gen. Capt. Theop. Wilder, Col. Dike   79 - Aug t — 1 — " " Col. Richards, Col. Tucker   80 Nov r — 2 — " " Abel Richards  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Sturminster  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence - Rolls - living witness -  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. H. McBlain Examining Clerk.

N 281 Elizabeth Porter Map
S. to B. in Richard June 5th 1849
ad 29 May 1848

WIDOW, &c.
Rev
File No. 1928
Elizabeth Porter
Widow
Robert Porter
Pri. Rev. War
Act: July 29, 1848
Index:—Vol. M. Page 134
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Robert Paton, Map act 7 June 1832 $20 00 per
To what time was he last paid? J. B. G.
Pension office Sept. 27 1849
Died 18 th August 1835 pa d to his death. J. B. G.

Pension Office, June 5 th , 1849.
Sir,
In the case of Elizabeth Porter, widow of Robert Porter, an applicant for a pension under the Act of 29 th July 1848, her husband's service and also the date of their marriage have been satisfactorily established, but she must comply with the regulation which requires that her declaration be made before a Court of record in order to authorize the issuing a certificate to her under the above Law.
Yours, Very respectfully, Com. Off. Rev. J. J. L. Edwards
Benjamin Richard, Esq., Randolph, Mass.

Randolph June 25 th 1849.
James L. Edwards Esquire Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir, in compliance with the requirements of the Pension Office department, as is directed to be done in the case of Elizabeth Porter, Widow of Robert Porter deceased; That her declaration be made before a court of record - I have caused to be done in order for the department to issue her certificate and hereby respectfully transmit the same, requesting at the same time that her case may be attended to soon as convenient, and the certificate if granted hereby transmitted to Benjamin Richards of Randolph Massachusetts as she is feeble in health and probably may not live any great length of time, it is desirable she should have the immediate benefit of the same the declaration with this paper was mailed at the East Scituate Post office, (Isaac Blanchard, Postmaster) the 25 June 1849 as above stated in the State of Massachusetts by the subscriber directed to the Pension Office, City of Washington
I am very respectfully
Your Obedt. Servant
Benjamin Richards

4671
Robert Porter
E. T. Island E, 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 Robert Porter Norfolk County Mass 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? yes 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? no
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? no
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 Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 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? yes no
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 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.

State of Massachusetts Norfolk County; ss.
On this eighteenth day of June, in the year eighteen hundred and forty nine, personally appeared before the Honorable Sherman Leland Esquire, Judge of the Probate Court in and for the County of Norfolk in the State of Massachusetts aforesaid, Elizabeth Porter, a resident of the Town of Stoughton in the County of Norfolk and State aforesaid aged seventy nine 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 provisions made by the Act of Congress passed the 29th day of July 1848. Granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows, that were married to Revolutionary soldiers, before the first day January eighteen hundred; That she is now the Widow of Robert Porter late of Stoughton, in the County of Norfolk and State aforesaid deceased, who was a soldier in the War of the Revolution and was a pensioner of the United States under the Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832. at the rate of twenty dollars, per annum in consequence of his services in said War, he was a native of the town of Stoughton when he entered the service and he served in several campaigns, at different periods in the revolutionary War from 1775. to 1779. as a private and according to the best of her knowledge and belief under the following named officers; Captain Theophilus Wilder, Captain Symms in Col John Reeds Regiment of Guards, Captain Richards Company in Col. Gills Regiment and others around the shores of Boston and in the State of Rhode Island as she cannot give the particulars of his services, she would respectfully refer to his own declaration and papers now at the City of Washington in the Pension Office, which were transmitted there in proof of his services in the fall of the year 1832 and on which his pension was granted him. She further declares she was married to the said Robert Porter on the fifth day of June in the year seventeen hundred and ninety four

by the Rev. Edward Richmond the then settled minister in said Stoughton, that her late husband died on the eighteenth day of August eighteen hundred and thirty five That she was not married to the said Robert Porter prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January eighteen hun- dred; at the time above stated, that she has not been married since the death of the said Robert Porter her late husband, that she is now a Widow residing in said Stoughton
Elizabeth Porter
Sworn to and subscribed, the day & year first above written
J Leland Judge of Probate
And I the said judge hereby certify that the above declaration was not made in open court the said declarant, in consequence of old age & bodily infirmity being unable to appear in court for the purpose
J Leland
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk County, ss.
I Jonathan H. Cobb Registrar of Probate for the County of Norfolk, hereby certify, that Sherman Leland is Judge of the Court of Probate for said County of Norfolk, & that his signature above is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court of Probate this twenty third day of June A.D. 1849.
Jonathan H. Cobb