Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33,474, for Moses Piper, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Piper, Moses
S. 33,474
CONTENTS

14.0082
Massachusetts
Moses Piper
of Boston in the state of Mass ts who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Knox of the Mass ts line, for the term of One year
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 3 rd of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 of June 1819 and sent to John W Davis Esq Boston Massachusetts
Arrears to 4th of Mar 1819. 88.49
Semi-ann. all ce ending Sep 1819. 48.00
10 Mo 28 4. 30 31. $136.49
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }

United States
of America.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Suffolk, ss. } Boston. }
ON this twenty sixth Day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen before me, SAMUEL JACKSON PRESCOTT, Esquire, Notary Pub- lic, by Legal Authority duly admitted and sworn, and dwelling in BOSTON, aforesaid, and a Justice of the Peace, and of the Quorum, within and for the said County of Suffolk, personally appeared Moses Piper of Boston aforesaid, Rigger, & having been duly cautioned & sworn on his solemn oath declared, that on the 3 d day of April 1818/now last past, he, the Appearer, having been informed of the Law of the United States of the 18 th of March preceding, enti- tled 'An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War', & being in necessitous circumstances, did with many other soldiers of the said Revolutionary war repair to the Court rooms of the Honorable District Judge of the Massachusetts Dis- trict, for the purpose of taking such course as the said Judge should require to obtain the assistance & pension to which he was entitled in the said Law - That he was then & there inform- ed by the said Judge that he must bring a written declaration to be subscribed & sworn to, setting forth the company, regiment & line to which he belonged, the time he entered the service & the time & manner of leaving the service, &c. - That he accordingly appli- ed to a young Attorney near the said Court rooms, who was engaged in taking Pension Affidavits, & verbally stated to him all his services in said war, both State & Continental, & requested him

him to prepare the requisite Paper - That said Attorney immediately took his pen & drew such an Affidavit as, he said, would be required under the aforesaid Law, when he desired this Affeaver to subscribe his name to it - That he did not read it to him, however, but told him that it was all right, & that it was unnecessary for him, this Affeaver, to stop to read it, as other soldiers were waiting - That this Affeaver being entirely unacquainted with business of this kind, & having perfect confidence that the said Affidavit was drawn correctly, he immediately subscribed his name without reading it, & handed it up to the said Judge, before whom, after the Judge had made such enquiries as he thought proper, this Affeaver made oath to it - That he immediately thereupon left the Court, & the said Paper in the said Judge's hands to be transmitted to the War Department, not doubting that he had done his whole duty, & correctly, in this particular, & that ere long he should realize the Assistance provided in & by the said Law - That he has, therefore, lately heard with great surprise that the Paper in his case had been returned from the War Department to the said Judge, with the words "Did not serve on the Continental Establishment" endorsed thereon - That he received this information with the more astonishment, knowing that other soldiers, who served in the same regiment with this Affeaver, & for precisely the same term, & who enlisted about the same time, & who made their declarations before the said Judge, on or about the same day with this Affeaver, had received Pension Certificates under the said Law - That this Affeaver, since Moses Piper, finds on perusing his said Affidavit for the first time, having never before read it, now heard it read, as before mentioned, that he had unwittingly & unknowingly, under the entire confidence that all was right, as aforesaid, subscribed & made oath to a declaration & statement of services altogether incorrect. That he knows not how to account for his said Affidavit having been so drawn, in any other way than that the Attorney, who was a very young man, who drew it, must have confounded & blended his, this Affeaver's, statement, which he gave him verbally as aforesaid, with those of other soldiers about him, who were at the same time telling their stories & reminding one another of battles & circumstances long since past,

each urging & hurrying for a turn to have his own Affidavit drawn - And the said Moses Piper on his solemn oath doth further declare, testify & say that the following declaration would have contained, & does contain, the true statement of his Continental services, & is such a declaration as he had no doubt, but firmly believed, until the return of the papers in his case as aforesaid, that he had subscribed & made oath to in the month of April 1818 before the District Judge, to wit,
That he, said Moses Piper, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution on the Continental establishment, that he belonged to Capt. Burbeck's company, in the regiment commanded when he first enlisted by Col. Henry Knox, & the remaining part of the time by Col. Crane, in the Massachusetts Line, & that he served against the common enemy in said company & regiment without intermission or absence from sometime in the month of January 1776 to sometime in the month of January 1777, being twelve months giving the term for which he enlisted, when he was honorably discharged - that said regiment was a regiment of Artillery on the Continental establishment & that all the Officers then were Continental Officers - That by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, he needs the assistance of his country for support - that he is now about sixty one years of age - & that he hereby relinquishes all claim to every pension hitherto allowed him by the laws of the said United States if any may be, or hath been so allowed - but he declares that no pension, to his knowledge, was ever allowed him - That such being the facts, and the testimony of two disinterested individuals of fair character, to whom he is & has been well known from his infancy, & who belonged to the same regiment & served therein at the same time with this Applicant, said Moses Piper, accompanying this, & confirming under solemn oath this his present declaration & statement, this Applicant confidently hopes that the Honourable Secretary of War will be at once satisfied & cause his name to be inscribed on the pension list of the Massachusetts Agency, and, this Applicant being in great need of assistance from his country for support, cause his certificate to be forwarded to the said Judge as soon as it may meet his convenience, and that under these circumstances, his pension will commence on the day, the 3. of April 1818, when his first declaration aforesaid was made under oath before the said District Judge -
In testimony of the truth of the premises the said Moses Piper hereunto subscribes his name, in my presence, having been duly sworn to

to the same, by oath solemnly taken before me, the said Notary and Justice —
In witness whereof, and for making these Pres- ents of full force & effect, and as the said Moses Piper, who is to me personally known, is a man of good name and fair reputation, though indigent in his circumstances in life, I the said Notary & Justice do declare the same to be a Public Act, and that full faith & credit ought to be given to the same, and in testimony thereof I have not only hereunto subscribed my name, but have have also affixed my Seal of Office, at said Boston, the day & year of herein first written. —
Moses Piper
S. J. Prescott, Notary Public & Just. Peace & Quorum.

Mrs Piper
1400 S
June 1919
all 1 1/2
1 1/2
1919

District of Massachusetts, ss.
ON this June 1 day of July 182 0 personally appeared, in open Court, being a Court of Record, viz. a Special District Court of the United States for the said District,
Moses Ely aged Eighty two years, resident in
Boston in the County of Suffolk, in said District, Essex who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he
served in the Revolutionary War, as follows: as a Private in the Company commanded by Capt. Brackett in the Regiment commanded by Col. Knowlton in the Connecticut Line of the Army. That he enlisted in the Month of January 1776. for the term of one year and was discharged in the Month of January 1777. His discharge was made on the 3rd of April 1818. his Pension Certificate dated April 20th of June 1819
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons, engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
Moses Ely
Sworn to and declared, on the June 1 day of July A. D. 182 0 before
M c Danel
{ Judge of the Massachusetts District Court.
I, JOHN WATSON DAVIS, Clerk of the Massachusetts District Court, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule hereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value, of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is
thirteen dollars and twenty two cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this twentieth day of July 182 0
J. W. Davis
{ Clerk of the U. S. District Court, for the Massachusetts District.

Schedule of Property belonging to the Subscriber later a Private in the Army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Real Estate None
Personal Estate. Household Furniture &c.
  2 Tables 2.   5 Old Chairs 1.   1 Small cooking Stove 1.50   1 pair old iron Dogs .75   1 pair Shovel & Tongs .30   1 pair Fish Horn .50   1 Old Desk 2.   1 Old Trunk .50   1 Tea table .75   1 Old Tea Spoons .75   1 Dozen Old China Forks .35   11 Iron Pot .50   1 Tin Pot 17/100 - 1 Old Coffee Pot 17/100 29.   1 Old Candle Stick 25.   1 Old Disher 20/100 - 1 Old Water 25/100 45.   1 Old Cider & Juice 17/100 17.   1 Old Milk Can 17/100 - 1 Old Jug 12/100 29.   1 Old Water Pail 7/100 - 1 Broom 8/100 15.   1 Old Hatchet 20/100 - 1 Hammer 10/100 30.   1 Sack 50   $13.22 
Occupation a Higgler but not able to work in consequence of old age and infirmity. Seventy years
Family - a Wife aged 70 very infirm a Daughter Betsy aged 26 who is the Nurse
to my Wife a Son John aged 24 whose health and habits are such as to render him unfit to pursue any kind of business
Yours Master Paper

33 H74 Rev INVALID.
File No. 33 H74
Moses Piper
Rev Rev War
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 689
[Arrangement of 1870.]

A.

The bearer Mr. Moses Piper was a Matross in the Reg t Mass. Artillery commanded by Col. Richard Gridley, and the company to which I was attached. Was enlisted in the Summer, or Autumn of the Year 1795. his term of service I cannot ascertain - I left the company the next Spring Boston 1 Ap r 1810
John Perkins Hon. John Davis

Moses Piper's Additional proof & corrected Affidavit.
B

United States
of America.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Suffolk, ss. } Boston. }
ON this twenty sixth Day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen , before me, SAMUEL JACKSON PRESCOTT , Esquire, Notary Pub- lic, by Legal Authority duly admitted and sworn, and dwelling in BOSTON , aforesaid, and a Justice of the Peace, and of the Quorum, within and for the said County of Suffolk, personally appeared Joshua Davis of Boston aforesaid, Tallow Chandler , and under solemn oath declared that he was a Soldier & Musician in the War of the Revolution on the Continental establishment, in the War of that he belonged to Capt. Perkins' company, in the Regiment, in the Massachusetts Line, commanded by Col. Crane, being the same Regiment, which had previously been under the command of Col. Henry Knox, that he served therein fourteen months without interruption or absence, when he was honourably discharged - That he is now about fifty nine years of age - That said Regiment was a Regiment of Artillery on the Con- tinental establishment, & that all the Officers thereof were Continental Officers - That it is a fact within this Depo- nent's own knowledge that Moses Piper of said Boston, Brazier, now present, (with whom he is & has been from his youth up, well acquainted, this Deponent & said Moses Piper having been, both of them, born in said Boston & brought up in the same neighbourhood, & educated at the same school) - was a Soldier in the said War of the Revolution, & that he, said Moses Piper, belonged to Capt. Burbeck's company, in the Continental Regiment, in the Massachusetts Line afore- mentioned, and this Deponent well recollects that said Moses Piper enlisted at said Boston, into said company & Regiment in the month of January 1776, & that he served therein until the month of January 1777, being one entire year , most of which term of time this Deponent belonged to said Regiment.

regiment, & there present, with said Moses Piper, acting as a Musician without interruption & the remaining part of said year, which was a short time before this Deponent joined said regiment the said Moses Piper being stationed with a part of said regiment in said Boston, & quartered in the vicinity of this Deponent's residence, he, this Deponent, was in the habit of seeing him, said Piper, almost continually acting as a Fiddler, and he knows that said Piper served in said regiment, without interruption or absence the term of one full year or aforesaid - & this Deponent always understood, & never had a doubt of its being the fact from the good character which said Piper uniformly bore while in the service as aforesaid, that he said Moses Piper was honourably discharged on leaving the service in the month of January 1777 of aforesaid, at which time this Deponent was present in said regiment acting as a Musician & continued so acting for several months thereafter - that he knows that said Moses Piper is in very indigent circumstances, & that he needs the assistance of his Country for support - & further that he, this Deponent, is altogether a disinterested witness.
In true testimony whereof the said Joshua Davis hereunto to subscribes his name in my presence, he having been duly sworn to the truth of the premises, by oath solemnly taken before me, the said Notary & Justice.
In witness whereof, and for making these Presents of full force & effect, & as this Deponent, said Joshua Davis, who is to me well known, is not only disinterested, but also of good name & fair reputation & a credible witness, which I hereby certify, I the said Notary & Justice do declare the same to be a Public Act, and that full faith & credit ought to be given thereto, & in testimony thereof, I have not only hereunto subscribed my name, but have also affixed my Seal of Office, at said Boston, the day & year herein first aforesaid.
Joshua Davis
S. J. Prescott, Notary Public, & Just. Peace & Quorum.

United States
of America.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Suffolk, ss. } Boston. }
ON this twenty ninth Day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen before me, SAMUEL JACKSON PRESCOTT, Esquire, Notary Public, by Legal Authority duly admitted and sworn, and dwelling in BOSTON, aforesaid, and a Justice of the Peace, and of the Quorum, within and for the said County of Suffolk, personally appeared William Hearsey
of Charlestown, in the County of Middlesex, Commonwealth aforesaid, Bricklayer, & after being duly cautioned & sworn, on his solemn oath declared that he was a Sergeant in the war of the Revolution for the Continental Establishment, in the Massachusetts Line, that he enlisted into said Continental service in the month of January A.D. 1776, and served therein, until the month of January 1777, being one full year, & the term for which he was enlisted, when he was honorably discharged, & that it is fact within his own knowledge that Mr. Moses Piper of Boston aforesaid, Brigadier , now present, with whom he is well acquainted, belonged to Capt. Burbeck's company, in the regiment commanded, a part of the time by Col. Henry Knox (afterward a Major General) & the remaining part of the time by Col. Crane, in the Massachusetts Line, & that he said Moses Piper entered said Continental service as a private soldier in the same month of January 1776 & served until the month of January 1777 aforesaid,

being twelve months , without interruption or absence, all of which term of time the Defendant said William Hearsy, was present in said Compa- ny & Regiment acting as Sergeant, and he, the De- fendant, has no doubt from the good character, which said Moses Piper uniformly bore as a faith- ful Soldier that while in the Service with him the twelve months as aforesaid, that he, said Moses Piper, was honorably discharged therefrom, at the end of the term one full year aforesaid - The said William Hearsy, on his solemn oath also declares that said Company & Regiment was on the Conti- nental establishment, & that all the Officers then of same Continental Officers - and further that he, said William Hearsy, is altogether a disinter- ested Witness - & that he has no doubt, but only believes, from what he knows of said Moses Piper's circumstances in life, that he needs the assistance of his Country for support - In testimony of the truth of the premises, the Defendant, the said William Hearsy, humbly subscribes his name in my presence, and has been duly sworn thereto, by oath solemnly taken before me, the said Moses Piper - W m Hearsy
SW

In witness whereof and for making these Presents of full force & effect, and as the aforesaid Deponent, William Hearsey, to me well known, is not only a disinterested, but also a credible witness, which I hereby certify, I, the said Notary & Justice, do declare the same to be a Public Act, and that full faith & credit ought to be given thereto, and in testimony thereof, I have not only hereunto subscribed my name, but have also affixed my Seal of Office, at said Boston, the day & year herein first aforewritten.
J. Prescott, Notary Public & Just. Peace & Recordum

Moses Piper
Proton No 170
Did not serve on the Continental Establishment
Moses Piper
Private
76 to 77
Shmox Map 100
Regt
New evidence marked B

United States - District of Massachusetts
I Moses Piper of Boston in the County of Suffolk Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a native citizen and resident in the United States Beggars of the age of sixty years do here and on oath declare that I enlisted as a private in the company commanded by Captain John P. P. Kim of the Regiment of Artillery commanded by Colonel Richard Gridley of the Massachusetts Line in September 1778 for the period of one year. I served the whole time in the Army of the United States in the Continental establishment. I was marched to New York and was in the Battle of White Plains under the command of Captain Burbeck, Captain P. Kim having been promoted to a Major. That I afterwards served six months attending the sick & wounded at Forts Castle after which I was discharged honorably. That I entrusted my discharge with Captain Burbeck who died a long time since, & I have never been

been able to procure it - I further testify that owing to extreme poverty and reduced cir- cumstances I am much in need of pecu- niary aid from my country for support Moses Roper
Massachusetts District H. Boston 3. April A.D. 1818
Sworn to before me M c Daen Dist Judge Mass Dist

Massachusetts District, ss.
Boston 9 June A. D. 1818
IT appearing to my satisfaction, that Moses Piper subscriber to the annexed declaration, sworn to before me, did serve in the revolutionary war against the common enemy, as stated in said declaration, I now transmit the testimony in the case with the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the department of
a per- sonary resaid,
Massachusetts District, ss.
25 April
1819.
I AM satisfied that the above named, Moses Piper by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, is in need of assistance from his Country for support.
ed the District
U. S.
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
J. D. Davis
{ District Judge U. S. Massachusetts Dist.
view

Massachusetts District, ss.
Boston 9 June A. D. 1818
IT appearing to my satisfaction, that Moses Fisher subscriber to the annexed declaration, sworn to before me, did serve in the revolutionary war against the common enemy, as stated in said declaration, I now transmit the testimony in the case, with the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the department of war, pursuant to the directions of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war;" the testimony and proceedings in the premises being the declaration aforesaid, with the accompanying document marked A. together with this certificate.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the District Court of the United States for this District to be hereunto affixed.
M Davis
} Judge of the District Court U. S. Massachusetts District.
seen