Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19041, for John Pray, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Continental Mass.
Pray, John
S. 19041
carded
CONTENTS

10.172.
Massachusetts
John Bray
forsook in the State of Mass who was a Corporal in the Company commanded Captain Lawrence of the Regt. commanded Col Jackson in the Mass time for 2 years & Continental
Conte
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 88 Dollars & Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 d day of March 1833 and sent to Island Roxbury Mass Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 $176.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Sept " 44.00 $220.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. B. Addison Clerk, book G Vol. Da Page 63 .
Let Edward S. Libbey March 5, 62
79 Norfolk

John May
7106.
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, John Pray a resident of Quincy in said County, aged seventy seven , 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 Braintree in said County on the fourth day of March A. D. 1755, and that there is a record of his birth : that he was in the United States service from the 10th day of March A. D. 17 75 , to the 10th day of March A. D. 17 83 as a Private in the Continental Army : that he was residing at Braintree when he entered the service; that he and served for the period aforesaid under the command of
Colonel John Doolittle : that he marched from Braintree to Boston , from Boston to New York : that he served at New York with the of the regular troops; and 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 Braintree
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from the Summer day of July A. D. 1776, to the Spring day of April A. D. 1779 as a Corporal in the Continental Army : that he was residing at Wrentham in said County when he entered the service; that he enlisted
and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain John Langdon of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Henry Jackson : that he marched from Boston to Providence , from Providence to Boston : that he served at Boston  for the term of years of the regular troops; and regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received no written discharge, he enlisted for three years & about eight months before his time was out, he found Amos Stiles as a substitute for who served the remainder of the time  ALSO : that he was in the United States service from the 10th day of March A. D. 17 75 , to the 10th day of March A. D. 17 83
in the Continental Army : that he was residing at Braintree when he entered the service; that he and served for the period aforesaid under the command of
Colonel John Doolittle : that he marched from Braintree to Boston , from Boston to New York : that he served at New York with the of the regular troops; and regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle and at the end of his service received no written discharge.

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. John Bray
We 3 a clergyman, residing in the 3 and 3 residing hereby certify that we are well acquainted with who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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.
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 appli- cant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certify that it appears to them that , who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the ; and that who has also signed the same is a resident in and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Sherrill Selene Judge of Probate
I Samuel Havin, Esq. , of the land of Probate aforesaid , 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 hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Samuel Havin

7106 John Pray
on Roll of Sum
Captain 2 years
E. J. Leland Roxbury Mass

7106  BRIEF in the case of  John Pray  County of Norfolk  in the State of  Massachusetts  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? _____  3. How old is he? 77  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.     enlisted In 1776 Summer 2 and upwards Corporal Gen. Capt. John Lyndon. Col. Henry Jackson.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Norfolk City. Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Neither  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. Waugh  Examining Clerk.  Jany 25. 1833.

C.M.B.
December 20, 1903.
2,19041
Benjamin F. Curtis, Esq.,
1114 East Capitol Street,
Washington, D.C.
Sir:-
In reply to your personal inquiry, you are advised that the examination of the records of this Bureau show that one John Pray was mentioned under the Act of March 4, 1831, on account of his services in the War of the Revolution. In his application for pension, executed August 14, 1831, he stated that he was born at Brantree, Norfolk County, Mass., March 4, 1755; that he enlisted in the summer of 1776, and served in a company commanded by Captain Langdon, the regiment commanded by Colonel Henry Johnson until the spring of 1779; that he enlisted for three years and at about eight months before his time was out procured Anas Stetson as a substitute who served out the remainder of his term of enlistment, and that at the time of his enlistment he lived at Wrentham, Norfolk County, Mass.
You are further informed that examination of the records of this Bureau fails to show that claim for pension was ever made on account of the services of either Samuel or Adam Curtis.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

P
19041
INVALID.
File No. 19041
John Pray
Corp Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 315
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Syracuse Mass Feb 26, 1862 To The Hon Commissioner of Pensions Dr Sir I want you to give me such information as you can in regard to a pension that belongs to one John Pray that was in the revolutionary war enlisted or went from the town of baron berwick, maine also if a Mr McArthur of Linnington maine made an application at Washington some five or six years ago to collect it as how distant relation must be living at that time to make the claim good in short give me all the information you can for we think Mr McArthur has not done the faire thing. I cannot tell you what company he belong to

or the officers he was under wee know there was such arrang and he was in the army and in that war and and now wee want to know if there is a pension for him or his heirs it is said by some of the relatives that he was promoted also that he was not paid off if you have any way of letting me know if such statements are correct I wish you to write them to me
Yours &c Edward, T. Libbey

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Pray which require further proof of 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? No 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? No 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? _____ Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? _____ 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? _____ 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? 5. 7.
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.