Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33447, for James Perkins, Massachusetts

Continental SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Perkins, James
S. 33447
CONTENTS

Died Mar 4 - 1830 A.B.
Registration book June 12 1820 John M. Davis and Co Boston
6,192 Massachusetts
Ja. Perkins  4
of Boston — in the state of Massach. who was a — Serjt — in the regiment commanded by Colonel Digilons — of the Massach. line, for the term of — 1 year ?
Inscribed on the Roll of — Massachusetts at the rate of — 20 — Dollars per month, to commence on the 31 st of March, 1818 .
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th of Jan. 1819 and sent to Rev. Mr. Lunt Boston, Ms
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818 . 5 mo 1/20 - 4/20 — 103 30 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Mar. 1819 — 120 "
$ 223 30
Ex Wright
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
continued

No 89
James Perkins Lieut. Massachusetts Reg t Served 1 year
Correct

Mass. Dist. United States
I James Perkins of Boston in the county of  District of a resident citizen of the United States of the State of Massachusetts  gentleman of the age of Sixty six years do depose and on oath declare that I am a native citizen of Boston in the State of Massachusetts That in the month of April in the year One Thousand Seven hundred and seventy five I enlisted in the town of Litchfield in the District of Maine as a Sergeant in the army of the United States - That in the month of May — in the following year I was promoted and received a commission of an Ensign and in that capacity was sent in the company commanded by Captain Herb Williams to Lake Champlain in the year Seventeen Hundred & seventy seven when I was promoted a com- mission of a Lieutenant in Colonel Bigelow's regiment of the Massachusetts Line in which regi- ment I remained until the year Seventeen Hundred & seventy Eight - when I was promoted to the rank & pay of a Captain in the staff and

in the year Seventeen Hundred & Eighty in consequence of a new arrangements in the Staff I left the service and received an honorable discharge - at Valley Forge. My discharge is lost.
That I am still a resident in Boston and for reason of misfortune and reduced circumstances in life I am much in need of reduced circumstances assistance from my Country for support. Samuel Perkins
Massachusetts District } Boston 31. March 1818 }
I am to befriend
Mr Davis
Dis. Indr
Mass Dis.

copy of an letter from Colonel Bigelow to General Washington
Camp July 13 - 1778
May it please your Excellency
The Bearer Lieut Perkins is determined to leave the service - I cannot be willing to give my consent as he is one of the best officers I have in the regiment but upon his earnest request I have given him a certificate which is enclosed
I am with sentiments of the greatest respect your Excellency;
most obedient & most humble serv t
Timothy Bigelow
A true Copy of a Paper produced before the Judge Ad t Mc t Dairs Dist. Atk.

MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss.
Boston 18 January 1819.
I AM satisfied that the above named, James Perkins by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, is in need of assistance from his Country for support.
J. Davis
{ District Judge U. S. Massachusetts Dist.
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
with the accompanying documents marked A. B. C. 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.
J. Davis
{ Judge of the District Court U. S. Massachusetts District.

I am with sentiments of the greatest respect Your Excellency; and who desire to
MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss.
Boston 6 June A. D. 1818
IT appearing to my satisfaction, that James Perkins 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 testimo- ny 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 per- "sons 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 documents marked . 1. B. 6. 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.

James Perkins 6192
Boston
admitted
1819

District of Massachusetts, ss.
ON this nineteenth day of June 182 0 personally appeared, in open Court, being a Court of Record, viz. the District Court of the United States for the said District, James Perkins aged Sixty eight years, resident in Boston in the County of Suffolk, in said District, Housewright who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows: was appointed Lieutenant January first 1777. in the Massachusetts Regiment Commanded by Timothy Bigelow and served in said Corps principally in Penn- sylvania until February 27, 1778. when he resigned. his Commission and was appointed a Staff officer with the pay and rank of Captain in the Quartermaster Generals department where he served two years to the best of his recollection. His original application was made March 31, 1818. and the number of his pension Certificate is 9,192.
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.
James Perkins
Sworn to and declared, on the nineteenth day of June A. D. 182 0 before
J. Davis { 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
thirty nine dollars and seventy five cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this first day of July 182 0
J. W. Davis { Clerk of the U. S. District Court, for the Massachusetts District.

Schedule
  1 Pair handkerchiefs 2..   1 Bureau 5..   1 Table 2..   2 Pine do 1..50   7 old chairs 1..75   1 writing do 1.. =   1 Sitting do 2..50   2 Table Spoons $4.. = 5 Teaspoons $2.. 7.. =   Crockery Ware 3.. =   Kitchen Furniture 10.. =   Looking Glass 4   1 Small do 
$39.. 75
The above is a true inventory and Schedule of all my property. I have no real Estate of any description. I am sixty eight years of age by trade a housewright but am too infirm to labour. I have only two persons resident in my family. My wife whose name is Metable Perkins aged sixty four years, and too infirm to earn her subsistence and a woman whose name is Mary Hopkins aged about twenty four years who is able to earn her living.
James Perkins.
I am a constable, but too infirm to discharge many of the duties of the office. I was appointed by the Selectmen, and since the last Autumn, have been visited by two fits of sickness which render me the less able to earn my living.
James Perkins.

October 16, 1937.
Mr. C. Wesley Patten 9 Ashburton Place Boston, Massachusetts.
BA-J/ILL James Perkins S. 33447
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Lieutenant James Perkins, of the Massachusetts Line, listed as a pensioner in 1820.
The data given herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 33447, based upon service of the above noted officer in the Revolutionary War.
James Perkins was a native of Boston, Massachusetts; the date of his birth and the names of his parents are not shown.
JOK Heaton He enlisted in April 1775, in Gorham, District of Maine, and served as a sergeant, was promoted in May of the following year an Ensign, served in Captain Hart Williams' Massachusetts company and went to Lake Champlain, was commissioned January 1, 1777, Lieutenant, Colonel Timothy Bigelow's 15 th Massachusetts Regiment, was stationed principally in Pennsylvania and continued to serve until February 27, 1778, when he resigned his commission, was appointed a Staff Officer with the rank of Captain in the Quartermaster General's Department and served two years. A copy of a letter dated Feb. 13, 1778, Camp, from Colonel Bigelow to General Washington, shows—"The bearer, Lieutenant Perkins, is determined to leave the service. I cannot be willing to give my consent, as he is one of the best officers I have in the regiment but upon his earnest request, I have given him a certificate which is enclosed."
James Perkins was allowed pension on his application executed March 31, 1818, at which time he resided in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. He was aged then sixty-six years.
In 1820, Captain James Perkins stated that his family then

living at home consisted of his wife, Mehitable, aged sixty-four years, and one Mary Hopkins, aged about twenty-four years. The maiden name of Mehitable and the date of her marriage to this officer are not shown.
Captain James Perkins died March 4, 1830. Next v Q B.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, and name of person to whom it was made, you should apply to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, this city, and furnish the following:
James Perkins Certificate #6192 Issued January 29, 1819 Rate $30 per month Commenced March 31, 1818 Act of March 18, 1818 Massachusetts Agency.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

Massachusetts Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
Founded 1889
Incorporated 1907
9 ASHBURTON PLACE, BOSTON, MASS.
October 7, 1937.
Veterans Administration, Revolutionary Pensions Division, Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
Kindly send me a copy of the Revolutionary pension record of Lieutenant James Perkins of the Massachusetts Line, who is mentioned on Page 189 of the Pension List of 1820, and oblige
Yours very truly,
E. Wesley Patten Secretary.
CWP/agw

1937-Oct. 16. Heir. to C. Presley Patten J.D.L.
33 447 Rey INVALID.
File No. 33 447
James Perkins
Last Res. Mar.
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 319
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I certify that I am acquainted with James Perkins of Barton That in the time of the Revolutionary war he was a Lieutenant in the fifteenth Massachusetts Regiment of Continental Troops, commanded by my father the late Colonel Timothy Biglow. That said Regiment was raised in the year 1777, principally in the County of Worcester, the Town of Worcester being head quarters. That the enlistments began in March or April in that year, that the first division of the Regiment marched to join the Army in May or June in said year; and that Lieut. Perkins marched in that Division. I also went with it, the first six miles. And I further certify, that said Perkins had the reputation of an excellent Officer. Timothy Biglow
Suffolk ss. April 3. 1818. Personally appeared Timothy Biglow & made oath, that the foregoing certificate by him subscribed is true.
Before me
Isaac Parker
Clerk Justice of Superior Court of Massachusetts

Common- wealth of Mass. ap ts Secretary's Office June 4. 1818
By this, I certify that it appears from the pay roll or records of the officers & soldiers of the American Army of the revolutionary war, now remain- ing in this office, that James Perkins was a Lieut. in Col: Bigelow's Regi- ment, part of the Mass. Line & on the Continental establishment in said army & at the time aforesaid; & that, by said record, it appears also, that he was in said service from June 1. 1777 to July 28. 1778 -
Abdiah Bradford
Secy. of the Commonwealth of Mass.

I Thubael Bell of Boston in the County of Suffolk Commonwealth of Massachusetts do depore & oath declare That I am well - acquainted with the  Captain James Perkins the aforegoing deponent & have been since the Year Seventeen hundred & seventy eight well know that he was an officer in the United States Army on the Continental establishment.
JBell.
Suff. Sc. Boston 30 March 1818. Sworn to before
A. Townsend J. Pease.