Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15218, for Abiah Pratt, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Pratt, Abiah Patience
N. 15218.
CONTENTS

Massachusetts - 3281
Patience Pratt,
widow of
Meh
Abiah Pratt,
who was a pensioner under the Act of
and who died on the 1 st July 1830
of Norfolk in the State of Massachusetts
who was a P er in the Company commanded
by Captain Howe of the Reg t commanded
by _____ in the Mass s
line for 7 mos
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts, at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 nd day of June '39, and seal from S. Humphrey, Weymouth, Mass s
Arrears to the 4th of March - $ 69.99
Semi-annual allowance ending 11.66
$ 81.65
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by R. Burdick Clerk, Book A Vol. 1 Page 120

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, of the 7th July 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
State of Massachusetts } ss County of Norfolk. }
On this twenty second day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before the Honorable Judge of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Norfolk Patience Pratt a resident of Weymouth, in said County of Norfolk aged seventy eight 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7th 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
That she is the widow of Abiah Pratt late of Weymouth in said County deceased, who was a private in the Army of the Revolution: and that according to the best of her knowledge and belief the service of the said Abiah Pratt as a soldier in the Revolutionary War was as follows to wit: That he served in Capt. Barker's company six weeks at Rhode Island which she thinks was in August and September in the year 1777. Also that he served in Capt. Benjamin Best's company in Capt. Samuel Ward's and in Ward's and Gulliver's six months at least in the year 1778. in guarding and fortifying posts about Boston. Also that he served at Rhode Island in Capt. Barker's company about two months in 1778.
Also that he served at Rhode Island in Capt. Theophilus Wilder's company between three and four months in the year 1781.
Also that he served at West Point in Capt. John Lincoln's company about four months in the year 1781.
Also that he served on Castle Island in Boston harbor six months which she thinks was in the year 1782.
The said Abiah Pratt resided in said Weymouth at the time when he entered upon each of the said periods of service.
She further declares that she was married to the said Abiah Pratt on the tenth day of May in the year seventeen hundred and eighty seven; that her husband the aforesaid Abiah Pratt died on the first day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz: at the time above stated.
Patience Pratt
I swear to the substance of the above written by the said Patience Pratt who reason of bodily infirmity is unable to attend court to make her declaration before me I Subscribed & Protested
ms. A. 9. 2. 26. 2 17. 193. or 1. 139 480 247 17. 154 ms. A. 9. 2. 107. m 1. 198. 78

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Norfolk ss.
I Jonathan H. Cobb Register of the Court of Probate, for said County hereby certify that Sherman Leland is Judge of the Court of Probate for said County of Norfolk & that his signature on this paper is genuine & true.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of said Court this tenth day of August A.D. 1838.
Jonathan H. Cobb Reg.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK ss.
Erroll Sampson
I, JAIRUS WARE , Clerk of the Judicial Courts, being Courts of Record, within and for the County of Norfolk, hereby Certify that Samuel Humphrey Esquire,
is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Norfolk aforesaid, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified to discharge the duties of said office, and that his signature to the annexed certificates is genuine and true.
In Witness Whereof, I have subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of said Commonwealth hereunto at Dedham, this twenty eighth day of August , A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight  Erroll Sampson Clerk

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County of Norfolk & Town of Weymouth I Thomas C. Webb, Town Clerk of said Town of Weymouth hereby cer- tify, that the following is a true & per- fect copy of the Records of said Town of Weymouth, with the exception of the date, which is expressed in fair, legible figures, to wit;
Abiah, son of Stephen & Abiah Datt Born March Fifteenth, Seventeen Hundred and Forty Four. — the figure as expressed on Record March 15, 1762
Abiah Datt & Patience Dikeman Born in Weymouth, Mass. by J. Miller James Clerk, May First Seventeen Hundred & Eighty Seven — the figure as expressed on Record on May 10, 1787
Attest, Thomas C. Webb (Town Clerk) of Weymouth
I Thomas C. Webb, do hereby certify before you, that I hold the Office of Clerk of said Town of Weymouth, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of the Town, with the exception above named as certified by me, Thomas C. Webb (Town Clerk) of Weymouth

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk County Ss. August 13 th 1838. Then personally appeared before me the subscriber a justice of the peace within and for the said county of Norfolk, the within named Frederick C. Webb and made solemn oath that the within certificate and affidavit by him submitted in my presence are true. Daniel Humphrey, Justice of the peace.

We Stephen French of Weymouth in the county of Dorset and state of Massachusetts, aged about forty six years, and Sally French of said Weymouth aged forty four years, testify and say severally that we were acquainted with Abiah Pratt late of Weymouth deceased from our early youth until his decease, and also with Patience Pratt his wife, now his widow. The said Abiah Pratt died we think on the first day of July in the year 1830. We were present when he died, and saw him after his decease and attended his funeral, - he died of Jaundice, Patience Pratt his widow is yet living and remains the widow of the said Abiah. Our houses are but a few rods apart. The said Abiah Pratt was about seventy years of age or rising when he died, and the said Patience is now something rising seventy years of age.
Stephen French
Sally French
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Dorset county ss. August 9th 1830. Then personally appeared before me the subscribers a justice of the peace within and for the county of Dorset the above named Stephen French and Sally French and severally made solemn oath that the above affidavit by them subscribed in my presence is true and I certify that the said Stephen French and Sally French are well known to me and are persons of good reputation for truth.
Daniel Humphrey, Justice of the Peace

I Joseph Nash of Weymouth in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts aged seventy seven years testify and say that Abiah Pratt of said Weymouth, now deceased, who was about my age, served with me as a soldier in Capt Ward's and in Ward's and Gulliver's companies three months in the Revolutionary War in the year 1778. at Boston and the vicinity of Boston. We were both privates in said companies.
Also I testify and say that Abiah Pratt of said Weymouth served with me as a soldier in Capt John Lincoln's company about four months in the Revolutionary War, and I think in the year 1781. and towards the close of the year. I think we were in Col Wells Reg. We marched from Weymouth to West Point and served there: we were both privates in said company.
Also I testify and say that it is my belief that the above named Abiah Pratt served as a soldier with me in the War of the Revolution on Castle Island in Boston harbor several months in the year 1782. under Col. Burbeck - the length of the period I cannot state, but have a recollection that he was there with me, and we were both privates.
Joseph Nash
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, August 11 th 1858. Then the above named Joseph Nash, of said County, etc.
Joseph Nash personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the peace within and for said County of Norfolk, and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him submitted in my presence is true, and I certify that said Joseph Nash is well known to me, and he is a person of good reputation for truth. yet he appears not to have at all times that distinct recollection of past events that some other persons.
Samuel Humphrey, Justice of the Peace

I Peter Gardner of Hingham in the County of Plymouth, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy six years, do depone and say, that Abiah Pratt of Weymouth who died several years since, served as a pirate upwards of three and a half months in Capt Theophilus Wildes company in Gills regiment in Rhode Island in the year 1780 - I was a pirate in the same company at the same place for the same term. Peter Gardner
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth county ss
3 August 30 1838.
Then personally appeared before me the subscriber a justice of the peace within and for said County of Plymouth the above named Peter Gardner and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed in my presence is true, and I certify that said Peter Gardner is a person of good repu- tation for truth,
Solomon Lincoln Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth Yr. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Solomon Lincoln Esquire is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County duly commissioned & qualified to administer Oaths & that the several signatures to the annexed affidavits being three in number purporting to be signed by him are his true & genuine signatures.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this ninth day of August 1838.
Jacob H. Lord

I Daniel Wilder of this place in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Mas- sachusetts, aged eighty four years, do testify and say that I believe Abiah Pratt of Weymouth who died several years since served as a pri- vate in Capt. Basset's company in Rhode Island in the year 1778. I was in that company as a private for that term and at the place men- tioned.
Daniel Wilder
Commonwealth of Massachusetts -
Plymouth County ss
3 August 30. 1838.
Then personally appeared before me the subscriber a justice of the peace within and for the county of Plymouth aforesaid, the above named Daniel Wilder, and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed in my presence is true; and I certify that said Daniel Wilder is well known to me and is a person of good reputation for truth,
Solomon Lincoln
Justice of the Peace

I Leavitt Lane of Hingham in the County of Plym- outh and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy seven years do depose and say - that Abiah Pratt of Weymouth served as a private in Capt Baylies com- pany in Rhode Island six weeks in Sullivan's Expe- dition. I served the same term as a private in said Company. We were stationed at Bull's Hill. until compelled to retreat from the island. Abiah Pratt died a few years since at Weymouth leaving a widow who is now living. Her name is Nalinea Pratt, she was a daughter of Zechariah Bicknell of Weymouth. I cannot state the name of the officer of the Regiment to which we belonged Lovell was Brigadier General. Leavitt Lane The word "years" inserted before signing. Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County ss
3 August 7th 1838
Then personally appeared before me the subscriber, a justice of the peace within and for the County of Plymouth aforesaid, the above named Leavitt Lane and made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed in my presence is true, and I certify that said Lane is well known to me and is a person of good reputation for truth -
Solomon Lincoln Justice of the Peace

Any communication from the Hon. Commissioner of Pensions in regard to the case of Mrs. Patience Pratt may be addressed to the subscriber.
Respectfully
David Humphrey
Weymouth Sep. 1880.
3.262 Widen 17.193. Barts - 1 no 13 th Aug 78 - R.D. 2
1896
Patience Pratt mother of Abiah
Abiah
abt 7 Aug 38.
87.30
rolls-
rolls
Fine fine
$23 33 1/3
No deduction
D Humphrey
Weymouth
  Barts 78 - vol 17.193. ... fri. 1.13   Ward 78 24.107. ... - 1.19   Wilder 80 - 3.262. not on - ...   Lincoln 81. 21.32. ... 3.28   7.00 
NB. no other roll of Barts - none of Gulliver - not on Cyd Beals roll nor in Castle roll for 1782

1836
✓ V Lt. to D. Humphrey, Dec. 20, 1838
Act 7 July, 1838.

  Capt Wackn.  aug 78  vol 17  193  on  pri  1. 138    " Wildn  1780  -  3. 262  not  on  -    " Lincoln  81.   21. 32.  on   3. 288    " Gllward Keall  78  -  24. 107  on   1. 190    24. 107. tr
Abiah Pratt

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 15218
Patience Pratt
Widow of
Abial Pratt
Abial
Priv. Rev. War
Act: July 7 th 1838
Index: Vol. M , Page 141
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I James Bicknell of Weymouth in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged fifty eight years do testify and say that I am well acquainted with the Voline Pratt of Weymouth aforesaid, Widow of Abiah Pratt late of Weymouth deceased. She is about eighty years of age, and now is, and has been for a year last past very feeble, which is caused mostly by decline of old age, and now is, and has been, in my opinion, unable to ride or travel more than a short distance, and was in August last at the time that she made her Declaration to obtain a Pension for Revolutionary services of her deceased husband, very far from being able to ride to Norbury to attend Probate court which is a distance of about fourteen miles and is the nearest place that any Court of Record would be held in Norfolk until February 1839.
James Bicknell
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk County ss. January 9 th 1839. Then personally appeared the above named James Bicknell before me the subscribed justice of the peace within and for the County of Norfolk and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed in my presence is true, and I certify that the said James Bicknell is well known to me as a person of good reputation for truth.
Isaac Humphrey Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Norfolk ss I Herman Sedgwick Judge of the Court of Probate in & for said County hereby certify that according to the best of my recollection & belief, the above is a true statement of the infirmity & condition of the

said Esther Pratt, in the month of August last past, at the time she made her declaration before me to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the act of Congress of July 7 th 1838. In witness whereof I the said Judge have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 15 th day of January AD 1839
I Seal and