Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8494, for Daniel Proctor, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Proctor, Daniel Hannah
R 8494
CONTENTS

N1337 Hannah Procter Widow of Daniel Procter the
road
For use of my house & furniture at my house and land this month day of February 1887 D. Procter the
Willard Procter Administrator
not in full paid

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex County ss } On this fourteenth day of January — In the Year of Our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty seven Personally appeared before the Hon Samuel P. T. Day Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts — Hannah Procter — a resident of the Town of Chelmsford in said County of Middlesex and Commonwealth aforesaid Aged Ninety one 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 4. 1836. — That She is the Widow, of Daniel Procter late of said Chelmsford deceased, That her late Husband the said Daniel Procter served in the War of the Revolution, as follows, First as a Non Commissioned, and then as a Commissioned Officer. Commencing with the Alarm at Lexington, and was absent from home two days, and immediately thereafter engaged for the period of three months, and marched to Cambridge near Boston and served as Second Sergeant in the Comp t of Capt Ford of Chelmsford, and the Reg t of Militia commanded by Col. Robinson in the Year 1775. Then again He served a further term of three or four months as a sergeant in 1776 and 1777 and marched to Providence in Rhode Island, and thence to the different Military Posts on the Hudson River, at which Posts and in New Jersey He served until March 1777. He was then discharged from Service and returned home to the Town of Chelmsford, And as
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3m
Secy
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Corroborative proof. Said Hannah furnishes the memorandum kept by Said Daniel her late Husband during the last mentioned term of Service which memorandum accompanies this application - In this last mentioned term of Service, he acted as orderly Sergeant, as she presumes from what she heard from her husband, & from an old memorandum in his handwriting, which she has recently found among his papers, & which contains the names of the men as detailed for duty & also many dates, names of places where he was &c. &c. which is to be hereafter forwarded - Little The third of term of Service was probably in the year 1780 or 1781 - as he went as a lieutenant under a captain for Varnum of Dracut as she thinks - Her impression is that a Captain was detached from the Dracut company & two lieutenants from that of Chelmsford of which her husband was one - That he then served three months - She also states that according to the best of her remembrance & belief, her husband was drafted or detached, as a militia man in every instance - She has heard him talk a great deal about his service in New York State, New Jersey, the north river, White Plains &c - She thinks he went by the way of Rhode Island in one of his tours of duty - She was married to said Daniel in May 1774 the year before the war commenced by the Rev. Ebenezer Bridge the minister of Chelmsford, but she finds no record of said marriage - Her said husband died on the fifth day of December A.D. 1806 now more than thirty years ago - & she has remained his widow ever since
Hannah Procter
Subscribed & sworn to the day & year first aforesaid before me
And the said judge of Probate hereby declares his opinion, after investigation of the matter, that the said Hannah Procter was the lawful wife of said Daniel Procter & is now his widow & was married as she states that her statement is entitled to credit in all respects - And he hereby certifies that said Applicant is a respectable & credible woman, & that the above declaration was subscribed & sworn to at her residence in Chelmsford, she being too infirm to go from home J. P. Folsom Esq. William Fletcher of Chelmsford in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being duly sworn do on Oath testify and declare that I was formerly well acquainted with Daniel Procter of said Town of Chelmsford deceased, That I am eighty one Years of Age, That said Daniel and myself served a tour of Service together in the Militia

at Cambridge Some time in February 1776, in Capt Fords Company of Volunteer Militia raised in Chelmsford and Adjacent Towns under Command of Col Robinson of Westford, We were called out for the purpose of expelling the British from Boston, Said Daniel Procter and myself, were of the party that embarked on board the Batteaus at Cambridge River, and after proceeding a short distance the expedition was stopped and we landed at Sewells Point, the British having already evacuated Boston, Said Daniel Procter was a Sergeant and served with me the above Tour of duty in Capt Fords Company as above stated, I have always understood and believed that the Said Daniel Procter performed other Tours of Service and was at White Plains and other places on the Hudson River, but I was not with him and cannot state the length of time precisely of Said Service, Said Daniel Procter was my Neighbor and Townsman He died over thirty years since I was at his Funeral, He left his Widow Hannah who is now living in Chelmsford and has never Married since the death of her late Husband Said Daniel Procter
William Fletcher
Chelmsford December 16, 1836
Middlesex ss
Personally appeared William Fletcher to me well known and worthy of Credit And made Solemn Oath to the truth of the above Affidavit by him Subscribed Before me Caleb Abbott Justice Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss. I, Isaac Foster Register of the Court of Probate in & for the County of Middlesex do hereby certify that the foregoing are the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Hannah Proctor for a Pension in the right of her late husband & that Sarah P. Foster the person whose signature is here written on the foregoing paper is the Judge of said Court. - I also certify that Caleb C. Abbott is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County, duly sworn and qualified & that his signature written on this paper is his genuine signature.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of said Court this ninth day of February A.D. 1837
Isaac Foster
William Fletcher
William Fletcher Daniel Foster
Middlesex ss. Chelmsford June 14th. 1837. I do hereby further certify that I have been personally well acquainted with Mr. William Fletcher the within named defendant for more than twenty years last past, that he now does and always has since my acquaintance with him, and by common report has through his whole life sustained the highest standing in society as a man of truth, unstick integrity, and information; - and has from time to time held some of the most important offices within the gift of the Town -
Caleb Abbott Justice of the Peace

Copy of Record found on Chelmsford Book of Records. Letter A. page 395
"The names of Daniel Proctor Junr and Hannah Parker both of Chelmsford with their intentions of Marriage were entered April 9 th 1774 and publishment of such their intentions were made by posting up their names & intentions at the meeting House in said Chelmsford the Sabbath day following"
A True Copy
Eli F. Webster Town Clerk
Chelmsford June 13 th 1836
N.B. There is no Record of Marriages found on the Town Books from Nov. 25 th 1773. to Jan. 24 th 1780.
E. F. Webster Town Clerk
Middlesex ss. Chelmsford June 14 th 1837. Personally appeared the above named Eli F. Webster and made oath the foregoing certificate by him subscribed is a true copy from the Records of the Town, before me
Caleb Abbott Justice of the Peace

46 Hannah Proctor.
My
El
Feb 1853
Mearer. & Gaffu. atty's
Present
J. P. Seal

AFFIDAVIT AND POWER OF ATTORNEY.
STATE OF Massachusetts COUNTY OF Middlesex
} ss.
Be it remembered, That, on this twelfth day of November A. D. 185 7 , I, Daniel Proctor of Cambridge in said County do make known and declare that I am the Grandson and heir-at-law to Hannah Proctor who was the lawful wife of Daniel Proctor a Revolutionary soldier, who served 10 years, under the command of General Washington in the forces raised by the State of Massachusetts and that he and his said wife were married about the month of January A. D. 1774 that he died about the month of December the 4th A. D. 1803 and that his said wife also died about the month of April, the 11th day A. D. 1837 and that a pension of 10 dollars a year was drawn by said Daniel Proctor on account of said services, and so continued until the year A. D. 18 37 , since which time nothing has been received by either, or the heirs of either of said parties.
And that claimant is now 58 years of age; and it is understood and believed that there are arrearages of Pension, and other claims due for said services: Now, THEREFORE, the true intent of all this is to qualify and irrevocably appoint and empower ALFRED J. WORKS, of New Haven City and County, State of Connecticut,
as my Attorney, with power of substitution, to investigate, substantiate, demand, and receive the avails of, said claim or claims, and to say and do all things relative thereto, as amply as I might do: hereby ratifying every thing said or done by my said Attorney, or his substitute, in virtue hereof; ALSO, revoking all Powers of Attorney, or other authority previously given for any such purposes.
Attest,
} In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, day and date first above named.
Daniel Proctor
Subscribed, sworn to, and acknowledged before me, the day and year first above indicated.
Eli H. Webster Justice of the Peace

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
R. 8494
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Daniel Proctor a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     ✓ Apr. 1775 1st Lieut. Lexington Alarm Mass.   ✓ Feby 1776 8 mos. Sgt. For d Robinson   ✓ Dec 1776 3 3/4 mos. Rankin Butterfield   ✓ July 15 1780 3 mos. 1st Lieut. Benjamin Fletcher Jonathan Brown   ✓ July 1782 " 1st Lieut. Benjamin Fletcher Jonathan Brown  
Battles engaged in, none stated Residence of soldier at enlistment, Chelmsford, Middlesex Co. Mass. Date of application for pension, Jan'y 14 1837. Residence at date of application, Chelmsford, Middlesex Co. Mass. Age at date of application, she was 91 years old.
Remarks:
He married in May 1774 Hannah Parker and died Dec. 4 1803 or Dec. 5 1804. She died Apr. 11 1837 without completing her claim for pension. Daniel Proctor Jr. a grandson resided at Chelmsford Mass. in 1852. The above noted is the only soldier of this name found on Rev War records.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
All three services are proved by mass evidence. This claim should have been allowed and

Daniel Proctor
Mass. R. 8494.
A memorandum book which contains as follows
A roll dated Provi- dence Dec. 26, 1776.
A roll dated Tarra- town Feb. 1, 1777.
Accounts of provis- ions drawn for the use of the army, from Dec. 26, 1776 to Feb. 1, 1777 inclu- sive, in the state of New York.
The above book has been removed from this case in order to send them to the War Dept.
F.W. Oct. 20, 1911. Sent to War Dept. Jan. 16, 1913.

The Major Part of the COUNCIL of the Massachusetts-Bay, in
New-England.
Daniel Grocter, Gentleman Greeting.
U being appointed First Lieutenant of the First Company (Commanded by Benjamin Fletcher) in the Eleventh Regiment of Militia in the County of Middlesex whereof Jonathan Brown Esq. is Colonel
Rev. Jeremiah Powell Flushing Robt. Frost Little Moses Gill Gabez Fisher B. White Benj. Austin Josiah Stone D. D. Miller Sam. Viles J. Fuller E. Brooks Edw. Lott Calib Strong
By Virtue of the Power vested in us, WE do by these Presents, (reposing Special Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct,) Commission you accordingly.—You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a First Lieutenant in leading, ordering and exercising said Company in Arms, both Inferior Officers and Soldiers; and to keep them in good Order and Discipline: And they are hereby commanded to obey you as their First Lieutenant and you are yourself, to observe and follow such Orders and Instructions as you shall from Time to Time receive from the Major Part of the Council or your Superior Officers.
GIVEN under our Hands, and the Seal of the said State, at Boston the Thirteenth Day of July in the Year of our LORD, 1780.
By the Command of the Major Part of the Council.
John Avery Secy

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS,
BY HIS EXCELLENCY
JOHN HANCOCK, Esq;
Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the COMMONWEALTH of MASSACHUSETTS.
To Daniel Procter Esq.
Greeting.
YOU being appointed First Lieutenant of a Company commanded by Captain Benjamin Fletcher in the Seventh Regiment of Militia in the County of Middlesex whereof Jonathan Brown Esq. is Colonel.
By Virtue of the Power vested in me, I do by these Presents, (reposing Special Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct) Commission you accordingly.---You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a 1 st Lieut in leading, ordering and exercising said Company in Arms, both Inferior Officers and Soldiers; and to keep them in good Order and Discipline: And they are hereby commanded to obey you as their 1 st Lieut and you are yourself to observe and follow such Orders and Instructions as you shall from Time to Time receive from me or your Superior Officers.
GIVEN under my Hand, and the Seal of the said Commonwealth, the First Day of July in the Year of our L O R D, 1782 — in the Fifth Year of the Independence of the United States of AMERICA.
John Hancock
By His Excellency's Command;
John Avery Secy

Sir
Boston Massachusetts
June 15 1837
I transmit herewith transmit the papers and Documents in Support of the Claim of Mrs Hannah Proctor, Widow of Daniel Proctor dec d , to a pension under the Act of Congress of July 4, 1836, whose papers of application were returned for correction in your letter of the 29 th ult o .
I would observe that according to the best and most probable account of the services of the said Daniel Proctor I have been able to obtain, He served three several tours of duty in the Militia in the Revolutionary Army, and at no one time to exceed over four months, the first, at the alarm at Lexington in the fore part of 1775, there is no satisfactory proof under what Officers, the second as Sergeant, three months under Capt Ford, at Cambridge commencing in February 1776, as stated in the Affidavit of William Fletcher, the third began in December 1776, as Orderly Sergeant for three or four months, in Capt Reuben Butterfield's Comp y of Col Thacher or Thaxter's Reg t of Militia, this latter tour of

of Service was performed mostly in the State of New York and New Jersey and ended at Rahway in March 1777 there was a fourth tour of alleged Service of three months or over as Lieut in Capt Benjamin Hetches Comp y of Col Browns Reg t of Militia.
The Memoranda kept by Said Daniel Proctor and the commissions which accompany the Documents of the Widow may probably shed some light on the two last-mentioned tours of Service, all of which are submitted to your further consideration.
I am Very Respectfully In Your Obs t
Reuben Baldwin
Jacobs I Edwards Esq r Court of Sessions Washington

1919 Dec. 20 Hist. to Isabel Proctor.
8494
P. O.
Hannah Proctor
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
This claim should have been allowed.
Attorney: _____
services proved by
P. O. _____
Mass Archives & his commissions
Recognized. _____
aw Dec 20 1919
Contract
Cert. of Dis. _____
Searched for _____
, 18

Hannah V Brockton Widow of Daniel Wap.
Sus. let R. Baldwin July 2 h 1837 ✓
Act 4 July 1836

Dept of War Pension Office July 26. 1837
Sir.
I have examined the declaration of Hannah Proctor, widow of Daniel Proctor, and have placed her papers upon our files. The declarant alleges, that her late husband, rendered the following service, during the revolutionary war. vizt, 3 mo. & 2 days in Capt. Ford's company, early in the year 1775; between 3 & 4 mo. as Sergeant in the latter part of the year 1776 and the beginning of 1777; served in New York & New Jersey, and that in the year 1780 or 81. he went as a Lieut. under Capt. M c Namara, and served 3 mo.
The only roll of Capt. Ford's company that can be found, is that of the Stringer's alarm, in which, it is stated that Mr. Proctor served two days: but his name is not upon that roll. The alleged service in New York, is fully sustained by the roll and memorandum kept by Mr. Proctor. Of the last mentioned form of service in 1780, no trace can be found upon the rolls.
William Melcher testifies to a service in which Proctor and himself were engaged commencing in Feb y 1776, of 3 months, in Capt. Ford's company raised for the purpose of expelling the British from Boston: and states also that he Proctor had served in the State of New York, but that he, the witness was not with him. Melcher further states that he knows that Mr. Proctor was engaged in New York in the year 1780, and knows the testimony of Bartlett.

As to the The roll before mentioned left made by Brown, while in this service, the name of William Bartlett is found, but no roll of Coast Artillery company can be found in the winter of 1776. It will be here observed, that the service sworn to by Bartlett forms no part of that alleged by the defendant. Unless therefore, the service of 1775, & 1780, is fully and satisfactorily proved, the claim cannot be allowed. The service sworn to by Mr. Bartlett is rejected.
Yours
R. Baldwin July 26 1837
Reuben Baldwin Esq Boston Mass

Rev Sec 9/10
2422 Olive St. Cedar Falls Iowa Nov. 4, 1919,
U. S. Pension Dept. Washington D.C. Dear Sir:
Can you find a record of Daniel Proctor who was captain in the Revolution - also another Daniel Proctor who was a Lieutenant in the Revolution at a later date. These men were from Mass. and I, being a descendant of the line, wish to secure proof of service so that I may be a member of the order Daughters of the Revolution.
I shall be grateful for any information you can give me.
Respectfully Isabel Proctor