Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,337, for Joseph Morse, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Morse, Joseph
S. 29,337
CONTENTS

5.909 15.704 Massachusetts
Joseph Morse
at Hampshire, in the State of Mass — who was a private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Carroll of the Reg t . commanded by Col. Whitney in the Mass line for 17 Mo. & 12 Dy
scribed on the Roll of Masters — the rate of 57 Dollars 98 Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 day of Aug. 1833 and att d to M. Lawrence Dedham Town
Years to the 4th of Mar. '33 $115.96 amt. allowance ending 4 Sep. '33 28.99 $144.95
{ Revolutionary Claim, } Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by C. H. H. H. Clerk, book 5 Vol. 9 Page 53
75 Hampshire

DECLARATION,
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE BENEFIT OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS OF THE 7TH OF JUNE, 1832.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss. COUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE.
ON this fourth day of September  1832 personally appeared in open court, before Hon Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate now sitting, at Northampton  Joseph Morse a resident of Belchertown in the County of Hampshire, and State of Massachusetts, aged 71 years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
In 1776, about the first of June I joined Capt. Jonathan Cumnins company in Col. Whiting's Regt as a substitute for Jesse Morse, and served four months at Hartford when I Jesse returned and I went home to Belchertown. About the first of September 1776 I joined Capt. Richardson's Compa- ny in Col. Dike's Regt. then stationed at Dorchester as a substitute for Henry North and served as a private in said company as near as I can recollect about four months, our term of service expired the last day of December, previous to this time, I enlisted in Capt. Lawrence Balcom's Company in Col. Dike's Regt for three months from the first of January 1777 and served the whole term, said Regt was stationed at Dorchester point during this time. In the summer of 1778 I marched in the company of Capt. Caleb Whiting, Col. Dike's Regt. to Dartmouth in the State of Rhode Island where we staid a few days, and then crossed over to Rhode Island and staid a few weeks we had an engagement on this Island. I served at this time, for breaks. The service is known as Sullivan islands' expedition. In the month of May 1779 I enlisted in Capt. Hase's company in the Mass. State troops, and served at Dartmouth for two months - In August 1781 I enlisted in Capt. Nathan Dames' company, Col. Dike's Regt. Mass. State troops and served three months at West Point. In 1777 May or June I served ninety one days at Providence R. Island in Capt. Sa- geng's Company. I was born in Belchertown and resided (then till after the war, then moved to Northampton Conn and to Belchertown in 1810 where I now reside.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State, or (if any,) only on that of the agency in the State of Massachusetts .
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate  Joseph Morse
We, residing in the town of  and residing in 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 neighbor- hood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn, and subscribed, the day and year 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 applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that who has signed the preceding certificate, is  resident in 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.
Samuel Hinckley Judge of Probate
I, Sam. C. F. Lyman Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Morse for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this fourth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two -  Sam. C. F. Lyman Register

7186
John Morse
Private 17 M c 12 days 15\frac{1}{2}
16 16 56 66 1\frac{3}{4} March 2 nd 1835
P. 308
M. Lawrence Esq Belchertown Mass S. F. Lyman Esq Northampton Mass

8 7186  BRIEF in the case of Joseph Morse County of Hampshire 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? 71  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.     Sub. In 1776-1 st June — 4 — private Gen. Capt. S. Carroll, Col. Whiting   " 1776-1 st Sept r about 4 — " Capt. Richardson, Col. Dike   enlisted 1777-1 st Jany. — 3 — " Capt. Lawrence Baldwin, Col. Dike   " 1778 Summer Six weeks — — " Capt. C. Whiting, Col. Hands   enlisted 1777 May — 2 — " Capt. Nash   " 1781 August. — 3 — " Capt. R. Davis, Col. Davis    5. In what battles was he engaged? Rhode Island
 6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Uxbridge  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Witnesses 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The depositions of the witnesses are not attached to the Clerk's seal as required.
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.  — 1777 May — 21 days.  private  Capt. Geyron.  Examining Clerk:  J. Waugh Jan y . 25. 1833.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester ss. I Abijah Bigelow, Clerk of the Judicial Courts, holden within and for the County of Worcester, do hereby certify, that Benjamin Adams, Esquire, before whom the foregoing Affidavits of Frederic Taft, Seth White, and that Robert P. Church, before whom the foregoing Affidavit of Jesse Morse, were made and sworn to, are Justices of the Peace, within and for the County of Worcester, and that their signatures thereto appear to me to be in their own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the County Seal, this twenty eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Abijah Bigelow, Clk.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester, ss. I, Abijah Bigelow, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, for said County, certify, that the foregoing Depositions of Jesse Morse, Levi Morse, David White, Seth White, and Frederic Taft, being returned to me, for authentication, agreeably to a requisition made known since the same were formerly certified by me; I now complete the authentication thereof, by attaching them to the seal with a ribbon — In testimony whereof,
I hereto set my hand, and affix the Seal of said Court of Common Pleas, this third day of April, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty three. —
Abijah Bigelow, Clk.

Jesse Morse's Deposition for Joseph Morse

I Jesse Morse of Douglas in the county of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age Depose & say, that I am personally acquainted with Joseph Morse of Belchertown in the county of Hampshire in the Commonwealth & that he went to Nantucket on or about the first of June 1776 & served there as a substitute for me four months. - I enlisted on or about the first of April 1776 for 7 months under Capt Jeremiah Cook & Lieut Ebenezer Morse in Col. Whiting's Regt in which company & Regt the sd Joseph Morse served for one four months as above stated, having served myself the two first months, & returned & served the last month in consequence of the sd Joseph Morse being brought home sick - And further your Deponent saith
Jesse Morse
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Worcester ss. August 27-1832
Personally appeared the above named Jesse Morse & made oath that the above Deposition by him subscribed is substantially true. And I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the sd Jesse Morse & am of the opinion that his statements are entitled to full credit. Robert P. Church Justice of the Peace

I David White of Douglas in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age Depose & say that I am personally acquainted with Joseph Morse of Belchertown in the County of Hampshire, & that he enlisted with me in the Massachusetts State Troops sometime in the month of May 1777 in Capt Edward Segraves' Company & served with me in said Company at Providence in the State of Rhode Island twenty one days, & I think under Col. Zalmon. - Also that on or about the 28 th day of August 1781 Joseph Morse enlisted with me for three months in the Massachusetts State Troops, under Capt. Beecher Davis, Lieut. Samuel Jones, & Ensign. Lombe, in Col. Luke Drury's Regt. & must with me & served with me in said Company & Regt. at West Point three months as aforesaid. -
and further your Dependent saith not David White
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Worcester
August 27 - 1832
Personally appeared David White & made oath that the above Deposition by him subscribed is true. And I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the said David White & that his statements are entitled to full faith & credit
Robert D Church justice of the Peace

David White's Deposition for Joseph Morse
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worcesters. I Abijah Bigelow, Clerk of the Judicial Courts, holden within and for the County of Worcester, do hereby certify, that Robert P. Church, Esquire, before whom the foregoing Affidavits of Levi Morse and David White, were made and sworn to, as Justices of the Peace, within and for the County of Worcester, and that his signatures thereto appear to me to be in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the County Seal, this twenty eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Abijah Bigelow, Clk.

Levi Morse's Deposition for Joseph Morse

I Levi Morse of Gloucester in the County of Worcester Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age Depose & say that I am personally acquainted with Joseph Morse of Pelhams in the County of Hampshire in the Commonwealth, & that he enlisted with me in the Massachusetts State Troops some time in the month of May 1877 in East job Vops Company & that he served with me in the Company at Springfield & at Rhode Island some months. - I do not recollect the other company officers & regiments officers, but General Sullivan was commander in chief. - and further your deponent saith not. -
Levi Morse
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Worcester
July August 23 - 1882
Personally appeared Levi Morse & made oath that the above Deposition by him subscribed is true.
And I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the said Levi Morse & of the opinion that the above Deposition is entitled to full credit.
Robert P Church Justice of the Peace.

I, Frederic Taft of Uxbridge in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of Lawful Age do testify & say, that I enlisted & marched to on the 14 of August in the year 1776 in the Company commanded by Capt. Richardson, in the Regiment of Col. Dike, that a short time said Regiment was Stationed at Roxbury a short time & then moved to Dorchester near Boston, that a short time after he engaged in said Service, Joseph Morse then of said Uxbridge with whom I was well acquainted came & joined our said Company as a Substitute for Henry Smith who was a Soldier in said Company, the said Morse served out the term in said Company with me, which ended on the last of December 1776 and as near as I can remember the said Morse served in said Richardson's Company four months - That before our time of Service expired, the said Joseph Morse and myself enlisted into the Company of Capt. Samuel Baldwin, in the Regiment commanded by Col. Dike, for the term of three months from first of January 1777, the said Col. Dike's Regiment was Stationed at said Dorchester, these three months also, & I well remember the said Morse served out his term of Service with me - and further the Deponent saith not.
Frederic Taft
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worcester ss. Uxbridge August 24 th - 1832. Then personally appeared Frederic Taft Esquire, who signed the above de- -position & made solemn oath to the truth of the same. And I further certify that I am well acquainted with the said Deponent & know him to be a man of truth & a credible witness.
Benjamin Adams Justice of the peace

I Seth White of Uxbridge in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age do testify and say, I have been acquainted with Joseph Morse now of Belknapstown in the County of Hampshire, in said Common- wealth, but formerly of Uxbridge, at least since I was a boy, that in the summer of the year 1778 men were called for to go to the State of Rhode Island, in what was called Sullivan's Expedition, I well remember the said Joseph Morse and myself went, in the Company of Capt. Caleb Whiting in the Regiment of Col. Haines, we marched to Kingston in the said State of Rhode Island, & were there a short time, when we went on to the Island of Rhode Island, & were there several weeks, where we had a small battle, with the British, and the ame- rican troops including the said Morse & myself evacuated the said Island, soon after we left said Island we were dismissed, we were six weeks on this expedition - and further the Deponent saith not.
Seth White
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worcester ss. Uxbridge August 24 th - 1832. Then personally appeared Seth White, who signed the above Deposition & made solemn oath to the truth of the same. I further testify certify that I am acquainted with the said Deponent & that he is a credible Witness Benjamin Adams Justice of the peace.
Subscribed before me

Joseph Morse of Belchertown in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age, do on oath depore and say that the only record of my age that I have ever seen or known is now in my possession a copy of which is herewith transmitted. that I have stated the names of my officers in my declaration as fully as I am able to and also the companies and regiments to which I belonged - I never received any discharge except from Col. Drury which is lost - that I never received a commission, nor any other docu- mentary evidence of my several pe- riods of service Joseph Morse
Hampshire ss April 2 1888 Then person- ally appeared Joseph Morse signer of the above affidavit, and made oath that the same is true, and I further certify that I am personally acquainted with said deponent and believe him to be a man of truth and entitled to credence Myron Lawrence Just Peace

We Enoch Bradley of Belchertown in the County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Clerk, and Calvin White Jun of Belchertown, Merchant, do hereby certify on oath, that we are severally acquainted with Joseph Morse of Belchertown, who has subscribed and sworn to the accompa- nying declaration to obtain a pension, that we believe him to be seventy one 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, and we also certify that he is a man of truth and veracity and entitled to full credit.
Enoch Bradley Calvin White Jun
Hampshire ss April 2 1833 Then personally appeared Rev. Enoch Bradley and Calvin White Jun and made oath that the above affidavit by them subscribed is true, and I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the deponents and believe them men of veracity and entitled to full credit.
Myron Lawrence Just Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Hampshire ss
I Solomon Stoddard Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth for the County of Hampshire do certify that Myron Lawrence Esq. whose signature is affixed to the within Certificates was at the date thereof one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Hampshire aforesaid, duly commissioned and acting under the authority of this Commonwealth - and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to his acts and attestations done in that capacity. And that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Myron Lawrence and believe his signature within to be genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court at Amherst this third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three
S Stoddard Clerk

7186
John Moore Joseph
J. F. Lyman Esq. Deputy Clerk Me Northampton Lawrence Belcher Clerk -

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Joseph Morse which require further proof or 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? yes 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? Witnesses
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? yes
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? yes
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? yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 2. 5-6-7.
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.

Mrs. Pitt Marshall Dyer
Brooklyn N.Y.
103 Clark Street.

89. 891 West End Avenue.
Passion Bureau Washington D. C.
I wish to ascertain if there is any record of a Joseph Morris of Stoughtonham (now Sharon) Mass. serving in the Rev. War. The John  black of Sharon Mass. writes me he served in the same company with the female soldier Deborah

Sampson and that they resided March 22 nd 1776.
I have been unable to learn this confirmed either at the State House at Boston or in the Bureau of Records in your city. These places refer me to the Pension Bureau and I hope your office may be able to verify the former records although I'm not at all sure any pension on his account.
If there are

begun in looking up this matter. please let me know and I will forward at once.
Yours respectfully
Emma J. Van Sickle
(Mrs. J. T. Van Sickle)
New York, June 15 th 1897

29 337 Ray INVALID.
File No. 29,337
Joseph Morse Rev Rev
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index: —Vol. 9 , Page 284
[Arrangement of 1870.]
June 30 th 1897 Heitz to Mrs. J. T. Van Sickel N.Y.C.
July 8-1901 - Mrs. Pitt Marshall Dyson Brooklyn N.Y.
May 22, 1905 Heitz to