Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8,370, for Jacob Potter, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Potter, Jacob
NUMBER
R. 8370
Mass
CONTENTS

35826
Jacob Potter.
Mass.
Act Y. June 32.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex ss. County of Common Pleas
Probate
On this eleventh
day of September 1832
Probate
now sitting at
Concord
personally appeared in open Court before the
County of Middlesex
aforesaid
within and for the
Jacob Potter of said Cambridge
aged seventy three
years
Who being 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, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That is to say
That in the autumn of the year 1776 he enlisted at Concord as a volunteer in a Company of Massachusetts State Troops under the command of Captain Eddy, in the Regiment of Colonel Revere; after having been stationed some weeks in Boston the same fall he marched to Rhode Island & was quartered in Providence the ensuing winter. In the Spring, according to the best of his remembrance, in May he was discharged after a service amounting as nearly as he can recollect to nine months —
The next year after he was discharged, as nearly as he can recollect in the month of May, he took the place of his Brother, Ephraim Potter, in a Company of Massachusetts State troops commanded by Captain Bradley, & Regiment under Colonel Revere, this Brother had enlisted for three years, the said Jacob filled his place until July the year after when his Brother returned; he marched to Rhode Island, was there when the French Fleet sailed, & the British fleet arrived, & took part in an engagement on the retreat of the Americans. On his return, he was stationed in Boston, & quartered in an old Distil House at West Boston, where he continued till haying time next year when he returned to Concord & went to work with his brother, & the latter not returning, the Captain went up for him & they both returned together.
He served about fourteen months in this enlistment. He has no documentary evidence to prove his services other than the affidavit of Josiah Merriam who was with him in the first Campaign, & who is the only surviving soldier he knows of that served with him. The whole period of his services was about twenty three months.

He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity whatever, 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 aforesaid
West S. D. Day
Isaac Potter his mark
J. P. P. Day
Deacon
We Henry Potter of Cambridge & Ebenezer Deacon Depley the latter Abiel Regarded the latter a physician residing in the town of Concord. Abiel Holmes a clergyman of Cambridge in the County of Middlesex hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Isaac Potter who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. Holmes
Isaac Potter Abiel Heywood
J. P. P. Day
Deacon
And the said Court thereupon proceeded to propound the following interrogatories, which he answered under oath, as follows:
1. Where and in what year were you born?
Answer,
In Concord, Massachusetts, August 10 th 1759.
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it?
Answer,
I believe it is recorded in the town Books of Concord
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
ans. In Concord when called into service, subsequently in the County of Worcester & in Rindaff New Hampshire. For the last five years in Cambridge
4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute, for whom?
Answer,
I volunteered the first time, was a substitute for my Brother Ephraim Potter the second
5. State the names of some of the regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served, such Continental, and Militia Regiments, as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service?
Answer,
General Sullivan & Major Melville, he has mentioned others together with the particulars of his service in the foregoing declaration
6. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution?
Answer,
The Reverend Dr. Holmes, Rev d Mr Adams & Deacon Munroe & the Rev d De Depley. & Dr Abiel Heywood.

7. Did you ever receive any discharge from the service & if so, by whom was it given & what has become of it?
Ans. I received no written discharge - Jacob Potter his X mark Attest S. H. Duley
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that after the investigation of the matter, and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that that  that  Abel Holmes  Abel Holmes who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman  physician resident in the town of  town of Concord Massachusetts  Massachusetts  who has signed the preceding  who has signed the preceding certificate, is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Isaac Foske  Isaac Foske Magister - or J. P. Potter  J. P. Potter Clerk of the Court of Probate in & for the county of Middlesex
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 have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this Eleventh day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
I also certify that John P. Peterson whose own proper signature is set to the certificate on the deposition of Jacob Merriam hereto annexed is a justice of the Peace within said county of Middlesex.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office the day & year aforesaid
Isaac Foske Myer of Prob.

November 2nd 1876
I Jonah Menam of Concord in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy eight years on oath before and say that previous to the Revolutionary war I resided in said Concord and was well acquainted with Jacob Potter of Cambridge in said County who this day proposes to apply for a pension. He was a playmate of mine in childhood, attended the same meeting house & I occasionally visited at his Father's house. = In the fall of 1776 I enlisted as a substitute in a Company of Massachusetts State Troops commanded by Captain Eder & served in it until the summer of 1777 a period of ten or twelve months, the said Potter enlisted in the same Company at the same time that I did, & served as nearly as I can recollect the same period. I remember well that his brother Ephraim was in the American Army the principal part of the war, & recollect hearing the year after my return that the said Jacob Potter had gone to take his place in the

army & I feel well assured that he served as long a time as he states in his declaration this day read to me.
Josiah Merriam
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss Sept 14 th 1832 Then personally appeared the above named Josiah Merriam and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true
John P. Robinson Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Sept r 7 1832.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that
Ephraim Potter was a Matross in Captain Warner's Company & Colonel Rerrie's Regiment, from May 30 th 1777 to Decem- ber 31 st 1779 — Edward D. Bangs. Secy.

Middlesex ss. July 5 th 1839. Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace of Cambridge in said Middlesex, Jacob Potter who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age & 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, & in the following grades — For nine months I served as a private in Captain Edes' Company & Colonel Revere's Regiment — For one year & two months I served as a private & substitute for my Brother Ephraim Potter in Captain Bradley's Company & Col. Revere's Regiment; and for such service of nine months & fourteen months I claim a pension. And I do further aver that the documents hereto annexed, authenticated by the Probate Court are to the best of my belief and knowledge true, & that I make this additional statement, not to correct the same, but to comply with the requisition of the Department. — And I further declare that my annexed Application was for a long time mislaid, and that I had been informed, and until recently believed that the same had been forwarded to the Department, but on search being

made, it was discovered, that it had not been taken from the Probate Office.
Signed by Jacob Potter
his Jacob Potter Marks
in presence of Henry Potter William J. Whipple
Middlesex ss. July 5th 1839 Then personally appeared Jacob Potter, and made oath that the foregoing affidavit, by him subscribed was true
Before me William J. Whipple, Justiciary of the Peace
Middlesex ss. July 5 1839. I certify that the above named Jacob Potter is well known to me, & that he is generally reported to be, and is believed by me to be a man of veracity.
William J. Whipple Justiciary of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Middlesex County ss.
I Isaac Buske Register of the Court of Probate in and for the County of Middlesex aforesaid, hereby certify that William J. Whipple Esquire is a justice of the Peace within and for said County duly commissioned & qualified & that his several signatures written on the foregoing paper hereto annexed are his genuine signatures.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this eighth day of July in the year Eighteen hundred and thirty nine. Isaac Buske Reg.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
8370 am
P. O. _____
Jacob Potter
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Cont
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

July 22.
Messrs. Jacob Potter, act 1832.
S. Edwards Esq re Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

Boston July 16 th 1839 4 State St.
J. L. Edwards Esq r Sir,
We have the honor to transmit to you the enclosed application of Jacob Potter for a Pension under the Act of 1832. By some accident the Papers were mislaid in the Probate Office, whilst Mr Potter was under the impression that they had been forwarded to the Department.
If the Application is satisfactory, as we trust it will be we would request you to do us the favor to send the Certificate to
Yrs Very Respectfully
Derby & Andrews Solicitors.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Potter, James GRADE Private LINE Massachusetts
WARRANT NUMBER 4849 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Apr. 3, 1797
to John Jack
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.