Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 22022, for Joseph Rankins, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Rankins, Joseph Melitable
N 22022
CONTENTS

Maine 6231
Rep.
Mehitable Rankins
widow of Joseph Rankins
who was a Private
in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 22 Dollars 99 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5. day of October 1840 and sent to Wm. Traflon, Alfred, Maine
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A. & June 17. 1844
Vol. 2, Page 8,

7 July
7.890
McIntosh Rankin
1901 7.890 McIntosh Rankin unit of Jan. Feb Me

York, ss.
State of Maine,
I, Hiram H. Hobbs, Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court of the county and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Daniel Wentworth is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the second day of February A. D. 1841. and will expire on the second day of February A. D. 1848. and that his several signatures, written on the following papers, are genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have here under written my name, and affixed the seal of said Supreme Judicial Court, this tenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and forty one.
Hiram H. Hobbs, Clerk

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 th of July 1830 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" —
State of Maine
County of York ss.
On this third day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one, personally appeared before the Honorable Thomas Cull one of the Justices of the Court of County Commissioners, being a court of Record within and for the County of York in the State of Maine,
Mehitable Rankins
a resident of Buxton in the said County of York, widow aged eighty seven 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 7 th 1830 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" — That she is the widow of Joseph Rankins late of said Buxton deceased; that said Joseph Rankins enlisted in the service of the United States, as a private in the Massachusetts forces as near as can be recollected in the month of February, seventeen hundred and seventy six and served three months in the company commanded by Captain Elden or Captain Hill and marched to Dorchester in Massachusetts, and was there at the time the Americans fired on the British at that place. She is not sure, but is of the opinion that he joined Colonel Seamons Regiment; he was dismissed from said service and returned to Buxton.

his place of residence in the month of June of the same year.
On the twelfth day of July in the same year he enlisted again in said service as a private in the company of which Thomas Broadbury of said Buxton was Lieutenant; she is not able to state what Regiment he was in, nor does she recollect what Captain commanded the company; He marched to Piconderoga in the State of New York, where he remained at least six months when he was discharged and returned to said Buxton; Joseph Donald and James Sands were in the same company both of whom are dead, as is also the said Lieutenant Broadbury under whom he enlisted, and she knows of no person living who was with him in the service. No documentary evidence of the services of the said Joseph Franklin was left by him at his decease.
She further declares that she was married to the said Joseph Franklin on the twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred and seventy seven; That her husband the aforesaid Joseph Franklin died the sixteenth day of May in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty one, — That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety four; to wit at the time above stated;
That since the decease of her said husband she has continued unmarried and now remains his widow. She hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that her name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State.
Witnesses Daniel W. Washburn Samuel Edgcomb Thos. Buel
Uncontested X Franklin mark

Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written.
Before me Thos Carll { one of the Justices of the Court of County Commissioners in and for the County of York and State of Maine.
And I the aforesaid Justice hereby certify that all the facts set forth in the foregoing declaration were satisfactory proved to me. And I further certify that the said Mehitable Rankins by reason of age and bodily infirmity is not able to attend in open Court. — Thos. Carll
We Benjamin Rice a Clergyman, residing in the Town of Boston aforesaid, and Samuel Edgely residing in said Boston hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Mehitable Rankins who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe her to be eighty seven years of age; that she is the widow of Joseph Rankins who is reported and believed in the neigh- bourhood where he resided and died, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Samuel Edgely Benjamin Rice
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me — Thos Carll { one of the Justices of the aforesaid Court.

and the aforesaid further hereby certify that Benjamin Rice who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Burton in the aforesaid County of York. And that Samuel Edgley who has also signed the same is a resident in Burton aforesaid and is a credible person. and that their statement is intitled to credit.
J. H. Carll

I Samuel Dunnell of Boston in the County of York and State of Maine aged sixty years, do on oath de- clare, that I have been well acquainted with Joseph Rankins of said Boston a Revolutionary Soldier from my earliest recollection until his death which took place the sixteenth day of May eighteen hundred and thirty one, and I do on oath further declare, that my late Father, Joseph Dunnell (or Donald as his name was usually spelled in the early part of his life) is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a Revolutionary Soldier and I have not the least doubt of the fact that he was such; and from frequent conversations which I have heard between the said Joseph Rankins and my late Father, I have learned that they entered the service together, (under what officers I do not rec- ollect) and marched to Piacenderoga in the State of New York, - that my Father was taken sick while they were at Piacenderoga and that the aforesaid Joseph Rankins had the care of him, I have frequently heard the aforesaid Joseph Rankins tell my Father that had it not been for him (meaning the said Joseph Rankins) he (meaning my Father) would have laid his bones in Piacenderoga. I have not the least doubt that the aforesaid Joseph Rankins was a Sol- dier in the American Revolution and served at least

six months with my Father, nor do I know of any person who doubts that he was such. I further depose and say that the aforesaid Joseph Rankine when he died left a widow who is now living in Boston aforesaid, with whom I am well acquainted, she has not been married since the death of her husband the aforesaid Joseph Rankine; her maiden name was Mehitable Donald and was a sister to my Father. Samuel Darnell
State of Maine County of York ss. July the ninth 1841 Then personally appeared before me the subscriber, Samuel Darnell above named, who I certify is a credible witness, and made oath to the truth of the foregoing Deposition subscribed in my presence by him.
Daniel Wentworth Justice of the Peace
And I the aforesaid Justice hereby certify that the word "were" was interlined before this paper was executed.
Daniel Wentworth

Seventeen hundred and seventy seven October twelfth. Joseph Rankins and Mehitabel Donald both of Buxton."
I Benjamin Rice Pastor of the Congrega- tional Church in Buxton in the County of York and State of Maine do on oath declan- that as Pastor of said Church, I have in my keeping the Book of Records of said Church which Book contains the records of the mar- riages solemnized by the Pastors of said Church and I testify that the above extract is a true copy of the said records with the exception of the date, which on the Records is expressed in fair legible figures as follows, viz. "1777. Oct. 12." And I on oath do declare that the above is a true copy of the Records of marriages with the exception aforesaid.
Witness
Benjamin Rice
Daniel Wentworth
State of Maine York County ss. July 3 d 1841 Then personally appeared before me the subscriber, Benjamin Rice above named, who I certify is a competent witness and made oath to the truth of the foregoing certificate by him subscribed
Daniel Wentworth justice of the Peace

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. _____
22,022
Wichita Rankins
Widow of
Joseph Rankins
Dis. New War
Act March 3 rd 48 & June 17 th 48
Index : Vol. _____
16
Page _____
150
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Ref?
Maine 8724
Mehitable Rankin widow of Joseph Rankin's
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 16. May 1831 of York Co. in the State of Maine who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Hill of the regt. commanded by Col. Seaman in the Mass. line for 6 mos. & 27 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 22 Dollars 99 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 th day of September 1844 and sent to Daniel Wentworth Esq. Bangor, Maine
Total amount, $114.95
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by D Brown Clerk, Book D. Vol. 1. Page 15

Mary Mehitable Rankin Letter to D. Mentworth Sep. 1. 1841 same 5. Nov. 1841
Act. July 1838

Oct 4. 1844
Medicable Perkins
Cl Oct 1843. 6528
ads 43 & 44 - 157
$ 22:99 per an
Send cert: to Hon. Alfred Maine Washington, D.C. Comptroller of Seniors
Free

Alfred. Sept. 30th, 1841
Dear Sir
After passing upon the enclosed Declaration, please forward the certificate to Daniel Wentworth, Esq, Buxton Centre, Maine. by request
Yours truly
William Trafton
Hon. J. L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions }

Joseph Rankin Buxton d 1831 Nicholsville N. 1777 S. July 6 3rd Elder, a Hill at Dorchester, July 4 #6. The Bradley Sub. 1. "Ti"
# 24 # 118 p 247 Roll of Trail (d Hillsborough Tm. Eaton Co. OH Joseph Rankin Buxton 3rd Elder Sept 3 1777 & Helderopa

7901 Nicholas Rankin Me Oct 7 th July 38
~
Ad a
6.27
priv
$ 22.99 paid
Danl Wentworth Esq Boston Me

see map 1916 Original base
Original Pass Name

Alfred July 10. 1841
I am requested to forward the enclosed pension papers to the Pension Department, Washington & say that any communication from that department in relation to them, may be made to Daniel Wentworth Esq., Bangor Maine
Respectfully Yours
H. H. Hobbs
Genl. L. Edward, Esq. Commr. of Pensions, }

Rankin
Oct 30. 1841.
me.
to the 1200
Free State
J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.

Buxton Oct. 25 th 1841
Sir
I had information from you that the claim of Mehitable Franklin (now on file in the Pension office) is undecided in consequence of the omission of the captain's name.
She stated in her Declaration that her late husband served in the company of which Thomas Bradbury was Lieutenant, but could not give the captain's name.
I have since learned, that her late husband husband served in Captain Eaton's company, the 1 st Lieutenants name was Jeffers and the 2 d was Thomas Bradbury, and Col Roberts commanded or was Lieut. Col. of the Regiment to which the company belonged.
If this information is sufficient to enable you to place her name on the Pension Rolls, you will please to forward her certificate to me; if not I would thank you to inform me what more will be required.
I am respectfully your
Obt. Servt.
Daniel Wentworth
J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions

Buxton Centre May 10 1844
July 6 th 1844
Mr advised Mehulata Hunkin
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commission of Seniors
Washington D.C.
for

Buxton July 6. 1844
Sir
The enclosed, were found among the papers left by the late Capt. John Elden, and are forwarded to you to use in the case of Mehitable Franklin, whose claim for pension was presented by me in 1841 and is now on file in the Pension Office.
They are also for use in the case of Ruth Burbank, under the case of Mr Bourn of Kennebunk
Yours respectfully
Daniel Wentworth

Apb 9 44
Get papers
Free
J. L. Edwards, Drump Commissioner of Pension Washington D.C.
Pension Certificate Sept 5. 1854

Buxton Sept. 5. 1844
Sir
In the summer of 1841 I forwarded to the Pension Department Mehetable Rankin's claim for pension under the act of July 7. 1830. In her declaration she states that as near as she can recollect, her late husband Joseph Rankin entered the service in the Massachusetts Militia in the month of February 1776 and served 3 months in the company commanded by Captain Eldens or Captain Hill at Dorchester. She also states in said declaration that in July of the same year, he entered the service as a private and served 6 months in the company of which Thomas Broadbury was Lieutenant, but could not recollect the captain's name. In a subsequent letter I informed you that the company last named was commanded by Captain Eaton.
In your reply of Nov. 5. 1841 you state that on a milage roll of Capt. Timothy Eaton's company the name of Joseph Rankin is found. The service was about five months in duration. of the other alleged service you say 'no proof whatever has been offered in support of it and that you have found no evidence on the rolls.' In July last I forwarded to you a milage roll of Capt. John Eldens company on which the name of Joseph Rankin of Buxton is found. The service under Capt. Eldens appears from said roll and other papers accompanying the same to have been between one and two months.
As this case has been so long pending I supposed it would have been immediately attended to on the reception of said roll, and if further proof was necessary I should have had notice.
Will you have the goodness to inform me whether any further proof is necessary.
I am respectfully yours &c.
Daniel Wentworth

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of the 3 d of March 1843, granting pensions for one year to certain Widows who have received pensions under the act of July 7, 1830
State of Maine } County of York } S.S.
On this twenty sixth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four, personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of York in the State of Maine, Mehitable Rankins, a resident of Buxton in said County of York aged ninety years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oaths make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 3 d of March 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of Joseph Rankins who was a private in the Massachusetts forces in the company commanded by Captain John Elden and in the company commanded by Captain Timothy Eaton. That the annual amount of the pension which she received under the act of July 7, 1830 was twenty two dollars and ninety nine cents.
She further declares that she is still a widow Witness James T. Harmon                      Mehitable her X Rankins Mehitable Berry                                              mark
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written Before me Daniel Wentworth Justice of the Peace
And I the aforesaid Justice hereby certify that the above named Mehitable Rankins is personally known to me Daniel Wentworth Justice of the Peace

State of Maine.
York, ss.
I, William Trapton ,
Clerk of all the Judicial
Courts in said County, do hereby certify that,
Daniel Wentworth is an acting Justice of the Peace
in and for said county
as appears by the paper hereto annexed; that he is duly commissioned and qualified to act as such; that his commission is dated January 25 th A.D. 1844, and will expire on the 25 th day of January A.D. 1851
and that the foregoing his is genuine.
signature purporting to be—
IN Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court for said State, this thirtieth day of September Anno Domino 1844.
William Trapton , Clerk.