Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,629, for Amos Pettibone, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Pettibone, Amos
S17629
carded
CONTENTS

73 Bunker
21.627 Massachusetts Amos Pettibone
are high in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Camp commanded by Captain Wheeler of the Regt. commanded by Col. Powell in the Mass line for 12 months
Male
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 40 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 nd day of Sept. 1888 — and due to Mrs. F. H. Briggs Somersboro'
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 33 $ 200 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 th Mo '24 20 $ 220
Revolutionary Claim, Asst June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J. C. Stiles Clerk Book 8, Vol. 4, Page 96

Amos Pillsbury
15-194
Pay 12 Months
1408
May 28. 1835
P 409
Rev G M Briggs
Lanesboro'
Mass
H H Haskell
S

BRIEF in the case of Amos Pettibon of Lancaster in the State of Mass te (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Yes  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 71 years  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.     June In 1777 2 Private Gen. Capt Wheeler Col Powell   July 1778 6 " Capt Parker   July 1780 3 " Capt White Col Morris   Sept 1782 1 " Capt Wheeler Col Barnes  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Lancaster Mass te  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richard G. Cate Examining Clerk.

Amos Pittock Lansboro - Me Application for pension Sept 25 1832
15194

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Berkshire, ss.
ON this twentyl fifth day of September A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable WILLIAM P. WALKER, Judge of the Court of Probate, within and for said County of Berkshire, now sitting.
Amos Pettibon a resident of the town of Lanesborough in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy one 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 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.
that he was Born in Goshen in the State of Connecticut on the fourteenth day of April 1761, that he removed to Lanesborough in S. County of Berkshire in the month of June or July 1768 and has resided here ever since, that he volunteered about the first of June 1777 under Captain David Wheeler Col. Miles Powell, that he marched to Fort Ann in the state of New York that he remained there about ten days, that he then was called to march up Wood Creek and was met by the British troops and had a battle with them that lasted about hours and drove them back. next day we marched to Fort Edward from thence he marched to Kingsbury in said State of New York thence back to Fort Edward, from thence he retreated to Fort Miller from thence retreated to Saratoga from thence retreated to Stillwater. and was discharged about the first of August same year that he enlisted the first day of July 1778 under Capt Enos Parker and marched to Springfield in Massachusetts and was discharged on the first day of January 1779 that in the month of June or July 1780 that he enlisted under Capt White Col. John Brown's Regiment and marched to Champlain in the State of New York, from thence up the Mohawk River to Stone Arabia some time in the month of September where had a battle with the British Tories & Indians when Col. Brown was killed, the next day was discharged which completed the term of three months. In the Month of September 1782 I volunteered under Capt David Wheeler in Col. Asa Barnes Regiment Marched to Saratoga in the state of New York was there about one month and was discharged — that he does not know that there is any record of his age. Except it found upon the records of the town of Lanesborough aforesaid in the office of the town clerk. He always served as a volunteer, ever since his seventeenth year He has always resided in said Lanesborough, He recollects the names of Col. Brown & Genl. Schuyler, who were with the troops, when here

He served. They were regular officers, he thinks, & General Schuyler commanded the troops, in their retreat from Fort Ann, and he saw him first at Fort Edward. He has no recollection that he ever received a regular discharge, the troops, with which he served, were usually dismissed at the expiration of their term of service, without any other document, than what was called a pass. He says he is known by Capt Timothy Whitney, & Lyman Hall Esqr, & Henry Shaw Esquire, who reside in his neighbourhood, & who can testify to his veracity, and their belief of his services, as a soldier of the revolution. There are few surviving, who were out with him, upon whom he can call, to prove his services in the revolutionary army. He herewith transmits a deposition of James Mese & also the affidavit of Isaac Stearns, who, better than any ones, living, known to him, can testify to the duration, & faithfulness of his services.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, 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.
Amos Pettibone
W. P. Walker J. Probate
We Timothy Whitney a Clergyman residing in the town of Lanesborough and George A. Briggs residing in Lanesborough hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Amos Pettibone who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; 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.
Geo. A. Briggs
Timothy Whitney
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
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 above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Timothy Whitney who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman , resident in the town of Lanesborough in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that George A. Briggs who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Lanesborough in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Berkshire in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Amos Pettibone for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office of said Court of Probate, this twenty fifth day of September in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Henry W. Bishop Register of Probate

Information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. Amos Pettibone S.F. 17629
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     June 1. 1777 Aug. 1. 1777 Pvt. David Wheeler Ashley Mass.   July 1. 1778 July 1. 1779 Enos Parker   June or July 1780 3 mos. Corpl. W m White John Brown   Sept. 1782 1 mo. David Wheeler Asa Barnes  
Battles engaged in, Engagement near Ft. Anne, Stone Arabia. Residence of soldier at enlistment, Cambridge Berkshire Co Mass. since 1768. Date of application for pension, Sept 15. 1832 His cl. was al. Residence at date of application, Cambridge Mass. Age at date of application, born at Goshen Conn. Apr. 14. 1761
Remarks:  For date of last payment of pension, person to whom pd. and date of death application should be made -
Very respectfully,

17.629 INVALID.
Rev War
File No. 17.629 Mrs. Pettibone Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. / , Page 294
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1904 July 27 - Mrs E. M. Enoch Albuquerque Iowa wife of history. au 1911 Jan 15 - Hist to Mrs Stanley Shafer. V. L. H.

I Isaac Stearns of Lanborough in the county of Berkshire & commonwealth of Massachusetts being of lawful age do hereby say that I was nowing to Amos Pillsbury of Lanborough to learn him as a soldier for the purpose of going to the northward to reinforce Ticonderouge in the year 1777 was in the same company with him that he marched to Saratouge from there to a picket fort called Fort Ann near Lake Champlain news arrived whilst there that Ticonderouge was taken that he was in the retreat in army till they got to Saratouge that a part of the militia was discharged before he arrived at Saratouge that he stayed longer than those discharged at first that the time of his service was nearly two months as I should judge Capt David Wheeler of Pittsfield brought commanded the company Col Ashley Root of Sheffield in said county had the command of the regiment Miles Root of Lanborough & Lieut Col also I was moving to the said Amos Pillsbury of Lanborough in the year 1780 for three months that he served as a corporal in a company commanded by Capt Wm White of Adams in said county & state as above mentioned that Col John Brown of Pittsfield in said county commanded the regiment Olin Root of Pittsfield in said county was major that the regiment was stationed at Stone Arabia near the Mohawk river for the most part of the time that I was in the same company with the said Amos that he served his time out state troops as further saith not Isaac Stearns

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Berkshire ss. September 1 st 1832 Then Isaac Stearns within named Personally appeared and and made oath to the truth of the within Deposition by him Subscribed — before me
Timothy Whitney Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Berkshire County ss. July 13 th 1833 —
I hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Isaac Stearns the within named deponent for thirty years and consider him to be a man of strict truth and veracity — Timothy Whitney Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Berkshire, ss. I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County, do hereby certify that Timothy Whitney Esquire, before whom the annexed deposition was taken is one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly and regularly appointed, and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing, and have no doubt that the Signature annexed to said deposition is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this twenty seventh day of September A. D. 1832.
Henry W Bishop Register of Probate
sixth thirty fourth
Timothy Whitney Justice of the Peace

Amos Pettibone
W H Bishop Dear Miss

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Amos Pettibone & Dorothea M rs 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?
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
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 each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†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 authenticates 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 ends 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

State of New York Osteo County
James Westcott being duly
sworn with that he is now a resident of the Town of Milford in the County of Steuben of the age of 70 years that he was well acquainted with Amos Pettibone during the Rev. Nor who was then a resident of Parkers Co. N.Y. that the said Amos Pettibone did serve for the term of six months from the first day of July until the first day of January in the year 1798 in Capt Enos Parker's Company in the town of Springfield Mass. Further with
me subscribed before on this 13. day of August 1832 James Westcott
Elisha Foote Judge of Osteo County Court
State of New York Osteo County
I Horace Lathrop Clerk of the said County do certify that Elisha Foote before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the Judges of Osteo County Court that I am acquainted with his hand writing & believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing & signature Witness my hand & seal of Office this 13 th day of August 1832
Horace Lathrop Clerk By the Rev. K. Cory Dep. Clk

Ottego County ss I Elisha Foote one of the Stew of New York Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the County of Otsego Do hereby certify that I am the Magistrate before whom the above affidavit of James Nuttall was originally taken & know that I am well acquainted with the said James Nuttall who is a man of good moral character for truth & veracity & his statement is entitled to credit In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 4 th day of July 1833.
Elisha Foote Judge ss.

Map No
August

Lansdown Mass 15 July 1883
Dear Sir
Enclosed I send you the papers of Mr Amos Pillsbury which have been returned for some informality & hope he has now complied with the requisitions of the Department
Mr Pillsbury is a most respectable Citizen & his revolutionary services I think an entire fraud. He lived in this town at the time & has lived here ever since the revolution
Respectfully yours
Geo N. Briggs
Hon L. Cab —

Brockport, N.Y. Pension Commissioner,
Dear Sir:-
I am desirous of joining The D. A. R.
My ancestor is Anson Pettibone. What I am desirous of knowing is where he was born and the date of birth and death.
He was born in Mass. and died in Lanesboro. Mass.
I have been looking for records in Mass. but have

not found the desired ones.
I have been directed to write the Dept of the Interior announcing the fact he was entered on the pension rolls from Leesboro. Mass Oct, 2-1883. hoping I may thus gain the information wanted.
Would be very grateful if you will give this an early attention.
Thanking you in advance I remain
Very Truly yours - Mrs. D. Baker.

My address is -
Mrs. Wm. Schaffer -
Brookport -
N.Y.
Mounte Leo.

ROOMS 23 AND 24 HAMMOND-BAKER BUILDING 119 EAST MAIN STREET TELEPHONE 133.
A. W. Enoch Attorney at Law Ottumwa, Iowa
Hon Eugene Ware (Sec. Comr of Pensions) Washington D.C.
June 16-1904
My dear Sir;
My Grand Father Amos Pettibone was a Pensioner as a Revolutionary Soldier from Berkshire Co Mass. Would you send me copy of Pension record and such other information as you can concerning it. Please do so and oblige. I am
Yours my respectfully
Emma M. Enoch
Miss Emma M. Enoch (207 Woodland Ave) Ottumwa Iowa.