Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,042, for Daniel Pratt, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass ..... .....
Pratt, Daniel .....
S 30,042 .....
CONTENTS
..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....
..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

rep see Let. to Agt. Apr. 11. 1845.
32.315
Massachusetts
Daniel Pratt, dec'd, late
of in the State of Massa who was a Private in the Company, commanded by Captain Pierce of the commanded by in the Mass line for 17 mos 8 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass. at the rate of 57 Dollars 50 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831. Venz. Decem. 16. 1841, when he died
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of Apr. 1845 and sent to Gouben Baldwin.
Arrears to the 14th of Semi-annual allowance ending Mass.
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J. L. Swann, Clerk Book Vol. 2, Page 22
26672

34,619.
Daniel Pratt.
Mass.
15
50 4.44
88
57.55

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk County ss. 3
On this twentieth day of June in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty eight. Personally appeared before the Hon Peter O Thacher Judge of the Municipal court for the city of Boston and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Daniel Pratt a Resident of Chelsea in the County and State aforesaid. Aged Seventy Eight 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 Served in the War of the Revolution as a soldier by three several engagements in the Militia raised in Suffolk and Middlesex Counties, commencing in 1775, first for eight months in the Company of Capt Samuel Sprague and Samuel Clark, Lt Joseph Chase of Col Samuel Gerrish's Regt stationed at Chelsea. In this tour of Service He did the duty of Duty Sergeant, and Nathaniel Newell or Newhall was Drummer, and he faithfully served out the tour of eight months, Then Secondly in 1776. He Served three months under Capt Joseph Shad of Col Trask's Regt of Militia from Boston, Samuel Pratt of Chelsea was Lieut of the Comp y . Marched from Boston to Springfield thence to Great Barrington to draw provisions, thence to Albany in the State of New York, and was there discharged at Albany Fort after the expiration of three months and returned home in the winter of 1776-77. The third and last Service was for three months most of the time on the Castle in the harbor of Boston under Capt. Burbeck, and was ordered to man the Guns to fire at all to the French fleet entering the port in the year 1779. Besides this Service He Served as Shore Guard at Chelsea under Capt Joseph Pratt and others. He further States that he has no Documentary evidence whatever as proof of his Service in support of his claim to a pension and that he knows of but one person now living who served with him any of the time above specified, viz Col. Pratt,
of

of this Town who is a pensioner under the Act of June 7. 1832 and the State of his health and the want of sufficient testimony are the reasons why he has not before made application for a pension having been very infirm and unable to perform any labour for fifteen years past and for some time past he has been and now is confined to his house
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or Annuity except the present And he declares that his Name is not on the Roll for a pension of any Agency or any State
Subscribed and sworn to, on the day and year first before written, viz 20 th June 1838 before me Peter O. Thacher Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston.
Daniel Pratt
I hereby certify that the foregoing applicant Daniel Pratt by reason of his great age and bodily infirmity, is unable to attend personally in Court, and I have therefore attended upon him personally, at his residence in Chelsea aforesaid, to take and certify the declaration aforesaid. Peter O. Thacher Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston
I Caleb Pratt of Chelsea in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Farmer Aged Seventy four years A pensioner of the United States under the Act of June 7. 1832. Do on Oath testify and say That I was born and brought up in this Town of Chelsea, and a near Neighbour of Daniel Pratt, said Daniel Pratt performed Service in the War of the Revolution, but how many tours of Service I do not now recollect as I was then very young I served two tours in company with said Daniel Pratt, the first in 1776 for three months under Capt Joseph Shad of Col Proctors Reg t of Militia we marched to the State of New York and Stationed at Greenbush near Albany where we were both dismissed from the Service and returned home after an absence of about three months the

The second tour of Service was in 1779 on the battle in Boston harbour under Capt. Burbeck where Said Daniel Pratt also served but for what time I am unable to state, We there fired a shot to the French Fleet then entering the harbour, Said Daniel Pratt is very infirm in health and has been so for many years
Caleb Pratt
Suffolk ss January 6 th 1838
The above named Caleb Pratt personally appeared and made oath that the above Affidavit by him subscribed is true. Before me Joseph Stowers Jus of Peace
I certify that the above named Caleb Pratt through a long acquaintance has ever been considered a person of veracity & truth Joseph Stowers
I Joseph Stowers above named do hereby certify that I was born and brought up in the Town of Chelsea with Daniel Pratt the foregoing named applicant, and I have no doubt of the truth and correctness of his Declaration of his Service in the War of the Revolution, Said Daniel Pratt is a Farmer and a near Neighbour of mine, and for twelve or fifteen years past has been very infirm and unable to labour and is now confined to his House, I am in the sixty fourth year of my age. Joseph Stowers
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk ss
I Thomas W. Phillips clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston hereby certify that the foregoing are the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Daniel Pratt for a pension. I further certify that Joseph Stowers Esquire is a Justice of the Peace in & within the said County of Suffolk & that the Signatures, on this sheet purporting to be his, are genuine. Witness my hand & the Seal of said Municipal Court hereunto set this thirtieth day of June A.D. eighteen hundred & thirty eight. Thomas W. Phillips, clerk.

I Benjamin Watts of Ghent County of Suffolk Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged eighty one years being sworn to testify and say that I know and fairly well acquainted with Daniel Pratt late of said town of Ghent deceased he was a schoolfellow & play mate of mine previous to the Revolutionary War he was more of two years old than myself indistinctly of said Daniel Pratt during service as a Soldier in the Revolutionary War, I remember of his going and there in the State of New York at the time of said War under Captain Joseph Dyer the duration of which I have no means of know- ing, he also performed service on the Coast un- der Captain Purbbeck, but how long I have no distinct recollection Benjamin Watts
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk ss. Here personally the above named Benjamin Watts a respectable inhabitant of Ghent and made Oath that the above affi- davit by him subscribed is true Before me Joseph Hovey Jr. S.P. I hereby certify that I was well acquainted with the above Daniel Pratt over sixty years and from his relation of his adventures to me in said War and I have full confidence that the above affida- vit is true said Daniel Pratt died more than thirty years since & left no will, and  but a numerous family of Chil- dren Joseph Hovey Ghent Jan y 30 th 1845

I, Daniel Pratt of Chelsea in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Aged Sixty years. Being sworn do on Oath testify and say that I am the reputed son of Daniel & Abigail Pratt late of said Chelsea, both deceased, and that my late Father Daniel Pratt aforesaid was an applicant for a Pension under the act of Congress of the 7 th June 1832 in consequence of his services as a Soldier in the War of the Revolution. My said Father always affirmed that he was a soldier during the Revolutionary War, and that he served under Capt. Shad in a campaign to Albany & Greenbush, and also that he served on the castle in the Harbour of Boston under a Captain Burbeck.
Said Daniel Pratt died in this Town of Chelsea on the 16 th Day of December Eighteen hundred & forty one, and left Ten sons & Daughters himself surviving, all of whom are still living.
Daniel Pratt
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk ss. Jan. 20 th 1845. Then personally appeared the above named Daniel Pratt and made Oath that the above Affiant is true to the best of his knowledge. Before me Joseph H. Sawyer Clerk.
I, Mary Pratt of Chelsea in the County of Suffolk, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Aged Eighty years, Being sworn do on Oath testify and say that I married for my second Husband Lieut. Samuel Pratt of said Town of Chelsea, and I have resided in this Town of Chelsea upwards of Sixty four years. My late Husband, Samuel Pratt aforesaid was an Officer in the Army of the Revolutionary War and commanded in a Company of Militia, of whom Captain Shad was the commanding Officer. I have in my possession the Commission held by said Samuel Pratt during said service. I recollect perfectly well of

The many conversations had in the course of a long succession of years since the Revolutionary War, between my late husband Lt Samuel Pratt aforesaid and his neighbours Daniel Pratt & Caleb Pratt, respecting their service in the state of New York at Albany & vicinity, under said captain Shuyler, and it was a matter of public notoriety, never disputed by any one to my knowledge that said Daniel Pratt served in said Shuyler's company, and also on the battle under captain Burbeck.
Said Daniel Pratt died in this neighbourhood some three years since and left no widow but a numerous family of children, most of whom I am personally acquainted with. I never knew nor do I believe there was any other person within the circle of my acquaintance who served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War by the name of Daniel Pratt, but the one above described.
Asst Mary * Pratt Mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk ss January 30 th 1845. Then personally appeared by the above named Mary Pratt and made Oath that the above affidavit is true
Before me Joseph H. Mansfield Esq. The foregoing certify that the above Mary Pratt is well known to me as a person of high respectability
Joseph Mansfield

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston January 31 st 1845.
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Joseph Stowers was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk,
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.

No. 34.119 Daniel Pratt and Map act 7 June 1832
Adm. 17 mo 80 private $57 58 for ann from 4 March 1831 to 16 th December 1841 the day of his death, payable to Daniel, Oliver, Thomas, Reuben, Andrew W. Joshua H. and Edward Pratt, Anna, Anna and Mary Coats and Abigail Hale, only surviving children of Daniel Pratt decd. Reuben Baldwin Boston Mass

Daniel Pratt
75. Sam l Sprague - Nath l Newall Drum n vol 16.42-1 Serf 8 8mo
76 Jos. Shed vol 23.79- in Sept 1797 X 3-
79. Burbeck X 80 to 84 in inclusive Castle 3-
afterwards for Pratt -

✓ Let to R. Baldwin, 10 Augt - '38.

30 042 INVALID. Reg
File No. 80,042
Daniel Pratt
Pr. Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 9, Page 898
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Boston, Massachusetts.
January 31 st 1845.
Sir
I transmit herewith the certificate of the secretary of state of Massachusetts, shewing the service of Daniel Pratt, of Chelsea, in the Army of the Revolutionary War; accompanying the same is a court certificate shewing the time of his death, that he left no widow, and of the names of his surviving children.
The above mentioned case is an application, under the Act June 7 th 1832, the papers of which were forwarded by me on the 30 th June 1838, and your reply is dated August 10 th 1838. The import of which letter cast such a distrust upon the case, that I had doubts myself whether the said Daniel Pratt was ever in actual service, during the Revolutionary War, but from the circumstance of his often visiting the troops encamped in his neighbourhood, and at the Castle, like most of the young men of his time, He had at this late period, fancied that he was in reality a soldier.
Be pleased to re-examine the above mentioned case & transmit the result to me.
Very Respectfully Sir I am your Obedient Servant
Reuben Baldwin
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington.

Daniel Pratt

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston;
Jan y 21 1845.
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 the name of Daniel Pratt is borne as a private upon an abstract of pay due to the company of Capt n Joseph Shedd, Col. Joseph Grewick from Oct r 18. 1779 to Dec r 7. 1 month 19 days, Upon an abstract of pay due to a company raised for the defence of Castle and Governors' islands, under Capt n L t William Burbeck, from Jan y 1. 1781 to Oct r 24. 1781, both days inclusive, 9 months 23 days, and upon another of the same company and for the same service, Capt n L t Burbeck and Capt n Thomas Cushing, from Oct r 25. 1781 to April 24. 1782, both days inclusive, 6 months, being all the evidence of service performed by any one of the name, which can be identified with that claimed for the individual in this case. The rate of pay for service on the Castle Wells was $2 p r month, the 1 st of which is dated  under date of April 24. 1782 & the other June 28 were sworn to at Boston, "Suffolk ss"
1-14
9-24
6.00
17-8

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the letter of the Commissioner of Aug. 10. 1838  application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears ; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said letter  application , and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Pugh
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
1779 1. 14 1781 9. 24 1781, 1782 6 00 17. 38 Days.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Suffolk ss.
Court of Common Pleas, Jan. Term 1845.
I Geo. C. Wilde, Clerk of said Court, begun & held at Boston within & for said County of Suffolk on the first Tuesday of January A.D. 1845, do hereby certify, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to said Court, that Daniel Pratt was an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress of the 7 th June 1832; was a resident of the Town of Chelsea in said County of Suffolk, & died in the said Town of Chelsea on the sixteenth day of December A.D. eighteen hundred & forty one; that he left no widow, his wife Abigail Pratt having died three years previously; that he left ten children only whose names are Daniel, Oliver, Thomas, Reuben, Andrew W. Joshua H. & Edward Pratt, Anna & Mary Coats and Abigail Hall, & that they are of lawful age.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto

Set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this thirty first day of January in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & forty nine.
Geo. C. Wilde, Clerk.

Sir
Boston, Massachusetts June 30th 1838
Herewith I transmit, Documents in Support of the claim of Daniel Pratt, to a pension under the Act of June 7. 1832. This is an original case, now, for the first time presented, and the reasons he assigns for the delay in making his appli- cation are undoubtedly the true ones viz' ill health and lack of documentary testimony, he will therefore rely on record evidence supposed to exist in the Department as corroborative proof in support of his claim, If this claim should be admitted he pleased to forward his Certificate to me at this place
Very Respectfully
Sir I am Your Obedt
Reuben Baldwin
James L Edwards Esq Head of Pensions Washington

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Gratt, David GRADE Drum Major LINE Connecticut
WARRANT NUMBER 6316 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Apr. 14, 1790 to William Wells, assignee
*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.