Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4757, for Joseph Rawson, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Rawson, Joseph
S. 4757
CONTENTS
Carded

78 Norfolk
Massachusetts 15470
Joseph Rawson
of Norfolk in the State of Mass ts who was a Prisoner in the company commanded by Captain Peters of the Reg t commanded by Col. Read in the Mass ts line for 17 months
W. L.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 63 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of June and sent to Loverin Midway Mass.
Arrears to the 14th of March '33 - 126.66
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept th - 31.66
$158.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm. Miller Clerk, Book E Vol. 2. Page 72

21789 Samuel Dawson Map
Almst. as a parcel 17 m. $43.33 4 m. serg. 20 $63.33
W Loveing Meaway

BRIEF in the case of  Joseph Rawson  of  Norfolk  in the State of  Mass  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Gunton  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 76 
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. As a Gen.     Mass Line Com. Arty April In 1775 enlisted 8 Private Capt Peter Col Read   1st Sep 1777 " 4 Sergeant Capt Knapp Col Bushing   1st May 1777 " 1 15 Private Capt Read Col Tyler   August 1780 " at an Alarm 11 "   Nov. 1778 3 10 " Col Putnam  
5. In what battles was he engaged? none
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? 17 - 9 Worcester Mass
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional & document Three living Witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
in service 1779  10   1 5 8
George Sawyer Examining Clerk.

Joseph Rowen 1831

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Norfolk ss. On this 19 th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Judge of the Probate Court now sitting at Medway in and for said County, Joseph Rawson a resident of Medway in said County, aged Seventy six 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 7th, A. D. 1832.
THAT he was born at Uxbridge in the County of Worcester, Mass on the Twenty first day of September A. D. 1776 and that there is a record of his birth in Uxbridge aforesaid : that he was in the United States service from about the last day of April A. D. 1775, to the first day of January A. D. 1776 8 months as a private in the Massachusetts Line of the Continental Army : that he was residing at Uxbridge when he entered the service ; that he enlisted at said Uxbridge for the Eight months service aforesaid and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Andrew Peters as Captain in Col. Joseph Read's Regiment
when in the vicinity he remained until discharged : that he served with Capt. Edward Seargeant & Capt. — Col. of the regular troops ; and Generals Washington & Putnam regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received no discharge : that he left the service on or about January 1. 1776 and that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at Montague Mass. at said Medway for the last twelve years and at West New Bedford
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from about the first day of September A. D. 1777, to about the first day of January A. D. 1778 4 months as a Sergeant in the Militia service of the Revolutionary War that he was residing at Uxbridge aforesaid when he entered the service ; that he enlisted at said Uxbridge and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Col. Knapp as Captain in the Regiment commanded by Col. Job Cushing : that he marched from said Uxbridge to Brimfield in the state of Vermont, thence to Skeneateles in the state of New York, thence back to Brimfield until after Burgoyne's surrender, thence to a general rendezvous at White Plains in New York : that he served with Col. James Stetson then Lieutenant of a Company, several persons of the name of Capt. — of the regular troops ; and Majors Rand & Bowman & Col. Stephen Price of an regiment regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
that at the end of his service he received no discharge and left the service on or about the first of January A.D. 1778
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from about the first day of May A. D. 1777, to about the middle of June A. D. 1777 1 month as a private in the Massachusetts Militia in the Revolutionary War that he was residing at Uxbridge when he entered the service ; that he enlisted at said Uxbridge voluntarily and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Shadwell Read as Captain in Col. Nathan Tyler's Regiment : that he marched from said Uxbridge to Providence R. Island and was there stationed in the College : that he served with Seps. Moses Henry Wood & several others of the regular troops ; and Capt. — Batchelder James Stetson James Howard &c. regular officers were known to him ; that he was in no battle
that at the end of his service he received no discharge and left the service on or about the middle of June A.D. 1777

Also, that he was in the Militia service of the Revolutionary War on an alarm for two weeks in the month of August 1780 and was marched from said Uxbridge to Tiverton Rhode Island in a Company under Captain Read in the Regiment commanded by Col. Nathan Dyer at said Tiverton - Major Mann Samuel Willard (Died) Assistant Preston - saw no enemy soldiers known to him - he was in no battle & received no written discharge - & left the service about the first of September 1780 - Also that he was in the Militia service aforesaid from about the last of November A.D. 1778 to the last of February A.D. 1779 on a march of land a little East Greenwich called Wadsworth's New Town in a Company from the Northerly part of Worcester belonging to Col. Paine's Regiment and served as a private at said place in said Regiment for the term of three months as aforesaid - he received no written discharge & was in no battle - Also that he was in the Militia service as aforesaid from August A.D. 1779 to the latter part of the same month for the period of ten days - the officers & soldiers of which are not in my recollection -
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.
Joseph Rowson
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.
We Samuel  Paris Mann residing in the town of Medway and Timothy Hill residing at Medway hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Rowson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 76 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.
Sworn and subscribed as aforesaid.
Timothy Hill Paris Mann
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 certify that it appears to them that Timothy Hill who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in the said Medway; and that Paris Mann who has also signed the same is a resident in said Medway and they are credible persons; and that their statement is entitled to credit. Herman Seland Judge of Probate
I Samuel Haven , Register of the Court of Probate of said do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Joseph Rowson , for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid. first day of January, A.D. 1833.
Samuel Haven

Rev pay
445-4 ✓ INVALID.
am
File No. 4757
Joseph Samuel  Rawson Sgt Pro War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index: Vol. 9 , Page 308
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Joseph Rowson

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Nov r 24 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 the name of Joseph Rawson is borne upon a Pay roll of Capt Job Knapp in Col Reed's Reg t & is therein stated to have served in the capacity of a Sergeant for the period of three months & twenty four days commencing Aug 17 th 1777. The name of Joseph Rawson is also borne upon a pay roll of Capt Thaddeus Reed's Company in Col Nathan Pyles Reg t & is therein stated to have served as a private for the period of fourteen days commencing July twenty eighth 1780.
I further certify that upon examination no rolls of Capt Thaddeus Reed's Company were found except the one above mentioned. Edward D Bangs. Secy

Corell. Bibberson  Rawson
Joseph Rawson
21789

I Enos Taft of Mendon in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age do testify and on oath declare, that Joseph Rawson, now of Medway in the County of Norfolk & State of Massachusetts, about the last of April or the beginning of May in the year Seven hundred and eighty five, he then being a resident in Upton in the said County of Worcester, enlisted as a soldier in the Company commanded by Capt Andrew Peters in the Regiment commanded by Col Joseph Read in the Massachusetts line of the Continental Army in the war of the Revolution, for the term of Eight months, and that the said Rawson served out his term of enlistment at Roxbury in this state and was discharged about the first of January A.D. 1776. I enlisted for the same term of time and served out my term, in the same Company with the said Rawson. And further the deponent saith not.
Enos Taft
State of Massachusetts, Worcester County } ss
Mendon Aug. 15. 1832
Then personally appeared before the subscriber, a justice of the Peace for said County of Worcester Enos Taft, and made, subscribed, and swore to the truth of the above affidavit. And I certify, that I have known the said Enos Taft for many years & that he is a credible witness & sustains an unimpeachable character for veracity.
Nov 19 th 1832 I hereby certify that William H. Cummings is a justice of the peace for said County of Worcester & that the name subscribed to the foregoing certificate is his signature hereunto
William H. Cummings
William H. Cummings Justice of the Peace
See other affidavit on the inside

I Stephen Wood of Mendon in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful age, do testify and on oath declare that Joseph Ransom was of Mendon in this Commonwealth, the latter part of April or beginning of May A.D. 1775 enlisted into a company com- manded by Capt. Andrew Peters in the Regiment commanded by Col. Joseph Read in the Massachusetts line of the Conti- nental Army for the term of eight months and served in that company at Roxbury. It was discharged about the first of January A.D. 1776 at the expiration of his enlistment. I served a part of the term in the same company the residue of the time in Cambridge in the Artillery Unit originally in the same company for the same term, & we were discharged & returned home at the same time. While at Cambridge, I frequently visited the said Ransom at his quarters in Roxbury. And further the deponent saith not  Stephen Wood
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } Worcester County }
Mendon Aug. 15. 1832. Then personally appeared the above named Stephen Wood, & made oath to & subscribed the above Affidavit before me - And I certify that I have known the said Stephen Wood for many years & that his character for truth is undoubted -
10th J. Hastings Justice of the Peace
Norfolk Nov 19 th 1832 I hereby certify that Mr. J. Hastings is a justice of the peace for said county of Worcester Worcester & the name subscribed to the foregoing certificate is his signature hand writing I L. C. D. Pitkins

I Jesse Moore of Douglas in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful age do testify & say, that I have been well acquainted with Joseph Rawson now of Midway in the County of Norfolk, but formerly of Uxbridge in the said County of Worcester, that men were called upon to go to the State of Rhode Island, in the year I believe 1777, but am not certain as to the year, that the said Rawson & myself went & were stationed in the College I think about six weeks, in the Company commanded by Capt. Shadduck in the Regiment commanded by Col. Nathan Dyer our business or fatigue was to work on the fortifications on the west side of the town - and further the Deponent saith not. Jesse Moore
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester ss. Uxbridge September 3 d 1832. Then Jesse Moore who signed the above deposition & made solemn oath to the truth of the same. I further certify that I am acquainted with the said Deponent & he is a credible Witness. Benjamin Adams Justice of the Peace
Norfolk ss. Novr 19 th 1832 I hereby certify that Benjamin Adams is a Justice of the Peace for said County & County & that the name signed to the foregoing certificate is his signature handwriting. Isaac C. Judson J. of Probate

217 89
Samuel Rawson

B R I E F objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Isaac Rawson which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy 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? yy 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? yy VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy 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? yy

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?
certified by two Citizens
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?
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? yes
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.