Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15219, for Cyrus Pratt, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Pratt, Cyrus Deborah
No. 15219
CONTENTS

8,484 Massachusetts.
Cyrus Pratt.
of Newton, in the state of Massach'tts who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Jackson, of the Massachusetts line, for the term of two years.
inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts, at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 14. of April, 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22. of March, 1819 and sent to John Davis, Judge, Boston, Massachusetts.
  Arrears to 4th of March, 1819  $: 85.56    Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4. Sept 1819  48. "    10 mo. 17/30  $: 133.56    8 4/31    { Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued
Let to Reuben Baldwin, Dec 11. 1835.
Died 20 April 1821. See letter to R. Baldwin 6 May 1836 - do. to same & Pay May 25. 1836 -
Notice from Genl. Oct 20. 1820 to James Ware Wrentham, Mass.

No 411 Cyrus Pratt 81 to 84 Jackson's Bluff Rep.
fragrant at least circumstances wanted
st. S.
1105k

United States -
F. J.
Massachusetts District
Cyrus Pratt of Newton in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of District of Massachusetts a resident citizen of the United States and applicant for a pension from the United States under An Act of Congress entitled An Act To provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war maketh oath that he served as a private soldier in the war of the revolution for upwards of two years in manner following. Enlisted in March 1701 in the company commanded by Captain Hartshorn and in the regiment commanded by Colonel Jackson and served in said corps two years and six months when he was honorably discharged and is in such reduced circumstances as to require the aid of his country -
Cyrus Pratt
Massachusetts District ss. Boston ss.
MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss.
1 March
1819.
I AM satisfied that the above named, Cyrus Pratt by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, is in need of assistance from his Country for support.
W. Davis
{ District Judge U. S. { Massachusetts Dist.
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR.

United States -
F. J.
Massachusetts District
Cyrus Pratt of Newton in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of District of Massachusetts a resident citizen of the United States and applicant for a pension from the United States under an Act of Congress entitled an Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war maketh oath that he served as a private soldier in the war of the revolution for upwards of two years in manner following. Enlisted in March 1701 in the company commanded by Captain Hartshorn and in the regiment commanded by Colonel Jackson and served in said corps two years and six months when he was honorably discharged and is in such reduced circumstances as to require the aid of his country -  Cyrus Pratt
Massachusetts District Boston ss.
MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss.
Providence June 12 A. D. 1818
Cyrus Pratt
IT appearing to my satisfaction, that Cyrus Pratt subscriber to the annexed declaration, sworn to before me, did serve in the revolutionary war against the common enemy, as stated in said declaration, I now transmit the testimony in the case, with the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the department of war, pursuant to the directions of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war;" the testimony and proceedings in the premises being the declaration aforesaid, with the accompanying documents marked together with this certificate.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the District Court of the United States for this District to be hereunto affixed.
J. Davis
} Judge of the District Court U. S. Massachusetts District.

United States -
F. J.
Massachusetts District
Cyrus Pratt of Newton in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of District of Massachusetts a resident citizen of the United States and applicant for a pension from the United States under an Act of Congress entitled An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war maketh oath that he served as a private soldier in the war of the revolution for upwards of two years in manner following. Enlisted in March 1701 in the company commanded by Captain Hartshorn and in the regiment commanded by Colonel Jackson and served in said corps two years and six months when he was honorably discharged and is in such reduced circumstances as to require the aid of his country -
Cyrus Pratt
Massachusetts District
Boston 14 April 1818.
Sworn to before me
M c Davis
Dist. Judge Mass. Dist.

Copy Voucher No. of Cyrus Pratt
8484
22 mail 19
Cou

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
NORFOLK, ss.—CIRCUIT COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, SPECIAL SESSION, JULY 17, 1820.
On this Nineteenth day of July 1820 personally appeared, in open Court, being a Court of Record for said County, proceeding according to the course of the Common Law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a Record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Cyrus Pratt aged Sixty two years, resident in Needham in said County, formerly of Newton who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows: I entered in
March 1781 into Capt Hartshorne's company in Col. Michael Jackson's regiment and Genl Pattersons Brigade and was honorably discharged in September 1783 - for which service I received a pension the certificate of which bears date March 22 d 1817 and is numbered 8484 I served the full term of two years and an half in the Massachusetts line of the army on the Continental establishment
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons, engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
Cyrus Pratt
Sworn to and declared, on the Nineteenth day of July A. D. 1820 before Jairus Ware Judge CC Com Pleas for S d Circuit
I, Horatio Townsend Clerk of the said Court do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule hereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value, of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is
and
cents.
dollars
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this Twenty first day of July 1820
Horatio Townsend Clerk.

I Cyrus Pratt of Needham in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts an applicant for a Pension under the act of Congress of May 1 st 1820 testify and declare that I have no property real or personal except securities to the amount of sixty dollars which I never expect to get. - I have a wife aged fifty two, and six children two of whom are under age but are put out and my wife and I live separate. I have for ten years past been afflicted with the Asthma and have been unable to perform much bodily labour
Cyrus Pratt

2248
Massachusetts
Deborah Pratt -
widow of Cyrus Pratt - Sec -
Mass
who was a pensioner under the Act of 18 March, 1818 and who died on the 20 April 1821 of Norfolk (3 in the State of Massachusetts who was a private in the commanded by Captain of the commanded by Col: Jackson - in the Massachusetts line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts - at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5th: day of April 1839 and sent to S. Leland. Roxbury, Massachusetts
Arrears to the 14th of March '39. $240.
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept - 40 -
280.00
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by Wm. Stuart Clerk, Book A - Vol. 1 - Page 120

1226 V 1986
Deborah Pratt. insane. Massachusetts
admitted P 2 yrs $80.
papers out 15 March 1818.
admitted P 2 yrs $80
No 2248
March 26
S. Leland. Roxbury

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Norfolk. On this tenth fourth day of September, in the year 1833, personally appeared before the Court of Sessions in session at Dedham, in and for said County, Patty Hicks of Needham, in said County, daughter of Deborah Pratt a resident of Needham in said County aged 67 years, an insane person and incapable of any rational transactions; and the said Patty being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain for her said mother the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July 9 th 1833, entitled "an act granting half pay and pension to certain widows" that the said Deborah Pratt is the widow of Cyrus Pratt, formerly of Newton, but late of Needham deceased, who was a soldier in the Army of the Revolution, and served according to the best of her information and belief, two years, as a Private in the Continental Army of the Massachusetts Line in the Regiment commanded by Col. Jackson, for which service a pension was granted him under the Act of Congress of the 18 th of March 1818, as a Private in the Army of the Revolution, and for a more particular description of the service and the officer under whom he served, she respectfully refers to the declaration made by him at the time the pension was granted. She further declares that, according to the best of her information and belief her said mother, the aforesaid Deborah Pratt, was married to the said Cyrus Pratt on the second day of February Seventeen hundred and ninety one and that her said father, the aforesaid Cyrus Pratt, died on the twentieth day of April A.D. 1821; that her said mother was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, eighteen hundred and ninety four, viz, at the time above mentioned.
Patty Pratt
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written. Before me I Seal and I subscribe

I, Calvin Fish of Needham, in the County of Norfolk, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged 89 years, testify and say that I was well acquainted with the said Cyrus Pratt - That I am also well acquainted with the said Deborah Pratt - They commenced house-keeping about forty six or seven years ago, and continued to live together as husband and wife, until the time of his death, which took place on or about the 20 th day of June A.D. 1821 - and that the said Deborah has remained a widow ever since his death, and now resides in Needham aforesaid - I further testify and say that the said Deborah Pratt, is an insane person, and incapable of any rational transactions, and has been so for many years, and that the said Abby Fish is a daughter of the said Cyrus and Deborah Pratt.
Calvin Fish
Norfolk ss. September 4 th A.D. 1838. Subscribed and sworn to by the said Calvin Fish, who is a credible witness.
Before me S. Leland / Proloc.
I, Israel Huntington of Needham in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged fifty two years, testify and say that I was well acquainted with the said Cyrus Pratt, who died about 17 years ago. He was a pensioner of the United States, under the act of Congress, of the 18 th of March 1818, as a Veteran in the Army of the Revolution. I am also well acquainted with the said Deborah Pratt. She is an insane person, and has been incapable of any rational transactions for several years past. She is a widow, and has been such, ever since the death of the said Cyrus Pratt - The said Abby Fish is a daughter of the said Cyrus and Deborah Pratt.
Israel Huntington
Norfolk ss. September 4 th A.D. 1838. Subscribed and sworn to by the said Israel Huntington, who is a credible witness.
Before me S. Leland / Proloc.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. County of Norfolk.
I Jonathan H. Cobb Register of the Court of Probate within & for said County hereby certify that Sherman Leland is Judge of the Court of Probate for said County & that Benjamin Slack is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County of Norfolk & that their several respective signatures to these papers are genuine.
For Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this fourth day of September A.D. 1838 Jonathan H. Cobb Reg.

Extract from the records of the town of Needham. February 2 d 1791. Second: one thousand Seven hundred and ninty one. Mr. Cyrus Pratt was married to Miss Deborah Smith Both of Needham
By me John Jones Justice of peace
Attest
Asa Kingsbury Town Clerk of Needham
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Norfolk ss.
On this third day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before me Benjamin Slack a Justice of the peace, within and for the County aforesaid. Asa Kingsbury Town Clerk of the town of Needham in said County. and made Oath that the above Extract by him Attested is truly copied from the records of said town, with no addition except the writing out the dates in words which are in figures on the records.
Asa Kingsbury Town Clerk
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
Benjamin Slack Justice of Peace

Boston, Massachusetts,
May 16 th 1836.
Sir,
The Papers and Documents, relating to the balance of Pension, in the case of Cyrus Pratt Decd: is again forwarded, and I trust will be found satisfactory. Should this be the case, you will please return them to me at this place, with such instructions as will enable me to claim said balance agreeably to the power of Attorney, to me executed for that purpose.
The probability is that I have been misinformed in relation to the Aaron Nurse case, and that no fraud, or imbursement of his Pension has been practiced, notwithstanding the declaration of the widow to the contrary - whose superannuated situation is the only apology for said declaration; — Mrs Mitchell of Danvers, sister to said Aaron, informs me, since I wrote the Department last, that her Brother said Aaron, was admitted to the Pension list Roll, and further that Doct. Shedd of Danvers claimed the amount of Pension which had accrued at the time of his decease, and paid the widow of said Aaron $15.00, out of the amount recd: This being the case, I regret that I have imported the Dept in relation to this case, and will for the future be more cautious in receiving information from individuals, and acting thereon, until fully satisfied of their correctness.
Having on a former occasion been solicited to assist the Heirs of Ensign Jonathan Woodman of Newburyport, in an investigation, relative to the balance of Pension, due at his decease — The result of which was communicated to me by — J. L. Foot, one of the heirs (a blind man), in the enclosed letter, which I desire may be returned to me; — as the grateful expressions contained therein, is my sole emolument in this case. — It was the information contained in the printed list of pensioners of Massachusetts that enabled me to decide

with some degree of certainty, that said balance had been claimed. This I inferred from the fact that it was known at the Pension Office, the precise time of the death of the above named Jonathan Wasaman.
I am in much want of a similar List of the Pensioners of New York, Maine & New Hampshire, and have to request that if there should remain any spare copies of those lists in the Pension, or any of the Offices, at Washington, that they may be forwarded to me, if convenient - and the same will be thankfully Received.
Please answer this communication and forward the same directed to me at this place
Very Respectfully Sir I am Your Obedient Servant Reuben Baldwin
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commrs. of Pensions Washington

Boston, Massachusetts April 23 d 1836
Sir
I Transmit herewith the papers and Documents in support of the claim to a balance of Pension, due to the Guardian of Deborah Pratt of Needham; widow of Cyrus Pratt Esq d .
You will perceive by the enclosed Documents that Deborah Pratt, above named, is a Non compos, and that Israel Hunting is her Legal Guardian.
If this claim should be considered admissible you will please forward such papers and instructions as will enable me to draw said balance of Pension agreeably to the power of attorney, to me executed for that purpose.
Very Respectfully Sir am your Ob t serv t Reuben Baldwin
J. L. Edwards Esq r Commis r of Pensions Washington

Dec 10
Comm Pratt 1886 Comm Pratt 1886 13
22 Mar 89
not mark
J. L. Edwards Esq. Comm mis r of Pensions Pension Office Washington

Boston, Mass ts Decem r 7 th 1835
Sir
Yours of the 19 th Ult o , enclosing a certified copy of the Discharge of Eli Smith De d , is received the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.
Deborah Pratt of Needham; widow and relict of Cyrus Pratt late of said Needham, De d . has employed me to ask for, and obtain a copy of her late Husband's Discharge, which she affirms was forwarded to the War Dept t with his other papers when application was made by said Cyrus, for the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 14 th March 1818.
Said Cyrus Pratt departed this life 20 th April 1822, and was a pensioner of the United States, under the above act, previous to his death — his widow, the said Deborah, is an applicant for the benefit of the Gratuity of 50 Dollars, allowed by this Commonwealth.
Please answer this, and forward the same to me at " this place "
Very Respectfully Sir, I am Your Obedient Servant Reuben Baldwin
J. L. Edwards Esq r Comm g t of Pensions
Washington

Debora Pratt of Cyrene, Massachusetts,
Resuspended
Oct 1 Dec 38 St. Helena,
at 7 July 1838

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 15219
Deborah Pratt
Widow of
Cyrus Pratt
Priv. Rev. War
Act: July 7 th 1838
Index:—Vol. M , Page 141
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Cyrus Pratt. Mass. Act March 18. 1818 to what time paid? Rev. Office.
Due 20 th April 1821 p st that period
Nov 20. 1838,
18

1 Nov 19 th 1838

Cyrus Pratt, Massachusetts Roll, act of March 18. 1818. Be pleased to say up to what time he was last paid?
Pension Office } Apl. 27. 1836 }
was paid to 4 March 1821 2 nd Comptroller, office } BM Apl 27. 1836

Davis
Simon Jackson's 0 11 5. 18th Oct 1841

To the Hon. John Davis Judge of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts — Respectfully represents. Simon Jackson That the records of the Books of the 8 th Massachusetts Regiment in the possession of the subscriber has the name of the bearer with a descriptive list of the soldiers on That is that Simon Jackson enlisted on the 29 th day of March 1731. for the term of three years 4 feet 7 inches high, belonging to Thomas Hartshorn's company complete at dawn — I have no knowledge of the time or nature of his discharge.
Mass. Middlesex Sept. 10 th 1817. as
Simon Jackson kept in the late United States Provost Marshal's in several Regiments.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Norfolk I Sherman Selene judge of the Court of Probate in for said county hereby testify. That Israel Hunting & Needham in said county, has been duly appointed Guardian to Deborah Pratt of said Needham, an insane person & an applicant for a pension, under the act of Congress of July 7 th 1830 as the widow of Cyrus Pratt, deceased who was a private in the Army of the Revolution, and that the said Israel Hunting is now fully authorized to act in that capacity.
In witness whereof I the said judge have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this tenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred & thirty eight
S. Selene

Rotbury Dec 10 th 1830
Sir
I herewith send you the evidence of the appointment of a Guardian to Deborah Proth, an applicant for a pension, as the widow of Cyrus Proth deceased
Very respectfully
Your obedt
J L Edwards Esq r Supt Commissioner of Pensions & Letters Washington City