Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 5150, for Jonathan Perkins, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Perkins, Jonathan
S 5150.
CONTENTS
Carded.

Massachusetts
Jonathan Perkins
of Plymouth in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain  of the Regt commanded by Col Hale in the  line for 6 Mo.
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 20 Dollars ~ Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 th day of November 1832 and sent to St. Louis Plymouth Mass
Arrears to 14th of Sept 1832 $30 -- Pension allowance ending 4 Mar '33 10 -- $40 --
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. Perkins Clerk Book D. Vol. 2 nd Page 75

No 4314 Jonathan Perkins
Pwals
6 Mrs
admnd
$20~
J. H. Lord Esq.
Plym. Mass.

BRIEF in the case of Jonathan Perkins of the County of Plymouth in the State of Mass. (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court,  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 73 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.     In 1776 Oct. — 3 — Private Gen. Col. Hall, Capt. Alden   " 78 Mar. — 3 — ditto Col. Stearns, Capt. Washburn  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bridgewater  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Depositions  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Levin Bell Examining Clerk.

Declaration of Jonathan Perkins for a Pension & Proceedings of Court thereon,

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH, ss.
ON this seventh day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before Hon. Wilkes Wood Judge of the Court of Probate for said County now sitting at Middleborough within and for said County of Plymouth, Jonathan Perkins a resident of North Bridgewater in said County of Plymouth, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy-three 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. 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. That is to say, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
About the month of October 1776 he enlisted in a Company commanded by Nathan Alden of Bridgewater. The company was raised by the State of Massachusetts in the war of the Revolution. Nathan Packard & Elijah Ames were Lieutenants. Said Company being ordered to march to Providence; received counter orders at Pawtucket & marched to Bristol Rhode Island, where he was stationed with said company during the term of enlistment which was three months, and was dismissed without a written discharge. The Regiment was commanded by Colonels Hall & Johnson.
About the month of March 1778 he enlisted for three months in a company raised by the State of Massachusetts in the war of the Revolution. Abraham Washburn of Bridgewater was Captain - Jonathan Willis of Bridgewater & one Fullerton of Abington were Lieutenants. Col. Stearns commanded the Regiment. Doct. Jones of Abington was Lieutenant Colonel. He went with said Company first to Roxbury near Boston & after two or three weeks service at Roxbury, went on to Dorchester Heights, thence on to Castle Island in Boston harbour. He performed the full

term of service, three months, and was dismissed by his command- ing officers, without a written discharge. No battle occurred during either of the aforementioned periods.
He was born in Bridgewater in 1758 & has always had his home on the same territory. His birth is recorded in the Town records. He has no other documentary evidence than is herewith annexed. He is well known to Rev. Daniel Huntington of said town & also to Jofe Perkins Esq, & other good citizens of said town.
Jonathan Perkins
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Attest Jacob H. Lord
Register of the Court of Probate

We, Daniel Huntington a clergyman, residing in the town of North Bridgewater and Jesse Perkins Esquire a Magistrate residing in the same town hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Jonathan Perkins who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy three years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Daniel Huntington Jesse Perkins
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Before me Eliza Whitman Esq. of peace
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 certifies, that it appears to them that Daniel Huntington who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of North Bridgewater and that Jesse Perkins Esquire who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same town a Magistrate and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Attest Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate
I, Jacob H. Lord Reg r of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jonathan Perkins for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court this Seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two .
Jacob H. Lord

I Mark Perkins of North Bridge water County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful age do testify and say, that I have known from my earliest days Jonathan Perkins, who was born, and from his birth has lived and who now lives in North Bridge water aforesaid. In the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight, and in the month of March or April I can not say which, Jonathan Perkins, enlisted into the service of the United States, or into the service of the State of Massachusetts, I cannot now satisfy myself which - and did service therein for three Months, commencing in Roxbury in this State where he did duty a few weeks, then on Dorchester heights, a few days, and then on the Castle Hill the expiration of three full months and was then discharged. The above service was performed by Jonathan Perkins as above stated, in a Company commanded by Abraham Washburn and Regiment commanded by Col. Stearns - Mark Perkins

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth County ss July 18. 1832 Personally appeared the within named Mark Perkins and made oath to the truth of the declarations by him subscribed. And I further certify, that I am personally acquainted with said Deponent, and he is considered and reported to be a person of truth and veracity. Eliab Whittman Jus. peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for the County of Plymouth being a Court of Record do hereby cer- tify that Eliab Whittman Esq. before whom the foregoing Deposition was taken is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County of Plymouth & that his name above subscribed is his true & proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand & seal of said Court this seventh day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
Jacob H. Lord

Rev War
5150
INVALID.
File No. 5150
Jonathan Perkins Print Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1832.
Index: — vol. 3 , Page 291
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Jonathan Perkins
N o 4314 >

N o 4314 Jonathan Perkins
J. H. Lord Esq.
Plym t . Mass

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 Jonathan Peckins 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? yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 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 has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? 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 the 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.
†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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end 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.

I Daniel Field of North Bridge water, County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts and I Oliver Howard of the same North Bridge water, of lawful age do testify and say, that We have known Jonathan Perkins from his youth. He was born in this Town, and has through his life resided here. In the month of October or November in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six, said Jonathan Perkins enlisted into the service of the United States and did service therein for the space of three months at Bristol in the State of Rhode Island. commencing the first of December in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six and ending the first day of March in the following year. The above service of Jonathan Perkins was done in a Company commanded by Nathan Alden and Regiment commanded by Colonels Hall and Johnson.
Daniel Field Oliver Howard

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth County ss - July 23 d 1832 Personally appeared the within named Daniel Field and Oliver Howland and to the truth of the declarations by them subscribed. And I further certify, that I am personally acquainted with each Deponent and that each of them is considered and reported to be a person of truth and veracity -
© Eliab Whitman Esq. Justice
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth, being a Court of Record hereby certify that Eliab Whitman Esq. before whom the within Deposition was taken is a Justice of the Peace in the said County of Plymouth, & that his name above subscribed is his true & proper signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this seventh day of August in the Year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Jacob H. Lord