Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,359, for Seth Parsons, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Parsons, Seth
L 29,359
CONTENTS

31073 Massachusetts
Seth Parsons
of Hampden in the State of Mass who was a private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Ball — of the Reg t commanded by Col. Shepard in the Mass line for 16 Mo s .
Widow
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 52 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of Aug 7 1832 and to P. Boisd Sawin
Arrears to the 4th (Mo s ) $106.66 Semest. allowance ending Sept 26.66 $133.33
Revolutionary Claim, June 7, 1832.
Recorded by W. Estlin Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 Page 65
76
Hampden
Math not drawn on Agency book.

No 10.139 Seth Parsons
Past 16 months
14-16 of
March 20 1833
P. 304
P. Boise Granville Mf

BRIEF in the case of  Seth Parsons of the County of Hampden 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? 74 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 1774 Oct r to — X — Minuteman Capt. Ball -   April '75 — 1 — Private Col. Shephard, Capt. Ball & Bannett   while there — 8 — d o Same   '76 Fall — 2 — Volunt r Col. Robinson, Capt. Coe   '77 Augt — 3 — d o Same   — 2 — d o Col. Mosely, same Capt  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Grenville  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? 
Regular -
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Levin Belt Examining Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Hampshire
so
On this eighth day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before Hon. Oliver B. Morris Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Hampshire now sitting at Springfield in & for the County of Hampshire. Lett Persons a resident of Greenville in said County of Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy four 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 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated - That he enlisted as a Minuteman in the Militia of Massachusetts on or near the first of October 1774, Ebenezer Ball Captain Lemuel Beman First Lieutenant - That while he was so enlisted, he was called upon once a week for militia duty, provided himself with a present blanket and was held ready for actual service - That he continued under this enlistment till April 1775 - soon after the Battle at Lexington when he was called into service - That he went through Springfield Worcester and other towns to Roxbury where he continued in service one month under William Shippen Colonel and the said Ball and Beman Captain and Lieutenant - That while there he enlisted in the State Troops for the term of eight months - That he continued in the service under this enlistment for three months when he was discharged by the name of Christian name he did not remember Black and went to service in his place for the remainder of the term, but during all the term his name stood on the roll and he was held liable to service under said enlistment - That in the fall of the year 1776 the month he can not remember the Militia in Greenville were called to service, and that he as a Volunteer went to Concord and Trininity Robinson Colonel and Aaron Dole Captain both then Inhabitants of said Greenville - That he was marched through the

county of Berkshire Mass - and through the State of Ver- mont - was encamped some time at White Hall then over Lake Champlain to Ticonderoga - That he was out two months in the service at this time - and was part of the time employed in building a fort on Mount Independence That he again returned to Greenfield had been at home but a short time when he again enlisted for three months, this was soon after the news of the battle at German Flatts when Col Brown was defeated at this service said Robinson Col. said Col. Lockhart and one Sergeant of Blendford Lieut. - That he was marched through Albany, by Wood Creek to Ticonderoga - That Gen. Wayne Col. Simons and Col. Locke were some of the Officers at this station - That at this time he was employed in Garrison duty - That he returned again to Greenfield and was at home till the latter part of August 1777 - when he again went to Ticonderoga as a volunteer to Bennington soon after news of the battle at that place - That he was marched from that place to Stillwater - Col. Mosely of Westfield Capt. Aaron Loar, Lieutenant Lincoln Bates the Officers under whom he served - That he was there at the surrender of Burgoyne to Gates. was on the East side of the river during the battle, till the evening was then ordered across the river and engaged with the enemy and witnessed the surrender; That he was three months at this place That soon after the surrender he returned home - That he was out no more in the service - That he claims to have been in the service as a minuteman six months to have served at Roxbury in person four months to have been enrolled and liable to duty three five months more - to have been at Ticonderoga at two several times five months and to have been at Stillwater two months - That he does not know that his name is enrolled any where - and that he was never regularly discharged - Congregational That he was born at Dunkeny September 15th 1757 That he was moved to Greenfield in Massachusett

When a child - That he does not know of any record of his age except a record of his birth which he has seen in his father's Bible which Bible is now in possession of his Brother Joel Parsons - That from his childhood he has been and is now an inhabitant of said Greenfield - That he has been known to Rev Joel Baker for more than thirty years - also to Capt Isaac Miller Charles Robinson and many others who can testify to his reputation of having been in the service and also as to his character for truth - 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
Seth Parsons.
We Joel Baker a Clergyman residing in the Town of Greenfield and Charles Robinson residing in the same place hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Isaac Miller Seth Parsons who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy four years of age, that he is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the service of the revolution and we concur in that opinion Joel Baker Charles Robinson
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & 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 Joel Baker who

has signed the preceding certificate is a Clugymans resident in the town of Granville in said County and that Charles Robinson who has also signed the same is a resident in the same Granville and is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to Credit
I Justin Willard Register of the Court of Probate within & for said County of Hampshire do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Lethe Parsons for a Pension
Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this eighth day of August A.D. 1832
Justin Willard Register de
10.139 Lethe Parsons
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden ss I John Ingersoll Clerk of the Common Pleas Court a Court of Record in the County of Hampden do hereby certify that Patrick Boice Esquire before whom the Depositions hereto annexed were taken and verified is a Justice of the peace for the County of Hampden and that his name subscribed is his true and genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Common Pleas Court at Springfield on this sixth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
John Ingersoll Clerk

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Seth Parsons a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ( or his widow's ) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
S. 29.359
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apl. 1775 4 mos. Private Lebbeus Ball William Shepard Conn.   Fall 1777 2 mos. Aaron Coe Timothy Robinson   soon after 3 mos. Aaron Coe " " "   Aug 1777 2 mos. Morley        
Battles engaged in, 2nd Stillwater + surrender of Burgoyne. Residence of soldier at enlistment, Granville, Hampden Co., Mass. Date of application for pension, Aug. 8, 1832. His claim was allowed. Residence at date of application, Granville, Mass. Age at date of application, born Sept. 15, 1757 at Durham Conn.
Remarks: soldier had a brother Joel Parsons - no other family data on file on the claim.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

I William Moore of Tolland in the County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age testify and say that I have known Col Seth Parsons for more than sixty years - that I know said Parsons was in the service as a soldier in the Militia of Massachusetts that I know he was at or near Bennington at the time of the surrender of Burgoyne but how long he was in the service I do not know - William Moore
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Hampden ss On this eighth day of August AD 1832 personally appeared William Moore the aforesaid deponent and made oath to the truth of the de foregoing Deposition by him subscribed in my presence Before me Patrick Boise First Justice of the Peace
and I further certify that said William Moore is to me known as a person of truth and veracity and his deposition entitled to credit Patrick Boise First Justice

I Isaac Miller of Greenfield in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age tes- tify and say that I have known Col. Seth Parsons for sixty or seventy years past. I know he enlisted in the fall of 1774 a minuteman and continued so for about six months - he was liable to be called into actual service at any time and place - While so enlisted he was called to perform military duty once a week and to keep himself with arms and accoutrements for service. In April 1775 soon after the Battle at Lexington he went into the service and was marched to Roxbury he was here employed one month when he enlisted in the State troops for eight months. I know he spent three months of his enlistment at Roxbury and Dor- chester. William Shepard late of Westfield was Col Libey Bell of said Greenfield Capt. In the fall of the year 1776 he went as a volunteer to Ticonderoga for two months under Timothy Robinson Col and Aaron Burr Capt both of Greenfield - In the winter following he again enlisted for three months under the last named Officers and Slocum of Blandford Lieut. He enlisted to go to Fort Ticonderoga but was afterwards ordered to Ticonderoga where he spent the time of his enlist- ment in the service. I was a soldier with him in the service at each of the above mentioned times and places we were both privates - I am further the deponent saith not Isaac Miller

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Hampden 3 p
On this eighth day of August A D 1832 personally appeared before me the subscriber Isaac Miln the aforesaid depo- nent and made oath to the truth of the foregoing Depo- sition by him subscribed in my presence.
Patrick Boise Justice of the peace
And I further certify that said Isaac Miln is to me known as a person of truth and veracity and that his Deposition is entitled to credit
Patrick Boise Justice of the peace
Isaac Miln

No 10.139
Seth Parsons
Patrick Boise Esq. Grawille Mr.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Seth Parsons 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? no Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 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? no 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 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 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.
Months service prior to April 1775 not provided for

20¢ stamped envelope enclosed Stmpd. env. ret'd ew
Rev Sec
N26
of box
210 Higeon Avenue Torrington, Connecticut
Mch 14-1917
U.S. Pension Office
Gentlemen
It is family tradition that Seth Parsons of Mass (probably of Granville or Springfield) served in the Rev War and received pension for such service, Can you give me information to verify this Claim & thus enable a lady to join Daughters of Am Rev Society Yours very truly L G Turner

   Apl 75  1 mo  Lebbeus Ball,  Wm Shepard,    "  $ 3 "   Timothy Robinson    Fall 76  2 "  aaron Col  " "    soon after  3 "  " "  " "    Aug 77  2 "  " "  Moseley   

29359 Rev INVALID.
1917 Mch. 30. Hist. to L. G. Turner. P
File No. 29,339
Seth Parsons
Rev Mr
Act: Cune 7" 89
Index:—Vol. 9, Page 318
[Arrangement of 1870.]