Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30021, for Samuel Pilsbury, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Pilsbury, Samuel S. 30021 or Pelsbury
CONTENTS

27291 Massachusetts
Samuel Pelsbury of Essex in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Comy commanded by Captain Jenkins of the Regt commanded by Colo. Girish in the Mass line for
6 Months Private
Inscribed in the Roll of Mass at the rate of 20 Dollars  Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 th day of Mar 1834 and sent to Wm Wort Esq. Newburyport
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1834 $ 60 Pens-ant. allowance ending 4 th Sep 34  10 $ 70-
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk. Book E Vol. 2 Page 66

Samuel Pillsbury
15081

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832.
State of Massachusetts: County of Essex ss.
In this twenty day of September, A.D. 1832. personally appeared in open court, before the Honorable Daniel Appleton White, Judge of Probate for the county of Essex, aforesaid, Samuel Pillsbury, a resident of Newburyport, in the county of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, aged sixty nine years, and uses words, unto being first duly sworn in 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:
He first enlisted in the year 1778, in the company commanded by Captain Oliver Pillsbury, in the regiment commanded by Colonel Jacob Gershom, Massachusetts Militia - enlisted at Newburyport and served as a private soldier therein Three months at Bunker Hill - from October 1778 to January 1779 - was discharged at same place had no written discharge
Afterwards enlisted in the year 1780, in the company commanded by Captain Stephen Jenkins, in the same regiment commanded by said Gershom - enlisted at Newburyport (and served at Albany the fall of 1780) Three months, and was discharged at Newburyport
Also in the year 1780 entered as a seaman, on board the private armed Ship Mercury, commanded by Captain Nicholas Johnson, mounting ten four pound carriage guns, and manned with about thirty five men - commissioned by the Government of the United States, as a letter of marque, in which Ship he cruised about one year in the year 1780 & 1781 - was also on board Ship Bonne De Grace, commanded by Captain Nicholas Johnson some six months in the year 1781 - also Ship Minnow commanded by Captain Newman - and other privateers
He was born at Newburyport A.D. 1762 - no record of his birth - resided at Newburyport - when he voluntarily enlisted in said service, refers to Obediah Hovey of Newburyport for evidence of his character for veracity, and for their belief in his revolutionary services.
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.
now resides in Newburyport aforesaid, and his residence there always
General Pillsbury
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Samuel Pillsbury
We Rev Daniel Dana D.D. a Clergyman, residing in Newburyport aforesaid and Solomon H. Merrill Esquire, a magistrate, residing in Newburyport aforesaid, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Pillsbury who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty nine 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.
Daniel Dana
subscribed and sworn to before
S. H. Merrill Esquire
S. H. Merrill

And the said Court hereby declares its opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the claimant named officer in a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that Rev. Daniel Davis D.D. who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in said Newburyport, and that the said Solomon H. Currier Esq. who has signed the same is a Magistrate resident at Newburyport aforesaid, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
D. White Judge of Probate
I Nathaniel Lord Sun, Register of the Court of Probate for the county of Essex aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Samuel T. D. for a pension: also that William Toart is a Justice of the Peace for the county of Essex and that his signature to each of the affidavits annexed is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the eleventh day of September A.D. 1832.
C. Nathan Lord Jr.

2 Dimit Silloum's deposition for Joseph Piterbun

I Daniel Tillinghast of Newburyport, in the county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts labourer aged seventy years and upwards, on oath do testify and say - That I do know that Samuel Pillsbury of said Newburyport was a private in the company commanded by Captain Oliver Pillsbury, in Colonel Jacob Gerrish's Regiment, in the Massachusetts line, and that he enlisted and served in said company from October 1778 to January 1779, a full term of three months, also that he afterwards enlisted and served in the company commanded by Captain Stephen Jenkins, in the same regiment, and served therein a further term of three months - I was a private in both said companies - enlisted and served at the same time with said Pillsbury, and we were both discharged and returned home in company.
Newburyport June 12th 1832.
Attest W.W. Gann
lii Daniel Tillinghast mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss. Town of Newburyport June 12th 1832. Then personally came Daniel Tillinghast above named and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the above written declaration by him subscribed -
I do also certify, that the above named Daniel Tillinghast is personally known to me, and is believed by me to be a credible witness -
W.W. Gann Justice of the Peace

depa. Joseph Stuart for Saml. Pillsbury

I Joseph Thurlo of Newbury, in the county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Do hereby on oath do Testify and say, that I do know that Samuel Pillsbury of Newburyport was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Oliver Ticecomb in Colonel Jacob Gerrish's Regiment, in the Massachusetts Line of the Continental Army, and that he served in said Company from October 1778 to November 1779 a full term of three months. I know that he did enlist, and did serve in said Company the time that he enlisted for as above stated above. I have been well acquainted with said Pillsbury for many years knew him particularly at that time and being a soldier in the same Regiment was in the habit of frequent intercourse with him, the principal part of the time he was in the service. I do also know that the said Samuel Pillsbury, enlisted and served in Captain Parker's Company, in the same Regiment a further term of three months in the year 1780. In which Company was also a private and served the same term of time.
Newburyport June 12th 1832.
Joseph Thurlo
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Before me, Simon of Newburyport June 12th 1832. Then personally came Joseph Thurlo above named and made oath in due form of Law, to the truth of the above written declaration by him subscribed in my presence. I do also certify that the said Joseph Thurlo is personally known to me to be a credible witness.
W. W. O'Connell, Justice of the Peace

Samuel Pillsbury Map
Private Lemont's Cambridge Capt. Jenkins of the Genesee May 25 1833
P. 407
15081
M. Waart Newburyport Map

BRIEF in the case of Samuel Pillsbury 60 of Essex  in the State of Mass (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? of Newbury  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 69  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.     Mass. Militia In 1778 enlisted 3 Private Gen. Putnam Col Gerrish   1780. " " entered on " board a letter of 3 " Capt Jenkins " "   Served about 1 year. also ship Count De Grasse . 6 Marine (a Seaman) called the Mercury Capt Johnson   also ship Monmouth until a Seaman Capt Johnson   The Peace  
5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Newburyport Mass
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary and two living witnesses
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  The period and length of service for Land is specific - but not so for the sea service.
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Taylor
Examining Clerk.
This sea service appears all to be on private account

15081 Samuel Pillsbury
M rs Mount E Newburyport Mass

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Samuel Pillsbury 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? no 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? NO see Service 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
Declarant should apply to E. D. Bangs Esq. for evidence of his service as a Seaman - etc.

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? yy 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'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? yy Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yy 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? yy XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yy XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? _____
 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.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Novemb r 18 th 1833.
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 Sam l Pilsbury as a private is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt Stephen Jenkins' Company, in Col. Jacob Gerrish's Regt. where he is allowed from October 14 th to Nov r 22 d 1779. for services and travel One month and twenty days. ————— m. ds. 1=20
Sam l Pilsbury's name is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt Richard Titcomb's Company, in Col. Nath l Wadsworth's Regt. where he is allowed from July 3 d to Oct r 10 th 1780. for services and travel three months and twenty one days. ————— 3=21
Sam l Pilsbury claims for services on board of the Ship Mercury. Capt. Nicholas Johnson in 1780. also Ship Count D'Grass, Johnson Commander in 80 & 81. and Ship Monmouth Newman Commander in 1781. No evidence of either of the above named Vessels being owned or employed by the Board of War, is found in this Office
Samuel Pilsbury also claims for further service under

Capt Jenkins imp 1779. the rolls of which are not found in this Office.
Edward D Bangs L

30 021 INVALID. Ray
File No. 30,021
Samuel Pelsburg Dis Reo War
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 319
[Arrangement of 1870.]