Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19036, for Edward Porter, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Porter, Edward
S.19036
carded
CONTENTS

10.102 Massachusetts
Edward Porter of Duckland in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Hooker of the Regt. commanded by Col. Pomeroy in the Mass time for 8 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts the rate of 26 Dollars 60 Cents per annum commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of March 1833 and sent Very Hon. General Greenfield Mass
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 $53.32 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept. " 13.33 $66.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. H. Anderson Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 2 Page 63
84 Franklin

Edward Porter
22,367
yp Mwath
8 Mths
26.66
E. Alvord Esq. Greenfield Mass.

BRIEF in the case of Edward Porter of Buckland in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In Open court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Eighty four 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 Nov 1 In 1776 . . . . . 7 private Col: Pomeroy Col: Hooker   " Sept: 1777 . . . . . 1 " Capt: Beecheridge  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None named  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? In Ware, Mass:  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence alone  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? None cited authenticated 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Examining Clerk.

Edward Foster
Application of Brummond
22367

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
FRANKLIN COUNTY ss.
ON THIS seventeenth day of October A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court , before the Judge of Probate, at a Court held by adjournment  Court of Common Pleas of the said Commonwealth, now sitting at Greenfield within and for the said County of Franklin, Edward Foster a resident of Buckland in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged eighty 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 an act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.

of Massachusetts, 3 county of Franklin.
On this Thirtieth day of July A.D. 1832. personally appeared before me one of the court of the county commissioners for the county of county of Franklin and commonwealth of Massachusetts, Edward Porter of Buckland in the county of Franklin, State of Massachusetts, aged eighty four years last June, being first sworn according to law, on his oath made  declaration, spoke the following, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of longress passed June 7, 1832.
In November first, 1776. Edward Porter then of Ware in the county of Hampshire, Massachusetts, did enter the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, under command of Capt. Hooper, in the militia, and Col. Pomroy, marched to Danby — from there Fishkill, in the state of New York — was one of the guard when Daniel Strang was hanged, as a traitor. Gen. Mc Dougall had command at Fishkill. — From there ordered to Morristown, while there stationed, a sergeant and twelve men from Pennsylvania deserted, who were brought back and whipped. — was in several routes to bring in Russian. Ended that campaign at Morristown April 17, 1777. being twenty four weeks.
In Sept. 1777. again entered the service under the Capt. Breckenridge, march through Bennington, to Manchester. served four weeks. Was at White Plains four weeks under Capt. Breckenridge, in 1776. which, in order of time should have been first stated. In the whole, was in the service of the U. S. eight months.

He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity, except the present — and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any State. Edward Dorder
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Thomas Langley one of the Justs of County Commissioners for Franklin County.
Answers to interrogatories as required by the Secretary of War.
1 Was born in Bridgewater, Smith's Meadows, June 1748. now annexed to Hingham. 2 Record of his age is in Hingham. 3 Was living in War when in the county of Hampshire Commonwealth of Massachusetts, when he entered the service — now lives lived in Hingham fifty five years — in Burkhall in the county of Franklin, Massachusetts. 4 Was a volunteer. 5 Gen. Washington commanded while at Morris-town. cannot recollect others, except what have been named in this declaration. 6 Never received a written discharge. 7 Known by the Rev. Jonathan Grant, John Doley Esq. Amos Wood, Isaac Doley, Silas Smith and Samuel Brattett. He has no documentary evidence of his service.

He knows of no person living who can testify be produced as a witness of his personal service
Edward Porter
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year above said
Thomas Langley  one of the Justices of the Peace for the County of Franklin
R. E. Mearns
Judge of Probate
We Jonathan Groot a Clergyman residing in the Town of Hawley and Edmund Langley and Amos Wood of Buckland residing in the same, hereby certify that we are acquainted with Edward Porter signer to the foregoing declaration and believe him to be eighty four years of age; that he is respected and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
R. E. Mearns J. P. P. R.
Jonathan Groot Clergyman
Edmund Langley Amos Wood
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 above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Jonathan Groot who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in Hawley in said county, where the said applicant has mostly resided since the Revolutionary war, and Edmund Langley who has also signed the same is a resident in said Hawley, and is a Justice of the Peace and a credible person; and the said Amos Wood who has also signed the same is a resident in Buckland and is a credible person; and that their state- ment is entitled to credit.
R. E. Mearns
Judge of Probate
I, ELIJAH ALVORD, Clerk of the said Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Edward Porter for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, this seventeenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
E. Alvord Reg. Prob.
Clerk

He knows of no person living who can testify be produced as a witness of his personal service
Edward Porter
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year abovenamed
Thomas Langley  one of the Justices of the Court for the
R. E. Burrows
Judge of Probate
We Jonathan Groot a clergyman residing in the Town of Hawley and Edmund Langley Amos Wood of Brookland residing in the same, hereby certify that we are acquainted with Edward Porter signer to the foregoing declaration and believe him to be eighty four years of age; that he is respected and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed this day
year aforesaid
R. E. Burrows J. Probate
Jonathan Groot clergyman
Edmund Langley Amos Wood
Rev. Jonathan Groot and Edmund Langley Esq. who subscribed and made oath to the truth of the above certificate July 31, 1832. (are men of veracity.) Thomas Langley one of the Justices of the Court county commissioners for Franklin
I, ELIJAH ADAMS, Clerk proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
Edward Porter
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, this seventeenth day of October eight hundred and thirty two
in the year of our Lord one thousand
E. Alvord Reg. Probate.
Clerk

P 19036
INVALID.
Am
File No. 19036
Edward Porter
Pris Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index :—Vol. 1 , Page 307
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Edward Porter 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? yes 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? no 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? Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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? 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?
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 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.