Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,014, Jonathan Blanchard, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Blanchard, Jonathan S. 29,014
NUMBER
CONTENTS

69 Norfolk
15.877 Massachusetts
Jonathan Blanchard of Norfolk in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Hancock of the ————— commanded by ————— in the Mass. line for 20 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts as the rate of $66 — Dollars 67 — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th day of Aug 1833 and Sub E. J. G. Diana Perry — Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $135.34 Sem-ant. allowance ending Sept 1833 33.33 $166.67
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by H. K. Atkinson Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 a Page 8

Jonathan Blanchard 8869
Edwin S. Leland

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Norfolk ss.
On this Twenty Three day of August
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Judge of the Court of Probate  now sitting at
in for said County, Jonathan Blanchard a resident of Stoughton in said County, aged sixty seven 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, A. D. 1832.
THAT he was born at Stoughton in said County - on the twenty fourth day of November A. D. 1765, and that there is no record of his birth to his knowledge : that he was in the United States service from the last of March  day of  first of A. D. 1782, to the last day of November A. D. 1783. Twenty months as a  Private in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at Braintree now Randolph in said County when he entered the service; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain John Hancock Lt. William Burbeck and Samuel Locke : that he marched from Braintree now Randolph to Castle Is.
called Castle William in Boston harbor : that he served with none
of the regular troops; and no -
regular officers
were known to him: that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received no written discharge
1783.
: that he left the service on the last day of Nov. AD
and that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at Brooklyn and Stoughton in said County.
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the day of A. D. 17 , to the day of A. D. 17
as a in the
that he was residing at when he entered the service; that he
and served for the period aforesaid under the command of
: that he marched from
: that he served with
of the regular troops; and
regular officers were known to him: that he was in battle
that at the end of his service he received a discharge the service on
and left
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the day of A. D. 17 , to the day of A. D. 17
as a in the
that he was residing at when he entered the service; that he
and served for the period aforesaid under the command of
: that he marched from
: that he served with
of the regular troops; and
regular officers were known to him; that he was in battle
that at the end of his service he received a discharge the service on
and left

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.
Jonathan x Blanchard mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.
We Samuel Gay residing in the said Stoughton and James Swan residing in said Stoughton hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jonathan Blanchard who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty seven 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.
Sworn and subscribed as aforesaid.
Samuel Gay James Swan
And the said court  judge do hereby declare their  his 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  said judge further certify that it appears to them that Samuel Gay who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in the said Stoughton ; and that James Swan who has also signed the same is a resident in said Stoughton and are credible persons; and that their statement is entitled to credit. The said judge further certifies that Jonathan Blanchard, by reason of bodily infirmity is unable to attend court for the purpose of making the foregoing declaration and further
I Samuel Hawn, Register — 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 Jonathan Blanchard , for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Samuel Hawn

Jonathan Blanchard
Tract 20 Mr
14 06
March 22 1833
P. 310
8869
E. S. Leland Esq Roxbury Mass

BRIEF in the case of Jonathan Blanchard County of Norfolk - in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? before a Judge  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? yes  3. How old is he? 67  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. As a Gen.     In 17 1 8 - - Private Gen. Hancock  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? no battle  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Dorchester, now Randolph, Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional and two living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers are not attested agreeably to the regulation - nor is the official character of the Magistrate certified  I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George D. Dyer
Examining Clerk.

29 014 Rev INVALID.
File No. 29,014
Jonathan Blanchard Rev War
Act: June 7 n 39 4
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 29
[Arrangement of 1870.]

8869
Jonathan Blanchard
E. J. Leland Esq. Roxbury 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 Somathorn Blanchard 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? yy 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? yy 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

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? No clergyman  yes as to others
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no
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? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? no
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?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes  2 nd
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.

I John Whitcomb of Randolph in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawfull age testify & say, that Jonathan Blanchard of Shaugton in the County of Commonwealth of said, served as a soldier in the war of the revolution in the State service in the State of Massachusetts, on Castle William in Boston harbor, eighteen months, according to the best of my recollection, & the said John Whitcomb enlisted in December seventeen hundred & eighty - & left the service in December seventeen hundred & eighty-three, during this time the said Jonathan Blanchard and served eighteen months in the same company with me under the command of Capt John Hancock, Lieut William Burbeck & Samuel Great according to the best of my recollection, and further deponent saith not John his Whitcomb mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk County ss August 18 th 1832 Then personally appeared the above named John Whitcomb and made solemn oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed (and further say that the deponent is a person of truth and veracity Before me Silas Lakin Jr Justice of the Peace I the subscriber judge & Notary for said County of Norfolk hereby certify

that Silas Paine Jr is a justice of the peace for said county & that the name signed to the foregoing certificate is his signature & hand writing, I also certify that this deposition was read by me
S. L. Merrill

Moses Whitcomb of Randolph in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being of Lawful Age do testify and declare that I enlisted into the State service in the Reuben Hovey War, in December A.D. 1780 and continued in said service until the last December A.D. 1783. and did duty as a Private on Castle William in Boston Harbor, and that Jonathan Blanchard of Houghton in said County was a soldier with me in the Company commanded by Capt. John Hovey & Lt. William Burbeck and Samuel Treat - and that said Blanchard according to the best of my recollection did service on said Castle Island (within the Period that I served) from sixteen to twenty months, and further say not.  Moses Whitcomb
August 18th 1832
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk County. August 18th 1832. Personally appeared the above named Moses Whitcomb and made solemn Oath, to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed and I further certify that I believe the said deponent is a man of truth & veracity from my own personal knowledge and acquaintance with him.
Before Me, Benjamin Richards Justice of the Peace
I the subscriber Judge of Probate for said County of Norfolk, hereby certify that Benjamin Richards is a Justice of the Peace for said County & that the name signed to the foregoing certificate is his signature & hand writing & that this deposition was received by me.
J. L. C. and

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Aug t . 16 1832.
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 Jonathan Blanchard is borne on several Lists or Bills of men who had done duty at the Castle in Boston Harbour. Said Bills accompany certain warrants drawn on the State Treasury for bounties due to those borne thereon at the respective dates of said warrants, but do not particularly describe the period or duration of service. The dates are as follows
Nov. 13. 1782 — for bounties of £ 10. 10. 8. Mar 13 1783 5. 10. 8.
Edward D. Dangs, Pub