Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 18,147, Samuel Bray, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Bray, Samuel
818.147
Carded
CONTENTS
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27439 Massachusetts
Samuel Bray
of Dorchester in the State of Mass who was a pri Artillery in the Comp y commanded by Captain Ellery — of the Reg t commanded by Colo. Foster in the Mass line for
12 Months pri Art y
Granted on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 50 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 th day of May 1831 and sent to D. Lee Esq r Boston.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1834 — $ 150 Semi-ant. allowance ending 1 st Sep r ,, 25 $ 175
{ Revolutionary Claim { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 2 Page 43.
86 No. 10

Sam l Bray ~
1602.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Norfolk ss.
On this fifteenth 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 Superior Court now sitting at Dorchester in and for said County, Samuel Bracy a resident of Dorchester in said County, aged 86 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 Gloucester in the county of Essex & Commonwealth aforesaid on the thirteenth day of March A. D. 1746, and that there is a record of his birth in the Rec d of Gloucester that he was in the United States service from about the fifteenth day of May A. D. 1776, to the fifteenth day of May A. D. 1777 as a private in the Massachusetts State Troops: that he was residing at said Gloucester
when he entered the service; that he enlisted on or about the 15th of May and served for the period aforesaid under the command of said Captain Ellery and Benjamin Somes was 1st Lieut & George Seward 2d Do
: that he marched from said Gloucester to Fort Hill, from to from to Silverside in Gloucester Harbor : that he served at said Gloucester with four militia companies of infantry but none of the regular troops; and Captain Warner, Col. Foster & Co whose Reg t the Company of artillery to which he belonged was attached regular officers were known to him: that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received no written discharge: that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at Gloucester and at Dorchester: and left the service on or about the 15th of May 1777, having served out the term for which he enlisted viz one year.
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 to , from to from to : that he served at with of the regular troops; and
regular officers were known to him: that he was in battle
and at the end of his service received written discharge.
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the day of A. D. 17 , to the day of A. D. 17 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 to , from to from to : that he served at with of the regular troops; and
regular officers were known to him: that he was in battle
and at the end of his service received written discharge.

The general circumstances of my service were as follows: viz; About the time I enlisted there was a draft of men to go to Canada. We built two Forts, Fort Hill & Fort Warner, both for defence of Gloucester Harbor. We had several skirmishes with the enemys parties, which very often attempted to land, and sometimes effected it in some cove, but were soon repelled
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 first aforesaid.
Samuel Bray
We John Living  the Living  Herbert a clergyman, residing in the said
Dorchester
and Joshua Sherman residing in said
Dorchester
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Bray who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty six 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.
John Living Herbert Joshua Sherman
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 certify that it appears to them that John Living , who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the said  Dorchester ; and that Joshua Sherman who has also signed the same is a resident in said  Dorchester and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
There are but a few of us left
I Samuel Hawn  Esq of the county of  Roberts aforesaid, do hereby certify
that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Samuel Bray , for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Samuel Hawn

6524
Sam e Bray
W. C. E.
Ensp d
in letter 29 Apr 1833 to G. S. Leland Esq. Roxbury Mass

65.24
BRIEF in the case of  Samuel Bracy of Norfolk Co  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? 86  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.     about 15 May 78 In 17 to about 15 May 79 1 Private Gen. Capt. Ellery = Col Foster  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Port Jaffrey  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? documentary proof. One living witness  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The deposition not properly authenticated 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. C. Easton Examining Clerk. 24 Jan 33

P  1874/14 INVALID.
File No. 1874/14
Act: 1874/14
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 446
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Samuel Boag
9/11
11 11 11

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Aug. 10 th 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 Samuel Bray Jr appears on a roll of Capt William Ellery's company of Artillery raised for the defence of Gloucester, and he is therein stated to have enlisted on the 16 th of July 1776 as a recruit and served to September 30 th of the same year. Also on another roll of same company and he is therein stated to have served as before stated from 30 th of September to the 31 st of December 1776.
Edward D. Bangs.

Sam! Bracy

I Daniel Herrick of Gloucester County of Mass., State of Massachusetts, of the age of eighty years, testify & say, that Samuel Bray formerly of Gloucester aforesaid (now of Dorchester) in said State, was a private in the company of artillery commanded by William H. ley, in Col. Joseph Gorton's Regiment, in the Revolutionary War, & in the service of the State aforesaid, & was stationed at the Harbor so called, in said Gloucester. & said Samuel Bray was attached to said Company from the middle of June A.D. 1776 to the last of April A.D. 1777. Daniel Herrick
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, ss.
On this thirteenth day of August, 1832, before me, William Terson, Notary Public in said County, personally came Daniel Herrick above named, who subscribed and made oath to the above written declaration; and I certify that said Herrick is well known to me as a credible person and his statement entitled to credit.
Witness my hand and Notarial Seal at Gloucester, the day & year aforesaid
William Terson, Not. Public. * See Certif. of Sec'y of Mass. as accompan. Hills applica n

To J. L. Edwards Esq. Commr of Pen s Boston May 20 1834
Sir,
Samuel Bray's application was examined and rejected about a year ago, as will appear by the accompanying letter, which I rec d from you about that time. Mr Brays declaration sets forth, according to my recollection, about one year's service. I have but little doubt that the Dept t on reconsidering the case will be perfectly satisfied that Mr Bray served about ten months in the Artillery. I do not con- sider that the certificate of the Secretary of State copy are of

much value except to show the fact of service simply. Besides being very imperfect, what there is of them have not been properly arranged so that the old soldiers could have the full benefit of them.
You will now find some very important and as I hope satisfactory testimony accompanying this letter. If he should be found entitled to a pension I hope he will have it soon, for he is on the verge of the grave and has worried himself a great deal about it. Respectfully Yr affec Son D Leekchild

6524
Sam Bray

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 Samuel Bray 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?  No
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?  Yes
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?  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 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 shown 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.

S. Bray

War Department
Pension Office
April 2. 1830
Sir
The declaration of Samuel Tong has been examined and placed on our files It appears from the Certificate of E. H. Briggs Esq. that the claimant served only 5 months and 16 days. As the act of June 7. 1832 provides for none who did not serve at least six months his claim cannot be allowed
Very Respectfully
Saml. A.
J. Edwards
E. S. D. and Esq. Norbury Mass

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By Mrs. Elizabeth Follen Edwards, Esquire, Speaker of the House of Representatives in and over said Commonwealth.
To all whom it may concern:
The Power of Attorney, that William Brown Esquire
is not in the least of age, but has attained the age of twenty one years for the purpose of marriage.
in the said Commonwealth, this Power of Attorney was given and sealed this 14th day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty one.

6524 Samuel Bray Dorchester
Admitted 12 Months pri Artillery D Capt Ellery Colo Foster
D Lockhill

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By His Excellency JOHN DAVIS, Esquire, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over said Commonwealth.
To all whom it may concern:
John Davis Know Ye, That William Ferson Esquire, is, and on the sixth of September last past, was, a Notary Public, for the County of Essex,
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned, and that to his Acts and Attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have caused the Public Seal of the Commonwealth to be hereunto affixed, this twentieth day of May, A. D. 1834, and in the Fifty eighth Year of the Independence of the United States of America.
By His Excellency the Governor.
Edward D. Davis Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Glocester, Sept. 6. 1833.
David Skillard Esq.
Dear Sir,
I enclose Mr. Herricks deposition to the principal facts which you expected him to testify to; in some minor facts, he did not testify as expected. I went 4 miles to take his deposition and charge the moderate sum of $2.50; will be obliged to you if you will charge it to and collect it with your own fees of him, provided he receives his pension.
As the rolls are imperfect in the Secretaries office; do not shew the whole service of a soldier; and are no evidence that he did not serve longer than found thereon, would it not be expedient to take a certificate to that effect from the Secretary?
Of late, I think, Mr. Homer & Mr. Manning make such addition to certificates filled by them.
Respectfully your obed.
Serv t .
William Terson
P.S.
Mr. Herrick says there is no aged person alive except himself, in town who knows of Mr. Brags service.

General City Henry 1847 7 Affid. 6
David L. Child, Esq.,
Attorney Boston
--

Child Esqr attorney at Law and agent for Pensioners Boston

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, May 22 d 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 Samuel Bray Junr. is borne on two rolls of Capt William Ellery's company of artillery stationed at Gloucester and he is therein stated to have served from the 16 th day of June 1776 to the last day of December of the same year inclusive. I further certify that there are no other rolls of said company in this Department save those aforementioned.
Edward Bangs. Secy
10045
Nathl. Coffin

George Sayward of Thomaston aged eighty years depose and say that I was a Lieutenant in Capt William Ellery's Company at Gloucester-Cape Ann - Massachusetts from the 9 th day of July 1776 to April 30 th 1777 and that Samuel Bray now living in Dorchester State of Massachusetts - was a soldier during the whole of said term it being Nine months and 21 days the said Samuel Bray did his duty faithfully as a soldier during said term
George Sayward
Lincoln ss personally appeared the above April 22 1834 named George Sayward and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed, and I further say The deponent is a man of truth and veracity
Hon d Prince Just Peace
Sincerely, State of Maine
Nathaniel Coffin Clerk of all the Inferior Courts in the County of Lincoln certify that Herculean Prince Esq whose name is above written is a Judge of the Peace duly com- missioned qualified to act as such; and the foregoing his own proper signature to the will known -
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand by the seal of the Court of Com- mon Pleas this 22 nd day of April A.D. 1834 -
Nath l . Coffin
is e or called when of siding chester him e in home before on greatly did many with the lect ir- red form

I Daniel Herrick of Gloucester, State of Massachusetts aged 82 years testify and say that I was a soldier of the Revolution; that I enlisted with Capt. Brad. Saunders for one month and served one month at the Harbour (so called) in said Gloucester from October to November, 1776 when I was discharged. That I was a near neighbor of Samuel Bray, then Samuel Bray Junr. at that time residing in said Gloucester but for the last 20 years in Dorchester that our farms adjoined and our houses were within an eighth of a mile of each other; that we were in the habit of daily intercourse when we were at home and that when he was absent in the service and before and after I had left it, I had occasion to go often on business where he was stationed and I saw him frequently there. I therefore on oath depose and say that said Bray did serve at said Harbour in Capt. William Ellerys company one year, or about a year, having myself served with him a part of the time and seen him in that service the other part.
I further depose and say that I recollect the length of time of S r . Brays service from the circumstance of said Bray hiring a man named Lebulon Davis and other persons to carry on his farm

during his years absence in consequence of being in the service, as he carried on his farm by his own labour at other times. Of this fact I am positive, as I knew said Davis and saw him every day or two while in Mr. Brags employ; and from having to pass by said Brags land to go to land of my own beyond that of said Brags.
Daniel Herrick
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex Js.
On this sixth day of September, eighteen hundred and thirty three before me William Ferson Notary Public by legal authority and mitted and sworn, personally came the abovenamed Daniel Herrick, who subscribed and made oath to the truth of the foregoing certificate, is a resident in said Gloucester; is well known to me as a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notarial Seal the day and year above named.
William Ferson, Not Public