Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15367, William Carpenter, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Carpenter William
S. 15367
CONTENTS
carded

10015
Massachusetts
William Carpenter
Bristol in the State of Mass who was a Pirate in the company commanded by Captain _____ of the regt commanded by Col Francey in the Mass line for 11 May.
Mila
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 th day of June 1833 and by Hon J Dodge Present
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $73.32 Semest. allowance ending 1 Sept 1833
$91.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H N Main Clerk, Book R Vol. 2, Page 12.
74 Bristol

William Carpenter
C. 2?
4846.

ready
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } BRISTOL, ss.
At a COURT OF PROBATE holden at Taunton in and for said County on the twenty-ninth day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, before the Honorable HODIJAH BAYLIES, Judge of the Probate, &c. for said County, personally appeared William Carpenter a resident of Norton in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy two years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832, make the following declaration: That he entered the service of the united States under the following named officers and served as herein after stated to wit, I first entered the service as (I think in the month of July) it was in the year 1776 under Captain Isaac Hodges of Norton, & Lt Abadial Bliss of Rehoboth, and we were placed in Col, Eben: Dorence's Regiment. I will state further particulars of my service in my answer to the fifth interrogatory. and further declares as follows, in reply to the interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of War; to wit:
 1. Where, and in what year were you born? Ans. That he was born in Norton in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts in the year one thousand seven hundred and Sixty — on the 25 th of June of that year.  2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it? ans there is a record of my age in the office of the Town Clerk of Norton. a copy of which is annexed  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? ans — Norton 
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? ans, I never served in the Revolution under a draft, I always enlisted voluntarily, I am not quite certain whether I was ever a substitute, or not, if I was, it was for Moses Briggs who is now deceased. and at my first Campaign which was four months.
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. And I marched to Dorchester heights near Boston and there served four months under the above named officers. and at the expiration thereof I was verbally discharged by my officers & returned home I refer to Benjamin Cobb & Isaac Perry's affidavit to prove the above campaign.
months 4
I afterwards engaged for a second Campaign, and it was for six months, and it was in the last part of the year 1777 and we were under Captain Silas Cobb of Norton, Lt. Benjamin Bates of Mansfield & John Allen of said Norton, were the other company officers. we marched from said Norton to Slades Ferry in Mass. and up like Newton, and also to Providence in the State of R. I. and Spencers expedition as it is called, took place while we were at and about Slades Ferry, in the course of said Campaign. and after serving at the several places above mentioned our term of service expired while at Providence — over
6

Col. Danforth & Reyes had the command of the Regiment at my second campaign. And I was verbally discharged by my officers and returned home at the expiration of said Six Months. I refer to Benjamin Cobb & Amos Martin affidavit to prove this my second campaign.
I well remember my Colonels, Francis, & Reyes, I also remember of seeing General Spencer, I do not now remember the names of the other officers that I saw, except such names as I have already mentioned in this declaration.
2 I well remember of serving one other campaign & I think it was about two months and we were stationed at Providence in the State of R.I. and a part of the time in the College at that place - but I do not now recollect any of my officers except Brian Hall, was discharged who was our Lieutenant and he was of Norton - neither do I remember the date of this campaign.

6. Were you a Soldier or an Officer? if a Soldier, did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and, if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? if an Officer, did you ever receive a commission, and if so by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? ans. I was a Soldier. I never had a written discharge. I never was an officer in the army -
7. State the names of the persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution. I refer to the Rev. Pitt Clarke and Cromwell Leonard Esq.
And the said William Carpenter doth further declare that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State, or (if any) only on that of the agency of the State of  William Carpenter
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
WE Pitt Clarke - a Clergyman - residing in Norton and Cromwell Leonard residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Carpenter who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be about seventy  seventy 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.
Pitt Clarke, Cromwell Leonard
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
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 certifies, that it appears to them that Pitt Clarke who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Norton in said County of Bristol, and that Cromwell Leonard Esq. who has also signed the same is a resident in said town, and is a credible person, and that their the statement is entitled to credit.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, BRISTOL ss.
I Anselm Bassett Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Carpenter of Norton in said County, for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said Court the day and year first above written.
Anselm Bassett

William Carpenter was born June 25 th 1760
Attrue copy of Record Attest John Brane {Downs Clerk of Norton} August 4 th 1832
from the service; and, if so, a commission, and if so by I never had a in the army -
to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution. I refer to the Rev. Pitt Clarke and Cromwell Leonard Esq.
And the said William Carpenter doth further declare that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State, or (if any) only on that of the agency of the State of William Carpenter
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
WE Pitt Clarke - a Clergyman and Cromwell Leonard residing in Norton residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Carpenter who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be the person described in the foregoing petition.

N o 4,846
M c Carpenter
Placed 11 Months
14 06
July 12 1833
$36.66
Pay 200.
Wm I L Hodges
HN
mentioned.
8. Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers given with the evidence in the case above
8. Are the papers defective as to form or substantial and if so in what respect
negligent or default in the roll
9. Is the statement supported by proper evidence and if so what
10. Has the applicant been entitled to the service
11. In what manner and to what extent
   Rate of service Duration of service Rate Amount      
12. State the service as directed in the form annexed

BRIEF in the case of  William Carpenter of the County  of Bristol 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? 72 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 1776 July — 4 — Private Gen. Col. Francis, Capt. Hodges   '77 — 6 — ditta Capt. Silas Cobb, Col. Heyes.   date not recollected about 2 ditto Officers not recollected   I agree for the last to have one month. P. J. L. Hodges  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Norton  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? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Levin Bell Examining Clerk.

1 15367
INVALID.
File No. 15367
William Carpenter
Pre Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 62
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I Benjamin Cobb of Mansfield in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts being Seventy nine years of age do hereby testify & say that I have been well acquainted with William Carpenter of Norton in said County a great number of years & that said Carpenter served as a private soldier in the war of the American Revolution one campaign of six months, we were in a company commanded by Capt. Silas Cobb & in Col. Danforth Keyes Regiment & served as a sergeant in said company during said campaign and we were stationed at a place called Slades Ferry in said Massachusetts, and at a place called Oldikes Newtown & Providence in the State of Rhode Island and it was about the time of Speners expedition (so called) in the year 1779 the Troops as think, that we were in, were called State Troops.
Dated at Norton this 17 th day of August 1832 Benj Cobb
Bristol } Commonwealth of Massachusetts County } Is Before me, one of the Justices of the Peace within & for the county of Bristol personally appeared Benjamin Cobb. Subscriber to the above affidavit and made oath that the same is true in all its parts - In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & quality this 17 th day of August A 1832.
Enos Leonard Justice of Peace

Bristol J s January 23 rd 1833 I certify that Benj a Cobb who signed the within affidavit is in my opinion a disinterested & credible witness
Crown F t Leonard Justice Peace

I Amos Martin of Rehoboth in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts being Seventy Seven years of age do hereby testify & say that I have been well acquainted with William Carpenter of Norton in said County a great number of years & that he the said Carpenter served in a company with me as a private soldier in the army of the American Revolution one campaign of six months in the year 1777 in Capt Silas Cobb company & in Col. Davenport Keyes Regiment & I served in said with company with him at the same time and we were stationed at Slade ferry in the State of Massachusetts and at a place called Obidikes Newtonon & at Providence in in the State of Rhode Island - & I think the troops were called State troops of Massachusetts.
Dated at Norton this 13 day of August A D 1832 Amos Martin
Bristol J y January 23 rd 1833 I certify that Amos Martin who signed the above affidavit is in my opinion a disinterested & credible witness.
Cromwell Leonard Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol } ss. Before me one of the Justices of the Peace county } within and for the county of Bristol personally appeared Amos Martin subscriber to the within affidavit and made oath that the same is true in all its parts. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and qual- ity this 13 th day of August A.D. 1832
Conrad Leonard Justice of Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts -
Bristol ss. I Anselm Barrett Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County of Bristol do hereby certify that Cornelius Leonard whose signatures are to the foregoing certificates, is a Justice of the Peace for said County of Bristol & duly qualified to administer oaths - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this sixteenth  twenty eighth day of February  March eighteen hundred & thirty three -
Anselm Barrett

I Benjamin Cobb of Mansfield in the county of Bristol & State of Massachusetts being seventy nine years of age. & I Isaac Perry of Attleborough in the county & State aforesaid being seventy five years of age, do each of us hereby testify & say, that we have been well acquainted with William Carpenter of Norton in the aforesaid county & State, for a great number of years, and that he the said Carpenter served as a private soldier in the Army of the American Revolution one campaign of four months in a company commanded by Isaac Hodges & in Col. Eben: Dyer's Regiment and we served in the same company at the same time, and we were stationed at Dorchester heights near Boston and it was in the year 1776. And in Massachusetts State Troops.
Dated at Norton this 17 th day of August 1832 B. Cobb
Isaac Perry
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol } ss. Before me, one of the Justices of the County } peace within and for the County of Bristol personally appeared Benjamin Cobb & Isaac Perry Subscribers to the above Affidavit and made oath that the same is true (according to the best of their knowledge & belief) in all its parts - In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and quality this 17 th day of August A.D. 1832 Corn t Leonard Justice of Peace

Bristol J. January 23 rd 1833 I certify that Benja a Cobb & Isaac Perry who signed the within Affidavit are in my opinion disinterested & credible witnesses Coron er Leonard Justice Peay

N o 4,840
William Carpenter
[Faint, mirrored text bleed-through from the reverse side of the page]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
William Carpenter 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 in 2 cases in one No VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes in 2 cases - No in one 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? 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? 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 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.
V & VI. Cannot be remedied
XIV. Certified -