Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12343, John Brown, Mass

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Brown, John
S. 12343
CONTENTS
carded
A. Sept. 1, 1762 at Danvers, Mass. res at mtl. Middleton, Mass. In 1832 res of Parishville, St Lawrence Co. N.Y.

New York
John Brown
of St. Lawrence in the State of N. York who was a private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Flint of the Regt. commanded by Col. _____ in the _____ time for 7 Mo.
★ Mass. Line! July 21, 1905. Records completed for
Inscribed on the Roll of N York at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 day of Aug. 1833 and unto A.C. Sons Clerk St. Lawrence Co
Arrears to the 14th Mo. 1831 $ 46 66 Sem-ant. allowance ending 1st Sep. 1831 11 66 $ 58 33
Revolutionary Claim, for June 7, 1832.
Recorded by C. G. Stiles Clerk Book 6 Vol. 3 Page 41

In the matter of John Brown
application for a pension under the act of June 7 th 1832.
14588
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adm l Ymo. pri
82333
Allen & Baldwin Potsdam N.Y.
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State of New York St Lawrence County. } ss:
Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
On this twenty fourth day of September 1832. personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in for said County. now sitting, John Brown, a resident of the town of Parishville in said County of St Lawrence and State of New York, aged 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 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That late in December 1777 or early in January 1778 he enlisted as a volunteer for four months in Middleton, Massachusetts, where he resided during the revolutionary war, to go and guard Burgoyne's prisoners near Boston, in a company in which Benjamin Pea- body was Lieutenant and one Batchelder was sergeant. The name of the Captain he has forgotten - in the Massachusetts State Troops as he supposes. His father Eleazar Brown enlisted at the same time in the same com- pany with him, and they both went directly to Winter Hill near Boston and joined the company - There was a Regiment of several companies there guarding the prisoners, but he cannot recollect the names of any of the

other officers. The Hessian prisoners were in the Barracks upon Winter Hill, when he was stationed. The British were upon Prospect Hill. There were no Continental Troops about there to his knowledge. He remained at the Fort upon Winter Hill until his term of enlistment was out, being the last of April 1778, when he was dismissed there.
At one other time in August or September, in what year he cannot recollect. He enlisted again as a volunteer at the same place for three months, to go to Boston, Castle William and thereabouts to repair old Forts, &c. in a company of Massachusetts State Troops, as he supposes. He cannot for a certainty recollect the name of any one of the officers, but it is his impression that the Captain's name was Glist from Methuen. He, in company with three or four others, went immediately after they enlisted to Boston, and, according to their orders, called upon Governor Hancock to learn when their company was stationed, who sent a man with them in a boat to Castle Island where they joined their company. He served out his full period of three months at this Island and upon Noddell's Island near there, in repairing old Forts, &c. - and was dismissed there at Castle William about the last of December. He believes there were a few Continental Troops about there, but does not recollect the names of any of the officers while upon this Island. Three British Men of War vessels appeared out against Boston a short distance and it was supposed that

they would attempt to land, and preparations for a defence were immediately made, but they left without attempting to land. He further saith that he never received a written discharge and has no documentary evidence of his said services. He never was in any en- gagement and knows of no person living who was in the army with him. The best evidence he can procure is that con- tained in the affidavit of Elizabeth Bar- rett, his sister, her name annexed. He lived in Middleton for several years after the war when he moved to Canadish, V.T. and lived in different towns in Vermont till Feb- ruary 1837, when he moved to Parishville where he now resides. He has become ac- quainted with Levi Fuller and some others in Parishville aforesaid who may testify as to the reputation of his services - He hereby relinquishes every claim what- ever 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. He was born in Danvers, Massachu- setts, moved from there to Middleton aforesaid subscribed & sworn to John Brown the day of signing aforesaid We Joseph O'Neall & Abel Brown farmers now
residing in Parishville aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Brown, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood

where he resided, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid J. Alvin C. Low Clerk      Joseph Osmsby Abel Brown
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 certify that it appears to them that Joseph Osmsby and Abel Brown, who signed the preceding certificate, are residents in the town of Parishville in said County of St. Lawrence, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. Alvin C. Low, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Brown for a pension - and I also certify that King S. Warthorn before whom the affidavits of Elizabeth Barrett & Joseph E. Barrett hereto annexed, were taken, was at that time a justice of the peace in and for said County of St. Lawrence, and that his signature to the said affidavits and certificate below, are his proper hand writing - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this Twenty fourth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two - J. Alvin C. Low

State of New York } ss: St. Lawrence County. }
Elizabeth Barrett
of Parishville in said County, being duly sworn deposeth as with that she is 67 years of age and is sister of John Brown of Parishville aforesaid who is now making application for a pension. That they both resided with their father in Middleton in the State of Massachusetts during the revolutionary war. That she well recollects that soon after Burgoyne's prisoners arrived near Boston late in the fall of 1777, she thinks. Her father and her said brother John Brown en- listed for four months to go and guard those prisoners. That she well recollects the time when they both left home. That they were gone the full period of four months and she often heard from them both while they were gone and always heard that they were in the army on Winter Hill near Boston, and she recollects the time when they came home and heard them relate incidents that took place while they were in the service, and she believes they served out their full term of four months in the army. She

further saith that late in the summer or early in the fall, what year she does not recollect, but thinks it some time after the service above mentioned, her said brother John Brown, enlisted again for three months, to go to Boston and Castle William to repair forts in that vicinity. that he left home and was gone the full term of three months, that she often heard from him while he was gone and always understood that he was engaged in the army and she recollects the time when he came home that it was very late in the fall, and she often heard him relate events that took place while he was absent in the army. and she verily believes that she served his full period of three months in the war.
Sworn & subscribed this 24 th day of Septem- ber 1832 before me N. Hawthorne Just. Pease. } her Elizabeth H. Barrett mark
I certify that said Elizabeth Barrett is esteemed a person of fair character for truth and veracity.
Dated Sept. 24-1832.
N. Hawthorne Just. Pease.

State of New York Franklin Co — ss
John E. Barrett of Parnsville in said County, being duly sworn deponeth & saith that he is well acquainted with John Brown who is about making appli- -cation for a Pension — that he now resides in Parnsville Hattily in Vermont — That he has frequently heard the said John Brown speak of his services in the Revolutionary War — and that he has frequently heard Roger Brown (Brother of John) and his Grandfather — the former more particularly, relate all the circumstances of the said John Brown's services in said War — and that it had been often referred to as a case in which he would not be entitled to Pension, on account of the shortness of time he served — being as this deponent now believes about seven months — and that this Deponent first informed the said John Brown, about three weeks since, that he was entitled to a Pension — having at that time learned from the publick Prints, the provisions of the Pension Act — Sworn & Subscribed before me this 24 th Sept: John E. Barrett

I certify that the above named John E. Barrett is a credible person
W. Hawthorne. Justice Peace
State of New York St Lawrence County
vs John Brown named in the foregoing Declaration
for procuring a perjury, being sworn with my way of amending his said Declaration, that he was known in the town of Danvers in the State of Massachusetts, on the first day of September 1762, (he being twenty years old on the first day of September last) that he once had a Record of his age, but that it has been destroyed by fire, and he now has none. That he was living at Middleton, Massachusetts at each of the times above mentioned when he was called into the service of the United States, that he has lived since the Revolutionary war, principally at Middleton, Topsfield and Ipswich against Middleton Massachusetts, and at Cavendish Plymouth Weathersfield & Hartland in the State of Vermont and Danville in the State of New York at which
last mentioned place he was residing that his residence at Topsfield & Ipswich was (owing to the mistake of the person who drew his said Declaration) omitted to be mentioned inadvertently, to be mentioned in the said Declaration. This Deposition further saith
matter of the Declaration before mentioned by John Brown

matter of the declaration for pension by Brown
last mentioned place, he also under- that his indictment at Popfield & Sprowton was (owing to the mistake of the person who drew his said Declaration) omitted to be inadvertently, to be mentioned in the said Declaration. This Deponent further saith
that his memory is impaired by age, and be- ing young and unbusiness at the time of his said periods of service, he cannot further answer, in any material respect, answer the fifth interrogatory, of the seven interrogatories prescribed to be put in such cases to pension applicants.
Given this 27 th day of May 1833 before me Horner Allen Justice Peace
John Brown
State of New York ss It Laurens County ss
I Alvin Osborn Clerk of the said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contain the original proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas of said County in the case of the application of John Brown for a Pension which have been returned from the Pension Office - That though in advance the end of the tape was not put under the seal of this office formally affixed - And also that Horner Allen before whom the last preceding affidavit of the said John Brown purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly elected & sworn, and further that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Justice and only believe that his signature to the said affidavit is genuine.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County this 28 th day of May 1833
A Osborn Clk

No 14586 John Brown St Lawrence County New York
Name of Plaintiff and Post Office Number of Plaintiff Name of Defendant Number of Defendant Amount of Debt  14.16.  P. 383  John Brown  1. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.  2. How old is he?  3. If he is a judge, does it appear that the applicant is entitled to a portion of his salary?  4. Make the declaration made before a Court or a judge; or if none, make the declaration made before a Commissioner of the Court.
I, Clerk of the Court at St Lawrence, do hereby certify that the within is a true and correct copy of the original thereof. (Act 21st June, 1853.)  John Brown
at Low, CLK St Lawrence County Court New York

BRIEF in the case of John Brown County of St Lawrence in the State of New York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? — —  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.     Enlisted Vol In 1797 Dec 4 Private Gen. Peabody   Enlisted — Aug 3 " Capt. Flint  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Middletown Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence, Living Witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Not Corrected as regulations require 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Dyer Castor
Examining Clerk.

S. 71, 12343
John Brown
Mars. not
N. Y.
Consettwaite
July 17, 1905.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Brown which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 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? 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? VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 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?

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? Living witnesses
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? No
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? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
1. 2. 3. 5.
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.

D. M. H. R. can
LUCAS COUNTY CHILDREN'S HOME
EDWIN J. BROWN, Superintendent MRS. E. J. BROWN, Matron
TRUSTEES: J. F. KUMLER S. C. SCHENCK W. S. BRAINARD A. T. COLBURN
R
Manatee, Ohio
Nov. 27-'05.
190.....
Pension Office, Washington, D.C.,
Gentlemen:- I am trying to discover something of my ancestor, John Brown, who was a Revolutionary soldier, enlisting from Beverly, Mass., in 1775. After the war he moved to Western New York where he died leaving a widow and children some of whom I presume were pensioners. Do the records of your office furnish any data with regard to this soldier? Thanking you for a reply, I am
Yours Very Truly,
E. Brown
Data from card. M.B.H.

LUCAS COUNTY CHILDREN'S HOME
EDWIN J. BROWN, Superintendent MRS. E. J. BROWN, Matron
Sur 7: 12 343
TRUSTEES: J. F. KUMLER S. C. SCHENCK W. S. BRAINARD A. T. COLBURN
Maumee, Ohio, Dec. 12-'05. 190
Pension office, Washington, D.C.,
Gentlemen;- We are trying to learn something concerning John Brown, a Revolutionary soldier who enlisted from Northeastern Mass. in 1775. His company was either Capt. Roby's (Col. Little's reg.), Capt. Warner's, Capt. Ward's or Capt. Pearson's. We know the regimental commander of only the first named you will note. After the war this John Brown moved to Western New York where he died and his widow and children I suppose drew pensions. I believe the widow's maiden name was Lyon. Have you records which will supply us with any additional data to the above. That is can you tell us to which particular Mass. company the Western New York Brown belonged and what was the date of his army services. I think his New York residence was in Montgomery county although I am not certain. Thanking you for whatever assistance you can give us in this matter, I am
Yours Very Truly,
DEC 12 1905

Brown M.B.H. !!
Reuben
12343 INVALID.
Am
1905, Jan. 5 - history to Edwin G.
File No. 12,343
John Brown Pre New War
Act: June 1 st 82
Index: Vol. 2 Page 48
[Arrangement of 1870.]