Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 34,105, Jabez Briggs, Mass.

SERVICE
Moass
Briggs, Jabez
NUMBER
S. 34,105
CONTENTS

4,188
Massachusetts.
Isaac Briggs Capt Howard private Mass. Line 9 months
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of -8- Dollars per month, to commence on the 8 th of May, 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 th of Nov. 1818. and sent to Dr. Woodbridge, long Stockbridge, Mass.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1818 2 mo. 24/30  31.25 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 1 st Mar 1819  48.00 July 12, 1835  $79.25
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818 }
Savoy Berkshire Co Continued
Notes sent to Parker L. H. 6-21 Jan 1835
Payee Anas

Commonwealth — District of Massachusetts.
BERKSHIRE COUNTY, ss.
ON this Eight day of May in the year of our Lord 1818 before the subscriber one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court in Mass. personally appeared Jabez Briggs aged fifty eight years, resident in the Town of Savoy in the County of Berkshire aforesaid, in the said District—who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provisions made by the late act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war:" That he the said Jabez Briggs enlisted in Springfield Mass. in the State of Massachusetts in the company commanded by Captain Howard in Col. Bayley's Reg. of the in iment in Sarned Brigade, Massachusetts line on the Continental establishment, in August 1779. for 9 months That he continued to serve in the said corps, in the service of the United States, until the month of May 1780 — and during the whole term of his enlistment — when he was discharged from service in West Point in the State of New York — He also served at for several other times during the war — That he was in the battle on Rhode Island & in a small engagement at New York — so called; — and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support;
And that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services.
Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid.
S. Putnam Just S. J. Court of Mass.
Jabez Briggs
I Samuel Putnam Judge as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Jabez Briggs did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress. Given under my hand and the seal of said Court the 8. May 1818 S. Putnam Just S. J. Court of Mass.
I JOSEPH WOODBRIDGE, Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court within for the County do hereby certify and attest, that the abovenamed Samuel Putnam is one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court aforesaid and that the foregoing is his signature.
IN testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court, the day and year first above written.
J. Woodbridge
8

I Loved Eddy of lawful age testify & say, that I have been acquainted with the within named Jabez Briggs for about fifteen years and have repeatedly heard him relate the circumstances of his belonging to the Army & serving in the same during the revolutionary war, and as he is considered a man of truth & veracity, I have not the least doubt he did serve in the army as he has stated within.
Berks May 8. 1818 Sworn to by the said Loved Eddy Before S. Putnam J.S.S.C.
Loved Eddy
Jabez Briggs
Baileys Mass. Regt.
honest

District of Massachusetts, ss:
ON this 3 rd day of July — 1820; Personally appeared in open Court before the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, begun and holden at Lenox, within and for the County of Berkshire, in the Western Circuit, on the 4th Monday of June 1820, the same Court, being a Court of record for said Circuit; proceeding according to the course of the common Law, with a jurisdiction, unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Isaac Briggs aged Sixty years, resident in Savoy — in the County of Berkshire aforesaid, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows; that he enlisted in the company commanded by Captain Abner Howard — in the regiment commanded by Colonel Baily — in the line of the State of Massachusetts — on the Continental establishment. That his original declaration is dated May eighth 1818 — and that his pension certificate is numbered 4,188 —
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident Citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof with intent, thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons, engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me, nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule, hereto annexed, and by me subscribed—schedule of property, necessary clothing and bedding excepted—to wit:
Schedule of the Estate of Isaac Briggs of Savoy County of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts — Applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of May 1 st 1820 — Real Estate none —

That I am by occupation a Whilwright that me is that the number of my family residing with that their names and ages are as follow :
that (Sign? / James Briggs Sworn to, and declared on the 3 rd - day of July - 1820, before the said Court Parker L. Hall C.M. pro tem.
I Parker L. Hall Clerk of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Berkshire do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the schedule there- to annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court ; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is one hundred twenty two dollars and fifty six cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court on this ninth day of August 1820.
Parker L. Hall
} CLERK OF THE COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF BERKSHIRE.

Schedules of the Estate of Isaac Briggs of Savoy , County of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts - Applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of May 18 th 1820 — Real Estate none —
  Personal - 2 Cows - $30 - 2 calves - $6 - 2 swine $9.30 $45.30   Case of Drawers $2.50 - 3 chairs 1.50 - 2 tables - 1.50 5.50   2 stand tables .75 Desk & book case 1.50 - wooden clock - 2.25 4.50   9 chairs $2 - 2 washing tubs .75 - Bread trough & meal chest .92 3.67   Churn & 4 pails 1.25 - 2 spinning wheels & reel - 2.50 3.75   3 old Barrels .75 - 3 firkins - .50 - meat Barrel & 1/2 Do - .58 1.83   Gal. Bottle salt mortar .29 - set of measures - 2 tubs - .50 .79   Brep kettle $2 - 4 pail iron kettle 1.25 - pail kettle & pot $1.35 4.58   Tea kettle & 2 spiders 1.17 - 2 small kettles, shellat, 53 frying pan .25 1.95   Shovel & tongs 1.25 - crane & hooks 1.50 - warming pan $2. 4.75   Toasting iron & and irons .92 flat iron .28 - horsechairs .42 1.59   3 pewter Platters $2 - 8 pew. plates .75 - Glass Bottles & tumblers .77 3.52   4 pewter Dasers .75 - earthen Bowls .25 - 18 Cup & saucers - .17 1.17   Large & small spoons .50 - 10 silver forks 1.00 - milk pans - .75 2.86   Pitcher & tin quart .20 - 12 earthen plates .50 - sugar Bowl - .8 .86   2 tea pots - .33 - small tub - .25 - funnel .6 - 3 Baskets - .75 1.39   Wooden Bowls 1.50 - old Saddle & bridle 1.50 - Grindstone & crank $2 5.00   4 tin plates .33 - 3 tin Basong .33 - 3 hoes $1. shovel .75 2.8   small chain .50 - axe .50 - 2 candlesticks .25 - looking glass .50 1.75   4 Reels $2 - 2 pitch forks .33 Gun $3.50 5.83   Part of a set of tools to make spinning wheels - $11. 11.00   $113.06   100 lb of new fourmeal cheese $3 - 50 lb Butter $3 - 50 lb of Pork 3.50 9.50   $122.56 
I have a note of hand which I consider to be good for the sum of $40 - when I rec d the first payment upon my pension certificate I was involved in debt to the amount of $75.00 - I am now in debt not far from $20 - according to the best estimate that I can make - My occupation is making spinning wheels, at which I work some, tho' much less than in former years & I find by daily experience that I am going down the declivity of old age - My wife Lucy Briggs is now in the 55 th year of her age of a feeble & slender constitution, unable to do the labour necessary to be done by a woman for the comfort of a family - my youngest son Isaac Briggs aged 19 - years lives with me but is not of a firm constitution - subject to a pain in one of his eyes - is exempt from military duty - subscribed by me Isaac Briggs

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section
MRE/HSM
February 21, 1930.
Mrs. Harry J. Beck 35 Hobart Avenue South Braintree Massachusetts.
Dear Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 34105, it appears that Jabez Briggs enlisted in Springfield, Massachusetts, in August 1779, served in Captain Abner Hayward's Company, Colonel Bailey's Massachusetts Regiment, was in a small engagement at New York, and was discharged in May 1780.
He stated that he also served at several other times during the Revolutionary War, and was in the battle of Rhode Island; no details given.
He was allowed pension on his application executed May 8, 1818, at which time he was fifty-eight years of age and a resident of Savoy, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
In 1820 he referred to his wife, Lucy, then in the fifty-fifth year of her age and to his youngest son, Josiah, aged nineteen.
Jabez Briggs died July 12, 1835.
It does not appear that his wife, Lucy, ever made application for pension in her own right.
The above noted is the history of the only Jabez Briggs that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
If you will fill in the blanks on the enclosed form concerning William Bartlett, and return it to this office, a further search of the records will be made in your behalf.

Due to the very large number of requests similar to yours, and the lack of a clerical force available for the purpose, the Bureau is unable to make immediate reply to each inquiry pertaining to soldiers of the Revolution. Letters are being answered as rapidly as possible in order of receipt.
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH Commissioner.

34105 Rwy INVALID.
File No. 34105
Jabez Briggs Pri Rev 1820
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 25, Page 55
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1930, Feb. 21, Disf to Mrs. Harry J. Beck, M.E.E.

United States Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
My dear Sir:
About two weeks ago (February 1 st ). I wrote you a letter of inquiry in regard to the pensions and deaths of two Revolutionary Soldiers.
Not having heard from you and as the envelope I addressed to you bore my return address, I am rather inclined to think that perhaps you did not receive my letter.
I am writing to you for this information at the suggestion and advice of the "Room of Archives" State House - Boston.
- Questions -
Will you kindly give me the dates

of death of "Jabez Briggs" who was a drummer and a fifer in the Revolutionary War and served 1776 - 1777 - 1780. in Capt. Silas Cobb's Co. - Col. Timothy Walker's Reg't. Capt. Nath. Smith's Co. - Col. Danforth Keyes Reg't. Capt. Geo. Makepeace's Co. He came from Norton - Mass to His widow's name Tabatha Babbit Briggs. also.
"William Bartlet" (Bartlett) who served as a private in Capt. J. Cook's Co. - Col. Elisha Porter's (Hampshire County) Regiment Enlisted July 20 - 1779 - Discharged Aug 27 - 1779 Service 1 month twelve days. He was born in Northampton - Mass to and lived later in Northampton " His widow's name Abigail Lyman Bartlett. The widows of both of these soldiers

received pensions in 1820. Can you tell me when these pensions ceased or in other words, the death of their widows. Is there anything on record to show where their widows lived while receiving their pensions. Is there a charge for this information? If so will you state how much and I will see that you receive it promptly. I would be very grateful if you could give my letter your immediate attention.
Very truly yours Anne Parsons Beck (Mrs. Harry J.)
35 Hobart Ave. South Braintree Massachusetts February 18-1930.

Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
My dear Sir,
Will you kindly send me the dates of deaths of the following Revolutionary soldiers
"Jabez Briggs" A drummer and fifer who served in Capt Silas Cobb's Co. (1777) Col. Timothy Walker's Regiment Capt Seth Smith's Co. (1780) Col. Danforth Keyes Regt. Capt Geo. Makepeace's Co. (1776) also.
"William Bartlet (sometimes spelled Bartlett). who served as a Private in Capt. J. Cook's Company - Col. Eliza Porter's Regt (Hampshire County) He enlisted July 20 - 1779

Discharged Aug 27-1779 Jabez Briggs was a native of Norton (Mass ts ) William Bartlett born and married in Northampton (Mass ts ) but he also lived in Northampton.
Both of their widows received pensions in 1820.
Can you tell me when those pensions ceased, or in other words the deaths of their widows?
Is there anything on record to show the places of residence of their widows while receiving these pensions?
I have spent a great deal of time trying to locate these soldiers after their service in the Revolutionary War, in order to find their deaths and if you can give me all of these dates, I shall be most grateful.
If there is a charge for same will you state amount in

reply and I will see that you receive it promptly.
Very truly yours.
Anne Parsons Beck (Mrs. Harry J.).
35 Hobart Ave South Braintree Mass to February 3 rd - 1930.