Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1245, Edward Brooks, Mass. Sea Service

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass Sea Service Brooks, Edward
R 1245-
CONTENTS

Extract from the Records of the Second Church of Christ in Marblehead.
"17th Sept BAPTIZED Edmund infant of William & Ann Brooks"
ATTEST.
John Bullock Pastor Second Church. Marblehead, April 6. 1836,

Mark
Edward Brooks.

State of Massachusetts, County of Essex ss.
On this sixth day of April, One Thousand, eight hundred & thirty six, personally appeared Edward Brooks a resident of the Town of Marblehead, in the County of Essex & State of Massachusetts, aged seventy two 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 Provision made by the Act of Congress, passed June 7. 1832.
I was on board the Ship Hector, a new vessel built for a Privateer. John Barnes, Commander. Launched as a Privateer in the War of the Revolution. This Ship was then taken into the State Service, and joined in the expedition under Commodore Saltonstall. I continued in this Ship to the best of my recollection, six or eight weeks after she was taken into the public service, before we sailed on the expedition, she, lying during this time in the ports of Salem and Marblehead. We then sailed for Boston and joined the Fleet and sailed from Boston for Penobscot. I continued on board the Hector until she was set on fire and blew up. Myself, with others of my Shipmates, ran into the woods and made our escape; and after great sufferings arrived at my native Town of Marblehead. I cannot recollect the exact time I was employed on board the Hector, after she became a State Vessel, but believe I was in the State Service on board this vessel seven months. We sailed from Townsend in State Maine, with the fleet on the 23 July 1779. and arrived at Penobscot the 25 th the Ship I believe was blown up the latter part of August. and I have no written commission or discharge. I can refer for my Character & Services  mark to Captain Thomas Cluettman also Blaney in my native Town.
his Edward X Brooks. mark.
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a Pension, or an Annuity, except the present and declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State.
his Edward X Brooks. mark.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
D. H. White Judge of Probate

We Lewis Girdler Commander in the United States Revenue Service, and residing in Marblehead, and Thomas Cloutman Ship-Master, residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Edward Brooks, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 72 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a sailor of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Lewis Girdler Thos Cloutman
Subscribed and sworn to before
D r O. Smith Judge of Probate
and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary sailor and served as he states.
D r O. Smith Judge of Probate
I, Nathaniel Lord junior, Register of the Court of Probate for the county of Essex, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Edward Brooks for a pension.
Given under my hand and seal of

of office this sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six.
Wm. Lloyd Jr.

Edward Brooks
Oct 1882.
Mass.
A. Hillard Clark

State of Massachusetts, County of Essex
58.
Be it Known, that on this tenth day of December A. D. 185 2 before me, the under- Notary Public and designed, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Mary Elkins a
resident of Marblehead in said County, and made oath according to law that she is a daughter and heir of Edward Brooks,  deceased, Seaman who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution, and who has heretofore made application for the benefit of the Pension Act of
that she is directly interested as a claimant in said pension and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or argu- ments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Countermanding and revoking all Powers of Attorney, and authority heretofore given, I hereby constitute and appoint SAMUEL M. KNIGHT , of Washington City , my true and lawful Attorney, to prosecute the claim of  in right of said Edward Brooks for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers or documents in relation to said claim on file in the Department at Washington City, or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive for my exclusive benefit, the certificate which may be issued for said claim, which certificate I wish made payable at the Washington City, D. C. Agency; to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
Mary Elkins
Sworn to, Subscribed and Acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe the said
Mary Elkins to be directly interested in said claim as set forth, and to be the identical party therein alleged.
Attest,
James Gregory , Notary Public & Justice of the Peace.
State of _____ County of _____
It is Hereby Certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Clerk of the Court of
_____ that _____ the party who has sworn to, and acknowledged the foregoing Declaration and Power of Attorney is the _____ reputed soldier aforesaid. I further certify, that _____ Esq. before whom the preceding affidavit and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged, was, at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, and that the signature purporting to be his, I believe to be genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office,
this _____ day of _____ 185_____
1. Claimant's name or names in full.—2. Post Office address. 3 "That he is the identical man," or, "that she is the widow of the identical man," or, "that he or she is the legal heir of the identical man," &c., &c. 4. Leave this line blank.—5. "He is," "she is," or "they are."—6. Revolutionary soldier's full name.—7. Claimant's signature.—8. Claimant's name.—9. Magistrate's signature. 10. "Identical," "widow of," or, "child of."—11. Magistrate's name.—12. Clerk's signature.
N. B.—Should two or more heirs join in the foregoing, the plural should be substituted for the singular number.

(Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.)
124
REJECT
0. Edward Brooks
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: List of rejected (or suspended) claims printed in 1852,
Re-enlisted: shows cause of rejection as follows: "He did not serve six months."
Attorney: _____
0. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Massachusetts Edward Brooks.
33.726
Rejected.
See letter to Richard Girdler Esq. Apr. 28. 1836.
S. M. Knight Aug 22/53
1245
1832

[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page]
Hon S P Waldo Com r of Pensions Pension Office.

Pow: Atty: in case Edward Brooks deceased.
Maps
S. M. Knight Present
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, PENSION OFFICE. OFFICIAL BUSINESS
Commissioner

War Dept
Pension Off
Apst 36
Civ
The papers in support of the claim of Edward Brooks have been examined & placed on our files.
There are several defects in the papers which it were unnecessary to detail, as the facts disclosed are deemed conclusive to show that the Hector could not have been 6 mo in the service of the Government. Engaged, no doubt for the expedition, it is even questionable whether the men on board were under military enlistment to the competent authority so as to bring their service within the provisions of the act. The records however, at Boston would determine whether she was purchased or for chartered by the state. & might probably show the whole term of her service. But as before stated the claimant's declaration (viz that she was taken into the public service 6 or 8 weeks before the Penobscot expedition sailed 23 July '79. and was blown up latter part of Aug) is conclusive that he did not serve 6 mo on board that vessel in the

public service. His claim is disallowed.
The church records would appear to prove that he was but 12 years old at the period of the alleged service,
His claim is disallowed.
Richard Girdler Esq m
Apr. 28. 1836
W. L.
Rec Vol 32 Page 419
Richd. Girdler Esq m Marblehead, Mass.

Washington City
June 6 th 1853.
Hon S.P. Hildreth.
Comm ee of Pensions. Sir
I have the honor to enclose herewith a power of Attorney of the heirs of Edward Brooks, deceased of the State of Mass. whose claim under Act of July 7 th 1832. has been suspended
I hope to be enabled to file additional evidence in the case sufficient to establish the claim before it comes up for examination
Very Respectfully Your Obed t Serv. J. M. Bright

Chey 22/53

Pension Office
Aug 22 1853
Sir
No additional evidence has been filed in the case of Edward Brooks & M rs . since 1836. No Service is established
S ir M c Knight Esq
Present

Oct 19
Messrs:
Original
F.R.A.
Hon. J. P. Edwards. Commissioner of Pensions. Washington.

Marblehead April 13. 1836.
Sir!
I have the honor to enclose a declaration made by Edward Brooks a Native Citizen of this Town, before the Court of Probate, for a pension. Should the document offered be sufficient proof to grant him the desired object, it will be a reasonable relief to a poor, but honest man.
Respectfully Sir, Your obed Servt Richd Girdler.
Hon. J. L. Edwards.