Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 888, Joseph Black, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Black, Joseph
R. 888
CONTENTS

Ex'r.
INVALID.
RECEIVED
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
Joseph Black P. O. _____
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____

20,120.
Joseph Black, in N.Y.
Ebenezer Holmes, Morrisville, N.Y.
Recd. 30 Oct. 1826.
Rejected. See
letter 31 Oct 1826 do to Hon. L. Chap 2 d July 1822
888
Rec d Oct. 30. 1826.

Seaf at War
Dear Sir. I Enclose in behalf of Black his application to be inscribed on Pension Roll. Perhaps in this case the question arises whether service by a substitute, is the same. He sends the evidence of the death of his Substitute, and states that he knows service by him, and the presumption is very that at least nine months service was performed under the last enlistment.
Black is one of those honest, honorable men, who fought for his country. He is poor, a long time has been, but his pride has prevented his application for a pension, till he has compelled him to do it. His career in life, furnishes a rare instance of steady and yet he is in want.
A decision in this case may be sent to me at Morrisville Madison Co. N.Y.
With great respect
Yours &c
Ebenezer Doolittle
Oct. 25 th 1826.

Original Claim
State of New York
Madison County ss: On this fourth day of October 1826, personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the said County, being a Court of record (proceeding according to the course of the common law having jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount and keeping records of their proceedings) Joseph Black aged Seventy Three years, who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the acts of Congress 18 th March 1818 and the 1 st of May 1820 that he the said Joseph enlisted in July 1776 at Barre, in Worcester in Massachusetts ————— in the Company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Gotes in the Regiment commanded by Col. ————— Holman in the line of Massachusetts ————— on the continental establishment for five months and served the said time in the said Corps faithfully and was discharged from the said service in ————— in the State of New York, about 50. or 60 miles north of the City of New York. That he was with the Continental army in the retreat from New York City and in that retreat lost his clothing.
And further that in July 1777 he enlisted under Captain Lyman in the Regiment commanded by Col. Lee to keep garrison on the Castle at Boston for three years under a promise of a S t major's birth (contrary to engagement with this declarant) the said Regiment was ordered to Philadelphia to which place he marched with it and from thence to Lancaster. That disappointed, and in poor health in February 1778 he left the said Regiment and returned home and the next year procured and sent a man to take

his place as a substitute who was accepted a certificate of which from Col. Wm. Shepard of the 4 th Mass. Regt. he exhibits with this declaration, That the name of the said substitute he does not recollect it being worn from the said certificate and that he does not know whether his said substitute served the whole time for which he last enlisted or died in the service or what became of him; but that he has no knowledge that he left the service dishonorably.
That he the declarant was in a battle at Bunker Hill and also in a battle at White Plains and in a skirmish with the British about Scarsdale as near as the declarant recollects from Philadelphia and that he knows of no other evidence now in his possession of his said service. In witness whereof the said declarant has hereunto set his hand and the seal of the said declarant this 18 th 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 without consent thereby so to diminish it or to bring my self 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 18 th 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.
Joseph Black

Schedule of Property.
  One Cow valued at $10.00   One Swine " " " 1.00   One barrel " " " 0.75   One Chest " " " 0.75   4 Chairs " " " 1.50   One Cooking Pot. " " " 1.00   One dish kettle " " " 0.75   One Cast iron Spider " " " 0.50   One Skillet " " " 0.25   One Frying pan " " " 0.50   3 quart basins " " " 0.25   3 quart bowls " " " 0.25   4 Spoons " " " 0.25   4 knives & forks " " " 0.50   2 pails " " " 1.00   One pair of Andirons " " " 1.00   2 hats " " " 1.50   2 close body Coats " " " 6.00   2 Woollen Shirts " " " 1.50   2 Cotton Shirts " " " 0.50   2 pair Overalls " " " 3.00   2 pair Stockings " " " 0.50   One drawing knife " " " 0.50   One Saw " " " 0.50   One Crop Cut Saw " " " 1.50   One Hick Auger " " " 0.25   One Table " " " 2.00   One Stand Table " " " 1.00   Two beds & bedding 15.00   $41.50 
The declarant has no occupation, but that of a common laboring man and in consequence of age and ill health is poorly able to pursue that

He has no family residing with him but his wife who is 68 years old, and both live with their son Joseph, and work for him and other persons (who will employ them) for a living.
Joseph Black.
Sworn to and declared in open court on the fourth day of October 1826 before the Judge of said.
John G. Curtis Clerk
I John G. Curtis Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Madison in the State of New York do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the court that the said Joseph Black did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy for the term by him above mentioned  of stated, by him- self and his substitute under the engagements which he has above mentioned on the Continental establish- ment. Also certify that the foregoing matter and the schedule hereto annexed are truly copied from the records 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 fifty four dollars. and the said court order the certificate by the said Black above mentioned to be sent with this paper to the War Department. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this fourth day of October 1826
John G. Curtis Clerk

for M c L ee Edwards War Department / 83 petition office or Secretary of the petition office at Washington
Silvanus G. Gould

Dear Sir
please to be so kind as to send me all my papers filed in your office or hand them to the Secretary and he will do as he thinks proper either to keep them or send them as I think they will be needed in so doing you will greatly oblige your humble servant Joseph Black Smithfield June 19 1832
To H. Edwards War Department petition office