Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4972, Nathaniel Britton, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Britton, Nathaniel
S.4972
carded
CONTENTS

2910  Massachusetts Nathaniel Britton of Raynham in the State of Mass who was a Col l in the Company commanded by Captain  of the Reg t commanded by Col l Whitney in the War line for a  Corp y 2-1-31 P-1
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 29 Dollars 09 Cents per annum, to commence on the 1 th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 th day of Dec r 1832 and sent to  Jas Manton Esq r
Arrears to 1 th of Sept 1832 $563 Semi-annual allowance ending 1 th March 33 12.54 $575.54
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. C. Clerk, Book D Vol. 2 nd Page 95

3979.
Mahaut Bitter
Raynham
Bristol Co
Mass
Capital 4 mrs
Power 4 " 10 days
Albin
529.69.
A Babbett
Taunton
Mass.

BRIEF in the case of Nathaniel Britton of Raynham in the State of Mass (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 82 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 1775 Nov 11 Corps Genl I. Howe   " 77 " 2 1st Genl Howe Major Genl   " 78 " 2 " " Rufus Barry Col Whitney   10 " " J. H. H. H.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Battle of Rhode Island  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Raynham  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living Witnesses. Traditional Evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
H. H. Blair Examining Clerk.

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 HODIAH BAYLIES, Judge of the Probate, &c. for said County, personally appeared Nathaniel Britton a resident of Raynham in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged eighty 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 hereinafter stated; to wit: under Captain Israel Snow, & Field & Staff were our other Company officers I was a volunteer in said Troops Company and served as a Corporal, I entered the service on the 1st day of November 1775 & was marched from Taunton to a place called Winter Hill near Boston & from thence to Roxbury & Dorchester, and I will state further particulars 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
state of Massachusetts
Nathaniel Britton son of Wm Britton & Sarah his wife was born April 15. 1750.
rd of my age one
True copy of record Wm Snow T. Clk
tionary War, and where
Raynham Aug. 27. 1832
of Raynham
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? I never was drafted, I always enlisted voluntarily. I was never a substitute but once, and that was for Stephen Lincoln of Taunton - see record -

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- by a two, before the Honorable HOBIAH BAYLIES, Judge of the Probate, &c. for said County, personally appeared Nathaniel Britton a resident of Raynham in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged eighty 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 hereinafter stated; to wit: under Captain Israel Snow, & Field & Staff were our other Company officers I was a volunteer in said Snows Company and served as a Corporal, I entered the service on the 1st day of November 1775 & was marched from Taunton to a place called Winter Hill near Boston & from thence to Roxbury & Dorchester, and I will state further particulars 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 Raynham in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it? There is a record of my age on the Town Books in the Clerks office in Raynham
3 Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? Raynham
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? I never was drafted, I always enlisted voluntarily. I was never a substitute but once, and that was for Stephen Lincoln of Taunton - see record -

4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? I never was drafted, I always enlisted voluntarily. I was never a substitute but once, and that was for Stephen Lincoln of Taunton now deceased -
months
4
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. I there served as above stated, my first Campaign, which was four months I was there when the British evacuated Boston. & soon after I received a verbal discharge from Captain Brown & returned home, I refer to S t Bursley's affidavit to prove this my first Campaign. I then volunteered a Second time & it was according to my best recollection in the year 1777 I know it was at Spencer's expedition (so called) and served in a Company commanded by Jonathan Shaw. & my other Company officers were Colonel Field & the ensign I do not exactly recollect but think it was Fader, & we were stationed on the shores of Rhode Island, & Major Seaver (I think his name was William) was our Major - I served in this Campaign two months & was then discharged by verbally by Capt. Shaw; & I refer to Stephen Hall's affidavit to prove this my Second Campaign -
2
I then volunteered as a Substitute for Stephen Lincoln in the year 1778, and marched from Taunton to a place near the Rhode Island I then crossed over to the Island, I was in Capt. Rufus Barney's Company & Col. Whitney's Regiment of Sullivan's Expedition, & I was in the heat of the Battle over

on the 1st and after the Battle was principally over I was employed in carrying off the dead & wounded at this expedition I served two months, and was then discharged by my officers, I have no documentary evidence to prove this my first  third campaign and there is no living witness that I was  know by whom I can prove it. but must depend upon my own statement as confirmed & supported by the Rev, Enoch Sanford &
Days 10
I also volunteered at a short campaign of ten days & march to a place called Fall River & there served said ten days under Capt. Jacob Haskell & were placed there to prevent the enemy from landing who were then about to burn the village where twenty of the Americans prevented 350 of the enemy from crossing the Bridge.
I knew Gen. Sullivan & Col. Whitney, & I do not now recollect any other of the principal officers except such such as I have named - I refer to an affidavit from Timothy White to prove this my last campaign. In relation to the third campaign, I have obtained since writing the above statement, the evidence herewith transmitted; of Dea. Pratt of Taunton Mass, who was served with me, as a private, in the same company under the officers above named, two months.

3979 Dath! Britton C. 2°

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? I was a Soldier, & never received any written discharge - I never had a commission
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, Enoch Sanford & Major John Gilmore & Godfrey Robinson Esq
And the said Nathaniel Britton 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 N. Hampshire
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
H. Baylies , Judge of Probate.
WE Enoch Sanford - a Clergyman residing in Raynham and Godfrey Robinson Esq residing in the same Town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nathaniel Britton - who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be about eighty two 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.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Enoch Sanford  Godfrey Robinson Esq 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 Enoch Sanford who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Taunton in said County of Bristol, and that Godfrey Robinson Esq who has also signed the same is a resident in said Town, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
H. Baylies , Judge of Probate. Register 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 Nathaniel Britton of Raynham in said County, for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court the day and year first above written.
Anselm Bassett

Rev. War
4972
INVALID.
Rev. War
File No. 4972
Nathaniel Britton
Corp d Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1832.
Index:—Vol. 12 , Page 113
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Nathaniel Britton 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 VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes 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? Yes And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? Yes
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.

I Stephen Hall of the Town of Raynham in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts being seventy three years of age do hereby testify and say that I have been well acquainted with Nathaniel Britton of said Raynham in said County of Bristol a great number of years, and that he served with me in a company of volunteers commanded by Capt Jonathan Shaw & under Maj r William Seaver in Spencer's expedition (so called) and that he served the whole of said campaign & it was in the year 1777 and in the army of the American Revolution - we were then stationed in Kingston in the State of Rhode Island.
Dated Kingston August 11 th 1832 Stephen Hall
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol } ss Before me one of the Justices of the County } Peace within and for the County of Bristol personally appeared Stephen Hall subscriber to the above affidavit and made oath that the same is true in all its parts - For Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my Name & quality this 11 th day of August 1832 Colonel Leonard Justice of Peace
I Timothy White of the Town of Kingston & County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts being seventy one years of age do hereby testify and say that I have been well acquainted with Nathaniel Britton of Raynham in said County a great number of years, and and that the said Britton served with me in the army of the American Revolution as a volunteer one short campaign of ten days in Capt Jacob Hastings company -

and were stationed at a place called Fall River in Massachusetts, and the troops were called State Troops in which we served.
Dated at Taunton August 11 th 1832
Timothy White
8
Bristol County { Commonwealth of Massachusetts ps. Before me one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the county of Bristol personally appeared Timothy White subscribed to the above and within affidavit and made oath that the same is true in all its parts. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and quality this 11 th day of August A 1832. Crown! Leonard Justice of Peace

I, Dea Pratt of Taunton Mass, aged Seventy Seven years, testi- fy under oath, That Nathaniel Britton of Raynham, Mass, served as a private in the War of the Revolution, five months in what was called Sullivan's Expedition on and near the Island of Rhode Island, in the same company with myself, under the command of Capt. Rufus Barney and Lt. Ephraim Crossman of the 1st Regiment of Foot of Taunton Garrison, (There was no 2nd Lt or Ensign in company) The Regiment being under the command of Col. Whitney of Worcester, Massachusetts. This expedition was in the latter part of the year 1778, commencing at Shelburne, in August.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss. Taunton August 28 th 1832.
Then personally appeared Dea Pratt and made solemn oath that the foregoing statement by him subscribed, is true accord- ing to his best knowledge and belief.
Before me
James L. Holles, Jus. Peace

I Seth Presbrey of Taunton in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts being seventy nine years of age do hereby give evidence & say that I have been well acquainted with Nathaniel Britton of Raynham for a great many years & that he the said Britton served as a soldier served as a soldier in the war of the American Revolution in a company with me one campaign of four months said company was commanded by Israel Srows and our Lieutenant was Zebediah Field & our Ensign I think was was, Saker his other name I do not recollect, in was in the fall and winter of 1775 & 76 we were stationed at a place called Winter Hill, and at Roxbury & Dorchester, & we were called Massachusetts State Troops.
Dated at Taunton August 18 th 1832
Seth Presbrey
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss. Before me, one of the Justices of the peace County within & for the county of Bristol, personally appeared Seth Presbrey Subscriber to the above affidavit and made oath that the same is true (according to his best knowledge & belief) in all its parts. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & quality this 18 th day of August A 1832 Groom Leonard Justice of Peace

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Britton, Samuel GRADE Sergeant LINE New Hampshire
WARRANT NUMBER 2941 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED July 30, 1790 to — not shown —
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.