Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 525, Samuel Briggs, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Briggs, Samuel Rebecca
N 525
B.L. # 10,249-160-55
CONTENTS

✓ 2188
Massachusetts Rebecca Briggs, widow of Samuel Briggs who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Pirate
Enscribed on the Roll at the rate of 30 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 3d February, 1853.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of Sept r 1853 and sent to Jacob H. Lord Plymouth Mass s
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 3, 1853, Page 37 Vol. A
1832

183948/Act Mar 3/55 April 20/55
Rebecca Briggs Adm Samuel Briggs
Private Adm for Rose
Map Adm Dinner
Rec Adm Water
Map Adm July 53- 2188
Act Adm Oct 13/55 Rodeo
Adm Sam H Loule Plymouth Map
Vol. B2-56.

10.221.
Massachusetts
Samuel Briggs
of Plymouth in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain  of the reg t commanded by Col Dose in the State line for 39 days.
Cont
70 Plym
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 30 Dollars  Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 rd day of March 1833 and sent to Samuel Briggs Plymouth Mass
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $60- Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept " 15- $75--
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H S Blair Clerk Book 70 Vol. 2 nd Page 4

State of Massachusetts County of Plymouth Town of Pembroke
Mr Samuel Briggs of Middleborough and Miss Rebecca Stevens of Pembroke were married August the sixth eighteen hundred and seven
By Joseph Smith Justice of the Peace
I certify that the above is a true copy of the Record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures as follows
August 6 th 1807
Nath Smith Town Clerk of Pembroke
I Nath Smith above named depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the Town County & State aforesaid and that the above is a true copy from the Records of said town with the exceptions above named as certified by me
Plymouth ss.
Nath Smith Town Clerk
Subscribed & duly sworn to before me this
Twentieth day of June A.D. 1853
Isaac Wright Justice of Peace

Samuel Briggs Mass
on Roll last Vase's Regt. for 6 Months Service
Recd of G. Marth
$30-
10846
J. H. Lord
Plymouth Mass

60
BRIEF in the case of  Samuel Briggs of Plymouth, 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? 68.  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. As a Gen.     In 1780 militia 6 private Genl Williams Col Vase   1781 " " 3 " Genl Putnam  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Halifax Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Tradition and two Documents one Living witness  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Taylor
Examining Clerk.

10. 846 Samuel Briggs
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original document.]

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH, ss.
ON this eighth - day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Probate  for said County now sitting at Middleborough - within and for said County of Plymouth, Samuel Bridges a resident of Plymouth in said County of Plymouth, and Common- wealth of Massachusetts, aged sixty eight 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, 1832. He hereby relinquish- es every claim whatever 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. That is to say, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
I enlisted in the year seventeen hundred and eighty into a company commanded by Lieut. Col. - Vose , being then of the age sixteen, & then living in the town of Halifax in the county of Plymouth. The lieutenant's name, in the company, was Williams, the commander of the brigade was Glover. I enlisted for the term of six months, & served the full term of six months & was discharged, but gave it to the Selectmen of the town to have the state pay made up & never received it again. Another person, called Col. Vose, commanded another company, but our company, commanded by Lieut. Col.  Vose - we marched to West Point & were part of the time in other parts of New-York State & rail

of the time in New Jersey -
In the year 1781 I enlisted into Col. William White's Company for the term of three months, & marched to Black Point, & served there the whole term of three months, & was discharged, & I here annex & present the discharge which was in writing. Our Lieutenant's name was Cox - & Col. E. Putnam was our Colonel - I was encouraged to go by the undertaking of the Selectmen of Halifax which is herewith presented & annexed.
Samuel Briggs
I was born in the Town of Acushnet in the year 1764. but at the time I entered the service of the United States I resided in Halifax in the County of Bristol. I am known to Lieut. Col. Thompson of Halifax, William Whittemore of Pennock's for whom I worked at the time. Samuel Briggs
Sworn to and subscribed this day & year aforesaid
Attest Jacob H. Lord
Register

We, Elijah Dexter a clergyman, residing in the town of Plympton and Noah Thomas residing in the same town hereby certify, that we are well ac- quainted with Samuel Briggs who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty eight years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion. Elijah Dexter
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Attest Jacob H. Lord Reg.
Noah Thomas
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 Elijah Dexter who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Plympton and that Noah Thomas who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same town and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
By the Court, Attest Jacob H. Lord Register
I, Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Briggs for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two .
Jacob H. Lord

Rebecca Briggs Declaration for Bounty Land
83548

State of Massachusetts, County of Plymouth, s.s. Town of Plympton
On this fourth - day of April - One thousand eight hundred and fifty five, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County & State aforesaid, Rebecca Briggs, aged Seventy nine years, a resident of Plympton, in the County & State aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Samuel Briggs, deceased, who was a private in the Revolutionary war, as may more fully appear by the evidence in her application, and certificate of a pension there of granted, in conformity with the act of 2 d section of the act of February 3 d , 1853, Recorded in the Pension office on the Roll of Pensioners under act February 3 d , 1853 Page 37. Vol. A. H. R. Weightman, Clerk. and that her said husband, Samuel Briggs, died June 19 th A. 1843, in Plympton, in said County & State; and that she is still a widow; She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the eighth section of the act, passed March 3 d , A. 1855, granting bounty land to "Soldiers of the Revolutionary war, or their widows or minor children."
Witness Isaac Wright Nathan S. Briggs
Rebecca her X Briggs mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written - Isaac Wright Justice of the Peace
N.B. The warrant for said Bounty land, is requested to be sent to Wm. H. Ladd of Plympton Mr. together with his others enclosed. Isaac Wright Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts My ninth p.
I certify that Isaac Wright began before me the foregoing declaration & affidavit was made & sworn to. was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace duly Commissioned and qualified in said County & Commonwealth, to take acknowledgments & administer oaths and that his signature thereto is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court, this ninth day of April A.D. 1855.
Wm. H. Whitman Clerk of said Court

State of Massachusetts Plymouth County ss.
On this first Tuesday of July in the Year One thousand eight hundred & fifty three, personally appeared before the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth aforesaid, now held at East Bridgewater in & for said County, Rebecca Briggs a resident of Plympton in said County, Widow aged eighty one years, who first being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed on the 3 d February 1853 granting pensions to Widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War; that she is the Widow of Samuel Briggs who was a private soldier & served as set forth in his declaration on file in the Pension Office at Washington, for which service he was a pensioner of the United States under the Act of June 7, 1832 at the rate of thirty dollars a year.
She further declares that she was married

to the said Samuel Briggs on the sixth day of August in the Year Eighteen hundred & Seven; that her said husband died on the nineteenth day of June in the Year Eighteen hundred and forty three; that she was not married to him prior to the second of January, Eighteen hundred, but at the time above stated.
She further declares that she is now a Widow.
Witness Isaac Wright Rebecca mn Briggs
Signature
mark
Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year above written before
Aaron Hobart Judge of Probate for said County -
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Plymouth ss.
I Joseph G. Beal Register of Probate in the said County do hereby certify that Aaron Hobart before whom the foregoing declaration was made in open court is Judge of Probate for said County and that his signature thereto is genuine. In testimony whereof I have here to set my hand & the seal of the Probate Court of said County this fifth day of July eighteen hundred & fifty three. Joseph G. Beal Reg. Prob.

Wee the Subscribers Do promise in Behalf of the Town of Halifax to pay unto Samuel Briggs in consequence of his going into the Continental Army for three months four pound per month in Silver money from the time He marches until he shall be discharged with a reasonable time to come home to be in three months from the date as witness our hands
Halifax September 4 th - 1781
Sam l S. Sturtevant Jesse Sturtevant Selectmen of Halifax

June 27 th 1782. Received by the Select men and toward the within note Eleven pounds Eighteen shillings.
BRIGGS, SAMUEL (MASS.) W 525

This May Certify That Sam d Briggs is Purchased the Army of the United States and his Leave to pass home the Spring Camp with some Ammunition Provision on the way W. D. D. 2 781 G putnam Col. Comdt

This may certify that the Bearer hath Drew Provision to the 9 th instant April 8 1901
George W. M. Joseph 189
Friend for Ratio
Dec. 13. 1781 for 13th & 16 th
Briggs Samuel N. 525. Mass.
BRIGGS, SAMUEL (MASS.) W 525

10.249
Mr. Am

No. 83948
ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855.
Received Apr. 20/48 p-b.
Saml. Buggs Pin. Dec- Col. Rose
Maps. Line Rev. War
10249-160-55-
Gen. H. Porle
Plymouth
Maps.

Rebecca Briggs of Plympton Journal of same place married 6 th Aug. 1867 - proved by verified copy of Town Records
Husband died - 19 th June 1893 verified Town Records - Auditor's Report - correspondence Identity proved by Isaac Wright - Credible

Pension Office, Sept. 24. 1853
Sir,
Please certify the time to which the within named pension was paid; and, if in your power, the date of his death.
Very respectfully
Your Obedient
S. Waldo
Commissioner
H Burt Esq.
3d Auditor
Present
( See other side. )
General Briggs, actg 4th June 1832 p.30. p.m. Died 19th June 1843, prior to his death.
G. Smith Secretary

Rev WIDOW, &c.)
File No. 525
Rebecca Briggs, Widow of Samuel Briggs, Prv. Rev. Wam.
Act! Feb. 3. 1853.
Index:—Vol. 4 , Page 80
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Massachusetts, County of Plymouth, Town of Plympton
Samuel Briggs, an inhabitant of this town, died June Nineteenth, Eighteen hundred & forty three, aged Seventy nine years, Seven months & fourteen days.
I certify that the above is a true copy of the record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures, as follows:—
“June 19, 1843.” age yrs. mos. dys. 79. 7. 14
Wm. H. Soule Town Clerk
I, Wm. H. Soule above named, depose and say, that I held the office of Town Clerk in the town, county & state aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy from the records of said town, with the exception above named, as certified by me. Wm. H. Soule
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this twenty- first day of June A.D. 1853.
Isaac Wright
Justice of Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, July 15 th 1853.
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestations Isaac Wright and William H. Soule, were Justices of the Peace for the County of Plymouth,
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to their acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Will Wright Secretary of the Commonwealth.

I, Moses Thompson, of Battle range in the County of Hampshire, aged Seventy years, do hereby say that I was several campaigns in the Revolutionary army, & especially in the campaign of the year 1780. On our march for Red Bank we encamped at Springfield, where I then saw Samuel Briggs, then of Battle range, but now of Hampshire in said County, & he marched Red Bank where I saw him in the service repeatedly; but he was not in the same company with me. I have reason to believe, from my knowledge of him at the time, that he served out his term of enlistment. I have always known said Briggs & know when he enlisted.
Moses Thompson—
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampshire ss.
Aug. 8, 1832
Then the above named Moses Thompson appeared & made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed; I also certify that said Thompson is a man of truth & good reports as well as a credible witness.
Lucanus Eddy
Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth, being a Court of Record do hereby certify that Dehonah Eddy Esq is a Justice of the Peace for said County & that his name sub- scribed to the within certificate is his true & genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this eighth day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two
Jacob H. Lord

Brief in the case of Rebecca Briggs, widow of Samuel Plymouth County and State of Massachusetts act 3 d February 1853.
Claim, ("original," or " for increase. ")
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Husband was a pensioner under the Act of June 7. 1832.
Marriage proved by verified copy of Town Records.
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Jacob A. Lord Esq. Plymouth
Name and residence of Agent Mass
R. Hodges Examining Clerk.

Plymouth Mass. July 15, 1853
Sir
I enclose the application of Mrs. Rebecca Briggs of Plympton in this County for a Pension under the Act of 3 Feb'y 1853.
Please send her Certificate when issued to me to oblige
Yours with respect Jacob St Lord
L. P. Waldo Esq Comm'r of Pensions Washington D. C.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of James Briggs 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'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? yes Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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 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 shown 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.

I Isaac Wright of Plympton, in the county of Plymouth, Esquire, on oath depose & say that I was well acquainted with Samuel Briggs late of said Plympton, deceased who was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States & died in this town in the Year Eighteen hundred & forty three. I was also acquainted with his Wife Rebecca Briggs whose maiden name was Rebecca Stevens who is now living & still remains his Widow never having been married since the decease of her said husband. Isaac Wright
Plymouth V. June 8 th 1853 Then personally appeared the above named Isaac Wright well known to me to be a credible person & made oath to the truth of the foregoing Affidavit by him subscribed in my presence
Before me Wm. H. Ladd
Justice of the Peace