Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,015, John Blanchard, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Blanchard, John
NUMBER
S. 29815
CONTENTS

21.004 Massachusetts
John Blanchard
of Worcester in the State of Mass. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Carter of the _____ commanded by _____ in the Mass. line for Connect.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 20 Dollars _____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of May 1833 and John George Alvis  Sturbridge  Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $ 40.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending March 1833 , 10.00 $50.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Alk. G. Dyer Clerk, Book _____ Vol. 2 Page 5
86 March

I, Stephen Newell of Sherbridge in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age testify and say that John Blanchard now of Sherbridge in said Worcester County was a Private Soldier in the Company of Massachusetts Militia Commanded by Captain ——— Perrin and was engaged in the service of the United States as a Private Soldier at Rutland in the County of Worcester aforesaid from the first day of April 1778 to the first day of July of the same year that said Company was stationed at Rutland aforesaid as a guard to the prisoners who were surrendered at the Taking of Burgoyne in 1777 - and that the said John Blanchard was engaged in actual service during the whole of time aforesaid from the first day of April 1778 to the 30 th day of June inclusive & that I was a Sergeant in said Company and was with said company and from my personal knowledge do know that said John Blanchard served as aforesaid - and further say not
Stephen Newell
Worcester S.S. July 21 st 1832
Then personally appeared Stephen Newell and signed the foregoing deposition and made oath that the same was true.
Before me
Edward Phillips Jut. Clerk
Worcester S.S. June 11 th 1833 I hereby certify that Stephen Newell who signed the above deposition in my presence is a man of truth and veracity and that he has ever sustained a good character for truth in the circle of his acquaintance in this town of Sherbridge in which he resides.
Edward Phillips Jut. Clerk

Samuel Druell of Southbridge in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age testify and say that John Blanchard now of Husbands in said County of Worcester was a private soldier in the Company of Massachusetts Militia Commanded by Capt Carter of Duality of said Massachusetts and was engaged in the service of the United States as a private soldier at a place called Donna Brook in the State of New Jersey in the year 1777 for the term of three months (viz) from the first day of December 1776 to the last day of February 1777 (as near as I can recollect) and that he was in the Brigade com- manded by General Warner and that the said John Blanchard was engaged in actual service during the whole of the time of three months aforesaid and that I was a soldier in the same company with him and from my personal knowle- -dge do know that the said John Blanchard served as aforesaid - and further say not - Samuel Druell
Worcester S.S. August 7 th 1832.
Then personally appeared Samuel Druell and signed the foregoing deposition and made oath that the same was true.
Before me Edward Phillips Just. Peace
Worcester S.S. June 11 th 1833. I hereby certify that Samuel Druell of Southbridge is a man well known to me to sustain a good character for truth & veracity & that implicit confi- dence may be placed in the truth of the deposition above signed by him in presence of me. Edward Phillips Justice of the Peace

had no Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worcester ss. I Abijah Bigelow, Clerk of the Judicial Courts, holden within and for the county of Worcester, do hereby certify, that Edward Phillips Esquire, before whom the within affidavit of Samuel Newell, and the annexed affidavit of Stephen Newell, were made and sworn to, is a justice of the Peace, within and for the county of Worcester, and that his signature thereto appears to me to be in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the County Seal this tenth day of September A.D. 1832. Abijah Bigelow, Clerk. Stephen Newell was a man of truth and integrity and had

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Worcester ss. On this eighth
day of August A.D. 1832
John Blanchard a resident of Shurbridge in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of said age 85 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 that he was  was drafted into the army of the United States, in a Company of the Massachusetts Militia, commanded by Capt. Carter of Dudley of Massachusetts, as a private soldier, in the year 1777 for the term of three months. That he served till the expiration of said term  term , was at a place called Brimfield in the state of New- Jersey  that he was in the Brig- ade commanded by General Warner. That he afterwards was  was drafted into a Company of Militia in the year 1778, commanded by Capt. Dorman for the period of three months, & served during the whole of said period, in guarding the prisoners at Rutland in said County of Worcester, also attended at the taking of Burgoyne

That he hereby relinquishes every claim even to a pension or annuity, except the part & that he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state. That he has no documentary evidence of any of the aforesaid services. I served on a private both times -
I was born in Sturbridge on the third day of April old style, A.D. 1747.
My birth is recorded in the family Bible and also on the records of the town.
I lived at the time I was called into service at in Sturbridge & have lived here ever since -
I was drafted into service both terms of service aforesaid.
The names of some of the officers who served with me were. Capt. Carter of Dudley. Lieut. Frankner & Lieut. Draper of Sturbridge. The aforesaid
officers I served under in New Jersey. I served under Capt. Purniman at Rut- land - aforesaid.
I never received any discharge in either case -
The Rev. Mr. Church, the clergyman of this town, & George Davis, Esq. of said Sturbridge - will certify as to my character for veracity & their belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution -
J. D. [unclear] 1747

We Joseph S. Clark, a clergyman residing in said Sturbridge, & George Davis residing in said Sturbridge hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Blanchard, who has returned from the war and declaration, that we believe him to be eighty five years of age, that he is respected & beloved in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in the opinion -
Joseph S. Clark Geo. Davis
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester County ss. On the eighth day of August 1832. Personally
appeared before me a judge of the Court of Common Pleas
Joseph S. Clark and George Davis the subscribers to the above certificate and made solemn oath to the truth of the same
Solomon Strong, Judge C. C. Pleas
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester County ss.
I the subscriber one of the judges of the Court of Com- mon Pleas for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts the same being a Court of Record having a seal and seal do hereby certify that on the 8th day of August 1832 I proceeded to the dwelling house of the witness named John Blanchard in the town of Sturbridge to take his examination for a pension.
The said John Blanchard from old age and bodily infirmary is unable to attend Court.

18/03 John Blanchard The said John Blanchard signed the preceding declaration in my presence and made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me. And I do hereby declare my opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories, prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And I do further certify that it appears to me that Joseph S Clarke who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the said town of Sturbridge; and that George Davis Egleme who has also signed the same is a resident in said town of Sturbridge and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit. I further certify that I have long been well acquainted with the said George Davis Egleme, and know him to be a highly respectable person.
Solomon Strong Judge C.C.P.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Whereas, I Abijah Bigelow, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said Commonwealth for the County of Worcester, do hereby certify, that the Honorable Solomon Strong Esquire is one of the Justices of said Court, and that his signatures to the foregoing certificate in the matter of the application of John Blanchard for a Pension, are in his own proper hand writing. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the County Seal, this tenth day of September A.D. 1832. Abijah Bigelow, Clerk.

16.763. John Blanchard
Prod. 6 Mink.
P. 410 74. 16 06 May 29 1833
George Kains Esq. Sturminster Napp

16.763
BRIEF in the case of  John Blanchard  County of Worcester  in the State of  Massachusetts  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Judge  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? yes  3. How old is he? 85.  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.     Drafts In 1777 — 3 — Private Gen. Capt. Carter, Gen. L. Warner   " 1778 last tour was in guarding Prisoners. — 3 — " Capt. Penniman — & this  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Sturbridge Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional & Witness  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The deposition of one of the witnesses is not connected with the seal as required. 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Mayhew Examining Clerk.  March 1 st 1833.

29015 Rev INVALID.  am.
File No. 29,015
John Blanchard Rev Mr
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 49
[Arrangement of 1870.]

16/63
John Blanchard
George Davis Esq Sturminster Mog

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Blanchard 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? 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? The Judge has 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? No 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? No. the affidavits XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 5. 6. 7.
 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 shewn 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.
REQUIRE 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.
REQUIRE 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.