Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 621, Reuben Bates, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Bates, Reuben
P. 621
CONTENTS

Reuben Bates Sederation 30358.
621
See letter 11 Apr. 1834 to J. H. Lord

Revolutionary Pensions.—
Commonwealth of Mass. ss. 7
Plymouth County ss. 5
On this twenty first day of Jan. 7 - A. D. 1834 personally appeared before Hon. Wilkes Wood Judge of the court of probate, at a special court held at Falmouth within and for said County of Plymouth. Stephen Bates a Resident of Falmouth in said County of Plymouth and State of Mass. ss. aged about 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 th A. D. 1832. He hereby relinquishes 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 in 1775 he was enrolled in Capt. Williams Barkers Company, and that said Company was ordered by the commander of that Brigade on to the beach as guards in Falmouth and that he served as a sergeant in said Company five months, nothing remarkable happening. —
again in 1776 I marched with said company through Hanover, Bridgewater, Falmouth &c to Rhode Island and served three months performing guard duty. Capt. Barker still commanded the Company, other officers not recollected, except Major David Fildes who then lived in Falmouth, afterwards in Boston, I think in Col. John Cushing's Regiment.

I can produce no documentary evidence, except what is herein enclosed, but the following persons Viz. - Simon Bates, & Caleb Prouty
can testify to my having served as above stated, and whose certificates are hereto annexed. - I was born at Rutland Vt. Seventeen hundred and thirty six - and the Town Clerks certificate in proof is hereto annexed. I have always resided in Rutland, Vermont as within stated, and never received a written discharge.
Reuben Bates
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Wilkes Wood Judge of Probate
We Samuel Deane a clergyman, residing in the Town of Rutland and Samuel H. Turner residing in said Town of Rutland also hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Reuben Bates who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be thirty eight years of age; that he is respected and beloved, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution; and that we concur in that opinion. -
Samuel Deane Samuel H. Turner
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. - Wilkes Wood Judge of Probate
And now the said Judge does hereby declare his opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states and said Judge further certifies that it appears to him

that Rev. Samuel Deane who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in said Scituate & that the Hon. Samuel A. Durnell who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit Wilkes Wood Judge of Probate
I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original papers in the matter of the application of Reuben Bates for a Pension & that the Hon. Wilkes Wood is Judge of Probate for said County & that the several foregoing signatures purporting to be his are true & genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this first day of April A.D. 1834
Jacob H. Lord

W. A. Pugh

United States of America District of Massachusetts ss.
It is hereby certified that Satisfactory evidence has been exhibited & produced before me, Henry Weld Fuller, Clerk of the Circuit Court of the United States for said District, that Herbert Bates , late of Scituate in said Massachusetts deceased - was an Applicant for a Revolutionary Pension - that he died on the seventeenth day of March A.D. 1835 - leaving no Widow surviving - and that the following named children only are now surviving: namely Mrs. Rachael Paine , widow of Paul Paine & Mrs. Susan Cooke , widow of Solomon Cooke both of whom are now living -
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Circuit Court of the United States, this thirtieth day of March A.D. Eighteen hundred & fifty three
H. Weld Fuller, Clerk.

Reuben Bates Reuben Bates
Rev. Claim
"Suspended"
Act of 1834 Sec. 26
See Suspended Cases from Congress page 52 —
Filed Aug. 6, 1853
S. B. True Attorney at Law in this case Washington D.C.

[POWER OF ATTORNEY.]
Know all men by these presents, That I, Simeon Bates of Pitkate , of the County of Plymouth , and State of Massachusetts , for and in consideration of
do hereby make, constitute, and appoint,
L. BLANCHARD TRUE, of Washington City, D. C.,
my true and lawful Attorney, for me and in my name, to examine all papers filed in any Department or Office of Government, upon which a Pension was granted to the Heirs of Reuben Bates on account of the Military services of said Reuben Bates and to obtain, by all lawful means, any and all additional amounts that may be due from the United States to said Heirs , by virtue of said services, as a Private in the Company of Capt. Burke in the Regiment of _____ and in the _____ line of the forces of _____. And for good and sufficient reasons I do hereby REVOKE and CANCEL any and all other Powers of Attorney and authority which I may at any former time have given to any person or persons for the above specified purposes; and I do hereby vest the same irrevocably in my said Attorney herein appointed, said L. Blanchard True.
Suspended for further proof of explanation under Act June 7, 1832
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of July , in the year A. D. 1853.
In presence of
Simeon Bates
Elijah Jenkins Jr J.P. War B B
STATE OF Massachusetts } ss. COUNTY OF Plymouth }
On this fourteenth day of July in the year A. D. 1853, personally appeared before me Elijah Jenkins Jr a justice of the Peace duly authorized by law to administer oaths and take acknowledgments in and for the county aforesaid Simeon Bates the
subscriber to the above, and acknowledged the foregoing Power of Attorney to be his free act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned; and made oath, in due form of law, that he is personally interested as an heir in said claim. And I further certify that he is personally known to me to be the identical individual represented.
Elijah Jenkins Jr J.P.

This may certify, that it doth appear on the public records of the Town Scituate, (Book 4 th folio 57 th ), that Reuben Bates, Son of John Bates and Abigail his wife, was born February 4 th 1735."
Ebenezer Bailey, Town Clerk
Scituate Feb. 20 th 1834.-

Ex'r.
INVALID.
REC-621
RECORDED
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
Reuben Bates
P. O. _____
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____

Reuben Bates.
Mass.
act 1832
Susp. tablet op. 11. 1834 to 15 J. H. Lond
let J. L. Adams
21 Janu 1835
S. A. Turner Aug 26. 1853
to C. B. Barton May 5 /54. Hatchins & Wheeler Sep 7 /85
Set of mss 7/32

Reuben Bates
Mass Jan 1832
To P.C.
3
The Commission of Pensions
Washington
D.C.

James L. Edwards Esq Commisioner of Pensions City of Washington D.C.

J. L. Edwards Esq. Sir
Probate Office Plymouth Mass. April 16. 1834
Yours of the 12 th inst in relation to the genuineness of handwriting in the Pension applications of Simon Bates & Reuben Bates was rec d today. I have no personal knowledge as to the Papers other than this. These applicants live about 30 miles from the Probate Office & on account of advanced age & infirmities were unable to travel to attend Court. The Hon Judge Wood went to Scituate to attend to these applications & 2 others sent you at the same time. The Papers were handed to me in the Office by Judge Wood and I merely annexed the necessary certificates, which is all I know personally about it. I enclose a letter from Judge Wood before whom the papers were executed. The papers were drawn up by Hon. Samuel A. Furner of Scituate who I have just learned has left home for Washington to attend to some matter in Congress. I have

written to him at Washington & if he does not leave before this reaches he will call on you & explain. Mr. Turner is a respectable Magistrate for this County & late a Senator in the State legislature. The whole transaction I have no doubt is in perfect honesty & integrity. —
Mr. Turner is well known to Mr. Adams the Member of Congress from this District & to Mr. Baylies of the neighbouring District.
Yours with respect J. H. Lord

May 10. 1834
Pension Office
Pension office
H.S. War. Department

Plymouth April 16 th 1834.
To the Pension office. War Department of the United States. —
This certifies that, having seen a communication from said Department of 12 th of April instant stating objections which have been raised in the papers in the cases of Simon Bates and Ruben Bates, offered for the purpose of obtaining pensions that papers appear, the same hand writing in both cases
Those papers in both cases were made out & the evidence collected by Samuel T. Turner, Esquire, a reputable Magistrate living in this County, in the Town of Situate and a Neighbor to the Applicants. That one of these Bates's is the Father of the other - very old and blind - The other was out of health, and at the time their declarations were made before me were both confined to their Houses. The signatures of these declarations were made in my presence - are in both & think at their request were offered by the Justice who prepared the papers. The Declarants are both of good character and every thing respecting them.

their cases so far as they have come under my observation is perfectly fair and honest
Wilkes Wood Judge of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston,
March 31 st 1854.
I Hereby Certify . That from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that The name of Reuben Bates is borne on pay roll of Capt. William Barker (Comp. Col. John Cushing's Regt. Ordered to Bristol in the State of Rhode Island on alarm of December 1776 as Sergeant. 15 days).
Also on pay roll of Capt. Samuel Robinson (Comp. Col. Isaac Grant's Regt. on alarm at Scituate from Aug. 1780. 4 days) as private.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W. L. Chaplin Secretary of the Commonwealth.
BATES, REUBEN, MASS.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, 18
Sir:
Be pleased to file a declaration in this office, agreeably to the accompanying regulations, and search will be made for the revolutionary service of and the result forwarded to your address. Particular attention is called to the second regulation.
I have the honor to be
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
BATES, REUBEN, MASS,

The following REGULATIONS, to be observed in the examination of the Revolutionary Rolls in this office, have been rendered necessary under the rules which are established in the Pension Department at Washington, viz:
1. Every application requiring search, or certificate, must be made to the Secretary, in writing, by the claimant, or by some person duly authorized by the claimant; and the signature to the application must be attested by some magistrate. 2. In all cases where the application is made by any person other than the claimant, a power of attorney, attested by a magistrate , authorizing such person to act in the claimant's behalf, must accompany the application. 3. The application must set forth, as fully as the circumstances of the case will allow, the residence and service of the soldier, and the names of the officers under whom he served; and no search will be made until after the filing of such written application.
“Regulations to be observed in the examination of the Massachusetts Revolutionary Papers in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.”
“The application must be made to the Secretary in writing, by the claimant, or by some person duly authorized by the claimant, by a written power of attorney, attested by a magistrate. The signature of the claimant must in all cases be attested in like manner.
“The application must set forth, as fully as the circumstances of the case will allow, the residence of the soldier, &c., at the time of the service, and the names of the various officers under whom he served, as well as the nature of such service.
“The certificate of the Secretary must show that the search was made, after the filing of such application, by himself, or by one of his Clerks alone, and must be accompanied by the original application of the claimant, or of his attorney, and by a detailed statement, under the signature of the Secretary, and the Seal of the State, of the circumstances which satisfied that officer of the identity of the party described in the application, with the individual who rendered the service.
J. L. EDWARDS, COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS.”
The following is an extract from a letter, received by the Secretary, from J. E. Heath, Esq., Commissioner of Pensions, dated March 19, 1852:—
“I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3d inst., accompanied by a copy of the Regulations now in force in your office in the examination of your Revolutionary Rolls; and, in reply to your questions, have to state that, in my opinion, the said Regulations could not be relaxed in any particular, without serious injury to the Government and the rights of individuals justly entitled to the benefits of the Revolutionary Pension Laws. Indeed, even with those guards around your Rolls, I am satisfied they are frequently used by unscrupulous individuals to sustain applications not embraced by the laws, and as a means of obtaining exorbitant fees.”

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF REVOLUTIONARY SERVICES, made by the — Heirs — of the party who rendered the service.
State of Massachusetts County of Plymouth Town of Scituate
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his office, of the service of — Reuben Bates — in the war of the Revolution.
He was a native of the Town of Scituate in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts
He enlisted from the Town of Scituate in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts in the year 17 as a — Private in the Company commanded by Captain W Barker in Col John Cushing's Regiment and he served as follows,* viz:—
at Bristol R.I. — until March 31, 1777 also under Capt Samuel Robinson in Col Davis's Regiment on an alarm at Tiverton R.I. — July 31, 1780.
* Here describe as fully as may be, the length of service, the rank, &c., of the claimant, or the capacity in which he served, and all other particulars known.

Rev. Charles W. Burson. Charleston No 5 Saloon Hill
I am now _____ years old, and my memory does not enable me to state the services more fully than above stated.
WITNESS my hand,, this twenty seventh day of March A. D. 18 54
Signed by said in my presence,
Signed by said Sarah Austin & Caleb Bates in my presence, Elijah Jenkins } JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. for County Plymouth
June 10th 1871
March 29,
BATES, REUBEN, (MASS.)

To the Secretary of War.
Washington 26. April 1834
I certify that Wilkes Wood is Judge of the Probate Court of the County of Plymouth in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and that Samuel A. Turner is a Magistrate of the same County, and both persons in whose integrity and veracity full confidence is to be placed
J. Q. Adams.

No. 5.
add. proof Reuben Bales Mafo
James L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions City of Washington D.C.

Probate Office
Phila o Mar 8 th 29. 1834
Sir
At the request of Hon. Sam l A. Turner I enclose to you the papers herein connected with the application of Reuben Bates for a Pension. A copy of the papers are with you on file.
Yours &c.
Jacob H. Lord
James L. Edwards Esq.

S. Scituate June 11-1853
J. P. Waldo Esq. Com r of Pensions.
Dear Sir I think
about 1833. or 4 I prepared the declarations of Keuben & Simeon Bates of Scituate and all necessary papers to enable them to establish their claims to a pension. in April 1834 I was at Washington & was informed that some irregularity was supposed to exist in the preparation of one of these declarations. I keep no record of these things, but I think it was that of Keuben Bates then 90 or more years of age, on account of his signing his name in one instance and making his mark in the other. I stated the case to Hon John L Adams who was then the representative to Congress from this district. At the same time letters were recd from Judge Wood whose act it was, and not mine, and also from Mr. Lord the Register of Probate, both stating that all was right however it might appear. Mr. Adams took me in his carriage to the war office, & I explained the whole to Gen l Cass, who expressed himself satisfied, on condition that Mr. Adams would state in writing that he knew me, & the Judge & Register, which he did, and which of course was placed on file at the department. Simeon Bates son of the late applicant is endeavouring to establish the claim of his late Father, & if he has the proof of the service, I know of no reason why he should not

Obtain the pittance which was due the father. A part of the service of each was rendered upon the new shore where they lived. I have never obtained a pension upon that service alone, it was not continuous, but in one or two instances, a month or two of that service was allowed, I ceased to prosecute those claims because I could not prove six months service, in either case. Judge Wood is dead, but Mr. Lord the then Register is living, and is now the attorney & receiver general of this State. if any doubt exists in regard to the fairness of the transaction alluded to, there are living witnesses to the transaction, I well remember Judge Wood saying to some one present, to sign his name, as the old gentleman could not write, & I suggested to the Judge I thought there was an impropriety in it, his answer was that it was done in his presence, & that he certified it to be the old gentleman's act.
Resp Your friend
Sam l H. Turner.

Nov 3.
Dear Sir, L. Colwell Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

Sebring Oct 25-1884
J. L. Colwards Esq.
Sir, I have forwarded to Mr. Lord an additional deposition in the case of Reuben Bates, & a certificate from Mr. Bangs - which, like most all others, states but a part of the service, the returns in that office are very imperfect - it however proves that he was a soldier. I have written to Hon. John D. Dole who I expect is now in Washington - to leave his certificate with the Secretary of War, which I understand Mr. Gage would satisfy him as to the fairness of the proceedings in regard to the papers of Reuben & Simon Bates, he said he would then return them to you, so that a decision may be made upon those cases. - When the above named papers are received at your office I know of nothing further that I can obtain in their favor, - a decision therefore will I hope be made with all convenient dispatch. -
Resp. Your Friend & fellow citizen Samuel D. Turner. -

Caleb Prouty, Dep for Nicholas Bates

I Caleb Prouty of Scituate in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts aged eighty seven years. do testify and say, that in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy five I was a sergeant in Capt. Williams Barkers Company of Infantry & that Capt. Barker with a part of his Company were stationed as guards upon the beach in Scituate for several months, and that Reuben Bates of Scituate aforesaid was orderly sergeant in said Company and was among the number who were stationed upon the beach that year, the exact length of time he served is not within my recollection, but my belief is, that he served about five months, that he did serve about that time I do know from the fact above stated, and from the fact of having seen him often while he was stationed upon the beach.
And I further testify that Capt. Barkers went with his Company to Rhode Island in Seventeen hundred & Seventy six, and that the above named Reuben Bates was orderly sergeant and went with him & there served with said Company three months, I was myself a sergeant, and agreed to go with Capt. Barker, and marched ten miles to Hanover, but preferring the sea service, I then excused by Capt. Barker and returned to Scituate, & about the time said Barkers returned with his Company I entered the sea service.
Caleb his X Prouty mark -
Comm. of Selectmen Plymouth County for February 1 st 1834 Then personally appeared Caleb Prouty and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed before me - Samuel C. Turner Just. of the Peace

I further certify that I have been well acquainted with the within named Caleb Prouty for thirty years, and that he is a credible witness. — Sam l D. Turner Just. Peace
Caleb Prouty Dep for Simon Bates

I Simeon Bates of Scituate in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, aged Seventy years do testify & say, that Reuben Bates of Scituate aforesaid was a soldier in Capt n Williams Barkers Company of Infantry in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy five, and that said Barker - Company, or a part of them were stationed upon the beach in Scituate as guards that year, five months during which time said Reuben Bates above mentioned was orderly sergeant Benjamin Holmes was first Lt. & Zephaniah Cudworth was 2 d Lt, that the above service was performed by said Reuben Bates I do know, (although quite young) from the fact that I saw him nearly every day while he was stationed upon the beach - & I further testify that in seventeen hundred & Seventy six Capt Barker went with his company to Rhode Island, and that the above named Reuben Bates was orderly sergeant, and marched with said company, and was gone three months. I saw him when he moved off and when he returned. -
Simeon Bates
Com th of Mass s Plymouth County ss February 1 st 1834 Then personally appeared Simeon Bates and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed. before me -
Samuel C. Turner Just of the Peace
I further certify that I have been well acquainted with Simeon Bates above named for thirty years, and that he is a credible witness. Sam l C. Turner Just of the Peace

Simon Bates Esq. for. Newton Bates
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that Sam- uel A. Turner Esq. is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & that the several signatures to the annexed papers purporting to be his are genuine In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this first day of April A.D. 1834
Jacob H. Lord

I Jonathan Merritt of Bremen, County of Lincoln & State of Maine, aged eighty years do testify & say, that In Seventeen hundred & twenty six I served as a soldier in Capt o Williams Barkers & Hayward Pierce company of infantry four months at Bristol Rhode Island, & that Reuben Bates of Situate in the County of Plymouth & State of Mass ts was then orderly sergeant in Capt o Barkers company, the precise term he served I cannot say but I should think at least three months, but that he was there I do know, for we went together and in the course of one month I was ordered to join Capt o Pierce company, that said Bates also performed militia service in Capt o Barkers company at Situate in 1775 I also know, for I was once acquainted with him, often saw him on duty, and know that he served about the time he states, which service was, guarding the sea board. -
Jonathan Merritt
Plymouth ss Oct 18-1834
Then personally appeared the above named Jonathan Merritt and made oath to the truth of the above Deposition by him subscribed Before me Samuel C. D. Turner Just. Peace
And I certify that I have been well acquainted with the above named Jonathan Merritt for many years, and that he is a credible Witness. Samuel C. D. Turner Just. Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss. Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that Samuel A. Turner Esq is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & that the within signatures pur- porting to be his, are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand & Seal of Office this twenty ninth day of October A.D. 1834.
Jacob H. Lord

Charlestown April 3 rd 1854
Sir
Enclosed I send you the documents relative to the Revolutionary services of Reuben and Simson Bates (of Scituate Mass.) with a certificate for pension from Sec of Commonwealth of Mass.
For your information here let me state that Simson was the son of Reuben & they both died about 1835. The widow of Simson died Feb 15 th 1853. You will please direct to me, as I am acting by power of Attorney from the heirs.
I am Respectfully Your Oft Serv t
Charles N. Barstow Charlestown Mass No 5 Salem Hill
To the Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

Boston 20 Court St
Apr 4/1841.
Dear Sir -
There interested, employed one L Blanchard True of your city to obtain a pension for the revolutionary services - of Reuben Bates
Reuben Young
& gave him all the papers supposed to be necessary -
Will you be good enough to inform us if a pension in either case has been obtained - & (if a proper inquiry has been made) whether Mr True is a suitable person for such service -
Very Truly Hutchins & Wheeler

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Jan 18 1834
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Reuben Bates, as Sergeant, is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. William Barker's Company, Col. John Cushing's regiment, where he is allowed for service and travel, Dec. 10. 1776, fifteen days days. 15
Edward D Bangs Secy