Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12335, Abel Brown, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Brown, Abel
S. 12335
CONTENTS
carded
1. May 17, 1773 ✓ res. at Mt. Winchester, Worcester Co. Mass. res. in 1832, Parishville, St. Lawrence Co. N.Y.

14063 New York
Abel Brown
of Albany Co in the State of New York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain E. G. of the E. K. commanded by Col. Spafford in the Mass. line for 3 mos 15 ds.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 28 Dollars 31 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of May 1833 and sent to Abel Brown Potsdam
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 $56.62 Semi-ant. allowance ending 14 Sept. 14.15
$70.77
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book C Vol. 4 Page 111

In the matter of an application for a pension by
Abel Brown
x?
14509
✓

State of New York St Lawrence County
} Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
On this twenty fourth day of September 1832, personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in & for Said County now sitting, Abel Brown, a resident of Panishville in Said County of St Lawrence and State of New York aged 69 years on the 7 th day of May last, 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 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
He first entered the service at Winchendon, Worcester County, in the state of Massachu- setts, where he resided during the Revolu- tionary War, about the 1 st of September  August 1778 as a substitute for his father David Brown who was drafted for three two months and a half, in a company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Ayer in Col. Spaulding's Regiment, in the Massachusetts State Troops. He marched as far as Rutland Mass. having started for Rhode Island, when he was ordered to Boston where he went and remained on duty there and at Dorchester Point (now South Boston) till his time expired, and he

was dismissed then without any written discharge about the 1 st of November. About the 1 st of September 1779 he entered the service again at the same place, as a sub- stitute for his said father who was drafted for two months, in Capt. Henry's Company. under Genl. Hancock. - His Colonel's Captain's name he does not recollect. He marched directly to Boston, from there he went on to Governor's Island and then to Castle William, where he served out his full period of two months, in repairing old forts. - He was dismissed then about the 1 st of November.
In July 1780 he enlisted at same place as volunteer for three months and went to Great Barrington where a Regiment was formed commanded by Col. Rana, in which he entered, in Capt. Stearns' com- pany. - He marched from there to West Point and after serving there a short time he was ordered, with a few others, by Genl. Arnold to go to Fishkill, where he went and served out the rest of his term at work in the Laboratory and was dismissed then about the 1 st of December 1780.
He has no documentary evidence of his service and was never in any engagement.
Since the revolutionary war he has lived at Win- chendon aforesaid and at Springfield Vermont, from which last place he moved to Painsville aforesaid. for the last 19 years he has resided in Pains- ville where he now resides and is well ac- quainted with Levi Fuller and others who may testify as to the reputation of his said service.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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. Abel Brown Seoaxno subscribed } the day & year aforesaid } J. C. (M) Atk
We Joseph Ormsby and John Brown of Parishville in said County of St Lawrence former
residing in the town of Parishville aforesaid hereby certify that we well acquainted with Abel Brown, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. that we believe him to be sixty nine 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. Joseph Ormsby Sworn & subscribed } John Brown the day & year aforesaid } J. C. (M) Atk
And the Court do hereby declare their 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 the Court further certifies that it appears to them that

Joseph Oxurly and John Brown who have signed the preceding certificate reside in Parnhollen afore said and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credence.
I Alvin C. Low, Clerk of the Court of Com- mon Pleas, aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceed- ings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Abel Brown for a pension, and I do further certify that Horace Allen, before whom the annexed affidavit of Daniel Bradish appears to have been taken was at the time of taking the same a justice of the peace of said County of St. Lawrence, and that his signature to said affidavit and the certificate below is his proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this Twentyfourth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
A. C. Low

hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this Twentyfourth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two
A. C. Mc
State of New York } St Lawrence County } ss: Daniel Bradish of Potsdam in said County, being sworn saith that he is well acquainted with Abel Brown of Parishville in said County, that this Deponent and said Brown resided in the town of Winchendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts, during the Revolutionary War, as near neighbors, that this Deponent was considerably engaged in actual service during several years of the War, and this Deponent recollects that said Brown was absent from home for some time in the year 1778, how long he cannot recollect, and was said to be engaged in military service at or near Boston, and that in the year 1780 the said Brown went from home in July or August and it was said that he was going towards West Point and this Deponent has always understood and firmly believes that said Brown did serve in the war during the two campaigns above men- tioned, but how long he does not recollect, and whether said Brown ever performed any other service in the Revolutionary War or not he cannot recollect as he was ab- sent much of the time from home him- self.
Sworn & subscribed this 7 th August 1832 before me Horace Allen Justice Peace.
Daniel Bradish

I the Justice before whom the foregoing affidavit was taken do certify that said Daniel Bradish therein named is a person of truth and honesty. Seated Augt. 9. 1832. Horace Allen Justice -
of Hull Brown Bradish affd.

Abstract of Said Brown's Account:
From 1 st August 1778 - 3 months 15 days " 1 st Sept. 1779 - 2 do July 1780 - 3 do 8 months 15 days

My 14609 e Abel Brown St Law rence County N York
Admitted
8 mo 15 days Private.
26.66 1.65 28.31
Allen & Baldwin Potsdam N.Y.
A. J. Low Clerk St Lawrence County Court New York

BRIEF in the case of Abel Brown County of St Lawrence in the State of New York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 60  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 Genl.     Subst In 1778 Aug 1 3 15 Private Capt Nye Col Sparkhawk   " 1779 Sept 1 2 " " Henry Genl Hancock   Enlisted 1780 July Dismissed about 1 Dec 3 " " Steele Col Rand   8 : 15   declares for 8 mo. at least  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Worcester Co Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence & living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? connected as regulations require 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Dyer Castor Examining Clerk.

Rev. man
✓ 12335 INVALID
File No. 12,833-
Abel Brown Prim. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. a , Page 48
[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 Abel Brown which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 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? 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? 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? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 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?

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?
No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
No
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?
Sworn to the sp
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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
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?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
1 2. . 5
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.
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.