Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1339, Solomon Brown, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Brown, Solomon Sally
NUMBER
R. 1339
CONTENTS
res at cul. Blandford, Hampshire Co. Mass res. in 1832. Venice, Cayuga Co. N.Y. aged 69 yrs. & his died there Feb. 3, 1839

11070  New York 8982  Solomon Brown
of Cayuga Co in the State of New York who was a private in the Company commanded by John Bell of the _____ commanded by _____ in the _____ line for 7 mos.
March 2 nd Feb 1837
Inscribed on the Roll of New York in the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 day of May 1833 and sent to  E. W. Bateman
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $46. 66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept " 11. 66
$58.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 4 Page 44
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 April 1838 from 4 th Sept 1836 to 2 Feb 1837, the day of his death. Age Notified 2 Nov 1839.
Dead

13.070 Solomon Brown Declaration
Prince Bayuga Co. N.Y.
Communications relating to the within to be directed to E. M. Bateman Prince Bayuga Co., N.Y.
admitted. 7 mrs Pirate

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 th of June 1832. State of New-York } County of Cayuga } ss.
On this eighth day of September 1832 personally appeared before Isahel Fitch Esq., one of the judges of the court of Common Pleas of said county. Solomon Brown a resident of the town of Seneca in said county aged sixty-nine 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 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States and served as follows, to wit: that he resided in the town of Haverhill, county of Hampshire, State of Massachusetts in the year 1780; that he was drafted some time in last of April or first of May of said year, the pay he does not recollect, was drafted for nine months to serve as one of a guard stationed at Springfield, that the guards were under the command of Lieut. Col. Baily, Sergeant Baily was orderly sergeant; that they guarded a large laboratory, store of artillery and other military stores; that after the expiration of about seven months from the time he came out he hired a substitute who took his place and served the two months which remained of the term for which for which he paid him extra wages; that he has no documentary proof of such service; and that he knows of no person he can procure to testify to such service.
He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and future that the same is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Solomon Brown
Isahel Fitch a judge of Common Pleas
We Nathl R. Tiff and Orange Chapin residing in the town of Seneca and county aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Solomon Brown who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration; that we believe him to be 69 years of age; that he is respected and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution (corrected over)

and that we concur in that opinion. Subscribed and sworn to George C. Hopkins The day and year aforesaid Wirt R. Tiffey Asahel Fitch a judge of Cayuga Co. Pleas
And I the said judge do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And I the said judge further certify that Wirt R. Tiffey (then being at Cayuga Co. residing in the Precentor's house) George C. Hopkins  preceding certificate of the A oaths of service and that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit; And I further certify that I believe the bodily infirmities of the above named applicant are such as to render him incapable of attending court.
Asahel Fitch a judge of Cayuga Co. Pleas
State of New York Cayuga County ss. Michael S. Myers Clerk of said county do hereby certify that Asahel Fitch Esquire before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn and by whom the preceding certificate purports to have been made, was at the date of the same, one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county and that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said judge and verily believe his name subscribed to said affidavit and to said certificate to be his proper hands writing and signature. In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my official seal, and subscribed my name, this Twelfth day of September in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and thirty two M. S. Myers Clerk for M. S. Myers Clerk

X
6312
Declaration of Sally Brown in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of the 7th July, 1838.
2 March 1792
March 1 and 2 nd Feb 1857
Mason G. Smith, Agent, Perry, Genesee Co. N.Y.

Declaration of Sally Brown, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 th July, 1838, entitled, "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows."
State of New York, } ss. County of Genesee, } ss.
On this first day of October  September , 1839, before the Circuit Court, now sitting at Batavia, in and for said County, being a Court of Record and having a Seal, personally appeared Sally Brown, a resident of the town of Castile, in said County, aged Sixty nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838, entitled, "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows:" — That she is the widow of Solomon Brown, who was a private in the Massachusetts militia, in the war of the Revolution, and served, as she has understood and believes, for the term of seven months, during the principal part of which time he was engaged in guarding military stores at Springfield, in the State of Massachusetts; — that for this service he was pensioned under the act of Congress of the 7 th June, 1832; — that at the time he

was pensioned, he resided at Venice, in the County of Cayuga and State of New York, that his pension certificate bears date on the 6th day of May, 1833, and according to an endorsement thereon, is recorded in the Pension Office in Book E. Volume 4, at page 44.
She further declares that she was married to the said Solomon Brown, at Westfield, now Fort Ann, in the County of Washington, and State of New York, on the eighth day of March, in the year seventeen hundred and ninetytwo, by Hodge, Esquire, a Justice of the Peace of said County of Washington, that her maiden name was McBracken, and that her brother, Doct. David McBracken, of the city of Rochester, in the State of New York, was present at the marriage; that she has no record of her marriage to the said Solomon Brown, but that she has a record of the birth of their children, made by him, from time to time, on a blank leaf of his bible, that said record is in the proper hand writing of the said Solomon Brown, and is a correct, genuine, original record;—that her husband, the aforesaid Solomon Brown, died at the town of Venice, in the County of Cayuga, aforesaid, on the second day of February, in the year one thousand

eight hundred and thirty-seven; - that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four; - viz:- at the time before stated.
Sally X mark Brown
Sworn to and subscribed, in open Court, on the day and year first above written,
W. Soper Clerk
State of New York, } ss. County of Genesee, }
David Brown, of the town of Castile, in said County, being duly sworn, deposes and says, that he is a son of Solomon Brown, deceased, and Sally Brown, mentioned in the foregoing declaration; that the said Solomon Brown, died in the town of Venice, in the County of Cayuga and State aforesaid on the second day of February, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven, - that this deponent was present and saw him die, attended his funeral, and saw him buried, - that the said Sally Brown has resided with this deponent since the decease of his father, the said Solomon Brown, as aforesaid; - that the said Sally Brown, has not been married since the death of her husband,

the aforesaid Solomon Brown, but still continues his widow; - that the family record mentioned in the foregoing declaration, is the original record of the birth of the children of the said Solomon Brown, deceased, and Sally Brown; - and that the said record was made by the said Solomon Brown, in his family bible, and is in his own proper hand writing, and is herunto annexed.
David Brown
Sworn to and subscribed, before me, this 26th day of September, 1839; - And I certify that I am acquainted with David Brown, the before named deponent; - that he is a person of undoubted credibility, and that in my opinion, his statement is entitled to full credence.
Mason G. Smith, A Commissioner of Deeds for the county of Seneca.
State of New York Seneca County I certify that Mason G. Smith was a commissioner of Deeds of said county at the time of taking the foregoing affidavit and that the signature here subscribed is his hand writing.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this 1st day of October 1839
M. Soper. Clerk of Seneca Co.

1774 Solomon Brown His Bible bought for Ann Price 5. Westfield Dec. 10 th 1792 Solomon Bond of Solomon Brown his bond Westfield Dec. 10 th 1792 Solomon Brown of Westfield Solomon Brown of Salem Solomon Brown of Salem 1794
1794 Solomon Brown
the aforesaid Solomon Brown, but still is the family

in my opinion, his statement is entitled to fr
Index Mch
Letis was born June 7 1793 Levi was born April 12 1795 David was born Sept 21 1796 Betsey was born Aug 27 1798 Calvin was born Aug 20 1800 Anna was born May 31 1802 Jane was born March 22 1804 Laura was born Dec 26 1805 Chas. was born Jan 8 1808 Polly A was born Nov 12 1809 Henry was born Sept 25 1811
G. Smith, er of Deeds for the Genesee. the same commission of taking the same was subscribed my hand and seal 1839 for Clerk of Genesee Co

David M c Cracken's deposition in sup- port of the claim of Mrs. Sally Brown.

State of New York, County of Monroe, } ss.
David McBracken, of the city of Rochester, in said county, being duly sworn, deposes and says, that he is a brother of Sally Brown, of the town of Castile, in the County of Genesee, and State aforesaid, widow of Solomon Brown, late of the town of Venice, in the County of Cayuga, and State aforesaid, deceased; — that this deponent was present at the marriage of his said sister to the said Solomon Brown; that said marriage took place at Westfield, now Fort Ann, in the County of Washington, and State aforesaid, to the best of this deponent's recollection, on the 8th day of March, in the year Seventeen hundred and ninetytwo; that the marriage ceremony was performed by                     Hodge, Esquire; that this deponent is not positive with regard to the day of the month on which the marriage took place, but he is confident in regard to the year,

and the month in which said marriage took place as this deponent was married about  4 On the tenth day of February Seventeen Hundred Ninety nine & that in the city of Salem (within the County of Essex) were married within thirteen months from the date of his own marriage.
J. H. Bracken
Sworn to and subscribed } this 30 th day of October, } 1839, before me, }
J. Hills
Recorder of the City of Rochester
I do hereby certify, that I am well acquainted with Doct. David McBracken, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing affidavit, that he is a gentleman of undoubted credi- bility, and that his statements in any opinion are entitled to full credence.
October 30. 1839
Isaac Hills
Recorder of Rochester
State of New York Monroe county ss. I certify that Isaac Hills Esquire is Recorder of the city of Rochester, in said state, authorised by the laws of said state to take affidavits, and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and truly believe that the above signature, purporting to be his, is genuine. Witness my hand and
official seal this thirty first day of October 1839 -
Ephraim Goss Clerk

13.070
Solomon Brown Cayuga 6 th NYats
Admitted 7 mo Pirate.
Vol 25. p 175—
Not found—
Roll of Capt John P. ...
Second Lieut ... Charles ...
E. W. Bateman

BRIEF in the case of Solomon Brown  of Coeymans in the State of New York  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Present  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 69 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. As a Gen.     1 May In 17 80 7 Private Lt. Bell  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Phanafra Mefit  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary  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.
Richard Butts Examining Clerk.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Solomon Brown Coeymans New York 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? 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? no 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? 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? 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?
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.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
October 16 th , 1839.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," The widow of Solomon Brown, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany, N.Y. Agency, at the rate of Twenty three Dollars and thirty three Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1836, to the 2 nd February 1837, the day of his death.
Respectfully, yours,
Wilson N. Parrish
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

Mar 5 1840
My
Sally Brown
J. B. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D. C.

Perry, Genesee Co. N.Y. February 25, 1840.
Sir,
In behalf of Mrs. Sally Brown, widow of Solomon Brown, I take the liberty of requesting a further investigation, in regard to the service of her late husband. In your letter of the 29 th ultimo, it is stated as a ground for rejecting the claim, that the name of Solomon Brown, does not appear on the rolls of the Company of Guards, in which he alleged that he served for seven months, at Springfield, in the State of Massachusetts. — I am informed that the service in question, was performed by Solomon Brown, as a substitute for one of his brothers, whose name, it is believed, was William Brown, and it is supposed that the name of the brother originally drafted for the service, may have been entered on the rolls, instead of the one by whom the service was actually performed. It is requested that an examination of the rolls may be made to determine whether this supposition is well founded or not.
I am very respectfully,
Your Obt. Servt.
J. S. Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions.
Mason G. Smith.

Perry, Genesee Co. N.Y. November 4, 1839.
Sir,
With this, I enclose the papers of Mrs. Sally Brown, who claimed the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th July, 1838, granting half pay and pensions to certain widows.
I am very respectfully, Your obb. Servt.
Mason G. Smith.
J. S. Edwards, Esq. Commissioner of Pensions.

M. G. Smith
29. Jan. 1840
OL

423. War Department Pension Office
29. Jan 1840
Sir The pension of Mrs. Sally Brown widow of Solomon Brown (who has been examined & filed) - At the time the claim her late husband was allowed a pension for seven months service alleged to have been rendered in the Guards at Springfield in the State of Massachusetts under Lieut Ball and Sergeant Lilly. there were no rolls of that service in this office: The rolls have since been obtained. whereby it appears that but they furnish no evidence of the services of the claimant's husband; In Captain Carpenter's Company of Guards Charles Ball and Samuel Lilly were Sergeants. But no Lieutenant of the name of Ball appears to have been in that service. nor does the name of Solomon Brown appear on the rolls thereof The claim is therefore rejected.
Mason G. Smith Esq. Perry N.Y.

65 War Department Pension Office
9. March 1840
Sir
In reply to your letter of the 25 th ulto respecting the claim of Mrs. Sally Brown I have to inform you that the rolls of Capt Carpenter furnish no evidence of the services of William Brown; as in legal terms for the case  As When a substitute is furnished in such instance the name of the substitute is inserted  in the roll is invariably entered on the roll and is entitled to be removed from the service of the  service to the substitute in the case neither the name of the claimant's husband Solomon Brown or that of William appears on the rolls of the company in which the service in question is supposed to have been rendered
Mrs. J. Smith Esq. Pury New York

1838
Hon E Dodd Feby 28 th 1856

Pension Office
Feby 28 1856
Sir
I have the honor to inform you that Solomon Brown of New York was a pensioned under the Act of June 7 1832 for his services in Moaps during the War of the Revolution — His widow Sally Brown made application for a continuance continuance of his pension under the Act of July 7 1838. Her claim was disallowed, because the rolls of companies in which he claimed to have served having come into the possession of this Office, after his stipend had been granted, his name was not found upon them as he alleged. — If, however, his widow's children can establish his services and she lived after the 16th of August 1842, they will be allowed the arrears due her at her death,
1838]
Hon E DODD H. J. R. P.

1339
ELECTRO
10. Sally Brown widow of Solomon
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: List of rejected claims printed in 1852, shows cause of Dis-enlisted: rejection as follows: "No proof of service - name not on the proper rolls."
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

E. DODD M.C.
Sally Brown Solomon
Col
Sam l Cole Esq. Pension Depart t Washington

Ho: Rept. Feby. 18. 1856
Mr. Saml. Cole -
Sir -
Solomon Brown, an officer in the army of the Revolution, served during the whole war and died in 1786, leaving two children, who are still living. Mr. Brown was a corporal in Capt. Stephen Smith's Company, Col. Simonds Regt., Berkshires, Mass. in 1777; he was Capt. in Col. Elisha Porter's Regt. Hampshire Co. Mass.; he was Lieut. in Capt. Knox's Company also & before the close of the war he received a commission as Colonel.
His heirs wish to ascertain if they are entitled to arrears of pension or bounty lands. If such information comes within your province, you will oblige me by communicating it.
Very Resp. Yours &c E. D. D.

X N. York
Sally Brown
let. to M. G. Smith 29 Jan. 1840
Rejected
let. to same g. March 1840
Hon E Dodd Feby 28 1856
1339
July 7. 1838