Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 36,913, Peter Biter, Continental Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental Mass.
Biter, Peter or Bither
S 36,913.
CONTENTS

5861,
Maine
Peter Biter,
private
Capt Williams
Massachusetts line - 3 years
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
see death data on back of packet
Inscribed on the Roll of the District of Maine at the rate of - 8 - Dollars per month, to commence on the 28 th of April 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 th of Jan'y 1819 and del d .
R. C. Vose, Augusta Maine.
Arrears to 4th of Sep. 1818. 4 mos 7/30 - 33.86 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 th March 1819 - 48.00
$81.86
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Unity
Continued
Information sent July 12 1820 P. C. Vose 1827 Death on Agency records Mar 4 1818 1835 list - gives death Mar 4 1818

Peter Biter
Peter Biter, Unity, p r Col. Sprouts Map. Reg 1777 to Dec 31. 1779.
April 28. 1818.
Admitted

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I Peter Biter, aged sixty three years, born in Portsmouth England a resident within the United States for more than forty five years last past - but now a resident in Unity in the District of Maine, upon Oath testify and declare that I enlisted in the month of December 1775. for the term of one year, into the first year Service, in the war of the revolution, upon the Continental establishment, against the common enemy and into the company commanded by Cap. Hart Williams and regiment by Col. Phinney of the Massachusetts troops on line, I fully served the period of my enlistment and reenlisted at Fort George, the first of January 1777. for the period of three years, into the same establishment, against the common enemy and into the company commanded by Cap. Jenkins, and regiment by Col. Druce, of the Massachusetts line. I fully served the period of my last enlistment, and took my final and honorable discharge from the Army at Fish Kill, January 1780. my discharge I have not preserved, and it is not now in existence to my knowledge, I served at New York, at New Jersey, and at Pennsylvania. I wintered one Winter at Valley Forge, and was at the battle of Monmouth the summer following - From my reduced circumstances, I am in need of assistance from my country for support - I hereby relinquish all claim to any pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States if any; but I am not to my knowledge borne on any pension list whatever, I request that I may be placed upon the pension list for the District of Maine -
Peter Biter
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Memoranda
On the twenty eighth day of April A D 1818, the above named Peter Biter, after having been carefully examined, made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed -
Before me,
S. S. Wilder
Jur. Sup. Jud. Court for S. Court
I John Melvin, of Unity Maine, aged seventy years upon Oath testify and declare that I well know the above named Peter Biter, that I am well knowing to his having served in the War of the revolution the first period of one year by him stated, as I belonged to the same Company & Regiment with him - I knew him during the three years service by him stated, I frequently saw him during that period & fully believe he served out as discharged as he has stated - From his reduced circumstances he is in need of assistance from his country for support - he sustains the character of a man of truth
John Melvin

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Kennebec Co.
On the twenty eighth day of April A D 1818, the within named John Melvin, after having been carefully examined, made oath to the truth of the within Deposition by him subscribed —
Before me, S. S. Wilcox
Jus. Sup. Jud. Court for sd County

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
To the Honorable the Secretary of the Department of War of the United States.
The subscriber being one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do certify that Peter Piten, a citizen of the United States, now resident in the District of Maine, within the said Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the twenty eighth day of April A D 1818, made application to me to receive his declaration under oath, and such other evidence as was in his power to produce; and to transmit the same, and the proceedings to be had thereon to your Honor, that he might be placed on the pension list of the United States, agreeable to the provision of an Act, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed March 18th A D 1818, which declaration and the other evidence produced by the said applicant is hereto annexed. — And I do further certify to your Honor, that after a careful examination of the said applicant and a full consideration of the evidence in the case, it appears to me that the said applicant did serve as a private soldier, in the war of the revolution, against the common enemy, upon the continental establishment, for more than nine months, as stated in his declaration aforesaid; and that, from his reduced circumstances he needs the assistance of his country for support. —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and have caused the Seal of said Supreme Judicial Court, to be hereunto affixed, this twenty eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. —
S. S. WILDE for Sup. Jud. Court for S. C. Com. the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Kennebec ss
The Subscriber, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts, held within the said County of Kennebec, hereby certifies, that the Honorable Samuel S. Wilde Esq., before whom the foregoing proceedings were had, is one of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of this Commonwealth, and that by the direction of the said Justice, I have affixed, unto his Certificate, bearing his Signature, the Seal of said Supreme Judicial Court:
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand: Dated at Augusta in said County of Kennebec, this tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & eighteen. —
JOHN DAVIS

Peter Pither.
No 5861.
26 Jan 1819.
Mar 1819
J. P. Dore, Augusta, Maine.
Attest the same true
Arthur Coby
Nathan Weston Jur.
Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas.

56 State of Maine.
I John Davis Clerk, for the County of Kennebec of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the second Eastern Circuit, embracing the counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and that the original was exhibited in open Court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, including debts due to the declarant therein stated, is Sixty eight dollars and Fifty cents; and deducting therefrom the amount of what the declarant owes, as set forth in said Schedule, the value of said property in the opinion of said Court, is Eighteen dollars and Fifty cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this twentieth day of June 1820.
John Davis Clerk of said Court for the County of Kennebec

(Copy.)
56.
State of Maine.
I, Peter Pither within named do solemnly swear, that on the twenty eighth day of April 1818, I made application, in pursuance of the within mentioned law of March 18, 1818, before Judge Wilde , and was afterwards placed upon the pension list roll of the United States, for the District of Maine Agency. And I, the said Peter Pither , do further solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
Witness J. Nichols
his Peter Pither mark
KENNEBEC, ss.
ON this twenty eighth day of May 1820, Peter Pither before named, after being duly cautioned and examined, exhibited and subscribed the within schedule, and took and subscribed the foregoing oath, before me,
Nathan Weston Junr
Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas.
A true Copy.
Attest J. M. Davis Clerk
M. M. Moore, Auguista
March 1819 26 Jan 1820
No 2861
Peter Pither
58

(Copy.)
State of Maine.
Pension Certificate No. 5,861
To the Honorable the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset.
I, Peter Bither of Freedom in the County of Kennebec aforesaid, a pensioner on the Maine roll, under the law of the United States, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th March, 1818, do hereby exhibit the following schedule of my whole estate and income (my necessary clothing and bedding excepted,) viz ;
One Cow of the value of twenty dollars.
One Swine of the value of eight dollars.
Furniture, besides necessary bedding, of the value of five dollars.
Debts due to me to the amount of forty dollars, and over as much as fifty dollars.
The income from the above property may be five dollars a year, but not exceeding that sum; besides which I have no income derived from property, trade or profession. I am sixty seven years of age, infirm, and wholly unable to labor, and served four years and one month in the Revolutionary war.
Except the above, I have no estate or income, whatever, besides my necessary clothing and bedding.
Witness J. Nichols
Peter his X Bither marks
A true Copy
Attest. J. M. Davis Clerk.

AW
March 31. 1914.
Hon. E. C. Burleigh,
United States Senate.
My dear Senator:
In response to your letter of the twenty-eighth instant, I have the honor to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim Sur. File 36,913, it appears that Peter Biter (whose name is also spelled Bither) was born in Portsmouth, England, date not stated. He enlisted in December, 1775, and served one year in Captain Hart Williams' company, Colonel Phinney's Massachusetts regiment. He again enlisted January 1, 1777 and served three years in Captains Jenkins and Sewell's companies, Colonels Brewer and Sprout's Massachusetts regiment, and was at the battle of Monmouth.
He was allowed pension on an application executed April 28, 1818, at which date he lived in Unity, Maine, and stated that he was sixty-three years old and had resided in the United States for more than forty-five years. In 1820, he lived in Freedom, Maine and alleged that he was sixty-seven years of age.
There is no data on file as to his family.
Very truly yours,
Commissioner.

36 913
Rev INVALID.
File No. 36,913
Peter Biter
His Rev was
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index: — Vol. 2 , Page 38
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1907 Oct. 24. Heir to Frank E.
Hammond, La.
1914 Mar. 31. Heir to Hon
E. C. Burleigh, U.S.S.
1914 June 27. Auth. for Int. Dept. furnished data relative to last payment of pension.
1922 June 26. Heir to Miss
J. J. Haskell. Adm.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
SECRETARY'S DEPARTMENT,
July 0 181 8
BY THIS I CERTIFY, That it appears by public, official documents remaining in this Department, that Peter Biter served as a Soldier in Capt. Small's Company, and Col. Sparks Regiment, (being one of the Regiments in the Massachusetts Line, and on the Continental Establishment,) in the American Army, in the War of the Revolution, from Jany 1. 1777 to Decr. 31 1779, being three years and months.
Alden Bradford
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

in reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Peter Biter ✱, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. name also spelled Bither ✱
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Dec 45 - Jan 1. 77 1 yr, 3 " Pvt Hart Williams { Jenkins { Sewell Phinney { Brewster { Sproat Mass    
Office notes
Sproat commanded Brewster's Regt as Lt Col. Comd after Brewster was captured and the two Capt's & S. were Capt's of Chas. Regt after 12 years see Biter's record in Mass A & S. carried on both.
Battles engaged in, Monmouth Residence of soldier at enlistment, not stated Date of application for pension, Apr 28, 1818.  Blanchi allowance Residence at date of application, Wiltz Me.  Freedom Me. in 1820 Age at date of application, 68 born in Portsmouth England. Remarks: No data as to family

Rev. War Section.
June 27, 1914.
To the
Auditor for the Interior Department,
Union Building. G St. between 6" & 7" Sts..
Washington, D. C.
Sir:-
In response to your #enclosed communication of the 25" instant, you are advised that "Peter Biter was allowed a pension of eight dollars per month from April 28, 1818 by Certificate No. 5,861, issued January 26, 1819, under the Act of March 18, 1818, at the Maine Agency".
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
# Request for data necessary to obtain date of last payment of soldier's pension..

Rec Peter Biter(Bither), a private in Mass.Line, was placed on the pension rolls Jan.26,1819, and died March 27,1827.He enlisted from Cape Elizabeth lived for a time in Limington,and in Senate Document 1818 is of Kennebec County,Maine.Will you send any personal details as to family,age,etc, that are found in his pension papers
to
Miss J.J.Haskell, Hallowell,Maine.

United States Senate,
WASHINGTON, D. C.
March 28, 1914.
To the Honorable Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I should be pleased if you would give me any information you properly can concerning the pension and other facts concerning Peter Biter, whose name was placed on the pension rolls January 26, 1819 and whose pension commenced from September 28, 1818. He died March 4, 1827, aged 79.
I desire to get the information for historical purposes.
Very respectfully,
E. C. Burleigh

Fairfield Maine Oct. 12-1907
Bureau of Pensions
Will you kindly tell me what you can of one Peter Bilhus who served through the Rev. War and in 1792 was living in Limerick, Maine.
and oblige Mrs Frank E. Hammond