Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 36,909, Joseph Besse, Continental (Mass.)

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental (Mass.)
Besse, Joseph
S. 36909
CONTENTS

See letter to Hon: E. Lincoln, Ho: Rep. April 24. 1822.
Died Aug. 20. 1840 from A. B.
5647
Maine
Joseph Belfe private
Sergeant's regt. Mass.
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of Dist. of Maine at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence the 9 th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 of Jany 1819 and sent to Judge Parris - Paris Maine
Arrears to 4th of Sep r 1818. 4 mo 26 / 30 38.93 Semi-ann. all ce ending 4 March 1819 48.00
$86.93
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Not entitled to pension under the act of 1 st May, 1820. Notification sent to Tho. Clark Esq r . Paris, Maine 11. July, 1820.

Joseph Besse N o 5647-
22 Jan'y 1820
Not entitled
house & barn & 25 acres land
not entitled

STATE OF MAINE.
Oxford ss. Maliseet Court of Common Pleas begun and holden at Paris within and for the county of Oxford on the second Tuesday of June A.D. 1820 before the Honorable Benjamin Green & Judah Dana Judges of said Court.
On this 15th day of June in the year above written, personally appeared in open Court, the same having "the power of fine and imprisonment," and being a Court of Record for said county of Oxford - Joseph Besse aged sixty years, resident in Paris in said county, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows, viz. as a private in the company commanded by Capt. James Keith in the Regiment commanded by Colonel D. Bargent in the line of the State of Massachusetts on the Continental Establishment, as is more particularly mentioned and described in his original declaration, made on the 9th day of April A. D. 1810, and on which said declaration his Certificate of Pension, numbered 5647 - was granted. And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner 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 18th day of March, 1818: 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; that my occupation and ability to pursue the same, together with the number and other particulars of my family, are in fact and in truth as is particularly described below, also subscribed by me.
his Joseph + Besse mark -
Sworn to and declared, on the 15th day of June A. D. 1820.
Benjamin Green Judah Dana
Judges of said Court.
BEFORE
SCHEDULE of the real and personal estate, (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) belonging to me the subscriber, viz: -
one small old house & barn - with twenty five acres of land - one plough - one chain - one loom - one spinning wheel - Earthen & brookery & tin wares to amount of one dollar - one pail.
his Joseph + Besse - mark

SCHEDULE of the family residing with me Joseph Besse who by occupation am a farmer which I am un able to pursue by reason of  total blindness —
   NAMES. AGES. Capacity of each to contribute to their support.     Sydia wife of said Joseph — 55 years feeble & unable to work   Joseph Jun — son 16 " — does what he can —   Alden — do 12 " — do — do — do   Hannah daughter 10 " unwell — do — do  
his Joseph Besse mark
I Thomas Clark ss. Clerk of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for said county of Oxford do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedules thereto annexed, are truly copied from the Record of the said 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, is thirty two dollars and  cents  $32.00
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this 24th day of June A. D. one thousand eight hundred and twenty
Thomas Clark { Clerk of the Circuit Court of Com. Pleas for said county of Oxford

Joseph Besse
Private
Sergeant Regt
map: Line
1 year
9 April -
Admitted
Joseph Besse

Ap. 9. Sup. Cn- I Joseph Besse, a resident citizen of the United States of America, an inhabitant of Paris in the county of Oxford and State of Massachusetts, do testify and say, that on the first of December, seventeen hundred and seventy five I enlisted into the army of the United States of America on the continental establishment, for the term of one year as a private soldier in Captain James Keith's company, in Colonel Paul Dudley Sargeant's Regiment in the Massachusetts line, in which company I fully and faithfully served the term of one year aforesaid, when I left the service. I further testify that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life, I stand in need of assistance from my country for support, and that I am not known on any pension list of the United States.
Joseph Besse
I James Churchill of Paris in the county of Oxford and State of Massachusetts, do testify and say that I was in the continental service in the revolutionary war during the same period that the above named Joseph Besse served and was a fellow soldier with him in the same company nearly all the year, and that said Besse served, as aforesaid, during said time.
Witness, A. K. Paris
James Churchill mark
I Jabez Churchill of Hartford in the county of Oxford and State of Massachusetts, do testify and say that I was in the continental service in the revolutionary war at the same period that the above named Joseph Besse served and I have no doubt said Besse served in said Keith's company as he has above stated.
Jabez Churchill

Paris April 9. 1810
I hereby certify, that according to the best of my knowledge Mr. Joseph Besse of Paris has not property sufficient to support himself and family comfortably without hard labour, and suffering many inconveniences, in consequence of his infirmi- ties, which renders him almost incapable of performing any kind of business for the support of himself & family.
One of the Attorneys of Paris
Henson Melken

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
MAINE DISTRICT, ss.
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the ninth day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, personally came Joseph Besse the applicant named in the papers hereunto annexed, and after being duly cautioned and examined, made oath that the several statements by him made in the annexed application, signed in my presence, are wholly true.
And the said applicant further offered in evidence the affidavits of James Churchill and Jabez Churchill, fellow soldiers with the applicant in the revolutionary war, made and signed in my presence. also the certificate of Almon Mellen, a municipal officer of the corporation, to which said applicant belongs, relative to his circumstances in life; all which are hereunto annexed.
And it appearing to me in the examination here had, that the several persons above named are credible witnesses, I do hereby admit the annexed declarations as evidence, and certify the same as being satisfactory proof to me that the said Joseph Besse the applicant, served as a private soldier in the revolutionary war, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months and upwards in continuation on the continental establishment. And I do further certify, that from the declaration of the applicant made before me, under oath as aforesaid, it does appear that in consequence of his reduced circumstances in life, he is in need of assistance from his country for support; all which I do hereby certify and transmit to the Secretary of the Department of War, agreeably to the provisions of an Act of Congress, passed March 18, 1818, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war."
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused my official Seal to be affixed the day and year first mentioned.
Alcibiades H. Parsons
Judge of the United States in and for the District of Maine.

State of Maine.
Cumberland ss. At a Court of Common Pleas begun and held at Portland within & for the County of Cumberland on the seventeenth day of June being the third Tuesday of said June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty three before the Honorable Ezekiel Whitman Judge of said Court.
On this seventeenth day of June in the year 1823 personally appeared in open Court Joseph Besse of Paris in the County of Oxford Yeoman now commorant in said Portland the same proceeding according to the course of the Common Pleas, having jurisdiction unlimited in amount keeping a record of their proceedings & having the power of fine & imprisonment & being a Court of record for said County. The said Besse aged sixty three years resident in Portland aforesaid, who being first sworn duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress on the eighteenth of March 1818 and the first of May 1820 that the said Besse enlisted for the term of one year about the last day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy five in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the Company Commanded by Captain James Keith in the regiment commanded by Colonel Paul Dudley Sargeant in the line of the State of Massachusetts on the Continental establishment.

that he continued to serve in the said Corps until the month of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & seventy six when he was discharged from the service aforesaid in the town of Pittsfield in the State of New York. That his name has been placed on the Pension list, & dropped therefrom on account of his property.
And in Pursuance of the act of the first of May 1820—
For I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby 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 & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the 18th day of March 1818. 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 herunto annexed & by me subscribed; that my occupation & ability to pursue the same, together with the number & other particulars of my family, are in fact, & in truth, as is here in particularly described, & also subscribed by me.
Attest Jairus S. Keith
Joseph his Besse mark
Sworn to & declared on the 17th day of June A.D. 1823— Before.
Enniskill Whelmann } Judge of said court

Schedule of the real & personal estate (necessary clothing & bedding excepted) belonging to me the subscriber, viz:
  Two tables valued at one dollar  $1.00    Six chairs Do two dollars.  2.00    Wooden ware Do. three dollars.  3.00    Iron ware Do. two dollars.  2.00    Crockery ware Do one dollar.  1.00    Yin ware Do sixty eight cents.  68    Two spinning wheels five dollars  5.00    One Chest Do two dollars  2.00    One Loom Do five do.  5.00     $19.68    Attest Gairus Skeels Joseph his  X Berre mark
Schedule of the family residing with me Joseph Berre who by occupation am a farmer which I am not able to pursue by reason of total blindness.
   Names —  Age —  Capacity of each to contribute to their support.      Joseph Berre  63 yrs  Unable to labour at all. totally blind    Lydia Berre wife of said Joseph  57. yrs  Unable to labour by reason of debility    Joseph Berre Junior  19  Very infirm; can labour but very little    Alden Berre  16  labours some     Attest Gairus Skeels Joseph his  X Berre mark

State of Maine Lumberland ss.
I Wm D Vaughan
Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within & for the said County of Lumberland do hereby certify that the foregoing oaths & the schedules thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of said Court; And I do hereby 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 is nineteen thousand dollars and sixty eight Cents. In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court on this seventeenth day of June A.D. one thousand eight hundred & twenty three
Wm D Vaughan
Clerk of the said Court for the Coun- ty of Lumberland

Copy of a Deed of Joseph Busse to Abraham Harboe.

Know all Men by these Presents.....That
I Joseph Busse of Paris in the County of Oxford and State of Maine Yeoman do
In consideration of the sum of One hundred dollars in hand paid by Ephraim Harkow of Buckfield in said County Yeoman
the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Ephraim Harkow his
heirs and assigns forever A certain piece of land situated in Paris aforesaid being a part of lot numbered four in the ninth range of lots in said Paris, said piece of said lot on the south was conveyed by Asaph Churchill to Lewis Hark in one thousand eight hundred and two by which said piece is bounded on the south, on the west by Warren Basss lake containing twenty five acres.
To Have and to Hold the aforegranted and bargained premises, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof, to the said Ephraim Harkow his
heirs and assigns, to his their use and behoof forever.....And I do covenant with the said Harkow
his heirs and assigns, that I am lawfully seized in fee of the premises; that they are free from all incumbrances; that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Ephraim Harkow
to hold as aforesaid. And that I will warrant and defend the same to the said Ephraim Harkow his
heirs and assigns forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons. IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I the said Joseph Busse
have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of June in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty two
SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED IN PRESENCE OF Nathaniel Harkow Isaac Harkow
Oxford ss. June 13 th 1823 - Personally appeared the within named Joseph Busse acknowledged the above Instrument to be his free Act and Deed. Before me, Nathaniel Harkow JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. Oxford ss. June 13. 1823 and recorded from the original Hanson Mellen Register

Oxford St. Paris June 18. 1823 I hereby certify that the within is a true copy from Oxford Standard from Book 22. Page 290 - H. Mansel-Pleydell Deputy of the Lord Bailiff of the Bailiwick of Jersey

We the subscribers, the Selectmen of the Town of Paris, hereby Certify That Mr Joseph Befre an applicant for a pension from the United States as a Revolutionary Soldier, has been a subject of Charitable relief from said town for ten years past, by abatements of all his taxes, on account of his poverty & a total blindness, by which he is now & long has been disabled from comfortably supporting himself & family without such relief. And we further certify, that the property contained in his schedule presented to the War Department of the United States, of which which is, we believe all he was, or is possessed, is so far insufficient for his support, that he has become a subject of further charitable relief from said town. —
Paris August 11. 1821
Benja Chesley
Thomas Hill
Sam l King
State of Maine Oxford ss
Be it remembered, that on this eleventh day of August A.D. 1821, personally appeared the above named Benja Chesley & Thomas Hill, before me Rufus K. Goodenow, Clerk of the Judicial Courts for the County of Oxford, & made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration by them subscribed. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, & seal official, on the day & year above written — Rufus K. Goodenow

State of Maine Oxford ss. August 18, 1821. Then personally appeared the within named Sam l King & made oath to the truth of the of the within declaration, by him then & there subscribed in my presence, before me Ebenezer D. Goodenow, Just. Peace

1 March 1823.
Joseph Davis
Recd 27 June 1823
John C. Calhoun Secretary of War City of Washington (D.C.)

Hebron June 21. 1823
Sir,
Enclosed is a schedule of the Property owned by Joseph Beman, who hereby makes application to be reinstated on the Pension list. I also transmit to you his former Certificate & a copy of the deed of that land, for possessing which his name was stricken off of said list. This copy will doubtless be satisfactory proof of his disposing his property formerly owned, And the schedule will show that it is disposed for the satisfaction of his debts. The need of the Assistance from public or private sources, is beyond doubt. Any information wanted by you, or any returns made from you either to Enoch Lincoln Esquire of his or to myself, will be immediately attended to.
I am Sir, very respectfully, Your obedt. & humble Servant James S. Keith

Free
Rec. 24 Aug. 1821
Sec'y of the Dept. of War of the U.S.
City of Washington
Hon. John C. Calhoun
Paris Aug 20-5
Wm. C. Lincoln H.R.
[Faint, mirrored handwriting from the reverse side of the page]

Paris Aug t 18, 1821
Sir -
The enclosed certificate is transmitted in the hope that it may induce a re-examination of the claim for a pension of Joseph Besse, a revolutionary soldier. I can add to my assurance that he is a deserving object of public munificence & that he is very poor. Permit me also to recommend the case of Nathaniel Young to your favorable consideration —
I have the honor to be
Very Respectfully
Your Ob t Serv t
Enoch Lincoln
Hon. J. C. Calhoun.

Restored. Maine
Joseph Besse.
Private
1775 - one year.
Aged 63 years, by occupation a farmer, unable to pursue the same by reason of total blindness. Wife aged 55 years, able and active work, 2 Sons aged 16 & 8 years. Daughter 18 years, very unwell.
Schedule dated 15 June 1820.
Real property, one small old house with a barn, and twenty five acres of land. Simple Personal property one plough, one chain, one loom, a spinning wheel, earthenware, crockery, tin ware, one pail. The court values the property at $32.
Vide certificate of Selectmen, at the time of placement was struck from the tax roll stating that he has been a subject of char- table relief from the town, for 10 years past.
That his property is so far exempt as to render him free from town charge.
Schedule under the Act of March dated 17 June 1823.
Real property none.
Personal do. 2 Tables & Chains, loom, ware, iron ware, crockery ware, tin ware, 2 Spinning wheels, one chair, loom, etc. in all to $19.
Accounts for the decrease of his property as follows.
For the consideration of $100 has deeded the lot of land situated in his first schedule, to Abraham Haulow, that he is law- fully seized in fee of the same See Copy of the Deed, dated 12 June 1822. Filed within.
Henry L. North Esq. Enoch Lincoln Esq. Paris Maine

36909 INVALID.
Rev Y
File No. 36,909
Joseph Besse Wm Rev Mrs
Act: 18 th March 18 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 38
[Arrangement of 1870.]