Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 594, James Barton, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Barton, James
R 594
CONTENTS

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. } District of Maine . . . . . Hancock ss. }
On this first day of May 1818, before me the subscriber, the Judge of the Probate Court, in and for said county, personally appears James Barton , aged seventy two years, resident in Castine, in said county, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late 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": That he, the said James Barton enlisted in the year 1776, in Topsham, in the State of Massachusetts, in the company commanded by Captain John Reed, of the seventh Massachusetts Regiment, under Colonel Alden (afterwards Colonel Brooks): That he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States until the conclusion of three full years from the time of enlistment, sometime in the year 1779, when he was discharged from service in Albany in the State of New York: That he was in the battle, and wounded, at Saratoga, at the capture of Burgoyne's army, &c. That he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support, and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services.
Witness
Moses L. Jenkins
James his X Barton mark

Sworn to and declared before me the day and year aforesaid Job Nelson
I, Job Nelson, Judge of the Probate Court, as aforesaid, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said James Barton, did serve, in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress. —
Wartime May 1. 1810.
Job Nelson
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ss. Probate Office May 12th A.D. 1812
I do further certify that it is my opinion that the above named James Barton is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support. testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Court of Probate to be affixed the day last aforesaid.
Job Nelson
Judge of Probate
Attest Wm Abbot

29 I James Barton of Eastline, whose deposition of the 28 th Aug is hereunto annexed, having since been questioned whether I ever knew a person of my name who did desert from the Continental Army, now testify and say, that I never did personally know a soldier of my name who deserted, but I will remember the following circumstance - Whilst I was on furlough, as stated in my former deposition, being then travelling in the Continental Waggons, in the town of Springfield, Massachusetts, Capt Vincent, under whose command I volunteered, was riding on horseback by the side of the Waggons, on coming to where two roads met, Capt Vincent rode up to a post where a paper was nailed up, and read over a list of Deserters, among whom he read one "James Barton - black hair - black eyes" - Capt Vincent jocosely observed, "Barton they have advertised you here as a Deserter, but they have not got your hair and eyes right!" The fact was, my hair was then a very light brown, and my eyes are a light grey - We laughed at the circumstance and I thought no more of it - I never knew the James Barton who deserted, there was none of that name in Capt Reeds Company beside myself and my Son , who was killed in battle with the Enemy, being then a lad of only thirteen years of age. Humbly submitting my claim to my Country, for whose Independence I fought truly three years, further saith not.
Nantucket ss. Eastline August 30. 1819
James his Barton mark
Sworn to as true before me
Worcester L. Judkins Not Pub & Jur Pls

Is Samuel Hinson of Deer Isle in the County of Hancock Commonwealth of Massachusetts do testify and declare that I was a Private six years in the Continental Revolutionary Army of the United States - That I served three years in Capt Reed's Company and Col. Alden's Re- -giment of the Massachusetts Line which having been proved to the satisfaction of the Government my name is now inscribed on the Pension List of the United States. And That I am well acquainted with James Barton of Castine and knew him while he was in the P ty Army in Capt Reed's Company aforesaid and my impression is that he served about three years in said company - I was not particularly acquainted with him at that time more than with other men in the same company - But I remember his being wounded and being sent to the Hospital. That I have carefully read his the P ty Barton's Deposition of this date and have subjected him to a long and rigid exam- -ination of all the incidents and minutiae attending his alleged service particularly the campaign to Cherry Valley and the result is that comparing the same with my recollection and personal knowledge I have no doubt but his own Statement of his services is true - I never heard it said while I was in the army or since until now, that the said Barton ever deserted from the service at all, and it appears to me impossible that a man

could have deserted from our Company without its being spoken of so that it would have come to my knowledge had such been the fact - And so far as my knowledge & inform- -ation extends said Barton has ever supported the character of an honest man and of veracity - and according to the best of my recollection and belief the aforesaid Barton accom- -panied the detachment in 1779 to Cherry Valley in which I was myself and returned with me to Albany.
Samuel Stinson
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hancock SS. Boston August 28. th 1819
Then the above named Samuel Stinson personally appeared and made solemn oath before me the undersigned to the truth of the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed - And I the said Justice do hereby certify that the said Samuel Stinson to me personally known sustains an unexception- -able character for truth and veracity so far as my knowledge or information extends - Which I attest.
Moses L. Judkins Atty Pub: & Jur. Par.

I James Barton of Castine aged seventy three years do testify and declare that about the month of February 1777 I enlisted for three years into the Continental Army of the United States and as near as I can now recollect the following are the incidents of my revolutionary services - about June 1777 I with others joined the main army at Ticonderoga - about July we were defeated by Burgoyne and retreated to Stillwater where sometime after General Gates arrived and took command - Gen l Gates made some new organization of the army - among other things Capt Vincent of the Light Infantry requested volunteers to join his Company - I turned out among others and joined him under Col. Morgan - In October an engagement took place with Burgoyne's Army which resulted in his capture - In this engagement I was wounded by a Musket ball in the leg which with the Fever which ensued confined me to the Hospital first at Albany and afterwards at Skeneateles in all about eleven weeks - after I was able to leave the Hospital Lieut Gibbons went with me to Gen l Nixon and requested a Furlough for me of forty days - which was granted - I then went to Boston to visit my friends and took passage as far as Worcester in the Continental Wagons - In thirty two days from the date of my Furlough I again joined the Army at Albany and reported myself to Capt Reed in Col. Alden's Regiment the Company is

which I first enlisted - It never was suggested to me that I ought to have reported myself to Capt Vincent in whose company I was wounded - I certainly considered it as a Volunteer movement which ended with the occasion which gave rise to it I remained in Capt Reeds company at Albany until the next Spring when about May 1779 I marched with a part of the army to Cherry Valley where we had an engagement with the Indians and sometime about December I was among the Detachment who returned to Albany for Winter Quarters where I remained until about the month of February 1780 when a few days before my three years service expired I received an honorable discharge from Col. Brooks now the chief Magistrate of this Commonwealth Before my Application was returned from the War Office it was never suggested to me that my name appeared on the Rolls as a Deserter - It is certainly possible I might have been marked for Desertion by mistake in Capt Vincents company after my furlough had expired when in fact I was at the same time doing duty in Capt Reeds company and Col Aldens Regiment where I first enlisted - I now most solemnly declare that I never did desert from the Standard of my Country for whose Bounty I have heretofore made Application and of which this Deposition is intended to be explanatory
James his  X Buxton
Hancock SS. last time August 28 th 1819 - Sworn to as true before
Moses L. Judkins Not: Pub First Place

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hancock ss. — Castine August. 28. 1819
I Moses L. Judkins Notary Public by lawful Authority admitted and sworn dwelling in Castine aforesaid Do hereby certify to all whom it may concern That I have been acquainted with James Barton of Castine whose Deposition is contained on the other part of this sheet for more than fifteen years - that his general occupation has been that of a Fisherman and although he is very poor his character as an honest man stands fair - That so far as my knowledge or information extends his general reputation for truth and veracity has never been impeached —
I further certify that since March 1818 I have frequently in my capacity aforesaid been applied to by Revolutionary Soldiers to draw up their Applications for Pensions and Depositions proving their service and that I have never heard from any source whatever (except the statement on the back of his application herunto annexed) that the said James Barton was a Deserter during the period of his enlistment.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal of Office the day and year first above written
Moses L. Judkins Not: Pub:

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

James Barton, Described - Rejected - (See Gov. Brooks's letter within v)

Mass ts James Barton Private Col. Alden & Col. Brooks Regt. Massachusetts Line 1776-1779
594
- appeared before the inquest 17 Feb 1779 Deserted 11 Mar 1778 - does not appear by the rolls that he was service after that time his service is ended

Stephen Floyd Deposition
I Stephen Floyd of the Isle of Holt a place unincorporated but within the County of Hancock formerly of Newbury do testify and declare that I was a soldier in the Revolutionary army of the United States that I am well acquainted with James Barton of Eastport that I knew P Barton while he was in the army under Capt Reed in 1776 where I often saw him for about a year when we separated and I knew no more of his service of my own knowledge - and that I have no interest whatever in P Barton obtaining the Pension for which I am informed he has made application
Stephen Floyd
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hancock ss Eastport April 7. 1819
Then the above named Stephen Floyd made oath to the truth of the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed before me the undersigned. And I do certify that in my opinion said Floyd is a credible witness
Moses L. Judkins Not Pub & Just Peace
7 April

Samuel Stinson Deposition
I Samuel Stinson of Deer Isle in the County of Hancock do testify and say That I am well acquainted with James Barton of Castine That to my certain knowledge P Barton was a Soldier in the Revolutionary army of the United States according to my recollection about three years but am certain of his said service at least one year - I knew him in Capt Reed Company and Col Alden Regiment and afterwards in Col. Brooks Regiment. That I do not remember the time of his enlisting and of discharge - That I have no interest direct or otherwise in the Pension for which P Barton made application
Samuel Stinson
Commonwealth of Massachusetts }
Hancock ss Castine June 7. 1810 }
Then the above named Samuel Stinson personally appeared before me the subscriber and made oath to the truth of the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed - and I the said Justice do hereby certify that the said Samuel Stinson is a credible witness
Which I attest
Moses L. Judkins Not Pub & Ins Pao