Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 14363, Braman Benjamin, Mass

BRAMAN, BENJAMIN (MASS) W 14363

Camps at Warren Dec r 17 th 1876 to Corporal Benja a Brannan Second Corporal in the first Company of Boston of Military you are forthwith to notify, and warn Josiah Woodward of S d Norton forthwith to March and join his Company Now Stationed at S d Warren Complete the arms and ammunition fit for Service hereof fail not and Make Return of your doings to me as soon as may be Given under my hand & Seal Isaac Hodges Capt

Map
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14363
Anna Brannon
Widow of
Benjamin Brannon
Scott Rev War
Act: July 4th 86
Index:—Vol. a , Page 67
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Rejected See let. to A. Bapett July 15 th 1837

Benj n Brannen Mass. out 7. June - when last p d 2 G. M. C.
22 Sep 38.
To Hillack 1837.
S. H. H.

10.291
BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Benjamin Brann — 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? — no 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?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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?
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? — no —
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? — no —
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?
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.
5. In Additional Affidavit 14. Supplied

I Elijah Hodges of Norton in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts eighty-four years of age do hereby testify & say that I have been well acquainted with Benjamin Brennan of the same Norton for a great number of years and that he the said Brennan served as a soldier in the army of the American Revolution one campaign of one month in a company commanded by Capt Isaac Hodges and in Col John Daggitt's  William Regiment or Brigade  at I think a part of said month in the  the  near  the Island & part of the time on we were stationed the the Island, and it was at Sullivan's Expedition (so called) in the year 1778 I served as a soldier in the same company at the same time.
Dated at Norton this 20 th day of August 1832
Elijah Hodges
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol } ss. Before me, one of the Justices of the County } Peace within and for the County of Bristol personally appeared Elijah Hodges subscriber to the above affidavit and made oath that the same is true in all its parts - In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & quality this 20 th day of August A D 1832 Groom Leonard Justice of Peace

Bristol ss May 9 th 1833 I certify that Elijah Hodges who signed the affidavit  within affidavit is a disinterested & credible witness.
Green L. Leonard Justice Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss. I Anselm Barrett Register of the Court of Probate in & for said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that Cornwall Leonard whose signature is affixed to the foregoing Certificate is a Justice of the Peace duly qualified to administer oaths
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this twenty first day of May Eighteen hundred & Thirty Three — Anselm Barrett

Personally appeared before me, the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Bristol Benjamin Brannon of the Town of Norton in said County, 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 period of the war of the American Revolution when he served as a private soldier under Captain Richard Cobb, but according to the best of his recollection & belief it was in the spring of the year 1778, that he knew it he enlisted at this campaign for one month & a half and served out the whole of his engagement under said Cobb. And for such service I the said Benjamin Brannon claim a pension. Benjamin Brannon
Bristol ss May 20 th 1833 Sworn & subscribed
Before me Groom Leonard Justice Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss. E. Anselm Basset, Register of the Court of Probate, in & for said County, hereby certify that Groomwell Leonard before whom the above Affidavit was taken, is a Justice of the Peace for said County, and the signature to the above certificate is his genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court, this twenty first day of May, eighteen hundred and thirty three. Anselm Basset

I Rufus Hodges of Norton County of Bristol State of Massachusetts being twenty three years of age, and I Amos Martin of Nehonoth County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts being seventy seven years of age do testify and say that we have been well acquainted with Benjamin Braman of Norton County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts for a great many years past. That he was called out as a private Soldier in the Militia under Capt Isaac Hodges in Col. John Daggett's Regt. in the Army of the American Revolution. He was in the service at this time a Campaign of about Six Weeks at Rhode Island. He marched to Warren, then crossed over the River to Tiverton it was in the month of December 1776. when he enlisted, there he was discharged in the winter of 1777. The above service was performed in the Massachusetts State Troops.
Dated at Norton Augt 13. 1832
Rufus Hodges Amos Martin

Bristol } Commonwealth of Massachusetts county } ss Before me one of the Justices of the peace within and for the county of Bristol personally appeared Rufus Hodges and Amos Martin subscribers to the within affidavit and made oath that the same is true in all its parts. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and quality this 13 th day of August A 1832.
Corn d Leonard Justice of Peace
Bristol ss May 9 th 1833 I certify that Rufus Hodges and Amos Martin who signed the within affidavit are in my opinion disinterested & credible witnesses
Corn d Leonard Justice Peace

1 I Amos Martin of Rehoboth in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts being Seventy seven years of age, do hereby testify and say, that I have been well acquainted with Benjamin Braman of Boston in said County, for a great number of years, and that the said Braman served as a private Soldier in a Company with me in the Army of the American Revolution, That he the said Braman volunteered under Capt Benjamin Mory & Lieut David Arnold for the defense of the New-England States, & of the marched to Concord and Lexington on the 19 th of April 1775, when the enemy was defeated and drove back to Boston, There he did duty eleven days under said Officers above named as a Soldier Then he enlisted for eight months under Capt. Silas Cobb, in  col. Col. Timothy Walker's Regt. and continued in the service in the four New England States until the first day of January 1776. was stationed at Squantum. he  was called to march to join the Battle of Bunker Hill Battle on said day. I served as a Soldier some time of the The above services were rendered in the first Campaign in the Massachusetts State Troops, Dated at Boston Aug 13. 1832 Amos Martin

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol } ss. Before me one of the Justices of County } the Peace within and for the county of Bristol personally appeared Anna Martin subscriber to the within aff- -idavit and made oath that the same is true in all its parts. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and quality this 13 th day of August A D 1832. Coronr. Leonard Justice of Peace
Bristol ss May 9 th 1833 I certify that Anna Martin who signed the within affidavit is in my opinion a disinterested & credible witness.
Coronr. Leonard Justice of Peace

2 I Sylvanus Braman of Norton in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts being Seventy nine years of Age, do hereby testify and say, that I have been well acquainted with Benjamin Braman of Norton in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts for a great number of years past. That the said Benjamin Braman served as a private Soldier in a Company with me in the Army of the American Revolution one Campaign of Eight Months in Capt Silas Cobb's company, and Col. Timothy Walker's Regt. in the year 1775. He was stationed at Norbury, and from thence to a place called Squantum, where he was discharged. The above service was performed in the Massachusetts State Troops.
Dated at Norton Augt 13. 1832
Sylvanus Braman

Commonwealth of Massachusetts ss Before me one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Bristol personally appeared Sylvanus Brannan subscribed to the within affidavit and made oath that the same is true in all its parts. In testimony whereof, I have here- unto subscribed my name and quality this 13 th day of August A D 1832. Crosby Leonard Justice of Peace
Bristol J y May 9 th 1833 I certify that Sylvanus Brannan who signed the within Affidavit is in my opinion a disinterested & credible witness. Crosby Leonard Justice of Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss. I Anselm Bassett Justice of the Peace within
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Bristol ss. I Anselm Bassett Register of the Court of Sessions in the said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that Cornwall Leonard whose signature is subscribed to the foregoing certificates is a Justice of the Peace in the said County of Bristol — In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at the seal of said Court this twenty first day of May A.D. 1833. Anselm Bassett

I Seth Hodge of Norton in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts being Sixty six years of age do testify and say that I was well acquainted with Anna Brennan widow of Benjamin Brennan late of said Town of Norton deceased, and that I was also well acquainted with the said Benjamin Brennan and lived in the neighborhood where they resided for more than thirty years now last past. and I further testify and say that the said Benjamin Brennan died on the fifth day of March one thousand eight hundred and thirty four, it being the March now last past. and that he has left a widow namely the above said Anna Brennan who now lives in the said Town of Norton, and has remained the widow of the said Benjamin Brennan up to this day Norton April 3, 1837. Seth Hodge
State of Massachusetts Bristol County ss
on the 3 rd day of April 1837. Before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace within and for said County personally appeared Seth Hodge Subscriber to the above affidavit and made oath that the same is true in all its parts. And I certify that the said Seth Hodge is to me well known, and that he is a disinterested and credible witness.
From Leonard Justice Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Bristol ss. I Asahel Barrett Register of the court of Probate for said County, do hereby certify that Cromwell Leonard is a Justice of the Peace for said County & that the signatures to the foregoing certificates purporting to be his are genuine -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this 21 st day of April 1837. A. Barrett

1792 old census 3759
Anna Braman widow of Benjamin
Mass.
act 4 July 1836
Joint Resolution of 7 July 1838.
admtd 10. 26. 5/100 1. 15. Corp
$44.71
deduct. died March 1837. Rev. Comm. 7 6 March 1837.
A. Bapell Taunton Mass.

State of Massachusetts Bristol County } /
On this tenth day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight Personally appeared, Before the Hon. Oliver Prescott Judge of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Bristol, at a term of said Court held at Taunton within and for said County. Anna Brennan a resident of the Town of Norton in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts aged eighty - 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 4. 1836. and the Joint resolution of July 7. 1838. That she is the Widow of Benjamin Brennan late of said Norton deceased Who was a private in the war of the Revolution and served a number of campaigns in that war, but she cannot particularly describe his service, and she has no documentary evidence on that subject. But refers for proof of his service to his declaration for a pension (and the accompanying evidence) made under the Act of Congress of June 7. 1832. Which is now on file in the pension office at Washington, and upon which the said Benjamin Brennan was pensioned.
She further declares that she was married to the said Benjamin Brennan on the twenty six day of March in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven and that the said Benjamin Brennan died on the fifth day of March one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven, and that she has remained his widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof which is herewith annexed, and also to her declaration for a pension (and the accompanying papers) made under the above mentioned Act of Congress of July 4. 1836. and which are now on file in the pension office at Washington.
Anne Brennan
Sworn to & subscribed on the day and year above written
Before Oliver Prescott { Judge of the Court of Probate for Bristol County

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Bristol ss. I Amos Barrett Register of the Court of Probate in for said County do hereby certify that Oliver Barrett whose signature is affixed to the within Certificate is Judge of said Court of Probate —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this fifteenth day of August eighteen hundred and thirty eight - A Barrett

March twenty six one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven. Married each to the other Mr Benjamin Brennan and Miss Anna McCabe both of Norton By the Rev. Joseph Palmer.
I John Crane certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the record of said Town of Norton with the exception of the date which is expressed in fair legible figures as follows - March 26 th 1877.
John Crane Town Clerk of the Town of Norton I John Crane above named depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the Town of Norton, County of Bristol, and State of Massachusetts, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Town, with the exception above named as certified by me.
Norton Aug. 7 th 1888.
John Crane } Town Clerk of the Town of Norton
State of Massachusetts Bristol County } ss August 7. 1888. Then personally appeared John Crane subscriber to the above certificate & deposition and made oath that the same is true in all its parts. Before me Cromwell Leonard Justice Peace and I do further certify that the said John Crane is a disinterested and credible witness.
Cromwell Leonard Justice Peace

I Asarelah M. Bridge of Norton in the County of Bristol being of lawful age do testify and say, that I am acquainted with the widow Anna Brannan of said Norton, and that she has never intermarried with any person since the death of her late husband Benjamin Brannan late of said Town of Norton deceased but remains the widow of the said Benjamin Brannan up to the present day, and that the said Benjamin Brannan was a Revolutionary pensioner and I do further testify and say that the said Benjamin Brannan died in said Town of Norton on the fifth day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven.
Asarelah M. Bridge
Norton August 9 th 1838.
State of Massachusetts Bristol County - (ss) August 9 th 1838. Then personally appeared Asarelah M. Bridge subscriber to the above affidavit and made oath that the same is true in all its parts Before me Aaron Leonard Justice Peace And I do further certify that the said Asarelah M. Bridge is a disinterested & credible witness. Aaron Leonard Justice Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Bristol ss. I Amos Bassett Register of the Court of Probate in for said County do hereby certify that Cromwell Leonard whose signature is affixed to the fore- going Certificate is a Justice of the Peace in for said County of Bristol -
In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand and the seal of said Court this fifteenth day of August eighteen hundred and thirty eight — A Bassett