Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29043, Amos Burnham, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Burnham, Amos
S 29043
CONTENTS

10.849. Massachusetts
See letter 18 May 1835 to Pension
Amos Burnham
of Ridge in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Dodge of the reg t commanded by Col Little in the exp d time for 20 (Nov 18 Days)
Hanna
Eph 76
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 68 Dollars 65 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of Apr 1832 and sent to Person Gloucester Mass
Arrears to the 4th of May 1833 $137.30 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 34.32 $171.62
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H McBlain Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 2 , Page 5

6830
Amos Burnham
W.C.E
Plats 20 Mr 18 day
$68,65-
Wm Herson Gloucester mass

6830
BRIEF in the case of  County of Essex
Amos Burnham  in the State of Mass  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
Essex
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 74  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.     From allay 73 - lie Feb'y 11 In 1776 3 9 Private Cap n Dodge Col Little   about 28 Feb'y 76 to 18 th Nov r 76 8 x 18 " Cap n Giddings Col Foster   in the winter think From Jan'y to March 22 3 " Cap n Dodge Col y Pickering  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Essex Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? one living witness  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Right 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
John C. Easton Examining Clerk.  24 Jan 33
* claiming 9 mos. & 18 days

6820. Amos Burnham
AD.
Feb 15

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS: COUNTY OF ESSEX, ss.
On this ————— fourth day of September A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the HONORABLE DANIEL APPLETON WHITE, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, now sitting, Amos Burnham , a resident of Essex , in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, aged 74 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 Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:
That he enlisted as a Private in the month of May, 1775 for the term of nine months in Capt. Abraham Dodge's company in Col. Littles Reg t of Massachusetts militia and served therein at Cambridge until the month of February, 1776 when he received a discharge which is lost.
That he again enlisted as a Private in Capt. Daniel Giddings company in Col. Joseph Foster's Reg t of Massachusetts militia, stationed at Gloucester, as sea-coast guards, on or about the 28th February, 1776 and continued to serve therein until the 18th November, 1776, being nine months 18 days and was discharged; but has lost his discharge, if one was given.
That he again enlisted as a Private for three months in Capt. John Dodges company in Col. Timothy Pickering's Reg t of Massachusetts militia in the year 1777; the month not recollected; was cold weather; supposes it was from January to March; was marched to Bound Brook so called, in New Jersey, where he was stationed and served out the term of his enlistment. Was discharged but has no discharge.
That he was born in said Essex on the 19th March, 1758, then a Parish of Ipswich; and that he has a record thereof in a book. That he lived in said Essex (then a Parish of Ipswich) when called into the service; has lived there since the Revolutionary war; and he now lives there.
That he entered the service at the times before mentioned by voluntary enlistment; and that he has no documentary evidence as required by the War Department.
That Thomas Burnham will certify positively to his knowledge of the applicants service at Gloucester in 1776 and at New Jersey in 1777; and annexed is proof of his service in 1775 taken in 1818 before the Hon. William Whitmore, associate Judge of Cir. Court of Pleas. That the Rev. Robert Crowell with Thomas Burnham ————— will testify as to his character and belief of services as a Revolutionary soldier.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. Amos Brewster
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
D. H. Miller
JUDGE OF PROBATE.
We, and
a clergyman, residing in Esquire, a magistrate, residing in
aforesaid, aforesaid,
do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
who has subscribed
and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be            years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Subscribed and sworn to before

State of Massachusetts
I Jerros Burnham a Citizen of the United States, now resident at Haverhill in the County of Essex , in the State aforesaid, do on oath testify and declare, that in the War of the Revolution, on the month of May in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred & seventy five
I entered and was engaged in the land service of the United States on the continental establishment, and served accordingly from that time to the month of February in the year Seventeen hundred & seventy six, for nine continued months as a private against the common enemy, without any interruption or absence: that I belonged to Captain Dodge's Company in Colonel Little's Regiment, in the Massachusetts line of the Army
and that I left the service on the expiration of the term of service being honorably discharged and that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life and poverty, I stand in need of assistance from my country for support, being now of the age of Sixty years My discharge, the lapse of time is now lost & I have none other evidence to offer than is herewith exhibited
And I hereby relinquish all claim to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States, if any may be or hath been so allowed.
Jerros Burnham
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen Pursuant to a 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," made and passed on the 18th of March, A. D. 1818, personally appeareth before me the subscriber one of the Associate Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit within the State aforesaid & presiding pro hac vice
the abovenamed Jerros Burnham and after due examination and caution to testify and declare the whole truth, he maketh oath to the declaration aforesaid, and subscribes the same in my presence; and, on examination duly made by me the said Judge, it appeareth to my satisfaction that the said declaration is true. In testimony
Whereof I hereunto affix my name & the seal of said Court Wm Wetmore
June 15 1818. I also certify that the within named Deponents are credible and

Alma Bunnham
#
no bono continental
Establishment not of months at any one period on the continental establishment

And the said Court hereby declares its opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that Robert Crowell who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman resident in Essex and that the said Thomas Burnham who has also signed the same is a Magistrate resident at Essex and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
D. H. Miller Judge of Probate
I, NATHANIEL LORD Junior, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Amos Burnham for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this fourth day of September A. D. 1832.
Nath. Lord Jr.

29043 Rev INVALID.
File No. 29,048
Simon Burnham
Rev War
Act: June 7 th 39 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 59
[Arrangement of 1870.]

6830
Amos Burnham
Wm Ferson
Gloucester
Mass

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Amos Turnham 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? [Handwritten line] 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? Yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? Yes 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? Yes 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? Yes 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? Yes 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? Yes
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.

Amos Burnham

I Thomas Burnham of Essex in the County of Essex, State of Massachusetts aged 72 years, on oath testify, that I am well acquainted with Amos Burnham, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that to my knowledge he served in Capt. Daniel Giddings company in 1776 and Capt. John Dodges company, Pickering Regiment in 1777 as he has declared, having myself served in Capt. Giddings company in 1776 and in Genl. Lord's company, Pickering Regiment at Boxford Brook, N.J. at the same time & place: that Amos Burnham, now present, is the identical person who served as above Thomas Burnham
I Robert Crowell, a Clergyman, residing in the town of Essex, hereby certify, that I am well acquainted with Amos Burnham who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that I believe him to be 72 years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution; and that I concur in that opinion
Robert Crowell
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Essex, ss.
On this fourteenth day of August, 1832, before me William Ferson, Notary Public, in the County of Essex, personally came Thomas Burnham and Robert Crowell, above named, who subscribed and made oath to the above written statement; and I certify that S r . Thomas Burnham is known to me as a credible person & his statement entitled to credit: that S r . Crowell is a Clergyman residing in said Essex
Witness my hand and Notarial Seal at Gloucester, the day & year aforesaid
William Ferson, Not y Public