Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 18655, Abner Briggs, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Briggs, Abner Sarah
NUMBER
W 18655
CONTENTS
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Letter to Hon. S. S. Phelps March 30. 1850
4141 Vermont. Southway Sarah Briggs widow of Abner Briggs who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Gratuitous Matross
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 76 Dollars 66, Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 th day of March 1849 and sent to
Silas H. Jenison Shoreham Vt
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 38 Vol. 3.

State of New York
Broome County ss. On this 5 th day of January A.D. 1839 personally appeared before me Samuel Mendenhall one of the Judges of Broome County Court, of Common Pleas within and for the County of Broome aforesaid Sarah Briggs a Resident of Monville in the County of Broome and State of New York aforesaid aged twenty nine years in the 28 th day of October A.D. 1810 who being first duly sworn according to Laws doth on her oath make the following attestation in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed July 4 th 1838. entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" that she is the widow of Abner Briggs late of Hagine in the County of Warren and State of New York deceased who was a private Soldier during the Revolutionary War the sd Abner Briggs her said husband resided during the War at Freetown in the State of Massachusetts and that she the said Sarah Briggs at that time resided on the Farm of Barkly in the State of Massachusetts adjoining the Farm of Freetown aforesaid and that she was personally acquainted with the said Abner Briggs before he married the sd Abner Briggs and before his going into the service of the United States as a Soldier as far as she further declares that she well remembers when the sd Abner Briggs first went into the service as far as that was in the month of April 1775 according to the best of her recollection. The sd Abner Briggs went into the service, that he marched from Freetown aforesaid to the American Camp near Boston. This was at the time of the first alarm and that he continued there until after the British troops evacuated Boston and that according to her best recollection he belonged to a Company commanded by Capt Samuel Tappan and that she thinks some part of the time in Colo. Frenches Regiment and in Colo. Wallkins Regiment but whether he served in the Militia or in State or Continental troops she does not now recollect and she further declares that he belonged at one time during the Revolutionary War to a Company of Artillery commanded by a Capt. Lemen and that he was in Highland

George Providence, Protestant in the State of Rhode Island, and that he served as a Soldier in the company of Artillery joined one year, that at one time in the time of General Briggs served in a Company commanded by Capt Samuel Briggs this last service was performed in the defense of Weymouth City in the year 1776. That he was at the City of Weymouth at the time the American Army evacuated the City and he the said Abner Briggs was one of the guard that was conducted out of the City by General Putnam and they were fired upon during the retreat and a young man who was a drummer was killed by the side of the said Abner, and she the said Sarah Briggs was personally acquainted with the said Abner Briggs during the war and was personally known to his friends as friends. She further declares that in consequence of her advanced age and congested life of memory she cannot now state the precise length of his said service as friends but that according to her best recollection and belief he served at least four years. That he served at various times during the Revolution. That prior to her marriage to the said Abner Briggs her name was Sarah Phelps she further declares that she was married to the said Abner Briggs on the first day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty three by Samuel Holyoke Dabbly in Massachusetts joined. The said Samuel Holyoke was then a native of the town, that he has since the said Abner Briggs died at on the 23 rd day of April in 1827 at Hingham in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place in pursuance to the will of Samuel Holyoke the said and vicinity prior (Viz) at the time above stated
sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written by a son
Sarah Briggs
Samuel Holyoke Judge of Bristol Common Pleas

" August first Seventeen Hundred and Eighty- " -two Henry Briggs of Treeton & Sarah " Phillips of Berkeley were Marries August " first Seventeen Hundred & Eighty two by " Samuel Soley Justice of Peace " Attest Saml Soley Town Clerk
I Ephraim French Jr of Berkeley in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do certify that the above is a true copy from the Records of the town of Berkeley aforesaid with the exception of the date which is expressed on the records in fair legible figures as follows Viz. August 1 st 1782  Ephraim French Jr } Clerk of said town of Berkeley
I Ephraim French Jr above named do hereby and say: That I hold the office of Clerk of the town of Berkeley aforesaid & that the above is a true extract from the records of said town of Berkeley with the exception above named as certified by me  Commonwealth of Massachusetts } Ephraim French Jr } Clk as aforesaid County of Bristol ss.  September 17 th 1838. Subscribed and sworn to Before me Barrillei became Justice of Peace

State of Vermont Upper Caledonia ss 3 P.M. it is known that before me Several Mandate of the Judges of Essex County Court of Common Pleas personally appeared Alexander E. Briggs of Whiting in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont aged thirty eight years and afterwards who being first duly sworn according to Law deposes and says that Abner Briggs late of Haver in the County of Caledonia and State of Vermont deceased was the father of him the deponent Alexander E. Briggs that the said Abner Briggs died at Haver in the State of Vermont on the 23 rd day of April A.D. 1827 and that his mother Sarah Briggs and widow of the said Abner Briggs is now living at Munroe in the County of Essex and State of Vermont and that she has not been married since the death of her husband the said Abner Briggs, but has remained a widow ever since his death Given and subscribed to the 3 rd day of January 1839 Alexander E. Briggs
Before me appeared Alexander E. Briggs of Essex Common Pleas
I hereby certify that the above named Alexander E. Briggs is a credible witness and that his testimony is worth to be heard
James M. Merrill Judge of Essex Common Pleas

o rygs s
Rev WIDOW, &c.
Apl. 27-190 Miss Ruby E.B. Briggsville Me
File No. 18655-
Sarah Briggs Widow of Abner Briggs Pri Rev War
Act: Feb 2d 48
Index:—Vol. CA Page 89
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1755
June 5-18
Q t
Mar 3 rd 1843
Sarah Briggs
$76:66 3/4
W. E. Everett  Shoreham Vt. Edward Esg Museum of Pensions Washington D.C.
FREE

New-York (A.) 1819
Sarah Briggs, widow of Abner Briggs, dead.
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 23 d of April 1827, of Essex co. in the State of N. York who was a pri. & sergeant in the comp y commanded by Captain L. Tuttle of the Reg t commanded by Col. Walker in the Massachusett line for 8 months private 12 months sergeant  sergeant
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany at the rate of 76 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of Feb- ruary 1839 and sent to Sam l W. H. H. H. H. H. H.
Arrears to the 4 th of Sept. 1838 = $198.65 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 th '39. 38.33
$229.98
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by S. A. Elliott Clerk, Book 8, Vol. 2, Page 67.

1591.
New York — Albany
Sarah Briggs
widow of Abner Briggs who was a Private & Alabys
in the Mass line
for 8 months, pri 12 " Alabys
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 76 Dollars & 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28th day of August, 1843 and sent to
U. H. Everett Shoreham Vt
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book 4. Vol. 1. Page 101.
Pat Aug 28

I Nathaniel Rose of Dighton in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged Eighty two years do testify and say that I enlisted into the service of the war of the Revolution in a company commanded by Capt. James Briggs in the Regiment under the command of Col. Cares in the month of July seventeen hundred and seventy six and served as a private soldier in said company for the term of five months said service was performed in the state of New York.
I further testify and say that Abner Briggs formerly of Freetown in said Commonwealth did serve as a private soldier with me in the same company for the term of five months according to the best of my recollection and that we were discharged in the month of December of the same year.
Nathaniel Rose
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol County ss. September 13th 1838
Then the above named Nathaniel Rose who is a credible witness made solemn Oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him signed.
Before me Barrilleig Crane Justice of Peace

I James Briggs of Dighton in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged Seventy nine years do testify and say that I was personally acquainted with Abner Briggs formerly of Freeport in said Commonwealth during the Revolutionary War, — That said Abner Briggs served as a private soldier in said war of the Revolution in a company commanded by Samuel Tibbs in the Regiment (Shilline commanded by Col. Walker of Rehoboth) for the term of eight months; I also testify and say that said Abner Briggs served as a private soldier in said war in the company commanded by said Capt. Tibbs in the Regiment under the Command of Col. French for the term of two months; that the above services making in the whole ten months were performed at Winterhill, Dorchester and Roxbury in the vicinity of Boston in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred and seventy five and seventy six.
I further testify and say that said Abner Briggs served as a private in said Revolutionary war ten months in a company of Artillery commanded by Capt. Joshua Sawyer in the Regiment commanded by Col. Eliot This last service was performed at Frogland Ferry, Providence, and Pawtucket in the State of Rhode Island and according to the best of my recollection in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred and seventy seven; and that I served the same time with said Abner Briggs in the same companies in all the services as above specified.
I also further testify and say that said Abner Briggs told me before the close of the war that he had served as a soldier in said war in a company under the command of Capt. James Briggs, in the State of New York

and that he was in the service at the time when the Americans evacuated New York.
I also further testify and say that since Briggs was in the Revolutionary Service at the close of the war according to the best of my recollection
James Briggs
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol County, Septemb 13th 1838.
Then the above named James Briggs who is a credible witness made solemn Oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him signed. Before me Barnillai Crane Justice of Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol ss. I Amos Barrett Register of the Court of Probate in for said County do hereby certify that Warilla Crane is a Justice of the Peace in for said County and that the signatures to the foregoing certificates pur- -porting to be his are genuine —
In testimony whereof I have hereun- -to set my hand & the seal of said Court this seventeenth day of September Eighteen hundred & thirty eight. A Barrett

H. of R. February 14. '39
Sir
I send herewith, the Declaration & proofs of Sarah Briggs of Moriah State of New York, on which I invite your speedy action & report to Your obedient servant William Wade
J. L. Edwards Esq

S. Edward L. Commons of Pomona

Shurton May 31 1843
Dear Sir
I have just received the expiration of Sarah Wiggins for an additional period of on your under the Act of the 3 rd March 1843
Yours Respectfully
J R Edward Esq Commissioner of Pensions
W H Everard

161 M 11/16/11
11/16/11 11/16/11
Rev. J. A. Edwards Law. of Services Washington City D.C.
FREE
see

Shoreham Vermont October 23. 1848
Sir
I enclose the application of Sarah Briggs to be restored to the Pension List -
When first making her application for a pension she resided in the State of New York. She was placed on the Roll of the New York Agency. She now resides in Vermont and can get her pension with less expense and trouble if changed to the Vermont Agency and desires the change to be made
Yours Obediently Silas H. Townson Hon J. L. Edwards - Com. of Pen.

1819 H250
Sarah Briggs
Vt
act July 38
m 82. d 27.
on Hales 1200 Malchop roll 16 p 52. Smo fri 75 no rolls of James Briggs
adm Smo. fri 12. Malchop
$ 76.16 no deduction
Hm E. W. Slade
772

Nat. Hotel
Mar 26. 1850.
1 Will the Compt. of Pensions inform me whether Abner Priggs mentioned in the enclosed letter of Mr. Ligon was entitled to his land warrant and if so whether he received it -
2 Will he also give me similar information in regard to the case of Rogers Smith mentioned in the letter of Mr. Morgan - also enclosed -
3 I am also desirous of ascertaining the situation of the application of Martin Baldwin mentioned in the letter of Mr. Smith. I have no recollection of having had any agency in the matter. But if such an application has been made the Compt. will be able to advise me of the result.
A compliance with this request will much oblige. Saml. Phelps

State of Vermont } On this 14th day of October, 1848 Addison County ss. } personally appeared before the Subscriber a justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid, Sarah Briggs, a resident of Shoreham in the county of Addison and State of Vermont, aged eighty eight years and upwards, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed on the 2nd day of February 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the revolutionary War; - That she is the widow of Abner Briggs who was, according to her best recollection a matross in a corps or Regiment of Artillery, and that he performed several tours of service in the militia in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary War, and that she drew a pension for the service of her said husband at the rate of twenty six dollars and sixty six cents per annum under the Act of Congress of the 17th of June 1844.
She further declares that she is still a widow sworn and subscribed Sarah her X Briggs to the day and year first mark above written Before me In presence of Silas H. Garrison Justice of the Peace Alex. E. Briggs Samuel S. Gale
I certify that Sarah Briggs the above named applicant is personally known to me, and that she is the identical person who

drew a pension for the service of her late husband as she states.
Silas H. Garrison Justice of the Peace
The applicant was on the Roll of the New York agency and has drawn her pension in Albany. She wishes her certificate granted on this application to authorize her to be paid at the Vermont agency -
Witness S. H. Garrison
Sarah Mark Briggs
State of Vermont } Addison County } 3
I, George S. Swift Clerk of the county court for the county of Addison in the state of Vermont, hereby certify that Silas H. Garrison, whose signature is attached to the foregoing certificate, is a justice of the peace within and for said county duly commissioned and qualified, that his term of office commenced on the first day of December A.D. 1847 and will expire on the last day of November A.D. 1848, and that I know said signature to be genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court, at Middlebury in said county this eighteenth day of October A.D. 1848.
George S. Swift Clerk of Addison County Court.

State of Vermont } on the 8 th day of May A D 1843 personally Addison County } appeared before me John M. Brunsbee a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Addison against Sarah Briggs a resident of Whiting in the County of Addison aforesaid aged eighty three years and upwards who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions whereby the act of Congress passed on the 3 rd March 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War, that she is the widow of Abner Briggs who was a private Soldier in the Militia of Massachusetts and she thinks he served under and in the Company of Capt Samuel Tibbetts and she thinks under Col Green and also under Col Walker and that he belonged to a Company of Artillery commanded by Capt Sawyer and that he received a pension of the sum of Seventy Six Dollars and seventy five Cents per annum under the act of July 7 th 1838 he never having been inscribed on the Pension List Roll of the State of New York, she further declares that she is still a widow herein and subscribed on the day her and year above written. Sarah Briggs
Before me John M. Brunsbee Justice Peace
State of Vermont } I John M Brunsbee Justice of the peace Addison County } within and for the County of Addison do hereby certify that Sarah Briggs the declarant is personally known to me John M. Brunsbee
State of Vermont }
Addison County } I, Samuel Swift, Clerk of the County Court for the said County of Addison, do hereby certify that John M. Brunsbee before whom the above affidavit appears to have been made is a Justice of the peace for said County and his name subscribed above is his own signature. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 22 nd day of May 1843.
Sam l Swift Clerk

State of New York, Be it known that you are several Updegraff p. 3 Mordak one of the Judges of the County Court of Common Pleas personally appeared David Briggs a resident of Monak in the County of Essex affirmed and forty one years of age who being first duly sworn, according to law deposes and says that he is the son of Abner Briggs late of Hager in the County of Warren and State of New York deceased that the said Abner Briggs died at Hager on or the 23 rd day of April 1827 and that Sarah Briggs mother of her the said David Briggs and widow of the said Abner Briggs is now living at Monak in the County of Essex and that she has not been married since the death of the said Abner Briggs her said husband but she has remained a widow ever since his death
David Briggs
Given and subscribed to the 3 rd day of February 1829
Before me David Mordak Judge of Essex Common Pleas
I hereby certify that the claim against David Briggs is a just debt and his estate is entitled to credit
David Mordak Judge of Essex Common Pleas

State of New York Essex County ss. } I Samuel Mendenhall one of the Judges of Upper County Court of Common Pleas do hereby declare my opinion after investigating the matter on the application of Sarah Briggs for a pension that she is the widow of Abner Briggs late of Haver in the County of Franklin and State of New York deceased. That he died as a soldier in the War of the Revolution as she in her declaration states and that she the said Sarah Briggs who has made her declaration and Alexander A. Briggs and Dorus Briggs who have made their affidavits are each credible witnesses and their statements are entitled to credit. I further certify that it is also made to appear to you that Officers Francis Matthews and Lyman Briggs who have also made their respective affidavits are credible witnesses.
Samuel Mendenhall Judge of Lower Common Pleas
State of New York Essex County ss. } I Samuel Mendenhall one of the Judges of Upper County Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing and concurrent affidavits contain the original proceedings on the application of Sarah Briggs for a pension granted January 5 th 1839
Samuel Mendenhall Judge of Lower Common Pleas

State of New York County of Essex p. 2
I Edward S. Cuyler. Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County and State aforesaid do hereby Certify. that Honorable Samuel Muedock whose name is subscribed to the preceding Affidavits & Certificates herein to annexed. was on the day of the date thereof a Judge of the said Court of Common Pleas in and for said County. Having therein Commissioned Sworn and duly authorized by Law to act as such & further that his name subscribed thereto is his genuine signature.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Court this 8th day of January A.D. 1839.
Edward S. Cuyler Clerk

State of New York ) I Samuel Mandell one of the Judges of the County Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the above named Sarah Briggs is a credible witness and that her testimony is entitled to credit Given under my hand this _____ day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and _____
State of New York ) I Samuel Mandell one of the Judges of the County Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the above named Sarah Briggs the affiant is in company of her deceased son and bodily infirmity is incapable of attending court Given under my hand this _____ day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and _____

April 20. 1900.
Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Can you tell me for what service Abner Briggs received a pension?
He was born in Taunton, Mass. July 18. 1754, married in Berkeley, Mass. Mch. 30. 1782 to Sarah Phillips , and died in Hague, N. Y. April 26, 1826.
His widow, Sarah

Phillips Briggs, drew a pension!
She died in Shoreham Vt. April 13. 1850. I am very anxious to learn whether it was the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812 in which he served. Hoping you will grant me a reply.
Respectfully (Miss) Robey E. Briggs. Briggsville. Vt.