Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L.Wt. 2104-100, Robert Billings, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass
Billings, Robert
NUMBER
BL. Wt. 2104-100
CONTENTS

Boston. Mass ts , March 31 st 1835. Received this day by due course of Mail, from the United States War Dept., Land Warrant No 2104, for 100 acres of Bounty Land, Issued to Jesse Billings, Olive Billings, Urania Bassett & Betsey L. Kelley*, Children and only heirs at law to Robert Billings, who Soldier was a Private in the Massachusetts line of the Revolutionary Army
Reuben Baldwin
* Betsey L. Kelley is a Grand Daughter of Robt. Billings

Robert Billings No 2164

Heirship Claim in Right of the heirs of Robert Bellings

DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
State of Massachusetts } ss. Plymouth County. }
I, Urania Russell a Daughter and one of the heirs at law to Robert Billings deceased, do upon oath testify and declare, that to the best of my knowledge and belief, Robert Billings aforesaid, about, or in the year 1777 entered, or enlisted into the service of the United States, for the term of "During the War:" and that he continued in the service aforesaid, until the close of the same, when he received an honorable discharge at the termination thereof, from the Seventh Regiment of the Massachusetts line commanded by Colonel John Brooks and when he was a Private . I further testify that my Father Robert Billings aforesaid departed this life in the Town of East Canton County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts about 40 years since, and did not draw a pension from the United States previous to his decease.
I further declare, that I have never received a warrant for the Bounty Land promised to Robert Billings aforesaid, on the part of the United States, nor do I believe he ever received it, or transferred his claim to it in any manner whatsoever:
Therefore, KNOW All Men By these Presents, that I Urania Russell aforesaid, do hereby constitute and appoint Reuben Dalawin of Green Ville in the State of New York my true and lawful attorney, for me and in my name to demand and receive from the Secretary of War of the United States, a Warrant for the quantity of Bounty Land due me and the other heirs at law of Robert Billings aforesaid. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 11 th day of March in the year 1834.
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered, in presence of Nathan Mitchell
Urania Russell
Plymouth County, ss.
Be it known that on this eleventh day of March in the year 1834 Before the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County, personally appeared Urania Russell the subscriber to the above declaration, who made solemn oath to the truth of the same: and likewise acknowledged the power of attorney thereunto subjoined, to be her free act and deed; dated at Bridgewater in said County the day and year above mentioned.
Nathan Mitchell Justice of the Peace.
State of Massachusetts } ss. Plymouth County. }
I, Jacob H. Lord Clerk of the Court of United States of Plymouth County , do hereby certify, that Nathan Mitchell before whom the foregoing declaration was sworn, and the subjoined power of attorney purports to have been acknowledged, is and was at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace, in and for the County of Plymouth duly commissioned sworn and qualified by law to take affidavits, &c. and further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of said Justice, and verily believe the signature purporting to be his is genuine. In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the said Court and subscribed my name at Plymouth this 14 th day of March in the year 1834.
Jacob H. Lord

Authenticated Certificate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk ss. I, Sherman Leland, Judge of the Court of Probate for said County, hereby certify, that satisfactory evidence has been adduced to me to prove that Robert Billings of Canton (formerly Slaughter) in said County died about twenty eight years ago - That said Billings was a soldier in the Revolutionary war in the Massachusetts line - re-enlisted that for during the war & served the full period of his engagement: and also that the said Robert Billings left a Widow who has since deceased & five children viz Joseph Billings Robert Billings Oliver Billings Maria Bapett & Ruth White - That Robert Billings has since de- ceased leaving no issue & that said Ruth White has also deceased leaving Betsey L Kelley her only child & that the said Joseph Billings Oliver Billings Maria Bapett & Betsey L Kelley are now living & are the on- ly surviving heirs at law of the said Robert

Billings deceased
In witness whereof I the said Sherman Leland have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said court this fourteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty five
S Leland

Affidavit of Laban Lewis

I Laban Lewis of Canton in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do testify and say, that I am now over seventy years of age, that I was born, and have always lived in that part of Houghton which is now Canton. I further testify and say that I was formerly well acquainted with Robert Billings late of this town deceased, and that said Robert enlisted as a soldier, and served during the whole of the Revolutionary War according to my best knowledge and belief, and I have no doubt of the fact; I was a near neighbour of said Robert Billings at the commencement of the War, and after his return, he lived in my immediate neighbourhood untill the time of his decease - which, according to my best recollection was in the year 1808 - From frequent conversations held with said Robert in relation to his services in the Army, I have uniformly understood that he was a drummer - I further testify and say, that I was formerly well acquainted with the family of said Robert which consisted of a wife and five children to wit, two sons and three daughters. Namely, Jesse, Robert, Maria, Ruth, and Olive Billings - that said Maria married a man by the name of Basset and now resides together with her sister Olive in Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth in said Commonwealth but of the other members of this family I have no distinct knowledge, whether they are living or dead Laban Lewis
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk ss February 13. 1835 Then personally appeared the above named Laban Lewis and made oath, that the above deposition by him subscribed is true.
Before me Thomas French Justice of the Peace N.B. I further testify that I was well acquainted with the above named Robert Billings and that I have always understood that he was a soldier in the War of the Revolution - I was formerly acquainted with the family of said Robert which consisted of a wife and five children as named in the above deposition. That said Jesse now resides in

the state of Maine, that Robert died at sea unmarried leaving no issue, that Maria and Olive are now living in Bridg- water, Plymouth County, of Ruth I have no knowledge whatever - I further say that the within named deponent Laban Lewis is a man of undoubted truth and veracity.
Thomas French Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk County ss.
I Jonathan H. Cobb Register of the Court of Probate for the county and state aforesaid do hereby certify that Thomas French Esquire is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & that his signature above written is genuine & true. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed the seal of said Court at Dedham this third day of March A.D. 1835.
Jonathan H. Cobb Register of Probate