Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4959, Daniel Brett, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Brett, Daniel
S 4959
CONTENTS
carded

15496 Massachusetts
Daniel Brett of Plymouth in the State of Mass. who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain _____ of the _____ commanded by Col. Hays in the Mass line for 9 Mo Mch
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 30 Dollars _____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 th day of June 1833 and June 29 36 Land Plymouth
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $60 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Sep " 15 $75
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H McBlain Clerk Book No. Vol. 2. Page 7.
Plymo

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH, ss.
ON this eighth day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before Hon. Wilkes Wood Judge of the Court of Probate for said County now sitting at Middletborough within and for said County of Plymouth, Daniel Brett a resident of West Bridgewater in said County of Plymouth, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy one 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. 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. That is to say, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
He enlisted in 1777 in Capt Nathan Snow Company & Col Hawes Regiment & Massachusetts line & served one month on the secret expedition so called against Rhode Island under Gen. Spencer . Silas French now living at East Bridgewater in said County who was with him in said Company & whose deposition he has obtained is the only person whom he now knows to be living belonging to said Company.
In 1778 he enlisted in a Company under Lieut Lechaniel Watkins in Col Ezra Wood's Regiment  Massachusetts line . Gen. Moxim's Brigade & served eight months on White Plains in New York .
He has no written discharge or other documentary evidence than the depositions herewith annexed. He was born in Bridgewater in said County in 1761 & has always resided on the same territory.
There is no Clergyman residing in the town of

West Bridgewater. The said town was originally a part of the town of Bridgewater. Daniel Brett
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid Attest Jacob H. Lord Register

town of  residing in the  quainted with  declaration; that we believe him to be  reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of  the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.  Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.  a clergyman, residing in the  hereby certify, that we are well as  who has subscribed and sworn to the above  years of age; that he is
And the said Court do hereby declare their 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 it appears to them that  who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of  and that  who has  also signed the same, is a resident in the  and is a credible  person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
By the Court, Attest Jacob H. Lord Register
I, Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Daniel Brett for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two . Jacob H. Lord

Daniel Brett
Paid 9 Mss
14 06
May 9 1837
P. 386
$30-
8918
J. H. Lord & Plymouth Mass

BRIEF in the case of Daniel Brett County of Plymouth in the State of — Mass (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 71  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.     In 17 77 — 1 private Cap Snow Col Hays   1778 — 3 — " " Williams " Wood  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Brigswater Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional two living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers are not attested agreeably to the regulations now in the credibility of the witnesses qualified 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Taylor
Examining Clerk.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., May 19, 1921
In reply to your request of _____ received _____ for a statement of the military history of Daniel Pratt a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Sept. 1777 1 mo. Pvt. Nathan Snow Hawes Mass.   1778 8 mos. S. Zachariah Watkins Ezra Wood.        
Battles engaged in, Spencer's Exp.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., Mass.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 8, 1832, et al.
Residence at date of application, W. Bridgewater, Mass.
Age at date of application, 61 in 1761 in Bridgewater, Mass.
Remarks: No fam data
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

I Isaac Wilbar of Bridgewater in the county of Plymouth and state of Massachusetts Do testify and Say that I was personally knowing that Daniel Brett of the Bridgewater was in the Revolutionary service in the year 1778-9 in the state of New York eight months in Lieutenant Zebanah Walking company and Col Ezra Woods Regiment
Plymouth So. August 1 st 1832 Isaac Wilbar
Then the above named Isaac Wilbar made oath to the truth of the above Statement before me Avery Hobbs justice of the peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for the County of Plymouth, the Probate Court being a Court of Record do hereby certify that Avery Hobbs Esq is a Justice of the Peace for said County & that I believe his name within to be his true & genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the Seal of said Court this eighth day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
Plymouth ss. May 18, 1833. Jacob H. Lord
I hereby certify that the within named Isaac Willard is a respectable citizen of Bridgewater, & a man of truth & veracity.
Avery Hobbs Justice of the peace.

Daniel Brett
8918

I Silas French of East Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts aged Seventy two years testify and say That I was a private Soldier in the late Revolutionary War. I then lived in Bridgewater in said County, and am knowing that Daniel Bredt of West Bridgewater, had then of said Bridgewater in the month of September in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy seven enlisted with me into Capt Nathan Snow's Company, in Col. Hovey's Regt. and Genl. Spencer's Brigade. We marched to Little Compton in the State of Rhode Island and were then stationed. Said Bredt served one month in said Company with me and then we were discharged - Silas French
State of Massachusetts -
Plymouth County ss
On this sixth day of August in the year 1832 - personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the said County of Plymouth. Silas French of East Bridgewater in said County and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed -
Barth Brown

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth being a Court of Record do hereby certify that Bartholomew Brown Esq is a Justice of the Peace for said County & that his name within is his true & genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this eighth day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
Jacob H. Lord
Plymouth ss May 21. 1833
I hereby further certify that the aforenamed Silas French is a person of credibility, truth and veracity.
Barth Brown
Justice of the Peace

I Daniel Brett of West Bridgewater, in the county of Plymouth, who have subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration, do, on oath, further declare, that I have no record of my age. Daniel Brett
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Plymouth. May 20, 1833.
The above named Daniel Brett personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed.
Before me, Austin Packard, Justice of the Peace.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss. I Jacob Howland Register of Probate for the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that at Austin Packard Esq before whom the above & within affidavits were sworn is a Justice of the Peace & that the signatures thereto purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this twenty second day of May A.D. 1833
Jacob Howland

We, Abiel Ames, residing in West Bridgewater, in the county of Plymouth, and Thomas Ames, residing in the same town, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Daniel Brett who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration; that we believe, him to be seventy one years of age; and he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.
Abiel Ames
Thomas Ames
Sworn & subscribed this eighteenth day of May, A.D. 1833. - And I do hereby further certify, that it appears to me, that Abiel Ames & Thomas Ames who have signed the preceding certificate are resident in said town of West Bridge- water, & are credible persons, & that their statement is entitled to full credit.
Hustin Packard, Justice of the Peace

1921, May 19 list to Ralph B. Grace - Ev-
Reynay
4959 INVALID.
File No. 4959
Daniel Brett
Print Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index: Vol. M Page 43
[Arrangement of 1870.]

8918
Daniel Mott
J. H. Lord Esq Philadelphia 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 Daniel Britton which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy 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? yy 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? yy VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy 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? yy

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? no
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?
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? 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? no  yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes  at 2 o
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.

Rev M t
Everett, Mass
May 12, 1921.
Pension Record Office;
Gentlemen
Will you kindly send
to the address given below a copy of your records relating to one Darius Brett of North Bridgewater, Mass who served in the Revolutionary War and who received a pension for his services.
If you can do so would you include in such information date of birth, place of birth, wife's name, date of marriage his and children and date of death.

Thanking you for your courtesy
I am
Yours truly
Ralph B. Grace.
30 Lexington St.
Everett, Mass.

Everett, Mass. May 2, 1921.
Pension Record Office Washington D.C.:
Gentlemen;
Would you kindly send me whatever information you may have concerning one Daniel Brett, of Bridgewater, Mass who was a soldier during The War of The Revolution and who later in life received a pension from the government for his services. I would like to know, if your records show it, (1) the date and place of his birth (2) his parents name, (3) date of marriage and wife's name and (4) the date of his death and if he had children
Thanking you in advance for your trouble I am
Yours truly
Ralph B. Grace
# 30 Lexington St.
Everett, Mass.