Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30291, Elisha Briggs, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Briggs Elisha
S. 30291
CONTENTS

82 Plymouth
15570 Massachusetts
Elisha Briggs of Plymouth in the State of Mass who was a Br Cpl Vt in the Company commanded by Captain Turner of the Reg t commanded by Col Hall in the Mass line for 1 month & 12 days Private 2 " 4 3 " Corporal 4 " Sergeant
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 32 Dollars 37 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 th day of June 1835 and Sub-Jacob H. And Plymouth Mass
Arrears to the 4th of June 1835 $64.74 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep t 16.18 $80.92
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by M.H. TOWNSEND Clerk Book 6 Vol. 2 u Page 7

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH, ss.
ON this twenty second day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before Hon Wilber Wood, Judge of the Court of Probate now sitting at Hanover within and for said County of Plymouth, Elizer Briggs a resident of Pembroke in said County of Plymouth, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty 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.
That he enlisted in a Company of State troops under the command of Capt. Thomas Turner and marched to Roxbury the first of December 1775 and served in this enlistment six weeks, and soon after enlisted again in the same company and served till the first of April 1776 which six weeks; that Briggs Thomas was a lieutenant in the company in both enlistments, commanded by Col. Oliver Dyer; that he was stationed at Roxbury the whole time, and the company belonged at first to Col. Bailey Regiment, and in the second enlistment to Col. Gage's. He returned home in April, but received no discharge, he served at this time as a duty corporal. That he entered the service again in November 1776 and marched to Rhode Island on the occasion of the Bristol alarm, so called, and served four months as a sergeant in Capt. John Turner's Company of Militia.

in Col. Hall's Regiment; that he was stationed at Bris- tol, while he continued in the service which was till sometime in March 1777 when he was dismissed and returned home, but received no discharge.
That he was born in Pembrooke Mass. A.D. 1758 Dec. 2 d and has always lived in Pembrooke.
That he is known to Rev. Morrill Allen, David Ad- hams jr., Anthony Soddamore & others, who can testify to their belief in his services as a Soldier of the Revolution. He believes his birth is recorded in Town Records of the Town of Pembrooke.
Ebenezer Briggs
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Attest Jacob H. Lord Register

We, Monill Allen a clergyman, residing in the town of Pembroke and Anthony Collamure residing in the same town hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Elisha Briggs who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Eighty one years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Monill Allen Anthony Collamure
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Attest Jacob H. Lord Register
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 Monill Allen who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Pembroke and that Anthony Collamure who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same town 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 Elisha Briggs for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of my office, this twenty second day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Jacob H. Lord

20640 Elisha Briggs Mass
Aug 4th Capital 2. 3 days Pm 1 12 7.15 M. Clapp
66.
20. 7.55 .37 4.67 32.57
Jacob D. Lander Plymouth Mass

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Elisha Briggs county of Plymouth Mass
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Enl 1775 — 1 12 priv Capt Turner Col Braly Roxbury 81 years Roxbury Declaration   — 2 3 corporal Col Braly Rhode Island Mass Deverey Witness   1776 — 4 — sergt Turner Col Braly Bristol do  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) 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.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

30291 Recy  INVALID.
File No. 30,291
Elisha Bliss
Sergt Rec War
Act: June 1 st 39"
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 34
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office July 31 1832.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that
The name of Elisha Briggs is borne on a document bearing the title of "a Roll of Travel of a Militia Company under the command of Capt. Thomas Turner now encamped in Brig d Gen l Thomas's Brigade in Col o John Dabey's Reg t Jan y . 10 th 1776" - and that said Roll states said Briggs to belong to the town of Pembroke, & to have travelled 63 miles; and that he was in service in the capacity of Corporal - but does not contain any account of the time of service of the persons named therein.
Edward D. Bangs, Secy of Commonwealth.

I Jacob Fish of Berlin, in the County of Oxford and State of Maine, of lawful age do testify & say that while I resided in Kingston, County of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, in November 1776 I was called on an alarm to Rhode Island, that I served in Capt 10 th Mass's Company in Col. Jeremiah Hall's Regiment for four months; that at that time I knew Elisha Briggs of Pembroke in the County of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts and that he served the same time I did, viz four months in Capt John Gurney's Company, in the same Regiment, we were called there the first of November, and were discharged in the March following. I became acquainted with said Briggs at that time & have been acquainted with him ever since.
Dated at Pembroke, July 23. 1832. Jacob Fish
State of Massachusetts, County of Plymouth, ss. July 23. 1832. Then the above named Jacob Fish personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed.
Before me Anthony Collemore, Justice of the Peace
I Jacob Fish of Berlin in the County of Oxford and State of Maine, aged 80 years do further testify and say that the above named Elisha Briggs served at the time mentioned in the above affidavit signed by me as Orderly Sergeant in Capt. John Gurney's Company, and further your deponent saith not.
Pembroke August 8. 1832. Jacob Fish
State of Massachusetts, Plymouth ss.
Subscribed & sworn to this eighth day of August A.D. 1832 Before me Anthony Collemore, Justice of the Peace
Mr Jacob Fish who has subscribed and sworn to the above affidavits, is well known in Pembroke & Kingston, and his character is fair and his statement entitled to credit.
A. Collemore Justice of the Peace

I Briggs Thomas of Marshfield in the county of Plym- outh and State of Massachusetts, aged 80 years, do testify and say, that I was Lieutenant in Capt. Thomas Turner's company of Militia, that I marched to Roxbury with the company the first of December 1775 and served under two enlistments till the first of April 1776 a period of nearly four months, that I was well acquainted with Col. Nathl. Briggs of Pembroke in said County, that he enlisted in said company and served the same time, I did, at Roxbury, six weeks at the first enlistment, and nine weeks on the second, mak- ing fifteen weeks. The company was placed in Col. Bailey's Regiment in the first, and in Col. Gage's Regiment in the second enlistment. Briggs Thomas Lt.
State of Massachusetts County of Plymouth ss. Subscribed and sworn to this twen- tieth day of August A.D. 1832. Before me Anthony Collamon, Justice of Peace
Major Briggs Thomas, above named is a very respect- able man, and his statement entitled to full credit.
Anthony Collamon, Just. Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate for said County do hereby certify that An- thony Collamon Esq is a Justice of the Peace & that the several foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this nineteenth day of December A.D. 1832. Jacob H. Lord