Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4957, Ezekiel Bonney, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Bonney, Ezekiel
S. 4957
CONTENTS
Carded

15497 Massachusetts
Ezekiel Bonney of Plymouth in the State of a heir who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain of the  regt commanded by Col. Barker in the line  regt line for 2 Regs. Private 10 " " Musician 10 " " Fifer
Inscribed on the Roll of heirs at the rate of 32 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 th Day of June 1833 and sent to Plymouth
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1833 $69.32 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept. " 17.33 $86.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. Clair Clerk, Book No. Vol. 2. Page 7.

Ezekiel Hanney
Hanson -
13.357

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Plymouth
fs. —
On the twenty second day of August 1832 - personally appeared in open Court before Hon. Wilkes Wood Judge of the Court of Probate for said County at Hanover in & for said County now sitting, Ezekiel Bonney of Hanover in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth aforesaid aged seventy years - who being first duly sworn according to Law; doth on his Oaths make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of June 7. 1832 -
That he entered the service of the United States
under the following Officers and served as herein stated. -
In the Spring of 1775 - I enlisted as Musician in Capt. Hemenway's Company - Col. Bailey's Regiment - Gen. Thomas' Brigade and went to Roxbury - when the Battle of Bunker Hill took place I was on guard on the Roxbury line - here I served as Musician for eight months - at the expiration which time I was discharged and returned home - Capt. Jacob Hildreth was attached to the same Regiment as Surgeon -
In the Spring of the next year 1776 - I enlisted again as Musician in a Company commanded by Capt. Josiah Cushing of Penns-broke and went with the Company to Nantasket (now Hull) where I served in that capacity for three months three months.
In the year 1778 I enlisted as a private for two months under Capt. Partridge of Duxbury - Col. Whitney's Regiment and Gen. Sullivan's Brigade and went to Rhode Island in what was called Gen. Sullivan's expedition - was present in the retreat from the Island - and was present at the affair of Butts Hill on our retreat. We left

the Island by night over Howland's ferry and marched by way of Taunton and Providence to Pettaquamcutt on the west side of Narragansett Bay - when we remained until our term of service expired - and we were discharged. —
I was born in Pembroke December 20. 1762 and suppose a Record of my birth may there be found - I resided in Pembroke all my indentments - and have ever since and am now reside there - when the Town was divided in late years my place of residence fell in the Town of Hanson -
And I hereby relinquish all claim to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my name is not borne on the roll of the agency of any State.
Ezekiel Bonney Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written. — Attest Jacob H. Lord Register
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after an investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.
By the Court, Attest Jacob H. Lord Register
I Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Ezekiel Bonney for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the Seal of said Court this twenty second day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two. Jacob H. Lord

We Freeman P. Howland & Nathaniel Collamore residing in the Town of Hanson and Nathaniel Collamore residing in the same Town do hereby certify that we are acquainted with Ezekiel Bonney who has subscribed and sworn to the within Declaration; that we believe him to be seventy years of age; that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution; and we concur in that opinion.
Freeman P. Howland Nathaniel Collamore
Wrentham Febr. 11th 1833.
Personally appeared the above named Freeman P. Howland and Nathaniel Collamore, and made oath to the truth of the above declaration by them made. The foregoing inaccuracy of appearing before any Court of Record is the cause why this is taken before a justice of the Peace.
Before Joseph Whitman Just Peace
And the said Court do hereby certify that Rev Freeman P. Howland & Nathaniel Collamore Esq who have signed the preceding Certificate are residents in the town of Hanson & credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit.
By the Court Attest Jacob H. Lord Register

Isaac Bonney Mass
14 06
March 30 1843
P. 316.
2 months Private 10 " Musician, 133 5/8 admd
$ 32.66
J. H. Lord
Plymouth Mass

Ezekiel Bonney Mass
14 06
March 30 1843
P. 316.
2 months Private 10 " Musician, 1835 admd
$ 32.66
J. A. Lord
Plymouth
Mass

BRIEF in the case of  60. of Plymouth
Isaac Bonney  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? 70  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.     Spring In 1745 enlisted 8 Musician Gen. Cushing. Col. Dailly   " 1748. " 2 " Col. Cushing.   " " " 2 Private Col. Partridge Col. Whitney   12 Months  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? at the siege of Louisbourg  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Yarmouth. Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional, living witnesses.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? one witness is confessed as credible the other three are not 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George D. Dutton
Examining Clerk.

Rev. War
4957 INVALID
File No. 4957 Ezekiel Bonner Print Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832.
Index:—Vol. 16 , Page 37.
[Arrangement of 1870.]

19357
Ezekiel Bonney
J H Lord Esq Wymouth 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 William Romney 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? 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? XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 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 and No. 3 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.

I Noah Beal of Abington in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts - aged eighty one years - do testify and say that I was a private Soldier in the Company commanded by Capt Hamlin of Pembroke in Col. Bailey's Regiment and Gen. Thomas' Brigade and served in said Company eight Months at Roxbury and its vicinity in the year 1775. - and that Daniel Bonney of Pembroke - now Hanson - was also a private Soldier - a Musician - in the same Company and served in that capacity the term of eight Months. - and further Noah Beal with notes
Plymouth P. August 6. 1832 -
Personally appeared the above named Noah Beal and made oath to the truth of the above declaration
Before me - Jacob Whitman Just. Peace -
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth Ys. I Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth, being a Court of Record do hereby certify that Jacob Whitman, An- thony Collamne & Bartholomew Brown Esquires are Justices of the Peace in & for said County and that their names subscribed to the certificates here annexed together are true & genuine signatures. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this third day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- dred & thirty two. Jacob H. Lord

Joseph Barstow of Duxbury in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, aged 67 years do testify and say that I served as a soldier in Capt. Jones's Bulfinch's Company of Militia in Nantasket Neck Hill in the Spring of the year, I believe, 1778 and served two months, that I was well acquainted with Ezekiel Bonney of Hanson in said County, and that he served in said Company the whole term I was there, as a Minuteman.
Joseph Barstow
State of Massachusetts, County of Plymouth, ss.
Subscribed and sworn to this twenty second day of August A.D. 1832 Before me Anthony Collamore, Justice of the Peace
I certify that I am acquainted with Joseph Barstow, and I believe him to be entitled to credit.
Anthony Collamore, Justice of the Peace
ms

I Joseph Jospelyn of East Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts aged Twenty five years, testify and say I was a private Soldier in the late Revolutionary War. In the year Seventeen hundred and seventy eight I enlisted into the Company commanded by Capt. Partridge, Col. Whitney's Regiment and Genl. Pitcairn's Brigade. Ezekiel Bonney, Major now of Hanson, and then of Pembroke in said County enlisted into the same Company as a musician - We marched to Rhode Island, were there in Sullivan's Expedition, and after the retreat from Rhode Island we marched to Patuxet and there were discharged - We each of us served two months, in said enlistment.
Joseph Jospelyn
State and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth County ss.
On the sixth day of August A.D. 1832 Personally appeared Joseph Jospelyn of Pembroke in said County and made oath to the truth of the foregoing statement & affidavit by him subscribed before me
Bartholomew Justice of the Peace for the said County of Plymouth.
Plymouth ss. April 15 th 1833. I further certify that I am acquainted with Joseph Jospelyn who signed the above statement and affidavit and that he is a credible person and entitled to belief.
Bartholomew Justice of the Peace as above

I Gad Hitchcock now of Abington in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts do testify and say in the year 1775 I was Surgeon in Col Baileys Regiment - then Thomas Brigade - and that Ezekiel Bonney of Hanover was a private in Capt Hamlin's company, in sd Brigade and that the said Bonney served in that company for the term of eight months - The Regiment was stationed at Roxbury in Massachusetts - the service commenced about the Spring or first of the summer of that year - The said Bonney was a Neighbor and acquaintance of mine - which makes me particular in my knowledge of his service at that time. - And further saith not. - Gad Hitchcock
Plymouth ss. August 6. 1832. -
Personally appeared the above named Gad Hitchcock and made oath that the above declaration by him subscribed is just and true. -
Before me - Jared Whitman Just. Peace
Plymouth ss. April 19. 1833 -
I hereby certify that I am acquainted with Gad Hitchcock who signed the above Deposition and also with Noah Bear who signed the Deposition annexed - and that they are both credible Persons and their statements entitled to belief
Jared Whitman Just. Peace