Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14276, Silas Besse, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Besse, Silas Abigail
N. 14276
CONTENTS

20682 Silas Pease
Plate 9 Martha
1 H. Land Dymouth Mass

BRIEF in the case of  of Plymouth
Isaac Bepe  in the State of  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 73 years  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 1771 — 2 private Gen. Capt Lupper   77 — 1 " " Briggs Col Cotton   78 — 3 " " Barrons " Sterns   80 or 81 3 " " Gibbs " Jacobs  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Wareham Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? four living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Wright
Examining Clerk.

15532 Massachusetts
Silas Dasso of Plymouth in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Gurne of the Regt commanded by Col. Durne in the Mass line for Quincy
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 30 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of June 1833 and Sub J. H. Lord Plymouth Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1835 $ 66.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept 11  15.00
$ 75.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. H. Nelson Clerk
Book E Vol. 30 Page 7

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH, ss.
ON this tenth day of September 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Hon. Wilkes Wood Judge the Court of Probate in & for said County, now sitting at Wareham within and for said County of Plymouth. Silas Bese a resident of Wareham in said County of Plymouth, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy Three 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. In the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven on the twenty seventh day of April I enlisted for two months into a company of militia commanded by Capt. William Tupper of Middleborough in said County. John Briggs of Rochester was Lieutenant and marched to Howlands Ferry in the state of Rhode Island - and was there stationed and I served in said company at this time, two months and was then discharged. and I served in the same  in that department . Nathan Ellis now living in Falmouth in the County of Barnstable in said Commonwealth served in said company with me.
In the month of September, or October in the aforesaid

year I again enlisted into a company commanded by Capt Samuel Briggs of Rochester for one month Samuel Savery now living in Fair Haven in the County of Bristol was Lieutenant, and marched to Howland Ferry and was there stationed and I served one month in said Capt Briggs company at said place, and in Col. Cotton's Regiment and was then discharged, this service was called the private expedition because an attack was contemplated to be made against the British on the Island of Rhode Island, and was abandoned for some cause, which I do not now recollect. Calvin Howard now living in Wareham served at this time in the same company with me.
In the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight in the month of April or May I again enlisted into a company of Militia commanded by Capt John Barnabas of Rochester , Barnabas Bates now living in said Wareham was the Lieutenant, and marched to Roxbury, and was in Col. Sturtevant's Regiment, the forces there were under the command of Genl. Heath, The company served for most of the time in Boston in fortifying Fort Hill, and in making other improvements for the defence of that town. I served at said Roxbury & in Boston at this time the full term of three months in said

company and under said officers and was then discharged. Abraham Holmes, Esquire now living in said Rochester served with me in said company
In the year seventeen hundred & eighty or eighty one, the year that Cornwallis was taken in the mouth of July or August I again enlisted into a company of Militia for three months, commanded by Capt John Gibbs of Wareham. Tisdale Winslow of Rochester was Lieutenant, and marched to the Island of Rhode Island, and was stationed at a place called Butts Hill on said Island and I served in said company at said place the said three months for which I enlisted and was then discharged. Capt John Gibbs company belonged to Col. John Jacobs Regiment. Our duty was to keep guard and make stronger the fortifications. Shubael Hammond now living in Middleborough Lot Thatcher now living in Rochester in said County, and Seth Stevens now living in Fairhaven in the County of Bristol served with me in said company
I never received a written discharge as I recollect, at either of

the times I was discharged and have no documentary evidence of my services.
I was born in said Wareham on the third day of October in the year seventeen hundred and fifty eight and have always lived in said town; excepting one year and two or three months, when I lived in Carver an adjoining town; and I now live in Wareham. I do not know that there is any record of my birth on the records of said town. I have not found any record of it on the records of the town of Wareham.
1861 By eff
I sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Attest
Jacob H. Lord Register

We, Samuel Nott Jun. a clergyman, residing in the town of Wareham and David Nye residing in the same town hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Silas Bese who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy three 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.
Samuel Nott Jun. D. Nye
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Attest Jacob H. Loud 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 Samuel Nott Jr. who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Wareham and that David Nye Esquire 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. Loud
I, Jacob H. Loud 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 Silas Bese for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said office, this tenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two .
Jacob H. Loud

13915 Declaration of Abigail Bese
12.4.55 now of Silas Map
act 7 July 1838
his d th 22 nd May 1846 at 17 June 1844 admitted
Pr. p 30 per an com 22 nd May 1846 to 4 March 1848,
and under act 2 nd Feb '48 from 4 March 1848,
Both Miller Jr. Wareham Miller

Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss. County of Plymouth —————
On this ninth day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty nine personally appeared Abigail Besse of Wareham in the County of Plymouth aforesaid Before Aaron Hobart, Judge of the Court of Probate in and for the said County of Plymouth, who being first sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July 7 th 1838 entitled "an Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows and the other Acts & Resolves of Congress passed since in relation to the pensions of said widows, that she is aged Eighty Seven years, that she is the widow of Silas Besse late of said Wareham deceased who served in the War of the Revolution, and who received a pension of Thirty Dollars pr year, under the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. And that she believes he served in the Army of the Revolution as the said Silas Besse declared in his Declaration to obtain his pension under the said Act of 1832 now on file in the Pension Office, To which she refers for the time and periods of his service
She further declares, that she was married to the said Silas Befre on the fifteenth day of November in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty one and that the said Silas Befre died on the twenty second day of May in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty six — And she further declares she still continues to be the widow of the said Silas Befre her
Attest Seth Miller Jr
Before her Abigail B.ope mark
Plymouth Jy March 9. 1849. I hereby certify, that the above Declaration of Abigail Bese was this day sworn to and subscribed by her before me; and that the same was done at her residence in Durdham in said County, she being unable by reason of her great age & bodily infirmity to attend the Probate Court for that purpose -
Aaron Hobart. Judge of Probate for Daviess County -

Plymouth Y. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that Hon. Sa- son Hobart is Judge of Probate for said County duly commissioned & qualified & that the foregoing is his true & genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this tenth day of April in the Year one thousand eight hundred & forty nine Jacob H. Lord

I Isaac Bates of Sandwich in the County of Barnstable State of Massachusetts do testify and say that Abigail B. B. wife widow of Silas B. B. late of Wareham in the County of Plymouth deceased is my sister. I do further testify and say that I was present at their marriage in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-one
Isaac Bates
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Barnstable ss. January 15 th 1849. Personally appeared the above named Isaac Bates and made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed before me
Richd. D. May Justice of the Peace.
I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with said Isaac Bates, and that he is a man of truth and veracity
Richd. D. May Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Barnstable
I Dorothy Reed Clerk of the courts in and for said County hereby certify that Seth A. Nye Esquire is a justice of the peace in and for said County duly Commissioned and qualified and was so on the fifteenth day of January current, and that the signa- tures to the two certificates within purport- ing to have been made by him are his genuine signatures
In testimony whereof I here- unto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the court at Barnstable this thirteenth seventh day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- dred and forty nine Dorothy Reed Clerk of court

I Silvanus Bourne of Wareham in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts depose and say, that I hold the Office of Church Clerk and am the keeper of the Books and papers of the Church it being the only Church in this town from the beginning in 1739 to 1827 - I have fully examined the Records of said Church and find they had no settled Minister from 1779 to Oct. 15. 1782 and that during this interim there were but two marriages recorded neither of which was Silas Belfre & Abigail Bates Wareham August 11. 1849
Silvanus Bourne { Clerk of the first Cong d Church in Wareham
State of Massachusetts } ss Plymouth County } August 11 1849
Then personally appeared Silvanus Bourne (whom I certify to be a credible witness) and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true
Before me H. G. O. Ellis Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Plymouth
I John B. Shames Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court of the County & State aforesaid do hereby certify, that H. G. O. Ellis by me is a Justice of the Peace for said County, duly commissioned & qualified - and that his signature above written is genuine -
Given under my hand this eleventh day of August 1849
John B. Shames Clerk

I Isaac Lincoln of Wareham in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, depose and say, that I hold the office of Clerk of said town of Wareham, and I have examined the Records of said town and cannot find the Record of the marriage of Silas Beps to Abigail Bates but I find a record of their publifment as follows "Silas Beps & Abigail Bates both of Wareham was published October, twentieth in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty one,"
I further depose and say that the above is a true copy of the Record of said town with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows "October 20. 1781"
Isaac J. Lincoln Clerk of the Town of Wareham
State of Massachusetts Plymouth County
ss
August 11th 1849
Then personally appeared Isaac J. Lincoln (whom I certify to be a credible witness) and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true
Before me
H. G. Ellis Justice of the Peace

I Abraham Holmes of Rochester in the state of Massachusetts of lawful age to give Evidence do testify and say that in the spring of 1778 I was in a detachment of Militia raised by the government of Massachusetts marched to Roxbury in the Revolutionary War; our pay from the United States was the same as in the Continental army, to which the state added about as much more owing to the depreciation of the then currency. The detachment was for three months, and I was in Captain James Barnows Company in Col. Sturtevant Genl. Heath having the command of in that department. That in that Company was Silas Bice of Wrentham, and marched and did duty in that Company. That in the fore part of the time I was the orderly sergeant of the Company. That having occasion to come home I abandoned that service; and after my return to camp I acted as clerk to the Captain. That we were discharged the first day of July at night and received our combat pay; and our pay from the state after our return. That I am confident that said Bice served thro' the campaign, as if any one had deserted or been discharged I must have known it and that the Company had no written discharges; the next day I arrived home being the day Mrs. Spooner daughter of Brydges Brattle was hung with others for the murder of her husband. The duty that was done by the Com- pany was fortifying Fort Independence in Boston and in filling up a kind of ditch at what was then called the Freshwater which had been made by the British troops while they occupied Boston; there was an engagement with the enemy during the campaign in which the Company was engaged. The rebel officers were Barnows Bice of Wrentham, Andrew Meara of Middleborough and John Hammond of Rochester
Abm Holmes
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss. August 20. 1832. I Abraham Holmes personally appeared and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed before me the undersigned. And I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the deponent, that he is of good character for truth and entitled to credit
Charles J. Holmes. Jus. Peace

Shulael, Hammond Deposition -

I Shubael Hammond of Middleborough in the county of Plymouth & commonwealth of Massachusetts now in the seventy ninth year of my age, do testify and say, that in the year seventeen hundred and or eighteen eighty five I think in the summer of that year I enlisted into a company commanded by John Gibbs of Wareham in said county and marched to the Island of Rhode-island and was stationed at a place called Butts Hill, & there I served in said company in Colo. Jacob's Regiment for the full term of three months and was then discharged. I was then and ever have been well acquainted with Silas Bese of Wareham aforesaid, and the said Silas Bese served in said year at said time & place & under said officers the full term of three months, and was discharged at the same time I was. We had no engagement at this time our duty was to keep guard and strengthen the fortifications
Shubael Hammond
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss August 27th, 1832, Then personally appeared the above named Shubael Hammond and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed Before me - Seth Miller Jr. Justice of the peace

I certify that the within named Shubael Hammond is a man of truth & a credible Witness      Seth Miller Jr, Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that Seth Miller Jr & Charles J. Holmes Esquires are Justices of the Peace in & for said County and that I believe their names subscribed to the foregoing certificates are true & genuine signatures
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this seventeenth day of December in the Year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
Jacob H Lord

I Calvin Howard of Wareham in the County of Plymouth & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age to give evidence, do testify and say that in the fall of the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven I enlisted into a company commanded by Capt Samuel Briggs of Rochester in said County and marched to Howland's Ferry in the state of Rhode Island and was there stationed and I served in that place and about there, one month in said company, in Colo. Cotton's Regiment. Genl. Spencer commanded the forces there at that time, I was then and ever since have been acquainted with Silas Bese of Wareham aforesaid and that he the said Bese served at said time & place under said officers with me one month and was discharged at the time I was—
Calvin Howard
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Sept. 10 th 1852 I here personally appeared the above named Calvin Howard and made oath that the above deposition is true, by him subscribed
Seth Miller Jr. Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that the above named Calvin Howard is a man of truth Seth Miller Jr. Justice of the Peace

Falmouth August 8 th 1832
I Nathan Ellis of Falmouth in the County of Barnstable & Commonwealth of Massachusetts being of lawful age to give evidence, do testify and say, that I am acquainted with Silas Prese of Wareham in the County of Plymouth and State aforesaid, and that in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven on the twenty seventh day of April, he the said Prese enlisted in a company commanded by William Tupper and marched to Howlands Ferry near the Island of Rhode Island, and there and about there he served, to my knowledge for the term of two months and was discharged on the twenty seventh day of June then next after. I was in the same company with him. his Nathan Ellis Ellis mark
Barnstable V.S. August 8 th 1832 Then personally appeared the before me the subscriber the above named Nathan Ellis having been cautioned, deposed as above, and subscribed the same by making his mark made and oath to the truth of the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed, before me.
Ebenezer Nye Justice Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Barnstable, ss. I Almer Davis, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas being a Court of Record, in the County of Barnstable, do hereby certify, that Elizer Nye, Esquire, before whom the within deposition was executed, is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Barnstable. And that I believe his name thereunto subscribed to be his true & proper signature.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court at Barnstable, this twelfth day of September One thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
Almer Davis, Clerk.

I Nancy Besse of Wareham in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age to give evidence do testify and say, I was acquainted with Silas Besse late of Wareham aforesaid, and that the said Silas Besse was a pensioner of the United States, and that he the said Silas Besse died on the twenty second day of May in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty six at said Wareham leaving a widow, whose name is Abigail Besse who is yet living and continues to remain his widow  Nancy Bessey
Plymouth ss January 25 th 1849 Then the above named Nancy Besse, whom I certify to be a credible witness personally appeared and deposed to the foregoing Deposition, and made oath to the truth of the same  Before me Seth Miller for Justice Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth ss
I William Lloyd Clerk of the Superior Judicial Court of the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that Seth Miller by me a Justice of the Peace in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing Deposition is a true and correct copy of the original thereof and that the signature of the said Nancy Bessey is her true signature  Given under my hand & the seal of said Court on this tenth day of April 1849
William Lloyd

7 13.915.
Resolutions
Mr. Cass
20 April 1849
Det. Abigail Reske
She is the wife of Dennis
Washington City D.C.
Within is contained a Declaration and Agreements for a pension
March 20 th

State of Massachusetts
Wareham April 12 1849
Sir Enclosed are the papers sent for Abigail Bese for the purpose of obtaining a pension Seth Miller Jr Yours very Respectfully

J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions
Within is contained further evidence in support of the claim of Abigail Bese to a pension
Washington City
D. C.

State of Massachusetts Blymouth County, Wareham August 17 th 1849
Sir, Upon receiving your letter of 7 th of August, requesting the examination of the town & church Records, and the proof of what, if any thing, in relation to the marriage of Silas B. & Abigail Bates is upon said records; I have procured as I suppose  suppose the proper depositions of the Town Clerk, and the Clerk of the Church which are herein enclosed. I think there is a deposition on the files of this case of a person, who saw them married, It would seem to me that these records, with that deposition, would be in compliance of the requirement, of the pension laws, and afford satisfactory proof of the marriage, which took place nearly seventy years since, Yours very Respectfully Seth Miller Jr

I David Nye of Wareham in the County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the sixty third year of my age do testify and say that I was born in said Wareham, and have always resided in said town excepting the time I was at sea in the early part of my life, that I have known Silas Besse and his wife Abigail Besse from my earliest recollection, that they had several children, some of whom are now living The said Silas Besse was a pensioner of the United States, and he died about two years since leaving a widow, the said Abigail Besse, who still remains his Widow
D Nye
Plymouth ss March 23 d 1849 Then the above named David Nye, whom I certify to be a credible witness, deposed the foregoing deposition and signed the same, and made oath in due form of law, that the same is true Before me Seth Miller Jr Justice Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth ss
I William Black of the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that Seth Miller Jr is a Justice of the Peace in the said County duly qualified and qualified - and that his signature above written is true
Given under my hand this 10th day of April 1849
William Black

Silas Besse, Mass: at 32, $30. to what time paid Dec 22 nd May 1846, P d to his Pen: Office death. B. D. B. Sept. 21, 1849 W. J. A.
614
Massachusetts
Abigail Besse widow of Silas Besse who was a Private in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 30. Dollars —
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th  22 nd day of May , 1846 & end 4 March 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of Sept. 1849. and sent to
Seth Miller Wareham Mass.
[Act of JUNE 17, 1844.]
Recorded in Book A Vol. 2 Page 26

N 13915 Abigail Besse Map in letter to S. Miller Jr Aug 7, 1849.
act 7 July 1838
Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14276
Abigail Besse Widow of Silas Besse Pr. Rev War
Act: Feb 29 48
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 51
[Arrangement of 1870.]