Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14399, Elisha Briggs, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Briggs, Elisha Deborah
No. 14399.
CONTENTS

Reported July 27/49
31116 Massachusetts Deborah Briggs, widow of Elisha Briggs Mass who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Gratuitous
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 34 Dollars 33 1/3 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of July 1849 and sent to G. J. Balfour Boston Mass
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 7 Vol. 2

"One thousand seven hundred and Eighty four, Elisha Briggs and Deborah Deland, both of Rochester, married January fifteenth."
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true extract from the records of the town of Rochester, of which I am clerk, except that the day of the month and the year are in figures.
J. F. Reagles
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk County ss. August 24 th 1838 Then personally appeared the above named Jonas Reagles and made oath to the truth of the above certificate by him subscribed
Before me William Wood Judge of the Court of Probate for said County of Norfolk

I Matthew Clarke of Rochester in the County of Plymouth and state of all of us church legally qualified to give evidence testify and say that I was personally well acquainted with Elisha Briggs, late of said Rochester deceased. He was member of a Company of Militia raised by Massachu- setts for eight months, in the year One thousand seven hundred and seventy five, of which Edward Hemenwood was Captain, Timothy Briggs and Nathan Sears were subalterns. Eliakim Harkness was, I think, officer by sergeant, and Samuel Lumbard was a sergeant.
The Company marched for Plymouth immediately after Lexington battle, where it remained for a time and then marched to Roxbury where it served the remainder of the time for which it was raised. I have a brother by the name Samuel in the Company. In the course of the campaign my brother, a man by the name of Oney and his wife Briggs came home on furlough, and I saw them at the house of a Deacon Clarke, where they met and exercised. My brother did not return at the end of the campaign, but enlisted further, and went with the main army after the evacuation of Boston by the enemy. Said Briggs returned in the early part of the Winter after the company marched. He was also a member of a Company raised as aforesaid in December Seventy eight, for what was called Sullivan's expedition. I think he was under Capt. Elisha Harkness, but I am not sure; and I do not know the time for which he enlisted. I saw him there on duty, but I belonged to a different company, and was not much with him. After the war he married Deborah Dole, and died about ten years since, leaving said Deborah his widow.

who is still living, and who has not been married since the death of the said husband.
Mattias Clark.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the original thereof, and that the same has been attested by me this 24th day of August, 1888.
John N. D. Pierce
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original document.]

Plymouth Y. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Hon. Miles Wood is Judge of Probate for said County & that Charles J. Holmes Esq is a Justice of the Peace for said County & that the signatures to the annexed affidavits purporting to be signed by them respectively are their true & genuine signatures.
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand & the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this twenty eighth day of August 1838
Jacob H. Lord

Deborah Briggs 1028
declaration
Act 1835
no papers
on roll not 15-Sept Copr P 8 mo 24
also P 8 mo
1778
admitted
P 1:15 $ 5. — Copr 8 mo 29.33 $ 34.33
J. N. Lord

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Myrsouth County ss
On this twenty fourth day of August in the year eighteen hundred and thirty eight before me Wilkes Wood Judge of the Court of Probate for said County personally appeared Deborah Briggs of Rochester in said County aged seventy seven years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the act of Congress passed the 7 th of July 1838 entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows, who in her oath declares that she is the Widow of Elisha Briggs late of Rochester aforesaid, deceased, who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution and served according to the best of her knowledge and belief as follows. In the year seventy five seventeen hundred and seventy five he enlisted into a company of minute men commanded by Capt d Edward Harnwell then of said Rochester and soon after marched in said company to Roxbury, near Boston, and served there eight months and then returned.
That in the year seventeen hundred & seventy eight on or about the first of April the said Elisha Briggs enlisted into a company commanded by Capt d  John Samuel Bowdoin for three months and marched to Roxbury aforesaid & served the term out.
That in the year last aforesaid he enlisted into a company of which Elisha Haskell of Middleborough was Capt d or Lieutenant for three months and served that term out, in the State of Rhode Island  there and was in the battle under General Sullivan. That in the first service I think my said husband was a corporal.
She further declares that she was married to the said Elisha Briggs my said husband on the fifteenth day of January seventeen hundred & eighty four. That the said Elisha Briggs my said husband died the eighteenth day of February 1828.
cross

That I was not married previous to my said Husband's leaving the scene but that the marriage took place previous to the first of January one hundred and ninety four or at the time there stated.
N. B. That the word "County" the word "John" & the words "in the state of Rhode Island" were interlined before the signature hereof.
Deborah Bright
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written Before me Wilkes Wood J. P.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth Ys. I Jacob H Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Hon Wilkes Wood is Judge of Probate for said County & that the above is his true & genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this twenty eighth day of August 1888.
Jacob H Lord

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C., _____, 190_____
No. 7 14399
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Elisha Briggs a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1775 8 mos. Capt. Edward Hammond ✓ Mass.   Apr. 1778 3 mos. John Barrow ✓   * 1778 3 mos. Elisha Haskell ✓  
Battles engaged in, * battle under General Sullivan Residence of soldier at enlistment, ✓ Date of application for pension, Aug. 24. 1828. Her. el. al. Residence at date of application, Rochester, Plymouth Co. Mass. Age at date of application, She was 77 Yrs. old.
Remarks: He married Jan'y 15. 1784 Deborah Delano, and died Feb'y 18. 1828. Place not stated. In 1784 it is stated soldier & his wife were both of Rochester.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Rev.
WIDOW, &c.
1912 July 3 Mr. C. A. Briggs Spirit Lake, Iowa W.L.M.
File No. 14399
Deborah Briggs
Widow of
Elisha Briggs
Coop New Mar
Act: Feb 22 48
Index: Vol. a , Page 88
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Massachusetts, 3745
Reprint
Deborah Briggs widow of Elisha Briggs who was a Private & Corporal in the Massachusetts line for 9 mo 15 days
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of Thirty four Dollars thirty three Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the twelfth day of December 1843 and sent to
Theo. King Rochester Massachusetts
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 1 Page 37

Massachusetts
R3
Deborah Briggs widow of Elisha Briggs, dec. who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 18 th Feby 1828 - at Plymouth in the State of Mass s who was a P o & Com d in the Com ty commanded by Captain John  James  W of the Reg t commanded by Colonel in the Mass s . line for 9 mos 15 days
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of March 6. April 1838 from 4. Sep 1840 to 4. March 1841. Age Notified 25 Feby 1843
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass s at the rate of 34 Dollars 32 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1836
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 th day of Nov r 38, and sent to J. M. Lord, Plymouth, Mass s
Arrears to the 4 th of Sep t - $ 85. 82 Semi-annual allowance ending 17. 16 $ 102. 98
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by R. Burdick Clerk Book A Vol. 1 Page 11

I Abraham Holmes of Rochester in the County of Plymouth Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age to give evidence as on oath testify and say that in the spring of the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty eight a detachment was made from the Middle of Massachusetts by order of the General Court to reinforce the Army of the two States. That a Company a part of said Detachment was organized at Middleborough on the first of April under the com- mand of Captain John Barron; the Lieutenants were Barnaby Bates of Wareham, Andrew Maccary of Middleborough and John Flamming of Rochester. That Elizer Briggs also of Rochester joined the Company and marched with it to Roxbury was belonging to said Company and marched with it to Roxbury Street where it found a part of the Regiment to wit the Company commanded by Capt. Abraham Washburn, the Company commanded by Captain Calvin Washburn and a Company commanded by a Captain Norton (his Christian name forgotten). The Regiment was commanded by a Colonel Stevens of the County of Worcester who was present, and the Lieut Colonel whose name if I have not forgotten was David Jones and belonged to Halifax the Quarter Master Leach and the Sergeant Major Taylor were also there the Quarter master of the Regiment which the Major and Adjutant were stationed at some other place. The Company was for three months and the Regiment was discharged the second day of July. That I was the acting sergeant of said Company but I was not the middle of the Campaign. That on my return I was some considerable time. That on my return the Regiment appointed Captains each and so continued till the Regiment was discharged. That said Briggs had in the most room to that in which I lived in the same Barrack so that of course I see him almost every day. That I made up the pay roll of the Company and posted the Colonel in making up the pay roll of the Regiment. That some years afterwards said Briggs married Deborah Dean and lived with her until in occasional absence not far from where I lived during the rest of her life. That she is now her widow having never married again, and she is the daughter of the late Abraham Holmes.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Plymouth ss. Aug. 24. 1838. Abraham Holmes affirmed & made solemn oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed, before me

The undersigned, and I further certify that the affiant is personally known by me, and that he is of good reputation.
C. H. Holmes Secy. Peace.
3.
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page, mostly illegible.]

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
Jan'y 12 th , 1843.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the 3d section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, Deborah Briggs a Pensioner on the Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of Twenty eight Dollars and 40 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th July 1838, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1840, to the 4 th March 1841.
Respectfully, yours,
Wm. L. Gann Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

3789 Rochester N.Y. July 19. 43
Thos. String Forwards declara- tions of Mary Sunboard Bethiah Clark and Jane Look, and Deborah Briggs under the Pension Act of 3 rd March 1823.
K. 49 21 July 1843 Pension Office Messrs. M. Sunboard J. Look Mrs. B. Clark Claim. D. Briggs

7. Rochester July 19 th 1843 To the Hon. J. M. Waterbury Secy of War I herewith herewith sent the declaration of Bethiah Clark Mary Lumbard Deborah Briggs & Sam Look who rec d pensions under the act of July 1838 In order to obtain certificates that they may by the act of Congress passed on the third of March 1843 again obtain them as by said act they are entitled. Your obed Servt Thos King Rochester Mass
P.S. Sam Look his husband when leaving awed a pension of $96 a year why the widow does not draw as much I do not know She is poor & destitute & is in want of all that she is entitled to T King

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston August 26. 1848
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Theophilus King was a justice of the Peace for the County of Plymouth,
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W D Callan
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of 2d February, 1848, entitled, "An act making further provision for surviving Widows and Soldiers of the Revolution."
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss. Plymouth COUNTY, }
On this twenty fourth day of August 1848, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the county aforesaid,
Deborah Briggs a resident of Rochester in the county of Plymouth aforesaid aged eighty seven years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed on the 2d February, 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of Elisha Briggs who was a resident of Rochester and who was a private and corporal in the War of the Revolution and is the identical person who drew a pension under the Act of 17th June, 1844, on account of the Revolutionary service of her late husband aforesaid, at the rate of thirty four dollars and thirty five three cents per annum. She further declares that she is still a widow.
Deborah Briggs
Sworn to and subscribed on the day } and year above written, }
Before me, the word "fifty" being struck out of "thirty" inserted to correct a mistake.
In presence of Theophilus King Lydia B.C. Hammond
Theophilus King Justice of the Peace.
I Certify, That the declarant is personally known to me, a widow and a pensioner, as she declares.
Theophilus King Justice of the Peace.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } ss. COUNTY, }
Clerk of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that is a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, duly qualified; and that his signature, above written, is genuine.
and the Seal of said Court, this 18
CLERK.

3789 D. Briggs
$34:33 per am
3745- 37 Theo. King Rochester Mass,

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of the 3rd of March 1843 granting pensions for one year to certain widows who have rec d . pensions under the act of July 7 1838
Com th of Mass Plymouth County } ss
On this twenty first day of June 1843 personally appeared before me Subscribed a Justice of the Peace Deborah Briggs a Resident of Rochester in the County of Plymouth aged eighty two years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 3 rd March 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War.
That she is the widow of Elisha Briggs who was a Corporal in the Revolutionary Army Edward Hammond Esq d . and the annual amount of the pension which she rec d . under the act of July 7 th 1838 was thirty four dollars and thirty three cents. She further declares that she is still a Widow.
Deborah Briggs
Sworn to and Subscribed on the day and year above written before me
Stephenus King Justice Peace

Plymouth Yr. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Theophilus King Esq. is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County duly Commissioned and qualified & that the within is his true & genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this twelfth day of July 1843
Jacob H. Lord

adm Record Division.
3-1986
996
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF PENSIONS
WASHINGTON October 4, 1911.
Mr. C. A. Briggs, Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Sir:
In reply to your letter dated the 25" and received the 28" ultimo, you are advised that the Revolutionary War pension records fail to afford any information in regard to George and Oliver Briggs described by you.
This Bureau is unable to furnish the record of a soldier of the Revolution unless a claim has been filed on account of his services, and in order to identify a claim which may have been filed for Benjamin and Elisha Briggs, some of the following data is essential: names of some officers under whom they served, places of residence at enlistment and after discharge approximate dates of birth and death, given names of their widows.
Very respectfully,
J. Davenport Commissioner.
Spirit Lake Io Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C. Can you furnish date of death of Benjamin Briggs Revolutionary War also place of Res at that time Residence Northampton Mass his Captain Was Wm Clark Col Benjamin Simonds Also date of Death and place of Res at that time of Elisha Briggs Enlisted at Rochester Mass his Captain was Edward Hammond Col Theophilus Gotton Resp C A Briggs Spirit Lake Iowa