Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,899, Paul Briggs, Mass. R. I.

SERVICE
Mass R.I.
Briggs, Paul
NUMBER
S. 30,899
CONTENTS

5745.
Massachusetts
Paul Briggs
Bristol in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Dabb of the Regt commanded by Col Walker in the (Mass) line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 80 Dollars ~ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of Feb 1833 and sent to S. Hodge S. Hodge H of Rep
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $120 ~ Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar 33 40 ~
$160 ~
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by S. H. B. Blair Clerk Book D - Vol. 2 nd Page 96

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Bristol ss
At a Court of Probate held at Dighton — in and for said County on the Seventeenth day of August — one thousand eight hundred and and thirty two, by Deputy before the Hon. Elijah Loring, Judge of the Probate etc. for said County, personally appeared Paul Briggs, a resident of Berkeley in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid aged eighty three years on the fourth day of July now last past, who being first duly sworn according to law, states, on his oath, make the following declarations, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 —
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated — viz —
That he enlisted as a private soldier on the first day of August 1775 in said Berkeley (that then being his place of residence) for the term of eight months, in a company of Infantry, commanded by Capt. Samuel Tobbs, and in a Regiment of Col. Nathan of Rehoboth in said County of Bristol; that in one or two days after he so enlisted, he marched with the company from said Berkeley to the Town of Roxbury in the County of Norfolk, where he, with other troops, were stationed, and were engaged in guarding Boston Neck, (the British then being in the posses- sion of Boston) and in erecting fortifications in face of the enemy — He recollects during this term of service, that Gen. Washington came to Roxbury and reviewed the troops — He also recollects the battle at Bunker's hill and the burning of Charleston; he having a full view of the same — The enemy during the day of the battle at Bunker's hill, fired upon the American troops that were stationed at Roxbury and the American soldiers were in constant expectation of, and impatient for battle with the enemy — He also recollects of having

2. seen Gen. Putnam, and also of having frequently seen Gen. Thomas H. Rockbury during this campaign and term of service - This service was rendered by said Briggs as one of the soldiers which were furnished by the State of Massachusetts - The evidence of this service and of his discharge is annexed and will be found in the affidavits of Samuel Paul, Benjamin Paul, William Cotton and William Evans all of whom were private soldiers in the same company with him - In the said Paul was discharged by Capt. Dibble at Roxbury about the first of January A.D. 1776 - This discharge was verbal only, being a verbal one - And the said Paul Briggs upon his oath aforesaid further declares, that he enlisted as a private soldier May 1 st A.D. 1776 at said Rockbury (that, then being his place of residence) in a company of Infantry commanded by Capt. Rebeckah Needling and in Col. Josiah Whitney's Regiment of which Regiment Thomas Hoacy was Adjutant; that he enlisted as aforesaid for the term of seven months; that within a day or two after he enlisted, he marched from said Rockbury to Boston Mass. & after remaining some time in Boston, he went with his company & other troops to Noddle's Island in Boston Bay, where after remaining about one month & being there as well as in Boston engaged in guarding the coast & erecting fortifications, he, with his company & other troops, went to Hull in the county of Plymouth  Shoreham at Nantasket Roads, so called, where he and his companions in arms guarded the coast & erected a fort - Shortly after the troops arrived at Hull, he took part with his company and regiment & captured three British vessels, two of which ships were full of Scotch Highland Soldiers for the British army and the other was loaded with provisions & ammunitions of war for the British troops - The troops at this period (that were stationed at Boston, at Noddle's Island and Hull,) as the said Briggs supposes, were under the immediate command of Gen. Benjamin Lincoln of Hingham in the county of Plymouth, whom he frequently saw whilst he the said Briggs was at those places. That he the said Briggs, after serving the said term of seven months

was discharged as said Hall did left Reading in December A.D. 1776. — He had a verbal and not a written discharge. — He does not recollect of any Continental Troops being at Boston, Middle Island, or Hull at this period of his service — His term of service was rendered by him as one of the Soldiers which were furnished by the State of Massachusetts. — The evidence of this service is annexed as will be found in the affidavits of Samuel Paul, Benjamin Paul and William Evans all of whom were private Soldiers in the same company with the said Paul Briggs. —
And the said Paul Briggs upon his oath aforesaid further declares, that he enlisted at about the seventeenth of March A.D. 1778 at Howland's Ferry so called, in Tiverton R.I. — That he went from Berkley aforesaid to said Howland's Ferry for the purpose of enlisting; said Berkley then being his place of residence — That After he so enlisted he commenced his service in this campaign on the 17th of March A.D. 1778 in a company of Infantry commanded by Capt. William Philip Dighton, in Col. Tappin's Regiment, and Gen. Lornell's Brigade. — Soon after he commenced his service in this campaign he was passed into the company commanded by Capt. William Whipple of the same Regiment & Brigade. — The company to which he the said Briggs belonged were stationed for some time at Howland's Ferry, but afterwards, about the first of August of that year, he together with his company and Regiment were removed to the Island of Rhode Island — That he continued in the service in Capt. William Whipple's company until the 18th of March A.D. 1779 when he was discharged at Howland's Ferry together with the whole of the Regiment to which he belonged, by Col. Tappin — That he received at the expiration of this service (which was for the period of one year) no written but a verbal discharge, — When he his company left Howland's Ferry & went to the Island; they were stationed upon the Island at Middle town, where they were engaged in throwing up an entrenchments and fortifications

14th across the Island - That at he was engaged with the American Army in the battle at Bunker's Hill, and took part in the same - Gen. John Sullivan had the command at the time of this battle and in this expedition upon Rhode Island - He the said Briggs was one of the soldiers which were furnished by the State of Rhode Island at that period - He recollects of two Brigades of Continental troops upon the Island some time during this expedition and campaign - One of these Brigades was commanded by Gen. Glover and the other by Gen. Warren of N. J. - He recollects of having seen Gen. La Fayette when he was upon the Island in this expedition - He does not know of any person now living except Col. Dean by whom he can prove this service - The evidence of this service is annexed and will be found in the affidavit - with subscribed by Earl Sears who was also a private in the same company with him the said Briggs. During the principal part of this campaign -
And the said Briggs further declares that he served as a private soldier in a Company of Infantry for the further period of eight months of fifteen months, commanded by Capt. Gibbs and in Col. Sturton's Regiment - of which however he now produces no proof as he says the above campaigns and terms which are particularly set forth & distributed, are sufficient in all to embrace more than two years of service in the Revolutionary War. -
And the said Briggs in order more fully to answer some of the questions proponed by the Secretary of War, says he was born in said Berkley on the fourth day of July in the year 1749 and that he has no record of his age; as he thinks it is not recorded upon the records of said Town of Berkley - That he was residing in said Berkley at the several periods when he was called into service, in which Town of Berkley he has always had his residence since the Revolutionary war & where he now resides - He was called into service as before specified in this declaration; and the the names of his officers and other officers, together with each regiment as he recollects and the general circumstances of his service and the manner in which he was discharged - The names of the persons who can testify to his veracity and services as a soldier are the persons who have signed the annexed

5 th Affidavit; and in addition to these persons, he has no doubt but that the Rev. Thomas Andrews and Bazaarai Esquire  Hathaway Esquire both residents of said Berkley can testify to his character for veracity and their belief that he rendered the aforesaid services as a soldier of the revolution. —
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, or if any, only on that of the agency of the State of Massachusetts. — Sworn to, and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. H. T. Dargies, Judge of Probate
We, Thomas Andrews a Clergyman, residing in the Town of Berkley in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Bazaarai Esquire  Hathaway Esquire, residing in the same Berkley, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Paul Briggs, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, and that we believe him to be in the eighty fourth year of his 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. Thomas Andrews Bazaarai Hathaway
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. — H. T. Dargies, Judge of Probate
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

6 th -
was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states; and the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Thomas Bruchas who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in said Berkley and that Hathaway  Barzillai , who has also signed the same is a resident in the same Berkley and is a credible person, and that this statement is in- titled to credit.
H. Barzillai, Judge of Probate.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } County of Bristol ss }
Anselm Basset, Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County do hereby certify, that the foregoing, contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the ap- -plication of Paul Briggs for a Pension -
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said Court the day and year first written in this application. -
Anselm Basset

30899 Ray INVALID.
File No. 30,899
Paul Briggs
Rev War
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 54
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Paul Brigg? Application for a Pension —

Paul Briggs
No. 2,831
Private 2 Years Am'd
$80
60" Walker
8 mo
7"
12"

War Department
Pension Office
Nov 12 1839
Sir
Herewith return the documents in support of the claim of Paul Briggs they being insufficient to authorize the inscription of his name on the pension List. Before a final decision can be had in this case the Magistrate before whom the witnesses in regard to the claimant's service was taken must certify that they are credible & disinterested persons
Very Respectfully
Your ob t S r
J. L. Edwards
A. Baperly Nov 12 Bedford Mass

We Benjamin Paul, William Cotton, and William Evans all of the county of Bristol of lawfull age to give evidence, do testify and say that on or about the first of May A.D. 1775, we together with Paul Brigggs of and Berkley in said county enlisted as private soldiers in said Town of Berkley for the term of eight months, to serve in the War of the Revolution, in the company of Infantry commanded by Capt. Samuel Dibble in Col. Walker's Regiment; that in one or two days after we enlisted, the said Brigggs and ourselves with the company, marched from said Berkley to Roxbury in the County of Norfolk, where he the said Brigggs served in said company guarding Boston Neck (the British then being in possession of Boston) and throwing up entrenchments and fortifications until the first of January 1776 when he the said Brigggs with all of the company were discharged by Capt. Dibble at Roxbury - This discharge was a verbal and not a written one - It was during this campaign that the battle of Bunker's Hill was fought & Charlestown burnt, both of which are well remember as we had a full view of them. - We also saw Gen. Washington at Roxbury & he reviewed the troops - We also frequently saw Gen. Thomas at Roxbury -
Attest E. P. Hathaway -
Benjamin Paul William Evans William his Cotton mark
Bristol ss. Aug. 11 th 1832 - Then personally appeared Benjamin Paul, William Evans and William Cotton, who subscribed the above declaration and made solemn oath to the truth of the same -
Before me, Nathaniel P. Hathaway, Just. of the Peace - Bristol ss. Nov. 25 th 1832 I certify that Benjamin Paul, William Evans and William Cotton who subscribed the above affidavits are each of them credible persons and that their statements when taken together or separately is entitled to the fullest credit - Nathaniel P. Hathaway, Just. of the Peace -

We Benjamin Paul and William Evans both of Berkeley in the County of Bristol, Yeomen, of lawful age to give evidence, do testify and say; that we, together with Paul Briggs of said Berkeley served as privates or soldiers in a company of Infantry commanded by Capt. Rebecka Redding in Col. Josiah Whitney's Regiment for the term of seven months; that we together with the said Paul Briggs enlisted on the fifth day of May A.D. 1776; that shortly afterwards the said Briggs marched with the company from said Berkeley to Boston, Mass. and from thence he went with the company to Wallis Island in Boston Harbour and from thence to the Town of Hull in the County of Norfolk, where a company of soldiers was called, where we and the said Briggs served until some time in the month of December A.D. 1776 when we were all discharged by Capt. Redding at said Hull - When we were at Boston and Wallis Island we were engaged in guarding the coast and erecting fortifications & we were engaged in the like service at said Hull - At Hull however the  our Regiment captured three British vessels, two of which were full of Scotch Highland soldiers and the other was loaded with provisions and ammunitions of war for the British army - We had no writer, but a verbal discharge from Capt. Redding - We suppose that Major Gen. Benjamin Lincoln had the immediate command of the troops at these several places as he was frequently at each of them with the troops that were there stationed -
Benjamin Paul William Evans
Bristol Jp. Aug. 11th 1832 Then personally appeared Benjamin Paul and William Evans who subscribed the above declaration and made solemn oath to the truth of the same -
Before me Nathaniel P. Hathaway, Just. of the Peace -
(Turn Over)

Bristol Novr. 26 th 1832 - I certify that Benjamin Paull and William Evans who subscribed the within affidavits are each of them disinterested and credible persons and that their statements either taken together or separately is entitled to the fullest credit.
Matthew P. Hatherley, Judge of the Peace -

I Earl Sears of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth, Groom of lawful age to give evidence, do testify and say, that about the latter part of March or the first of April A.D. 1848 I commenced service as private soldier in a company of the then Infantry commanded by Capt. Philip Weston in Col. Tappin's Regiment and Gen. Cornell's Brigade - That when I joined this company (which was not until some time after it commenced its service) I found Paul Briggs there, a soldier in the same; I joined said company at Howland's Ferry in Riverton N.J. - said Paul continued with myself to serve in said company from said March or April and how long before that time he had served in the same I am unable to say, until the 16th of March A.D. 1879 when we were discharged at said Howland's Ferry in said Riverton by Col. Tappin. - I ought however here to say that said Paul and myself were not under the command of Capt. Weston but a short time; when he, the said Paul and myself and others were placed under the command of Capt. William Whipple of the same Regiment and Brigade, in which company we were privates when discharged as aforesaid - The reason of this, was because the companies were too full and more companies were organized from the same troops. - This year's service was rendered for the State of Rhode Island. - The company in which the said Paul & myself were soldiers, was a part of the time stationed at said Ferry and a part of the time at Middletown on the Island of Rhode Island. The company, Regiment and Brigade to which the said Paul and myself belonged were in the battle at Butts Hill so called, - Gen. La- Fayette was at Rhode Island when we were there - When we were discharged we did not have a written but a verbal discharge - Earl Sears
Bristol Sp. Aug. 11th 1832 Then personally appeared Earl Sears who made oath to the truth of the above declaration by him subscribed
Before me, Nathaniel P. Hathaway, Justice of the Peace.
Bristol Sp. Nov. 26th 1832 - I certify that Earl Sears who subscribed the above affidavit is a divine rested and credible person and that his statement is entitled to the fullest credit.
Nathaniel P. Hathaway, Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Bristol ss. On this _____ day of _____

No 2.831
Paul Briggs

I Samuel Paull of Berkley in the county of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged Seventy five years testify and say that I have been acquainted with one said Briggs of Berkley aforesaid ever since the year 1775.
That said Briggs served as a private Soldier in the war of the Revolution in a Company of militia under the command of Capt. Lebue Redding in the Regiment commanded by Col. Josiah Whitney for the term of seven months — The above service was performed in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred & seventy six at Nantastick in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I further testify & say that said Briggs served another time two months in Dorchester in said Commonwealth in the war of the Revolution as a private Soldier in the Company commanded by Capt Samuel Tulebs in the Regiment under the command of Col. Jacob French —
This last service was also performed in said year of our Lord seventeen hundred & seventy six.
I further testify & say that I served the same time in the same Companies with said Briggs.
Samuel Paull
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss. August 15th. 1832. Then personally appeared the above named Samuel Paull subscriber to the foregoing affidavit and made solemn Oath to the truth of the same.
Before me Barzillai Crane Justice of the Peace Bristol Decr. 10th 1832 I certify that Samuel Paull who subscribed the above affidavit is a disinterested and credible person & that his statement above made, is entitled to full credit — Barzillai Crane Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss
I James Spratt Esq. of the County of Somerset Pleas for said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that Jonathan P. Wackaway & Barzillai Brann Esq. whose signatures are affixed to the within and annexed certificates, are Justices of the peace in & for said County of Bristol, and duly qualified to administer oaths —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, this twenty fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred & thirty two J. Spratt