Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,083, Silas Brown, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Brown, Silas
S. 21083
CONTENTS
A. 1757 at Stone Middlesex Co. Mass. 1757 at Stone Middlesex Co. Mass. 1757 at Stone Middlesex Co. Mass. 1757 at Stone Middlesex Co. Mass.
5

New York N o 28.706
Silas Brown
of Essex Co. in the State of N. York - who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Wyman of the Regt. commanded by Col. Puscott in the Mass. Troops line for 11 months & 8 days
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 37 Dollars 54 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 th day of May 1834 and sent to E. Pierson Ticonderoga N. Y.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 112.62 Semi-ant. allowance ending 1 st Sep. " 18.77
$131.39
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown
Clerk.
Book E
Vol. 4
Page 117

State of New York County of Onondaga - ss.
On this twenty sixth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two personally appeared before me Abraham  the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Onondaga aforesaid Silas Brown a resident of the town of DeWitt in the County aforesaid aged seventy four 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 7th 1832 -
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated - that he was under three several engagements as follows: In the first engagement he was under the following officers: Captain - Wyman - Major - Wood, Colonel - Prescott, Lieutenant - Brown one of the Sergeants was - Stone - he entered the service about the first of May 1775 for the term of eight months at the town of Cambridge County of Middlesex State of Massachusetts & left the said service the very last of December following - he was a resident at that time of the town of Ashby County of Middlesex & State of Massachusetts he considered that he enlisted but was termed a volunteer - he was not engaged in any battle - there was no mauling - he was stationed during the whole term at Cambridge aforesaid - his services were drilling standing guard & erecting fortifications or breast works some of which were raised on Lechmere Point, others were on Winter, Cobble & Prospect Hills. A regiment under the command of Colonel - Brooks was stationed there also in which regiment was a company from Amhersthead in the State of Massachusetts - this applicant recollects one Captain Patch who ever commanded a company in his regiment - General Washington came to Cambridge in the summer during this applicant's term

a remained there as this applicant thinks till the British evacuated Boston which he thinks was in March 1776 - at the time of his enlistment the British lay in Boston, on Bunker Hill & at a castle nearly South of Boston - The battle of Bunker Hill took place during his term of service that of Lexington about 10 days previous to his enlistment - The soldiers at Cambridge having no barracks, quartered themselves, during his term in the college buildings & other buildings in the town - he passed muster at Cambridge -
For his second engagement this applicant was under the following officers - he thinks General Gates was Brigadier General & Heath Division General - he was more immediately under the latter general's command Colonel - Hoard, Captain Solomon Parker, Sergeant Brann, Lieutenant Osborn - he entered the service on the first of July 1776 & left the same on the first of December following - his place of residence same as when he first enlisted - he was this term called a volunteer - Drafting orders came & he turned out instead of being drafted - he passed muster at Groton County of Middlesex & state of Massachusetts - he was engaged in no battle - he marched from his residence through the woods to Charlestown No. 4. Quarters 2 or 3 days proceeded thence through the woods to Ticonderoga NY County New York his services were drilling, standing sentry & erecting fortifications or breastworks - he was stationed about 30 rods from fort Ticonderoga which was then in possession of the Americans & Generals Gates & Heath & some of the American troops were quartered there - The British at this time were in possession of Crown Point & had been all summer - this applicant with about one half of the regiment to which he belonged under Captain Parker &

Lieutenant Osborn were ordered to Albany N.Y. at which place they arrived by a direct march the fore part of December 1776 when & where they were all dismissed.
In his third engagement this applicant was under the following officers - Colonel Howe, Captain - Branton Lieutenant - Brown - one of the serjeants was Brinker - his major was Hunt - he entered the service on the first of August 1779 as he believes it being a short time after the British evacuated Rhode Island on the arrival of the French Fleet & Army under Count De Estaing - Drafting orders came on this applicant & others turned out or enlisted as volunteers as he was then called - his place of residence was Stow County of Middlesex & State of Massachusetts - this applicant & others from Stow went a direct course through the wood over Peconick Plains to Rhode Island - the French fleet still lay in Newport Harbor & remained there till this applicant left the service - the object of raising the troops this time was to prevent the repossession of Rhode Island by the British as this applicant then understood it - what repossession it was expected would be attempted - he was dismissed some time in November same year (1779) - the above is all this applicant recollects respecting his service - he further states that he has no documentary evidence & knows of no person who can testify to his service - that he was born in the year 1757 in the town of Stow County of Middlesex & State of Massachusetts - Since the Revolutionary War he has resided in the State of Maine 12 years New Hampshire five years Vermont two years & in New York the remainder of the time - he never received any written discharge - has no record of his age - it is lost - he is well known to Symon S. Allen, Constant Whittard, & Joseph S. Wood who live in his present neighborhood & can testify to his character for truth & veracity &

their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution— He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present allowances that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State— Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year above said— in open court. Leonard Stow clerk of the court of session Silas D. Brown Plus of same county
We Richard D. Dutton  co Ebenezer Fitch John Allen residing in the town of Ticonderoga County of Essex State of New York hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Silas Brown who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be seventy four years of age; that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion— Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year above said— in open court. Leonard Stow clerk of same com. Plus Ebenezer Fitch John Allen
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named appli- cant was a soldier of the Revolution & served as he states— And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Richard D. Richard Ebenezer Fitch & John Allen who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the town of Ticonderoga above said & are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit—
Signed by order of the court Leonard Stow clerk of same com. Plus
Leonard Stow clerk of the court of

Common Pleas, of which we hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Silas Brown for a pension -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this twenty sixth day of September 1882 - Emerson Stone Clerk
State of New York County of Otsego ss.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of Peace of the town of Ticonderoga Co. County State of New York Silas Brown of the place aforesaid who being duly sworn deposed & saith that by reason of old age & 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 the following periods or periods - the first period mentioned in his annexed declaration he served not less than eight months, the second period not less than five months & the third period he served not less than three months. This Deponent further says that the reason no clergyman's certificate respecting his age & the general belief of his neighborhood relation to his revolutionary services was that no clergymen resided near him who could make the said certificate or oath as the law requires - & further this Deponent says that there is no person living who can testify to his services & that he has no documentary evidence of the same. This Deponent further states that during all the period of his service he was either in the field or garrison & that he was not any part of the duration of the said

knows employed in any civil pursuit - & this Deponent further states that he has heard his annexed affidavit by him subscribed read & that it is the same which he subscribed on the day it purports to have been made & further that the same accords perfectly with the best of his recollection - & further says not!
Sworn & submitted this 24 th day of May 1833 before me
Silas D. Horton
Rich d D. Arthur Justice of the Peace Silas D. Horton
State of New York
County of Onond } ss. Eliphalet D. Pearson being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he drew the annexed declaration of Silas D. Horton in affidavit for a pension under the act of June 7. 1832 & that this deponent retained a copy of of said declaration & that the annexed is precisely like the copy retained by this deponent & further this deponent says that the papers hereto annexed were made out by this deponent & were retained in his possession the whole time after they were made out till they were deposited in the Post Office directed to the War Department & he is confident no papers could have been inserted between any of them improperly & that the same were sent to the Department which were soon to be by the applicant Brown Sworn & subscribed this 24 th day of May 1833 before me
C. Pearson
13.02 Silas D. Horton Pension Papers
Rich d D. Arthur Justice of the Peace

Receival Morse, Deputy
I Leonard Hoss clerk of the county of Onondaga State of New York do hereby certify that Richard D. Arthur before whom the annexed affidavits of Solus Brown & Elizabeth Parsons were taken were a justice of the Peace of said county of Onondaga at the time those affida- vits aforesaid were taken & that the signatures of said justice to those affidavits purporting to be the signatures of said justice are both of them his genuine signatures In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of this 27 th day of May 1833.
Receival Morse, Deputy Clerk.

Silas Brown
Ent.
Schmitt Private 11 mo & 8 days
E. Pearson and of Second voyage 1845

B R I E F objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Silas Brown  before  N.Y. etc. 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? Not on Notes - 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? no  XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no  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? no  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? 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 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?  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.

New York Returned, April 19. 1854
Tennessee Nov 24th - 14
ST MCC
J. P. G. Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions City of Washington D.C.

Union Decoy April 14. 1894-
Sir,
Pursuant to your direction I have procured the certificate of Mr. Bunn to effect Mr. Brown's services & he informs me that the rolls are so defective that Mr. Messersmith should be indulged against any objection because his name is not on them & that he has informed the Department of it - I fear that the certificate does not exactly correspond with Mr. Brown's declaration - you will perceive the officer on night. But the last term Mr. Brown states new certificate delivered in 1772 1779 - the certificate is 1780 - I state then things known I wish nothing left undone - which I see do to help the poor old man - to a little compensation for his revolutionary services - Yours very respectfully
C. Pearson
J. L. Corson Esq.

21083
INVALID.
File No. 21,083
Lila Brown
Ph. Nov 1882
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 49
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, April 5 th 1834.
* 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 Silas Brown, as a Private, is borne on a Muster Roll of Capt. Abijah Wymman's Company, in Col. Wm Prescott's Regt. where he is allowed from April 24 th to August 1 st 1775, for services and travel, three months and nine days. ————— m do 3-9
Silas Brown's name as a Sergeant is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Thomas Brintrall's Company, in Col. Howe's Regt. where he is allowed from July 28 th to November 1 st 1780. for services and travel, three Months & eight days. 3-8 6-17
Silas Brown claims for further services under Capt. Wymman, in 1775, - the roll after August 1 st 1775, is not found in this Office.
Silas Brown claims for services under Capt. Joshua Parker, in 1776, but the roll he describes is not found in this Office.
Edward D. Bangs Secy
3-9 3-8 6-17
8- 3. 8 11. 8