Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 1540, James Brackett, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Brackett, James Mary
No. 1540
CONTENTS

BRACKETT, JAMES (MASS.)
W. 1540

11.540 Maine
James Brackett of Kennebec Co. in the State of Maine who was a Dr in the Company commanded by Captain Wilkins of the Regt commanded by Col King in the Mass transfer of 1813
17 Mo Dr . . 56. 66
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 56 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 th day of May and sent to 33 N. E. St. , Augusta, Me
to the 14th of March 1833 113.32 "wanie ending 4 th  Sep " 28.33
$ 141.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832, }
Recorded by D. D. Sprague Clerk, k E Vol. - Page 3

265- Mary
Pension
Mary Brackett widow of James Brackett who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private
inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9th day of July, 1849 and sent to Geo. W. Meriton, Augusta, Me.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 23 Vol. 1 29 July, book C

Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
STATE OF MAINE, } ss. KENNEBEC COUNTY, }
On this twentieth day of September A. D. 1832 personally appeared before the Hon. NATHAN WESTON, Jun'r, a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, of said State, James Brackett a resident of Bethel in the County of Oxford and State of Maine, aged sixty eight 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 provision made by the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1780 with Captain Solomon Walker and served in Col. Purno's regiment of the Massachusetts line or troops under the following named officers: viz. Walker Capt. Purno Col. That he enlisted in that company & regiment as a private in April 1780 for eight months. That under this enlistment he served until the last of December 1780 when he was honorably discharged by Genl. Wadsworth at Thomaston, Maine . That his discharge is now lost. That in April 1781 he again enlisted as a private for the term of nine months in Capt. Benjamin Lemoine's company in Col. Samuel McRobb's regiment of the same troops. That this period he fully served out part of the time detached on board the Sloop of war Defence & was honorably discharged at Bath , January 2. 1782. If he then took a written discharge it is now lost.
And to
responded under the

I Abrahams Brackett of Sidney Kennebec County, Maine, aged nity seven years, do upon oath testify & declare, that I well recollect that my brother James Brackett within named, enlisted & went into the service at both the periods by him mentioned, that he was absent from home & returned & I have no doubt he served the length of time as he has within stated. Albin Brackett
State of Maine } Subscribed & sworn to this 20th day of Sept. Kennebec, p: } 1832 the deponent being a credible witness. Nathan Weston
State of Maine.
KENNEBEC, ss.—I, JOHN A. CHANDLER, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts held within and for the County of Kennebec, hereby certify that the Hon. NATHAN WESTON, Jun'r, be- fore whom the within proceedings was had, is a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of said State; I also certify that the within contains the original proceedings of the said Judge, in the matter of the application of James Brackett for a pension. That William Moulton is a Magistrate as above.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court, this 18th day of October
A. D. 1832
J. A. Chandler
BRACKETT JAMES (MASS) V 1540

James Brackett
Private Mass ts troops.
Walker's Co. Prune's regt. 8 months.
Private
Lemont's Co. McCobb's regt. 9 months
17 months as a private.
I John Rice of Hallowell, Maine, aged seventy three years, a revolutionary soldier, do testify & declare that I well recollect that the within named James Brackett served in Capt. Solomon Walker's company as he has within stated. I enlisted in the same company in March 1780 & served until the last of December of the same year. Genl. Wadsworth had the command & I supposed McCobb was colonel as I have stated in my declaration for a pension. State of Maine } subscribed & sworn to this 20th day of September 1832. Memoranda p: } the deponent being a credible witness.
Before me, Wm. W. Bartlett Justice of the Peace.

That he was born in what is now called Mt. Maine, in 1764, where he presumes his age is recorded, where his home was during his revolutionary services. That he afterwards lived in Chesterville thence removed to said Berlin where he has lived about thirteen years. That he enlisted was discharged as he has stated. That during his first service he was stationed at Camden & Thomaston, Maine. That during his second service he was for about six months a Sergeant as will appear by the annexed papers.
That any of his neighbors will testify to his Character for veracity & their belief of his services. That his first service may have been in Webb's regt. or Prince's regiment but he supposed that Prince was Col.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any State.
James Brackett
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. B of one
Nathan Weston Jr
And the said Judge does hereby declare his opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.
Nathan Weston Jr

Mary 31 Brackett. For Pension act July 29. 1848
Mom of James Me
Maria 1798 Instur'd 4 ) 1845
Adm 51 11 PM July March 1848
Geo W. Morton Augusta Maine

Declaration. In order to be pensioned under the Act of Congress of July 29. 1848.
State of Maine, } Franklin County. ss }
On this thirtieth day of January A.D. 1849. personally appeared before me, Moses Sherburne, Judge of the Court of Probate for the said County of Franklin, Mary Brackett, a resident of Phillips in the County of Franklin and State of Maine, aged sixty nine years, who being sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 29 th July 1848, relating to the widows of the Officers and Soldiers of the Revolutionary Army; That she is the widow of James Brackett, deceased, who was a revolutionary pensioner of the United States under the Act of Congress of 7 th June 1832, that he was allowed a pension under the said Act of fifty  six 66 2/3 dollars per annum, payable at the Maine Agency, where he was last paid up to March 11 th 1845, and that she refers to a declaration made by him of his services in the Revolution on which his pension was founded in support of her claim which she presumes, is in possession of the War Department. She further declares that she was married to the said James Brackett on the thirty first day of January in the year seventeen hundred and ninety eight, in the town of Falmouth, then in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, now Maine, that her maiden name was Mary Lunt, that her husband, the said James Brackett, died in the town of Phillips in the county of Franklin and State of Maine, on the twenty second day

of March 1845, that since his death she has remained a widow, and that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January one thousand eight hundred, viz: at the time above stated, Mary Brackett
Sworn to and subscribed in the open Court of Probate, for Franklin County, State of Maine, before me the thirtieth day of January A. D. 1849.
M. Sherburne
Judge of Probate Court. County of Franklin State of Maine.
State of Maine,
Franklin County ss. I the subscriber, Register of the Court of Probate for the said County of Franklin, hereby Certify that the Hon. Moses Sherburne is the Judge of said Court; and that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Mary Brackett for a pension.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of the said Court, this thirtieth day of January A. D. 1849.
R. Prescott
Register of said Court.
State of Maine, Franklin County ss.
Be it known that it has been satisfactorily proved in open Court of Probate for the said County of Franklin, it being a Court of record, that James Brackett

was a Revolutionary pensioner of the United States, that he died in Phillips in said county of Franklin, on the twenty second day of March A. D. 1845, and that Mary Brackett a resident of said Phillips is the widow of the said James Brackett, deceased.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set the seal of said Court and subscribed my name, the thirteenth day of January A. D. 1849.
D. P. USCOLL
Register of said Court.

I John Royes Town Clerk of Salina in the County of Cumberland and state of Maine on oath depose and say that I have in my custody and keeping the Books of Records belonging to said Town in one of the Books in my possession purporting to contain births marriages & deaths I find the following entry to wit
James Brackett Jun. and Mary Aunt were Married January thirty first seventeen hundred and ninety eight
the above is a true abstract except the date which is in plaine and legable letters lying thus January 31. 1798
John Royes Town Clerk
Cumberland ss, March 19. 1849
Personally appeared the above named John Royes and made oath that the above is a true copy of the records
Before me
West Salina Me Daniel Merrill Justice of the Peace March 19/49 Geo. W. Morton Esq

State of Maine.
Kennebec ss
I the undersigned Clerk of the Judicial Courts for the County of Kennebec hereby certify that Daniel Merrill Esq is a justice of the Peace in & for the County of Cumberland, and that the within written signature purporting to be his is genuine.
Witness my hand and seal of the Supreme Judicial Court this twenty first day of March. Anno Domini 1849.
J. M. Stratton

24.570
James Brachitt. Oxford Co Maine
Admitted 17 mo's Private $ 56.66
R. C. Vose Esq r Augusta Kennebec Co. Maine

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjunct notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of James Brachett. Oxford Co. Maine
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     1780 " 8 " Pen Gen. Washington Col. Prince Col. Walcher. 68 years Bath Maine Witness John Rice J. B. Brachett   1781 " 9 " " Col. McCall Col. Liment " A. Libby  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of 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.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted ; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity ; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Joseph Rowan.

Rev  WIDOW, &c.
File No. 1570
Mary Brackett, Widow. James Brackett, Rev. Rev. Wm.
Act: July 24, 1848.
Index:—Vol. A , Page 81
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Augusta, Me. April 2. 1833.
Sir,
I send you herewith the applications of the following named persons for pensions under the Act of Congress of June 7. 1832. viz,
James Brackett George Fogg Sam d . Whitney Matthew Pettingill Ebenezer Whitney William Wait
} Have been before filed in the Pension Office & proof now completed.
Which applications will I trust receive your earliest attention.
Yours respectfully
Robert C. Vose
Col. J. L. Edwards, Comm te of Pensions &c. }

I hereby certify that this deponent is a credible witness and entitled to full credit and belief. J. D. Dinsmore, Justice of the Peace.
I William P. Cook of Madrid, in the County of Franklin and State of Maine, of lawful age, depose and say, that I have been acquainted with Mary Brackett, the widow of James Brackett, a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States, late of Phillips deceased, for nearly or quite thirty years, that the said Mary Brackett, who makes application for a pension, for the services of the said James Brackett in the War of the Revolution, and made a declaration in order to obtain the same, before Hon. Moses Sherburne, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Franklin, on the thirtieth day of January A.D. 1829, is the identical Mary Brackett, whom I have known as the wife, and widow of the said James Brackett, for the last thirty years as aforesaid -
And I further depose and say, that I have resided within three or four miles of the said Mary Brackett, during all the time mentioned above - was at the house frequently, during the last sickness of the said James Brackett, and also before and since, and know all the facts mentioned above to be true, and that the said Mary Brackett, since the death of the late James Brackett, has remained a widow, and unmarried until this day -
William P. Cook State of Maine.
Franklin County ss.
Be it known, That on the fifth day of March, A.D. 1829, before the subscriber, a justice of the Peace, in and for said County, personally appeared, the above named William P. Cook, and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit - Sworn and subscribed

the day and year last above mentioned, before me, and on March 5 th A.D. 1849, J. A. Linscott , Justice of the Peace.
State of Maine, } set. Franklin County }
I George W. Whitney, Clerk of the Western District Court, of the county and State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Joseph A. Linscott, is a justice of the peace, in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the fifteenth day of January 1845, and will expire on the fifteenth day of January 1852, and that his signature above written is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of said Western District Court, this fifth day of March, 1849. W. Whitney Clerk.

James Brackett, Mr act 7 June 1832 #56 66 Spun
To what time was he last paid?
96 A
Pension Office July 16 th 1849
P d to 4 th Mar. 1845.
B.L.P.

Augusta, Maine
March 21. 1849
Sir,
I herewith enclose some papers, in order to have Mrs. Mary Brackett (widow of James Brackett) pensioned under the Act of July 29. 1849, which if satisfactory, I would respectfully request you to allow her claimed, and send me, as her agent, a Pension Certificate for her.
Very respectfully
Your Oble Servt
Geo W. Morton
James L. Edwards Esq Commr of Pensions Washington City.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
KENNEBEC, ss.
THE Subscriber, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts, held within the said County of Kennebec, hereby certifies, that the Honorable NATHAN WESTON, Junior, Esquire, before whom the annexed proceedings were held, is Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Second Eastern Circuit of Massachusetts, embracing the Counties of Lincoln, Kennebec and Somerset ; and that by the direction of the said Judge, I have affixed unto his Certificate bearing his signature, the seal of the said Court in which he presides.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand : Dated at Augusta, in said County of Kennebec, this tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
A handwritten signature in cursive, reading "John Davis", written in dark ink.

James Bracket, Chesterfield, W. Col. N. Colby Mass. Reg.
* April 1781. to Jan'y 1781.
April May 5. 1818.
James
James Bracket
Reported in Cont'd Vol. 11, p. 11

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
To the Honorable the Secretary of the department of War of the United States.
I the subscriber being Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the second Eastern Circuit of said commonwealth embracing the counties of Lincoln, Kennebec, and Somerset. do certify to your honor that James Brackett a citizen of the United States, now resident in Chesterville in said county of Kennebec in the District of Maine, on the fifth day of May A.D. 1818 made application to me to receive his declaration under oath, and such other evidence as was in his power to produce; and to trans- mit the same, and the proceedings had thereon to your Honor, that he might be placed on the pension list of the United States, agreeably to the provisions of an act, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons, engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war", passed March 18. 1818. which declaration, and the other evidence produced by said applicant is herunto annexed.
And I do further certify to your Honor that after a careful examination of said applicant, and a full consideration of the evidence in the case, it appears to me, that the said applicant did serve as a private soldier, and as a noncommissioned officer, in the war of the revolution against the common enemy, upon the continental establishment, if Col McCoskry's name was upon that establishment for more than nine months, as stated in his declaration and accompanying evidence aforesaid; and that from his reduced circumstances, he needs the assistance of his country for support.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the court in which I preside to be affixed.
Nathan Weston Jr d C. Justice
C. Court C. Pleas 2 Eastern Circuit

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I James Brackett, aged fifty four years, a citizen of the U. States born in Georgetown, in the District of Maine, now resident in Chesterville in said District, upon oath testify and declare, that in April 1780 I enlisted as a private soldier for eight months, in the war of the revolution, against the common enemy, upon the continental establishment, in Capt Solomon Walker's company, and Col. Prince's regiment of the Massachusetts line. Under this enlistment I served until the last of December 1780 when I was honorably discharged at Thomaston by General Woodworth. My discharge I have since lost, and it is not now to my knowledge in existence.
On the first of April 1781 I again enlisted as a private soldier for the term of nine months into the same service, and upon the continental establishment in Capt Benjamin Lement's company, and Col. Samuel McCobb's regiment of the Massachusetts line. This period I fully served out part of the time detached on board the sloop of war Defence and was part honorably discharged at Bath January 2. 1782. If I then took a written discharge, it is now lost and not to my knowledge in existence. From my reduced circumstances, I need the assistance of my country for support. And I do hereby relinquish all my claim to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the U. States, if any; but I am not to my knowledge borne on any pension list whatever. I request that I may be placed upon the pension list for the District of Maine. James Brackett
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Removes to
On the fifth day of May A.D. 1810 the above named James Brackett, after having been carefully examined, made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed. Before me
Nathan Weston Esq.
C. Justice C. Court C. Pleas
2 d Eastern Circuit

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I Arthur Litchgow, aged fifty seven years, a Lieutenant in the war of the revolution, upon the continental establishment, of Augusta in the District of Maine, upon oath testify and declare that I know that James Brackett within an aged served as a soldier, and the latter part of the time as a non commissioned officer, the whole of the last nine months by him within mentioned upon the continental establishment as I was during that time first Lieut of the company in which he served. He sustains the character of a man of truth.
Arthur Litchgow
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Kennebec ss.
On the fifth day of May A.D. 1818 the above named Arthur Litchgow, after having been carefully examined, made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed.
Before me Nathan Weston Jur.
C. Inst. C. Court C. Pines
2 d Eastern Circuit.
James Brackett, Chesterfield, W. Col. McAlbany Mass. Reg.
* April 1781. to Jan'y 1782.
April May 5. 1818.
Arthur Litchgow
James Brackett
Rejected - Not on continental establishment