Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21116, Elisha Copeland, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Copeland, Elisha
S. 21116
CONTENTS

15227
Massachusetts
Elisha Capeland
of Suffolk co in the State of Massachusetts who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Thompson of the Regt: commanded by Col. Gill - in the Mass: 5 regt. line for 13 mos 1 d.
Court St. Mass
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of $43 Dollars 44 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of June 1833 and sent to Thos. W. Phillips C.C. Boston
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $86. 88 Semi-ant. allowance ending Septm - 21. 72
$108.60
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book Vol. 2 Page 11
70 Suffolk

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Suffolk ss. Boston On this seconds day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston now sitting at Boston in and for said County, Elisha Copeland a resident of Boston - in said County, 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 act of Congress passed June 7th, A. D. 1832.
THAT he was born at Braintree then in the County of Suffolk, but now in the County of Norfolk on the ninth day of January A. D. 1764, and that there is a record of his birth in his family records at his residence : that he was in the United States service from the first day of October A. D. 1779, to the first day of December A. D. 1779 - as a private in the Massachusetts militia - that he was residing at Milton in the present County of Norfolk - when he entered the service; that he turned out as a volunteer to go to Castle-Island in Boston Harbour - and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Ralph Thompson - the whole Garrison being under the Command of Col Burbeck
: that he marched from said Milton to said Castle Island & was allowed for service there & travel home  Two months & one days pay - : that he served with none that he now recollects of the regular troops; and Does not now remember that any of the regular officers were known to him: that he was in no battle, but that he was detailed on a guard to Conduct some mutineers to Boston Jail - and at the end of this service received a discharge, but not in writing - : that he left that service on the said first Dec. as above named and that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at Boston
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the first day of July A. D. 1780, to the thirty first day of December - A. D. 1780 as a private in the Continental Army
that he was residing at said Milton when he entered the service; that he volunteered as one of the "Six months men" from said Milton - and served for the period aforesaid under the command of General Lafayette in Col. Shephards Regiment & Captain Webbs Co
: that he marched from said town of Milton to Peekskill thro' Worcester, Springfield & thence to the Jerseys - : that he served with a Pennsylvania Regiment
of the regular troops; and Genl Washington - Baron Steuben & Capt. Hudin (a french officer in the service) were regular officers then known to him: that he was in no battle but was in some Skirmishes on the lines that at the end of this service he received a discharge but not in writing and left that service on the 31 st December 1780, & was allowed for that service for Travel home Six months & Eleven days pay
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from about the first days of March A. D. 1781, to about the last day of March - A. D. 1781 as a private in the Massachusetts militia
that he was residing at said Milton  volunteered when he entered the service; that he was among those who were detailed for forty days service in Rhode Island and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Capt. John Armstrong in Col. Gills Regiment
: that he marched from Said town of Milton to Newport, thro' Tiverton & over Howlands ferry
He believes - that he served with some, but he does not at this time Recollect which of the regular troops; and that he does not at present remember that any of the regular officers were known to him; that he was in no battle
that at the end of his service he received a discharge but not in writing and left the service on or about the last of March 1781 - & was allowed for said service for Travel home Twenty Seven days pay

Also that he was in the U. S. Service from the Twenty third day of August 1781 to the first day of December 1781 - as a private in the Continental Army  Massachusetts Militia - that he was residing at the aforesaid town of Milton when he Entered this service, that he turned out as a Volunteer & served for the period aforesaid under the Command of Capt Ralph Thompson - & that Joshua Beals was his Lieut. - That it was in Lieut. Col. Webb's regiment & that Genl. Heath was the Commander in Chief at the Post. - That he marched from Milton to Westpoint - & served there & at Stoney Point - that none of the regular officers or troops are now recollected by him - that he was in no Battle - that he left this service on or about the first day of December 1781 - but did not have a written discharge. That he was allowed for this service Three months & Twenty days pay including travel home - All the general Circumstances of his service which he now recollects are as follows: - While he was on Fort Independence (Castle Island) 1779 - a considerable number of men mutinied & he was detailed on the guard to carry them to Boston & lodge them in Jail. - On returning to the Castle in the Boat they lost themselves owing to a heavy Snow Storm & the darkness of the night they drove about in the harbour a great while & at last landed at Dorchester Cove & did not reach the Fort till the next day. - He was in the Jerseys when he heard of Arnold's treason - He saw Andre Executed -
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.
He further States that his Company were once about to make a descent on Long Island, but they were frustrated by the failure of the Boats that were to transport them. - He was at Fishkill when the news of Cornwallis's capture arrived there.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid. Before me Peter O. Thacher, Judge
We John Pierpont a Clergyman residing in the City of Boston pastor of Hollis St. Church, and Jacob Bacon a Mason residing in the City of Boston hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Elisha Copeland who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty eight 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 as aforesaid. Before me Peter O. Thacher, Judge
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the answers to which all evidence has been produced, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certify that it appears to them that Rev. John Pierpont who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the City of Boston; and that Jacob Bacon who has also signed the same is a resident in Boston & that both are credible persons; and that their statement is entitled to credit. Further certify that I have personally known the applicant Peter O. Thacher, Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston for about thirty years past & know him to be a man of good character & worthy of credit.
I do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
See Clerk's certificate on next page

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk ss
I Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston, a Court of Records, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Elisha Copeland for a pension; also that the Honorable Peter O. Thacher, is sole Judge of said Court and that the signatures on these papers purporting to be his, are genuine
In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court at Boston, this Second day of November A.D. Eighteen hundred & thirty two.
Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk.
Elisha Copeland Elisha Copeland

17417 Elisha Copeland Boston Mass
Private 13 mos 1/4 day Adm'd
43.44
Mrs. H. Phillips Boston Mass

BRIEF in the case of  County of Suffolk
Elisha Copeland  in the State of Massachusetts  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 81 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Vol In 1779 — ✓ 2 — 1 private Genl Lafayette   " 1780 ✓ 6 — — — Capt Thompson & Burbeck   " 1781 — 1 60 private — Mlt. Col. Shepard   rd 23 Augt — ✓ 3 — 20 — Capt Armstrong   — — — — Col. Grev.   13 — 1 — Capt Thompson & Webb  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None some skirmishes  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Milton Norfolk Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? documentary  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
William G. B. Examining Clerk.

Revolution
21116
INVALID.
File No. 21116
Elisha Copeland
Br Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 76
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Elisha Copeland which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? ys II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? ys 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? ys 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? ys VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? ys VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? ys VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? ys IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? ys 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? ys

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? Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? —
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? Documentary
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? —
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? —
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? —
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.

Elisha Peland
1747

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Nov r 6 th 1832.
I 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
Elisha Copeland served as a private on Castle Island in Boston Harbor two months and one day from first day of October A D 1779 in Capt Thompson's Company Also six months and eleven days in the continental army from the first day of July A D 1780, as appears by a return of the town of Milton agreeably to a resolve of the General Court of 5 th June 1780. Also twenty seven days in John Armstrong's Company, Col Gibbs Regiment, having been detached for forty days service in conformity to a resolve of the Council of Massachusetts of 20 th Feb y 1781. Also three months and twenty days in Capt Ralph Thompson's Company.

Col Webb's Regiment from the twen- ty third of August 1701.
I further certify
that previous to issuing this certificate the claimant had made his Declara- tion conformably to the rules prescribed by the War Department and exhibited it to me.
Edward R. Bangs. Esq.