Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 19268, John Craig, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Craig, John or Craige
S. 19268
carded
CONTENTS

32.883
Maine
John Craig, deceased
of Penobscot in the State of Maine who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Crosby of the Regt commanded by Col. Allen in the Mass line for 13 months
Portland
Inscribed on the Roll of at the rate of 45. Dollars 56 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. & Ending 7 th October 1834. when he died
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 th day of June 1837 and sent to Hon. H. Hamlin
Senator U.S. Hampden Maine
Arrears to the 4th of Semi-annual allowance ending
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
W. H. Wightman Clerk,
Vol. 1. Page 10

Declaration to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 1832 -
State of Maine } ss. County of Penobscot }
On this second day of July A.D. 1850 personally appeared in open Court before the Supreme Judicial Court all the judges being present Sarah Craig a Resident of Brewer in said County aged fifty two years who being first duly sworn according to law deposits on her oath make the following declaration -
That she is the daughter of John Craig late of Oland in the County of Hancock in said State - That she has reason to believe & does fully believe that her fa- ther the said John Craig served the United States in the war of the Revo- lution at different periods amounting in all at least to the term of thirteen months & twenty days -
I have many times heard him speak of having been out in the war - of having

my been on service at Machias - and also at Castine and also in the Western part of the State of Massachusetts which then in- cluded Maine -
That for particulars & proof of his service she begs leave to refer to the Certificate of the Secretary of State of Massachusetts -
If she had heard from her Father full details respecting his service, she does not think she should from memory be able to state them now -
From her own personal knowledge all she can state on this point is that he always declined himself to have served in said War, that all the family so understood & spoke about him & that his neighbors so stated -
That she understood from other members of the family about the time of her Father's death that he had taken some steps to pro- cure a Pension, & had obtained proofs on the subject of his service & expected to succeed - whether the same had been for- warded to Washington she is not sure but that is her impression - I remember distinctly that a very short time before his death he spoke of going to Bangor to see about his Pension - or to do some

this in reference to his Pension -
He died suddenly on the seventh day of October eighteen hundred & thirty four - John Braine -
Hannah Rapanel and Mary Brinkhall both married women and the said Sarah Braine are the only surviving children of the said John Braine -
That her Mother the wife of said John whose name was Hannah died many years before her Father -
That she makes this application for the amount of Pension due to her Father at his death - viz from 4 th March 1831 to 7 th October 1834.
Sarah Braine
I William T Hilliard Clerk of all the Judicial Courts in the County of Pembroke do hereby certify that the foregoing Sarah Braine came before me and subscribed & made oaths to the foregoing declaration and that the same constitutes the original proceedings of her court in the matter of said application -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto

set my hand & the seal of the said Supreme Judicial Court this second day of July A.D. 1850 -
Wm T Hilliard Clerk

I, Sarah Craig on oath declare that I am the applicant for the Pension due the Heirs of John Craig who was my Father - I am fifty two years of age - I was born in Orland Maine where my parents then lived - My Father married my Mother in Bremen or Hampden Maine - Previous to his coming to Maine he lived in Massachusetts but at what time he left the latter State I cannot tell - all his children were born in Orland and the oldest is about sixty two or sixty three - His Father & Mother & the family lived at Tracut in Mass, but whether at the time of my Father's birth I can not tell - I don't remember precisely what was stated on this point in the application to the Secretary of Mass, but all I meant to say is that I know only from hearing it mentioned in the family is that some time my Father lived at Tracut - whether or not he lived there when he enlisted I have no knowledge - He always said he was a Revolutionary soldier & I am fully satisfied that he told the truth - His neighbors

all fully believed to - The population of the part of Orleans where he lived is small & scattered - My Father was seventy seven years old when he died - I never heard of any other John Craig ex- cept my Brother -
Sarah Craig
State of Maine
Penobscot County } B
Oct 9. 1850 -
Subscribed & sworn to before me -
Geo. B. Moulton Jus. Peace

State of Maine
Hancock Jan'y 14th 1857
I Samuel Craig of Orland testify that Mr John Craig said that he went into the war early the first time about the year 1865 and enlisted at Cape Ann that he always said that he went into the service at the same time with his Brother Samuel Craig & continued in service as long the first term & afterwards served in defense of Maine Samuel Craig was a pensioner of the Society Six Dollars a year pension money about two days before John Craig died he applied to me to assist in getting his pension With the test of that Saml Craig my father told me they went into the war together in the year 1865 Samuel Craig I was before me
Release Justice of the Peace
I certify that the witness is known to me is entitled to credit

State of Maine
Hancock Co Jan y 11th 1851
I John Craig of Orleans testify that my Father always said that he went into the war early the first time about the year 1775 and enlisted at Cape Ann That he always said that he went into the service at the same time with his Brother Samuel Craig & continued in service as long the first time & afterwards served in defence of Maine. Samuel Craig was a pensioner & John Craig was just trying for pension when he died suddenly I further testify that about two days before his death that he applied to Samuel Craig to assist in getting his pension
Signed & sworn to before me
John Craig
J. P. Mason Justice of the Peace
I certify that the witness is known to me & is intitled to credit

Rev War 19.268 INVALID.
File No. 19.268
John Oligen Rev War
Act: June 7 th 39
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 85
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I Hannah Hopkins of the town of Brewer and State of Maine, of lawful age do testify and say that I have personally known John Craige late of Orland, who died in that town Oct. 7 th 1834, and I would further state that he was seventy seven years old at that time, according to the best of my knowledge and belief. Brewer Oct. 9 th 1850. Hannah Hopkins
Penobscot. S. S.
Personally appeared Hannah Hopkins and made oath that the above statement is true and correct, according to the best of her knowledge and belief, before me
John Hilfert Justice of the Peace Since Hannah is known to me is entitled to credit Geo. B. Moody Jur. Me.

Geo. B. Moody Bangor Maine
Addl evi. in Cl. of John Craig's heirs
Maine Jan 32
Hon. Mr. Heath
Peru Mission of News
Worthington Pa. etc.
April 7-1851
Addl evi: in case of John Craig's heirs
Geo. B. Moody Bangor Maine
Hon. James E. Heath Peru Mission of News Worthington Pa. etc.

N 38028
John Craig ad
Letter Me
Hon. H. Hamlin 28 Sept 1850
G. B. Moody 17 Apl. 51
act 7 June 1832

Affidavits - in Revolutionary Claims Sarah Briggs v als -

State of Maine.
Penobscot, ss.
I, William C. Williard, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts in said County, certify that
George B. Moody and John Helferty
Esquires, is an  are acting Justices of the Peace, in and for said County, as appears by the paper hereto annexed; that they are  are duly qualified to act as such;
That the signature purporting to be his  their  are genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of the SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT for said State, this Ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
Wm T Williard Clerk.

- Testimony -
Case of John Craig Heirs -
Revolutionary Claim

I, Sarah Craig on oath testify & declare that I lived with my Father at frequent intervals during the last five years of his life - I knew nothing about the subject of military affairs or of Pensions & did not take much interest about them and therefore although my Father very frequently spoke about his Revolutionary Service the particulars thereof have escaped my recollection - but so far as this I do distinctly recollect that I frequently heard him say through the Summer & Fall preceding his death that he was entitled to a Pension & that he meant to set about it & take the necessary steps to get it - and I further say that from his conversations on the subject of his Service I obtained the impression which has always remained strong upon my mind that he served as much as two years - and I do now most firmly believe that his whole Service was much more than appears by the Leggs Certificate - I always understood him

to say that he served in the first part of his service together with Samuel Craig who was his Brother & my Uncle & that they both enlisted on West together in the first place - Samuel drew a Pension - but under what law I don't know only I believe he did not succeed in getting it allowed till after my Father's death my Father was prevented from trying to get his Pension  allowance by his sudden death - I remember too distinctly that my Father in reckoning to see what his Pension would be came to the conclusion that it would be between seventy five & ninety six dollars - Sarah Craig
State of Maine
County of Penobscot
§ 88
July 4, 1851
Subscribed & sworn
to before me & I certify that the affiant is personally known to me & is entitled to credit
Charles Davis Justice of the Peace

Power of Attorney Corriss
John Craig Maine Act 1832 a Amitteth
D D Addison Present

POWER OF ATTORNEY— Revolutionary Pension Claims.
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That we John Craig, Hannah Raffanel, Mary Kimball
hereby constitute and appoint Daniel D Addison and Geo. B. Moody my true and lawful Agent and Attorney, to prosecute the claim of the Heirs of John Craig for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or Increase of Pension, that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Agent or either of them to examine all the papers and documents in relation to said claim, on file in the Departments at Washington City, or elsewhere; to file additional evidence or arguments; and to receive the Certificate which may be issued for said Claim, which Certificate we wish made payable to us and Sarah Craig the other Heirs of said John
to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed; and to do all things that we might or could do were we personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
WITNESS my hand and Seal this fifteen day January A. D., 185 8 John Craig
Signed and Sealed in the presence of
Fred. E. Shaw
Hannah Raffanel Mary Kimball
STATE OF Maine COUNTY OF Hancock ss.
On this fifteen day of December  January , A. D. 185 8 before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared John Craig, Hannah Raffanel & Mary Kimball and acknowledged the foregoing Power, of Attorney to be their act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand, } the day and year aforesaid. }
Fred. E. Shaw , Justice of the Peace. ”

Claim of The Heirs of John Craig Act of June 7, 1832
STATE OF Maine COUNTY OF Waldo ss.
BE IT KNOWN, That on this fifth day of January A. D., eighteen hundred and fifty three , before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared John Craig, Hannah Raffuel & Mary Kimball a resident of Orland in said County, and made oath according to law that they the children of John Craig together with Lulah Craig the only other child of said John
who was a Revolutionary Pensioner  Soldier - and that a Pension was allowed to said Heirs for the amount due their Father from the 4th March 1831 to Oct 7, 1834 when he died - amounting in all to the rate of one hundred fifty three 66 2/3 Dollars per annum that they have been informed that said Pension ought to be increased; that they is directly interested as claimants in said Pension, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as an Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid, before me Fred. E. Shaw, J. Peace.
John Craig Hannah Raffuel Polly Kimball
I, Frederic E. Shaw , Justice of the Peace, in and for said County do hereby certify that John Craig, Hannah Raffuel & Polly Kimball who executed the foregoing paper is a respectable resident of this County, and is, I believe, directly interested in said claim as therein set forth.
Fred. E. Shaw, J. Peace.
I, P. W. Perry Clerk of the Supreme Court in the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Frederic E. Shaw , before whom the foregoing papers were executed, was, at the date of the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly authorized by law to administer oaths; and the name thereunto subscribed, is his signature.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official seal, this Twenty ninth day of January A. D. 1853.
P. W. Perry Clerk.

STATE OF Maine COUNTY OF Penobscot } ss.
It is hereby certified that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me
that John Craig was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States for the sum of at the rate of $ 163.64 from March 4, 1831 to the time of his death per annum and that he died on the seventh day of October eighteen hundred and thirty four leaving surviving John Craig, Hannah Rafford, Mary Reinell, Sarah Craig, his children - in whose name the Pension certificate was granted in year 1851 & who share the above amount of Pension for their respective shares - and that they are
the only surviving child son of the aforesaid John Craig
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this _____ day of _____ one thousand eight hundred and fifty

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston :
June 24 1850.
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 the name of John Craige is borne on a roll of the 8 mo. service in 1775. in Capt. Abijah Child's Co. Col. Gardner's Regt. as a private, from Cape Ann; took the place of Josiah Lovett of Waltham, Sept. 20. 1775. —
On a pay roll of Capt. Nicholas Crosby Co. Col. John Allen's Regt. for defence of Neshann, as a private from Oct. 8. 1777. 3 mo 3 days, including 10 days to return home. —
On a pay abstract of Capt. Eben d Buck's Co. Col. Josiah Brewer's Regt. on rep n against Penobscot, as corporal, from July 30 1779. 2 mos. 17 days. —

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth the date above written.
Wm Lloyd Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Application for certificate of Revolu- tionary Services made by the daughter of the person who rendered the service
State of Maine - County of Penob- scot - Town of Brewer -
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his office of the services of John Craig in the war of the Revolution -
He was a native of the Town of Gra- nt (think so) State of Massachusetts. He entered the service from said Town probably, in the year            as I have reason to believe - was in a company commanded by Capt. Nicholas Crosby            in            Regiment & served as follows - viz
He was stationed at Machias about three months - He was then ordered to Bastine under command of Col. Eben Buck - how long he continued there I do not know -

I am unable to state my main particulars - My Father applied for a Merion & produced such proof as was satisfactory as I understand & would have received a certificate which was presented by his death.
Witness my hand this Seventh day of May A.D. 1850.
Sarah Craig
Signed by said Sarah Craig in my presence Geo. Bellwood Justice of the Peace

State of Maine Penobscot ss.
I, E. G. Rawson Esquire, Judge of the Court of Probate within and for said County, hereby certify that satisfactory proof has this day been exhibited before me by the affidavits of Hannah Hopkins, Samuel Gillpatrick and Daniel Emery, who are persons entitled to credit that John Craige, Hannah Rafan - el Mary Kimball the two later married women and Sarah Craige singlewoman are the only surviving children of John Craige late of Oland in the County of Hancock deceased, said to have been a private and corporal in the war of the Revolution.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal official of this Court to be affixed this eighteenth day of July A.D. 1950.
E. G. Rawson Judge
State of Maine Penobscot ss. I, James F. Rawson Register of the Court of Probate for said County, hereby certify that E. G. Rawson whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate is the Judge of Probate for said County, duly appointed, commissioned, and sworn.

and that his said signature above written is genuine -
Given under my hand at the Probate Office in said County this eighteenth day of July A.D. 1850 James G. Rawson

State of Maine.
Penobscot, ss.
I, William C. Killiard, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts in said County, certify that
George B Moody of Bangor in the County of Penobscot
Esquire, is an acting Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, as appears by the paper hereto annexed; that he is duly qualified to act as such;
and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of the SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT for said State, this second day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
Wm C Killiard
Clerk.

I, Hannah Hopkins aged thirty two before & say that the late John Braine of Orland Maine li- ved in my Fathers House & un- der his care about seven years before his death - the said Braine died at my Fathers house in Or- land on the seventh day of Oc- tober in the year eighteen hun- dred & thirty four - I was at his funeral - He died on Sunday - I was away that day on a visit out of town - I returned on Mon- day the day after his death -
The date of his death was entered about the time by some one on a leaf of a new Testament where a family Record was kept which is now before me - I know from personal recollection the year & month - the day of the week from the fact above stated - the day of the month from said entry in his Bible - He was the same Braine who according to his own account & the reputation he had

was in the Reformatory since Hannah J Hopkins
Memphis Ct. H. July 22. 1850 - Subscribed and sworn to before me and I certify that said Deponent is known to me to be entitled to credit Geo. Billoody Justice of the Peace

Bangor April 1. 1851
Sir
I send herewith 3 Depositions as additional evidence on the point of identity in the case of the Heirs of John Craige claimants for Revolutionary Pension - I also furnished some time since through Mr Senator Franklin some other affidavits on the same point -
They establish conclusively the fact that he represented himself during his life as having enlisted in the year 1775 and at Cape Ann for his first term of service & as having spoken of Col. Gardner as an Officer under whom he served - if the moral effect & force to which this kind of evidence seems to be entitled is allowed to it it follows that his identity with the person who rendered the first service specified in the Sec. of State Certificate is established - I say moral force for what can carry greater weight on a point of this kind than the declarations of the Soldier to his acquaintances, made

frequently or at intervals during a series of years when he was not trying to obtain any Pension - when no Pension Law was in force - under which he could claim - for altho some of these declarations might have been made after the Law of 1832 there is no reason to believe that he then knew of the existence of the Law and it was not till just before his death in 1834 that he began to make a movement to obtain his Pension.
Beside he could not know of the pertinency or applicability of such statements as bearing in his own favour for he had no knowledge that the Records of Mass would show a service rendered by a John Orridge in 1775 - no effort to obtain evidence from that source was ever made by any of the family till the up on which the Levy's Certificate is based.
Carrying with it then great weight, tending as forcibly in the mind to which it is submitted to the conclusion that the declarations were true, as would the testimony of third persons to the facts themselves, I submit that it must be mainly by evidence of this kind & character

that it can be expected that a question of identity about a soldier of the Revolution is to be settled after the lapse of so many years - people no longer exist who can testify to the facts themselves - or if by a remarkable chance they should exist in any particular case, they are scatter- ed to the four winds of Heaven & how & how can they be hunted up by women, old, infirm, poor & un- acquainted with business, hardly even comprehending the bearing of such facts as they may know or have heard about their fathers, service -
Necessarily, very much to the discre- tion of the Commissioners is it submit- ted both as to the grade, the Regiment and the amount of testimony to be required on a point like this - Since the Law is silent, there are no techni- cal Rules which should exclude any thing having the nature & character of testimony from producing that satis- faction & leading to the result, to which it tends - whether it be direct - cir- cumstantial - or hearsay - and the voice of the old soldier when it can be evoked from his grave, ought to be as po

tent as any thing in the shape of proof - I hope - I believe that after so long and tedious a trial, this poor woman will at length get the pittance which it has already cost her 1/2 its amount to prosecute for & that she may re- ceive it soon -
I am Very Respectfully your Obedt Servt
Hon. J. P. Heath Geo. B. Moody Chair of Paris

Dr Sir
Will you give early attention to this care & oblige
Yr &c H. Howland
San-Ghoul Sept-21. 1850

Bangor Sept. 18. 1850
Dear Sir
Will you be kind enough to call to the attention of Col. Edmards the case of Sarah Craig on behalf of the Heirs of John Craig for Pension for Revolutionary Service sent by me Aug. 6. 1850 -
I believe the claim to be fully established according to law & the Regulations of the Pension Department -
I am very truly yours
Geo. Bellwood
Hon H. Hamlin U. S. Senator

State of Maine
Hancock Jan 11th 1851
I Furbes Cotton of Oland testify that I have often heard John being say that he was in the service in the year 1775 that he was in the service at the time the battle was fought at Bunker Hill - that he was in the service at the time General Washington took command of the army at Cambridge Mass & that he enlisted in the service in Massachusetts
Mark Cotton
Signed & sworn to Before me J. Hanson Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that the witness is well known to me & is entitled to credit
J. Hanson Justice of the Peace

State of Maine.
Penobscot, ss.
I, William C. Billiard, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts in said County, certify that
Charles Davis of Bangor in said County
Esquire, is an acting Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, as appears by the paper hereto annexed; that he is duly qualified to act as such;
and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of the SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT for said State, this Tenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one
Wm C Billiard
Clerk.

STATE OF MAINE.
HANCOCK, ss... CLERK'S OFFICE, ELLSWORTH.
I Parker W. Peary
Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court within and for the County of Hancock, hereby certify, that Samuel Waterhouse whose name appears subscribed to the foregoing certificate is now and was at the time of subscribing the same, an acting Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Hancock, duly commissioned and qualified, and as such, full faith is due his official acts.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this twenty eighth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
P.W. Peary
Clerk of said Court for Hancock County.

Edinburgh -
No 38,028.
Declaration of heirs in case of John Craige decd.
Act June 7. 1832,

Examination of Justus Soper of Oland County of Hancock & State of Maine under Oath on the 18th day of May 1850 Testifies that John Craig served as a soldier three months in the revolutionary war under Nicholas Cross as captain stationed at Machias & that he returned at the expiration of said three months & there was ordered to Castine under the command of Eben Buck. Witness testifies that he was a soldier under the command of Eben Buck at the same time. Witness further testifies that the said Craig was a faithful soldier & that said Craig died at Oland in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty four. Witness testifies that it was in the winter season when said Craig was at Machias.
Signed by the witness Justus Soper Attest John P. Mason
Made oath to the above on the 18th day of May 1850 before me J. P. Mason of the Peace
State of Maine, Hancock, ss.
Clerk's Office Ellsworth.
I George H. Brown Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for said County of Hancock hereby certify that John P. Mason whose name appears subscribed to the foregoing certificate is now and was at the time of subscribing the same an acting Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly Commissioned & qualified and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is go
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my name and the seal of said Court this third day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty. Geo. H. Brown,

Deposition of Hannah Starr relative to John Loring

I, Hannah Starr of Vland in the County of Hancock State of Maine, of lawfull age do depose & say - That I was well acquainted with one John Braine of said Vland - have frequently heard said John tell of being in the United States service in the Revolution & that he enlisted in said service in the year 1775, at a place called Cape Ann in Massachusetts & have understood the same from others - have always heard that John Braine & his father's family moved from Dorchester Massachusetts when they came to Maine - have always known said John from childhood - I am sixty years old - think he died fifteen or eighteen years ago - should think he was some less than 50 years old when he deceased - have never known any other John Braine who was reputed to have been in the United States service in the Revolution - have heard him say frequently that he served under Capt. Eben Dike & that a Mr. Crosby was another officer in that Company.
State of Maine Hannah Starr Hancock County } ss: Vland February 27, 1861.
Subscribed & sworn to before me & I certify that Mrs. Hannah Starr is personally known to me & that she is entitled to credit. Saml. Waterhouse, Justice of the Peace.

Deposition of Thomas Saunders relative to John Craige.

I, Stillman Cotton of Island in the County of Hancock State of Maine, of lawfull age, do depose & say - That I knew one John Braine of said Island - Have known him from my earliest childhood - Have worked with him for him a great deal - Have been very intimate with him - used to live with my father in the house with said John's father - He, John has related to me very many incidents that occurred to him whilst he was in the United States service in the Revolution - that he enlisted in said service some time in the season of 1775, do not recollect of hearing him say the exact date of his enlistment - Have heard him relate some of the incidents of the Battle of Bunker Hill, though he was not present at that time - do not recollect of hearing him mention the Capt's name under whom he enlisted, but have heard him tell of Col. Gardner in whose Regiment he was - That at the time he enlisted he was at Cape Ann in Massachusetts - he has frequently told me that he moved from Dorchester in said State of Mass. when he moved to Maine & I have always understood from others particularly his father, that such was
the fact - never have known any other John Braine, who was reputed to have been in the United States service - I think said John Braine died in 1824 - he died in Island - Should think he was between 75 & 80 years of age when he died - I am fifty two years old.
Stillman Cotton
State of Maine Hancock County } ss: Island March 4, 1851.
Subscribed & sworn to before me & I certify that said Stillman Cotton is personally known to me to be entitled to cred it -
J. Waterhouse, Justice of the Peace

I, Thomas Saunders of Orlan in the County of Hancock State of Maine, of lawfull age do depose & say That I was well acquainted with one John Braige of said Orlan - said Braige has been dead fifteen or eighteen years - he died in Orlan - he told me his age a short time before his decease I think he was upwards of 75 years old - I have known said Braige ever since I first moved into this town - moved here 52 years ago - he has told me that his father's family moved from Dracut Massachusetts here - I have always understood the same from others - he has related to me very many incidents that occurred whilst he was in the United States service in the Revolution - do not recollect when he enlisted - he was always reported here to have been a Revolutionary soldier - I have never known any other John Braige who was a Revolutionary soldier - I have heard him say that he was in Capt. Eben Buck's Company - I have also heard said Buck say that said John Braige served in his Co. -
I am seventy six years of age
Thomas Saunders
State of Maine Hancock County } ss: Orlan February 28 th 1851.
Subscribed & sworn to before me & I certify that Thomas Saunders is personally known to me & is entitled to credit -
Samuel Waterhouse, justice of the peace

Bangor Aug. 6. 1850
Sir
I have the honor to send herewith the claim of Sarah Craig on behalf of the children of John Craig for Pension due their Fa- ther for Rev. services -
Very Respectfully Your Obedt Servt Geo. B. Woodley
Col. James L. Colwell Commr of Pensions

John Braigede? Maine,
Act 7 June 1832.
adm yr mo dys 1-1-20 - pin - $45.56c pr. Am. from 4 March 31 to 7 Oct 1834 when he died.
Payable to John Braigede Hannah Raperel, Mary Kimball & Sarah Braigede, only surviving children.
beq t to. Hon H. Hanlin Hampden, Maine.

Feb 27 1851
Dr Sir
I send you additional evidence in the case of the heirs of John Craig which I trust you will deem suff- icient to allow the case to pro- ceed.
Respectfully Yours W. W. W.

Bangor Dec. 13, 1870
Sir
The claim of the children of John Braige sent by me Aug. 6, 1870 remains suspended because the applicant stated in her application to the Sec. of War, that her Father's residence was originally Dracut and the Secy's certif. as to one part of his service seems to show that he was of Cape Ann when he enlisted - That this Braige was in the service is proved independently of the Secy's Certificate by the testimony of a soldier who served with him & who is a Pensioner - He of course could only speak of so much of Braige's service as he personally knew - but it showed him to have been a soldier & ought to be sufficient & I presume is sufficient to remove all question of identity with the person in the Secy's certif. So far as respects the latter services therein mentioned -
With regard to the first service in the Secy's certif. - can there be a reasonable doubt about the identity? The

Sec. names, but one John Grady - there is nothing to show or indicate in his certificate two services in different companies or places at the same time by persons of that name - but a service of 8 mos in 1775 - then an interval - then a service of 3 mos in 1777 identified by Loper the witness - then another interval - then another service of 2 months 17 days in 1779 - How resist the conclusion that these successive services were by the same identical person? If they were by the same person, it is shown that that person was the applicant's father, because then an identification as to one part of the service becomes an identification as to the whole -
The presumption of law is that they were by the same person - If John Doe sues Richard Roe for pay for services rendered at different times and places, by witnesses that a John Doe at sundry times performed certain services for said Roe & further proves by a witness acquainted with him personally that the P l was the John Doe who performed some of the services, he is entitled to judgment

unless the adverse party shows that another John Doe existed & also performed some service for Richard Roe - Am I not correct in this position?
Against this presumption is the possibility that another John Brige rendered the 1 st service in the Secs Certif, arising out of the discrepancy between Cape Ann & Dracut - If this were wholly unexplained ought such a possibility to outweigh the presumption of law?
Because Brige was born in Dracut ought the children to be compelled to go back 75 years & prove that he removed to Cape Ann & was there when he enlisted? His daughter by the affidavit & new servl shows that he was married after he came to Orleans & that his children were born there & that she didn't pretend to know as matter of fact where he resided or was temporarily when he enlisted -
Dracut is not more than 20 odd miles from Gloucester Cape Ann & it is quite probable that before the Revolution the country might have been called Cape Ann for that distance back - or what more probable than that Brige living at Dracut went to Cape

Ann or Gloucester which is the same thing as the nearest place to his residence where there was any body of troops to enlist in? or that he had removed from his little place some 20 miles to Cape Ann before & there hired at the time he enlisted?
To require positive & clear evidence on this point after the expiration of 75 years is to ask what could not be obtained in one case out of 50 - what it seems to me could never be asked in a court of justice & what looks much like a denial of justice upon the suggestion of a feeble doubt - Frauds, indeed, ought to be guarded against, but ought the intention of fraud to be presumed when the whole in- ternal evidence shows fairness - It is pre- sumed that no Revolutionary case can at this day be placed beyond a possibility of doubt on this very point of identity - and it would seem that as years roll on the rigidity of Rules of evidence in such cases ought to be relaxed rather than straitened - that more need should be paid to presumptions

of law, to probabilities, to circumstantial & internal evidence, than to ingenious slants which if persisted in might turn away from meritorious applicants nearly the whole stream of the Govts Bounty for the children of the poor soldiers who achieved an Pension -
The Head of the Home Department has manifested in his course with regard to the late B. Land Act a liberality & a disposition not to fetter claimants with unreasonable requirements which is the best argument for those who are compelled to knock at the doors of the Govt for what the Govt has pledged them and it is hoped that a like magnanimous & liberal policy is hereafter to illustrate the Pension Office -
On receiving your Predecessors letter of 28 Sep. stating the objection of identity in this case I communicated with the applicant, who is almost entirely without means, & is a lone woman. She has since made 2 journeys to Oklawha the place where her Pa

then lined and brought me back the names of quite a number of per- sons who she thinks would testify to her Father's reputation as a Rev. Sol- dier & probably some other corrobora- tive facts - but as they are all acquain- tances which he has made since his service, it is not probable any of them can testify where he exhibited - They are scattered through a sparse population & she has not enough of body or means to procure a Justice there to go round & take the testimo- ny and if she had the expense would consume quite a large portion of the Pen- sion due -
The other Children are equally poor - I have also written to one or two Justices in the town on her behalf but they are persons unfamiliar with such bus- iness & are occupied with their own pursuits & unwilling to leave them the result is that it seems unlikely that it will be in her power to produce any additional testi- mony on the question of identity - Still if the demand for it should be

persisted in, I shall make more effort in her behalf.
As it stands, I have thought best to present the views I have now done to you and appeal to your own judgment & reason whether they are not of sufficient force upon a re- examination of the case to satisfy you that no further evidence ought to be asked before the court of Newin asked for shall be granted.
I regret to take up so much of your time and am
Very Respectfully Your Obedt Servt
Geo. B. Moody
Hon Mr Heath Chair of Newin,