Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,386, Samuel Dickinson, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Dickinson, Samuel
S. 30,386
CONTENTS

15655 Massachusetts
Saml Dickinson
Worcester Co in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Hartwell of the P.C. commanded by Col. Dike in the Massachusetts line for 4 months Private 3 3 " Adjutant Sergeant 3
Enrolled on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 31 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of July 1833 , and sent George Solomon Worcester Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $62.00 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept. 15.50 $77.50
Revolutionary Claim, } Act June 7, 1832. } Recorded by NK  William Clerk, Book 2 Vol. 27 Page 17
80 March

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
COUNTY OF WORCESTER, ss.
ON this Twentieth day of November in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court, before Nathl Gaine Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester now sitting at Lancaster Samuel Dickerson a resident of Lancaster and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy 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 1832.
THAT he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
1 That in the year Anno Domini 1775 one Israel Needham was a Soldier in the eight months service in the Company of Capt. Andrew Haskell in Col. Asa Whitecomb's Reg't of the Mass. Forces stationed at Prospect Hill in Cambridge in the month of August (as he believes) and being desirous to return home he procured him the said Samuel to take his place in Capt. Haskell's Company and he was accordingly received as a substitute for said Needham and he served four months until he completed said Needham's service the last of December AD 1775.
2 In the fall of 1776 he agreed to enter the service, and was appointed a Sergeant in the Company of Capt. John Hartwell of Lancaster in Col. Nicholas Dutey's Regiment. He was immediately put upon the recruiting and enlisted fifteen men from whom he believes were on a furlough he loaned to one Ebenezer Dennyworth and has not been able to get again said Dennyworth having died, and he joined his Company and until his Regiment was employed in guarding the lines and making fortifications in the vicinity of Boston then the winter and his Company was dismissed the first of March 1777 but he remained in Capt. Dutey's Company under the orders of the officers in receiving the Camp and other duties until the first of April when being dismissed he returned home.
And at the same Court the following Interrogatories were propounded to him vizt -
 1 Where and in what year were you born? Ans? I was born in Grafton Ms on the twenty second day of August AD 1754  2 Have you any record of your age and where is it? Ans? I have a family record of my age in my possession.  3 When was you first called into service when have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live? Ans? When called into service I was living in Lancaster Ms and from there I removed to Lancaster where I now live.  4 When were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a Substitute and if so for whom? Ans? I first put a Substitute for one Israel Needham as above stated, and the next service I volunteered.  5 State the names of some Officers, who were with the troops were you served such Captains Col in Militia Regiments as your Regiment? Ans? I saw Gen Israel Dickerson and Col. Dutey Haskell  6 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? Ans? Rev. Abesha Samson, David Haskell Esq. and Mr David Farnwell  7 Did you receive a Sergeant's Warrant and if so what had been made of it? Ans? I received such a Warrant from Col. Nicholas Dutey on the 28th of Feb 1777 signed by Nicholas Dutey Col. 
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.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Samuel Dickerson
Before Nathl Gaine Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester

We Abisha Sampson a Clergyman residing in the Town of Harvard and John P. Whitecomb & Ezra Withbee residing in the Town of Harvard hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Dickenson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy-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 we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Before me Jerome Gardner Justice Peace.
Abisha Sampson John P. Whitecomb Ezra Withbee
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 mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Abisha Sampson who signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the Town of Harvard and that John P. Whitecomb & Ezra Withbee who has also signed the same is a resident in the same Town and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Nathl. D. D. Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester
I Theophilus Wheeler Regd , Clerk of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Dickenson for a pension. & that Jerome Gardner is a Justice of the peace in said County & that the above is his own signature. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 21 st day of November in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two. Theophilus Wheeler Regd of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester in Massachusetts
Declaration of Samuel Dickenson

23987
Aunt Dickinson Mass
Emmalo 4 months Sergeant 3 " 1/16 days
Wm'd
15.00 2.50 1.67 17.67
13.33 17.67 31.00
Geo. Folsom Worcester Massachusetts

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 subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those 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  Samuel Dickerson  Assendant of the Ward  Worcester Co. Mass.
   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.     Sub. 1775 — 4 — priv. Capt Haskell Col. White 78 Years Documentary   into 1776 — 4 — Sergt. Capt. Heartwell Col. Duke Lancaster Mass. Evidence of 1 Witness  
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 time, 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] 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.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

DICKINSON, SAMUEL (MASS.) S- 30386

By Col o Nicholas Dike Esqr: Col o of a Regiment of Foot of the Massachusetts Bay forces Raised for the Defence of said State. . . . .
To Samuel Dickinson Greeting-- by Virtue of the power vested in me Reposing special trust and confidence in your Loyalty courage and good conduct Do by these presence constitute and appoint you the said Samuel Dickinson to be a sergent in a Regiment of Foot under my command you are therefore to discharge the Duty of a sergent in a Company whereof John Hartwell is Captain you are therefore carefully and diligently to observe and obey all such orders as you shall from Time to time receive from your superiours officers for which this shall be your sufficient warrant given under my hand this Day of 21 st Dorchester Heights February 28 th 1777 Nicholas Dike Col

I William Deputree of Lunenburg in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Being of lawful age do testify and say that I am acquainted with Samuel Dickinson of Harvard in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid. That he served in the Revolution war in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five four Months at Prospect Hill in Cambridge near Boston in the Company Comma- nded by Capt Andrew Haskell then of Lancaster in said County of Worcester and in Col. Asa Whitcomb of Sterling Regiment.
William Deputree
Middlesex ss Shirley November 8 th 1832
Then the above named William Deputree made oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is true before me Stephen Longley Justice of the Peace
I further certify that the above named William Deputree is a credible person, & that his statement is entitled to full credit. Stephen Longley just Peace
[Signature]

born non wealth of Massachusetts
Whereas S. Elias Paine Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Middlesex, do certify that Stephen Langley Esquire is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County, and that I believe his name set to the within Certificate to be his own proper sig- nature. —————
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Court the 25th day of Decem- ber 1832.
E. Paine

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Nov. 10 1832.
* 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 Samuel Dickinson served as a Serjeant in the company of Capt John Hartwell in the regiment of Col. Nicholas Dike from the 14 th of October December 1776. to the 1 st of March. 1777.
Edward D. Bangs. Secy

Worcester ss. Commonwealth of Massachusetts Theophilus Wheeler Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester do hereby certify that since making my certificate in this case. On the 21 st day of November 1832 the affidavit of William Dugulver taken before Stephen Longley Esq. has been produced - and the papers now annex- ed under the seal of the said Court of Probate are those produced as evidence in the case of the application of Samuel Dickinson for a Pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this twenty eighth day of December eighteen hundred and thirty two Theophilus Wheeler Register of said Court

30 386 Rev INVALID.
July 10, 1905 History to Anne V. Dickinson, Newton N.J. Letter of inquiry in W. 14619 Levi Dickinson
File No. 30 386
Samuel Dickinson
Levi Dickinson
Act: June 1 st 182 nd
Index: — Vol. 2 , Page 128
[Arrangement of 1870.]