Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1862, Peter Chapman, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Chapman, Peter Asenath
R 1862
CONTENTS
[Blank lined area for entries]
[Blank lined area for entries]

27170
Massachusetts
Peter Chapman
of Bristol Co in the State of Mass who was a private in the Comp y . commanded by Captain Wright of the Reg t . commanded by Col. Shepherd in the — Mass line for
24 m private
Cash
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of Feb y . 1834 and Settled. A Bassett Esq r Taunton
Arrears to the 4th of Sep r 1833 — $2 00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 34 — 40
$2 40
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk,
Book 6 Vol. 2 nd Page 14

Peter Chapman clerk
12.556
Capt. Webb's C. Shipyard
Reg. desig. line
3 years
from August 1777. to June 1780—
1878
Deserted. — Rejected
J. J. Clarke of Roxbury, Mass. informed of the rejection, June 18. 1833
R. C. Vose
August Maine

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Norfolk ss. On this twenty fifth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Judge of the court of sessions now sitting at Rockbury in and for said County, Peter Chapman a resident of Robury in said County, aged seventy seven 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 Dedham in said county of Norfolk on the Twenty fifth day of December A. D. 1754, and that there is a record of his birth in Dedham he believes : that he was in the United States service from the second day of March A. D. 1777, to the thirty first day of December A. D. 1779 as a private in the continental service : that he was residing at Mansfield in the county of Bristol when he entered the service; that he enlisted with  Lieutenant Benjamin Felt and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Capt. Knapp , in Col. Shepard or Shepherd's Regiment . Lieut. Col. Stroab . Lieut. Felt , Ensign Lane : that he marched from Mansfield to Saratoga . from them to West Point
: that he served with the officers above mentioned of the regular troops; and Col. South  Rose and Lieut. Col. Rose . Col. Middlesex and Col. Brigs were known to him: that he was in the battle at the surrender of Burgoyne - and in several skirmishes - and does not recollect whether and at the end of his service received a discharge and does not recollect when : that he left the service on but must refer to the annexed certificate - and that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at Mansfield , South Boston and Robury
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the first day of January A. D. 1780, to the first day of June A. D. 1780 as a private in the continental service that he was residing at Mansfield when he entered the service; that he enlisted and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Capt. Webb  Col. Shepard's Regiment . That  Lieutenant serving under Capt. Webb but does not : that he marched from such  Porter's  the circumstances often but must refer to the certificate annexed in aid of his recollection : that he served with the officers before named of the regular troops; and
no other regular officers were known to him: that he was in no battle that at the end of his service he is unable to say whether he received a discharge and left the service on the first day of June as appears by the certificate annexed
ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the first day of January A. D. 17 80 , to the first day of June A. D. 17 80 as a private in the continental service that he was residing at Mansfield when he entered the service; that he and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Capt. Webb : that he marched from such  Porter's  the circumstances : that he served with the officers before named of the regular troops; and regular officers were known to him; that he was in no battle that at the end of his service he received a discharge and left the service on

The said Peter Chapman has before herein declared that he was in the continental service . He intends to make this declaration according to the best of his recollection - but does now intend to make this as a positive declaration, but thinks it possible he might have been in the State service .
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.
attest John J. Clarke
his Peter X Chapman mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.
We John H. Davis residing in the Town of Roxbury aforsaid and Mikael Harris residing in said Roxbury hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Peter Chapman who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 77 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.
John H. Davis Michael Harris
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary Solon and served as he states. And the court further certify that it appears to them that John H Davis , who has signed the preceding certificate, is a _____ resident in the 1000 Nottbury ; and that Michael H Davis , who has also signed the same is a resident in 1000 Nottbury and they are credible persons; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Samuel Haven, Register — of the Court of Probate of said , do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Peter Chapman — for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Samuel Haxon.

State of Massachusetts County of Suffolk ) ss
On this twenty seventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before John Guy Rogers one of the justices of the Police Court within and for the city of Boston Ascenth Chapman a resident of Boston in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy one years who being just duly sworn according to law both on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by Congress granting pensions to certain widows. That she is the widow of Peter Chapman who was a private in Captain Webb's Company in Colonel Shepard's regiment who according to her best knowledge and belief served as a volunteer in the American army of the Revolution for several years that said Peter Chapman was a pensioner that the documentary proof of the service of her said hus- band was as near as she can recollect sent to Washington to enable him to obtain his pen- sion (near twenty years since) That she was married to the said Peter Chapman at the

time he belonged to the army on the eleventh day of April in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two at Smithfield in the state of Rhode Island that the marriage ceremony was performed by Stephen Arnold a justice of the peace who died many years since that her brother, her sisters and all who were present at the wedding are dead. That her husband the aforesaid Peter Chap- -man died on or about the twenty second day of July in the year eighteen hundred and thirty six and that she has not since been married she further declares that she has had fourteen children of whom the aforesaid Peter Chapman was the father. That nine of her said children were sons that five of her sons were at one time soldiers in the United States army during the last war with Great Britain she further states that she is extremely poor and entirely dependent on her daily labor for her support that the only child on whom she relied for support in her declining years & who used to give her the comforts of life was killed by the Indians on the twenty second day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five he being at that time

a soldier in the service of the United States Witness H Montgomery
Asenith her Chapman mark
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written before me
John Gray Rogers One of the Justices of the Police Court & of the Justices Court within & for the county of Suffolk.

I Cyrus Arnold of Smithfield in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island aged sixty four three years hereby on oath certify that I formerly knew Peter Chapman and Asenath Newman, that it was currently reported in said Smithfield about the time of the revolutionary war that said Peter Chapman and Asenath Newman were married to each other by Stephen Arnold Esquire of said Smithfield and I have no doubt that they were so married for it was generally believed and I never heard any body question it and I further certify that I am the son of Stephen Arnold (now deceased) and I have often heard my father say that he married the above mentioned parties.
Cyrus Arnold
State of Rhode Island County of Providence ss Smithfield December 24 1858 Then the above named Cyrus Arnold made oath to the truth of the above certificate by him subscribed before me & I hereby cer- tify that said Cyrus Arnold is a man of

undoubted veracity & his certificate is entitled to full credit & belief
George Aldrich Justice of the Peace
Clerks Office Supreme Judicial Court December 28 th A D 1838
Providence ss
I certify that at the June Session of the General Assembly of this State, the above named George Aldrich, signor of the foregoing instrument, was elected and duly commissioned as one of the Justices to keep the peace, for the Town of Smithfield in this County - In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the day and year before written
Walter Paine Jr clerk

REJECTED
1878
P. O. Peter Chapman
Service: Consolidated Feb 20 1882 with rejected widow Asenath Chapman File No 1862
Enlisted: _____ Mar 30 , 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contra
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

REJECTED
1862
P. O. _____
Abeneth Chapman
Service: widow of Peter Chapman
Enlisted: According to the 18
Discharged Correspondence the 18
Admitted & rejected cases within a one & the same soldier, although
Application filed: _____ 18
It is a discrepancy in the name of the Capt of the Co, It is well known
Alleges: that in 3 years service a
Soldier would be under different Capt & Co during the Consolidation
Re-enlisted: _____ 6
The soldier "deserted" which was not known when pension was allowed
Attorney: him
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

27170 Massachusetts
Peter Chapman of Bristol Co in the State of Mass. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Wight of the Regt commanded by Stephens in the Mass. line for 2 years
on Rolls - deserted June 1780. War. years -
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 80 Dollars 50 Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 day of Feb 1834 and sent to H. Barrett Esq. Family
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $200. Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mo 1834 .. 40
$241
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo Taylor - Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 Page 14
Let to H. Montgomery ("O. 6.") January 23, 1840.
80 Pension

4204 Sat. 10th Sept 1904
12 c '39 -
(Massots.) Act 4 July 1836.
Rejected
See let. to H. Montgomery Jan 7 23,
See let. to H. Montgomery Jan 23, 1840. " " to Hon. R. C. Winthrop Feb 22, 1840.
1842.
1842. Healy ✓ Joseph  Francisco  Foley .
2 8th 1/4 2

Certified copies of Asenath Chapman, together with a copy of letter to H Montgomery of the 23 rd Jan 1840 assigning reasons for rejecting the Claim. sent to Hon R. L. Winthrop Feb 23. 1842.

Peter Chapman - Private Capt Knapp's Company lost Shepherd's Rest - entrance 2 May 1777 For the war. (Presented 1 June 1780)

Jan 21. 1842
Asenath Chapman
Asenath Chapman
Ans Jan 21. 42
Wadsworth
Room 1 of Penitentiary
Albany
R. L. Whitcomb A.D.
Richland

H. R. Washington Jan 20, 1842
J. L. Edwards Esq
Comm ee of Pensions,
Sir,
The Petition of Asa Smith Chapman, widow of Peter Chapman, for a Revolutionary pension, states that the papers are on file in the Pension Office.
I will thank you to send me copies of these papers, (if it be against the rule to part with the originals), together with any reasons which may have been assigned for the rejection of the Petition.
Your Obedient Servant
Robt. E. Winthrop.

Nov 25.
map. Add micro Asenath Chapman
at the University of Massachusetts
//

Boston November 18 1839
Hon J S Edwards
Enclosed is the deposition of Thomas Mann the town clerk of the town of Smithfield which I wish you to examine in connection with the papers of Smith Chapman now on file in your office
very respectfully
Yours &c
H Montgomery

I Thomas Mearr of Smithfield in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations on Oath declare and say, that I am Town Clerk of the Town of Smithfield in the County and State aforesaid and have held that office for the last Seventy years past. I further testify that by the requirements of the law of this State, all persons who were joined in marriage were required to have their Certificate of Marriage recorded in the Town Clerks office of the Town where they resided. I further testify and say that this law continued in force till January A.D. 1839 when a law was passed by the Legislature of this State making it the duty of the persons solemnizing the marriage to return a certificate of the same to the Town Clerk of the Town where the same is solemnized, within sixty days from the day of solemnization. I further testify that the requisitions of the law up to January A.D. 1839 have been but very imperfectly complied with, and that the records of marriages in my office  this Town for the last sixty years are extremely defective and imperfect have been recorded in this office.
Thomas Mearr Town Clerk
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations Providence ss. Smithfield November 14 th . 1839. Sworn to & Subscribed before me Christopher Robinson
Pub. Notary.

State of Rhode Island &c
Providence Ye. I, John W. Smith Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within & for the County of Providence, being a Court of record, do hereby certify that Christopher Robinson Esquire, before whom the foregoing affidavit was sworn, is a Notary Public within & for the County of Providence, in said State: - that by law he is duly authorized & qualified to administer oaths & take depositions; and that his forewritten signature is genuine.
In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the Seal of our said Court, at Providence this sixteenth day of November A D 1839.
John W. Smith clerk

Peter Chapman
Wilt Co.
Mass.
29. 863
Adm l
24 Mo. Inwats
Capt Wright Colo. Shepherd
Capt Knapp Col Shepherd 2 may 77 for the war - deser- ted 1 June 1780
H. Bassett Hanton Mass

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, BRISTOL, ss.
At a COURT OF PROBATE holden at Norton in and for said County on the fifth day of November one thousand eight hundred and thirty- two three , before the Honorable HODIJAH BAYLIES, Judge of the Probate, &c. for said County, personally appeared Peter Chapman a resident of Mansfield - in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832, make the following declaration!
That he entered the service of the united States under the following named officers, and served as hereinafter stated, to wit - In the year 1775 and on the night of the 19 of April of that year, I voluntarily turned out at the Alarm Bell and marched to Roxbury and was placed in a company commanded by Captain Guile . Guile I believe was of Dedham in the County of Norfolk, and I will state further particulars of my service hereafter.
and further declares as follows, in reply to the interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of War; to wit:
1. Where, and in what year were you born? - My Parents were foreigners & come to America about the time of my birth Ans. That he was born on our passage from Scotland to America as I was told in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty three , and on the 25 day of December of that year.
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it? Answer, I have no record of my age, but except what I have made myself, from what my parents told me when I was a child.
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? Answer, I was living in Mansfield in the County of Bristol when I entered the service, I have lived in that Town, and also in many other Towns in the State of Massachusetts, and also in the State of Maine since the war. I now live in Mansfield
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? Answer, I was a volunteer, I was never drafted, and I was never a substitute.
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. alluded to above Captain Guile who had the command of the company to which I belonged had had orders to enlist soldiers for eight months, and soon after I arrived at Roxbury I enlisted for, & served eight months & we were placed in Col. Genish Regiment according to the best of my recollection. And we were stationed at a place called Winter Hill, & also at a place called Mystic both of which are near Boston, I was on the main guard at the time of the battle on Bunker hill and near the place of Action. and at the expiration of said eight months I was verbally discharged by my officers and returned home.
I again enlisted and entered the service on the 2 nd day of May in the year 1777 for two years and continued in the service according to the best of my recollection a short time after the expiration of said term. I served in a company commanded by Captain John Wright in Col. Shepard Regiment I enlisted from the aforesaid Town of Mansfield at this time.
over

And in the State Service, I was Marched from Said Mansfield to Boston and it was found necessary to March some of the state troops from this place to assist in the reduction of General Burgoin's Army in the State of New York. I was then Marched to Worcester & from there down the Connecticut river, & on to a place called German Flats near the army of the enemy. I was at Saratoga & Stillwater & was in the Battle at the Taking of Burgoin. I was at many other places the names of which I do not now recollect. I served at this campaign twenty six month & twenty seven days, as will appear from a certificate of Edward D. Bangs Esq. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and which is hereinunto annexed, & which I offer to, as proof of my Service, and at the expiration of Said term, I was verbally discharged by my officers & I returned home. I have no evidence of the first eight month Service mentioned in this declaration, & must depend upon my own statement as it is herein after supported. in the my Services were wholly under the State establishment as I understood at the time of my engagement.
I knew Generals Gates, & Schuyler. I have also seen many of the other principal Officers of the American Army.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Sept r 20 th 1833.
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 Peter Chapman, as a private is borne on a Muster Roll of Capt. John Wright's Company in Col. William Shepard's Reg t . where it appears that he enlisted May 2 d . 1777, for the town of Mansfield —
Peter Chapman's name is borne on a Regimental Payroll of Col. William Shepard's regiment, where he is allowed for State's Pay £ 53. 18. 11. which at two pounds per month is twenty six months, 27 days. — \frac{27}{26} = 1 \frac{1}{2} — Edward D. Bangs. Secy

6. Were you a Soldier or an Officer ? if 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 ? if an Officer, did you ever receive a commission, and if so by whom was it signed, and what has become of it ? Answer. I was a Soldier & I never had a Commission. And I was always verbally discharged from my Service
7. State the names of the 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.
a - To the Revd Nathl Stone of Mansfield whose Certificate is herewith annexed, he is who could not conveniently attend the Probate Court this day - And also to Cromwell Leonard Esq. of Norton adjoining said Mansfield
And the said Peter Chapman doth further declare that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency of the State of
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Peter Chapman H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
WE Samuel Murey residing in Norton and Cromwell Leonard residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Peter Chapman - who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration ; that we believe him to be Seventy nine 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.
Samuel Murey  Cromwell Leonard Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
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 abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Nathl Stone Jr. who has signed the proceeding  annexed certificate is a Clergyman - resident in the town of Mansfield in said County of Bristol, and that Samuel Murey and Cromwell Leonard who have also signed the annexed  proceeding certificate are residents in said the  residents in said the town, and are credible persons, and that their their statement is entitled to credit.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, BRISTOL ss.
I Anselm Barrett Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Peter Chapman - of Mansfield in said County, for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said Court the day and year first above written.
Anselm Barrett

K 11264
Iseneth Chapman widow of Peter Mass.
Enrolled at 4 July '36 -
record from Allen County & Fresno
1862
H. Montgomery Agent, Boston, Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, December, 31 1835
I hereby Certify, That John G. Rogers is a Justice of the Boston Police Court and Hugh Montgomery is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk, in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to their acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court, and they were such at the date of their several attestations.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John P. Bigelow Secretary of the Commonwealth.

I Joseph Harris Junr of Boston in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereby certify that I have for about thirty five years past been acquainted with Aseneth Chapman the person whose declaration is hereto annexed that when I first became acquainted with her she was the reputed wife of Peter Chapman they lived together as husband and wife & had a very large family of children from the time I first became acquainted with said Peter and Aseneth until the death of said Peter they were generally repu- ted husband and wife I never heard their marriage questioned and I have no doubt that they were legally married
Joseph Harris Jr
Suffolk ss Boston December 27 th 1858 When the above named Joseph Harris Jr made oath to the truth of the above certificate by him subscribed before me and I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with said Joseph Harris Jr and that I consider the above certificate by him subscribed entitled to implicit belief
Hugh Montgomery Justice of Peace

I Elyah Harris of Boston in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereby certify that I now am and have for thirty five years past been well acquainted with Aseneth Chapman the person whose declaration is herunto annexed that said Aseneth did thirty five years ago live with Peter Chapman the person men- tioned in the accompanying declaration that said Peter and Aseneth lived together as husband and wife and had a large number of children and I have no doubt that they were legal- ly married and I further certify that said Aseneth Chapman has never been married since the death of her said husband Peter Chapman Elyah Harris
Suffolk ss Boston December 26 th 1858 Then personally appeared the above named Elyah Harris and the made oath to the truth of the above certificate for him subscribed before me and I hereby certify that I am acquainted with said Elyah Harris and believe his certificate entitled to full credit & belief Hugh Montgomery Justice of the Peace

South Boston Mass: 27 Dec r 1838
This is to certify to all whom it may concern that Mrs. Asenath Chapman is personally known to me, - that she is a worthy and respected Communicant of the Church of which I am the Rector, and that I believe her to be a person of good principles and strict veracity. I have no hesitation in saying that I believe from her own assertion and from the testimony of others, that she was lawfully married to her late husband - Peter Chapman, and that she is justly entitled to the pension which she claims from Government -
Jos: H. Clinch
Rector of St. Matthew's Church South Boston
Suffolk ss Boston Dec r 31 st 1838 Then the above named Jos H Clinch made oath to the truth of the above certificate by him subscribed before me and I hereby certify that said Clinch is the highly respected rector of St Matthews Church H Montgomery Justice of the peace