Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10,524, Joseph Dame, Mass.

(6-1776)
SERVICE
Mass.
Dame, Joseph
NUMBER _____
D. 10524
carded.
CONTENTS

15-928
15948
N Hampshire
Joseph Dame
of Strafford in the State of N Hampshire who was a Private in the Cont - commanded by Captain Dodge of the Reg. - commanded by Col. Millard in the Heights line for 6 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of N Hampshire at the rate of 20 Dollars  Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of Aug. 1833 and sent to J. A. Richards Durham
Arrears to the 14th of Dec'31  $ 40 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept'33  10 $ 50
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by C. C. H. H. Clerk Book E. Vol. 1. Page 80
March 15- 1842 98

Joseph Dames application for a Pension under act of June 7th 1832.
25570
Please direct return papers to John A Richardson Durham New Hamp.

State of New Hampshire.
County of Straffords ss 3
On this twentieth day of May one thousand eight hundred thirty three, personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Court of Probate for said County, now sitting at Dover in said County, Joseph Dame aged Seventy six 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 the first of June 1776 by enlisting into a Company as a Private at Buxford, Massachusetts, commanded by Capt. John Dodge of Ipswich Mass. Lieut. Safford and Ensign - Saunders; which Company belonged to the Regiment commanded by Col - Willard of Salem Mass. That his term of enlistment was Six months - that he marched with said Company from said Ipswich through Andover to Salem - thence, Col Willard's residence, thence through the southwestern corner of New Hampshire to Keene and Charlestown where said Company crossed Connecticut River and thence over the Green Mountains to Skensborough where he with said Company took Battenkill up Lake Champlain about thirty miles, to a place called Mt. Hope about three miles above Ticonderoga on the westerly side of the Lake where he with said Company was stationed during his period of enlistment, engaged principally during that time in clearing the ground and building a Fort called Mt. Hope - that he recollects Col. Brewer's Regiment and two Regiments of Friesey Blues were stationed in the same neighborhoods - that immediately on the expiration of his service, he received a parole discharge and returned to his home in Lee New Hamp. in December of the same year where his Father then lived and where he was born the sixth day of March 1757, and where he continued until the following Spring, when he removed to Durham New Hamp. where he has continued to reside up to this time, with the exception of nine years he lived in Acworth New Hamp. - that he lived at said Lee when he purchased his gun and equipments of one Andrew Butford, who was engaged in the Bunker Hill Battle the previous year, and as he has understood a Pensioner of the United States, and he with Stephen Stevins, Samuel Daniels and Charles Benford, all now deceased, went from said Lee together and enlisted in the same Company at Buxford - that he has no documentary evidence of his service, and that he knows of no person whose testimony

he can procure who can testify to his services. The unverified affidavits of his two Sisters who then lived at Lee with their Father at the time of his enlistment, and who recollect the time when he left his Father's in Lee, as well as when he returned, is the best and only evidence he is able to obtain. He further states that he has no records of his age and knows it only from what his Parents told him in his youth, and that Daniel Mathes and Robert Mathes are persons living in his immediate neighborhood and who both have been members of the State Legislature, and have long known him and can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
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 legacy of any State.
Joseph Darr
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Joseph Darr
in open Court. Witness to Joseph Darr's signature J. A. Richardson
Daniel C. Atkinson Judge of Probate
We, William Demeritt a Clergyman residing in the town of Durham and Robert Mathes residing in the same town, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Darr who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy six years of age; that he is respected and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
W m Demeritt Robert Mathes
State of New Hampshire
Stratford ss
May 20th 1833 Personally appeared William Demeritt a Clergyman residing in Durham New Hamp. and Robert Mathes residing in the same town, both being entitled to full credit, and made oath to the truth of the foregoing Certificate by them subscribed, before me,
John A. Richardson, Justice of the Peace
And the said Court do hereby declare the opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named Applicant was a Revolutiona-

my Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further Certifies that it appears there that William Demeritt who has signed the prece- -ding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Durham N Hamp. and that Robert Mathes who has also signed the same is a resident in said Durham, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to Credit.
Daniel C. Atkinson Judge of Probate
I James Bartlett, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Strafford do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Dame for a pension. I further certify that Edwards B. Nalley and John C. Richerson are both Justices of the peace for said County, and that their respective signatures annexed to these papers are genuine
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hands and Seal of Office this 20th day of May An thousand eight hundreds and thirty three
James Bartlett Reg.
original testimony

N o 25670
Joseph Dame Strafford County New Hampshire
Prints 6 Nos
J. A. Richardson Durham N. Hampshire

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 subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. 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 Joseph Dane Strafford County New Hampshire
   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.     Enlisted June 1776 - 6 - privt. Capt Dodge, Col Willard 76 years Boxford Massachusetts Traditionary evidence - papers correct Battle of Bunker Hill,  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

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

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[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. {

Wesley Darnis Affidavit in favor of Joseph Darnis

Betsy Dame of Lee in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire aged Seventy years testify and say that I very well recollect that my brother Joseph Dame went into the army in the spring of the year I think it was fifty seven years ago this spring, and returned the next fall or following Winter - There was snow on the ground when he returned - he left Fathers house in Lee who then kept a public house in company with Stephen Stevens, Samuel Daniels and Charles Bumford, I recollect a circumstance that soon after they started, a colored woman, then at my fathers, after the family had drank tea, turned up a cup with tea grounds, saying she could tell if they would all come back, and said there was one of the four that would not come back, but she could not tell which one - Stevens did not return - another circumstance I well recollect was, on his my brothers return from Lee, as they called it, he came up to the door and discharged his gun at the rock of the door before he came in, which was of a Sunday There was snow on the ground - If I recollect right, it was in December 1776.
Betsy Dame
State of New Hampshire Strafford ss.
See April 29 th 1833 Then Betsy Dame personally appeared and made solemn oath that the foregoing Affidavit by her subscribed is just and true Before me
Edward B. Keally Justice of Peace
Strafford ss. April 29. 1833 I hereby certify that the above named deponent is a credible person
Edward B. Keally Jus. of Peace

Temperance. Emerson
Affidavit in favor of
Joseph Dane
| |

I Temperance Emerson of Lee in the County of Stafford and State of New Hampshire aged Seventy Nine years testify and say that I can well remember of my brother Joseph Daniel then of Lee, now of Durham, going into the War in the time of the Rebellion, he left my father's house where I have lived in Lee, in company with Stephen Stevens, Samuel Daniels, and Charles Bromford to go to Lee, as they called it, in the spring, I believe of the year 1861, and did not return until the snow was on the ground the next winter — when he did return home to my father's in Lee — Temperance Emerson Mark
State of New Hampshire Stafford ss } See April 29 th 1883 Then Temperance Emerson who by her mark subscribed to the above affidavit, personally appeared and made solemn oath that the same is just and true before me, Edward B. Kealley Justice of Peace
Stafford ss. April 29 th 1883 • I hereby certify that the abovenamed named Defendant is a credible person. Edward B. Kealley Jus: of Peace

September 9, 1937
Joseph Dame S. 10524 BA-J/AWF awf
Mrs. John H. Simpson Durham, Box 43 New Hampshire
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Joseph and George Dame of New Hampshire, and James Grant of Massachusetts.
The Revolutionary War records of this office have been searched and no claim for pension found based upon the service of any George Dame, under any spelling of the surname, or of a James Grant of Massachusetts or Maine.
The record of Joseph Dame which follows was obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S.10524, based upon his military service in the Revolutionary War.
Joseph Dame was born March 6, 1757 in Lee, Strafford County, New Hampshire. The names of his parents were not given.
Joseph Dame enlisted in Boxford, Massachusetts, early in June, 1776, served as a private in Captain John Dodge's company, Colonel Willard's Massachusetts regiment, assisted in building a fort at Mount Hope on the West side of Lake Champlain, and after a service of six months, returned to the home of his father in Lee, New Hampshire.
He moved in the spring of 1777 to Durham, New

Hampshire, and later lived in Newington, New Hampshire about nine years.
The soldier, Joseph Dame, was allowed pension on his application executed May 20, 1833, when living in Strafford County, New Hampshire. He died March 15, 1842.
The papers on file in this claim contain no reference to wife or children of the soldier.
Betsey Dame and Temperance Emerson, sisters of the soldier, were in 1833 living in Lee, New Hampshire, and aged respectively, seventy years and seventy-nine years.
In order to obtain the name and address of the person paid the last payment of this pension, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D.C., and furnish the following data:
Joseph Dame Certificate # 15928 Issued August 6, 1833 Rate $20.00 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832 New Hampshire Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

MARGERY SULLIVAN CHAPTER DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Durham N. H.
Box 43.
Revolutionary soldiers no Record
9/3/37
88
Pension Bureau Washington D. C.
To Whom it May Concern:
Have you on your records (Rev.) anything pertaining in to a Joseph Dame or Dame of Newington whom I believe was a pensioner.
Also a George Dame who was his son. This George may be listed as from Newington or Durham N. H. Possibly from Packers Falls which is a part of Durham N. H.
These Dames were Newington N. H. people but later some of them went to Packers Falls.
Also have you any record of

MARGERY SULLIVAN CHAPTER DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
a James Grant of Berwick Me. This would be Mass. Rev. Polk as Mass Maine was a part of Mass at this time.
Any information pertaining to these men would be greatly appreciated.
Perhaps I have appealed to the wrong bureau in regard to these men. However we think that Joseph Dam or Dame was a pensioner.
Sincerely yours, Bethea G. Simpson (Mrs. John H. Simpson) Durham N. H. Box 43.

Rehr
10524. INVALID.
1937 Sept. 9. list. & Mrs. John H. Simpson
File No: 10,524
Joseph Danna Pris. Ser. Mar.
Act: June 1 th 82
Index:—Vol. A , Page 90
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of New Hampshire Shaffords James Patten Regr of the Court of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Edward B. Noall's whose Signature is affixed to the certificates upon the two affidavits hereto annexed is a justice of the Peace for said County and that said Signature is his genuine and proper Signature
In testimony whereof I have caused the Seal of said Court to be hereto affixed this 20 th day of May A.D. 1833
James Patten Regr