Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29759, Nathan Dillingham, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Dillingham, Nathan
S-29759
CONTENTS

105 71
Massachusetts
Nathan Dillingham
of Berkshire in the State of MASS who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Palmer of the Reg t commanded by Col t Whitney in the field line for 10 months Private 3 2 " Life Major 3
State
75 Berkshire
33.33 2 4 2 33
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 42 Dollars - 33 - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 th day of April 1833, and sent No. 91. Nathan Dillingham Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $84.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 1/2 Life " 21.17
$105.83
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by A. H. Allison Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 a Page 16

4806. Nathan Dillingham Pittsfield Mass Aug. 28 1832

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Berkshire ss
On thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court before me William P. Walker Judge of the Court of Probate within & for the Coun- ty of Berkshire now sitting. Nathan Willingham a resident of Pittsfield in the County of Berkshire Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy three years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Decla- ration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
In January 1776 I enlisted at Sandwich in the County of Barnstable & Commonwealth of Massachusetts into a Company of State Troops under Captain Elisha Myles & was stationed with said Company on Nushawn Island for the defence of the Sea coast. I re- mained there in actual service in the capacity of Musician about ten months, According to my best recollection I was discharged in the month of November 1776. Major Benajah Buffett commanded the troops on the Elizabeth Islands Major Buffett was afterwards a Colonel in the Continental Army.

In the summer of 1777 I again enlisted into the service of the State under Captain Joseph Palmer of Fall River for the term of two months the which I served at Providence & the vicinity of the State of Rhode Island Colonel Whitney of Harvard commanded the Regiment.
I was born in saidwick on the 14th day of April 1759. I have no original record of my age, the time of my birth is presumed recorded on the town records of saidwick. I was living in saidwick at the time I first went into the service. In the spring of 1779 I removed to Richmond in the County of Berkshire. I removed to Lee in said County in the spring of 1781 where I resided till 1819 when I removed to Lenox & from thence in 1821 to Pittsfield in said County. I always enlisted as a volunteer. I never had a written discharge. Cornelius Nappett & Nathaniel Nappett both of Lee aforesaid served with me at Nashawtuck & at Providence. The above named persons have been acquainted with me from my childhood to the present time. The Reverend J a Hyde of Lee has been acquainted with me for more than forty years. I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of my State.
Nathan Dillingham
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid W. P. Walker S. Probate

I Nathaniel Basset of Lee in the County of Berkshire Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Nathan Dillingham who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and have been acquainted with the said Dillingham from my childhood to the present time. In January 1776 the said Dillingham enlisted with me into a company of State Troops for the term of one year at Sandwich in the County of Barnstable & Commonwealth of Massachusetts under Capt. Elisha Nye. I served with the said Dillingham at Nushawn Island & left him there when I went to Dorchester high the near Boston, where I was gone about two months. After the British evacuated Boston I returned to Nushawn Island & found the said Dillingham there in service and he continued in service about ten months as it has always been impressed on my mind as I verily believe; when he was regularly discharged.
I enlisted again with the said Dillingham in 1777 into a company of State Troops under Capt. Joseph Palmer of Falmouth & the said Dillingham served two months in said Company at Providence the vicinity. The said Dillingham served in the capacity of Musician during both of the terms aforesaid. I believe the said Dillingham seventy three years of age. I have lived in his neighborhood from the time I removed to Lee in 1785 to the year 1819.

I never have heard any one express a doubt that the said Dillingham was in the revolutionary war. I believe have no doubt that he served at different times as a has stated the full term of one year.
S. Nathaniel Bayett
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
W. P. Walker J. P. S. B. etc.
I Cornelius Bayett of Lee in the County of Berkshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereby certify that I have been well acquainted with Nathan Dillingham who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration from my childhood to the present time. In January 1776 the said Dillingham enlisted into a Company of State Troops at Sandwich under Capt. Elisha Nye for the term of one year. He went with said Company to Neshann Island & there served in the capacity of musician till I went to Dorchester heights I left him there in the service; on my return after an absence of about two months I found the said Dillingham there in the service & he continued on Neshann Island doing duty till I enlisted on 7 th Aug 1776 with permission of my

officers on board a State Ship of war In the summer of 1777 the said Dillingham has enlisted into a company of State troops for the term of two months under Capt Joseph Palmer which term he served in the capacity of Musician at Providence & the vicinity I believe the said Dillingham seventy three years of age. I have lived in his neighborhood from about the year 1781 to the year 1819 I never have heard any one express a doubt that the said Dillingham was in the revolutionary war. I believe & have no doubt that he served as above stated Cornelius Basset
I sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid W. P. Walker S. Bobbitt
I Alvan Hyde a Clergyman residing in the town of Lee in said County of Berkshire here by certify that I have for more than forty years been well acquainted with Nathan Dillingham who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration I believe him to be seventy three years of age; that he is reputed or believed in the neighborhood where he resided from the year 1781 to the year 1819 to have been a soldier of the revolution and that I concur in that opinion Alvan Hyde
S. I sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid W. P. Walker S. Bobbitt

And the said Court do hereby declare its 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 the Court that the Rev Alvan Hyde who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Lee; and that Nathaniel Basset & Cornelius Basset who have sworn to the foregoing certificates by them respectively subscribed are both residents of Lee and are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit.
William P. Walker J. Probasco

I Henry W Bishop Register of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Berkshire do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original pro- ceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Nathan Bellingham for a pension
In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand and the seal of said Court this twenty eighth day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two.
Henry W. Bishop Register of Probate

4806. Nathan Dillingham Pittsfield Berk Co Mass
Private 10 Mch. Fife Mch 2
1606
22 Dec 1837
1877 F. B. Bishop Lenox Mass.

BRIEF in the case of Nathan Dillingham of Berkshire Cty in the State of Mass - (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court -  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 70 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1770 - Jan'y - 1771 - — 10 — As a privt Gen. Capt. Blisha Myles / Col. Basset   — 2 — " " Jos. Palmer / Col. Whitney -  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Barnstable Cty  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence living witnesses -  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Defective, time of first service not defined - not properly connected - 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. H. M. Blair Examining Clerk.

29 759 INVALID. Rev
File No. 29,759
Nathan Dillingham Dr Rev Mr
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 498
[Arrangement of 1870.]

4806
Nathan Dillingham
H. W. Burrows Esq. Lenox Mass

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Nathan Dillingham. Berkshire Co. Mass. which require further proof or explanation
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? — IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?  XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? yes And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? yes XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no — XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
 EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days. I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.”

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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.
†QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end 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.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Berkshire, Nathan Dillingham of Pittsfield in said County of Berkshire, who being duly sworn deplareth 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 ten months I served as a Musician in the Company commanded by Captain Elisha Nye on Nashawtuck Island in 1776. For two months I served as Musician & Fife Major in the company of Captain Joseph Palmer at Providence & the vicinity in 1777.
Nathan Dillingham
Berkshire ss Lee Jan'y 21 st AD 1833. Sworn to and subscribed before me
William Porter Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Nathaniel Basset of Lee in Berkshire, who being duly sworn depose and saith that in addition to his affidavit heretofore made and annexed to the ap- plication of Nathan Dillingham for a Pension this Deponent further saith, that he well recollects that both the Companies which were stationed at Nashawtuck Island and which were enlisted for one year, were all except twenty men discharged at the end of ten months, that Nathan Dillingham who enlisted into the Com- pany of Capt Elisha Nye for the term of one year, served in said Company as this Deponent in his aforesaid affidavit has stated, at Nashawtuck Island until the said company was discharged as aforesaid at the expiration of ten months. This Depo- nent verily believes & has no doubt that the said Dillingham served in said company for the full term of ten months
Nathaniel Basset
Berkshire ss Lee Jan'y 21 AD 1833 Sworn to and subscribed before me
William Porter Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
hire, ss. I, HENRY W. BISHOP, Register of the Court of ate in and for said County, do hereby certify that William Esquire , before whom the annexed deposition was one of the Justices of the Peace within and for said duly and regularly appointed, and that I am well ac- ed with his hand writing, and have no doubt that the Sig- annexed to said deposition is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix- ed the seal of said Court this twelfth day of January A. D. 1832.
Henry W. Bishop Reg. Probate