Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 28695, Samuel Crafts, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Crafts, Samuel
5 28695
CONTENTS

Maine N o 29,442
Samuel Crafts
of Auburn in the State of Maine who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Washburn of the Regt commanded by Col. Walley in the Massachusetts line for
6 mos 7 dys
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 20 Dollars 77 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 th day of May 1834 and Hon. F. D. Smith A.R.
  Arrears to the 14th of Mar. 1834  0  2  31    Pension allowance ending 4 th Sept.  10  38      $  72  69  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by R. Burroughs Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 4 Page 9.
Order to pay 12 Oct 1837 Letter to P.P. 12 Oct 1837
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 th June 1838 from 4 March 1838 to 4 Sept 1838. etc. Notified 19 Oct

Declaration of Samuel Crafts
18822
Pension Certificate of award may be returned to Freeman Brainerd Portland ME

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
MAINE DISTRICT SS.
Minut
At a Special District Court of the United States begun and holden at Portland, within and for said District, on the fourteenth day of August A. D. eighteen hundred and thirty-two before the Honorable ASHUR WARE, Judge of said Court.
ON this fourteenth day of August aforesaid, personally appeared in open Court before said District Judge Samuel Grafton a resident of H ebrom. in the county of Oxford in said Maine District, aged 70. 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
the said Grafton enlisted sometime in July A.D. 1778 and served six weeks in the company commanded by Capt. Nathan Puckett of Bridgewater in the Reg. commanded by Col. Carpenter and was stationed most of the time on Rhode Island and was there in the great storm and in the Battle under Gen. Sullivan.
That he entered the service in the year A.D. 1781 and served about six weeks. That he enlisted for 40 days and was discharged soon before his term of service expired, in the company commanded by Capt. Abram Washburn and was stationed some term of time on Bull Hill Rhode Island.
That he enlisted for the second time in the year 1780 in the fore part of July for three months and served nearly four months in said enlistment in the company commanded by Capt. Jacob Pool in the regiment commanded by Col. Wolrey and was stationed at Scituate in New York at the time the Indians burnt the town. That he was born in Bridgewater Mass. in 1762. and has no record of his age except in the town record of Bridgewater. That he has resided in H ebrom more than forty years. and that all the proof he can obtain of his service is herewith annexed.
he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on any 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. Before,
Ashur Ware - } U. S. Judge for the District of Maine.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier pensioner, and served as he states
And that Deacon Bradford Squire whose certificate is hereto annexed is a Surrogate of the Review duly qualified at that his official attestation are entitled to full faith and credit
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I John Muzzey Clerk of said District Court, have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this 5th day of November A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two
John Muzzey } Clerk of the U. States District Court for Maine District.

Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Cumberland Samuel Crafts, the same whose name is mentioned in the foregoing declaration who being duly sworn, deposes & saith that he enlisted for each term of service as above desig- -nated. That by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the particular times he performed his service but according to the best of his recollection he served at least  about seven months as a private and for that service he claims a pension. He further states, that he resided in Bridgewater when he entered the service, that James Gooch & Ira Hilborn can testify as to his character & their belief of his revolutionary services.
Samuel Crafts
Sworn to and subscribed this eleventh day of September
A.D. 1833
Before me Joshua Parsons Justice Peace
Marine District
District Clerk's Office October 31. 1833
In testimony that Joshua Parsons & Freeman Bradford are Magistrates & that the signatures to the above and annexed purporting to be theirs are genuine I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office the day & year last above written
John Mufsey Clerk U.S. Courts

I James Hearsey of Sumner in the County of Oxford land in the State of Maine on oath before and say that I am now seventy four years of age and reside in the United States having about three years at various periods. I well know Samuel Crafts of Hiram in the County of Oxford and say that the said Crafts enlisted with me in a company commanded by Capt. Jacob Poole in the regiment commanded by Col. Wolsey. I further state that the company was enlisted for three months and at the expiration of the three months the company was detained in the service nearly a month longer making in the whole four months. I further say that from the time that I enlisted and until the time of my return it was between four or  about five months. I recollect that the said Crafts served the whole time of said service with me. I further testify that the said Crafts is the identical person who served with me for the term aforesaid. The company as soon as it was mustered out marched from Bridgewater to Scituate in the State of New York where said company was stationed the most of said term of time.
James Hearsey
Signed and sworn to before
Aug. 14. 1832.
John Ware
Judge of U.S. Dist. Ct.
District of Maine.
I hereby certify that I have been a acquaintance with James Hearsey for many years and know him to be a man of the strictest truth and integrity.
Herman Bradford
Just Peace

State of Maine - Winot Cumberland County ss.
We James Gooch a clergyman residing in the Town of Winot and Ira Hilborn of the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Crafts who has subscribed the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be seventy years of age that he is respected and beloved in the neigh- borhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and we concur in that opinion.
James Gooch Ira Hilborn
Samuel Crafts base Aff. of James H. Emery
Cumberland ss. Then personally appeared the above said James Gooch & Ira Hilborn the former a regular ordained clergyman and the latter a man of good character and both irreproachable persons & credible witness swore that the same was true.
Before me
Winot Sept. 12 th 1833
Joshua Parsons Justice Peace

16822
Samuel Crafts
Admitted as precentor 1 mo 7 days $20.77
Hon J. O. Smith JR J. Bradburn Esq Portland Maine

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Nov 9. 1833
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 required 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. These 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, showing the Service of Samuel Crafts
   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.     1778 1 12 Private Capt Packer Col Carpenter 70 James Hovey for his service in the last enlistment   1781 about 1 12 "   1780 enlisted for 3 15 Private   about 6 Mo   6 07  
Application must be made to the Secy of the State of Massachusetts for evidence of the claimants service
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, 1852.
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, (1) 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 (a) 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.  G. { 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 inquiry 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 the Peace, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State, 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 upon 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 fix 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 Rebel 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.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office,
August 7 th , 1839.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6 th of April, 1833 entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Samuel Crafts, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Maine Agency, at the rate of Twenty Dollars and seventy seven Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March, 1838, to the 4 th Sept. 1838,
Respectfully, yours,
Wilson B. Parrish Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.

28695 Rev  INVALID.
File No. 28,695
Samuel Crafts Rev. Rev. Mr.
Act: June 7 th 39 th
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 87
[Arrangement of 1870.]

H. B. G. Hon Francis O. Smith, M.C. House of F. Bradford Esq.
Portland. Me.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Jan y 15 th 1834.
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 Samuel Crafft, as a private, is borne on a Pay Roll of Capt. Jacob Pool's Company, in Col. Jacob's Regt. where he is allowed from July 21 st to Oct r 21 st 1780, for services and travel, three Months and thirteen days. m. d. 3-13
Sam l Crafft's name is borne on a Muster Roll of Capt. Abram Washburn's Company that Marched to Newport the 10 th of March, 1781, under Col. Sheephilus Cotton, for sixty days, where he is allowed from March 10 th to April 1 st 1781, twenty-two days. 22
Sam l Crafft's claims for services under Capt. Nathan Packard, Col. Carpenter's Regt. in 1778; But the roll which he describes is not found in this Office.
Edward D Bangs Secy

Portland Oct 6 1837
J. L. Goddard Esq. & Committee of pensions -
Sir, Samuel Crafts, having been absent, has not received his pension for the last 18 months - I enclose for your consideration, a voucher for the payment of his pension - if satisfactory, please direct the Agent at Portland to pay him.
Yours very respectfully, Joseph Pope
P.S. I forwarded the application of Mrs. Mary Aldrich, Widow of Nathaniel Aldrich, for a pension, five or six weeks since, not having heard anything respecting it, I hope that it possible it might have got mislaid or mislaid - Has it been received at the Department?
J. P.
M c Evans will say that
The papers of Mary Aldrich were rec d on the 23 rd August. Her claim will be ex d in turn, and the result communicated J. D. W.