Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1859, Paul Chapin, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Chapin, Paul
A. 1859
CONTENTS
[Ruled lines for entry]
[Ruled lines for entry]

Declaration
In order to obtain the Benefit of the act of Congress passed June the 7th 1830
State of Hampshire Swingston
Overton Kelley On this day personally appeared Paul H. Kelley being the lawful lawful court of said court having the power of final and impartialment and states that he is of the age of 84 the 11th day of November next 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 the 7th 1830; that he entered the service under the following named officers and served as follows to wit in the year 1777 I was living in the state of Massachusetts and in the month of February 1777 he entered the Army of the United States as a private under Capt. Lambert Lintott led to a Regiment commanded by Col. Lockhart and found it did not recollect the name of that Regiment and was marched from there towards Fort Edwards there was a rear guard left at fort and had a skirmish with the British before they marched to Fort King where many went on to Fort Edwards but the Regiment commanded by Col. Lockhart to which he was attached was sent to guard some wagons which was carrying some stores and provisions from Fort King to Fort Edwards and when we had marched about five miles left behind having done on a short distance in advance came hastening back and states that the

were cutting off the waggonery and small guard that were with them and a company was immediately raised to go with all speed to rescue them once raised and another into craft He could see if he could get a company he would fly to that camp for he heard the waggon running and guns firing and himself and others joined with him and hurried off to the scene of action and when they arrived they found but two broken wagons at the place and one horse he saw where they were both loaded with flour and in mak- ing their escape or trying to the Boers had nearly all jumped out of the waggon and lay scattered on the Road the Indians had taken both the waggoners prisoners and carried off three of the horses with them and were out of sight we pursued some distance but could not overtake them we then returned back and went to Kingsbury and joined the Boer guard which had little trouble Battle with the British at Fort Smith and where we were united with them and placed out over against the main guard of the British commenced firing on our centinels and all the troops were soon on parade and a short Battle ensued between us and the British which lasted for some time He states he thinks he fired 14 times for he had 15 car- tridges at the commencement and at the end but 1 left the British gave way and the pursuers of death and wounded about 100 the Boers were several killed Lieutenant Col. Lockhart and other officers were in command at this Battle we were then mounted

off to Fort Lawrence after placing out our outposts and burying our arms which did not take very long for we had there been three days or one half day. Passings and then hastened to Fort Lawrence the same night after the Battle where we killed the Balance of the Troops which we left when we went to guard the wagon we remained at Fort Lawrence after days and was then marched down the North River a short distance and encamped there a few days and while there there was a Lady living at Fort Lawrence by the name of Jane Macray who had planted her self there with an old Scotch Lady for the purpose of getting to a Mr Jones a story who had gone to the British the Indians came and killed both of them and after and after passed after them and came in sight of the smoke of their fires as they passed but the evening being with us and many of them had got their guns with so they declined make being near Fort Lawrence we then returned to the Army and in a little time the Army marched off and he was placed in the guard and marched to a place called Brook and had encamped there and late in the evening the British commenced firing on our outposts and himself and others was soon placed out as a flank guard to prevent being surrounded the fire of the British quickly returned and he struck a few more Bullets we then marched off in the night and he left in the flank guard every dark with and when we halted we made no fires but placed out sentries and then lay down with our guns in our hands until morning and then we moved

down to Old Fort Miller and on the march down the River a fat pig ran thro' the lines and a sergeant who was swearing near a line took after it with his bayoneted and pursued in to the woods some distance from the lines and was shot and killed by an indian we immediately pursued but could never even find the indian or get sight of him we then marched down and crossed Little Kill River and then North River to a log and then split the road. Skiter and was marched from there to Stillwater and stayed there a short time and then was marched to half moon where we met with a great many of the Northern troops we were then marched some ten or twelve miles to a place called Barnes head where we met with some British troops and engaged in a skirmish with them they had one piece of cannon and to prevent them from cutting us off with the grape shot we were ordered to charge on them which we did with great fury and rage and secured upon them cannon and after a hard struggle arrested it from them and they then gave way I think the last on all our both sides was about four hundred killed. A friend states that while at half moon before the battle lined in to camp he had work under about seven hundred men of the Regular troops in the United States for the term of three years but he did not know what the cause of his discharge as he was very young only a little under twenty and was a volunteer all the time before his coming in with them

and he he was well acquainted with them and had been from his youth and as he had slipped from his father and went to the army they received him and told him that his three years should expire when the other three year troops did which had enlisted six months before him and after leaving the Regulars from his own state Massachusetts he was left some time engaged Building a Breastworks at Bunker's Hill with other soldiers of the Regular line and Patriots and Remained with the Engineer who commanded the timber and the ground that he held his machine gun with his hand in the middle of it and would turn it over from side to side with one hand with great dexterity and exactness as not to collect his name the British were stationed a short distance from there and after they had got their Breast- -works finished Col. or General Chaplin was there at the fort and went to a high hill to view the British encampment and took officers and some others with him and after taking a view with a spy glass they were discovered by the British and they started to approach them and General Chaplin took out his pipe struck fire and lit his pipe and then Retreated smoking to the Breast- -works we then made ready and gave the British an attack and drove them from their Breastworks General Burgoyne commanded the British Troops General Frasier of the British army was killed the British retreated to Saratoga where we surrounded them and after some time the British surrendered on the 16th day of October 1777 he states he still continues in service until June 1778 when he obtained

A few days since by Col. Brier he then returned home to his father's residence in the state of Massachusetts expecting to regain the army again in a short time but was prevented from doing so by intelligence brought him by his father who had been to the American army and was informed by him that I was not requested to join the army until I was notified so to do; and that he was not called for any more consequently never rejoined the army; he states that his discharge was left at his father's and he has not known what has become of it his father then lived in Massachusetts it is about fifty four years since he left there and the distance perhaps about one thousand miles he states that during his age and the subsequent loss of memory he cannot state precisely the day his services ended but is satisfied and has done in mind that he served sixteen months in favor of the united states against Great Britain in the Revolution; he states that he always thought that he would not accept a pension from the government that he could work for his living as if he did apply he waited as it in proper person before the war department but from old age and bodily infirmity is neither able to work nor to apply in proper person therefore makes the present application he has no documentary evidence he knows of no person by whom he can prove his services he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the per cent and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
Paul Gage

The Hon. David D. Folsom and William Stewart are in a large and building in my neighborhood and Spencer Mc Henry also a gentleman Josiah Copeland whom the said John Pennady Josiah Copeland William Stewart and the Hon. D. Folsom are in to court and after being duly sworn according to Law state that they have been long and well acquainted with Mr. Chapin the present applicant and with his character and that he is a man of unblemished character for veracity and they have as long understood that he was a soldier of the Revolution and they concur in that opinion for they never heard it disputed and the said Hon. D. Folsom further state that they believe him to be of the age he represents himself to be and we the said Court do certify that the said John Pennady Josiah Copeland William Stewart and the Hon. D. Folsom are citizens of said District County and that said Stewart is a lawyer and that they are all gentlemen of much respectability and entitled to full credit or their oaths or otherwise and that they after hearing the whole matter and the answer to the interrogatories concur in opinion with them and have no doubt of the truth of his declaration from their acquaint- ance with his character and reputation as a soldier of the Revolutionary War given under our hands in open court this 24 day of July A.D. 1844
B. S. Bleasdale Justice Patrick Badger J. M. Pierce Justice

State of Tennessee Rutherford County
§ § § § § § § § § §
I John S. Dargenty Clerk of the County Court for said Rutherford County hereby Certify that Patrick Pool Benjamin J. Bledsoe and John M. Pierce who are Acting Justices of the peace were present and upon the bench holding the Court in said County. And that the signatures thereto annexed purporting to be theirs are genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set My hand and affixed My Seal of Office this 2 nd day of July 1844 John S. Dargenty Clerk of Rutherford County Court.

no 35800.
Paul Chapin, Tenn. Act 1832. Surp d
abt to Hon. Abullam Jan # July 18 1844 - same Jan 19. 1846
abt to Hon. Abullam Jan

rejected 35.800
Paul Chapin
In Let to You A. Cullom August 13. 1848.
1859 at 32

2331

Pension office,
August 1, 1846.
Sir,
Paul Chapin, of Tennessee, alleges that he served in the Massachusetts militia during the revolution, during the revolution, in the company commanded by Captain Lankton, and also under Captain Chadwick. I understand from the Hon. A. Cullom, a member of Congress from Tennessee, that a search of your records has been objected to by you, as Mr. Cullom did not file a power of attorney in the case. I have respectfully to request that such a paper may be dispensed with, as Chapin has made application here for a pension, and it will greatly oblige the claimant if you will make an examination and grant the usual certificate.
Very Respectfully, Your Obe. Servt.
J. L. Edwards
Hon. J. G. Palfrey, Secretary of State, Boston, Mass.

Langton Green 2nd July 1844
Sir
Enclosed you will find the declaration of Paul Chapman of this county. The papers were made out by Mr. Br  and Gabbett with whom I have been long and well acquainted and who is entitled to the full confidence. The claim of Mr. Chapman to a Reversion is un- fully meritorious and I hope is so made out that it can be allowed very respectfully yours etc S ir A. Sturton
Col J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Revenue.

cause of Repn 27 th February 1845
Sir I herewith Return the pension papers of P Chappin I also acknowledge the Receipt of The pension paper of Mr Halkin very Respectfully A. H. Horn
Col J L Edwards

House of Reps
16 th January 1846
Sir
I have to request you to transmit to me the petition and papers of Paul Chappin of Oberlin County Tennessee that I may present his case to Congress
Very Respectfully your obed Servant A. Hullorn
Col J L Edwards copy of pension

The petition of Paul Chaplin praying to be placed on the Revolutionary Pension Roll
January 22, 1846 Referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions
Rev. Chaplin an billow

35800
Paul Chapin Jen:
Act. J. June 32 did not serve Com.

REJECTED
1859
P. O. Paul Chapin
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18
Ten' Overton Co July, 1844 aged 84 yrs Nov 11 1844 In Mass. July 1777 Re-enlisted Capt Lankton Regt of Col. Jackson to Fort Edward Born Nov 11, 1760 Mass to N.C. & to Overton Co. Enter here and was 40 yrs

2331
[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page. The text is mostly illegible but appears to be a continuous cursive script.]

Washington City State of Repn 1st August 1846
Sir
I wish to procure from your office such evidence (if any there be) as will sustain the application of Paul Chappin as applicant for a pension on the act of Congress of the 4th June 1832. Col Edmonds will also address you upon the same subject. Mr Chappin was of your State in time of the Revolutionary War and states in his petition that he entered the Service in the year 1777 in the month of February as a private soldier Capt Lawton was his captain and Lieutenant Col Wilson his col at Elenborough and was attached to a regiment commanded by Col Jackson. He states that afterwards he was attached to Capt Chadwick's company under Col Brims will you have the goodness to examine the books and make out and send me or Col Edmonds such testimonials as are usual in such cases and am only Responsibly and respectfully requested.
I am respectfully your obt servant Abel Mow
Hon Secretary of State of Massachusetts

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston;
August 4. 1846.
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 Paul Chapin is borne upon a Pay Roll of Capt Noah Lankton's Company, Col John Ashley's regt from the County of Berkshire, for Service at Saratoga, as a private from April 26 — 25 to May 20 1777. 25 days Upon another of Said Capt Lankton's Company, Col Ashley's regt for Service in an Expedition to Kingsbury, as a private from July 8 to 1. 8 August 14 1777. 38 days Upon another of Said Company & regt for Service at Stillwater, as a private from September 19 to — 29 October 17 1777 inclusive, 29 days. Upon a Pay Roll of Lt Solomon Packard's Company, Col Ashley's regt, for Service on an alarm to the Northward

3. 2 as a private from October 13 to 26 1780 including allowance of 4 days - 18 to return home, 18 days - Said roll is dated, "Tyringham January 23 1782." Not upon roll of Col t Chadwick, Col t Brewed for 1777. And Not upon rolls of Colonels Jackson And Wilson
And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the Commissioner's letter of August 1. 1846. was filed in this Office; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said letter, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowl- edge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Palfrey.
Secretary of the Commonwealth.