Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,803, Joshua De Besse, Continental Mass. Privateer

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Continental
De Besse, Joshua
H. 15,803
Mass.
Privateer.
Carded
CONTENTS

180.46 Maine
Joshua DeBesse
Bethel in the State of Maine
who was a Pr. Musician in the company commanded by Captain Sellars of the Reg't commanded by Col. Scott - in the Mass. Troops
time for 1 year Pr. Artillery 50.00 3 mos. " Inf. 10.00 6 " Musician 22.00
Mass. Pensions & Continental aw $ 82.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine
at the rate of 82 Dollars - Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23. day of July 1833 and sent to Thos. Clark Paris Me.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 164.00
Semi-ant. allowance ending Sep. 1833 41.00
$205.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, { Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by D. Brown
Clerk
Book E.
Vol. 1
Page 11

Joshua DeBesse.
9657
Thomas Clark. agent.

STATE OF MAINE.
COUNTY OF Oxford ss.
ON this 28 th day of August A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Probate now sitting, Joshua De Besse , a resident of Bethel , in the county of Oxford and State of Maine, aged 74 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 7, 1832. That he enlisted the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated, viz: at his residence, at
Wareham, in the county of Plymouth & State of Massachusetts, in the spring of the year 1777, as a musician, on board a Public armed vessell called the " Hancock " commanded by Capt. James Sellers. The sailing master name was Peters; for the term of six months : he sailed from New Bedford in the State of Massachusetts: on a cruise of six months - said vessell made several prizes and returned to New Bedford in the autumn of 1777. at the expiration of said term - where he was verbally discharged -
He again entered the service of the United States, at Plymouth, in the State of Massachusetts, in the company commanded by Capt. (not recollected) in the regiment commanded by Col. (not recollected), in the Massachusetts line, as a private soldier, in May 1778, for the term of nine months, and marched to Fishkill in the State of New York, where he served about three months : and re-enlisted, for the term of twelve months , in the company of Artillery commanded by Capt. Dorsey, in Col. Scott's regiment, in the Virginia line - and after having served the last mentioned term, was honorably discharged, in July 1779, at Middlebrook on the Western side of the North River, which discharge he long since lost. He further, on oath, declares, that on the 9 th . day of October 1810, he made application under the act of March 10, 1810, and forwarded the evidence of his service aforesaid to the War department, and was thereupon rejected. That when his first application was made as aforesaid he resided at Paris, in said county of Oxford - & that he now resides at Bethel aforesaid. Which original application, together with the evidence and adjudication of the United States Court for the District of Maine thereon, is herewith enclosed. He has no documentary evidence, to prove his service of three months as aforesaid, and he knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service for that term -

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.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Joshua B. Bissell
Before,
Stephen Emery, Judge.

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 applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. said applicant having adduced the deposition of Morris Burnap — likewise certain papers, being an original application before the United States District Court for the State of Illinois, the deposition of John Hunt, & the adjudication of said Court thereupon — in corroboration of his present declaration
Stephen Emery, Judge
I Joseph G. Cole Register Clerk of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joshua De Bess for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 28 th day of August A. D. 1832.
CLERK.
Joseph G. Cole Register

9657
Joshua De Bepe
18 April 1833
Ob 15
9657
P. 345
  1st priv. Artillery  50.  +    3rd " Infy.  10.  -    6.. Musicians  22           $ 82        
Thos Clark Esq
E. Paris Miss

BRIEF in the case of Joshua De Bpee  of Bethel in the State of Maine  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Mr Cutt  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 74 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.     Spring In 1777 - Shipwrecked 6 x Private Gen. Grafton   May 1778 - (doubt) 3 L Private no officer recollected   resided - 1 " Capt Dury Col Scotts O'Line  
He further declares that in the month of October 1818 he made application under the act of March 18 1818 for a pension which was rejected
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bethel, Me. (Hillsborough)  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By a living witness 
 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  The papers are not attached within as required 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.  * a living witness  Richard Cutt  Examining Clerk.

15803 INVALID.
aw
File No. 15803
Cochina De Fesse Musician Rev Var
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 93
[Arrangement of 1870.]

W. H. Thomas Clark Esq. Paris, Maine.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, May 3 d 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 sloop "Hancock", was an armed vessel commissioned as a privateer by the Congress of the United Colonies - but there are no Rolls of said vessel to be found. The vessel was commanded by Capt. James Selawes. Edward D. Bangs Secy. -

I, Morris Bumfus of Hebron in the county of Oxford & State of Maine, aged seventy five years do on oath depose & declare that in the year 1777 I resided in Plympton in the county of Plymouth & State of Massachusetts, & that I well knew Joshua Bepmow of Bethel in said county of Oxford, who is now an applicant for a pension. The said Bepmow was in 1777 a resident in Wrentham Plymouth County, Mass. & that said Bepmow and myself enlisted & served on board a privateer, I think she was called the "Hancock", commanded by Capt. James Sellon. The sailing master's name was Peter. Said Peter served as a musician. We sailed from Bedford Mass. in the spring of the year 1777 for a cruise of six months. We made several prizes and returned in the Autumn, 1777 where we were discharged from her. I have received a pension for a number of years past for other services performed during the war of the Revolution. Morris Bumfus
State of Maine
Oxford County ss Aug. 10 th 1832
Personally appeared Morris Bumfus abovenamed to me well known as a credible witness and made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him signed in my presence.
STATE OF MAINE.
OXFORD COUNTY, ss.
I, RUFUS KING GOODENOW, Clerk of the Judicial Courts in and for said County of Oxford, hereby certify, that Stephen Myrick
whose genuine signature is annexed to the foregoing Deposition of Morris Bumfus is a Justice of the Peace in and for said county of Oxford.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, this 28 th day of August in the year A. D. 1832
RK Goodenow Clerk of Oxford County Courts.

I, Morris Bumford of Hebron in the county of Oxford & State of Maine, aged seventy five years do on oath depose & declare that in the year 1777 I resided in Plympton in the county of Plymouth & State of Massachusetts, & that I well knew Joshua Bepmow of Bethel in said county of Oxford, who is now an applicant for a pension. The said Bepmow was in 1777 a resident in Wrentham Plymouth County, Mass. & that said Bepmow and myself enlisted & served on board a privateer, I think she was called the "Hancock", commanded by Capt. James Bellon. The sailing master's name was Peter. Said Peter served as a musician. We sailed from Bedford Mass. in the spring of the year 1777 for a cruise of six months. We made several prizes and returned in the Autumn, 1777 when we were discharged from her. I have received a pension for a number of years past for other services performed during the war of the Revolution. Morris Bumford
State of Maine
Oxford County S Aug. 10 th 1832-
Personally appeared Morris Bumford above named to me well known as a credible witness and made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him signed in my presence. Stephen Myrick Justice of the Peace
" "

John Stuart private
Col Scotts Regt Virginia Line
1778-1782 4th October 1886
Joshua Dabbs Private
Col Scotts Regt Virginia
Line 1778-1782
I do not serve on the Continental Establishment.
Paradiseville

Joshua Debese a resident citizen of the United States and an inhabitant of the town of Paris in the county of Oxford and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged sixty years, being duly sworn do depose and say that in the month of May in the year Seventeen hundred and seventy eight I enlisted as a private soldier for the period of nine months & served about three months at Fishkill in the State of New York when I re-enlisted for the period of twelve months as a private soldier in Captain Dorsey's company of Artillery in General Scott's Brigade of the Virginia Line Continental Establishment: that I faithfully served that period and was honorably discharged (which discharge I pay since lost) about the middle of July 1779 at Middlebrook on the western side of North River: that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life I am in need of the assistance of my country for support: that I do not receive nor am I entitled to receive any pension from the United States except by virtue of the Act of Congress passed the 10 th March 1818 making provision for revolutionary services
Joshua Debese
Subscribed and sworn to this ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
Debene
Albion L. Parsons
Judge of the United States in and for the District of Maine

I John Hunt a resident of the United States & an inhabitant of Cape Elizabeth in the county of Cumberland & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age do testify and say that Joshua Debese who subscribed the within declaration was a private soldier during the revolutionary war and enlisted at Plymouth in the State aforesaid at the same time I did & for the period of nine months that we marched to Fishkill in the State of New York where we served three months, when a recruiting officer came from White Plains and we both enlisted for the period of twelve months and joined Captain Dorsey's company of Artillery in General Scott's Brigade of the Virginia Line Continental Establishment; that said Debese faithfully served the time enlisted for and was honorably discharged about the middle of July 1779 at a place called Middlebrook on the western side of North River; that we served the principal part of our time at White Plains and barracks at Lancaster during the winter
John Hunt
Subscribed and sworn to this ninth day of October in the year eighteen hundred and eighteen
Before me
Alexander H. Parris
Judge of the United States in and for the District of Maine

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
MAINE DISTRICT, ss.
BE IT REMEMBERED , That on the ninth day of October — in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, personally came Joshua Debesse the applicant named in the papers hereunto annexed, and after being duly cautioned and examined, made oath that the several statements by him made in the annexed application, signed in my presence, are wholly true.
And the said applicant further offered in evidence the declaration under oath of John Hunt of Cape Elizabeth in said District of Maine stating that he the said Debesse served as a private soldier in the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War for the period of nine months & upwards in continuation
And it appearing to me in the examination here had, that the several persons above named are credible witnesses, I do hereby admit the annexed declarations as evidence, and certify the same as being satisfactory proof to me that the said Joshua Debesse the applicant, served as a private soldier — in the revolutionary war, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months and upwards in continuation on the continental establishment. And I do further certify, that from the declaration of the applicant made before me, under oath as aforesaid, it does appear that in consequence of his reduced circumstances in life, he is in need of assistance from his country for support; all which I do hereby certify and transmit to the Secretary of the Department of War, agreeably to the provisions of an Act of Congress, passed March 18, 1818, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war."
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused my official Seal to be affixed the day and year first mentioned.
Albion H. Parris