Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17335, Joshua Chapman, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Chapman, Joshua
S. 17335
carded
CONTENTS

210 R 4 Massachusetts
Joshua Chapman
Berkshire, in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Comp commanded by Captain Chapin of the Regt. commanded by Col. Dancan in the Mass line for 9 months
Nil
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 30 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 day of Oct 1831 and Supt H. M. Bishop Levi
Arrears to the 4th of Sep'v $ 75 Semi-ant. allowance ending A M '34 15 $ 90
Recorded by { Revolutionary Claim, } Apt June 7, 1832. J. O. Stiles Clerk Book E, Vol. 2, Page 4
79
Berkshire

1 Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF BERKSHIRE, ss.
ON this twelfth day of Sept. A.D. 1832 , personally appeared in open Court before the Hon. Wm. P. Walen Judge of the Court of Probate now sitting, in lenox . Joshua Chapman a resident of Berk in the county of Berkshire and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged Seventy Seven 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 under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. To wit: That immediately
after the Battle of Lexington, which took place on the 19th April 1775. he joined a Company of Volunteers raised in West Springfield in the County of Hampshire (now Hampden) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. where he then resided—Officers of said Company were Captain Enoch Chapman. Lieuts. Samuel Fowles & Luke Day. Ensign all of said West Springfield & immediately marched to Roxbury near Boston & reached Roxbury before any other Company West of Connecticut River after remaining there ten or fifteen days the said Chapman with most of said Company enlisted for the term of Eight Months under the same Officers—Said Company was annexed to Colo. Regiment Wm. Danielson of Springfield of Militia & State Troops, which became extinct Massachusetts—A Soldier named Loogood who had deserted from the British Army, was appointed adjutant of said Regiment & taught us the Manual Exercises & Evolutions as performed by the British—He further declared that he being a Gunsmith, was employed under one Lieutenant Talley in repairing & cleaning guns, when not on duty, but that he was always present at the call of the Muster Roll & mustering of the Regiment.—At the end of said term of Eight Months was dismissed at said Roxbury in the month of January 1776, making in the whole four

the time he volunteered about Nine Months. had no written discharge -
He was born in Norwich in Connecticut in the year Month of March 1755.
He has no Record of his age & knows of none except the Record in the Town Clerks Office of said Norwich. - a copy of said Record given about forty years ago is herunto annexed.
He lived in said West Springfield when he enlisted & continued to reside there until the month of April 1802. when he removed to said Berket. where he has ever since lived -
He knows of no person living. who can testify to his said services. except Simon Smith of said West Springfield. whose Affidavit is herunto annexed -
He is known to Timothy Snow Esq. & Doctor Vassal White both of said Berket who will testify to his character & veracity & to their belief of his services as a Soldier of the Revolution -

He hereby relinquishes every claim 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.
S.
Joshua Chapman
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
We, Timothy Snow  Esq. residing in the town of Berkot Mass. and Nassell White residing in said Berkot hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Joshua Chapman , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy Seven 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.
S.
Timothy Snow Nassell White
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
W. P. Walker J. Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and 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 Timothy Snow is a resident in the town of Berkot Mass. and that Nassell White who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Berkot aforesaid . and that their statement is entitled to credit.
W. P. Walker Judge of Probate
J. Henry W. Bishop Register of the Court of Probate for S. County do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joshua Chapman for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twelfth day of
September A D 1832
Henry W. Bishop Register of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF BERKSHIRE, ss.
ON this _____ day of _____ personally appeared before the _____ of the _____ a resident of _____ in the county of Berkshire and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged _____ 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 provisions made by the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832:—That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year _____ with _____ and served in the _____ regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers: _____
Joshua Chapman Application for Pension Sept 12 1832
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I, _____ 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 _____

Joshua the Son of Aaron Chapman and of his Wife Kephah was Born March 14 th 1756.
A True Copy of Record Examined By Benj. Huntington junr Town-Clerk.

13916 Joshua Chapman Mass
Plant 9 months
14 06 May 21 1833
P 404
A. M. Bishop Esq. Lenox Mass

BRIEF in the case of Joshua Chapman  Co of Berkshire 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? 74  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. As a Gen.     April In 1795. volunteer 4 9 private Capt Chapman Lt. Danielson  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? County of Hampshire Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary documentary and one living witness  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Taylor Examining Clerk.
Part of this time served as Gun Smith

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.
aws
December 8, 1923.
Barbara I. Shepard, 2314 Haste St., Berkeley, Calif.
Madam;
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 17335, it appears that Joshua, son of Aaron and Kesiah Chapman, was born in Norwich, Connecticut, March 14, 1755.
While residing in West Springfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, he was a minute man, immediately after the battle of Lexington, marched to Roxbury, Massachusetts and there enlisted and served nine months, as a private in Captain Enoch Chapin's Company, Colonel Timothy Danielson's Massachusetts Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 13, 1832, while a resident of Becket, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

I Joseph S. Mills of Becket in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Lawful Age depose and say that I am well acquainted with Joshua Chapman who has applied for a Pension under the Pension Laws of the United States that he resides in said Town of Becket that I have been acquainted with him for more than Seventysix Years that I believe him to be Seventyeight Years of Age the fourteenth day of March last - that he is a Person of unquestionable truth and veracity and that he is reputed and believed in this Neighborhood to have been a Soldier in the Revolution and I fully concur in that opinion - I further depose & say that I am a Clergyman of the Congregational order regularly Installed and Settled over the First Congregational Society in said Becket and that the reason why I do not attend at the Probate Court is because the distance is so far (being about Sixteen Miles) and my time necessarily occupied in the performance of Parochial duties - - - - - and further I say not - Dated at Becket the Twentyeighth day of June in the Year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Thirtythree Joseph S. Mills
Berkshire ss
Taken Subscribed and Sworn to the day and Year above written and I hereby certify that the said Joseph S. Mills is a Person of unquestionable Truth and veracity
Before me Leah Barber Just. Peace.

Becket p Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I the subscribe Judge of the Court of Probate in & for said County certify that the within named Joseph L Mills is a clergyman resident in the town of Becket in said County
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this second day of July AD 1833.
William P. Walker

Rev. S. S. Mills
Deposition

I Simson Smith of West Springfield in the County of Hampden & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, now in the seventy ninth year of my age depose & say, that Joshua Chapman, then of this town, was in the public service with me in the year 1775. Immediately after the news of the Lexington battle, we turned out as minute men & went to Roxbury near Boston. Ensign Chapman of this town was our Captain, Samuel Fobes & Luke Doy were our Lieutenants. Timothy Davidson was the Colonel of our Regiment. Soon after we arrived at Roxbury Chapman and I, & many others of our company who went from this town, enlisted for the term of eight months, & were discharged on the first day of January 1776. Our whole term of service was performed in the neighborhood of Boston. Mr. Chapman removed from this town more than thirty years ago to Bristol in this State, & I have not seen him till the present time, since his removal. When I first saw him, I did not recognize his countenance, though I well recalled the name of Joshua Chapman as being one of our company. But from conversation with him, & his relation to me of many little circumstances & anecdotes which occurred during the time of our service, & which could not have been known to any one who was not present & a participator in them, I have not the least doubt of his being the same Joshua Chapman, who was in the service with me. I would also state that while he lived in this town, he lived in a different Parish, at a distance of five miles from me, so that while inhabitants of the same town, we did not happen to meet together so frequently, as people in smaller towns generally do. Simson Smith
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss. On the twenty fifth day of July in the year Eighteen hundred & thirty two, the above named Simson Smith, personally known to me as a person of whose character I am well assured & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed - Sam Lathrop Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss. I John Ingersoll a Clerk of the Common Pleas Court being a Court of Record in the County of Hampden do hereby certify that Samuel Lathrop Esq. before whom the above affidavit was verified is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Hampden and that his name thereunto subscribed is his true & proper signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Common Pleas Court at Springfield on this twenty ninth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three John Ingersoll Clerk

17 335 INVALID.
File No. 17,335
Joshua Chapman Br' Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. / , Page 427
[Arrangement of 1870.]

DT. Mr M Johnson Son Sept 14 1897 Joshua Chapman Son

PO Box 709
P
Sept 14 1891
Hartford Conn.
To the Pension Department at Washington D.C. Gentlemen.
Will you kindly give me what the records in the Pension department contain, relative to Joshua Chapman; who "tradition" says, received a pension, as a revolutionary soldier. Joshua Chapman was born in Norwich Conn. on the fifth day of March 1755 and died in Beckett Mass in May 1837. It is said, that he enlisted in West Springfield Mass. and served seven years, and was discharged at the close of the war of the revolution.
Yours truly,
M. M. Johnson M.D.
Sept. 10-1891.
Hartford Conn.

139 16 Joshua Chapman
H. W. Buel Esq Henry Wap
certifying that the records of the Bureau show that the applicant has been honorably discharged from the service of the United States and is entitled to a pension from the Government. In witness whereof, the undersigned officer has hereunto set his hand and the seal of the Bureau is hereunto affixed. Given under my hand and the seal of the Bureau this _____ day of _____, 19____. _____ Officer.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Joshua Chapman 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? yes 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? Certified by two Citizens
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's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? no
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? yes
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, deposeeth 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 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 shewn 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.
†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 authenticates 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 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.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

October 23, 1923
2314 Haste St.
Berkeley Calif.
Commissioner of Pensions Revolutionary War Dept. Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Will you please send a copy of the Pension application of Joshua Chapman St., who served in the War of the Rev. from West Spring- field, Mass. He died in Beckett, Mass. in 1837-
2314 Haste St. Berkeley Calif.
Yours truly Barbara J. Shepard, A descendant of Joshua Chapman St.