Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,346, Lewis Colburn, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Colburn, Lewis
S. 30,346
CONTENTS

10.424 Massachusetts
Lewis Colburn
who was a Private in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Grill of the Regt commanded by Col Grevendon in the Mass was for 11 Months
Widow & Heir
81 Norfolk
Enrolled on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15th day of April 1833 and sent Widow Ellis Colburn Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $73.33 Pension allowance ending 4 Sept 1833 18.33
$91.66
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by
W. Alderson Clerk, Vol. 2, Page 10

Colburn
Lewis Colburn
15232

Application of Lewis Colburn to the U.S. War Department for a Pension for revolutionary services, under the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
— Commonwealth of Massachusetts — County of Norfolk S.S. On this twenty fifth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty two, personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable John Williams of the Court of Common Pleas, now sitting at Dedham in and for the County of Norfolk, Lewis Colburn, a resident of said Dedham aged eighty years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
I Lewis Colburn of Dedham in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts AEC (AWC), that according to authenticated Records in my possession, I was born in the town of said Dedham on the fifth day of January 1752, old style, and was eighty in years of age on the sixteenth day of January 1832 - new style, and I have never had any home or legal habitation but in the same town of Dedham, where I now live.
In the latter part of the Summer or beginning of Autumn 1774. I volunteered and entered as a minute man, into a light company of Infantry, commanded by Capt. Joseph Guild, Lt. John Gay and Ensign Ensign Isaac Bullard, and as a Soldier, equip'd myself at my own expense, and thus armed and equip'd held myself in readiness to march at a minutes warning to any point where emergency call'd. I stood in this readiness over seven months, till hostilities commenced on the next April. During this period our minute Company was frequently call'd out for drill duty and had directions from William Heath, (afterwards General Heath).
On the memorable nineteenth of April 1775, the news of the commencement of hostilities at Lexington arrived, our Company instantly turned out and hastily marched about twenty miles, met the Enemy at West Cambridge and there had a skirmish with him on that interesting day.
In the same month of April a few days after hostilities commenced I volunteered as a Soldier into the eight months service continental line, and entered the Company commanded by said Joseph Guild, Lt. John Gay & Ensign Isaac Bullard, Col. John Greaton. Regiment. Lt. Col. Joseph Vose. I performed this eight months service in the towns of Cambridge, Roxbury, Charlestown and Dorchester - all of which are near Boston, where the British then had possession, when my term of eight months expired I was discharged and returned home to Dedham in the early part of January 1776.
During the last half of this eight months service, I frequently saw Genl. Washington among our Forces.
Again about the middle of August 1776, a draft was made on the Militia company where I stood enroll'd, for seven men, I volunteered for one of that requisition, and entered the Company Continental line of Capt. George Gould of Dedham, Lt. James Kingsbury, and Col William McIntosh Reg. and marched from Dedham towards the last of the same August by way of Hartford, Fairfield & New Haven in the State of Connecticut, to a place call'd the Saw pits in the State of New York, thence to North Castle on the White Plains in the same State, and after having performed a duty of three months service, I was discharged and returned to

to Dedham about the middle of December of the same year 1776. soon after I entered this Company I received a Warrant from said Capt Gould, and performed the duty of Orderly Sergeant during this three months campaign while in this Service, I was in a Skirmish with the Enemy at the Saw pits before mentioned. And in all the service rendered as aforesaid, I was at considerable expense for arms and equipments for myself and one or two others, and have never yet received the least remuneration therefor, either from the State or Individuals or the Continent.
And I farther declare, that I have no documentary evidence to offer in support of my claim.
That I kept a Journal of my services and revolutionary events, and formerly had in my possession my Sergeants Warrant and other papers relating to the transactions of that day; but some years since, had the misfortune to have my house destroyed by fire and lost these papers by that accident.
Thus have I served the continent as a Soldier, the term of eleven months exclusive of the service in the minute Company aforesaid, and I lost most of my wages by the depreciation of the currency of the country.
That soon after my discharge from Capt Gould's company in December 1776, I engaged in the transportation of Continental Stores, or waggons service, the remainder of the war, but which appears not to be regarded in the Pension Acts.
And I further declare, that I have never received any Pension from the United States nor from any State. That my name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State, that this is the first application ever made by me for a Pension, and that I hereby relinquish every claim or Annuity for Revolutionary Services except the one I now ask for.
Dedham Sept. 14 th 1832.
Lewis Colburn
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, J. M. Williams, J. Clerk.
I James Ware Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Lewis Colburn for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
James Ware

Town Records of Dedham
" Lewis son of Samuel and Mercy Colburn was born January 5 th 1752 - "
A true copy. Attest
Nich d Elliot T. Clerk

Rev. and 1812 War Section.
MEE/hmn
July 3, 1929.
Mrs. Ed Chambliss, Colo, Iowa.
Dear Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 30346, it appears that Lewis Colburn was born January 5, 1752, Old Style, at Dedham, Massachusetts. He was the son of Samuel and Mercy Colburn. While residing in Dedham, Massachusetts, in the summer or autumn of 1774, he enlisted as a Minute Man in Captain Joseph Guild's Massachusetts Company and served seven months.
On April 19, 1775 he marched to West Cambridge and there had a skirmish with the enemy. A few days later, in the same month he enlisted and served as a private in Captain Joseph Guild's Company, Colonel John Creadon's Massachusetts Regiment and was discharged in January 1776.
About the middle of August 1776 he enlisted, served as Orderly Sergeant in Captain George Gould's Massachusetts Company, was in a skirmish at Saw Pitts, and was discharged about December 15, 1776. After the above service he was engaged in the transportation of Continental stores (wagon service) during the remainder of the war.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 21, 1832 while a resident of Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, where he had always lived.
There are no data relative to wife and children.
Respectfully,
EARL D. CHURCH, Commissioner.

30 346
INVALID.
Rev
File No. 30 346
Lewis Colburn
Rev Rev
Act: June 1 st 39 th
Index: —Vol. 2 , Page 82
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1916 Dec. 5 Hist. to Florence O. Colburn 1916 Dec. 30. F.O. Colburn info. how to apply to Aud. Int. for death
1929 - July 3, Hist. to Mrs. Ed Chambers, M.E.E.

15232
Lewis Colburn of Dedham Mass
Private 11 months
Wm Ellis Esq Dedham Mass Hon J. G. Kendall H. R.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Lewis Colburn 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? No XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No 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? 2 witnesses 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? as to one of them  X Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been 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? yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? X
 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.
* The Magistrate must certify to the credibility of the other witness

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK ss.
I, JAIRUS WARE, Clerk of the Judicial Courts, being Courts of Record, within and for the County of Norfolk, hereby Certify that
William Ellis
Esquire,
is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Norfolk aforesaid, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified to discharge the duties of said office, and that his signature to the annexed affidavits respectively is genuine and true.
In Witness Whereof, I have subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of said Commonwealth hereunto at Dedham, this twenty fifth day of September A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Jairus Ware
3

I Joseph Baker of Dedham in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, being eighty two years of age, hereby Testify and say, that Lewis Colburn, now residing at said Dedham, served as a Soldier, at Cambridge and other towns in the vicinity of Boston, the term of eight months, in the Company commanded by Cap. Joseph Guild - Col. Greadon, Mass - in the year 1775 - This service began but few days after the commencement of hostilities in the month of April the same year and that I served as a Soldier in the same Company at the same time.
Dedham Sept r 22 - 1832 - Joseph Baker
Norfolk S.S. Sep r 24 th - 1832 - Then the above named Joseph Baker known to me as a credible witness, personally appeared and subscribed the above written declaration and made oath that the matter therein set forth is true -
Before me Essex W m Ellis } Justice of the Peace

I John Richards of Walpole in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, being seventy seven years of age hereby testify and say that Lewis Colburn now living at Dedham in said County of Norfolk, performed soldiers duty in the Capacity of Orderly sergeant for the term of about three months. (I have no documents to fix the time exactly) - in the year 1776 - This service was rendered in the company commanded by Col. George Gould, the campaign which began in August and ended towards the winter of the same year, and I further testify and say that I entered as a soldier said Col Gould company at Dedham at the same time that said Colburn did, march'd into the service and returned home to Dedham at the same time - but was not with said Colburn all the time we were out in this service, I was taken sick in the southerly part of the state of Connecticut and staid at Fairfield several weeks while said company was proceeded on a tour of service towards the Hudson River in the state of New York
Walpole September 21 - 1832 -
John Richards
Norfolk SS. Oct - 4 - 1832 - Then the above named John Richards, personally appeared and made Oath that the matter set forth in the above affidavit by him subscribed is true -
Before me Wm Ellis Justice of the Peace

I William Ellis of Dedham in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts hereby certify that John Richards who on the fourth day of October 1832, made, subscribed, and made oath to the within affidavit before me, in relation to the revolutionary services of Lewis Colburn therein described, is esteemed to be a man of the first standing and integrity in the neighbourhood where he lives - That he has for many years been the First Deacon of the Church in the west Parish of Dedham, and from personal knowledge I consider him the said Richards, to be a man of veracity and truth & a credible Witness.
Dedham February 5 th 1833.
Yrs truly W m Ellis

Rev Joe L. H. H.
Norwood, Ohio, December 18th, 1916.
Bureau of Pensions, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:--
You very kindly furnished me recently the Revolutionary record of Lewis Colburn of Dedham, Mass., but in writing I neglected to ask the date of his death. I judge from the fact that his claim for a pension was allowed that you have a record of the date of his death and will be very grateful if you will furnish me with this information.
Thanking you in advance, I am
Very truly yours,
Florence Owen Collier.
#4106 Floral Ave.

1 Stamp 29c D or Rub Stamp En Rub D
Norwood, Ohio, November 11th, 1916.
Department of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:--
Will you kindly furnish me with any information that your records may show concerning the Revolutionary services of the following men:--
Asael Booth, born Oct. 19, 1749, married Miriam Blakely, 1768.
John Robinson, commanding the "Pilgrim", about 1779.
Lewis Colburn, born Dedham, Mass., service in battle of Bunker Hill.
Very respectfully yours,
Florence Osren Collier

Colo, Iowa.
February 25, 1929.
Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
Rev. War Section
For the purpose of tracing ancestry with a view to joining the D. A. R., I am asking for the war record of one Lewis Colburn of West Dedham, Mass.
Also any family record contained in pension record.
Thanking you for any information you may give me, I am
Sincerely,
Mrs. Ed. Chambliss
Mrs. Ed Chambliss Colo Iowa.

aw Rev. War Section.
Dec. 30, 1916.
Florence O. Collier, 4106 Floral Ave. Norwood, Ohio.
Madam:
In reply to your letter of the 13" instant, relative to the Revolutionary War pensioner Lewis Colburn, you are advised that for the date of last payment of pension name of person paid and date of soldier's death, you should apply to the Auditor for the Interior Department, Washington, D. C. citing all of the following data. Lewis Colburn, Certificate No. 10424 issued April 6, 1833, rate $36.66 per annum, to commence Mar. 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Mass. Agency.
Very respectfully,
J. M. [unclear] Commissioner.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
N. 7. 30,346
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Lewis Colburn a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Summer of Autumn 1774 1 mo. Minuteman Joseph Guild Mass.   Apr. 19 1775 in skirmish at West Cambridge   Apr. 1775 Jan'y 1776 Joseph Guild John Greaton   Aug. 1776 3 mos. Ordinary Sgt. George Gould William McIntosh  
Battles engaged in, See above
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Dedham Norfolk Co. Mass.
Date of application for pension, Sept. 21, 1832 This it was ab.
Residence at date of application, Dedham Norfolk Co. Mass.
Age at date of application, to Jan'y 5-1752 at Dedham Mass.
Remarks: Soldier was the son of Samuel and Mercy Colburn. There is no other data as to his family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.