Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,947, Nathaniel Cobb, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Cobb, Nathaniel
NUMBER
S. 30.947
CONTENTS
Blank lined area for contents entry
Blank lined area for contents entry

18.320
Maine
Nathaniel Cobb
of Gorham in the State of Maine who was a for Corp Sgt in the Company commanded by Captain Davis - of the 1st, commanded by Col. Phinney in the Me - m line for 5 on 29 d. for. } 4 .. 26 .. Corp: } 2 .. 21 .. 9th .. }
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of $7 Dollars 18 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 day of August 1833 and sent to J. Ellsbery Portland
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $102.31 Sem-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept - 25.59 $127.95
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book E Vol. 1 Page 8
71

Nath l Cobb
Application for a pension
May 8 th 1833.
.25054

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
MAINE DISTRICT SS.
At a Special District Court of the United States begun and holden at Portland, within and for said District, on the ninth day of May A. D. eighteen hundred and thirty- three before the Honorable ASHUR WARE, Judge of said Court.
On this ninth day of May — aforesaid, personally appeared in open Court before said District Judge Nathaniel Cobb a resident of York in the county of Cumberland in said Maine District, aged Eighty three 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers & served as herein stated. That about the first of July 1775 at Barnstable, Cape Cod, he enlisted as a private in a company of militia commanded by Capt Davis in Col. Thatcher's Regiment for six months and served in said company at Barnstable and on the sea coast the said term of six months, when he was discharged at Barnstable the last of December in that year — That about the first of April 1776 at Barnstable he again enlisted as a corporal in a company of militia commanded by Capt. Nye in Col. Barretts Reg t . and served in said company as corporal and sergeant till the last of November as near as he can recollect nearly eight months — not less than seven months he is confident, when he was discharged at Tarpaulin Cove in the Elizabeth Islands, where said Reg t had its headquarters, and where he served on said enlistment, last mentioned — That about the last of November, immediately after the last service stated he again enlisted in a company commanded by Capt. Lewis in Col. Phinney's Reg t and served at Cambridge near Boston as a private for the term of six weeks — and was marched back to Barnstable where he was enlisted & then discharged — That he had no written discharge from either service he has stated — He has no knowledge of any person living whose testimony he can procure to prove his said services — or any other evidence which he can obtain.
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.
Nat Cobb
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Before
Ashur Ware
} U. S. Judge for the District of Maine.

The said Nathaniel Cobb - by way of answer to the interrogatories put by the War Department further declares, That he was born at Barnstable Cape Cod - March 9. 1750. and has a record of his age in a Bible at his home in Gorham. That he lived in Barnstable when first called into the service and resided there till the year 1800. When he removed to Gorham, Maine where he has ever since resided & now resides. Then he enlisted as a volunteer - and served the first six months as a private, seven months as a corporal or sergeant but cannot tell exactly how long as sergeant, but he thinks, it was five months - his last service at Cambridge was as a private. He would refer to Tappan Robie Esq. & Calvin Cawley as persons who know his character for truth & veracity. There is no clergyman in his vicinity who knows of his reputation as having been a soldier in the Revolution.
Nat. Cobb
Subscribed & sworn to before Nathan Ware
U. S. Judge for the District of Maine
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatives prescribed by the War Department) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states
I, John Mufsey Clerk of the District Court of the United States for Maine District, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Cobb for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this twenty first day of May A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three
John Mufsey
Clerk of the U. States District Court for Maine District.

We William Stevenson and Charles Harding, late of Gorkham, now resident in Portland, do testify and say that we have for many years been well acquainted with Mr. Nathaniel Cobb of said Gorkham, and lived in his vicinity and neighborhood - That we believe him to be Eighty three 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 - And that he is a person of unimpeachable character for truth and veracity, and the foregoing declarations by him subscribed and sworn to are entitled to full credit and belief.
William Stevenson
Charles Harding
Signed & sworn to before
Ashe Warren Judge of the United States for the District of Maine.
I certify that the above named Mr. Stevenson - Charles Harding are personally known to me to be the persons described in and who subscribed to the foregoing truth & veracity,
Ashe Warren Judge

No 25654
Nathaniel Cobb Cumberland County Maine
Adm C
  2. 21 d's  Lev.  10.50    4. 26 ..  corp.  17.80    5. 29 ..  priv.  19.88      $51.18  
  44  66    14  14    11  11    3.22     11  98  
J. Mapsey Portland Maine

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
Sir:
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 subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those 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, shewing the Service of Nathaniel Lobb. District of Maine
   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.     Enlisted July 1775 — 6 — private Col Davis, Col Thatcher 83 years Barnstable Traditionary evidence not authenticated documentary evidence papers   Enlisted aft. 1776 — 7 — corporal Col Nye, Col Barrett Cape Cod Correct —   Enlisted Nov. 1776 1 12 — private Col Lewis, Col Phoenix District of Maine  
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, 1832.
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, (l) 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 (m) 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.  6. { 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 enquiry 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 a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, 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 under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; and 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 affix 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 Militia 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.

30947 Rev INVALID.
File No. 30,947
Nathaniel Cobb Sergt Rev War
Act: June 1 st 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 52
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, April 22 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 name of Nathaniel Cobb is found on a Pay-roll of Capt. James Davis, having enlisted July 7, 1775, and serving to November 1, 1775, — where he is allowed three months and twenty-four days. — The name of Nathaniel Cobb is found also on a Muster-roll of Capt. James Davis, on the Sea Coast service, from November 1, 1775, to December 31, 1775, where he is allowed two months and five days. — The name of Nathaniel Cobb, as Corporal, is found also on a Muster-roll of Capt. Elisha Nye's Company, on duty at the Elizabeth Islands, having entered April 5, 1776, — where he is allowed one month and twenty-six days. — The name of Nathaniel Cobb, as Corporal, is further found on a Muster-roll of Capt. Elisha Nye's Company, on duty at the Elizabeth Islands, having entered June 1, 1776, and serving to September 1, 1776, — where he is allowed three months. — The name of Nathaniel Cobb, as Serjeant, is found also on a Muster-roll of Capt. Elisha Nye's Company, on duty at the Elizabeth Islands, from September 1, 1776, to November 21, 1776, — where he is allowed two months and twenty-one days.
m. d. 3. 24
2. 5
1. 26
3. 0
2. 21
13. 16
over.

The said Nathaniel Cobb claims for further services, under Capt. George Lewis, on duty at Cambridge, - the rolls for which are not found in this Office.
Edward D Bangs Esq.

Nath C Bobb

June 4
Mr.
25054 11 55
Stan B.

Mufey Portland Maine