Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4603, Nathaniel Harding, Mass Mass Sea Service

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Harding, Nathaniel
R. 4603
Mass Sea Service
CONTENTS
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Nath Harding 24588
Marine - Brig Dolphin 9 months
Private - Mass. troops, 2 or 3 months,
4603
Applicant informed - Certified by Judge in Open Court Apr. 4, 1881
Rejected
Brig Dolphin was a transport and his other service not sufficient to entitle him to a pension
R. L. Rose Augusta, Me.

State of Maine.
THE Sylvanus Boardman a Clergyman, residing in the town of New Sharon in the County of Kennebec and Elnathan Pope residing in the same town, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Nathaniel Harding who has subscribed and sworn to the annexed declaration; that we believe him to be seventy six 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.
Sylvanus Boardman Elnathan Pope
State of Maine.
Kennebec ss.—Sworn and subscribed this twenty fifth day of August A. D. 1832
Before me,
Samuel Wyman Justice of the Peace.
Samuel Wyman Esq is a Justice of the Peace. And the Rev Sylvanus Boardman is a clergyman residing in the town of New Sharon. And Elnathan Pope Esq of the same town is a credible person, and their statement is entitled to be believed.
Nathan Weston Jr

Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June, 1832.
STATE OF MAINE, } ss. KENNEBEC COUNTY, }
On this fourth day of August A. D. 1832 personally appeared before the Hon. NATHAN WESTON, Jun'r, a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, of said State, Nathaniel Harding a resident of New Haven in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine, aged seventy six 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 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1777 with
service of the United States Captain that in March 1777 and served in Col. he entered as a regiment of in the transport board the Brig Dolphin  the John S. Sayer  line or troops under the following named officers: That the Brig was fitted out by the U.S. States commissary and ordered to Alexandria a load of flour sailed on the 14th of March 1777. That there being British cruisers in Lynnhaven Bay, they went through the North Channel by Cape Charles. arrived at Alexandria with flour by order of the U.S. agent - were there ordered to York and Gosport. That they lay at Gosport until October, the British cruisers blockading the coast and harbor - but endeavoring to get out they sailed to Old point Comfort. There anchored, but a British frigate and tender appearing in sight, attempted to bear up, and in so doing parted their cable. Attempted to get back to Gosport, but fell to the leeward, and ran ashore on Coaxey Island Shoals. Early the next morning, the U.S. commanding Officer at the place sent a Capt and Lieut with orders to burn their vessel, a British frigate and tender then being in sight. They drew over 50 bbls of flour, which drifted ashore, and were put into the continental stores, and then burnt the vessel. That after receiving an order from Genl Washington to draw rations on the road from the U.S. States commissary, he returned home, where he arrived the last of November or first of December 1777.
That prior to that in July 1776, he was received as a private as a substitute for his brother and served two or three months in Capt Joseph Smith's Massachusetts company stationed at Fort George on the coast, that there was no Col and there, and he does not remember to what regiment attached.

And to the interrogatories propounded under the instructions of the war department, he answers: that he was born at Truro Mass a chus d in 1756, where his age is recorded, and where his home was during his revolutionary services. That in 1805 he removed to Newsham, Maine, where he now lives. That he never took a written discharge. That at Truro he was a substitute as before stated. That Hoseick Harding was his friend. That he has it not in his power to procure testimony of his services, but that any of his neighbors will testify to his character for veracity and truth of his services, and he names the Rev Sylvanus Boardman and Ebenezer Pope Esq.
art 7
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.
Isaac Haring
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, Before
Nathan Weston Jr. Not S.P.C.
And the said Judge does hereby declare his opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.
Nathan Weston Jr.
Not S.P.C.
State of Maine April 4. 1833. It has been made to appear to my satisfaction that the above named applicant, by reason of age & infirmity, cannot without prejudice to his health, appear in open Court to renew his declaration to gain to make oath to the same,

State of Maine.
KENNEBEC, ss.—I, JOHN A. CHANDLER, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts held within and for the County of Kennebec, hereby certify that the Hon. NATHAN WESTON, Jun'r, before whom the within proceedings was had, is a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of said State; I also certify that the within contains the original proceedings of the said Judge, in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Harding for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court, this 18 th day of October
A. D. 183 2 ,
J. A. Chandler

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.,
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Nathaniel Harding , 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,     * Mch. 77 9 mos. Mariner John Sa—— Brig "Dolphin"   July 76 203 mos. Pvt. Joseph Smith —— Mass.          
* Vessel loaded with flour - beached on Caney Is. + was burned to escape capture by British.
Battles engaged in, _____
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Taunton Mass., removed to Kennebec 1805
Date of application for pension, Aug. 10. 1832
Residence at date of application, Kennebec Co., Me.
Age at date of application, 76 b. 1756 at Taunton, Mass. d. Oct 6. 1834
Remarks: This claim was rej. on the ground that "transport service" was not regarded as "military service" - his service in the militia was less than 6 mos - the minimum required under the pension law.
And — died Jan'y. 1. 1845 leaving heirs — names not stated.
Very respectfully,

Jan 5/53
wants copy of Ma- thias Harding's application & in- structions rel: to heirs of Rev. J. Soldiers
Please Copy
Hon. R. Goodenow H. of Reps.

Copy of original application of Martha Harding of New Sharon Maine for Revolutionary Services On the list of suspended claims reported to Congress A copy of Instructions in relation to the application of Children of deceased Revolutionary Soldiers
Jan'y 3 1833
Robt Goodenow M. C.
Farmington Me

STERRY BLOCK. - PONTIAC, ILL.
OFFICE OF CHAS. H. LONG, M. D. C. W. STERRY ESTATE PONTIAC, ILLINOIS
Pontiac, Ills., Oct. 31, 1906.
Mr. V. W. Warner,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
I have been informed that rosters of men in service in the revolutionary war are on file in the department in Washington.
I wish to secure a statement of the military history of Nathaniel Harding, who served in the Revolutionary War in the transport service. His grandson, now dead, stated to me that Nathaniel Harding died before pensions were given, or he would have drawn pension.
Nathaniel Harding, son of Ehpraim was born April 1756 at Truro, Mass., served in transport service from Cape Cod region, married at Wellfleet, Mass, removed to New Sharon, Me. in 1788.
If such material is on file I will be greatly obliged for a statement.
Thanking you in advance, I remain,
Yours respectfully,
Chas H Long

REJECTED
4603.
P. O. _____
Nathl Harding
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

State of Maine New Sharon, Franklin Co. Nov 2 29. 1852.
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D. C.
My Dear Sir,
I write in behalf of the Heirs of Nathaniel Harding late of this town, deceased, and who in his life time made an application for a Pension as a Revolutionary Soldier, which was either suspended or rejected, so that a pension has never been granted on said application. Believing the United States are still indebted, under existing laws, for the pension that was due under the application heretofore made by their ancestor, the heirs aforesaid wish to renew the application by calling to it, the attention of the commissioner of Pensions, and if necessary to apply in their own behalf as well for what was due to the said Nathl Harding by virtue of his own application aforesaid but also  as also for such sum as may be due to them as his heirs, in as much as he never received a pension. Nathl Harding died Octo. 6. 1834 having a widow, who has since deceased, on the first Jany. 1845. Under existing laws, they are entitled to something from the Government, as they believe, and are now desirous of obtaining a copy of the original application of Nathl Harding, and also of all the pension laws of the United States.

Be pleased therefore to furnish the Undersigned with a copy of said application, and if not inconsistent with the duties and usages of the department Pension Office, with a copy of the Pension Laws, if convenient.
By answering the above, the Office will confer a great favor upon those for whom he acts, as well as upon the
Undersigned who respectfully &
Truly Subscribed
himself, Yours
Oliver L. Currier
Newman, Maine.

Let to O. L. Currier, May 6/53 Hon Robt. Goodenow May 28/53
Maine
Rep. 1832