Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18432, John Hastings, Mass. R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass. Rd.
Hastings, John
S. 18432
CONTENTS
Carded

Apr. 14 7
Massachusetts
John Hastings
Middlesex in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain Welch of the Regt. commanded by Col. Hammon in the Mass ne for 15 Months V.R.
Mass R I Milia
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass the rate of 50 Dollars — Cents per annum. commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Aug 1832 and Martha J. Fiske East Cambridge
arrears to the 14th (Ma' 32) $10 00 Commut. allowance ending Apr. '32 2 5 $12 5
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by S. C. Stiles Clerk, Book E. Vol. 2. Page 34
72
Middlesex

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex ss.
On this twenty second — day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court, before the Honourable Judge of the Court of Probate, in and for the County of Middlesex aforesaid, now sitting, John Hastings — a resident of Newton in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged Seventy — 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, A. D. 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: a particular account of enlistments & service is stated on the papers herewith annexed marked A

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 any state,
John Hastings
We, Jonathan Homer  a clergyman, residing in the Town of Newton and Ebenezer Cheney  Squire residing in said Newton hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Hastings who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; — that we believe him to be seventy six years of age: that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Ebenezer Cheney
Jonathan Homer
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
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 certify, that it appears to them that Jonathan Homer who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in Newton and that Ebenezer Cheney who has also signed the same, is a resident in Newton and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. P. P. Key  J. Root
Isaac Fiske
Register of the Court of
Probate in and for the County of Middlesex, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Hastings for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
I also certify that the signature of J. P. P. Key to the certificate in the dependence of Jonathan Homer is his true signature of J. P. P. Key probate of Probate
Isaac Fiske
I also certify that Amos Allen whose own proper signature is subscribed to the certificate of the additional declaration of said John Hastings is a justice of the Peace within said County of Middlesex. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this fourteenth day of June AD 1833 Isaac Fiske Reg. of said Court

I John Hastings of Newton in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts do testify and declare that I was born in said town of Newton on the twenty eighth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty six - A record of my birth is now existing in the office of the Town Clerk of said town of Newton as appears by a certificate of the town clerk of said Newton which is hereto annexed. Since the Revolutionary War I have lived constantly in said Newton - and during said war, when not in the service of my country as herein after named, I lived in said Newton except for a short time when I resided in Providence in the state of Rhode Island. All my services, in the armies of my country, were rendered as a volunteer - I was never drafted nor did I ever serve as a substitute.
My first service as a soldier in the revolutionary war was at the Battle of Lexington - After aiding in driving the British back to Boston I returned as did others to Newton and to my usual occupation.
In the expedition to the bay and river of Penobscot I enlisted as a volunteer in a company of Marines under Capt. Melch. Lieut. Hamilton was second officer in said company - We sailed out of Boston harbour on board the Frigate Warren under Commodore Saltonstall for the Penobscot - The British forces were stationed at or near where the town of Castine is now in the state of Maine is now situated. We were ordered to then storm the British works. in the performance of this duty my company lost the Captain, Lieutenant, and all the men, except eighteen. I was personally engaged in this action. The vessels of the expedition were blockaded by the British and finally burnt with all our effects and all the papers - We returned by land after an absence of about six months when I was regularly discharged. I have forgotten what were the terms of enlistment as to time and in what year the expedition sailed - I think it was in the Spring of the year that I was absent about six months.
When the British army evacuated Boston I was again engaged

in the service of my country in a company of militia in the regi- ment commanded by Col. Hammond - We were stationed on Dorchester heights near Boston to assist in making the intrenchments there formed. After the British left Boston I helped to finish the intrenchments on said heights and then worked on the fort on Castle Island in Boston harbour I was engaged in these services about two months
In the year Cornwallis was taken I enlisted for three months in Capt. Gages company, Col. Webb's regiment. At the time of my enlist- ment, Capt. Gages company was stationed at West Point in the state of New York as I was told and was ordered to join his company at that place - but when I arrived at West Point Capt. Gages company had gone to New York and I was ordered to join the company at the York lines where the army was stationed to blockade the British in New York. At the end of four months I was regularly discharged.
At the time the British General Prescott was taken by Col. at Newport Barton, I lived in Providence, State of Rhode Island - I enlisted for four or six months - I have forgotten which, in Capt. Russell's company as a volunteer - I was stationed on the main land opposite the British army there in Newport - I served out my term of enlistment and was regularly discharged - My discharges, if I ever had any, are all lost - I know of no documentary evidence which I can procure as to the services performed by me, nor do I know of any individual, now alive, who served with me who can testify as to my services as above stated.
John Hastings
Mid Sp: Statement annexed sworn to
J. P. Day Prob

9607 John Hastings
Print 15 Month
5. 416 ob
May 8 1833
P. 386
J. Fiske Esq East Cambridge Mass

BRIEF in the case of  John Hastings  County of Middlesex  in the State of  Massachusetts  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy 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.     Volunteer In 17 about 6. As a private of Marines Gen. Capt Welch }   enlisted in the year Cornwallis was taken. about 2 Col Hammond   at the time Gen Brepoit was taken - enlisted. 4 private Capt Gage   4, or 6 months " " " Col Webb   Capt Russell  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Lexington, near town of Coastine.  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Newton. Mass - last enlistment Providence, Rhode Island  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers are improperly attached 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Jnos Watson
Examining Clerk.
20th Feby 1833

P
18432
INVALID.
File No. 18432
John Hastings
Pre Rev War
Act: June 7" 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 166
[Arrangement of 1870.]

9607 John Hastings
The occupant are entitled to the application again proceeded — I Fisher
Grace Fisher Esq. East Cambridge Mass
Winton
1005

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Hastings 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? no 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? no 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? yes
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? yes
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? yes
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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
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?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no
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, 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 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.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within and for the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of said John Hastings of Newton in said county 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 grade below named. In the expedition to the River and Bay of Penobscot named in my declaration made before the Judge of Probate for said county of Middlesex August 22 d 1833 and forwarded to the Department of war and there numbered 9607 I served as a private for the term of six months. On Dorchester heights and Castle Island as named in my said declaration I served as a private for two months. At West Point and the York lines as named in my said declaration I served as a private three months. At or near Newport in the state of Rhode Island as named in my said declaration I served as a private for four months - making making in the whole one year and three months during all which time I served as a private and for such service I claim a pension.
John Hastings
Sworn to this thirtieth day of May A.D. 1833 before me
Amos Root } Justice of the Peace

This may certify that Mr. John Hastings of Newton son of Samuel & Hepzibeth Hastings was born July 28. 1756 as appears by the Records of said Town.
E. F. Woodward Town Clerk
Newton 6 th August 1832.

I Jonathan Bonner of lawful age testify to day - That Mr John Hastings, aged 76, the son of Mr Samuel & Mrs Rebekah Hastings, the latter a Member (Communicant) of my Church, First Church in Newton, was in early life a Member of my religious Society, & that I have been in habits of intimacy with him for about Fifty years - I have often & from early years heard him speak of his services & sufferings connected with the Expedition to Pondicherry. Which failed & terminated in the capture or burning of all the American vessels of war on the occasion - John Dester Williams Esq my Uncle, was Commander of the Brig Hazard of sixteen Guns, (one of three vessels of war) & had previously conquered & taken in the W. Indies a British vessel of war of force superior to himself - Thus, by my relation & intimacy with him, I was familiarly acquainted with the leading circumstances of the Expedition from its beginning to its close - That Mr Hastings has related his sufferings & exposures on the occasion & the final burning of his Ship, the vessel  the frigate with the Hazard & other Ships, & all the clothes & property which he had on board the frigate Warren - & that his sufferings & dangers, by having, for about six days without regular food or suitable places of repose in the retreat to the sea coast all agree with the known circumstances of the expedition - & that with the statements & history of Capt Williams, who was his companion on the Retreat - Mr Hastings is a man of the strictest veracity, is the son of a very respectable family, one of which was Dr Aaron Hastings, afterward of Vermont, a Member of Harvard College & at the same time with myself J. Thompson, Jonathan Hemen, First Pastor of First Church, Newton gave this my Statement, adding that his Statements have always agreed with each other, whenever he has spoken to me

on the subject
Jonathan Homer
Middlesex ss. Personally appeared Jonathan Homer who is well known to me as a man of credit, & made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affida- vit by him subscribed before me
J. M. Fay Atty at Law

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Hastings, John GRADE Private LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 9591 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED June 24 1793 to Francis Kirkpatrick assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.