Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4500, Ichabod Ham, N.H. N.H. Sea Service

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
N. 16
Kam, Schabod
R. 4500
N. 16 sea service
CONTENTS

Ichabod Ham
23794

STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
COUNTY OF STRAFFORD ss.—
COURT OF Common Pleas.
January — TERM, 1832
On this Sixteenth day of January 1832, personally appeared before the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas now in session at Dover within and for said County of Strafford, Ichabod Ham a resident of Dover in said County of Strafford and State of New-Hampshire, aged Seventy two 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, 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States, in the year 1779
and served as follows: — He shipped on board of the Letter of Marque Ship Minerva Capt John Grimes commander, the last of the month of April 1779 and sailed from Portsmouth N.H. for one of the French West India Islands in company with the Ships Sally & Cadwallader, after being at sea we were attacked by a British armed Ship - and after a severe battle we captured her and carried her into Boston after repairing our Ship - again sailed on our voyage - on our passage we were captured by a British armed Ship and carried to Antigua where he remained a prisoner confined in Prison about Seven months, and was then taken to the Hospital to attend on the Sick where he remained for about two months, after which he succeeded in getting to St. Eustatia, from thence to Guadalupe & from thence obtained a passage to Newburyport where he arrived & immediately returned home where he arrived in June 1780 - he is not able to state the day of the month on which he entered on board said Ship or the day he returned home, and has no means of ascertaining - Timothy Roberts of Milton N.H. ship's for & went the same voyage. — In May 1781 He enlisted as a private and was placed under the command of Capt Joshua Woodman (do not remember Regiment) and marched to Bennington, Fort Edward & Fort George and was discharged at Bennington in November following and returned home after being absent five months & twenty days. In this term of service he entered at Dover together with Sd. Venzey, Robert Hearn, Benjamin Roberts, Peter Cook, Cordon Chesley, Joseph Swan & Wm Kelley for the term of six months, they were enlisted by Capt. Gales & placed under the command of said Capt. Joshua Woodman said William Kelley was promoted as a Lieutenant in said Company. — I do not know that either of the above named persons are living -
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.
Ichabod Ham
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, in open Court.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
ATTEST— A. Peirce, CLERK.
I, Andrew Peirce, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Ichabod Ham for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, this 16th day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
ATTEST— A. Peirce, CLERK.

No 23994 Ichabod Ham Strafford County New Hampshire
rec d from Mr. [illegible]
Rejected 18 July 1833
See letter to J. Gates, Lynn, Mass. Aug. 18. 1834
See let J Gates 23 Sept 1834
A. Peirce (Dover) N Hampshire
untranslated

BRIEF in the case of Ichabod Ham  County of Stafford in the State of New Hampshire  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 42 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. As a Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Enlisted at Ship? In 1779 on board the letter of marque Ship Minerva last of April about 1 - 1 - - Mariner Gen. Cap Grimes   Enlisted May 1781 about - 5 - 20 private Gen. Cap Woodman,  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? a fight at sea, none on land  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Dover Stafford County New Hampshire  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence & living witnesses there is no clergyman acquainted. 
Are the papers defective in form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? correct
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richd. Mayhew Examining Clerk.

Ex'r.
NAVY.
No.
4500
Acts of July 14, 1869, and March 3, 1873.
Schahod Ham.
REJECTED
Died at _____
other claim.
_____, 187____
Clerk.
Application filed: _____, 18____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
Ex'r.
Date.

Pension Office 12 Sept. 1834 Map.
file in regard paper date 23 Sept. 1834
Washington
Howdenbury et War Schubert James Hann Pension Map
75

Lynn 6 September 1834
Sir, I received yours of the 10 th ultimo, stating that the claim of Ishakod Glan was rejected on the 18 th July 1833. Mr Glan says that he enlisted for six months and served five months and twenty days when discharged at Fort Edward several hundred miles from his home, without money or friends, and was on his way more than two weeks before he arrived. He had to beg his subsistence upon the road, and at times his food was so scanty, that he was unable to make much progress.
In view the consideration of his case. I have supposed he would be in the service from the time of his marching on at the place of rendezvous to the time of his arrival home. And beside he says that one of his companions under the same circumstances has received his pension certificate. I presume the depositions did not state the place of discharge and the great distance home. I therefore request, that Mr Glan's papers may be returned to him or me at this place, that I may examine the same, and should he make a new application, the same papers unmutated shall be returned to your department.
Yours with due respect Hon Secy at War. S. G. Bates

Dover N. H. Feby 7. 1833
I enclose the application of Ichabod Ham a Marine Soldier of the Revolution for a pension, and also such evidence as he has been able to procure. - he requests an answer may be directed to me
Respectfully Yours
L. Pierce,
Hon Lewis Cass.
Secy of War

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Ichabod Ham 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? 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? No more acquainted
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? Yes
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? Witnesses
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?
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? 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? No
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.

Dover 10 Jany 1834
Dear Sir,
The Soldiers of the Revolutionary War consider you as an advocate in their cause in whom they can confide; and I believe they have cause to be grateful to you for your exertions in their behalf. - and it is in behalf of one who served in that struggle that gave us Liberty & Independence that I now trouble you - the enclosed from the Pension Office will lead you to his case, when his declaration was made it was expected that his service on board a Letter of Marque would be considered; but in that he is disappointed - Altho the service was severe being a great part of the time a Prisoner in a Foreign land - his other service as a Private he gave the time as near as he could recollect up to the time of his discharge - but he was discharged a great distance from home; had he stated it up to the time of his arriving at home it would have exceeded 6 M ts & he would have been entitled to pay He wishes you to examine his case (his papers are in the Pension Office) and see if he can not in some way be relieved - He is poor destitute & infirm and has to be assisted by the Town - and the Idea of being a Pauper does not sound pleasant to one who fought in the cause of Independence, especially when he sees so many rec d the Bounty of their Country where service was not more beneficial than that performed by him - I do not see why those who served on board of Private Armed Vessels should not be placed on the same footing as those on board of Public Armed Vessels - they were all fighting in the same cause & had the same object in view - & in part those in Private Armed Vessels ran the greater risk for if captured or did not make any Prizes they lost all, while those on board of

Public Vessels had their monthly pay - & in case of Prize had their share of addition - so that on the principle of Equity and Justice they should receive the aid of their Country. Will you have the goodness to attend to the application of this Poor Old man, altho I know you have much, very much to attend to & this is a small matter, yet to him it is every thing - and I have no doubt you will as cheerfully render him assistance as tho' he were worth thousands & the object in view much greater. The applicant is Ichabod Ham of Dover
And I have still one further request to make I have this day by direction of the Town forwarded to Mr. Bean a Memorial to Congress for an appropriation to remove the obstructions to the navigation in Corbeco River, the subject has been repeatedly before Congress - and at three several sessions has an appropriation for this object been inserted in some of the Bills before Congress but by some fatality they neither of them became a Law - and it is of great importance to this Section of the State that these obstructions be removed - There can not be any constitutional objections - the River is an Arm of the Sea where the tide flows & the State has granted Congress the right to make such improvements as they please - Your assistance in obtaining the aid required will be gratefully remembered by this Community - With sentiments of Respect & Esteem I am still your friend & O.A.H.
Hon. N. Hubbard
A. Prince

I Ichabod Harn depose and say in addition to my declaration made before the court of Common Pleas on the 16 day of January A.D. 1833 that I was born in Dover County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire on the 26th day of May A.D. 1760 that I have a record of my age on my father's Old Ledger, that I resided in said Dover at the time of my enlistment engagement in the service and have remained there ever since. I returned from the service, I was a volunteer. - I was a Marine on board the Minerva & a private in my second enlistment as stated in my said declaration. Samuel Kimball & Walter Sawyer Esqrs and all others in this town who know me and are acquainted with me will testify as to my character for veracity Ichabod Harn
Strafford ss Feb. 6-1833 Then personally appeared the above named Ichabod Harn and made oath to the above affidavit before me
Ezekiel Harn Justice Peace
I certify that the said Ichabod Harn stated to me that the Clergymen in this place were not acquainted with him, as they have resided here but a short time
Ezekiel Harn

We Ezekiel Hurd & James B Warney residing in Dover N. H. hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ichabod Ham who has subscribed & sworn to the within affidavit, - and we have also seen his declaration made before the Court of Common Pleas 16 th January - that we believe him to be 72 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and we have no doubt he performed the services named in his declaration
Ezekiel Hurd } Selectmen James B. Warney } of Dover
Stratford Jy Feby. 7-1833 Then the above named Ezekiel Hurd and James B Warney personally appeared and made oath that the above certificate by them subscribed is true.
Before me
Brackett Palmer Justice Peace

State of New Hampshire
Strasburg ss. 9
Andrew Peirce Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Strafford do certify, that Brackett Palmer Esquire before whom the annexed affidavit was taken is a Justice of the Peace for said County, and that Ezekiel Hurd & James B. Varney, Esquires whose names are affixed to said affidavit are Justices of the Peace for said County and Selectmen of said Town of Dover, and that their several signatures are genuine and also the signature of said Ezekiel Hurd Esq before whom Ichabod Hurd made affidavit as annexed.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this to day of February 1833.
A. Peirce, Clerk

I Timothy Roberts of Milton in the County of Stafford and State of New-Hampshire aged seventy three, do testify and say, that in the month of April or May A.D. 1779 as near as I can now recollect, I ship'd on board the Minerva a letter of mark in the war of the revolution, and that Ichabod Horn, now of Dover in said County of Stafford ship'd a boat the same time, soon after, the Minerva being man'd we sailed from Portsmouth in said state of New-Hampshire for a French Island in company with the ships Sally and Cadwaladog, and after having been at sea some days were chais'd chased by a British ship, she came up with us and a battle commenced which lasted about two hours, when said British vessel struck her colors, we then man'd the prize laid to and repaired the rigging which was cut and looserated very considerably, we then returned to Boston with said prize, and after making proper repairs we again sailed for the same port, but before we arriv'd to our destined port we were taken by a British ship and come into Antigua and put in prison, some time after Mr. Horn was taken from the prison to the Hospital, he remained at Antigua I think as much as six or seven months, from the hospital he got to a neutral port, & from thence to a French Island, as he informed me after I got home, I do further depose and say that I returned home to New-Hampshire in the month of June the next year after my shipment, and on my

return finding old shipmate, Nam, who I understood had been at home but a very short time; I do further depose and say that John Grimes was Captain of the sail Minerva John Haden & John Raines elected Lieutenants and Richard Melbree Boatswain Timothy Roberts
State of New Hampshire
Wofford Is, October 30th, 1832. Personally appeared the above named deponent Timothy Roberts who I know to be a credible witness and made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscri- bed is just and true before me
James Roberts Justice of the peace

I Nancy Gage of Dover in the County of Stratford and State of New Hampshire aged Sixty Seven do testify and say that in the month of April - 1779 as near as I can recollect my Brother Ichabod Ham left said Dover and did not return for more than a year after, and I always understood from him that immediately after he left Dover he shipped on board a Privateer, in Portsmouth, in said State and soon after, he sailed and was out but a short time before he was taken by the British and carried in to one of their ports and kept there six or eight months, and from thence he got from place to place until he arrived home;
I farther say that I have frequently heard my Brother Ichabod say that one Timothy Roberts of Otterton in said County shipped and sailed on board said Privateer at the same time Nancy her Gage Witness Ezekiel Heard mark
State of New Hampshire Stratford ss. January 10-1833 Then personally appeared the above named Nancy Gage who I believe to be a creditable witness and made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit by her subscribed is just and true before me
Ezekiel Heard Justice of the peace

State of New Hampshire
Stafford ss. I Andreas Peirce, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Stafford, do certify, that Ezekiel Hurd, before whom the within affidavit was taken & James Roberts Esq. before whom the annexed affidavit was taken, are Justices of the Peace for said County of Stafford, and the signatures purporting to be theirs I have no doubt are genuine —
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, this 16 th day of January A D 1833.
A Peirce, Clerk

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Ham, John GRADE Private LINE New Hampshire noted in book: "2 men of this name — one killed"
WARRANT NUMBER 3196 and 112-60-55 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Apr. 25, 1798 Ht. 3196 — to Daniel Gookin
*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.