Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,856, David Hastings, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Hastings, David
S. 29,856
CONTENTS

8072
Massachusetts
David Hastings
of Lunenburg in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Pope of the Guys commanded by Col Barker in the Guys une for 6 Guys 5 Days
Mul
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 20 Dollars 55. Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 th day of Mar 1833, and due same Dana Station present
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $41.10 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept " 10.27
$57.37
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H  Blain Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 2 Page 31 .
83
Worcester

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Worcester
ss.
On this ninth
day of October 1832
Probate
personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas , now sitting at Worcester within and for the County of Worcester in the Commonwealth
before Solomon Strong , one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts David Hastings aged eighty one years
Who being 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That is to say
1 That he enlisted in the month of February AD 1776 to serve at Dorchester in Massachusetts two months in the company of Capt. John Dighton  John Dighton of Leinenburg  Leinenburg in Col. Carter  Carter .
Regiment, that he marched to Dorchester and was encamped near the heights where he served two months and was dismissed.
2 That in the AD 1778 he enlisted for six months to guard stores at Springfield in Massachusetts in the company of Capt. Morgan Lieut. Miles and he does not remember that any Field Officer was there, or that his company was attached to any Regiment, but he well recollects that he did duty on guard for six months, when he was dismissed and returned to his home in Leinenburg. — I have no documentary evidence of my service at either time, and I cannot prove the testimony of any witness, who was with me at the time of said service.
He

He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity, whatever except, the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll, of the agency of any State,
subscribed the day and year aforesaid in presence of Sargt. Halman of Lunenburg Co.
The signature of David Hastings David Hastings.
James Dana. do We Ebenezer Hubbard a Clergyman residing in the town of Lunenburg in the county of Worcester and Edmund Cushing of the same Leenenburg hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Hastings who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be 81 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid,
Ebenezer Hubbard Edmund Cushing
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that after the investigation of the matter, and 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 who has signed the preceding Certificates is a Clergyman 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. I office this day of in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester County ss.
On this ninth day of October 1832. personally appeared Ebenezer Hubbard, and Edmund Cushing the signers to the above certificate, and made solemn oath to the truth of the same, before me.
Solomon Strong Judge C. C. Pleas.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester to wit,
At the Court of begin and holden at Worcester within and for the County of Worcester on the ninth day of October , A. D. 1832. On the application of David Hastings claiming to be a Soldier of the Revolution, the following Interrogatories were propounded to him :
1. Where, and in what year were you born ? Answer, I was born in Leinenbergs on the 11 of April AD 1757.
2. Have you any record of your age, and where is it ? Answer, I have no family record, but there is a record of my age on Leinenbergs records -
3. Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live ? Answer, I was living in Leinenbergs when I was always have, and now live 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 ? Answer, I was drafted for 6 months, and enlisted for 6 months.
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 service?
Answer, I saw Capt. Morgan and Col. Miles of the army 6 did you ever receive any written discharge from service. Ans. I never received any such discharge.
6. 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?
Answer, The Rev. Eben Hubbard, Hon. Edw. B. Cushing, Col. W. H. Harrington Capt. Samuel Colman, and Col. Abner Dyer, all of said Leinenbergs. Impressions Samuel Holman of Leinenbergs The signature of David Hastings , Sam. Dana  Daniel Hastings. James Dana } Horton Ms.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester County ss.
I the subscriber, one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the same being a court of Record, having a Clerk, and seal do hereby certify that, on the ninth day of Oct October 1832. I proceeded to the dwelling House of the within named David Hastings in Lunenburg to take his examination for the purpose of procuring a pension.
The said David Hastings by reason of age and bodily infirmity is unable to attend court. The said David Hastings from bodily infirmity was unable to write his name. I, by his direction, at his request and his presence wrote his name to the within declaration and the answers to the interrogatories. The said David Hastings made solemn oath to the truth of the said declaration and the answers to the interrogatories before me. All the interrogatories and answers were made as they now appear, before the same were signed and before the oath was administered.
No. 1. Declaration of David Hastings This case confirmed Nov. 1.
25 And I do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after hearing the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And I do further certify that it appears to me that Ebenezer Hubbard who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in said town of Lunenburg, and that Edmund Cushing who has also signed the same is a resident in said town of Lunenburg and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Solomon Strong Judge C.C. Pleas.

David Hastings
21.568
Private Over 5 days Adm'd
Sam l Dana Esq. Groton, Mass.

BRIEF in the case of David Hastings of Lunenburg in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? A Judge  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? It does so appear  3. How old is he? Eighty one 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.     In Febry In 1776 - - - 2 private Col: Carter Capt: Pope   1778 - - - 1 4 5 private Capt: Morgan does not recollect the Field officers  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None Named  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? In Lunenburg, Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence alone  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? correctly auth- enticated 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Examining Clerk.
The certificate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shows David Hastings in on the rolls of said Commonwealth

INVALID.
File No. 29,856
David Hastings Rev Mr
Act: June 1 st 82
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 171
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of David 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? 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? The Judge has 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? 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? yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
 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.

David Hastings.
Please to send to Sam. Dana Esq. Groton Ms.
21568

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester ss. I Abijah Bigelow, clerk of the court of common Pleas, of said Commonwealth, for the county of Worcester, do hereby certify, that the Hon. Solomon Strong, Esquire is one of the Justices of said court, and that his signature to the certificate in the matter of the application of David Hastings, for a Pension, which is hereunto annexed, and his signature to the certificate of the oath by him admin- istered to Rev. Hubbard and Edmund Cushing, are in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said court of common Pleas. this fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and thirty three.
Abijah Bigelow, Clerk.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Nov. 19 1832.
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 David Hastings is borne on a roll of the company of Capt. John Morgan, of Militia detached from the Counties of Hampshire and Worcester to guard the several stores and magazines at Springfield & Brookfield for the space of 4. months and 3. days from the 26 th of February to the 1 st July 1776—
I further certify that there is no roll of Capt. Pope's company, on which the name of David Hastings is borne, on file in this office—
Edward D. Bangs, Secy