Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29916, Ebenezer Humphrey, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Humphrey, Ebenezer
S 29916
CONTENTS

1511. Massachusetts
Oberzer Humphrey of Oxford in the State of Massachusetts who was a Lieut. Col. the Col. commanded by Captain Lumb of the Regt. commanded by Col. Holman in the Massch (1) line for 7 Mo: & 26 days a Lieut. 21 days a Captain
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 106 Dollars 96 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of Nov. 1832 and sent to G. Holman
Arrears to 4th of Febr. 1832 $160.44 Pension, allowance ending 1 Nov. 33 53.48 $ 213.92
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Issd June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo. C. Allen Clerk, Book D Vol. 2 Page 88

DECLARATION, in order to secure the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
COUNTY OF WORCESTER, ss.
ON this twenty fourth day of September in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court, before the Hon. Nathan Paine Judge of Probate now sitting, Ebenezer Humphrey a resident of Essex in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged ninety one 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 7th, 1832.
THAT he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
1. My first term of service in the war of the Revolution, was in the year 1776. I was then first Lieutenant of a company of the Worcester militia in service in company of forces in the Regiment commanded by Jonathan Holman, as by reference to my commission herewith annexed will appear. In the summer of 1776, orders came to our town to raise a certain number of men. I think about twenty. The men raised from Essex and the adjoining town of Charlton made up one company. Elijah Towne of said Charlton was our Capt. I was first Lieut. and Cummings of Charlton our second Lieut. Col. Collins of Milford commanded our Regiment, and Hance was our Major. We marched as early as the first of August 1776 (I know we had not done halting) and passed through Connecticut by the way of Hartford to those necks in N. York. We marched from those necks to Dobbs Ferry and from there to Tarrytown. We were not halting long at any one place. I recollect I was at Dobbs Ferry at the time of the Battle at White Plains, and I remember hearing the cannon when Fort Lee on my side was taken, we were discharged the latter part of December 1776 or for part of January it is impossible for me to say precisely when. I think our term of service must have been four months, and it might have been more, but I cannot say certain. 2. In the summer of 1777 orders came again to raise a company of militia and one was accordingly raised in the same town of Essex & Charlton. I told them it was not my turn to go again; But when I was at home, I did about as much as to support a man in the service, and I thought therefore that I might as well go myself. Accordingly again volunteered as first Lieut. under the same commission. Capt. Elijah Towne went with us again and Silvester Towne was second Lieut. We were in Col. Cushing's Regiment, and Hance was again our Major. We marched first to Bennington and from there to Saratoga and various other places in the vicinity thereof. I was not in the Battle at the taking of Burgoyne, though our Regiment came up before the surrender. After I got upon the gun I was walking out, and not knowing where the enemy lay, I went upon a small hill a little north of Saratoga, and in full view of a party of the British; I began to hear the balls whistle and one man shot at me from behind a tree who was not more than fifteen rods off. They did not hit me, and I walked back to my company. Our regiment was drawn up in a line when the British surrendered and marched out. I returned home in Dec. 1777.

...with us again and I became then a second Lieut. We were in Col. Cushing's Regiment, and Howe was again our Major. We marched first to Basingstoke and from there to Shurtonborough Parade and various other places in the vicinity thereof. I was not in the Battle of the taking of Basingstoke, though our Reg- iment came up before the surrender. After I got upon the ground I was walking out, and not knowing where the enemy lay, I went upon a small hill a little north of Shurtonborough, and came in full view of a party of the British. I began to hear the bells whistle and one man shot at me from behind a tree who was not more than fifteen rods off. They did not hit me, and I walked back to my company. Our regiment was drawn up in a line when the British surrendered and marched out. I returned home in December 1778, my time of service was three months twenty six days, as by the pay roll herewith are inserted all officers.
2. In July 1780, I was Captain of a company of Militia in Exeter, as will appear by my commission herewith annexed. One half of the Militia was then called upon for an alarm to march to Bokerly Dyke. There were then two companies of Militia in Exeter - out of these two companies we raised one & took the command of it. John Warner & Levi Davis were my Lieutenants and we marched for Bokerly Dyke be went to the town of Hinton in said State. The British were expected to come into Bristol - but they did not come and we were then dismissed after a service of three weeks, as near as I can recollect. We were in the Regiment of Col. Joseph Davis of Charlton.
Answers to Inquiries of Secretary of War
1 I was born in said town of Exeter, and my father was one of the thirty first settlers of that town. I was born June 22 A.D. 1748 2 My wife and the time of it, is recorded in the records of said town of Exeter 3 I lived in Exeter in the same house taken up by my father, where I now live, always been here, and always hope to live till I die in the house not made with hands. 4. When the order came, I always volunteered. 5 That is a hard question. I recollect my own officers as shown above stated, I also recollect Gen Lee at York. Gen Gates, Gen. Larmar, and a Colonel who ran away, I saw at the taking of Basingstoke. There were no Continen- tal troops at Hinton as I recollect. 6 Both and all the commissions under which I served are herewith annexed. 7 Jonathan Davis, Andrew Jennings, Abijah Davis and hope a good many others.

We Jonathan Davis a Clergyman residing in the town of Oxford and Andrew Sigourney residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ebenezer Humphrey who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be ninety one 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 concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Andrew Sigourney Ira Barton Justice of Peace Jon s Davis
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 mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that The Hon ble Jon s Davis who signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the Town of Oxford Co of Worcester and that Andrew Sigourney who has also signed the same is a resident in the Town of Oxford and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Nath l Paine Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester
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 in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty day of
Joseph Wheeler Register or Clerk of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Worcester in Massachusetts do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court aforesaid in the matter of the Application of Ebenezer Humphrey for a pension - and that Ira Barton before whom the annexed affidavits were made, is a Justice of the Peace in & for the said County of Worcester, in good credit, and that the signatures thereto purporting to be his, are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, this 3 rd day of October in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & thirty two Joseph Wheeler Reg r of said Court
Ebenezer Humphrey Joseph Wheeler

Timothy Sparkhams Depositor

Timothy Sparkhawk of Essex in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, being eighty years of age do hereby once say that I was a prisoner in the Company of Militia commanded by Elijah Lamb at the taking of Bennington.
Elmer Humphrey was my first Lieutenant, and he has would have been the time specified in the proposal he has submitted to me, and which Sun- durance he is to file in his application for a pension.
I further testify once say that, in the month of August or July 1780, I turned out upon an alarm with the Company of Militia then commanded by said Humphrey, and marched with him to Kingston in the State of Rhode Island. He served there two or three weeks, I am not certain which. He was the Captain of a Company of Militia in said Essex — Timothy Sparkhawk
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex County ss. There personally appeared Tim- othy Sparkhawk before me, and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true. I further certify that said Sparkhawk is a man of truth
See Boston Post Press

Jason Collins Defender

I Jason Colton of Exeter in the County of New Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being eighty eight years of age, do hereby annunciate, that about the first of August A.D. 1776 (I recollect it was before we had done keeping) I went into the service of the Revolutionary War, in the Company of the Massachusetts militia, commanded by Elijah Lamb in Col. Cummings Regiment. I went to these places in the first place, and was successively stationed at Dobbs Ferry, Tarrytown & other places in the neighborhood of New York till the expiration of an term of service which was in December 1776. I recollect there was some on the ground when we returned home, and I think this service was always called the for months service .
Ebenezer Humphrey was one of those of service Exeter, was my first Lieutenant, and his term of service commenced and terminated with mine as officers. He was a brave officer & served his full term, being as I before stated about four months .
I was also in the service under said Humphrey, taking Burgoyne; I then (1777) served under him about four months; was dismissed by his pay roll his term of service was three

months being six days, ending about the first of December 1877.
Jason Collier
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Washington D.C. Aug. 27. 1882 Then personally appeared Jason Collier before me, known to me to be the person described in his subscription to the foregoing affidavit and acknowledged that he executed the same for the purposes and consideration therein expressed.
Notary Public J. M. B. [unclear]

Record Division.
October 2, 1911.
Mr. J. Moffitt, 13 Spring Street, Southbridge, Mass.
Sir:
In reply to your letter dated the 25" and received the 26" ultimo, you are advised that from the papers in claim Sur. File No. 29,918, Rev. War, it appears that Ebenezer Humphrey was allowed pension on an application executed September 24, 1838, while a resident of Oxford, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
He was born June 23, (O.S.) 1741, in Oxford, Massachusetts, his father having been one of the first settlers of that town, and lived there at the time of enlistment.
He was commissioned April 4, 1776, First Lieut. in Captain Jeremiah Kingsbury's first company, Colonel Jonathan Holman's fifth regiment, Worcester County, Massachusetts militia, and September 25, 1778, Captain of the same company and regiment, and was called out as follows:
August 1, 1776, as First Lieutenant under Captain Abijah Lamb and Colonel Converse and served 4 months.
Summer of 1777, as First Lieutenant under Captain Abijah Lamb and Colonel Cushing; 3 months and 26 days.
July, 1780, as Captain under Colonel Jacob Davis; 3 weeks.
Soldier died June 20, 1830.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Ebenezer Humphrey
S.F. 29916
A pay roll of capt. Abijah Lamb's co. led. Cushing's regt. Mass. troops
has been removed from this claim to be forwarded to the War Dept.
D.G.
Oct. 19, 1910
Sent to War Dept.
Jan'y 16, 1913.

29916 INVALID. Ray
File No. 29,916
Ebenezer Humphrey Lieut Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1821
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 198
[Arrangement of 1870.]

OPTICAL TOOLS AND DIES OF ALL KINDS
13 SPRING STREET
SOUTHRIDGE, MASS., Sep 25 1901
Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions
Gentlemen
I want to get the record of Ebenezer Humphrey born June 22, 1741 First Lieutenant Cap Abijah Lamb Co Chris Dobs Ferry Saratoga and North Castle N.Y. 1776 Engaged Aug. 13, 1777, Dis Nov 29, 1777
Thanking you in advance I remain J. Moffitt

STATE of MASSACHUSETTS-BAY. }
The Major Part of the COUNCIL of Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England.
To Ebenezer Mumphrey . . . Gentleman . . . Greeting.
YOU being appointed Captain of the first Company in the Fifth Regiment of Militia in the County of Worcester, whereof Jonathan Holman Esq. is Colonel.
By Virtue of the Power vested in us, WE do by these Presents, (reposing special Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct,) Commission you accord- ingly.—You are therefore carefully and distantly to discharge the Duty of a Captain in leading, ordering, and exercising said Company in Arms, both Inferior Officers and Soldiers; and to keep them in good Order and Discipline: And they are hereby commanded to obey you as their Captain: and you are yourself, to observe and follow such Orders and Instructions as shall from Time to Time receive from
the Major Part of the Council or their Superior Officers.
G I V E N under our Hands, and Seal of the said State, at Boston the 25th Day of September in the Year of our LORD, 1778.
By the Command of the Major Part of the Council.
John Adams
Isaac Phips Nicholas Ward William Moses Gill
John H. D. Gardner Benjamin D. D. D. D. D. D. D. D.
Samuel D. D. D. Samuel D. D. D. Oliver D. D. D. D. D. D. Josiah D. D. Joseph D. D. D. D.

Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay.
The Major Part of the COUNCIL of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England,
To Messrs Humphrey Gentlemen, Sirs,
James Old Barnesleaf Callum Bishop G. H. G. Smith John Wheatcomb D. S. Taylor C. E. Po S. H. M.
Lincoln Russell B. Harley White Chauncy Taylor
GIVEN under our Hands and the Seal of the said Colony, at Hartford the Seventh Day of April in the Sixteenth Year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the Third , Anno Domini, 1776.
By the Command of the Major Part of the Council.
Dear Morton Sears