Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33270, Alexander Gunn, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Nav.
Gunn, Alexander
S. 33270
CONTENTS

19,037.
Massachusetts.
Alexander Gunn
of Sheffield in the state of Massachusetts who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Woodbridge of the regiment commanded by Colonel Greaton in the Massachusetts line, for the term of one year.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 27 th of June 1823.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 th of July 1823 and sent to R. F. Barnard, Esq r . Sheffield, Berkshire, Mass.
Arrears to 4th of
  Semi anl. all'ce ending 4 Sep r 1823  } 18. 12    2 mos. 8 3/30     $ 18. 12  
{ Revolutionary claim, Acts March 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820, &c. March 1823.
Agent directed to pay this pension from 4 March 1820 - See letter 29 Dec: 1823

Deposition of Deacon Stephen Callender
I Stephen Callender of Sheffield in the County of Berkshire testify and declare that I was well acquainted with Alexander Gunn of said Sheffield before he went into the Revolutionary army. In the Spring of the year 1783 I enlisted and joined the Army that day back of New Windsor. I then saw said Alexander Gunn who was then a soldier in the army and belonged to the Massachusetts Line of the Conti- nental Army. In the Summer after a part of the Massachusetts Line marched to Philadelphia and I then saw and knew said Alexander Gunn to belong to the Revolutionary Army and that he did a soldier's duty at that place, — In witness the Dependent saith not.
Stephen Callender
Berkshires.
Sheffield March 1 st 1820. Then
Personally appeared the above named Stephen Callender and made solemn Oath to the truth of the above Deposition.
Before me
Stephen Dewey Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that the above Deposition is a true and correct one and that full credit ought to be given to the above Deposition.
Stephen Dewey Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Berkshire ss:
I Joseph Woodbridge Clerk of the Inferior Courts within & for the County of Berkshire do certify & attest that Stephen Dewey Esq. is a justice of the peace within & for the same County duly commissioned & acting under the authority of this Commonwealth, and that the foregoing is his signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said County this ninth day of March A.D. 1820.
J. Woodbridge Clerk H H

Deacon Callender Deputy

Alwanda Farm
Mr. Woodbridge, will please to certify this aft. & forward it to me -

District of Middlesex
Berkshire
On this second day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty before the Subscribers personally appeared Alexander Farnsworth (fifty nine) years of age, resident in the Town of Sheffield in the County of Berkshire aforesaid in the District: who being first duly sworn according to law, cloth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the late act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States in the revolutionary war"; that he the said Alexander Farnsworth in Sheffield in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in a company commanded by Captain Woodbridge of the 3rd Regiment, commanded by Colonel John D. Deyon, raised by Col. Jackson, in the month of March A.D. 1782 - that he continued to serve in the same corps in the service of the United States until the month of November A.D. 1783 when he was discharged from the service at West Point in the State of New York, was in no battle during the time aforesaid. And that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his County for support. That he has no other evidence now in his power of his service, except the deposition annexed -
Sworn to the day & year above - Before me John Hosker -
Alexander Farnsworth
I John Hosker Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas in Mass ts do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Alexander Farnsworth did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding and that said applicant is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of assistance against the common enemy, and I now have sent the proceedings, and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the department of War pursuant to the direction of the above mentioned act of Congress -
John Hosker
I Joseph Woodbridge Clerk of said Court for the County of Berkshire do certify and attest that the above named John Hosker is Chief Justice of said Court, and that the foregoing is his signature - In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, the day and year first above mentioned -
Joseph Woodbridge Clerk

We the subscribers inhabitants of Sheffield city, that we are well acquainted with Alexander Lunn within named, & know him to be a very poor man, & for several years has been from bodily infirmity unable to perform hard labour, & has received his support in a great measure from the Town of Sheffield - we consider him a man
of truth -
March 2 nd 1840
Stephen D. Currey
Robert H. Barnard

Alexander Gurn
Declaration
On final set: cert. N o 2 Page 110.

Schedule
District of Massachusetts ss. Berkshire County ss.
Court of Common Pleas June Term 1823
In this twenty first day of June 1823 personally appeared in providing according to the course of the common law with a prior return made in point of amount open court being a court of record for the said county, Alexander Gunn, of Sheffield in the county of Berkshire, Commonwealth of Massachu- setts aged sixty two years, resident in Sheffield in said county, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows: he enlisted into the service, March A.D. 1752, in a company commanded by Capt. Woodbridge in the 3 d Regiment Mass s Line commanded by Col. Grayson, which regiment was afterwards commanded by Col. Jackson, that he continued to serve faithfully in that way until the month of December A.D. 1783 when he was honorably discharged at West Point in the State of New York, that he made his first application for the benefit of the law of March 13 th A.D. 1818 before the Hon. Judge Hooker in the month of April 1818 upon which declaration the war department did issue to me a pension cer- tificate bearing date the 23 d September 1818 & is numbered 2797 upon which he did receive his money on several different occasions until he was notified by the war department that he was struck off from the rolls, without being informed why he was so struck off.
And I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident Citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof with intent, thereby so to diminish it; as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons, engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me, nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule, hereto annexed, and by me subscribed—schedule of property, necessary clothing and bedding excepted—to wit: [
He has no real estate, nor has he any articles of personal property not excepted by the rule alluded to in the annexed sheet, he having been for some years unable by reason of bodily infirmity to labor for his support & wholly supported as a Pauper by the inhabitants of Sheffield he has no other occupation than that of a day-laborer, his family has been broken up for all the period he has been supported as a Pauper, & he has no children able to contribute to his support none that live with him Sworn to & declared on the 27 th day of June A.D. 1823 before me the 3 d Court Signed Alexander Gunn Cha s Sedgwick Clk.

I Cha d Sedgwick Clerk of the Courts for the County of Berkshire do hereby certify that the foregoing oath & declaration are truly copied from the Record of s d Court of Com. Pleas. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 2 nd day of July (A D 1823.
Cha d Sedgwick Clerk.

(a) The whole of the form prescribed in the first section, to verify the amount of property of the applicant, the oath of the party, and the certificate of the clerk excepted, must be done while the court is in session.
(b) All are courts of record, within the contemplation of the act of Congress,
1st. Which are expressly made courts of record by the laws of the state which create them;
2d. Which have been solemnly adjudged, by the tribunals of the several states, to be courts of record;
3d. Which proceed according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of their proceedings.
4th. Which have the power of fine and imprisonment;
And courts which proceed according to the course of the civil and canon law, having neither of those attributes, are not courts of record, although they may keep a registry of their proceedings, and possess a seal. The court should, in every instance, state, on the face of the proceedings, that it is a court of record, and state why it is such.—[ Opinion of the Attorney General of the United States. ]
(c) Here set forth the regiment, company, and line, or ship, corps, or vessel, and the date of the original declaration; and, if he has received a pension, the number of the pension certificate should be inserted.
(d) Here enumerate each article of real and personal estate, necessary clothing and bedding excepted, and subscribe the same. The declarant must also mention his occupation, his ability to pursue it, the number and names of his family residing with him, their ages, and their capacity to contribute to their support, in order that the department may be enabled to decide whether the applicant is in such indigent circumstances as to be entitled to the pension. It is the opinion of the Attorney General, that the words of the third section of the act of the 1st of May, 1820, "in such indigent circumstances as to be unable to support himself without the assistance of his country," comprehend those only who are incapable of supporting themselves without the aid of the government, except by private or public charity.

Alexander Tunn
Petition for Pension

To the Hon. ble Senate & House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled
Alexander Gurn of Sheffield in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, now supported in the poor house in Sheffield, humbly shews, that he was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, that he enlisted into the service in Sheffield into a Company commanded by Capt. Woodbridge in the 3 d Regiment Massachusetts line, commanded by Col. Payton, which Regiment was afterward commanded by Col. Jackson. That he continued to serve & to serve faithfully in that corps until the month of November A D 1783 - when he was honorably discharged at Westpoint in the State of New York - he further shews he made his application for the purpose of obtaining the provision made by the act of Congress, intitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war, passed March 18 th A D 1818. Before the Hon. John Nooker, Chief Justice of the late Circuit Court of Common Pleas, in the month of Sept. 1818 - upon which application, he did receive a pension certificate, & regularly drew his pension three successive times - in the fall or winter of 1819, he received a notice from the War Department, that he would no longer be intitled to the benefit of said County - In March 1820 your petitioner, again filed his affidavit before the Judge intending to present his claim before the War Department.

I he knows not that it was not presented, but he apprehends if it was, that the evidence in support of his claim, has not been fully weighed - he therefore, humbly prays, that his case may be taken into consideration, & if found within the provisions of the law upon it, that he may be permitted to draw the arrears of his pay, as he would have done & he usually believe, he ought to have done, had he not been struck from the rolls by the War Department as above stated - As in duty bound will ever pray -
Sheffield Feby. 3 rd 1823.
Alexander Gunn

Rec'd Aug. 20. 1829.
FREE
The Secy of the War Department
Pension Office
Washington

I John Hooker of Springfield Mass ts do testify & say that in the month of April AD 1818, being then Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, which had jurisdiction in the County of Berkshire at the request of some Gentlemen I went to Lenox Pittsfield & Stockbridge in the County of Berkshire, to receive the applications & declarations of soldiers who had served in the army of the United States in the revolutionary war to entitle them to pensions under the Law of Congress then lately passed - That a large number of applications were there made to me & that their declarations were generally made by counsel & in such form as was approved by them & by me in conformity to the Law of the United States, & to the opinion of the Secretary of the War department - That they were sworn to before me, my certificate annexed, & then by me enclosed & sent by mail to the War department - That in a small minute book, which is now before me, I made a memorandum of the names of all those whose papers then certified were enclosed & forwarded by me on the mail - That on that book I find the name of Alexander Gunn, as living in Berkshire County - & it appears by it that his papers were forwarded in May 1818 - That I afterwards made another book in which the names of all applicants were alphabetically arranged - & minutes made from time to time - of the issue of them - such as rejected - returned for further evidence - certificates granted - This was done for my own convenience, that I might readily answer any enquiries - On this book I find the name of Alexander Gunn and a minute that a certificate of a pension was issued to him - I have no particular recollection of the papers of Alex r Gunn - but from the above facts & minutes, I have the fullest confidence that he applied to me in April 1818 - That his declaration of service was then made on oath before me, and that it is impossible, that I should have annexed such a certificate as I then did to applications for pensions, had his paper included only an affidavit

to the service of some other person - for to my certificate of the oath he was added the certificate of the County Clerk that I was one of the Justices of the Court and I have not the least doubt but that his papers were made out and every thing done agreeable to law -
John Hooker
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Hampden ss. Be it remembered that on this fifteen th day of August AD 1823 personally appeared the above named John Hooker & made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him
Subscribed
Before me John Ingersoll Justice of the Peace and Clerk of the Court for the County of Hampden

St Edwards Esq
Springfield Aug 15 1823.
Sir, At the request of Mr Gumm I have made & now forward my Affidavit - He sent me a copy of your letter which may account for some parts of the Affidavit -
I am Sir respectfully, your most obedt servt, John Hooker
2 were

I Aaron Green of Danbury in the County of Fairfield State of Connecticut being duly sworn depose and say that I am well acquainted with Eleazar Green of Sheffield in the County of Berkshire & State of Massachusetts and know that he served as a soldier in the Army of the United States in the Revolutionary War in the years 1781 & 1782 in the Regiment commanded by Col. John Drayton in the Massachusetts line in Capt. Woodbridge's Company. I was myself in the same line during the years 1781 & 1782 in the second Regi- ment under Col. Houghton. The said Eleazar is my brother - and further say not. his Aaron X Green mark
I Joseph Dabney of Danbury in the County of Fairfield State of Connecticut being duly sworn depose and say that I am well acquainted with the afore named Eleazar Green of Sheffield and know that he served as a soldier in the Army of the United States in the Revolutionary War for the term of two or three years in the Third Regiment of the Massachusetts line commanded by Col. John Drayton being myself in the same Regiment but not in the same company with the said Eleazar - for several years, served in the years 1781 & 1782 to the best of my recollection & further say not. J. D. Dabney

State of Connecticut Fairfield County ss Dunbury Probate District February 19 th 1820
Personally came before me Daniel B. Beckm Judge of said Court of Probate Aaron Green & Joseph Peeples within named and made oath to the truth of the affidavits by them severally subscribed in my presence, being both personally known to me, and entitled to full faith and credit.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Probate District the day and date above
Daniel B. Beckm Judge

Affidavit
Moses Egleston
John Saquin

State of New York Columbia County
Personally appeared before me James Barton a Justice of the Peace in the City of Hudson & County aforesaid Moses Egleston, to me well known, and upon oath and deponeth and saith on oath that he knows that Alexander Gurn was a Soldier in the Revolutionary war in the year 1782 and was mustered in April or May of the same year at Springfield in the State of Massachusetts and marched to West Point State of New York - and this deponent further states to the best of his recollection was in the 2 nd Regt. Massachussetts line - commanded by Colonel Graton, and that he was acquainted with him in the Army about one year and a half and has been acquainted with him the said Alexander Gurn up to the present date — and further saith
Not —
Sworn & Subscribed before me this 30 th day of January 1823
Moses Egleston
James Barton Just Peace

State of New York Columbia County
Personally appeared before me James Barton a Justice of the Peace in the City of Hudson & County aforesaid John Jaggins, to me well known and upon oath deponeth & saith that he was acquainted with Alexander Gunn in the Revolutionary Army at West Point in the year 1782 and 1783. When the Regiment to which the said John Jaggins belonged to was marched off - and that he was acquainted with him before he entered the service and since - and further this deponent saith not
Sworn & Subscribed to
this 30 th day of January 1823
John Jaggins
James Barton Just Peace

At: Fann's Certificate
Payable on the 4 th of March, and 4 th of Sept r . in each year, at the Branch Bank of the United States, Boston, Massachusetts.
Recorded.

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I CERTIFY, That in conformity with the Law of the UNITED STATES, of the 18 th of March, 1818, Alexander Gunn, _____ # _____ late a private _____ in the Massachusetts line of the revolutionary army, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eight, _____ # _____ dollars, _____ # _____ cents per month, to commence on the thirty first day of August, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
GIVEN at the WAR OFFICE of the UNITED STATES, this twenty third day of September, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. —
J. C. Calhoun Secretary of War.

Dear Edna...
I want all the information in the office relating to the...

Hon. J. B. Calhoun Secy of War
Sir
I have this morning learned that Alexander Parris new declaration has been forwarded to your Department by Mr. Sedgwick. I intended to have accompanied it with the enclosed papers - As I have always had the agency of this application - & as upon the enclose these papers, together with Judge Hooker's certificate are requested & directed to be returned to you. Therefore I embrace the first opportunity after the notice of the declaration being forwarded, to forward them also - Upon Parris original application will be found - Judge Hooker's certificate I apprehend - That, is now in your office, as Parris has once rec d his pension upon formal application before Judge Hooker - As I am myself convinced that Parris (if any man) is intitled to a pension under the law of 1818. if you should deem Judge Hooker's further certificate absolutely necessary I will procure it, & should now have sent it but learning that the new declaration had gone on, I have thought best not to delay the other papers for the procurement of that, as some time will necessarily be taken to get it - I am sensible in requesting an answer from your

Recd. 17 July 1827.

Nov. 16. Calhoun Secy of War
Sir
I have this morning learned that Alexander P. Sumner's new declaration has been forwarded to your Department by the Adjutant General. I intended to have accompanied it with the enclosed papers - As I have always had the agency of this application - & as upon the enclose these papers together with Judge Hooker's certificate are requested & directed to be returned to you. Department , I embrace the first opportunity after the notice of the declaration being forwarded, to forward them also - Upon Sumner's original application with his papers - Judge Hooker's certificate is apprehended - That, is now in your office, as Sumner has once rec d . his pension upon formal application before Judge Hooker - As I am myself convinced that Sumner (if any man) is intitled to a pension under the law of 1818, if you should deem Judge Hooker's further certificate absolutely necessary I will procure it, & should now have sent it but learning that the new declaration had gone on, I have thought best not to delay the other papers for the procurement of that, as some time will necessarily be taken to get it - I am sensible in requesting an answer from your

Department on the subject of this application, is directly opposed to rules, yet, as this is the last application probably of a poor old man now supported by this town - could you kindly suggest what further evidence is necessary - (if any) you will confer a lasting favor upon him & a respectable portion of your fellow citizens -
I am Sir with sentiments of the highest
respect & consideration
Your hum d . serv t
R. D. Burnham
Sheffield July 12 1823.

Documents authorising Gunn's pension to be paid from the 4 th of March 1820 to 25 July 1823 —

Mr. Edwards
Dear Sir
The circumstances that Alexander Green did not make his Schedule under the Law of 1826. was owing to advice from me that as he was struck off before that Law - and on account of his being put on by mistake - the making of a schedule would be of no service until he should be restored —
Yr. obed. Servt J. H. C. Drigham -

Sheffield Feb. 4.      76
Gen. H. W. Dwight
Member of the House of Reps.
Washington

Hon. H. W. Dwight
At the request of our old revolutionary friend Alexander Green, I enclose you his petition, & other papers which may be necessary to support his application. I say support, for knowing Green, I believe him entitled to the pension. I beg your attention to the subject, altho' it will be late in the Session - he is poor, & lame - I can render you no other recompence, than his good wish & service -
I am Sir,
With respect
Yours &c.
P. S. Brannan
July 3 1823 -

Shufeldt Aug. 23 - free
To the Hon. John C. Calhoun
Sec. of War
Washington
via Hartford
rec d Aug. 28. 1823. am d 10 Sept. 1823.

To the Hon. S. C. Calhoun Secy. of War
Sir
I speak of a poor, honest fellow citizen I presume I shall not be deemed obtrusive in addressing you once more - Having been the agent of Alexander Dunn, I would acknowledge the recit of his pension certificate granted upon his application in June last, to commence then - At the time this declaration was made, I intended before it was forwarded to your Department, to have procured Judge Hooker & Col. Dwight's certificate, & with those papers, to have forwarded at the same time, some others, which you have no doubt now received from me, & which were laid before Congress last winter upon Dunn's petition - but thro' my carelessness this arrangement has been interrupted, & you have not had a free view of the subject yet - I trust however you will not be inclined to do ample justice to the old man, who feels aggrieved by the present decision of his case - Laho, in conformity with the intimation contained in a communication addressed to him from your Department, dated July 12 th signed by J. S. Edwards was attempting to bring himself, or rather his claim, within a clause of that communication, as far as his feeble resources would permit - The claim alluded to is as follows. - "If however you did make a declaration according to law in April 1818, the claim will be allowed, and the pension made to commence at the time when last paid - Judge Hooker, affida vit as to the date of the declaration will be required - He should swear "also that it was made agreeable to law - without such testimony

"the pension can only commence at the date of the last mentioned de- -claration" - In conformity with this suggestion, I applied to Col. Dwight, & showed his certificate which I now enclose, & immediately wrote Judge Hooker for his affidavit. Last evng. I received the Judge's letter informing me that he had made & forwarded to you Department his affidavit in Gen. favor - Then, will satisfy you I doubt not, of the perfect truth of the old man's declaration, that he did apply to Judge Hooker in Apr. 1818 - & then I again repeat I intend & should have been laid before you before the certificate was granted. Does not the evidence now offered support Gen. statement that he made his first declaration in Apr. 1818? Does he not bring himself completely within the provision of the extract, from your communication of July 12 th above given? If so - can the government refuse to grant the arrearage of his pension? I trust not - I could add nothing to the weight of evidence which my friend Col. Dwight, & Judge Hooker have given - but having always been acquainted with Gen. & having drafted his original affidavit, & knowing that he left my office on the morning of the day on which Judge Hooker was to be at Stockbridge in 1818, professedly for this object alone - I can have no doubt he did make his application then - Col. Dwight is under the im-

Inasmuch as you see, that, Penn was struck from the Rolls, by the operation of the Law of 1820. He does not know the reason, the true reason offered in your communication before alluded to. That, he was put on, as your Department supposed there mistake in the first place - Should you find ground to alter your decision on this subject - perhaps the certificate had better be returned to your Dept. & a new one granted to take effect when he has received his pay - Be pleased to make your communication to me if any should be made -
I am Sir, with very high respect your obed t & know d serv t
Sheffield Parkhurst Co. August 22 d 1823
Robert F. Bannard

Hon. J. C. Calhoun -

To the Hon. J. C. Calhoun
I certify that I have been acquainted with Alexander Green of Sheffield in the County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts for several years. that on the 28 th April 1828 he made his application for a pension at my office before John Stockbridge then an Assistant Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Western Circuit of this State —
His Papers were then forwarded to the war department and his pension was granted him. until by the Law of 1820. he was stricken off the list It is to my knowledge in indigent circumstances and in need of the assistance of his Country — Stockbridge Aug t 1. 1822 Henry W. Dwight

Allow Alexander Gunn's pension to be continued as if made prior to the act of 1 st of March 1823
J. G. G.

33 270 Rev INVALID.
File No. 33,270
Alexander Gunn
Rev Rev War
Act: 18 th March 1818 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 498
[Arrangement of 1870.]

2797.
Massachusetts -
Connecticut 4
Alexander Gurn, private
Massachusetts line -
on first set: Genl. W. 2. p 110
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War. March 5. 1823
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut - at the rate of 8 - Dollars per month, to commence on the 31 st of August, 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 of Sept. 1818 and sent to the care of Robert Barnard Esq; Sheffield, Berkshire Co. Mass.
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818 $: 1. 32 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4, March, 1819. } 48 - $: 49. 32.
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Draft from the Review List 18 Oct. 1819
Allowed from the 31 st August 1818.
20.6