Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4,176, Uriah Graffam, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Graffam, Uriah
P. 4,176
CONTENTS

Application for Court Nich Grafton's Declaration 7143.
See the deposition of Samuel Tabbett & John Durgin - & John Henderson -
Nich Grafton

State of Maine.
County of York, ss. On this twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two, personally appeared before the Court of Probate now sitting in the County of York Uriah Graffam a resident of Parsonsfield in the County of York and State of Maine, aged seventy nine 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 provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 9th D 1832. - That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year 1775 in May with Capt. Abraham Tyler and served in the Massachusetts Line  under the following named officers:  Abraham Tyler Captain
Edmund Fanny Colonel, Samuel March Lieutenant Colonel and Major Brown (whose Christian name I can't remember). I enlisted for eight months in Scarborough, County of Cumberland, Maine (then Massachusetts) in May 1775 - and my time expired in January 1776. At the time I left the Service, We marched immediately after hearing of the Battle of Bunker Hill, in June, from Scarborough to Cambridge Massachusetts where we were stationed all the time, between Prospect Hill & Fort No. 2 - We were not engaged in any Battle; our duties were principally building & preparing fortifications in that vicinity. I had no written evidence of a discharge - Afterwards in June 1777 I was hired by the Town of Rumford, & there enlisted to make three years which had been partly served out, my time was to extend to January 1 st 1780 - I went to Boston & there staid a short time & then we moved to White Plains New York - & thence we marched to Providence, & wintered the harshest winter at Pawtucket; then we were driven off from Rhode Island - & went to Boston Massachusetts, & shortly after started for Benezee so called, & in Wells Bay met a party & informed us of the defeat at Benezee, & we landed at Kittery
Point in Maine - in the County of York, & from Kittery went to Portland - staid there a fortnight & then moved back to

informed us of discharge at Providence, two weeks or more
Point in Maine - in the County of York. & from letter received to Portland - Staid there a fortnight & then moved back to Cambridge Massachusetts - & then to Castle Williams on an Island in Boston Harbour - Staid there a month or two - Then we started to go to Scituate - & we arrived at Danbury, in the Eastern part of New-York, or the Western part of Connecticut December 26 th or 27 th  1779 when my time was out, which was out January 1. 1780. I have no written evidence of any discharge, never heard any -
I was born in Scarborough in the State of Maine from which place I went to Berwick and from said Berwick I moved to Parsonsfield where I have resided for the last fourteen years I have no written record of my age & can get evidence of some of my services & shall forward depositions hereafter
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any Agency in any State Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Before Me. H. Hays Judge of Probate
And the Court aforesaid do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states -
I, William Cutter Allen, Register of the said Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Uriah Grafton - for a Pension -
In testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand & seal of office - this twentieth day of Aug. in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two -
Wm Cutter Allen, Register of Probate.

Amended Acceleration
Uriah Graffam
[Faint, mirrored cursive text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page]

Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a justice of the Peace, within and for the County of York, and State of Maine — Unah Grafton , who being duly sworn, deposeth & saith, that by reason of old age, and the consequen- tial loss of memory, he can not swear particularly as to all the circumstances of his Revolutionary Service — but that he would amend his declaration, made before the Hon. William A. Hays, Judge of Probate, within and for said County of York August 20 th 1832 — as follows to wit — I was born in Scarborough, Maine, October 12 th 1752 — and was eighty years old last October — I have no record of my age — I was living in Scarborough aforesaid — at the time of my entering the Service as in my said Declaration mentioned — The next year after I quit the Service, I moved to the Town of Buxton in the County of York, & State of Maine — and lived there about thirty years — and from said Buxton I removed to Parsonsfield, where I now reside — About my residence, since the Revolutionary War — I was mis- taken — in my first declaration (I had forgotten) —
I enlisted in May June 1795 — for eight months — and served my time out — as proved by the depo- sitory of Samuel Peabody & John Durgin — herewith to be forwarded — I enlisted in Scarborough aforesaid, then resided, in said Scarborough — & returned there after my time was out — See my first decla- ration for names of officers — description of service &c. &c.

Afterward, in June 1777, I was hired - by the Select- men of the Town of Berwick, Joseph Brine (vis. Major Brine and John Stappole) to serve from June 1777 - to the first day of January 1780 - They informed me that they were obliged to furnish a "quota" of men for three years - and that a part of that time was served out, when they hired me - I understood them that about five months of said three years had been served out when they hired me - I enlisted this last time in said Town of Berwick - but resided at that time in said Newborough - I served my time out from June 1777 to January 1 st 1780 - as a private soldier, making two years and seven months - I served at the par- ticular places mentioned in my declaration of service, and cannot now remember to describe those places more particularly - than I did in my said declaration, and would refer for proof, to the deposition of John Henderson herewith forwarded - said Henderson was with me in this last mentioned service -
I omitted to name my Officer - Regiment &c - but now state them according to the best of my recollection. I served in the Regiment commanded by Col Henry Locksman - I saw General Putnam when I was at Providence I also saw him at Fiskill - He was marching most of the time - Abner Hanson was our Sergeant Major - our adjutant's name was Thompson I think - My Captain's name was Hobbie, (our Lieutenant's name was Leland) - There were a number of Regiments with us on Rhode Island - but I can't remember the Colonel's names - While at Rhode Island we were

driven off to Providence - and also than under the command of General Sullivan - as I've been told; but I can't re- member certainly myself -
I never received any written discharge - and during both periods of service, I was a private soldier merely - I don't know of any person living by whom I can prove my second period of service - excepting John Frickason aforesaid, whose deposition I have copied to her taken -
Elder John Russell of Parsonsfield Mr. Rufus M c Intire - Member of Congress - James Edgcomb - Col. James Thomas - & Col. Simon J. Whittier - and many others, all of Parsonsfield in the County of York, aforesaid, are acquainted with me & can give evidence of my character & their belief of my revolutionary service -
State of Maine York ss. June 19 th 1838 Then personally appeared Uriah Groffaws - and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed
Before me Joseph Howard Justice of the Peace

7143 Uriah Graffam Maine
Deserca 5201/79 Lee's Reg t
Rejected 24 Sept 1863 vide letter to
Leah Howard 1872 June 20 for dty Comf ts by J D Wilson

415 P. O. Uriah Graffam Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: REJECTED , 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Con
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 1

I Samuel Tolbet of Eaton, in the County of Strafford, and State of New Hampshire, do hereby testify and say that I am in my eighty second year - shall be eighty two years old the twenty fourth day of December next if I shall so long live - I enlisted into the service of the United States, in Scarborough Maine - (then a part of Massachusetts) in May 1775, under Captain John Rice of said Scarborough, for eight months. Edmund Milliken of said Scarborough was our Second Lieutenant - and Silas Burbank of said Scarborough was our first Lieutenant - Colonel Edmund Finney of Gorham Maine, & Lieutenant Col. Samuel Moseb, of said Scarborough, and Major Brown, (whose Christian name I don't recollect) were the officers of our Regiment - My home was then in Scarborough when I enlisted - Our company marched to Cambridge Massachusetts immediately after the news of Bunker Hill Battle reached us - We were stationed at Cambridge the whole time - between Fort No. 2 and Prospect Hill -
I served my time out & was discharged at Cambridge - Col. Scammon & Patterson commanded Regiments which were stationed near us - Captains Abraham Tyler, Bracket - Bradish - Patridge - Stuart Merrill, Williams - Worthy & Noyes commanded other companies in our Regiment - Our company was commanded by Captain John Rice during the whole term.

Brigadier Generals Putnam, Heath and Lee, commanded at Cambridge - We were in Heath's Brigade -
I further state, that Ulrich Graffam then of Scarborough, and now of Parsonsfield, in the County of York & State of Maine, enlisted into the said  same  Regiment , about the same time; We marched about the same time to Cambridge together, together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together  together 
York Is. August 10 th 1832
Then Personally appeared Samuel Tabbets and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed
Before me Joseph Howard Justice of the Peace
York Is. July 17 th 1833
In addition to the above certificate, and in amendment addition thereto, I hereby certify that Samuel Tabbets above signing is a person of credibility
Joseph Howard Justice of the Peace

Deposition of Samuel Pettibone taken used in the ap- plication of Sarah Graffam for a pension

I John Durgin, of Gorham in the County of York and State of Maine - certify that the aforesaid Deposition of Samuel Tabbets has now been read to me - & that I know that all of the statements in the same are correct & true - I served with the said Tabbets - in the same Company - at the same time - & was well acquainted with Uriah Groffham of said - & know that he served in our Regiment in Captain Abraham Tyley's Company eight months in Cambridge of said - as stated by Samuel Tabbets in his deposition of said - John Durgin
York Js. August 10 th 1832 - When personally appeared John Durgin & made oath to the truth of the above certificate by him subscribed
Before me Joseph Howard Justice of the Peace
State of Maine.
YORK, SS.
I, WILLIAM CUTTER ALLEN, Register of Probate, for the County of York, hereby certify that Joseph Howard is a Justice of the Peace for said County of York , as above stated, and that the foregoing signature, purporting to be his, is  are genuine. annexed to the deposition of Samuel Tabbets & John Durgin.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official Seal, this twentieth day of August , in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.
Wm. Cutter Allen , Register of Probate.

I John Durgin, of Orono in the County of Penobscot and State of Maine - certify that the aforesaid Deposition of Samuel Tabbets, has now been read to me - & that I know that all of the statements in the same are correct & true - I served with the said Tabbets in the same Company - at the same time - & was well acquainted with Uriah Groffman aforesaid - & know that he served in our Regiment in Captain Abraham Tyler's company eight months in Cambridge aforesaid - as stated by Samuel Tabbets in his deposition aforesaid - John Durgin
York S.S. July 17 th 1833 - In addition to my certificate to the deposition of John Durgin of August 10 th 1832, and to which this certificate is annexed, I hereby certify that John Durgin aforesaid who signed said deposition is a person of credibility
Joseph Howland Justice of the Peace
I, WILLIAM CUTLER County of York, hereby certify that Joseph Howland is a Justice of the Peace for said County of YORK, as above stated, and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his, are genuine. annexed to the deposition of Samuel Tabbets & John Durgin.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official Seal, this twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.
Wm. Cutler Allen, Register of Probate.

71.43 Uriah Graffam
6. 11. 12. 14. 17
J Howard Lemaick (Mam)
144

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Uriah Graffam which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 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? 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? VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? See His Commanded Declaration No. He must state the regimental officers at his second term in order that his service may be traced. VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 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?

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?
{ See the Certificate annexed to the Declaration } No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
{ as above } No
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?
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? No
{ See the Justices Certificate annexed } Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
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?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
{ See annexed Application }
{ Subsequent }
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 the 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.
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 authenticated 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 end 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.

Limerick Me July 26. 1883 -
Hon. Lewis Cab Secy. at War -
Herewith I forward the application of Uriah Graffam for a pension - with additional testimony - certificates &c. Mr. Graffam's age, and loss of memory, consequent upon his age & infirmities - necessarily render his declaration somewhat imperfect - Still in the main he is corroborated by John Fenderson - That he was in the service as stated I think there can be no doubt. In fact the depositions of Fenderson, Tabbets and Durgin - herewith forwarded prove his service beyond a doubt - All is respectfully submitted
Joseph Howard

Uncle Graham
476
(R) 476 476
Wrong

War Department,
Pension Office,
June 25. 1821.
Sir, Enclosed, herewith you will receive letters of continuance for Nicholas Davis, William Hancock, and Isaac Townsend, and the opinion of the Attorney General in the case of John Phinney. The papers in the case of Thomas Cummings were enclosed to you Jan'y 19. 1820, for the Inages certificate of reduced circumstances, since when, it does not appear by our records, that they have been received at this Office. Inage Wedge's certificate in the case of Cummings, proving the date of his original application is herewith inclosed. Griah Goffan's claim is rejected. He deserted December 5th 1779. Agreeably to the regulations of the Department, his papers are retained in this Office. Thomas Delano's case will be acted on prior to the next semi-annual payment, and the result duly reported to you - very respectfully, Yr: Obt: Servt: J. L. Edwards
Hon.ble: E. Whitman,
Portland. Me

Signature
John Henderson
to be used in the appli- cation of —
Emil Goffman
for a Position

I, John Fenderson, of Parsonsfield in the County of York and State of Maine, depose, testify & say -
That I have, from childhood, been acquainted with Mr. Uriah Graffam now of Parsonsfield in the County of York aforesaid. In the month of June one thousand seven hundred & seventy eight I was in the service of the United States a soldier, at Cambridge in the State of Massachusetts - at that time the said Graffam was there in the service aforesaid - I know that Mr. Graffam was for a part of the time employed as a waggoner - Mr. Graffam was once, to my knowledge, so employed amongst thirteen waggoners loaded at Boston for Morristown. I attended amongst others as guard to said waggon, and marched from Boston and unloaded at said Morristown - From Morristown we were ordered to march & join the regiment in which we were enlisted - We met the regiment at White Plains in the State of New York - we marched thence to Rhode Island - we reached Rhode Island about the twentieth of Augt. - We were engaged there in battle in which Gen. Sullivan had the command, then retreated off to Providence; thence to Pawtucket; thence we went to Swansea; then to again to Providence again - We then had orders to march to Boston - From From Boston we sailed for Bagaduce then in the State of Mass - now Castine in the State of Maine - on our passage we met with a Packet that ordered us into the first harbor we could make - We made for Portsmouth harbor & landed at Ketty Point - marched thence to Portland thence to Boston - arrived at Castle William and laid there fourteen days - Then to Providence in R.I. We then had orders to march into N. Jersey - We marched from Providence to Danbury in Connecticut on our way - Mr. Graffam to my knowledge was with us as a soldier at Danbury - The time of our being at said Danbury was in Dec in the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy nine -
Attest Geo. Cole
John X Fenderson mark
York ss. August 20 th . A.D. 1852
Then personally appeared John Fenderson and made affirmation to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed Before me. Geo. Cole Justice of the Peace

Herb G. Cole
John X Henderson not.
Whereas by my cer- tificate to the deposition of John Henderson, dated August 20 th 1882 - and to which this certificate is annexed, I hereby certify, that the said John Henderson, who signed said deposition, is a credible person
Herb Cole Justice of the Peace
State of Maine.
YORK, SS.
I, WILLIAM CUTTER ALLEN, Register of Probate, for the County of York, hereby certify that Herb Cole, is a Justice of the Peace for said County of York as above stated, and that the foregoing signature, purporting to be his, is genuine.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official Seal, this twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.
Wm. Cutter Allen, Register of Probate.

We John Burzell, a Clergyman, residing in the Town of Parsonsfield, in the County of York, and State of Maine - and James Thomas residing in said Parsonsfield - hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Uriah Graffam, of said Parsonsfield, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, to which this is annexed - (which declaration, is taken, sworn to, and subscribed before, and certified by William A. Hayes Judge of Probate, within and for the County of York and State of Maine August 20 th 1832) that we believe him to be Eighty 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. John Burzell James Thomas
York Ss - State of Maine - Sworn and Subscribed July 17 th 1833 - Before Joseph Howard Justice of the Peace
State of Maine. York Ss. I Mr. Walter Allen, Register of the Court of Probate for said county, hereby certify that Joseph Howard is a Justice of the Peace for said county, and that the signatures purporting to be his to the deposition above and to the declaration of Uriah Graffam hereto annexed, are genuine. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal at Offield this twenty-third day of July, A.D. 1833.
Mr. Walter Allen, Register of Probate