Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,876, William Haskell, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Haskell William
S 15876
CONTENTS
carded

73 Gry
Massachusetts 15280
William Haskell
of Essex in the State of Mass ts
who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Warner of the _____ commanded by _____ in the Mass ts for 12 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 40 Dollars _____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th day of June '33 and sent Wm. Fernald Gloucester Mass:
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 - 80 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept " - 20 $100
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm. Miller Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 Page 32

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS: COUNTY OF ESSEX, ss.
On this thirteenth day of November A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the HONORABLE DANIEL APPLETON WHITE, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, now sitting, William Haskell , a resident of Gloucester , in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, aged 71 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 entered the service of the United States, with the following named officers, and served as herein stated:
That he entered the service as a private in the year 1777 for the term of one year in Capt. Nathaniel Warner's Company of Massachusetts militia, stationed at said Gloucester as Sea Coast guards and continued to serve until said year's service was expired, when he was discharged in 1778; but cannot remember what month; he recollects that most of his year's service was in the year 1778.
That he was born in Gloucester aforesaid on 20th of March, 1761 and his birth is recorded in the Town's records. That he resided in said Gloucester when he entered the service and has resided there ever since; and that he enlisted voluntarily in said Company. He has no documentary evidence as required by the War Department.
That Benjamin Clough will testify positively to his knowledge of the applicant's service in Capt. Nath. Warner's Company in 1777 and 1778; and that Rev. Hosea Hildreth, a Clergyman and Henry Phelps, Esquire, a Magistrate will testify their belief as to the applicant's Revolutionary services.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
William Haskell
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
D. H. Pierce
JUDGE OF PROBATE.
We, Hosea Hildreth a clergyman, residing in Gloucester aforesaid, and Henry Phelps Esquire, a magistrate, residing in Gloucester aforesaid, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Haskell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 71 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Hosea Hildreth
Henry Phelps.
Subscribed and sworn to before me by
Hosea Hildreth
D. H. Pierce
Judge of Probate
Hosea Hildreth was sworn before me, a Notary Public Witness my hand & Notarial Seal
William Ferson, Noty Public

19499
William Haskell -
Alan Bmo Eli H. H. -
By William Ferson Gloucester Mass

   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1777 / As a Gen. Capt. Nathaniel Warner -  
5. In what battles was he engaged?
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Gloucester Essex Co., Massachusetts
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witness & traditional evidence.
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
John L. Watson Examining Clerk.
1 st March

1896. new to Mass entered man
P
15846
INVALID.
File No. 15876
William Haskell
Pris Rev War
Act: June 7 " 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 164
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Mch 7, Soldier Pension Wm H Perkins, Gloucester
Mar 20 90 Sold service '77 etc. Wm H Perkins Gloucester 369 main st

O. W. & N. Div. L. W. B. I. 15876.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C. March 21st, 1896.
Sir:-
In returning herewith your letter of the 14th inst., you are advised that the pension papers in the case of William Haskell show that he entered the service in 1777 and served as a private in Capt. Nathaniel Warner's company of Mass. Militia, stationed at Gloucester. He was discharged in 1778.
Very respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.
Mr. William H. Perkins,
Gloucester, Mass.
369 & 371 Main St.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Haskell - 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
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? 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? 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? Living witness 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? yes 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? yes Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes 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? yes
 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.

William Haskell private - 1 years service
19499 v

I, Benjamin Clough, formerly of Gloucester, Massachusetts, now of Portland Maine, aged Sixty eight years, do testify and say, that in the years 1777-8. I served as a Drummer in Capt. Nathaniel Warner's company of Massachusetts Militia, and was stationed with said company at said Gloucester, where we served as Sea Coast guards for the term of one year - part of which service was performed in the year 1777. and part in the year 1778. the most of said years service being in 1778 - And I do further testify and say that I was well acquainted with William Haskell of said Gloucester, and that he served as a private soldier in said Warner's company during the whole term of said years service which I know and well remember - said company -
✓ Benjamin Clough
State of Maine
Cumberland County ss. On this thirtieth day of October one thousand eight hundred & thirty two, before me Joseph Pope, Notary Public, legally admitted & sworn and dwelling in Portland, in the County & State aforesaid, personally came Benjamin Clough, above named and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed. - And I do also testify that said Deponent is a credible & respectable witness,
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal, notarial the day & year last above written.
Joseph Pope, Noty Public

And the said Court hereby declares its opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that Hosea Hildreth who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman resident in Gloucester and that the said Ebenezer Phelps who has also signed the same is a Magistrate resident at Gloucester and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
D. H. Pierce Judge of Probate
I, NATHANIEL LORD Junior, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Haskell for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this thirteenth day of November , A. D. 1832.
C. Nathl. Lord Jr.