Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17485, Thaddeus Howard, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Howard, Thaddeus
S 17485
buried
CONTENTS

15439
Massachusetts
Thaddeus Howard
of Plymouth in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Howard of the Regt. commanded by Col. Brann in the Mass line for 6 months Private 5 6 " Sergeant 3
Mid
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 50 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 th day of June 1833 1835 and sent J. H. Lord Plymouth Massachusetts
Arrears to the 4th of March 1835 $100.00 Semestral allowance ending Sept " 25.00 $125.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded By H. B. Adorn Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 Page 33
78 Plymouth

Thaddens Howard
22773

State of Massachusetts, } ss. County of Plymouth }
In this second day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two, personally appeared in open court, before the Hon. Wilkes Wood, the Judge of the Court of Probate, within & for the said county of Plymouth, now sitting, Thaddeus Howard, a resident of West Bridgewater, in the county of Plymouth, & State of Massachusetts, aged seventy six 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 under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
That, in the month of December, 1775, he enlisted for the term of three months as a soldier, in a company of State troops, stationed at Dorchester, in the county of Norfolk, & State of Massachusetts, under Ensign Elijah Howard, Lieut. Ephraim Bunn, Capt. Matthew Howard, & Col. Artemas Ward, (Gen. Washington being absent there,) that he served out said term of three months, & then returned home, in the month of March then next following.
That he, in the month of May or June, in the year, 1776, enlisted as a soldier, or Orderly Sergeant, for the term of six months, in a company of State.

troops, under Ensign Freeman Tabor, Lieut. Daniel Snow, Capt. Amasa Doper, Maj. Jonathan Garver, Lt. Col. Gamaliel Bradford, Col. Thomas Marshall, & Gen. Lincoln; that he first marched to a place then called Kantasket, now the town of Hull, in said county of Plymouth, & continued there a short time, & then removed to Castle Island in Boston harbor, now Fort Independence, where he served out the remainder of said term of six months, a part of the time as a private soldier, & a part of the time in the office of an Orderly Sergeant, & then returned home to said town of Bridgewater whence he started.
That he enlisted & served for the term of two or three months as a soldier, in a Company of State troops, which went to Rhode Island, commanded by Capt. John Ames; - all the other officers & soldiers, & the year in which that expedition took place, are now by him forgotten.
That he was out at several other times & places, as a soldier in the State troops, or militia, in the time of the revolutionary war, at what were called alarms, namely, at Fairhaven, in the county of Bristol, at Rhode Island, at Weymouth, in the county of Norfolk, & at Boston when the British troops went out of that place, but the length of time he was out at the last mentioned places, & who the officers & other soldiers were, he has now forgotten.
That when he entered the service he resided in the town of Bridgewater, in said county of Plymouth; was in no battle - & when he went from

from Nantasket to Castle Island as before stated, there had been a Regiment of Continental troops, under Col. Paul Dudley Sergeant, which Regiment left the Island the day he went upon it; - that he had no documentary evidence of any of the services before stated, & that he knows of no person now alive, except Beriah Howard Edward Howard, & Barnabas Lothrop (whose testimony is hereto annexed) who can testify as to his services.
That he was born in the said town of Bridgewater, in said county of Plymouth, on the 28 th day of February, 1756.
That he has no record of his age, but well remembers having seen one.
That he was living in said town of Bridgewater when he entered into the service of his country; that he has lived in the same town since the revolutionary war, & now lives in what was then the same town, but what is now called West Bridgewater.
That for the three terms of service first mentioned he enlisted or volunteered, but for the other terms of service he was drafted or compelled to march with the whole company to which he belonged.
That Col. Whitney commanded a Reg. of State troops on Castle Island, when he was there, but he can recollect no other officers, except those before mentioned.
That he never received any discharge from any of his services, but when the several terms of his engagements had expired he returned home.
That he is known to Jonas Hartwell, Abraham Leonard, & Abiel Packard, the Selectmen

of the town in which he now resides, who can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution, there being no clergyman now settled in said town of West Bridgewater.
Second to, & subscribed, the day & year aforesaid. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Second to, & subscribed, the day & year aforesaid.
Thaddeus Howard
Attest Jacob H. Lord Register
And now the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the said Thaddeus Howard was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states. & the Court further certifies that since the above declaration was made the annexed certificates of a Clergyman (who has recently moved into said town) & of other respectable citizens has been furnished & it is made to appear to the said Court that Rev. D. S. King is a Clergyman resident in said town of West Bridgewater & that Caleb Howland, B. B. Howard & Alfred Howard are also all highly respectable citizens of said town & that the statements signed by them are entitled to full credit.
By the Court Attest Jacob H. Lord Reg r
I Jacob H. Lord Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Plymouth do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Thaddeus Howard for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this eighteenth day of February A.D. 1833.
Jacob H. Lord

We, Dexter S. King, a clergyman, residing in the town of West Bridgewater, hereby certify that I am acquainted with Thaddeus Howard, who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration, & Caleb Howard residing in the same town of West Bridgewater, hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the said Thaddeus Howard, - that we believe him to be seventy six years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.
D. S. King Caleb Howard
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, } ss. County of Plymouth
February 12, 1833. Then the said Dexter S. King & Caleb Howard personally appeared & made a oath to the truth of the above certificate by them subscribed & I further certify that the said Dexter S. King is a clergyman, now resident (though recently) in the town of West Bridgewater; - & that the said Caleb Howard is a resident in the same town, & is a credible person, & that their statement is entitled to credit.
Austin Packard Justice of the Peace.

I Barnabas Lothrop of West Bridgewater, in the county of Plymouth, & commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy four years, do testify & say, that at some time between the month of December, 1775, & the month of March 1776, I was at Dorchester, in the county of Norfolk, & commonwealth aforesaid, & then & there saw Thaddeus Howard who has made the foregoing declaration, & who then & there appeared to be stationed as a soldier; & I do further testify & say, that I have no doubt of the truth & correctness of the statement made by the said Thaddeus Howard in the first part of the foregoing declaration respecting his service as a soldier in the company & for the term of time by him stated. Barnabas Lothrop
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. County of Plymouth ss. September 14, 1832.
Then the said Barnabas Lothrop personally appeared & made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed, before me, Austin Packard,
Justice of the peace. I further certify that the above named Barnabas Lothrop is a respectable citizen of West Bridgewater & a disinterested & credible witness, & that, in my opinion, the foregoing deposition by him subscribed & sworn to is entitled to full credit.
Austin Packard, Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss. Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Austin Packard Esq. is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & that his name subscrib- ed to these certificates is true & genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this eighteenth day of February A.D. 1833
J. H. Lord Reg.

We, Alfred Howard, residing in the town of West Bridgewater, in the county of Plymouth, & Benjamin B. Howard, residing in the same town, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Thaddeus Howard, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy six years of age; that he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion. Sworn & subscribed, the day & year aforesaid.
Alfred Howard Benj B Howard
Plymouth G. Court of Probate October 2, 1882
Sworn to & subscribed by the above named Alfred Howard & Benjamin B. Howard the day & year aforesaid they being credible persons in the opinion of said Court
Attest J. H. Lord Register

22773 Thaddeus Howard Mass
Augt 6 Mr Pnts 6 do
[Large stylized signature or mark]
J. H. G. [unclear] Plymouth Mass

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjunct notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Thaddeus Bonar Plymouth Co Mass
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Enlist 1775 — 3 — Priv Capt Howard Col Ward ~ Dorchester 76 (year)   + 1776 — 6 — Sergt Saper Soper Genl Washington ~ Mass Traditionary   ~ — 3 — Priv Quarterm Burns Genl Washington ~ Nantasket Bridge   Col Marshall ~ Castleton Water Living   ~ Rhode Island Mass McNeice  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d), with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) 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 of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a 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 of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now 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? 
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 services.
 6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?  { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. 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.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons - one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

P 17485 INVALID.
File No. 17,485
Thaddeus Howard
Ex Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 181
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I Bezalel Howard, of Springfield in the county of Hampden state of Massachusetts Clerk, do hereby testify & declare that in the year 1776 Thaddeus Howard of West Bridgewater did serve personally and do duty as a soldier in the army, in a company commanded by Capt. Amasa Soper in Col. M c Neil's Regt., for the term of Six months - and also that I myself did serve and do duty with him in the same company.
Springfield August 14 th 1832.
Bezalel Howard
impan for August 4 1832. Then personally appeared
Bezalel Howard above named & made oath that the above certificate by him subscribed contains the truth before John Howard
(Certified to be credible on other side)
Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Wampden ss. I John Ingersoll a Clerk of the Common Pleas Court being a Court of Record in the County of Hampden do hereby certify that John Howard Esq. before whom the within deposition was taken is a justice of the Peace for the County of Hampden & that the within signature of John Howard is his proper hand writing
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Common Pleas Court at Springfield on this fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two
John Ingersoll Clerk
Hampden ss
Springfield Jan y 24 1833 I hereby Certify that Bezalel Howard the within named deponent is a person of Truth & veracity In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name John Honan Justice Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk ss
Town of Sharon this thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and thirty two personally appeared the above deponent, Edward Howard before me the subscriber one of the justices of the Peace within and for the said county and being by me carefully examined, cautioned, and sworn in due form of law to testify the whole truth and nothing but the truth made oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is true, taken at the request of Traddus Howard of Bridgewater to be used in Probate Court, or some Court of Record in the county of Plymouth for the purpose of establishing his own evidence of services rendered during the Revolutionary war: the deponent being aged and unable to travel to attend court
Tisdale Drake Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk ss
I Samuel Ware Clerk of all the Judicial Courts in and for the County of Norfolk hereby certify that Tisdale Drake Esq. above named and before whom the above deposition purports to have been taken was at the time of the taking thereof and now is a Justice of peace in and for said County of Norfolk duly appointed Commissioned & qualified

to discharge the duties of said his signature within is genuine as
In witness whereof I have hereunto and affixed the seal of the Superior Court Commonwealth at Dedham this in the year of our Lord one thousand thirty two.
Hon. Judge of Probate for the County of Plymouth Me
Deposition of Edwara Howard

to discharge the duties of said Office and that his signature within is genuine and true.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court of said Commonwealth at Dedham this eighth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
Hon Judge of Probate for the County of Plymouth Me
Jarius Ward
3
Deposition of Edward Howard

Sharon August 13, 1832
I Edward Howard of Stoughton in the county of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being of lawful age do testify and declare That I entered the service in the Revolutionary War in June 1776 for the term of six months and continued in the service until December following of the same year, and that Thaddeus Howard of Bridgewater in the county of Plymouth entered the service at the same time that I entered it and continued in it during the same term of time which I did. We first marched to Nantasket and continued there a short time from thence we removed to Fort Independence in Boston Harbour and continued to be stationed there until our term of service expired for that time. The officers of the company in which Thaddeus Howard and I served were, Amasa Soper captain, Daniel Snow Lieut and Freeman Daber Ensign and further the deponent saith not
Edward Howard
I hereby certify that the said Edward Howard is a respectable citizen of Stoughton and a disinterested and credible witness and that in my opinion the foregoing deposition by him subscribed & sworn to is entitled to full credit
Nathl Dyer Justice of the Peace