Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16841, Peter Grant, Mass. Sea Service N.H.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass. Sea Service N.H.
Grant, Peter
S. 16841
CONTENTS
Carded

Maine A. 534
Peter Grant
South Berwick in the State of Maine he was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Saltonstall of the Dept commanded by Col. Poor in the Mass. sea service line for 8 months + N.H. Troops and
Issued on the Roll of Maine rate of 26 Dollars 67 Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Sept 1833 and Lieut. Burleigh South Berwick Maine
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1830 $ 66.67 Semi-ant. allowance ending Jan 24 - 13.33 $80.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by N. A. Woodson Clerk, Book C Vol. 25 Page 19

State of Maine.
COUNTY OF YORK, SS.
ON this Fifteenth day of August 1832 personally
appeared in open court, before the Hon. Wm. A. Hayes, Judge of the Court of
Probate for said County, now sitting at South Berwick Peter Grant
a resident of North Berwick in the county of York and State of
Maine aged Seventy five 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. He enlisted in the year A.D. 1775 as
a private in the militia line of the State of New Hampshire for the term of Eight months , he left home in
April he thinks of the same year and served under the following named officers viz Capt. Jonathan
Wentworth, Lieut. James Carr, Ensign Sethus Beard, Col. Noah Poor, Lt. Col. McDiffie, Maj. Gilley and Gen.
Sullivan, that he resided in Somersworth, in the State of New Hampshire, when he entered the service, he
marched from Somersworth to Dover N.H. where he
passed muster, thence through Newmarket, Exeter, Kingston and Farmington N.H. Haverhill and Andover
Ms. to Medford, Mass. where he was stationed 2 or 3
weeks, then he joined the Regiment on Winter Hill in
Charlestown Ms. where he was stationed until his term of Eight months had expired, after the above term had
expired, he volunteered at the request of Genl. Sullivan to serve two months longer, which he served
under the same officers at Winter Hill aforesaid, he left
the service and arrived home in March A.D. 1776
Col. Stark, and Col. Doolittle were at Winter Hill
at the same time, Captains Tilcomb, Adams, Shortridge and Norris belonged to the Regiment
to which he belonged, all the above named Officers
are dead, was engaged in no battles, never had
any written discharge, has no other documentary
evidence, that Abraham Stackpole of
North Berwick aforesaid served in the same
company with him during the first Eight
months , whose affidavit is herewith sent,
that Caleb Lord of said North Berwick and Phil-
ipanda Hartwell of the same North Berwick a clergy-
man are well acquainted with him and can
testify as to his character for veracity and their
belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution, he knows no person living by whom he can prove the last two
months of the above service. He enlisted in November A.D. 1776 in the U.S. Navy at Portsmouth N.H. with Capt. Thos. Palmer. He sailed from Portsmouth in the ship Betsy commanded by Capt. Thomas Palmer, and John Palmer as mate, the names of some of the crew were Dulligan, an Irishman, Williams, an Englishman, a negro called Davy, Wm. Hunter and

names of some of the crew were Dulligan, an Irishman, Williams, an English man, a negro called Davy, Wm Hunter an Englishman, Joseph Harel a Frenchman, Ben- jamin Pevery, Sylvanus Cromwell, and Moses Henney Americans with the intention of go- ing to France to procure military stores but the ship spring- ing a leak, she put into Martinico, a French Isl- and in the West Indies, where she discharged her cargos, consisting partly of mahogany, where the Brits underwent repairs, The Captain then dis- charged her crew and took a French captain & crew and sailed for France, but never arrived, having been taken by the English, that he, Grant sailed from Martinico for Boston in the U.S. Sloop Republic, commanded by Captain Aaron Bullett, he arrived in June A.D. 1777, being out about eight months was engaged in no bat- tles, never had any discharge in writing, and has no other documentary evidence, he knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure who can testify to the above service, that he was born in July 17. 1757 at Berwick in the State of Maine, he resided in Somersworth in the State of New Hampshire when he entered the na- val service, and returned there from the service about 1782 he moved to Berwick in the State of Maine where he now lives, that part of it being called by the name of North Berwick — that he has no record of his age —

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, except only on that of the agency of the State of Maine
SWORN TO, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Peter Grant
We Philander Hartwell , a clergyman, residing in the town of North Berwick and Hiram H. Hobbs , residing in the town of South Berwick hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Peter Grant who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy five 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.
Philander Hartwell Hiram H. Hobbs
SWORN TO, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Philander Hartwell , who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of North Berwick , and that Hiram H. Hobbs Esq. , who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of South Berwick and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Wm. Cutter Allen , Register clerk of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Peter Grant for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this fifteenth day of August , A.D. 1832.
Wm. Cutter Allen, Register of Probate.
State of Maine County of York ss
On this sixth  fifth day of November A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Hon William A. Hayes Judge of the Court of Probate for said County now sitting at Alfred Peter Grant resident of North Berwick in the County of York and State of Maine aged seventy five years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following

County of York and State of Maine aged twenty five 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, as an amend- ment to a declaration by him made for the same purpose on the fifteenth day of August, now last past which is herunto annexed, that in rela- tion to his first enlistment or term of service in the Militia line of the State of New Hampshire, for the term of eight months as stated in said declaration, he enlisted in the month of April in the year 1775 and immediately after the battle of Lexington, but the precise day of the month he has forgotten, and he knows of no way by which the day of the month can be ascertained.
He recollects that at that time he was living with Mrs Elizabeth Clements of Somersworth in the State of New Hampshire, that he enlisted at the dwelling house of Dr Carr in said Somers- worth, about one o'clock in the afternoon that one Enoch Ricker now deceased enlisted at the same time, and that Capt Wentworth and Lieut Carr were present - He further recollects that his term of service under that enlistment expired on the last day of December

that one Enoch Tucker now deceased enlisted at the same time, and that Capt. Wentworth and Lieut. Barr were present. He further recollects that his term of service under that enlistment expired on the last day of December of the same year, and that he entered his name as a volunteer for his second term of service of two months, as in said declaration mentioned one or two days before the expiration of his first term.
The said Grant further states that the ship Betsy was a prize ship taken from the English, and was employed in the Continental service, as he has stated in his declaration that she was fitted out on that voyage under the direction of John or Woodbury Langdon of Portsmouth, he has forgotten which, as agent of the United Colonies, and he received his pay for Continental service. Peter Grant
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Before Wm. A. Hays, Judge of said court
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. Wm. A. Hays, Judge of said court. I, Wm. Cutter Allen, Register of the Court of Probate aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Peter Grant for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this fifth day of November, A.D. 1832.
Wm. Cutter Allen, Register of Probate.

1779
Peter Grant
Plant 8 months - best Wentworth - Col Poor. N.H. Lond
Auth -
26
26.692
53.54
13.53
66.67
Messrs. Burleigh & Hobbs South Berwick Me.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, August 15, 1833.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that there was in the year 1777, a private armed vessel called the "Sloop Betsy of Boston", commanded by John Palmer , as is proved by a Bond given by said Palmer to the "President of the Congress of the United States", dated June 21. 1777, — and it further appears that the name of said the "Ship Betsy" is contained in a paper on the back of which is endorsed "List— Sundry Vessels — accounts — disbursements, May 7. 1777" — and is mentioned in the following words, "Commission on purchasing the Ship Betsy's Cargo, shift on P. Brig Wantes & Sloop Reprisal — 126." — This is all the mention I find of the Betsy. —
It further appears, from sundry records & documents, that there was a public armed vessel in the service of Massachusetts for several years in the Revolutionary War, called the "Sloop Republic" —

commanded a part of the time by John Foster Williams, afterwards by Allen Hallett. The only Roll of this vessel remaining on file is dated in 1776, when under the Command of Capt. Williams. But it appears from various memoranda, "portage bills" &c, that she was commanded by Capt. Allen Hallett in 1777 & 1778 - and that in the year 1777, she was at Martinico - and afterwards sailed for Boston. The exact date of her arrival at Boston does not certainly appear from the papers - but I should infer from the dates of several receipts &c that it was in February 1778. - It might have been sooner.
Edward D. Bangs Esq

Seys Offic Concord Aug. 15. 1833
H. H. Hobbs Esq.
Since there are no records whatever in this office relating to the Navy of this State or the U. States.
Your most Obt Servt.
Walph. Mitchell
H. H. Hobbs Esq.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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 subjjoined 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. These 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, showing the Service of Peter Grant
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode, when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     1775 1776 1777 } 18 Private Marine Genl Sullivan Col. Mowatt Lt. Col. McCallie Maj. Gilley Capt. John Wentworth Lieut. Jas. Carr En. John Beard  Service in Navy Capt. Thos. Palmer Lieut. Palmer. mate Capt. Aaron Bellatt 75 affidavit of Absalom Stackpole for 8 months of his service in militia — no proof of the other 2 months of his militia service  no proof of his naval service except what is contained in the letter of Edw. S. Bangs  
Somersworth N.H.
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.
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, 1852. 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 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 _____, 19____.
 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 the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____, who has 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 days 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 [blank] and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] 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, (1) 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 inquiry 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 years, 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 fix 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 [i] 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.
He must produce proof from E. D. Pangs Esq. Secretary of the State of Mass. or from the Secretary of whatever state they belonged to that the vessels were public armed vessels.

16841 INVALID.
File No. 16841
Peter Grant
Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 443
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Absalom Harkness Affidavit
Absalom

I Absalom Stackpole of North Ber- wick in the County of York and State of Maine on oath testify and say that Peter Grant of said North Berwick served for the term of eight months in Capt Jonathan Wentworth's company, Col. Enock Poor's Regiment and Genl. Sul- livan's Brigade of the New Hampshire State troops at Winter Hill near Boston in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the year A.D. 1775, that I served in the same company with said Grant during said term and have personal knowledge of his service aforesaid.
July 18. 1832
Absalom Stackpole
Subscribed and sworn to this 18 th day of July A.D. 1832.
Before me
Hiram H. Hobbs } Justice of Peace
I hereby certify that the above named Absalom Stackpole is a credible person and disinterested
Hiram H. Hobbs } Justice of Peace
State of Maine.
YORK, SS.
I, WILLIAM CUTTER ALLEN, Register of Probate, for the County of York, hereby certify that Hiram H. Hobbs 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 fifteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.
Wm. Cutter Allen, Register of Probate.