Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30480, William Huesten, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Houston, William or Houston
S. 30480
CONTENTS

10308
Massachusetts
William H. Norton
of Plymouth in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Mayhew of the Regt. commanded by Col. Cotton in the Mass line for Hannahs Private No 11 Seaman
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 80 Dollars 67 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of April 1833 and Act  100 Lewis B. Dyer Secy of War
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $173.34 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Sept 1, 43.33 $216.67
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by L. D. Addison Cler. Book 6 Vol. 2a Page 31

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF PLYMOUTH, ss.
ON this fifteenth day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before _____ the Court of Common pleas now sitting at Plymouth within and for said County of Plymouth, William Hewston a resident of Plymouth in said County of Plymouth, and Common- wealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy seven 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. He hereby relinquis- es 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. That is to say, that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
That he enlisted in April 1775, immediately upon hearing of the battle at Lexington, in Capt. Thomas Mayhew's company, Nathaniel Lewis 1 st Lieut. Benjamin Warren Ensign for eight months, and soon after enlistment marched with the company to Dorchester and Roxbury and there served eight months. said company belonged to Col. Theophilus Cotton's Regiment. This was Mili- tia service as the Applicant believes.
That he enlisted in the Spring of 1776 in the company under command of Capt. Leslie Harlowe, Lt. Churchill, Ensign Timothy Goodwin, for one year. said company was stationed to garrison the Fort at the Gurnet in the outer Harbour of Plymouth, Mass. and about nine miles from the Town of Plymouth, and that he there served six months, when with the leave of the Captain he provided a Substitute, who was Barnabas Holmes, who is not living - for the purpose of going to sea. This was Militia Service.

That in July 1778 he shipped in Charleston, South Carolina, on board Ship Defence, Smedley, Master, in the Continental Service, mounting twenty guns - believes Capt. Smedley was a Connecticut man. She cruised off New-York and Bermuda, and put in to Boston, where he was discharged. The cruise lasted two months. He knows of no one living belonging to this crew.
That in 1779 he shipped on board the Brig Mercury then in Boston and in the Continental Service, carrying six 12-pounders, small arms and cutlasses, Simeon Sampson, Commander, Isaac Cook, 1 st Mate, Wm. Whitmarsh, 2 d Mate, she went to Nantes in France and returned to Boston. He served eight months on board this vessel. She was detained in Boston before sailing, waiting orders, and watching a favorable chance to get out the Bay, and was detained a long time in France. There is no one living of this crew that he knows of.
That under the several enlistments above he served, in all, the full period of twenty four months, and never had any written discharge. That he was born in Plymouth, Mass. in 1755 and has always lived, or been a citizen of that Town. The record of his age is on the Town Books. He is known generally to the Inhabitants of Plymouth, and especially to Dr. James Thacher and Major Joseph Thomas, who served to the close of the war, Esq. to Schuyler Sampson, the Collector of the Customs, and to John B. Thomas the Clerk of the Judicial Court, and to Jacob H. Soud the Register of Probate.
William Dyer
Sworn to subscribed on the day & year aforesaid before the Court of Common Pleas Attest Wm. Munroe Clerk

We, James Hendall a clergyman, residing in the town of Plymouth and Joseph Thomas residing in the same town hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with William Henson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy seven years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
before the Court of Common Pleas
James Hendall Joseph Thomas
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 James Hendall who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Plymouth and that Joseph Thomas who has also signed the same, is a resident in the Town of Plymouth and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
By order of the Court
Wm. H. Mansfield
I, Wm. H. Mansfield Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Henson for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
Wm. H. Mansfield

William Sweeten
Application
22765
Respectfully copy printed and filed in the Court of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the matter of the application of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court of the Court of
person and that their statement is entitled to credit also signed the same is a resident in the and that and is a credible who has who has signed the preceding certificate is a deaconman resident in the town of the Court further certifies that it appears to them that the above named applicant was a missionary subject and served as no slave. Amen

22765
William Houston Class
Seaman 10 Months Purch 14. 50
[Large stylized signature or initials]
48
24 12 4 40
Hen L Caps
46. 17 40.00 86. 67
Jno B Thomas Plymouth Man

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
1 April
1833
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. 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 William Henson  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 1773 ~ 8 ~ priv Capt. Magee Sanborn Col Cotton None Dorchester Roxbury 77 { Traditionary   ~ 1776 ± 6 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Gurnet Plymouth Plymouth Mass. Evidence   ~ 1778 ~ 2 (Sept before) ~ Grady ~ ~ Mass ~ 1. Lucas   ~ 1779 ~ 8 (Mercury) ~ Garner ~ ~ Charleston Boston ~ 2. Landers  
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 the 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.
□ 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.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

30 H 80 INVALID
File No. 30 H 80
William Loenstein
His Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 180
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I Nathaniel Thomas of Plymouth in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, of the age of Seventy six years, testify and say, That I was a Soldier in the Revolutionary War in Capt. Wadsworth's company, being enlisted in said company in April 1775, and continued in that service for nearly a year. Said company was at Roxbury for the most part. I further testify and declare, that I have always known William Huesten. He was born and brought up in Plymouth, where I was born and and have lived the greater part of my life. I well knew said Huesten when he was an apprentice, and knew him to be a soldier in Capt. Mayhew's company, which company was at Roxbury - where said Huesten continued for eight months, as I have always supposed and believe. I knew him to be a soldier at Roxbury, and that he staid the full time eight months I have no doubt.
Nathaniel Thomas

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County ss.
12 th July 1832. Then personally appeared
before me the subscriber, the within named Nathaniel Thomas, and made oath, that the within declaration by him subscribed is true. Said Thomas being well known to me as a man of truth and good character.
William Thomey, Justice of the Peace and Commissioner, appointed by the U.S. Circuit Court for the Mass. Dist. to take Depositions in all cases, in which depositions may be taken in the S d Court.
William Thomey

I Cobban Barnes of Plymouth in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, of the age of seventy one years, testify and say, that I was born, and have always lived in said Plymouth. I further testify and declare, that during the Revolutionary War, there were built in this County three Brigs for the Public Service: one at Plymouth, called the Mercury, one at Hingston, called the Leffers , I believe, and one at North River, called the Acteur . In the last named vessel, under command of my Uncle Cobban Barnes, I was a seaman, and sailed in her from Boston to New London in Connecticut and thence to Malboa in Spain. said voyage was performed I think in 1779 and 1780, we returned with a load of rigging. I further testify and declare, that I have always well known William Henson of Plymouth, who was born, and has always been an inhabitant of this Town - that the Mercury under command of Capt Simon Sampson had sailed, and returned from France just before we sailed as above. That I knew said William Henson to have been a seaman on board her during that voyage - we laid at the same wharf in Boston, called the Continental wharf, the Mercury on one side and the Acteur on the other. We were altogether. I could feel as positive in saying that Mr. Henson sailed in the Mercury, as much so nearly as if I had sailed in her. (Cobban Barnes)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth ss. 12 th July 1832. Then personally appeared the within named Corbin Daines, and made oath that the within declaration by him subscribed is true, said Daines being well known to me as a man of truth and good character.
William Thomas, Justice of the Peace, and Commissioner, appointed by the U. S. Circuit Court for the Mass. Dis. to take Depositions in all cases, in which Depositions may be taken in the U. S. Court.

I William Weston of Plymouth in the County of Plymouth and state of Massachusetts of the age of the age of seventy five years, testify and say. that I was born and always have lived in said Plymouth, and have always known William Henson, who was born and always has lived in the same town. In the early part of the Revolutionary war, my Father, William Weston, commanded a company, stationed at the Gurnet, lying on Massachusetts Bay. On account of my Father's being at the Gurnet, which was three leagues from Plymouth, I used frequently to be up and down there, tho' I was not a soldier. I further depose and say, that I well recollect William Henson to have been a soldier at the Gurnet, and belonging to Capt. Leslie Harlow's company. This according to my best knowledge and recollection was in the year 1776. During the Revolutionary war I was at times in private armed vessels, and afterwards I was a Master Mariner.
William Weston.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County ss.
14 th July 1832. Then personally
appeared the within named William Weston before me the Sub- scriber, and made oath, that the within declaration by him Sub- scribed is true - said Weston being known to me as a man of truth and good character.
William Thomas, Justice of the Peace and Commissioner, appoint- ed by the U.S. Circuit Court to take depositions in all cases, in which they may be taken in said Court.

I Samuel Lucas of Carver in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, of the age of eighty years, testify and say. That the company under the command of Capt. Leese Harlow was raised by enlistment in January 1776 for the protection of the coast on Massachusetts Bay. James Churchill was Lieutenant and Timothy Goodwin Ensign. I further depose and say, that I enlisted in said company for a year, and served three months, and then found a substitute. I further depose that William Huesten was a soldier in the same company, and served in it, and I left him in the service, when I furnished my substitute. I have known Wm. Huesten ever since the Revolutionary War, now living at Plymouth, and an applicant for a Pension.
Samuel Lucas
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth County ss.
16 th July 1832. Then personally appeared the abovenamed Samuel Lucas before me the Subscriber, and made oath, that the above Deposition by him subscribed is true - said Lucas being known to me, as a man of truth and good character.
William Thomas, Justice of the Peace and Commissioner, appointed by the U.S. Circuit Court for the Mass. Dist. to take Depositions in all cases, in which Depositions may be taken in said Court.

James Henson also knew the Revolutionary War, was living at the time when the Revolutionary War was over. He was in the service, when I furnished my substitute. I have known him in the same company, and served in it, and I left him a substitute. I further before that William Henson was a col. company for a year, and Henson thereabouts, was then found Professor Henson. I further before and say, that Henson in his on Professor Henson. I further before and say, that Henson in his service by enlistment in January 1776 for the protection of the coast day. That the company under the command of Capt. Isaac Henson was in a state of disorganization, of the age of eighty years, tall and James Henson of Dover in the County of Kent.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Assembly of Justices, Clerk of the Judicial Court for the County of Plymouth, hereby certify that William Prince Squire before whom the foregoing depositions were sworn is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Plymouth and that his name thereto subscribed is his true & proper signature In testimony whereof I have hereunto my hand and affixed the seal of the Superior Judicial Court on this first day of February A.D. 1833 W. H. Manning