Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,715, Silas Grant, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Grant, Silas or Gront
NUMBER
S. 31.715
CONTENTS

Maine N. 26,035
Silas Grant, Grant of York Co. in the State of Maine who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Noddon of the Regt. commanded by Col. Scammon in the Maine Troops time for 8 months
The list of 1835 shows him pensioned as Grants
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 th day of Dec r , 1833 and sent to B. Palmer Kennebec Me.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833 66.66 2 / 3 Semi-ant. allowance ending March 34, 13.33 1 / 3
$80.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk Book E Vol. 1 Page 19

28.104 Silver front

United States of America State of Maine.
District of Maine COUNTY OF YORK, SS.
ON this twelfth day of September personally appeared in open court, before the United States District Court  United States District Court being Court of record now sitting at Waltham  Silas Groot a resident of Symmes in the county of York and State of Maine aged Seventy Nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the 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.
In the Spring of the year 1775 I enlisted into Capt Thomas Moulds company I then  in  the  first  Regiment  we  we encamped at Cambridge in Massachusetts I served Eight months principally engaged in erecting works round about Boston, I was not in the Battle of Bunker Hill but was on that day engaged with others in digging an entrenchment near what is called Leechmore point. I served eight full months in this engagement at the expiration of which I was discharged. Capt Moulds belonged to Berwick in Maine when he entered the service and my impression he entered as Lieut and had some connection with Capt David Pales company of Rochester New Hampshire near Berwick in Maine. I was born in Berwick in 1752 and went into the service from that place have resided in Symmes about fifty years - I know of no other other person by whom my services can be proved - I have not been able to find any except the one copy  copy  of  my  discharge  is  annexed .
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, or (if any) only on that of the agency of the State of
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Silas Groot Affidavit Judge of the United States for the Dist. of Maine
WE, Samuel Tyler , a clergyman, residing in the town of Symmes and James Osborn Jr Postmaster residing in the town of Kennebec hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Silas Groot who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy Nine 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 to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
W. L. Chaplin B. Palmer
Samuel Tyler James Osborn Jr.

State of Maine
York ss - Augt 10 1873 Then personally appeared Rev. Samuel Tyler and James Osborn Jr Esq and made oath to the truth of the annexed certificate by them signed. Before me - Barnabas Palmer justice of the Peace
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 beforenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Daniel Tyler who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Wennebunk , and that James Osborn Jr , who has also signed the same, is a resident in the town of Wennebunk , and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. I, John N. Ujsey , clerk of the District Court for Maine District do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Silas Grant for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this twelfth day of September A.D. Eighteen hundred & thirty three
John N. Ujsey Clerk

Evidence in support of Silas Gorton's Revolutionary case to a Revision —
3

I William Stone of Shopagh in the county of York and State of Maine testify and declare that I am acquainted with Silas Grant of Lyndon in the county offore said
Said Silas Grant was a soldier in Capt Hadsdon's Company in Col Sammons Regt enlisted and joined for eight months - I knew said Grant at the time he went into the Army and after his return left Hadsdon and Grant both resided in Berwick the town where I resided and were neighbors to me - left Hadsdon and Grant enlisted in the Army together and returned together in Oct 1775. They entered the service some time in the spring of the same year and went to Cambridge Mass I was a soldier in the same Regiment and in Capt Hubbard's Company and knew Grant while in the Army - I continued in the Army & Grant returned home William his Stone mark
State of Maine
York ss Augt 4 1833 Then personally appeared William Stone a credible Witness and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him signed Before me Barnabas Patten Justice Peace

Maine District
District Clerk's Office September 12. 1833
In testimony that Barnabas Palmer is a Magistrate as within attached the signature thereto purporting to be his is genuine
I have hereto set my hand & seal of Office the day & year last above written
John Mussey Clerk D.C. Maine
William Stone Sponsor

I Barnabas Palmer of New Bedford in the county of Bristol testify and declare that I have searched  looked the records and files in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Massachusetts with a view to find evidence of the divorce of Selah Groot in Hudson's Hudson's company and get Scituate Rept in 1775- but I could find no rolls or records of names of men in Capt Hudson's company. I have repeatedly had access to all the said files and rolls but found no rolls of Capt Hudson's  Hudson's company and could not learn that there was any in said office - The rolls of the early part of the being generally deficient. NB The enclosure and interlineation was made by me before signing. Barnabas Palmer State of Maine
Given for Nov. 26 - 1833 Then personally appeared Barnabas Palmer and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him signed, and certify that the said Palmer is a credible witness - Before me -
James Asboon Jr. Jus Peace

Maine District
District Clerk's Office November 27. 1833
In testimony that James Osborne Junr is a legitimate as within that the signature thereto purporting to be his is genuine I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office the day and year last above written
John Mufseig Clerk U. S. County

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
In reply to your request of _____ received for a statement of the military history of Silas Grant a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Spring 1775 8 mos. Pvt Thos. Hodson Scammon Mass                                                   
Battles engaged in, None stated Residence of soldier at enlistment, Berwick, Me. Date of application for pension, Sept 12, 1833. His cl was at Residence at date of application, Sydney York Co. Me. Age at date of application, Born Berwick Me. 1753. Remarks: No data on file as to family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

to Mass.
31715
Rev INVALID.
File No. 31,715
Silas Grant
His Res. Est.
Act: June 1 st 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 498
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Sept. 17, 1900 - H. City Arthur L. Nash, Springfield
1920, Mar. 27 Hist. Co. V. B. Sawtelle, 111 Marion Ave. Westfield, N. J. Es.

GEORGE WASHINGTON CHAPTER
Glenn
Springfield, Mass. Aug. 3, 1900.
Bureau Of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen,--
The compiler of the Revolutionary Records for the State of Maine advised me that Silas Grant living in Lyman, Me. was pensioned December 20th, 1833, at the rate of $26.66 per year for services in the Massachusetts Militia, and that in 1840 he was still a pensioner.
I should like to very much get a record of his services, and if you can assist me in locating him, I will be very much obliged.
Yours very truly,
Adams S. Nash

Rev 5/2 3
LADIES ROOM PEOPLES BANK AND TRUST CO. OF WESTFIELD, N. J.
Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:
Any information you may be able to give me of the Revolutionary War record of Silas Grant of Maine or Massachusetts, would be greatly appreciated.
V. B. Lawton
111 Marion Ave. Westfield N.J.
March 8, 1920

Charles Grant
Admiral
8 Mo Suite, 26. 68
B Palmer
Kennebec
Me

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. 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
   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.      
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
[Faint handwritten text at the bottom of the page, likely bleed-through from the reverse side.]

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) 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 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 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
The best evidence may be found among the Rolls in the office of the Secretary of State of Massachusetts

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 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 [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.