Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13321, Benjamin Hardy, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Hardy, Benjamin
S 13321
carded
CONTENTS

2809.
New Hampshire
Benjamin Hardy
of Portsmouth in the State of N H who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain [blank] of the Reg't commanded by Col. Page in the [blank] time for 21 Days 12 Days
★ Mass. Line.
Records corrected Feb. 6/36.
Inscribed on the Roll of N H at the rate of 71 Dollars 32 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 th day of Dec 1832 and sent Joseph C. West General N H
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $106.98 Pension allowance ending 21 March 35.66 $142.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. Blair Clerk Book D. Vol. 1. Page 164

I Isaac Hardy of Hopkinton in the County of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire of the age of 76 years do on oath declare that I have been well acquainted with Benjamin Hardy of Hopkinton in the State & County aforesaid for 60 years last past and know that the said Benjamin Hardy did enlist as a minute man for nine months  that or set in 1774. under Capt. Ezra St. Stickney & Lt Hardy and that on the 19 th of Ap r following he was called for & went to Bunker Hill and was in that battle and that after the battle he enlisted for nine months & served the nine months under the same officer; the term commenced on the 19 th April 1775. I was with him most of the time in the service. and that I further testify that I know that the said Hardy enlisted in May or June 1776 for 5 months and served that time or more. and I further testify that I know that the said Hardy went to Bennington & Saratoga in September 1777. In 1778 I know the said Hardy was in the service at Rhode Island. I saw him there and talked with him and further this deponent cannot testify — Isaac Hardy
Sworn and subscribed to this Fourteenth day of July A. D. 1832 before the undersigned Notary Public in and for the State of New Hampshire —
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my notarial seal this Fourteenth day of July A. D. 1832 at Concord in the State aforesaid.
Joseph Low Notary Public
instead
Hopkinton where he now lives — the last mentioned places are all in New Hampshire —

I certify, that the within nanna. Isaac Hardy is a credible witness, and that in my opinion his Testimony is entitled to full credit. —
Joseph Low Notary Public
Isaac Hardy for Rev. Hardy

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
State of New-Hampshire, } ss. County of Merrimack
On this 29 th day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Court of Probate for said County , now sitting, Benjamin Hovey a resident of Hopkinton — in the County of Merrimack and State of N. H. aged 79 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 he enlisted at Bradford Massachusetts in Sept. on October A.D. 1774 under Capt. Gage, Lieut. Stickney, 2 d Lt Hovey in Col. Frazar's Reg't, Col. Col. Brackett & Maj. Poon, as a minuteman and there bound to go into service at a minuteman's warning and marched from Bradford the 19 th day of April A.D. 1775 in order to meet the Army at Concord Mass. went to Chelmsford there to Cambridge Mass. went on duty same night from thence to Bunker Hill was in the Battle of Bunker Hill and after the Battle entered for nine months under the same Officers and served the nine months and at Cambridge and then dismissed this term of enlistment commenced back to the 19 th day of April A.D. 1775.
That he enlisted in May A.D. 1776 for five months at Bradford Mass. under Capt. Rogers, Lieut. French in Mass. line marched directly to Ticonderoga and served the five months under Capt. Rogers promoted to Maj. and Lieut. French promoted to Capt. and Col. Brackett to Gen. and then dismissed but did not take a written discharge.
That he enlisted at Bradford Mass. in September A.D. 1777 for two months under Capt. Gage Lieut. Stickney in Mass. line marched directly to Bennington thence to Saratoga was there when Gen. Burgoyne surrendered and marched with Burgoyne's Troops to Winter Hill and served four months there honorably dismissed but had no written discharge.
That he enlisted at Bradford Mass. in August A.D. 1778 for two months under Capt. Hildreth (but not recalled) in Mass. line marched directly to Rhode Island and served the two months under Col. Brackett and Gen. Dickinson then honorably dismissed. Besides this he enlisted for six months weeks and served it out at Rhode Island the Officers he cannot recall and dismissed had no written discharge.
That he, actually served, in the above, thirty  twenty seven and a half months, including six months, as a Minuteman. That he has no documentary evidence and knows of no Person whose testimony he can obtain who can testify to his service except the affidavits hereto annexed sworn and subscribed by Isaac Hovey.
That he was born in Bradford Massachusetts in the year 1753 That he has a record of his age which he suppose to be in Bradford aforesaid That he lived in Bradford when he entered the service That he has lived since he left the service in Bradford Mass. instead of Nottingham West. Peterborough N. Warner & in Hopkinton where he now lives — the last mentioned places are all in New Hampshire —

That he has no documentary evidence and knows of no Person whose testimony he can obtain who can testify to his service except the affidavits herewith expressed sworn and subscribed by Isaac Hardy
That he was born in Bradford Massachusetts in the year 1753 That he has a record of his age which he suppose to be in Bradford aforesaid That he lived in Bradford when he entered the service That he has lived since he left the service in Bradford Mass in Steadman, Nottingham West, Peterborough N. Warner & in Hopkinton where he now lives — the last mentioned places are all in New Hampshire —
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.
Sworn to and subscribed, the 29 th day of August 1832
Benjamin Hardy
We, Aquila Davis residing in Warner adjoining Hopkinton and Isaac Dimond now residing in Warner N.H. hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Hardy, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be ~79 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 29 th day of August A.D. 1832 Aquila Davis Isaac Dimond
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 certifies, that it appears to them that Aquila Davis who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in the Warner N.H. and that Isaac Dimond, who has also signed the same is a resident in the same Warner and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Botwell Stevens Judge of Probate
H. B. Chase, Register of the Court of Probate for said County of Merrimack, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of the said Benjamin Hardy for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this 29 th day of August, A.D. 1832.
H. B. Chase, Register of Probate.

11,493
Benj Hardy
Pawah
21 mo & 12 days M.C.E
adm D
$71.32.
J. C. West-Ex Concord NH

11,493
BRIEF in the case of  Benjamin Hardy of Hopkinton  of Merrimack in the State of New Hampshire  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? No court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 79  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     Oct '74 to Nov 1800 X 6 Minuteman Capt Gage Col. Frye   19 Apr '75 9 Private do do   May '75 5 " Capt Roger Col Brickett   Sept '77 4 " Capt Gage   Augt '78 2 " Capt Hildreth Col Brickett   1 12 " Officers not recollected  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Bunker Hill  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bradford Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living Witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Right 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
X Not provided for
W. C. Easton Examining Clerk.

Rehman
13321 INVALID.
File No. 13321
Benjamin Hardy Prin. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 435
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Benjamin Hardy Records O.K. Feb. 6/06.

11.493 Benj Hardy

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Benj Hardy which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? [Handwritten line]
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes
V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the A.
June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
Yes
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Yes
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
Yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
Yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
Yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days. I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.”

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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.
REQUIRE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
REQUIRE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end 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.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Hardy, Benjamin GRADE Private LINE New York
WARRANT NUMBER 7284 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED July 18, 1791 To Jedediah Sanger, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.