Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10870, Rufus Hodges, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Hodges Rufus
S. 10870
carded
CONTENTS

4497
Massachusetts
Rufus Hodges
of Bristol in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt commanded by Col Francis in the Mass line for 60 Days
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 20 Dollars 06 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of Jan y 1833 and sent from J. Hodges (H of Reps) Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $30.99 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar 33 - 10.33
8-11-32
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. H. McBlain Clerk Book D. Vol. 202 Page 76.

Map Rufus Hodges
N o 4835
Private
6 Mr & 6 day
adm
1608
July 16 1877
$20.00.
Page 200.
Rev. J. L. Hodges
HR

BRIEF in the case of  Rufus Hodges of the County of Bristol  in the State of Mass.  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court.  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 73 years  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.     In 1776 July — 4 — Private Gen. Col. Francis, Capt. Hodges   '76-'77 — 1 15 d o Col. Daggett, "   "78-'79 on alarms — — 21 Volunt. Col. Dean, Capt. Brown and Hodges.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Norton  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Depositions  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Levin Bell Examining Clerk.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } BRISTOL, ss.
At a COURT OF PROBATE holden at Taunton in and for said County on the twenty ninth day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, before the Honorable HODIJAH BAYLIES, Judge of the Probate, &c. for said County, personally appeared Rufus Hodges a resident of Norton in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy three years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832, make the following declaration. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein after stated, to wit - (I enlisted as a private soldier in the month of July as I think) it was the year 1776, under Captain Isaac Hodges of Norton and Abadiah Bliss & John Davis of Rehoboth were our Lieutenants in said Company, and I was in Col. Eben Denezes Regiment and we were stationed on Dorchester heights. I will state further particulars of my service in my answer to the fifth interrogatory. and further declares as follows, in reply to the interrogatories propounded by the Secretary of War; to wit:
1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Ans. That he was born in Norton in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty nine, and on the 3rd day of March of that year.
2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it? ans I have a record of my age in my family Bible
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? ans, Norton

4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute, for whom? ans, I never served when drafted; I voluntarily performed all the Service that is stated in this Declaration.
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. I served four months in the campaign alluded to, above, and at the expiration thereof I was verbally discharged by my officers and returned home. I refer to Isaac Perry's affidavit to prove this my first campaign. I again enlisted into said Isaac Hodge's company at the expiration of my first campaign, and marched to Warren in the state of R.I. and then crossed over the river to Kingston where we served six weeks and Brian Hall of said Norton was our Lieutenant and we were in Col John Daggett's Regiment and at the expiration of said term I was verbally discharged by Captain Hodge and returned home, and it was in January 1777. when I returned. I refer to Amos Martin's affidavit to prove this my second campaign.
I also volunteered on two other occasions at short campaigns or alarms, at both times I think about one month I know I was out as much as three weeks, the first was in the year 1778 and in the summer as I think, in a company commanded by over

Captain Israel Drow Lt. Jacob Shepard was also of said Company and we marched to Kingston in the State of Rhode Island and there served about two weeks —
The other was as I think in 1779. and and we were called out and placed under Captain Joseph Hodges of said Boston and in Col. Drown's Regiment and we were marched to Howlands Ferry in the State of R. I. and there served about two weeks. I was a volunteer in this last service. I do not now recollect the other company officers  other company officers of days of old time but that was before and at the expiration of the above said term I was verbally discharged by my officers and returned home. I refer to Isaac Hodges affidavit to prove the last two short campaigns.
I well recollect Col. Frennis who had the command of our own Regiment, and also Major Corner, there was other Regiments stationed near ours, when I was in Dorchester I am not certain but think Col. Dyke had the command of one Regiment. Boston was evacuated some months before my enlistment into my first campaign, and the General officers had principally removed from that vicinity. I have no recollection of seeing them.
The troops in which I served in my several campaigns, I understood to be Massachusetts State Troops or Militia.

Washington D. C. January 18 th 1833.
I hereby certify that the witnesses herein named, viz. Isaac Hodges, Isaac Perry and Amos Martin are credible and that the Magistrate Cromwell Leonard is a duly qualified Justice of the Peace -
James L. Hodges
Isaac Hodges
4835.

6. Were you a Soldier or an Officer? if 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? if an Officer, did you ever receive a commission, and if so by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? ans, I was a Soldier, I never received a written discharge from the army, I never had a commission in the war -
7. State the names of the 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. I refer to the Rev Pitt Clarke and Cromwell Leonard Esq. both of Norton in the County of Bristol
And the said Rufus Hodges doth further declare that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and 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 Rufus Hodges
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
WE Pitt Clarke - a Clergyman residing in Norton and Cromwell Leonard residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Rufus Hodges who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be about 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.
Pitt Clarke.
Cromwell Leonard
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
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 Pitt Clarke who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Norton in said County of Bristol, and that Cromwell Leonard Esq. who has also signed the same is a resident in said town, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, } PREFACE ss
I Anselm Bassett Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Rufus Hodges of Norton in said County, for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said Court the day and year first above written.
Anselm Bassett

Washington D. C. January 18 th 1833.
I hereby certify that the witnesses herein named, viz. Isaac Hodges, Isaac Perry and Amos Martin are credible and that the Magistrate Cromwell Leonard is a duly qualified Justice of the Peace -
James L. Hodges
James Hodges
4835.

Rev War
10870 INVALID.
File No. 10870
Rufus Hodges Briv. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. A , Page 179
[Arrangement of 1870.]

No 4835
Rufus Hodges

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Rufus Hodges 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? 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 Act of 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? yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 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? 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? no Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? no 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.
QUERE 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.
QUERE 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.

74 11/11/32 I Isaac Perry of Attleborough in the county of Bristol & State of Massachusetts being seventy five years of age do hereby testify and say that I have been well acquainted with Rufus Hodges of Norton in the county & State aforesaid, for a great number of years and that that he the said Hodges served as a private soldier in the army of the American Revolution one campaign of four months in a company commanded by Isaac Hodges & in Col Eben Francis Regiment and we were stationed at Dorchester heights near Boston & I served in the same company at the same time, our troops were called State troops of Massachusetts, and said service was was performed in the year 1776
Dated at Norton this 17 th day of August 1832
Isaac Perry
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
s Bristol } Before me one of the Justices of the Peace county } within & for the county of Bristol personally appeared Isaac Perry subscriber to the above affidavit and made oath that the same is true in all its parts - In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & quality this 17 th day of August A 1832 Colonel Leonard Justice of Peace

I Amos Martin of Rehoboth in the county of Bristol & State of Massachusetts being Identity Seven years of age do hereby testify and say, that I have long been acquainted with Rufus Hodges of Norton in said County and that he the said Hodges served as a Soldier in the Army of the American Revolution in a company with me one campaign of six weeks. Said company was commanded by Captain Isaac Hodges of Norton and in Col. John Dazgett Regiment we marched to Warren in the State of R.I. and crossed over the river from thence to Swanton and there served the remainder of said campaign we were discharged in the month of January 1777 & we were called State Troops of Massachusetts
Dated at Taunton this 20 day of August 1832 Amos Martin
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bristol } ss. Before me, one of the Justices of the Peace County } within & for the County of Bristol personally appeared Amos Martin Subscriber to the Above Affidavit and made oath that the same is true (according to the best of his knowledge & belief) in all its parts. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & quality this 20 day of August A.D. 1832 Groom: Leonard Justice of Peace

I Isaac Hodges of Norton in the county of Bristol & State of Massachusetts being Twenty five years of age do hereby testify & say that I have long been acquainted with Myles Hodges of Norton in said county and I well remember that he the said Myles Hodges did serve as a Soldier in the Army of the American Revolution two short campaigns or alarms amounting to as much as three weeks in the whole, the first we marched to Tiverton in the State of R.I. under Capt Israel Trow, & Lt Jacob Shepard, and as I think in the summer of 1778, and the second was as I think in the year 1779 at Howlands ferry (so called) in R.I. and as I think under Capt. Joseph Hodges of Norton & we were in Col Deane, Regiment — I served in the same company at the same time,
Dated August 22 nd 1832
Isaac Hodges
S Bristol Commonwealth of Massachusetts County ss. Before me, one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Bristol, personally appeared Isaac Hodges subscriber to the above affidavit and made oath that the same is true (according to the best of his knowledge & belief) in all its parts. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & quality this 22 day of August A 1832 Brown L. Leonard Justice of Peace