Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4,193, Amos Grant, Mass. Mass. Sea Service Privateer

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Grant, Amos
P. 4193
Mass. Sea Service
Privates
CONTENTS
[Blank lined area for entry]
[Blank lined area for entry]

35.070
Amos Brub Mass. Act June 32
4195

State of Massachusetts } ss. Salem. County of Essex }
On this nineteenth Day of May, A. D. 1840, personally appeared in open Court before the Probate Court of the said County of Essex Betsey Colley, a resident of Marblehead, in said County, widow, who, being first duly sworn according to law, deposits on her oath, from the best of her knowledge & belief, make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832: that she is the executrix of the Last Will and Testament of Amos Grant, late of said Marblehead, Trader, deceased. — That said Amos Grant was at the time of his decease entitled to the benefit of the said law of June 7 th 1832, from the 14 th day of March, 1831, to the day of his death, which happened on the third day of August, A. D. 1837, in the eighty-ninth year of his age: That said Amos Grant had taken measures to establish his claim to the benefit of said law in his life time, but from the difficulty of finding living witnesses, & the absence of documentary evidence, his death occurred without having made his Declaration.
She further Declares, from the best of her knowledge and belief, & from the statements made by said Amos Grant in his old age & while under her nursing care — that he was a Private in the Company of Capt. Francis Felton engaged in the Sea Coast Service of the said State of Massachusetts in the War of the Revolution: that said Grant resided in said Marblehead at the time of his enlistment & enlisted in said Corps & in said town, as a Private & Volunteer, on or about the first day of May, A. D. 1776, for the term of the balance of said year unless sooner discharged by the Legislature: that said Amos Grant continued in said Corps doing his duty in & about said Marblehead & the Coasts adjacent until the fifteenth day of the following month of November, when said Company was, disbanded by order of the Legislature aforesaid: that from the time of his enlistment to his said discharge was six months & fifteen Days .
She further Declares, that after his said discharge said Amos Grant entered the Naval Service of the said State of Massachusetts, as a Seaman, and on or about the first day of October, 1777, he joined the Massachusetts State Brig Tyrannicide, Jonathan Harraden Esq. of Salem, Commander: That he joined said Brig as a Seaman & Volunteer, & sailed on a cruise soon after: that while on said cruise they took four prizes — two of which were retaken — one they carried into the Port of Martinique in the West Indies, & there sold, & the other arrived safe home to the Port of Boston with themselves on or about the first day of May, A. D. 1778: that from the time of his entering said Naval Service to the time of his discharge at said Boston — which took place soon after their arrival at said Boston — was seven months .

She further Declares that said Amos Grant was in much Privatizing service in the said War after the service herein above described, but that she has no present knowledge of any other Public Service performed by him in said War than that herein set forth: that she has no documentary evidence, & knows of no person whose testimony she can procure in proof of said Grants Revolutionary Services, & she therefore begs to refer to the Massachusetts Documents understood to be in the War Office, Washington, in proof of the same.
She further Declares that she makes this Declaration as Executrix of said Grants Last Will & Testament - a copy of which is hereto annexed - in order to obtain the amount which said Grant did entitled to under the said law of June 7 th 1832, from the fourth day of March, 1831, to the day on which he died, viz. - the third day of August A.D. 1837 - & all for the benefit of his estate - he having left no widow, child or children to claim the same - as will appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
She hereby relinquishes every claim to a Pension or annuity except the present, & Declares that the name of said Amos Grant is not borne on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State. Witnessed by Sam l Bowden Jr.
Betsey Colley
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Before me, D. H. Write { Judge of said Probate Court.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Essex, ss. Probate office.
I Nathaniel Lord junior, register of probate for said county, hereby certify, that the honorable Daniel A. Write, before whom the foregoing declaration of Betsey Colley purports to have been taken, is the judge of probate for said county; and that his name, subscribed to the certificate thereon, is his genuine signature.
Given under my hand and seal of office this nineteenth day of May, A.D. 1840.
Nath l Lord Jr.

I, Elizabeth Devereux, of Marblehead in the County of Essex, do on my oath testify & declare, that I am in the Eighty third year of my age: that I was well acquainted with Amos Grant, late of said Marblehead, deceased - whose executor has signed the Declaration hereon. I was a neighbor to said Grant in the War of the Revolution, & was familiar with him & his family at that time. and I do well recollect that said Amos Grant belonged to the Company of Col. Francis Vinton, engaged in the Sea Coast Service & located for the Defense of the said town of Marblehead - in the year 1776. And I do also well recollect that he joined said Company at the commencement of the warm weather - sometime in the month of May or June of the said year 1776 & served therein until said Company was discharged - late in the fall or first of December of that year. I cannot swear to the precise day of either his enlistment or discharge, but I do nevertheless well know & am fully certain that he served in said Vinton's Company as I have stated.
And I do on my oath further testify & declare that said Amos Grant was also a Seaman on board the Massachusetts State Brig Tyrannicide in the said War & served in her one cruise - if no more - in either 1777, or 1778 - or both years - but the particulars of it I am unable to attest or swear to.
Said Amos Grant died in this town in the year 1837 at a very great age, & left neither widow nor children to survive him.
Witnessed by
Elizabeth Devereux
Witness to Signing Richard Root Jr.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss. Marblehead, May 22 d 1840. County of Essex
Then the above named Elizabeth Devereux - who, though an aged person, is well known to me personally as a witness of good moral character, & also of good character for truth & veracity, personally appeared & made solemn oath in due form of law to the truth of the above affidavit, by her subscribed -
Before me, James Gregory, S. of the Peace.

Grant Anas, Mld. trad. test.
Set. test. — 1837. Nov. 21.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
ESSEX, ss. At a Court of Probate holden at Salem in and for said County, on the third Tuesday in November , A. D. 18 37 .
THE instrument hereto annexed, having been duly presented for probate as the last will and testament of Amos Grant , late of Marblehead in said county, trader , deceased, and it being made to appear, that notice has been given according to order to all persons interested, Isaac Collyer and John Rhode , two of
the witnesses thereto subscribed, being present, make oath,
that they saw the said Amos Grant the testator sign and seal the said instrument, and heard him declare the same to be his last will and testament, and that they with John Rhode subscribed their names together, as witnesses to the execution thereof, in presence of said testator,
and that said testator was then, to the best of their discerning, of sound and disposing mind.
It is thereupon considered and decreed by the court here, that the said instrument be approved, allowed and recorded, as the last will and testament of the before named deceased, and that it have full force and effect as such, agreeably to the laws of the commonwealth aforesaid in such cases made and provided; and that the execution of said last will and testament, and the administration of the estate of said deceased according thereto, be granted and committed to Betsey Colley ,
the executrix therein named, She giving bond according to law for the faithful discharge of her said trust.
D. A. White , Judge of Probate.
A TRUE COPY OF RECORD.
Attest, Cath. Lordis , Register.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
EX, ss.
BY the Honorable Daniel A. White Esquire, Judge of the Probate of Wills, and for granting Letters of Administration on the Estates of persons deceased, having goods, chattels, rights or credits, in the County of Essex, within the Commonwealth aforesaid.
To all People, to whom these Presents shall come,
GREETING.
KNOW YE. That at a Court of Probate holden at Salem for said County, on the third Tuesday in November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven , the instrument, a copy of which is hereto annexed, purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Amos Grant , late of Marblehead in said County, trader , deceased, who had, while he lived, and at the time of his death, goods, chattels, rights or credits in the County aforesaid, was duly proved, approved and allowed; and Betsey Colley , of Marblehead aforesaid , widow,
the executrix therein named, signified her acceptance of her said trust, and gave bond according to law for the faithful discharge thereof.
I DO THEREFORE, by virtue of the power and authority given to me in my capacity aforesaid, by the laws of the Commonwealth aforesaid, commit the execution of said last will and testament, in all matters the same concerning, and the administration of the estate of said deceased, whereof he died seized and possessed in said Commonwealth, unto Betsey Colley ,
the before named executrix, well and faithfully to execute the said last will and testament, and to administer said estate according thereto; and, particularly, to make a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the real estate, goods and chattels, rights and credits of the said deceased, and to exhibit the same into the registry of the Court of Probate for said County, within three months, and to render, upon oath, a just and true account of her proceedings thereupon, within one year, from the date hereof.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I do hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court of Probate. Dated at Salem this twenty first day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven .
Attest, Cath. Lordis , Register.
D. A. White

I know all men by these presents, that I Amos Grant, of Marblehead in the county of Essex, being weak in body, but of sound mind and memory, do this day, July the fourteenth, A. eighteen hundred and thirty five, make and publish this my last will and testament, in manner following, that is to say; -
First. I give to Betsey Colley, widow, the one half of all my real and personal estate, goods, chattels and property of every kind, to be held by her during her life, and afterwards to her two sons, for them and their heirs.
The other half of all my real and personal estate, goods, chattels and property, of every kind, I give to Ruthy Devereux, single-woman, for her use and her heirs forever. The above mentioned property to be equally divided between the before mentioned Betsey and Ruthy, as mention'd, and to them and their heirs and assigns.
And I do constitute and ordain the before named Betsey Colley to be sole executrix of this my last will and testament.
In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Signed, seal'd, publish'd, pronounced and declared by the said Amos Grant, as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who, at his request, and in his presence, hereunto set our names, as witnesses to the same.
Isaac Collyer John Prubier John Rhodes
Amos Grant Seal
Commonwealth

4193
P. O.
Amos Grant
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

$5,070.
Amos Grant Mass.
to James Gregory 16 June 1840. " same 16 June 1840. same 1 Sept. 1840.
Ach of Dec 1832

July 20, 79 79 Calhoun Haraden Hallet
Amos Grant d. Aug 3. 1877
May 16 F. Filton Const Service to 15 Nov 6 1/2 mo.
(1877) J. Dynamad. Haraden
Vil 39 1/2 78 Sept h May 78
RR on 10 March - 8 May 78
June 16 h Aug 76 F Filton Vil 3C h 285 - Rd
Oct h 31 Dec 75 - Rd
Sept 1 Nov 76 2 1/2 on h 290
4 Jan 76 h Feb 29 h 230
"

Marblehead Aug. 21 st 1840.
Honored Sir, -
I duly received your letter of the 16 th Ult. in answer to mine of June 30 th & Ambrose Allen's affidavit relative to the claim of the executrix of Amos Grant. As the Department undoubtedly retains copies of all communications emanating from it I will but repeat a few words of its contents. The second paragraph remarks that Mr Allen's affidavit is "one of (the) many instances where the testimony of witnesses is wholly discredited by the record evidence & shows how little weight should be given to (such) witnesses." The third paragraph, after stating Mr Allen's service on board the Brig Syracuse , as shown by the Roll of it for the cruise ending May 8 th , 1838, declares - as your favor of June 16 th also does - that the name of Amos Grant is " not " upon the Roll. It then goes on to state that "Allen is made to swear " &c.
There can be no need of stating that this last remark has filled me with astonishment; nor can there be any need of stating that the whole contents of your letter has had

a similar effect upon the executrix & her friends. But fortunately for her & those whose reputations are now made to have an interest in the case by your said letter, the executrix has, since the receipt of the letter, handed me an old Certificate of the late Secretary of this Commonwealth, alleged to have been found by her among a mass of Mr Grants' old papers, which shows very conclusively that both the affidavit of Elizabeth (Devereaux) & Mr Allen respecting this Syracuse service have some foundation in truth, or else the Secretary must have been destitute of honor as well as veracity .
The Certificate is herewith enclosed for your examination, with the request that it might be afterwards returned to the writer of this. It will be seen that it is dated more than 3 years before the decease of Mr Grant & while the Rolls were in our State House; & that while it corroborates the assertion of your letter so far as relates to the service in Felton's Company , it distinctly contradicts the assertions of them with respect to the service of Grant on board the Brig Syracuse for the cruise which ended May 8 th 1778. - showing, as it does, that he served on board from March 10 th to May 8 th . This it will be observed is the very cruise Mr Allen's affidavit sets forth, & is in unison with the possibility which Allen mentions that Grant might have been one of those who joined the Brig in the West Indies.
The Certificate of the late Secretary of this State,

as well as the two affidavits in the case, are now of course at issue with the positive & repeated assertions of the Department; and although if the Department never relaxes its rules in any case where the length of service sworn to does not exactly coincide with that which the Rolls negatively or impliedly show, there can be no hope for the allowance of the claim in this case, - yet I have felt myself called upon once more to call the attention of the Department to it, in justice to an old veteran who would sooner sacrifice his life than swear to a falsehood. The recognition by the Department of a few days' service shown on the Rolls may not of course be of much importance in many cases, while on the other hand it is known that in others, & particularly in many widows' cases, where service after the date of marriage must be shown, a large & just claim may depend upon proving the amount of a single day .
The consideration that it must be next to impossible for you to read all the communications issued from the Pension Office over your own signature, & at the same time examine the vouchers upon which the allegations of them are based, brings my own mind to the conclusion that you could not knowingly have sanctioned the assertions & objectionable language contained in the letter herein referred to; and my own temperament, & the respect which I now entertain, & always hope to entertain for the constituted authorities at Washington - all alike admonish me to treat the charge of making a witness swear to a falsehood rather as an inadvertent clerical error, than a known & deliberate assertion of the head of a Department of the Government. I am, respectfully, Your Honor ob't. serv't. James Gregory James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D.C.

Marblehead. June 8 th , 1840.
Honored Sir, -
I have the Honor herewith to forward to your Office the Declaration of Betsey Calley, as executrix of the last Will & Testament of Amos Grant, late of this town, deceased, - claiming the amount to which it is alleged said Grant did entitled under the law of June 7 th , 1832, from the 4 th day of March, 1831, to the day of his death.
I have the Honor to be,
very respectfully,
your ob l . serv t ,
James Gregory
James E. Edward Esq Commission of Pensions, Washington, D. C.

Marblehead, June 30th. 1840.
Honored Sir, -
Your favor of the 16th inst, relative to the claim of the executrix of the late Amos Grant of this place, was duly received - in which your Honor states that only 2\frac{1}{2} months' service is credited to him on the Rolls of the Capt. Fenton's Company, from Sept 1 st 1776, & that none whatever is credited to him on the Rolls of the Brig Syrenide.
In answer, I would respectfully observe, that as far as the alleged service in Fenton's Company is concerned, I find among the remaining papers of the late Samuel R. Gerry of this town, deceased, who was the Commissary of the Sea Coast Service in this town, a Beef memorandum of Fenton's Company for August of that year of '76, upon this memorandum I find the name of Amos Grant charged with 10 lbs. of Beef. It is therefore singular - though I do not dispute your Honor's assertion - that his name should not appear on the Rolls at the Pension Office anterior to Sept. 1 st . No other memorandum of Fenton's Company for the summer of that year is to be found among said Commissary's Papers.

Papers, but the fact of Grants' Service in the Company, before the said month of August , is fully corroborated by the affidavit of Elizabeth Donreua forwarded with the claim.
With regard to the allegation of your Honor's said fair, that Grants' name is not borne on a single Roll one of the Rolls of the Brig Syracuse in the Pension Office, it appears very evident to my mind that there is a mistake; for Ambrose Allen of this place - a Pensioner under the law of 1852 - for service on board said Brig from Oct. 1777 to May 1778, asserts that he is certain Grant belonged to her at the same time he did - though he cannot swear that he belonged to her all the time he (Allen) did - a number of men having joined the Brig while in the Port of Martinique in the West Indies - of whom he thinks it is possible Grant might have been one. Allen's affidavit to this purport is forwarded herewith.
I have the Honor to be, with very high respect, your Honor's obt. servt. James Gregory
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.

I, Ambrose Allen, of Marblehead in the County of Essex & State of Massachusetts, do on my oath testify & declare, that I am in the eightieth year of my age, that I was much engaged in the Privateering Service in the War of the Revolution, & was also on a cruise in the Massachusetts State Brig Syracuse , Jonathan Havran commander, from October 1777, to May, 1778, - for which cruise I am now a pensioner under the law of June 7th 1832, to the amount of twenty-nine Dollars & six cents per annum. And I do well recollect that a large number of my late fellow townsmen of Marblehead were in said Brig at the same time with myself, - and among others I recollect that Amos Grant late of said Marblehead, who died in this town a few years ago, belonged to said Brig at the same time I did myself. I cannot swear that he belonged to said Brig all the time I myself did - as a number of men joined her in the West Indies, while we lay in the port of Martinique, & he might have been one of those who at that time joined her; but I am certain he did belong to said Brig, either the whole or part of said cruise .
Witnessed by James H. Rice
Ambrose Allen
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Essex
} ss. Marblehead
I, James Gregory, Notary Public & Justice of the Peace in & for said County of Essex & dwelling in said town of Marblehead, do hereby certify that the above named Ambrose Allen, personally appeared & swore to the truth of the above affidavit & submitted the same on this twenty-ninth day of June, A. D. 1840, in my presence & before me. And I certify that said Allen is a credible witness to me well known.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, & affixed my Notarial Seal, the day & year herein written
James Gregory, Notary Public, & of the Peace.

Amos Grant
Act 1832. map Yrs
2

State of Massachusetts , County of Essex } 58.
Be it Known, that on this second day of December A. D. 1852, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public and Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Betsy Colley , a
resident of Marblehead in said County, and made oath according to law that Amos Grant who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution, and who has heretofore made application for the benefit of the Pension Act of June 7th, 1832 , through her the said Colley as executor of his last Will and Legatee directly interested as a claimant in said pension and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Countermanding and revoking all Powers of Attorney, and authority heretofore given, I hereby constitute and appoint SAMUEL M. KNIGHT , of Washington City , my true and lawful Attorney, to prosecute the claim of said Amos Grant - in his right - for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers or documents in relation to said claim on file in the Department at Washington City, or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive for my exclusive benefit, the certificate which may be issued for said claim, which certificate I wish made payable at the Washington City, D. C. Agency; to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
Betsy Colley
Sworn to, Subscribed and Acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe and personally know the said Betsy Colley to be directly interested in said claim as set forth, and to be the identical party therein alleged.
Attest, James Gregory { Notary Public and Justice of the Peace }
State of _____ } County of _____ }
It is Hereby Certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Clerk of the Court of _____ that _____ the party who has sworn to, and acknowledged the foregoing Declaration and Power of Attorney is the _____ reputed soldier aforesaid. I further certify, that _____ Esq. before whom the preceding affidavit and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged, was, at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, and that the signature purporting to be his, I believe to be genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office, this _____ day of _____ 185_____
1. Claimant's name or names in full.—2. Post Office address. 3. "That he is the identical man," or, "that she is the widow of the identical man," or, "that he or she is the legal heir of the identical man," &c., &c. 4. Leave this line blank.—5. "He is," "she is," or "they are."—6. Revolutionary soldier's full name.—7. Claimant's signature.—8. Claimant's name.—9. Magistrate's signature. 10. "Identical," "widow of," or, "child of."—11. Magistrate's name.—12. Clerk's signature.
N. B.—Should two or more heirs join in the foregoing, the plural should be substituted for the singular number.
Amos Grant Dec 3rd 1852

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, May 29 th 1840.
I hereby Certify, That Daniel A. White is Judge of Probate, Nathaniel Lord is Register of Probate, and James Gregory is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Essex; (and they have been so for the year last past) ff in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to their acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Forest P. Dighton
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF ESSEX, ss. PROBATE OFFICE.
I Nathaniel Lord junior, register of or said county, hereby certify, that Amos Grant, late of Marblehead in said county, trader, the deceased, testate, was an applicant for a revolutionary pension of the United States; that he died at said Marblehead on the third day of August, A.D. 1837, in the eighty ninth year of his age; that he left no widow, nor child; that he left a will, which was duly approved and allowed on the twenty first day of Novem- ber, A.D. 1837; that Betsey Colley, of Marblehead aforesaid, widow, is named executrix in said will, and that she then accepted her trust, and has not become disqualified to act in that capacity; ————— “ —————
as appears by the records in said office.
Given under my hand and seal of office, this nineteenth day of May, A.D. 1840.
Nath. Lord Jr. ovo