Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14837, Benjamin Gurney, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Gurney, Benjamin Thankful
No. 14837
CONTENTS

Ref.
177.
Massachusetts
Thankful Gurney
widow of Benjamin Gurney
who was a private Mass.
in the Massachusetts line for 1. year.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 40. Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 th day of May 1843 and sent to
J. H. Lord
Plymouth Mass.
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book 4 Vol. 1. Page 43.

10. 392
Let to J H Lord, Nov 5. 1836
R
Massachusetts
Benjamin Gurney
of Rochester in the state of Massachusetts who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Bailey of the Massachusetts line, for the term of One Year
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 14 th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 th of May 1819 and sent to Nahum Mitchell Esq. East Bridgewater Mass
Arrears to 4th of Nov. 1819. 85. 82 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Sep. 1819. 48. 00
10 Mo. \frac{15}{30} \frac{4}{31}
$133. 82
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
85. 56
48 $133 56
Cash
Spec. Not. May 24. 1821. No. 10. B. Mann G. H. ... ... ...

Benj a Gurney Rochester
1775
1818 Robt. H. ...

I Benjamin Gurney of Rochester in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts do testify and say declare that I enlisted into the service of the United States in the year 1776 for one year and under the command of Col. Samuel Bradford, Col. John Bailey's Regiment and General Heath's Brigade, and by the request of General Washington I staid six weeks longer than defined; and do further testify and say that I am in reduced circumstances and stand in need of the assistance of my country for support and am desirous of obtaining a Pension under the late act of Congress and that I am a citizen of the United States—
April 14 th 1818.
Benjamin Gurney
Sworn to and declared on oath this 14 th April 1818 Before me
Nahum Mitchell Judge etc (D)
14
73 years

Benjamin Gurney Rochester Mr
Private Col Baileys Regiment Massachusetts Line 1776-1781
Admitted

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Plymouth
ss.
On this 14 th day of April A D 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Southern Circuit, personally appeared Benjamin Gurney of Rochester aged seventy three years, resident in the said Circuit, who being by me first duly cautioned according to law, on his oath made the following  enclosed declaration, by him signed, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," viz That he served during the whole of the year 1776 in said war — / see his said declaration enclosed & also the deposition of Arnold Briggs & Arthur Hathaway, credible witnesses; and also the certificate of Maj r Judah Alden — /

And I the said Judge am satisfied that the said Benjamin Gurney is poor and needs the assistance of his country for support. —
And I, the said Judge, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said Benjamin Gurney — did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the com- mon enemy, for the term of nine months, on the continental establishment; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress.
Nahum Mitchell
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
ss.
1818.
I HEREBY CERTIFY, That is one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Southern Circuit, consisting of the Counties of Plymouth, Norfolk, Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket in said Commonwealth—that the same Circuit Court of Common Pleas is a Court of record—that the signature to the above cer- tificate is the true signature of the said Judge, and that the seal thereunto affixed is the seal of the said Court.
} Clerk of the Judicial Court for the County of

Benjamin Gurney
10.392
Sept 1879
C

SCHEDULE.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
County of Plymouth ss.
On this 17 th day of August 1820, before the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Southern Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, having a power also of fine and imprisonment, and keeping a record of their proceedings, personally appeared in open Court, being a court of record for the said County Benjamin Gurney aged 77 years, resident in Rochester in said County, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows, viz. for the term of one year in Capt Samuell Bradford's company, Col John Bayley's regiment - and that he has received a pension certificate dated May 8 th 1819 - and numbered 10.392 - in pursuance of his original Declaration made April 11 th 1818 - and also takes and subscribes the following oath, viz.
And I do solemnly swear - that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18 th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war," passed on the 18 th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.
I am a husbandman by occupation but in consequence of lameness & old age am wholly unable to labour for my support. I have a wife named Thankful who is 67 years old & very infirm. I have no other family. I must depend on public or private charity for support.
Schedule
1 pig - 1 Cow - 6 chairs - 1 table - 1 chest - 6 knives & forks - 6 tea cups - 6 plates - 1 small kettle - 1 pot - 2 spiders - 1 pair flats - 1 hive - 1 axe - 1 looking glass.
Sworn to, and declared, on the 17 th day of August 1820 - before Nahum Mitchell Justice of the Court. Benj o Gurney
I, John B Thomas - clerk of the Circuit Court of Pleas do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is Twenty five dollars and one cent. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this twenty ninth day of December 1820
25.00
John B Thomas Clerk of the Court for the County of Plymouth

V 457 Thankful Gurney Wid of Bony 5 Mass. Act 7 July 1838 Maria 1781 died 1828 Allow 12mo $40. per ann
Thankful Gurney V 457 How Plymouth Mass

V 457 Thankful Gurney Wid of Bony 5 Mass. Act 7 July 1838 Married 1781 died 1828 Allow 12mo $40. per ann
Thankful Gurney V 457 How Mymall I H Lord Esq

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Hon. Willes Wood is Judge of Probate for said County & that the within signature purporting to be signed by him is his true & genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this fourteenth day of August 1838 Jacob H. Lord

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth County ss. On this third day of August in the year eighteen hundred and thirty eight personally appeared Thankful Gurney a resident in Rochester in the said County of Plymouth aged seventy seven years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by an act of Congress passed on the seventh day of July 1838 entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows. That she is the widow of Benjamin Gurney late of Rochester aforesaid deceased who was a private Soldier in the War of the Revolution and whose name was inscribed on the pension Roll of the United States May 8 th 1819 and allowed a pension accordingly to which the Declarant refers for the proof of her said Husband's services aforesaid -
She further declares that that she was married to the said Benjamin Gurney her said Husband August twenty third 17 1781 and that her Husband the aforesaid Benjamin Gurney died July the fourth 1828 That she was not married to him prior to her leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January 1794 - 1794. viz, at the time above stated.
Thankful Gurney
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above mentioned before me and I further certify that the said Declarant is a credible person but from age & bodily infirmity is unable to travel to and attend a court to make her declaration
Wilkes Wood

Certificate of m. recd of B. Gurny

August Twenty Third Seventeen Hundred and Eighty one Then were joined in Marriage Mr Benjamin Gurney of Rochester and Miss Shankfull Ellis of Middleborough
By Asa Hunt, Gospel Minister
I Allen Shaw certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the Record of said Town of Middleborough with the except- -ion of the date which is expressed in fair legible figures as follows, August 23 1781
I Allen Shaw above named depose and say that I hold the Office of Town clerk in the town of Middleborough County of Plymouth Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said town with the exception above named as certified by me.
Middleborough July 30th 1838.
Allen Shaw Town clerk of Middleborough
Plymouth County ss Sworn before me
Ad Thompson justice of the Peace
Middleborough July 31 st 1838
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Plymouth ss. I Jacob H Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Ad Thompson Esq is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & that the above is his true & genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this four- teenth day of August 1838
Jacob H. Lord

I Samuel Gurney of Rochester in the County of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts of lawful age do on this twenty fifth day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, depose and on oath declare that I am well acquainted with the Thankful Gurney the widow of Benjamin Gurney late of said Rochester deceased - and who at the time of his death was a pensioner of the United States - and that the said Thankful Gurney has never been married since the death of the aforesaid Benjamin Gurney - and is still single and unmarried. — Samuel Gurney
State of Massachusetts, Plymouth County, ss.
October 25 th 1838. Personally appeared the aforesaid Samuel Gurney, who subscribed, and swore to the truth of the foregoing affidavit - and who I hereby certify is a credible witness.
Before me Wm Bates Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I, Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that William Bates Esquire is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & that the within is his true & genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of the Court of Probate for said County this twenty ninth day of October 1838.
Jacob H. Lord

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14837
Thankful Gurney Widow of Benjamin Gurney Prv. Rev. War
Act: Mar. 3 rd 1843
Index:—Vol. a , Page 298
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Oct 26 James S. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions City of Washington D.C.
Gurney May 18
RECEIVED

J. L. Edwards Esq Sir Sir
Plymouth Mass Oct 21. 1836
Mrs. Gurney the widow of Gurney of Rochester who was a pensioner under the Act of March 18, 1818 was married to the said Gurney March 18, 1781. Her husband has de- ceased & she is desirous of obtaining a pension. The ob- ject of this enquiry is to ascertain whether in his decla- ration he has stated any service after the time they were married. The marriage is on record. I cannot discover any impropriety in this enquiry. She is poor & it seems entirely futile for her to go through the form & expense of a formal declaration & proof of her identity &c if there is no proof of service after the marriage. She insists that he did serve after the marriage in the vicinity of Boston. I have as yet found no proof of it. If his declaration has established it I can see no reason why she should not have the benefit of it. Yours with respect J. H. Lord

Thankful Gurney wid of Bury in Mass Act 7 July 1838 sur. W. H. Lord Sept. 8 1838 Plymouth Mass.

1599  Massachusetts  Thankful Gurney widow of Benjamin Gurney dec. who was a pensioner under the Act of 1818 and who died on the 4 July 1828 at Plymouth the State of MS. who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt commanded by Col Bailey in the MS. time for 1 year
Enscribed on the Roll of MS. the rate of 40 Dollars _____ Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1836
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of Jan y 1839 and sent to _____ Lord Plymouth MS.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1838 $100.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar. 39, 20.00  $120.00
{ Act July 7, } { 1838. }
Recorded by Alne Johnson Clerk, Book A Vol. 1 st Page 90

Miss: Add paper Thankful Gurney.
July 45
Miss L. Gurney Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.

Probate Office Plymouth Mass Oct 29. 1858
Sir
You wrote me in August that if Mrs. Thankful Gurney would forward an affidavit that she had not been married since the decease of her husband her claim would be allowed.
I enclose you such an affidavit. Her Certificate may be addressed to
Your Obedt. Servt.
Jacob H. Lord
James L. Edwards Esq Com. of Pensions Washington D.C.

Seas Morton Sonny Sechard

Probate Office
Plymouth Mass
Aug. 15, 1838
Sir
I send you the following applications for examination & allowance under the Act of July 7. 1838. Viz:
Abigail Morton Asenath Leonard Mercy Sears Lydia Loring
When Certificates are issued please enclose them to You Ob st St. J. H. Lord Reg.

10-122-00007 Deposition of Arthur Hathaway & Arnold Briggs in the case of Benjamin Gurney

We Arthur Hathaway & Arnold Briggs legally qualified & give evidence do testify and say that we were soldiers in the revolutionary Army of the United States in the regiment commanded by Col John Bailey in the year 1776. Said regiment was stationed at Roxbury till the enemy evacuated Boston, when said regiment marched to New York.
That we know Benjamin Green a soldier in said regi- ment, and that he served therein in the service of the United States the whole of the year 1776, and at the request of the Commander in Chief at Trenton, he & we with a number of other soldiers in said regiment, served six weeks in said regiment in 1777.
Said Green was in the company commanded by Samuel Bradford in 1776, and six weeks in 1777 in the company commanded by Seth Dyer.
Said Benjamin Green was born in Middleborough in the County of Plymouth, left his native land for more than forty years, has lived in the Town of Rochester in said County & Commonwealth of all ages since Rochester Aug. 17. 1818.
Arnold Briggs Arthur Hathaway

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Plymouth ss. August 17. 1818. Personally appeared Arthur Hathaway and Arnold Briggs and made oath to the within statement by them signed before me the subscriber - and I hereby certify that the claimants are personally known to me and are men of fair character for integrity & veracity.
Charles J. Holmes Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth ss. August 18. 1818.
I hereby certify that Charles Jarvis Holmes Esquire is a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Plymouth duly qualified to take depositions and that the signature to the above certificate is the true signature of the said Justice & the seal hereunto affixed is the seal of the Court in said County.
W. H. Thomas Clerk of the Judicial Court in the County of Plymouth
Duxbury August 18 1818 This may certify that Benj m Gurney served as a Soldier in Capt Samuel Bruffs Company & Reg t Com d by Col. John Bailey during the whole of the year 1776 on the Continental establishment & was honorably discharged therefrom Isaac H. Helen then first Lieut in said Company

The aforesaid Judah Alden is a reputable magis- trate in the County of Plymouth and was an officer during the whole of the revolution and his certificate is fully entitled to all credit
Nahum Mitchell: Judge
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page]

State of Massachusetts } Plymouth County - }
On this fourth day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty three personally appeared before me Seth Miller Jr, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Plymouth Thankful Gurney a resident of Rochester in the County of Plymouth in the state of Massachusetts aged eighty one years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed on the 3 March 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons, who served during the war of the Revolution. That she is the widow of Benjamin Gurney, who was a private in the Army of the Revolution. to what regiment he belonged she does not remember; that she has received a pension of Forty Dollars per annum under the Act of July, 7 th 1837. She further declares she is still a widow
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written Before me
Thankful her  Gurney mark
Seth Miller Jr Justice of the Peace
I certify that the above named Thankful Gurney is well known to me, to be the same person who was a pensioner under the Act of Congress of June 7 th 1838 Seth Miller Jr, Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Plymouth ss. I Jacob H. Lord Register of Probate for said County do hereby certify that Seth Miller Junior Esq. is a Justice of Peace in & for said County duly Commissioned and qualified and that the within is his true and genuine signature.
In testimony whereof I have here to set my hand and seal of the Court of Probate for said County this twelfth day of April in the Year Eighteen hundred & forty three
Jacob H. Lord