Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5,200, Phillip Goss, N.H.

SERVICE
NUMBER
NH
Goss, Phillip or Philip
5 5,200
carded
CONTENTS

15750 Massachusetts
Philip Goff
of Franklin in the State of Massachusetts who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Humphrey of the 8th Reg t commanded by Col. Ashley in the Mass. Militia line for 12 months & 28 days
d June 23 1840
* New Hampshire Records corrected Apr. 26, 1908
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of $13 Dollars 75 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 nd day of July 1832 and sent Elisha Abner Dyer Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $86.22 Semestral allowance ending Sept. 21.56 $107.78
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Abner Dyer Clerk, Book { Vol. 20, Page 29

No 25637
Phillip Gop. Franklin County Massachusetts
Prot 12 Mo 28 day
E. Alvord Greenfield Mass

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. These 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, showing the Service of Philip Goss Franklin County Massachusetts
   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.     Enlisted 1776 1 3 17 private Col Hutchinson, Major Prentis, Capt Houghton 75 years Chester County Inactionary evidence - paper Correct   Enlisted 1777 — 9 11 " Col Ashley, Col Hammond, Major Ashley, Captain Humphreys New Hampshire Battle at Stonington, White Plains  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
+ On Rolls of service
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

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) of                      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)                      , who has 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

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 enquiry 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.

Phillip Gop
25037

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Franklin County ss.
On this fourteenth day of May A.D. 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate now sitting at Greenfield within & for the said County, of Franklin Phillip Goss a resident of Montague in the said County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy five years , last October made the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. I first entered the service of the United States as a soldier of the Revolution some time in the month of September, (I cannot tell the day) A.D. 1776. I enlisted at this time for three months, and served three months and seventeen days. I left the service in December following (I can not tell the day.) The officers of our Regt were Colonel Hutchinson. Lt. Col. Hutchins Maj. Prentis. The officers of our company were Capt. John Houghton. Lt. Daniel Ashley. Ens. Scott. I resided at this time in Winchester in County of Cheshire & State of New Hampshire. The service was done in the Militia of the St. of New Hampshire. My name will probably appear on the New Hampshire Rolls at the War Department. Our company assembled at P. Winchester & passed muster before Col. Rubens Alexander at P. Winchester & then marched from P. Winchester direct down the Connecticut River through Northfield Ms. Springfield Ms. Middletown Ct. to New Haven Ct. Staid there one or two weeks - there marched to Stonington Ct. and was there engaged in the battle with the enemy. the evening  then  we  retreated  from  P. Stonington  to  White  Plains  and  then  I  again  engaged  in  the  battle  with  the  enemy but we were obliged to retreat here also. From White Plains we went to New Castle where I with others was dismissed - & came home. I had no written discharge. Our Regt. at Stonington was in Gen. Stork's Brigade - At White Plains it was joined to Gen. Sullivan's Brigade.
I also again enlisted into the New Hampshire State service as a soldier of the Revolution some time in the month of May (I can not tell the day) A.D. 1777 for nine months - and served nine months & eleven days. I left the service in last of February or first of March following. The officers of our Regt were Col. Saml. Ashley. Lt. Col. Joseph Hammond Maj. Oliver Ashley. The officers of our company were Capt. Wm. Humphrey Lt. Saml. Wright Ens. James Shafter.
(over)

I resided at Winchester aforesaid at the time of this my enlistment. I with the others went from said Winchester to Charleston N.H. where our company assembled & were organised. We staid at S d Charleston for a while & then marched to Rutland Vt. where our duty was to keep garrison for a while. From S d Rutland we marched to Ticonderoga. where we were joined to the Army. Staid there until the enemy coming down the River we retreated. Gen. St. Clair had command of Ticonderoga at this time. From Ticonderoga we retreated over Lake Champlain down to Stillwater. My Captain was taken sick at Stillwater & he was removed out to Mount Holly and I went with him to take care of him. At the time of the Bennington battle. I left him & went to the battle ground but the battle being over & the enemy having retreated, I returned to my Captain at Mt. Holly - and staid there with him until about the first of January 1778 - then went with him to Charleston N.H. Staid there with him to take care of him two or three week. The time of my enlistment having expired. I was dismissed by my Captain at S d Charleston & returned home. I had no written discharge. I have no documentary evidence of my services - nor do I know of any living witness by whom I can prove either of my aforesaid periods of service. I was a private in the aforesaid periods of service. I further state that there is no settled minister, resident in S d town of Montague, and
I was born in the town of Lancaster Ms. in the year 1757. Oct 17 th . I have a record of my age at home & now have with me a copy of it taken this morning. I would refer the appointment to Moses Boardwell. Samuel Boardwell Confess Hunter Hon Geo. Grennell. Rev. Litus Strong Hon. Samuel C. Allen persons to whom I am known in my present neighbourhood & who can testify as to my character for veracity & their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution.
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.
Sworne to & subscribed the day & year above said R. E. Newcomb Judge of Probate
Phillip Gross

Philo Temple
We the undersigned residing in the town of Deerfield adjoining to the town of Montague and Amos Wilmarth residing in Montague aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Phillip Goss who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy five years of age; that he is respected and beloved, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. R. E. Mearns Judge of Probate
Philo Temple
Amos Wilmarth
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 & served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Philo Temple who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident in the town of Deerfield in said county and is a respectable person. And Amos Wilmarth who has also signed the same is a resident of the town of Montague aforesaid and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit. And that there is not any clergyman statedly residing in Montague.
R. E. Mearns Judge of Probate
I certify that I am personally acquainted with Major Phillip Goss who makes the foregoing declaration & live two miles from him, & that he is a man of truth and respectability. There is no settled clergyman in the town in which he resides, and he procured two citizens to make the above certificate by my direction, there being no clergymen in the neighborhood sufficiently acquainted with him & his history to make the requisite certificate. — I am well acquainted with Philo Temple — he is a man of credibility. A. Wilmarth I do not know personally —
Gro. Greenell Jr M. C.
Greenfield Mass May 16. 1833.

Philip Goss
25037
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I Elijah Alvord Register of the Court of Probate for the county of Franklin do hereby certify that the within contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Philip Goss for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court this fourteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
E. Alvord Clarke Register of Probate

Rev, and 1812 Wars Section. Ans Am
December 21, 1923.
Mrs. Jessie Case, Magnolia Beach, Wash.
Madam;
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 5300 , it appears that Phillip or Philip Goss was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, October 17, 1757.
While residing in Winchester, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, he enlisted in September 1776 and served as a private in Captain John Houghton's Company, Colonel Hutchinson's New Hampshire Regiment, was in the skirmish at Stonington and in the battle of White Plains and served three months and seventeen days.
He enlisted in May 1777 and served nine months and eleven days as a private in Captain William Humphrey's Company, Colonel Samuel Ashley's New Hampshire Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed

May 14, 1833, while a resident of Montague, Franklin County, Massachusetts.
There is no data on file as to his family.
The above noted soldier, is the only Philip Goss under any spelling of that name, found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.

WASHINGTON STATE SOCIETY
MRS. JOHN B. MOYER STATE GENEALOGIST 3322 LOMBARD AVE. EVERETT, WASHINGTON
April 28, 1925
The Commissioner of Pensions, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I would appreciate very much, any information you may have regarding Philip Goss, a pensioner of the Revolutionary War. His pension claim was # 15759.
Thanking you for the favor, I am
Very truly,
(Mrs John B.) Julia M. Moyer

Philip Goss Sr. (1720, 1804) wife Hannah Ball.
Served in Capt. Oliver Caprons company, New Hampshire militia which marched to relief of Ticonderoga.
Born Lancaster Mass, died Winchester New Hampshire
Philip Goss Jr. (1757, 1840)
Served in Capt. John Houghtons company, Col. Nakum Baldwins regiment
Mustered and paid Sept. 22, 1776.
Enlisted again May , 1777 Capt William Humphrey, Col. Samuel Ashley for nine months .
Went to Charlestown New Hampshire then to Rutland Vermont where they kept garrison for a while, then to Ticonderoga. After the battle of Bennington he returned to his Captain at Mt. Holly to take care of him. The time of enlistment having expired he was dismissed by his Captain at Charlestown .
Born Lancaster Mass.
Claim allowed and Certificate 15759, Mass. Agency, was issued July 22, 1833, Act of June 7, 1832. (Eroneously given Mass. Militia in printed list 1835)
Magnolia Beach, Washington
Sept 14, 1923.
The Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen,
Could you furnish any record of service of Phillip Goss who was a soldier in the Revolution? Also of any other Gosses, Abbotts, or Pettingills. I would be glad to have these if there are any. I am
Respectfully,
Mrs. Jessie Case

1923 Dec. 21 - Hist to Mrs. Jennie Case and 1925 June 29 " " Mrs. John B. Moyer
Reuben
5200
INVALID.
File No. 5200
Philip Fols
Prior Capt. Fols
Act: June 1 th 1832
Index: - Vol. M , Page 143-
[Arrangement of 1870.]
★ New Hampshire, Records corrected, Apr. 21, 1904.