Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29908, Henry Holbrook, Mass

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Holbrook Henry
S 29908
CONTENTS

78
Norfolk
21385 Massachusetts
Henry Westbrook
Bellingham in the State of Mass. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Cobb of the Regt commanded by Col. Stead in the Mass. line for 15 months & 12 days
Me
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 57 - Dollars 44 - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4th day of Sept 1833 and to E. C. C. Deborah C. Westbrook
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $128.60 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept 1833 25.72 $154.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by N. H. Wilson Clerk Book C Vol. 3a Page 39

10903
Henry Holbrook
Pm at 15 Mr. 13 Days
16 08
May 15-1833
P 348
G. Leland Esq Hoxbury Mass

BRIEF in the case of Henry Woodbrooke of Bellingham in the State of Mass. (Act 7th June, 1839.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Present a Judge  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? no  3. How old is he? 76 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.     18 th May In 1776 8 Private Gen. Gage Col. Read   20 th Dec. 1776 3 " Gen. M c Donough Col. Lewis   30 th Sept 1777 1 7 " Gen. Ellis Col. Harts   July 1780 3 6 " Gen. Hovey Col. Thompson   15 13  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bellingham Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Rolls & living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
N. S. Woodbrooke Examining Clerk.

Sherry Stockdale 6.50 92 10,903
Edwin S. Leland

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Norfolk ss. On this Twenty Third day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Judge of the Court of Probate now sitting at in and for said County, Henry Hobbs a resident of Bellingham in said County, aged Seventy six 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 7th, A. D. 1832.
THAT he was born at Bellingham aforesaid on the Twenty Seventh day of August A. D. 1756, and that there is a record of his birth in the Town Records of Bellingham : that he was in the United States service from the first day of May A. D. 1771, to the first day of January A. D. 1776 - 4 months as a private in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at said Bellingham when he entered the service; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Samuel Cobb & Colonel Joseph Read's Regt. : that he marched from Bellingham to Roxbury
: that he served with no of the regular troops; and regular officers were known to him: that he was in no battle and at the end of his service received a discharge in writing : that he left the service on or about the first day of January 1776 - and that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at said Bellingham
& that he has no documentary evidence of this service ALSO: that he was in the United States service from about the 20th day of December A. D. 1776, to about the 20th day of March A. D. 1777 3 months as a private in the Massachusetts Militia that he was residing at said Bellingham when he entered the service; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Captain Sabin Mann of Colonel Lowell's Regiment : that he marched from Bellingham to Providence from thence to Hartford from thence to New York from thence to Albany from thence to New York : that he served with some (no fighting) of the regular troops; and
General Heath & Washington regular officers were known to him: that he was in no battle that at the end of his service he received a discharge in writing and left the service on or about said 20th of March 1777 - & that there is no person living by whom he can prove his services, nor has he any documentary evidence of it ALSO: that he was in the United States service from the Thirtieth day of September A. D. 1777, to about the 30th day of October A. D. 1777 one month as a private in the Massachusetts Militia that he was residing at said Bellingham when he entered the service; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Amos Ellis of Colonel Benjamin Hovey's Regiment Littleton : that he marched from Bellingham to Newton - B. G.
: that he served with no of the regular troops; and regular officers were known to him; that he was in no battle that at the end of his service he received a discharge in writing and left the service on or about said 30th of October 1777

ALSO : that he was in the United States service from the month day of July A. D. 1788 , to the month day of October A. D. 1790,3 years as a private in the Massachusetts Militia : that he was residing at said Bellingham when he entered the service; that he was a volunteer and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Capt Nathan Thayer - Col. Thayer's Regt : that he marched from Bellingham to Great Barrington, from there to Fishkill from there to West Point : that he served at West Point with some (since forgotten) of the regular troops; and when he was there but not known to him regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle and at the end of his service received no written discharge.
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.
Henry Holbrook
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.
We John Bates Esquire and Asa Pickering residing in said Bellingham hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Henry Holbrook who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be of the age of years; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
John Bates Asa Pickering
Sworn and subscribed as aforesaid.
And the said just  judge do hereby declare his 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 said judge further certifies that it appears to him that John Bates who has signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in the said Bellingham ; and that Asa Pickering who has also signed the same is a resident in Bellingham. and they are credible persons ; and that their statement is entitled to credit, & the said judge further certifies that said Henry Holbrook, by reason of bodily infirmity is unable to attend court for the purpose of making the foregoing declaration.
I Samuel Haxon, Register of the Court of Probate aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Henry Holbrook, for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Samuel Haxon 3

I, Seth Holbrook, of Bellingham in the County of Norfolk, & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty years, Testify & say that I was in the Company commanded by Capt Samuel Cobb, in the Reg t  in the Reorganization commanded by Col. Joseph Read, (stationed at Roxbury) for the period of eight months, & that Mr Henry Holbrook served with me, for the whole period of time, as stated by him in the within statement.
Seth Holbrook
Norfolk ss August 23 d 1832 submitted & sworn to
before me Judge of Probate
I further certify that I am Seth Holbrook in a credible witness Seth Holbrook

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Aug 31 st 1832.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Henry Holbrook is borne upon the Pay roll of Capt Amos Ellis Company, in Col. Benjamin Haws's Regt, for the period of one month & seven days from the twenty fifth day of September 1777. — Said Henry Holbrook's name is also borne upon the pay rolls of Capt Nathan Thayer's Company, in Col. Eben Thayer's Regt for the period of three months & six days from the fourteenth day of July 1780.
Edward D Bangs. Secy

10903 Henry Hotbrooks
50- 1-48 H H Jr
102 88 25 72
128 60
E. J. Leland Esq Roxbury Mass

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Henry Hoddbrook Bellingham Esq. which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? 14 II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 14 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? 14 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? 14 VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? 14 VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? 14 VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? 14 IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 14 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? 14

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?
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? as
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? No - J. Holbrook
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? as
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? as
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? as
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
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 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 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 shewn 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.
†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 authenticates 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 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

OLD WAR & NAVY JUN 25 1897 FILES.
PENSION OFFICE JUN 28 1897

WATSON C. HOLBROOK, ... COUNTY SURVEYOR ... STERLING, ILL.
SURVEYS AND SPECIFICATIONS ... FOR ... IRON HIGHWAY BRIDGES, SEWERS AND ... FARM DRAINAGE
Sterling, Illinois, June 21 1897
Hon. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D.C.
Respected Sir:
On the 11 day of August 1881, a Widow's pension was granted to Mary W. White, widow of James  White , private of Captain O. Warren's Company New Hampshire Militia, War of 1812, Certificate No 31.923.
Will you please inform me if the name Henry Holbrook appears on the Muster roll of the above described Company or Regiment?
I wish to know whether or not Henry Holbrook was a comrade of James  White in Captain O. Warren's Co- or of the Regiment to which said Company belonged (in War of 1812)
Very respectfully
Yours truly
W.C. Holbrook Sterling Ill