Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5269, Amos Hovey, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Horry, Amos Deborah.
TR 5269
CONTENTS

Amos Hovey of Salem in the State of Mass who was a Sgt d in the company commanded by Captain [blank] of the Reg t commanded by Col Putnam in the [blank] line for 6 mos 10 d s S er g t 17 " 20 " Private
Incribed on the Roll of [blank] at the rate of 90 Dollars 54 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 th day of April 1832 and sent Benj n Merrill Salem Mass Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $ 135.81 Semi-ant. allowance ending 21 Mar 33. 45.27 $181.08
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. Hovey Clerk Book D. Vol. 2 nd Page 76

Amos Hovey Forwarded by Benj Murch Salem Mass.
M1704
Re Col Col Putnam's Reg Enlisted 17 June 1778-5 mo disb'd 17 March 1779 Re Col Col Brooks Reg 6 Months June 25 July 1780

BRIEF in the case of Amos Hovey of Salem in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7 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? Seventy five 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 17 2 1 Private Gen. Capt. Gannum   76 77 11 5 " Col. Timothy Pickering   77 3 3 " Col. Saml. Johnson   78 9 8 " Col. Rufus Putnam   79 6 10 Sergeant Col. Nathan Tyler   80 6 0 Private Col. John Brooks  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Bryford Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living witnesses, Traditionary evidence - Documentary proof  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Living witness is not stated as exhibited - 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
H. H. Adams Examining Clerk.

I Joseph Cloutman on oath testify that I am Clerk of the City of Salem in Massachusetts and that it appears from the Records thereof that Amos Hovey and Rebecca Deborah Steward were lawfully married on the fourth day of December in the year seven hundred and ninety one: — and the above is a true transcript from said Records with the exception of the date which is expressed thereon in plain legible figures, viz. Dec. 4. 1791.
I know that Mrs Deborah Rebecca Hovey, now applying for a Pension is the widow of Genl. Amos Hovey late a U.S. Rev. olutionary Pensioner, who died a few months ago in Salem. (“Rebecca” twice first can- celled & “Deborah” inserted)
Jos Cloutman City Clerk
Sworn to & subscribed before
Briss. Manly Just: Peace

4749 Deborah Harvey of Ames Massachusetts.
died 17 Oct 1838

Declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th July 1838 entitled An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows.
State of Massachusetts Essex County 15:
On this seventh day of January February 1839 personally appeared before the Honorable Daniel A. White Judge of Probate for the County of Essex, Deborah  Rebecca Hovey a resident of Salem in the County of Essex aged 74 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 the Act of Congress passed July 7. 1838 entitled An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows That she is the widow of Amos Hovey who was a Sergeant & served two years in the Revolutionary Army as set forth in his declaration for which he was placed on the Pension list Roll of Massachusetts Agency, under the Act of 7 June 1832:
She further declares that she was married to the said Amos Hovey on the fourth day of Decem-
ber

be in the year Seventeen hundred and ninety one: that her husband the aforesaid Amos Hovey died on the seventeenth day of October 1838: that she was not mar- ried to him prior to his leaving the province but the marriage took place previous to the first of January Seventeen hun- dred and ninety four, viz. at the time above stated.
Deborah Hovey
"Rebecca" first cancelled & "Deborah" inserted. Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written Before
D. H. White Judge of Probate

We testify That Amos Hovey of Salem, late a U.S. Revolutionary Pensioner, died at Salem on the seventeenth day of October 1838; and she the said Deborah Hovey his widow has not since been married.
Samuel Johnson
Augustus J. Archer
E/552/s: January, 18, 1839 Then the aforesaid Augustus J. Archer and Samuel Johnson who are credible witnesses, subscribed and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit before me
Brig. Merrill Inst. Place

Amos Hovey
No 1704.
Please address reply to Brig Merrill Salem

State of Massachusetts Essex County ss:
On this fourteenth day of August A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Daniel A. White Judge of the Court of Probate now sitting at Salem within and for the county aforesaid, Amos Hovey, Esquire, resident at Salem in the county and State aforesaid, aged 75 years, who first being 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 7. 1832: he was born in Bradford May 31. 1757 and there till 1783 and ever since in Salem: That he entered the service of the United States under the following Officers and served as herein stated, viz: -
That, soon after the expiration of the term of enlistment of the Eight months men, he enlisted on 30 Feb y 1776 as a private in Capt Benj. Farnum's Company of Massachusetts Militia, the Colonel's name, he cannot recollect, and served at Prospect Hill near Boston two months till April 4 th 1776 after the British evacuated Boston:
That, again, on 23 d Dec r 1776 he enlisted in Essex County as a volunteer in Capt Nath l Gage's Company in Col. Timothy Pickering's Regiment of Massachusetts troops, and marched to reinforce the Continental Army in New York and in New Jersey, and continued to serve therein till April 28. 1777, the term of four months and five days:
That, again, on the 27 th August 1777 in Essex County he again enlisted for three months in Capt Eaton's Company in Col. Sam l Johnson's Regiment of Massachusetts Militia and marched to reinforce the

the Continental Army at Saratoga under Gen. Gates and continued to serve therein till Dec. 1. 1777; he was in the action on 7 th Oct. 1777:
That, again, on 9 th June. 1778 he enlisted as a private in Gates' Company in Col. Rufus Putnam's Regiment in the Massachusetts line of the Continental Army for the term of Nine months, and marched from Essex County to Westpoint and continued to serve therein till March 17. 1779 when he was honorably discharged:
That, again, on the 22 d July. 1779 he enlisted as a Sergeant in Capt. Jer h . Putnam's Company in Col. Nathan Tyler's Regiment of Massachusetts Militia and continued to serve six months at Providence, Newport and other places till Feb. 2 d . 1780, when he was discharged.
And, that, lastly, on the 24 th July. 1780 he again as a Sergeant private enlisted to serve six months and was placed in Col. John Brooks' Regiment in the Massachusetts line, at first, the Captain he cannot recollect, and was detached therefrom into the
Wagon Department, and he served out his full term. He was a volunteer and never had a written discharge or record of birth.
That he served thirty months under six different enlistments. He is known to Judge Story & Hon. W. Silsbee.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state. He always enlisted in Essex County.
Anna Hovey
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
Dr. A. Nute Judge of Probate

I, Daniel Needham Esquire of Lynnfield in Massachusetts aged 71 on oath testify
That I know that Gen. Amos Hovey, now of Salem, served six months in 1779 in Capt Put- nam's Company in Col. Tyler's Regiment in the campaign to Rhode Island. He was the Orderly Sergeant of the Company.
He has since been Major General in the Militia of Massachusetts.
Daniel Needham
State of Massachusetts Essex county ss. Augt. 4, 1832 Then the said Daniel Needham Esq r . subscribed and made oath to the above before
Rev. Merrill Justiciary

We Charles W. Upham, a Clergyman, and Benjamin Pickman Esq., residing both in Salem, do certify that we are well acquainted with Gen. Amos Hovey, who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration, and that we believe him to be of the age has stated; that he is reputed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion. His character for integrity and truth is entirely unexceptionable.
Charles W. Upham
Benj. Pickman
Subscribed & sworn to before Merrill Just. Peace
And the said Court doth hereby declare its opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the Ward Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And I further certify that said Amos Hovey is a gentleman well known to me and of the best character for integrity & truth and said Upham is a Clergyman and said Benj. Pickman is a magistrate of credibility: their Certificate is entitled to credit
J. Nathaniel Lord Jr. Judge of Probate
I, Nathaniel Lord Jr. Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Gen. Amos Hovey for a Pension, and said Merrill is a Justice of Peace and his signatures annexed are genuine. In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand & seal at Office this 14 th August A. D. 1832.
Math. Lord Jr.

Having long known Genl. Hovey and the character which he has sustained, I feel no hesitation in expressing my belief that the annexed declaration, which he has made, may be fully relied on.
Nathl. Dilsbee

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
R. 5269
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Amos Hovey a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Feby 3. 1776 Apr. 4. 1776 Pvt. Benjamin Farnum Mass.   Dec. 23. 1776 Apr. 28. 1777 Nathaniel Gage Timothy Pickering   Aug. 27. 1777 Dec. 1. 1777 Ebenezer Samuel Johnson   June 9. 1778 March 17. 1779 Gates Rufus Putnam   July 22. 1779 July 2. 1780 Sergt. Putnam Nathan Tyler   July 24. 1780 6 mos. John Brock  
Battles engaged in, 2 nd battle of Stillwater
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Boxford Mass.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 14. 1832. His el. was al.
Residence at date of application, Salem Essex Co. Mass.
Age at date of application { born May 31. 1757. at Boxford Mass.
Remarks:
died Feb. 17. 1838 at Salem, Mass. He married Dec. 4. 1791 Deborah Stewart . She was al. pen. on an app. Feb. 7. 1839 while a resident of Salem Mass. aged  74 years . There is no other data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
not sent but completed
Commissioner.

Amos Hovey R.F. 5-269 Rev. War
The certificate of discharge of Amos Hovey, Joshua a Wood & Jesse Hardy from Capt. Gates Co., 4 th Battalion of Mass. Bay Forces, dated Mch. 17, 1779, and signed R. Putnam Col. Com d has been removed from this case & locked up in the Rev. Records Section of this Bureau.
No claim on file for above noted Joshua Wood. Jesse Hardy, pensioner W. 23,183 V.L.M. Nov. 5-1918.

REJECTED
5269
P. O.
Deborah Hoover
Service: widow of Amos.
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: The printed list of 1852 gives cause of rejection as
Re-enlisted: follows: "not a widow at date of the Act."
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Deborah Hovey Massachusetts
Rejected Sec 66 29 June 1839 B. Merrill.
Husband died after passage of act 27 July 1838
5269
Act 7 July 1838

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
ESSEX, ss.
I, JOHN PRINCE, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for the County of Essex, do certify, that Hon. D. A. White is Judge of the Court of Probate within and for said County. That
Benj. Merrill Esquire , is a Justice of the Peace, within and for said County, and that their signatures hereon are genuine.
WITNESS MY HAND, and the Seal of said Court of Common Pleas,
February 7. A. D. 1839, John Prince Clerk.

James L. Edwards Esq
Commr Prisons
Washington D.C.

Salem. 13 Feb. 7 1839
James L. Edwards Esq. Comr. Pensions,
Sir,
I forward the application of Mrs. Deborah Hovey widow of Amos Hovey decd. under Act of 7 July 1838.
Please address reply to
Wm. Lloyd
D. Merrill

Amos Hovey
1704
  6 Mos & 10 d  Sergiant    17 " 20 "  Private    23 " 30 "   
admitted
$90.521.
Benj Merrill Salome Map

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

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? Yes but for this man, he has documentary proof 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? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? Yes 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? 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.

B Merrill
June 27 1839
06

477 War Dept. Pen Offin June 27. 1889
Sir,
The papers in the case of Mrs. Deborah Hovey widow of Amos Hovey did have been examined. It would appear that she was not her husband died 17 October 1838. The act of 7 July 1838 does not provide for any widow whose husband died after the passage of said act. The claim has therefore been rejected and the papers filed in this office.
B. Mayville Esq. Salem, Mass.
4749 act 1 July 38.