Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5453, Stephen Harding, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Hearding, Stephen
S 5453
carded
CONTENTS

Massachusetts 15.46
Stephen Harding
of Norfolk in the State of Mass.
who was a Spani: in the company commanded by Captain Boyd of the Regt commanded by Col. Breaton in the Mass ts line for 9 mo. & 14 days
Mass
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 31 Dollars 55 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of June '33 and sent W. Lovering Medway Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 - 63.10 Pemi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept " - 15.77 1/2
878.87
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm Miller Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 Page 33
82 Norfolk

Miss Stockholm Sweden 16 th century
p 20794
Ms. A. 9. 2. 20 Stockholm National Library of Sweden

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Norfolk ss.
On this twenty second 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 Braintree in and for said County, Stephen Harding a resident of Medway in said County, aged Eighty one, 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 Woodstock in the State of Connecticut — on the twenty second day of July A. D. 1751, and that there is a record of his birth in said Woodstock and that he was in the United States service from the 19th day of April A. D. 1775, to the first day of Jan y A. D. 1776 as a private in the Massachusetts State Troops — : that he was residing at Medway Norfolk County Mass.
when he entered the service; that he enlisted and served as a "minute man" until May 1, 1775 and thereafter served for the period aforesaid under the command of John Boga as Captain, Ebenezer Dyer as Lieut. and Joshua Gould as Ensign in what was called the "Eighty months service" : that he marched from said Medway to Roxbury, from Roxbury to Dorchester from Dorchester to Cambridge in Massachusetts : that he served at those places with the following field officers in John Grafton as Colonel of the regular troops; and Joseph Vose as Lieut. Col. Jonathan Loring as Major & William Heath Brig. Genl. Genl. Washington & regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received no written discharge: that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at Medway aforesaid — & that he has no documentary evidence of the service
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from the 29th day of July A. D. 1780, to the 1st day of Aug t A. D. 1780 being two weeks as a private in the 4th Regiment of Mass s Militia : that he was residing at Medway aforesaid
when he entered the service; that he was drafted on an alarm and served for the period aforesaid under the command of John Ellis as Capt. Stephen Clark as Lieut. and Major Seth Bullard commanding the Regt. : that he marched from Medway to , from to from to Division Rhode Island : that he served at Division with Luther Metcalf Esq t Benjamin Russell of the regular troops; and Oliver Richardson and Jonathan Fairbanks who regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle
and at the end of his service received no written discharge, & that he has no documentary evidence of the service
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from about the first day of Sept r A. D. 1777, to the first day of Oct r A. D. 1777 in the "Saratoga expedition" to Rhode Island : that he was residing at Medway
when he entered the service; that he enlisted and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Amos Ellis as Captain and Holbrook as Lieut. in Col. Benjamin Russell Regiment : that he marched from Medway to
, from to from to Little Compton in Rhode Island & quartered at Beers in that town: that he served at that place with Jonathan Fairbanks 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 no written discharge.

I Nathan Fairbanks of Medway named in the within statement of Stephen Harding of Scituate five years of age upwards do testify and say that I served in the "Eight months Service" so called in the Massachusetts State troops at the places & under the officers mentioned in said statement, from April 19. 1775 to January 1. 1776 and that said Stephen served with me during that whole period as he has stated.
I further state that I served with said Stephen there in the expedition to Division in Rhode Island in the year 1780 but cannot state the period of that service.
I also state that I served in the "recent expedition" so called at Little Compton in Rhode Island in the autumn of 1777 & that said Stephen served with me for one month and the officers and at the places mentioned in his statement in that clause.
Nathan Fairbanks
Norfolk ss August 22 1832 Then the above named Nathan Fairbanks made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed before me. Warren covering Master of the Peace in & for said County of Norfolk
I, Samuel Partridge of Medway named in the within statement of Stephen Harding of Scituate nine years of age and upwards, do testify & say that I served in the "Eight months Service" so called in the Massachusetts State troops at the places & under the officers mentioned in the first clause of said statement from April 19 1775 to January 1. 1776 and that said Stephen served with me during that whole period as he has stated.
I further state that I served in the " recent expedition" so called to Little Compton  Division in the State of Rhode Island in the summer of 1776 & that said Stephen served with me for nine days or more under the officers & at the places mentioned in that clause of his statement.
Samuel Partridge
Norfolk ss - August 22. 1832 - Then the above named Samuel Partridge made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed, before me.
Norfolk ss Augt 22 nd 1832 I hereby certify that Warren Covering is a justice of the peace for said County & that the name subscribed to the foregoing certificate is his hand writing. Isaac D. Dutton
Warren Covering Master of the Peace in & for said County of Norfolk

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 Stephen Harding, is borne upon the Pay rolls of Capt Amos Ellis Company in Col. Benjamin Haws Regt for the period of one month & seven days from the twenty fifth day of September 1777. Said Stephen Hardings name is also borne upon the Pay Roll of Capt John Boyd's Company in Col. John Dyer's Regt for the period of eight days from the nineteenth day of April 1775.
Edward D. Bangs. Secy

Your applicant further states that prior to the "Eight months" service aforesaid, he was enlisted as a "minute man" to serve under the Officers in the first clause mentioned, but was not called into actual service until April 19, 1775.
He further states that he possesses no documentary evidence of his revolutionary service except what is in the office of the Secretary of War.
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.
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.
Stephen Harding
We Seth Dean a clergyman, residing in the Town of Franklin in said County of Norfolk and Warren Loring residing in Medway
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Stephen Harding who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty one 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 as aforesaid.
Seth Dean, Warren Loring
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 abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certify that it appears to them that Seth Dean , who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Franklin; and that Warren Loring who has also signed the same is a resident in Medway and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Hermon Leland Judge of Probate
I Samuel Haxon, of the County of Bristol aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Stephen Harding for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Samuel Haxon

21794
Stephen Harding Map
Adm d as a private 9 mo 14 days $31.55
M. Lovering
Midway
15
155.11

BRIEF in the case of Col of Norfolk
Stephen Harding in the State of Mass (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 81  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. As a Gen.     April In 1775. enlisted 8 Private Colr Boyd Colr Greaton   29 July 1780. " 111 Colr Ellis Colr Hawes   Sept 1781. " 1 " " " "   4 14  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Norfolk. Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional — documents two Living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The witnesses are not attested credible 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Previous to April 1775. he belonged to a Minute Co.
George Taylor Examining Clerk.

I. S. C.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Survivor's File # 5453
Bureau of Pensions,
Rev. War.
Washington, D. C., Mch. 25, 1907.
Madam:-
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Stephen Harding , 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.
Only Stephen Harding found on the Revolutionary War pension records of this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apl. 19, 1775 8 mos. Private John Boyd John Greaton Mass.   Sept. 1, 1777 1 mo. " Amos Ellis Benjamin Hawes   July 29, 1780 2 wks. " John Ellis Seth Bullard            
Battles engaged in, none mentioned.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Medway, Norfolk Co., Mass.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 22, 1832. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Medway, Mass.
Age at date of application, Born July 27, 1751. Woodstock, Conn.
Remarks: Bureau record bears indorsement "Died Dec. 16, 1835."
Very respectfully,

Recheck ✓
5453 INVALID.
File No. 3453
Stephen Harding Brit PW War
Act: June 7 th 1832.
Index: Vol. Pm , Page 159
[Arrangement of 1870.]

21794
Stephen Harming

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

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? Certified by two Citizens 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? yes 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 Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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? yes 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.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Harding, Thomas GRADE Private LINE Maryland
WARRANT NUMBER 11809 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED October 14, 1795 To Henry Davis, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.