Revolutionary War Pension Record of Abraham Briggs Contributed by Carolyn Briggs Style, February 1998. From National Archives, New England Regional Office, 380 Trapelo Road, Waltham. July 15, 1992 ****************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ****************************************************************** page 1 of the Abraham Briggs record. Continental RI Abraham Briggs S12287 page 2 Hon. Lewis Cass (?) Secretary of War I hereby make application for an increase of pension under the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 and state that I served as a corporal one year and one year as a private in Capt. Gideon Westcotts company and Colo. Robert Elliots regiment of artillery. That I now reside in the town of Rensselaerville in the County of Albany and State of New York and that I am unable to write my name having never been taught to write. I herewith send my pension certificate- Please direct any communication you may make upon this subject to JB Moore Esq, Rensselaerville, New York. Abraham Briggs (his mark) Rensselaerville Sept. 6, 1832 Witness John Becker JB Moore page 3 Abraham Briggs affidavit [+c] for Pension for Revolutionary Services Rome N.Y. Abraham Briggs private Col Varnums Regt 1776 -- year 6th April 1818 The deposition of two credible and disinterested witnesses, duly to be take and authorized (or the certificate of an officer of the Regiment) to prove the service of applicant is required page 4 State of New York & County of Oneida Abraham Briggs being duly sworn declareth & saith(?) that he is a resident [litrinen ? or could be citizen see top of pg 9] of the United States. And that in the year of 1775 he enlisted into the service of the United States & served in the company of Capt. Thomas Holden in Colo. Varnums Regt. in General Greens Brigade, the term was 9 months which he served, that he was discharged without any written discharge. That in the year 1776, he again enlisted for the term of one year & served that term in the company of Capt. Nathaniel Hawkins in the same Regt. & Brigade as before -- and that in the year 1777 he enlisted into Capt Reuben Ballou company for the term of nine months in Colo. Archibald Crary's Regt. -- said two Regts. were in the Rhode Island line; & that in the forepart of the year 1778 he enlisted into the company of Capt. Gideon Westcot in Colo. Robert Elliot's Regt. Artillery for the term of one year & served that term out --& at the end of that year & in the beginning of the year 1779 he again enlisted for one year more in the same company & Regt. & in all these cases he served his time out and was honourably Discharged, but has not kept any of his discharges, & that now by reason of his reduced circumstances page 5 he need (sic) the assistance of his country for his support. Abraham Briggs (his mark) Sworn to and subscribed this 6th day of April 1818 before me J. Hathaway I Joshua Hathaway Judge & as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Abraham Briggs did serve in the revolutionary War for the several terms as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy-- I further certify from my own knowledge he is a poor man & in very reduced circumstances & stands in need of assistance from his Country for support --Dated at Rome in the County & State aforesaid this 6th day of April 1818 Joshua Hathaway (signature) I Francis A Woodgood (?) Clerk of the County of Oneida aforesaid in the State of New York do hereby certify that Joshua Hathaway before whom the above affidavit appears to have been made was on the 6th day of April last past, one of the acting judges in the Court of Common Pleas in & for said County under the Authority of this State. In testimony whereof I page 6 have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said county & this 14th day of September 1818 Francis Woodgood Clk (signature) State of New York County of Oneida Sarah Briggs and Samuel Briggs of Whitestown in Said county being duly sworn depose & say-- I first the said Sarah saith that she is eighty one years of age & that she is the mother of the within deponent (?) Abraham Briggs, & that she well recollects that her said son Abraham enlisted & went into the Army the year when Bunker Hill battle was fought & that at the close of that campaign he returned home to Rhoad (sic) Island here this deponent then lived & staid (sic) at home but one night & then went on with the army for New York & was gone through the season until sometime in the fall when he again came home & that afterward he enlisted several times & continued in the army almost the whole of the time through the revolutionary war--A the said Samuel saith that he is the Brother to the said Abraham Briggs & recollects in substance the same as is above stated, & that he well remembers that after the said Abraham returned from New York as afors'd he enlisted into the army of the United States, & that he served within the State of Rhoad (sic) Island & that this deponent often visited him whilst in the army & saw him clothed in the uniform of the army --& that he continued in service nearly the whole of the revolutionary war. page 7 this deponent saith that he is fifty seven years of age & that according to his best information the said Abraham is about sixty three years of age. Sworn to and subscribed this 21st day of May 1819 before me Sarah Briggs (her mark) Ezekial Bacon (?) one of the judges Samuel Briggs (his mark) of the Court of Com Pleas for The above named Sarah & the County of Oneida Samuel are credible Witnesses ( Ezekial Bacon) judge of Oneida Common Pleas Clerks Office Oneida County I Certify that Ezekial Bacon was a judge of the County of Oneida at the time of taking the above Affidavit and that the above signature of the said Judge appears to be of his own proper hand writing. Witness the seal of Said County and my hand this twenty first day of May 1891 Francis A Woodgood Esq.(?) page 8 Abraham Briggs 12981 Whitestown July 19 page 9 State of New York County of Oneida At a Court of Common Pleas being a Court of Record held at Whitestown on the eighth day of Septs AD 1820 in the aforesaid County personally appeared Abraham Briggs in Open Court aged sixty two years resident in Whitestown in said County who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war in Colo Varnums Regt. & in the Companies Commanded by Capt Thos. Holden & Nathaniel Hawkins in the Rhode Island line for more than nine months. And that the date of his original declaration of said services is the 6th of April 1818 & the number of his Pension Certificate is 12,931 and I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th 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 [??] to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & Naval Service of the United States in the revolutionary War [?] on the 18 day of March 1818 & that I have not nor has nay person in trust form me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me; not have I any income other that what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed by me. Abraham Briggs (his mark) Subscribed by J Hathaway sworn to this 8th day of September 1820 before Ez Bacon Judge of Court Common Pleas Schedule [note: handwriting very difficult to read. Don't know the significance of what appears to be "Do" written in many items] 1 Three pail Kettle . . . 2.25 1 one and a half Do . . . 1.75 1 Sea Do . . .75 2 Dish Do . . .62 1 spider . . . . . . . .74 1 skillet . . . . . . . .25 1 pair fire dogs . . . . 1.50 1 Do flatts . . 1.00 1 shovel and tongs . . . 0.50 1 table and 5 chairs . . 1.75 6 plates &6 knives&forks 1.25 1 teapot & 6 cups&saucers . . 1.25 4 bowles & 3 old pails . 1.00 2 hogs 1 cow 1 calf. . . 24.00 (?) J. Hathaway $38.87 Abraham Briggs (his mark) page 10 I further testify that my occupation is that of a Shoemaker that I am not able to labour but a very little by reason of old age & other infirmities having a [Catch?] in my body which was brought upon me by reason of hardships of the Campaign of 1775. I have a wife who is 58 years of age --one son of 20 years of age who lives with me apart of the time & a daughter who is 18 years old. These children are my principal support & their ages are such that they will go for themselves in a short time. Abraham Briggs (his mark) J. Hathaway sworn to & declared this day & date first above written Ez Bacon Judge of Oneida Com. Pleas State of New York Oneida Com Pleas being a Court of Record of this term of September 1820 --The whole of these proceedings was had in open Court & in the opinion of the Court the total amount in Value of the property exhibited in the above schedule is thirty eight dollars and eighty seven cents-- I Francis A Woodgood Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Oneida do hereby certify that the forgoing oath and the Schedule thereunto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said court and I further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in Value of the property exhibit within aforesaid schedule is thirty eight dollars and eighty seven cents. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court on this eighth day of Sept 1820 Francis A Woodgood (signed) page 11 In reply to your request of_____________, received_____________ for a statement of the military history of Abraham Briggs a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (-----------------) application for pen-sion on file in this Bureau Dates of enlistment or appointment Length of Service Rank Officers under whom Service was rendered State Captain Colonel 1775 9 mos Thomas Holden Varnum Regt R.I 1776 1 year Nathaniel Hawkins Varnum Regt 1777 9 mos Reuben Ballou Archibald Crary 1778 1 year Private Gideon Westcott Robert Elliot 1779 1 year Corporal Gideon Westcott Robert Elliot Battles engaged in, ________________________________________________________ Residence of soldier at enlistment, _________________________________________ Date of application for pension, Apl 6, 1818, His claim was allowed. Residence at Date of Application, Oneida County New York Age at date of application, sixty two in 1820 Remarks: In 1818 his mother Sarah Briggs was 81 years old & his brother Samuel 57 yrs. old In 1820 he resided at Whitestown, NY and referred to his wife as 58 yrs, son 20 yrs, & dau 18 yrs but did not state their names. In 1832 he resided at Rensselaerville, N.Y. Respectfully, page 12 1914 Apl. 25 Hist to Mrs E.J. Colley 12,287 INVALID File No. 12,287 Abraham Briggs Matross Rev. War Act: June 7th 1832 Index:--Vol. A, Page 47 [arrangement of 1870] page 13 dead Notifc sent Nov 17 1820 to Joshua Hathaway , Rome NY 21 Nov letter JB Moore 12981 New York Abraham Briggs of Oneida in the State of New York who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Varnum of the R Island line, for the term of 1 year 1776. ----------------------------------- Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 8 dollars per month, to commence on the 6 of April 1818 ---------------------------------- Certificate of Pension issued the 27 of July 1817 and Sent to Joshua Hathaway Rome, New York ----------------------------------- Arrears to 4th of March 1819 87.69 Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept. 19 48 10 25/30 4/31 $135.69 [Revolutionary claim, Act March, 1818} Continued page 14 Abram Briggs Payable semi-annually. The first payment on this Certificate will be made on the $th of September next in New York, at the Branch Bank of the U States(?) Gideon Westcotts Com. Artillery, Col. R Elliotts Regt. Whitestown, 4 years Schuyler NY 4 Mar 1820 [can't read--think it's a signature] page 15 War Department Revolutionary Claim I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18 of March, 1818, Abraham Briggs late a Private in teh Army of the Revolution is inscribed on the Pension List, roll of the New York Agency, at the rate of Eight dollars per month, to commence on the 6 the day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. Given at the War Office of the United States , this 29th day of July one thousand eight hundred and Nineteen J L Calhoun (sig)Secretary of War page 16 State of New York Rome July 14, 1819 Dear Sirs, ( Inclosed is the case of Jacob Multer, I have added teh affidavits of three witnesses to wi Keller, Walter and M. Kinly, the authority who took the two first has not dertified to their credibility, but I hae certifyed to the credibility of M. Kinley & Armstrong, I thik these two are sufficient, but as the other has just come to hand I thought it best to sent that also.) the Case of Abraham Briggs is also inclosed, with the affidavits of his Mother and Brother, the only additional proof that can at present be obtained-- am respectfully Joshua Hathaway the Honble JL Calhoun page 17 ( date stamped D Apr 22 1914 Pension Office U.S.) 655 Chetwood St Oakland California Pension Bureau Washington DC Sirs-- Will you kindly inform me if it is permissible whether on your roll the name of Abraham Briggs of R. Island appears as a Revolutionary pensioner or soldier Very respectfully Mrs. E J Colley Apr 17 1914 page 18 655 Chetwood St. Oakland Calif G.M Seltzyako (?) Commissioner Dear Sir, Kindly receive my sincere thanks for data sent me regarding the military history of Abraham Briggs-- very respectfully, Mrs EJ Colley May 1 1914