I, James Boaz of Portland in the County of Cumberland, on oath declare and say that I was born in Plymouth in Massachusetts which was my place of residence when I enlisted at Cambridge in the year 1780 or thereabouts and joined Capt Abraham Watson’s Company which belonged to Col Graton’s Regiment and Gen1 Glover’s Brigade. That I joined the army at Westpoint and marched to Pennsylvania to suppress the Insurrection, and that I belonged to Capt Samuel Jackson’s Company in Col Sproul’s Regiment, when discharged which was on account of the close of the war. although I served sometime after hostilities had ceased —in the whole three years. and I have been on the Pension Roll since April 1819. my pay commencing back to April 1818. My discharge is lost. My place of residence March 17 1835 . and for many years before, was and is now in Portland I am Eighty One years old—have never received any grant of Land or money from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts , nor has any person claiming under me. I am justly entitled to receive a grant of Land under the Resolve of the last Legislature.
his
James X Boaz
mark
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Portland June 26. 1835
William Woart Jr Esq
De Sir
I send you the application of James Boaz for a grant of Land. As he is a very aged and poor old fellow (a negro) & not able to send any one to select for him, I must ask of you to select a lot as good as any if you know any difference, for he is really deserving of a good one having been a very good soldier. I send also the Deposition of Genl John K. Smith and a letter from the Pension office which I think will, taken together, establish the fact of his having served three years. Smith & Boaz are both upwards of eighty years of age, and cannot be supposed to recollect with entire certainty. Please send the deed when executed to me and I will hand it to him
Yours respectfully
Charles Harding
SOURCE: Sherman, Sylvia J., Ed. Dubros Times. Maine State Archives. Augusta. 1975.
See the background for the depositions.https://maineanencyclopedia.com/revolutionary-war-veterans/