Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 2648, for Luke Merryman, Maryland
Page 1

(8 -- 1776)
SERVICE
Md

CONTENTS
Merryman, Luke

Elizabeth

NUMBER
W. 2648
B.L.M. 40690-160-55
Page 2

Reported
395
Maryland
Elizabeth Merrym
widow of Luke Merryman
who served in the Revolutiona
War, as a Private
two years

Inscribed
on the Roll at the rate
80 dollars  00
cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.

Certificate of Pension issued
31st day of
Oct r '4
and sent to 
A. Yearly
Baltimo
MD

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners,
February 29 1848 Page 255
July   B
Page 3

Vol M.G. [illegible]
246.235. Act Mar 3/55
May 24/56

Elizabeth Merryman wife of 
Luke Merryman, Pri.

Elizabeth Merryman
wife
Luke Merryman 
Priv.
Rev. War.
Pensioner


July 48 -395
W: 160 Ac. Aug. 29/56
[illegible]

John W. Ringrose
Baltimore
Md.
Page 4

246.235
Widow's Claim.

Mrs. Elizabeth
widow of Mr. Luke Merryman
She a Revolutionary Pensioner
certificate dated 29 July 1848 pension
payable in Baltimore Md. for $80 per year
She depends on it for his [illegible] [illegible]
Mailed at Baltimore, May 22d, 1856
Never applied nor [illegible].
bounty Land under any
act of Congress

JOHN W. RINGROSE, No. 20 N. Howard
street, Baltimore, Md.
Attorney.
Page 5

State of Maryland, City of Baltimore, Ss.
On this 22d day May 1856 A. D., before me, one of the Justices of the Peace, in and for the 
City and State aforesaid, personally appeared Mrs. 
Elizabeth Merryman aged 92 years, a resident of Baltimore County 
and State Maryland who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of 
Luke Merryman deceased, who was Soldier in the Revolution
and for his Captain [illegible] and his [illegible] She refers
to her pension payment dated 29 July 1848 as per certificate for
eighty dollars a year payable at Baltimore Md. and Reserved
in Pension office on the Roll of pensioners under date
of February 2d, 1848 page 255 vol 1. I [illegible] 
[illegible] and Counter Signed By [illegible] Edwards and Signed [illegible] Secretary of the 
Interior 
She further states that she was married to the said Luke Merryman 
in Baltimore County on the 27 day of June 1794 by one Mr. Bend
a Clergyman, and that her name before her said marriage was Elizabeth Gorsuch 
that her said husband died at Baltimore County on the 14 day of February 1813 
and that she is still a widow. She has no Record of Marriage, private or public, nor can she obtain any from Court,
and refers to the evidence below to establish the same. The evidence [illegible] her appearance for said Pension 
She further declares that she has not heretofore made application for Bounty Land under the Act approved the 28th
September, 1850 and never obtained a Warrant for 
for bounty Land under any Act of Congress 
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty Land to which she may be entitled under 
the Act approved March 3d, 1855, or any other act applicable to her case
Jarrett I Emmand    Elizabeth  Merryman her X mark
Robt Hays
We Nicholas Smith and Mary Merryman residents 
of Baltimore County upon our oaths, declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged 
by Elizabeth Merryman in our presence, and that we believe from the appearance 
and statement of the applicant that she is the person she represents herself to be. And we further declare that we
well knew Luke Merryman in his lifetime, and Elizabeth Merryman
now and at the same time, that they lived together as husband and wife, and was so regarded
by all that knew them, and that the said Luke Merryman died at Baltimore
County on or about the 14 day of February 1813 and that she, the said applicant is 
still a widow, and they are disinterested witnesses and we know her to be the Identical person who draws
the pension above cited
Test J.Y. Emmans Ncholas Smith
Robt Hays Mary Merryman
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me, on the day and year above
written, and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents
herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim and I certify I have examined her pension
certificate in its entirety Copied above [illegible] date 29 July 1848 for $80 per
year and recorded in pension rolls act. [illegible] 29 [illegible] page 255 Vol 1 Book D. 
State of Maryland, City of Baltimore, Ss. Daniel [illegible]
I certify, that Daniel [illegible] Esq., before whom the within affidavits were
made, and who has thereto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace of the City of
Baltimore and State of Maryland, duly commissioned and sworn,
In Testimony Whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of
the Superior Court of Baltimore
this 23d day of May 1856
Edward Dowling
Test Jarrett Y. Emmands
The Commissioner of Pensions will please deliver my Warrant to Capt.
J. W. RINGROSE, and oblige,
Elizabeth Merryman her X mark
Page 6

[illegible] 51.
Act 4 July 1836
Elizabeth Merryman
Maryland
Page 7

State of Maryland
Baltimore City

On this twentieth day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty six personally appeared before me (one of the Justices of the State and leity aforesaid) Elizabeth Merryman of the County of Baltimore and State aforesaid aged about sixty nine years who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 that she is the widow of Luke Merryman who was a private in the Maryland line in the war of the Revolution and that she was legally married to the said Luke Merryman and that her husband the said Luke Merryman died on the twenty third day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirteen and that she has remained a widow ever since that time.  Sworn and subscribed to before me on this day and year above written.
Elizabeth Merryman
her X mark
Subscribed and sworn to before me on the day and year above mentioned 
Tho W Griffith
Justice of the Peace
Page 8

State of Maryland Baltimore County [illegible]
Thereby certify that Thomas W Griffith,
gentleman, before whom the within Deposition 
was made, and who has signed his name 
thereto, was, at the time of so doing a Justice 
of the peace of the State of Maryland, in & for the
City of Baltimore, duly commissioned and Sworn.
In Testimony whereof hereto subscribe
my name, affix the Seal of Baltimore
County Court this twenty second day ┃
of August, Eighteen hundred and thirty six
Thomas Kell Clerk of Balto Co [illegible]
Page 9

No 434
Elizabeth Merryman
wd of Luke
Md
act - 29 July 1848
Married 1794
admitted
Pn 2 yrs of $80
[illegible] 4 March
1848

A. Yearly
Baltimore
Md
Page 10

On this thirty first day of May in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and forty nine before Charles Howard, John Hanson Briscoe and John Burnes, Justices of the Orpheus Court of Baltimore county and city, personally appeared in open court, Elizabeth Merryman a resident of Baltimore County, Maryland, aged 82 years, who being duly sworn according to Law doth, on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed on the 29th day of July 1848 entitled "An Act for the relief of certain surviving widows of officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary Army" that she is the widow of Luke Merryman who was a regular enlisted soldier of the Revolution in the Maryland line, and served till the close of the war in November 1783.  She further declared that she was married to the said Luke Merryman on the twenty ninth day of January seventeen hundred and ninety four, that her husband the aforesaid Luke Merryman died in the year eighteen hundred and thirteen.  That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but that the marriage took place previous to the second day of January eighteen hundred ? at the time above stated. She further swears that she is now a widow and that she had never before made any application for a pension from the United States.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before.
Charles Howard
John H. Briscoe
John Burnes

Justices of the Orpheus Court of Baltimore City and county

Elizabeth Merryman
X Mark
Page 11

Maryland Sct.
I hereby Certify, that Charles Howard, John
H. Briscoe and John Burnes Esquires, who have subscribed the 
aforegoing Certificate, were at the time of so doing, the three Justices
of the Orphans Court for Baltimore County, duly commissioned
and qualified according to Law.
In Testimony Whereof, I hereunto
subscribe my name and affix the Seal
of the said Orphans Court this thirty first
day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand 
eight hundred and forty nine
Test.
D. M. Perine
Register
Page 12

LAND OFFICE,
Annapolis,
18th July, 1838
I Certify, that it appears by a Pay Roll remaining in the Office, that Luke
Merryman, a private received of John Hamilton, 
Agent of the Maryland Line, $72.40 arrears of pay from the 1st August, 1780, 
to the 1st of January, 1782 also $80.00 pay from the 1st January, 1782, to the
1st January, 1783 also $43.30 from the 1st January, 1783, to the 15th of November, 1783.
Gratuity, Total received $195.70
George G Brewer
Register Land Office, W. S. Md.
Page 13

THE STATE OF MARYLAND,
Baltimore County, Sct.
I hereby Certify to all whom it doth or may concern, That on the
Twenty ninth day of January in the year of our Lord one
thousand Seven hundred and ninety four 
a License issued from the office of the Clerk of Baltimore County Court, directed
to the Reverend Mr. Bend or any other person qualified
by Law, to celebrate the rites of Marriage between a certain Luke Merryman
and Elizabeth Gorsuch of 
Baltimore County, according to Law; there appearing to him no lawful cause, or
just impediment, by reason of any consanguinity or affinity to hinder the same.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereto subscribe
my name and affix the Seal of Baltimore County
Court this twenty first day of April
1849
A.W. Bradford
Clerk Baltimore County Court.
Page 14

I, Henry Smith,
aged 80 years a resident
of Baltimore County in the State of Maryland
depose and say that I became acquainted with
Luke Merryman and Elizabeth his wife in the
Summer 1806; that they were both members of
the Methodist E. Church at Hooks Town in said
County, of which Church I then had charge as
Pastor; that they were known as man and wife
by the respectable society with which they 
associated; they then must have have had several
children the oldest of which being about 10 or 11 years 
of age;  that said Luke Merryman was reputed
to have been a solder in the Revolution; that he
died in or about the year 1813. (I was not present
but am persuaded of the the fact and he is buried
about one hundred rod from where I write) leaving the
said Elizabeth Merryman his wife a widow who
lives in this neighborhood Baltimore County afore
said, and has not married again since his death.
She is now upwards of 80 years of age, infirm
and worthy of a pension. I further testify
that I am not interested in the result of her
application for a pension from the United States
on account of the Military Services of her husband
in the war of the Revolution. Henry Smith
Subscribed and sworn to on this Eighth
day of May 1849  Before me the Subscriber and
certify the above named deponent is known to
me as a person of highly respectable and good
charity and intitled to credit.
William Pole. One of the Justices of the peace in and for
Baltimore County.
Page 15

I Caleb Merryman of Baltimore County
Maryland aged 52 years, depose and say that I was
intimately acquainted in the family of Luke Merryman late
of said County, decd being one of his sons by Elizabeth Merryman
his wife, now his widow, and was frequently at home with them untill
after his death in the year 1813. That they had two other
children prior to me, the first one of whom,
was born in the year 1795; they having been
married in the early part of 1794, as appears by their
Marriage Licence and the concurrent tradition and belief
of the Neighbourhood; that it is also the current belief and
tradition of his neighbourhood that he was a soldier of
the revolution; And I do further depose and say that the
Elizabeth Merryman who is now applying for a
Pension from the United States is the identical widow
of Luke Merryman above mentioned.
Caleb Merryman
Sworn to and subscribed
on this 22nd day of May - - 1849 Before me - And
I do hereby certify that the above named deponent is
known to me as a person of good character and 
entitled to credit.
William Cole
Justice of the Peace in and for
Baltimore County State of Maryland

State of Maryland,
Baltimore County, Sct.
I hereby Certify, That William Pole
Esquire before whom the annexed depositions taken and
who has thereto subscribed his name was at the
time of so doing A Justice of the Peace of the
State of Maryland, in and for the City of
Baltimore, duly commissioned and sworn.
In testimony whereof, I hereto set my hand and
affix the seal of Baltimore County Court, this
31st day of May A.D. 1849
A W Bradford
Clerk Baltimore County Court.
Page 16

Rev War
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 2648
Elizabeth Merryman
Widow
Luke Merryman
Pri. Rev. War
Act: July 29, 1848
Index: - Vol. M., Page 41
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 17

J. L. Edwards Esq  Baltimore May 31. 1849.
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
Herewith I send you my
Application for a Pension under the act of 29th July 1848, entitled
"An Act for the relief of certain surviving widows of Officers
and Soldiers of the revolutionary army". My Husband Luke
Merryman was a regularly enlisted Soldier of the Maryland
line in the war of the revolution, and served till the Peace in 1783. I was married to him on the 29th January 1794, And
he died in the year 1813 (say 1813) since which time I have
remained a widow having not intermarried again
Respectfully referring you to the enclosed
documents
I am
Your obt. Servant
Elizabeth Merryman her X mark
Witness. Mary Merryman
Sarah E Merryman
Be pleased to direct for me
to the care of Alex Yearley & Son, Baltimore
Page 18

State of Maryland, City of Baltimore S.S
On this 19th day of September 1849 Before me the Subscriber
a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland in and for the City of
Baltimore Personally appeared Samuel Merryman a resident
of Said City aged 65 years and made oath according to law
that he was personally acquainted with Luke Merryman, late
of Baltimore County decd from the year 1793 till his death
in 1813. That to his own knowledge said Luke Merryman
was received and recognised by his old acquaintance and
the public as having been a soldier of the revolution in the
Maryland line. That he was also acquainted with his wife (now
his widow) Elizabeth Merryman from the time of their Marriage
to this present time; That she has not married again Since his
death but continues the widow of said Luke Merryman who
was a soldier of the Maryland line, and that she now
resides in Baltimore County and is applying for a pension
from the United States under the provisions of the Act of
Congress passed 29 July 1848 - in which matter he is not
interested
Samuel Merriman
Sworn to and subscribed
before me on the day and year
first above written. And I do hereby certify that the above
named deponent is known to me as a person of good character
and entitled to credit
Basil Root
Page 19

State of Maryland, City of Baltimore S.S
I, Mary Frost, a resident of the City of Baltimore, late of
Baltimore County, Maryland, aged 70 years, depose and say
That I was for many years acquainted with Luke Merryman, late
of Baltimore County decd - That he was well and publicly known
and recognized as having been a soldier of the revolution of the
Maryland line. That he died in the year 1813, leaving Elizabeth
Merryman his widow; That my acquaintance with her, commenced
prior to their marriage in 1794. That she resides in Baltimore
County aforesaid, and has not married again since his death
but still remains his widow. That she his said widow, is
now and has been for many years receiving a revolutionary
Pension from the State of Maryland on account of his military
Services in said Maryland line. And that the Elizabeth
Merryman who is now applying for a Pension from the United States
under the act of Congress passed July 29, 1848 as the
widow of Luke Merryman of the Maryland line, is the
identical person above mentioned; in the results of which
application I am not interested
Mary Frost
Sworn to and subscribed before me:
on this Eighteenth day of September 1849
And I do hereby certify that I am satisfied from oral testimony before me
given under oath, the said deponent Mary Frost is a person of
good character and entitled to credit
Wm L. Snyder
Page 20

State of Mayland
Baltimore County, Sct.
I hereby Certify, That Bazil Root and John I Snyder
Esquires before whom the annexed affidavits were made and
who have hereto subscribed their names were at the
time of so doing two Justices of the Peace of the
State of Maryland, in and for the City of
Baltimore, duly commissioned and sworn.
In testimony whereof, I hereto set my hand and
affix the seal of Baltimore County Court, this
Nineteenth day of September A.D. 1849
A. W. Bradford
Clerk Baltimore County Court.
Page 21

Sept. 21st, 1849
adde. end case
Elizabeth Merryman
Wid of Luke

J. L. Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington

A. Yearly
Page 22

J. L. Edwards Esq Baltimore Sep 19 1849
Com. of Pensions
Sir
In reply to your letter of the 10th inst, in the
case of Elizabeth Merryman, widow of Luke Merryman, a Soldier
of the revolution of the Maryland line, we send you the depositions
of two respectable witnesses Showing that she is the identical
widow of said Luke Merryman of the Maryland line
We will add, that, to our own knowledge (underlined), the
Elizabeth Merryman now applying for a U.S. Pension is the
identical person who has received and is now receiving
revolutionary Pension from the State of Maryland as the
widow of Luke Merryman who was a Soldier of the
revolution of the Maryland line.
Your early attention is particularly
requested in behalf of Mr. Merryman (underlined)
Yours Respectfully
Alex Yearley & Son
Page 23

Oct [illegible]
Mr W. Allison
By favor of
Mr. Johnson
J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
Page 24

Baltimore Oct. 25, 1849
J. L. Edwards Esq
Comr of Pensions

Respected Sir
Be not offended at my
importunity in requesting a decision in the case of Elizabeth
Merryman, widow of Luke Merryman, (who was a Soldier of the
revolution) under the act of July 29. 1848. * In obedience
to your letter of Sep 10. 1849, I sent you on 19th Sep. additional
proof of her identity as the widow of said Luke Merryman a
Soldier of the revolution; And I will just state that of my own
knowledge She is the identical person who has received
(and is now receiving) a Pension of 40 $ per annum as the
widow of said Luke Merryman, from the State of Maryland,
on account of his military Services in the War of the revolution.
Said Elizabeth Merryman is a very respectable
old lady - she is very aged and infirm, and is now confined
to her chamber with sickness & old age : she is poor & needy.
Yours with much respect
Alex Yearley
* She never before applied to the U. State for Pension
Page 25

State of Maryland
City of Baltimore

Orphans Court
of Baltimore County

Personally appeared in Open
Court, this Twentieth day of August, in the year
Eighteen hundred and thirty six, Samuel
Merryman, who made oath on the Holy
Evangely of Almighty God, that he was
personally and intimately acquainted 
with Luke Merryman, late of Baltimore
County who was a soldier in the Continental
Army of the United States of America, and
that the said Luke Merryman died in the
year Eighteen hundred and thirteen, leaving
a widow named Elizabeth Merryman, now
aged about sixty nine years, who contines
the widow of said Luke Merryman at
this present time.
Sworn to in open Court.
Henry Tayson
Baltimore County [illegible]
I hereby certify that it
appears by the records and proceedings of
the Orphans Court of Baltimore County,
that the Honorable Henry Tayson
Page 26

who appears to have taken certified and
Signed, the within and aforegoing depostion
of Samuel Merryman, was at the
time of so doing one of the Justices of the
Orphans Court of Baltimore County in
the State of Maryland, duly commissioned
and sworn, and that to all acts by him
done in that Capacity, full faith and
credit are Due and ought to be given
as well in Courts of Justice as thereout.
In Testimony whereof
I hereunto subscribe my
name, and affix the seal
of my office, this Twentieth
Day of August in the year
of our Lord, One thousand
Eight hundred & thirty six.
D. M. Perine Regr
Page 27

246.2357
BALTIMORE MD
MAY 24
FREE
J. Minot Esq
Commission of pension
Washington City
C D.
Page 28

II
40.690
Rev Army
Page 29

No 434
Elizabeth Merryman
Md
Letter Alex Yearly office 10th Sept 1849.
Act 29 July 1848
Page 30

Act 4 July 1836
Elizabeth Merryman
Maryland
Suspended
Rejected [strikethrough]
-
See letter 27 Aug
1836. Jno M. Stewart.
-
[illegible] [strikethrough]