Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 1253, William Emerson, Mass. Mass. Sea Service
Page 1

Service
Mass.
Mass. Sea Service
Emerson, William
Emmerson
Lydia
Number W. 1253
B.L.Wt. 17562-160-155
Page 2

21325
Massachusetts
William Emerson
of Middlesex in the State of Mass
who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Bancroft of the Rgt commanded by Col. Tupper in the Mass
line for 12 months 14 days

Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 40 Dollars 45 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of Sept 
1833 and Leah Isaac Fiske Est [East] Cambridge Mass 
Arrears to the 4th of June 1833 $101.12
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar "34 20.23
$121.35

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by D. D. Addison, Clerk,
Book 8 Vol. 2 Page 21
Page 3

1,105
Massachusetts
Lydia Emmerson
widow of William Emmerson
who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a private
Massachusetts line
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 40 Dollars 45
Cents per annum, to commence on the *4th day of March 1848* [crossed out] 
3 Feb. 1853
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of July  "5[illegible]
and sent to
F. Hall
39 State St.
Boston

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under
*July 29, 1848*, [crossed out] Page 39 Vol.
3 Feb. 1853
Page 4

132 636
Act. Mar 31
May 14th 55
Lydia Emerson, wid of William Emerson Privt.
Col. Tupper,
Mass. Contl. line
Revolutionary Pensioner
11th June /32
Widow has been pensioned 
3d Feb. /53
Rev War
AO: 160 [illegible] Feb: 20/56
Mass Feby 53 -  1105 [illegible]

No 17562 Feb 26 / 56

Franklin Hall
Boston Mass
Vol. E. 101.
Page 5

Wm. Emerson. 26170 
Private 12 Mo & 4 day 
Capt Bancroft's Compy 
Col Tuppers Regt

45 
2 
---
20 
32
1.2

Isaac Fiske East Cambridge Mass
Page 6

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS: COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ss. 

On this fifth day of September A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the HONORABLE SAMUEL P. P. FAY, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Middlesex aforesaid, now sitting, William Emerson, resident of Malden in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, aged 72 years, 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 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: 

in June 1777 he enlisted in Reading as a private & marched to Boston where he was employed under Colonel Burbank who was then acting as engineer in repairing the fortifications at Castle William in Boston Harbor & served there three months till he was discharged:  in July 1778 he enlisted at Reading & marched to Rhode Island where he served in the company commanded by Captain John Dix in Col McIntosh Regiment for one month fifteen days: in July 1779 he was pressed into the State's service on board Ship Hunter of 20 guns  Captain Nathan Brown & sailed with him under Commodore Saltonstall to Penobscot, in which expedition he served two months-- making in the whole six months & fifteen days. 

And that he enlisted in the army of the United States in June 1780 at Reading & marched to West Point in the State of New York where he served under Captain Thomas Francis in the eleventh Regiment Massachusetts line Colonel Tupper, Brigadier General Patterson, stationed at West Point & afterwards marched about Jerseys & served in said company six months, till discharge

m. d. 
3.00
1.15
2.00
------
6.15
6-
------
12.15
Page 7

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. - William Emerson
 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
JUDGE OF PROBATE. 

We Reuben Emerson - a clergyman residing in South Reading within three miles of Wm. Emerson and John Hart Esquire a magistrate, residing in South Reading aforesaid, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Emerson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 72 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. 
John Hart 
Reuben Emerson

Subscribed and sworn to before J. P. P. Fay Prob
Page 8

And the said Court hereby declares its 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 certifies that Reuben Emerson who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman resident in South Reading and that the said John Hart who has also signed the same is a Magistrate resident at South Reading a town adjourning Malden and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit. and that they live in the vicinity of the applicant 
S.P. P. Fay Prob

I, ISAAC FISKE, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Middlesex aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application William Emerson for a pension. 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this fifth day of September A.D. 1832 Isaac Fiske
Page 9

State of Massachusetts
Middlesex County,
⎬
On this second day of May
A.D. 1833, personally appeared in open court,
before the subscriber, Judge of Probate within
and for said County, Lydia Emerson, a resident of Melrose in said County, aged 75
years, who being first duly sworn according to
law, doth on her oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the benefits
of
the provisions of the second section of the act
of Congress passed February 3d 1833.
That she is the widow of William
Emerson, who was a Pensioner of the United States
under the act of June 7, 1832, at the rate
of forty 25/100 dollars per annum, on account
of his services in the war of the Revolution
and was paid at the Boston Agency, & for
proof of said services she refers to the evidence
on file at the Pension Office upon which said
pension was granted
She further declares that she was married
---
---
to said William Emerson on the Eighth day of
July, Eighteen hundred and thirty four; that
her said husband died on the twenty third
day of July Eighteen hundred & forty eight: that
she was not married to him prior to the second
day of January, Eighteen hundred, but at the
time above stated. She further declares that
she is now a widow & that she has appoin
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ted Franklin Hall of Boston her true
& lawful attorney for her and in her name
to prosecute her claim under the above
named act
Lydia Emerson
Sworn to, subscribed & acknowledged the
day and year above written, before me, and
I
certify that I have no interest in the
claim of the declarant to a pension &
am not concerned in its prosecution
S.P.P. Fay
J Rob
Page 11

I, Nathaniel Howard of Melrose (formerly Malden) in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on oath depose & say, that I am well acquainted with Lydia Emerson the within declarant, and have been for forty years; that she was the wife and is now the widow of William Emerson dec'd; that said William Emerson was a Revolutionary pensioner of the United State; that I am the Sexton of said Melrose: that said William Emerson died on the twenty nine'd day of July, 1848. and his funeral was attended by me in my official capacity on the second day there after.
Nathaniel Howard
Middlesex Ss. May 2nd. 1853. Sworn to and subscribed by the said Nathaniel Howard before me & I certify that I have no interest in the claim of Lydia Emerson to a pension & am not concerned in its prosecution
Jon'tn Cochran Justice of the Peace
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STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, COUNTY of Middlesex ss. 
On this Twenty first day of April one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Lydia Emerson aged  seventy seven years, a resident of Melrose in the County and State aforesaid, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of William Emerson who was a private in the war of the Revolution, and continued in actual service in said war for the term of at least fourteen days, and was honorably discharged from said service for proof of which facts, she refers to the evidence on file in the Pension Office, upon which a Pension was granted her said husband under the Act of June 7, 1832. 

She further declares that she was married to the said William Emerson on the Eighth day of July one thousand eight hundred and thirty four; that her name, before her said marriage, was Lydia Green; that her said husband died on the twenty third day of July one thousand eight hundred and forty eight at Malden (now Melrose) and that she is still a widow; and for proof thereof she refers to the evidence on file with her application for a pension under the 2d section of the Act of 3d February 1833 Her Pension Certificate is dated 30th July 1853 
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty Land to which she may be entitled under the Act approved March 3, 1855, and has appointed Franklin Hall, of Boston, her true and lawful attorney for her and in her name to prosecute her claim. 

SIGNED AND SEALED TWO WITNESSES. IN PRESENCE OF Henry Sprague Aaron Vinton Jr 
Lydia Emerson
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AFFIDAVIT OF TWO WITNESSES.
We,  Henry Sprague
and Aaron Vinton Jr
residents of Melrose in the County and State aforesaid, upon our oaths declare that the
foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by the above named Lydia Emerson
in our presence, and that we believe, from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that she is the identical
person she represents herself to be.
We further declare that we were well acquainted with the said William Emerson
and Lydia Emerson
his wife (now his widow) during the life time of the former,
and knew them to live together as husband and wife and to have been so generally reputed. That her said husband,
the said William Emerson died at Malden (now Melrose) on or
about the twenty third day of July 1848, and that she is still
a widow, and that we have no interest in this claim.
Henry Sprague

Aaron Vinton Jr
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed 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.
J. M. Thresher
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, May 11. 1853
Hereby Certify, That at the date of the attestatation hereunto annexed,
J. M. Thresher was a
Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex

in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that
to
his
acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and
ought to be given, in and out of Court
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal
of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
E M Wright
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
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Mrs. Lydia Emerson
Page 16

Here insert
a copy of the
record writing
and the date
[illegible]

State of Massachusetts, County of
Middlesex &
Town of Malden
Marriages Solemnized by Rev Nathan B Spalding
Minister of the Centre Methodist Episcopal Church
in Malden viz Mr William Emerson and
Miss Lydia Green both of Malden. July the Eighth
one thousand Eight Hundred and thirty four
Recd and Recorded by me
G Haven Town Clerk

I hereby certify that the above is a true
copy of the record with the exception of the
date, which is expressed on the record in
fair legible figures as follows viz. July 7th 1834
Thos Wait Jr Town Clerk
I, Thomas Wait Jr. on oath depose & say
that I hold the office of Clerk in the
Town, County and State aforesaid, and that the
above is a true extract from the records
of said Town with the exception above
named as certified by me,

Thos Wait Jr
Clerk of the
Town of Malden
Middlesex ss. April 16th 1853. Sworn to and
subscribed before me, & I certify that I have
no interest in the claim of Lydia Emerson
to a pension & am not concerned in its prosecution

BG Hill
Justice of the Peace.
Page 17

Rev.
Widow, &c.

File No. 1253
Lydia Emerson
Widow
William Emerson

Priv. Rev. War
Act Feb. 3 1853.

Index: Vol. H, Page 217

[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 18

17562

Rev Army
Page 19

Declaration made 2nd May 1853 in Probate Court.
Middlesex County Massachusetts

Marriage 8 July 1834
Certificate on file
Husband died
23 July 1848
Nathaniel Howard Sexton of Melrose
Swears
he knew
Lydia Emerson for
40 years
she was the wife, and is
now the Widow of Williamson, who
was a Revolutionary
Pensioner of the
United States
He attended
in his official capacity
the funeral of William Emerson in
on the second day after his death
Page 20

{illegible} Mass:
Boynton
Page 21

bearing even by some on the files of no
Office, relating the claim of Mrs. Martha Morris
for bounty land, as the widow of Wm Morris, Deceased
Page 22

this page appears to be completely blank.
Page 23

Pension Office
25 July 1853
This case is
respectfully referred
to 3d Auditor for date of death of Pensioner, and the
date of last payment made to him.
Respectfully,
S Cole
Chief Clerk
D. M. C. (see other side)

William Emerson, act 7 June
32. Died 23rd July 1848, paid to
his death
F Buch
Auditor
Page 24

May 9. 1833
No. 1607
Appl. of Lydia
Emerson widow of 
William.

Mass:
21325

Act 3d Feby: 1853

Allowed 30 July 53 at $40.45
from 3 Feby 1853 
Rev: D. McCook 
Ex. Clerk

Franklin Hall
39. State St. 
Boston 
Mass

[illegible] in County}
Evidence  complete}

Department of the Interior,
Pension Office, Official Business
Page 25

Wm. Emerson
Page 26

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Decemr. 18th 1832.
* 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 William Emerson has served under the following Officers Viz.

Term of service

| Captains | Colonels | When Enterd | Claimd Mo days | on Rolls found Mo. days | Where Stationed

| John Dix | McIntosh | 1778 August 1st. | 1 .. 15 | 1 . 15 | Rhode Island

| Jas. Bancroft |  | detach'd from Springfield At Reading Enlisted in July 5th 1780 [illegible] | 6 .. mo | 5 .. 19. | to reinforce the army at West Point

| Nathn Brown | | Ship Hunter Press'd on board in Salem | 1779 | 2 . 0 . __ 9 .. 15 | 0 . 0 __ 7 .. 4 . | Penobscot expedition

Whole time of service found on Rolls is Seven Months & four Days

Edward D Bangs. Secy
Page 27

I Nathaniel Cowdry of North Reading in the County of Middlesex, Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of seventy two years on oath depose and say, that some time in the month of June in the year 1777 I enlisted in Reading in the States service under Colonel Burbank & was marched to Boston where I was employed in repairing the fortifications at castle William in the harbor and that William Emerson of Malden enlisted at the same time in the same service and served out the time of his enlistment there which was three months.  
Nathanial Cowdry

Aug 28th 1832. Then the aforementioned Nathaniel Cowdry personally appeared before me and made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true and is a creditable and disinterested witness. 
John Hart Justice Peace

I Nathaniel Cowdry abovewritten on oath depose & say that in the first part of July 1779 myself & the above named William Emerson were pressed into the rate's service on board the Ship Hunter of 20 guns Captain Nathan Brown & sailed in said ship as a part of Commodore Saltonstall's fleet to Penobscot in which we served two months.
Nathl  Cowdry
(turn over.)
Page 28

Aug. 28. 1832. When the within written Nathaniel Cowdry personally appeared before me & made oath that the record within written deposition by him subscribed is true, & he is a credible & disinterested witness.
John Hart Justice _ Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I Isaac Fisk Regent of the Court of Probate in & for the County of Middlesex, hereby certify that John Hart whose proper signature is set to the preceeding Certificates & that Peter Hay whose own proper signature is set to the Certificate on his Depositon of Thomas Green & Jonathan Noble hereto annexed are Justices of the Peace within said County of Middlesex. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this fifth day of September AD 1832
Isaac Fiske

[there is the partial image of a round seal]
Page 29

We, Thomas Green  an Jonathan Noble both of the Town of Stoneham in the County of Middlesix [Middlesex] and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do certify and say that William Emerson of Malden in said County served as a common Soldier at Rhodeisland [Rhode Island] in the year 1778, in the war of the Revolution  For the term of six weeks, in a Militia Company Commanded by Capt. John Dix, in Col. McIntosh's Regiment and Gen. Lovel's Brigade, To which company we both belonged at that time.           
Thomas Green
Jonathan Noble
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesix [Middlesex], ss. July the 10th day, AD. 1832
Personally appeared the above named Thomas Green and Jonathan Nobles, before me Peter Hay, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County and made oath to truth of the above deposition by them subscribed. _
And further I hereby certify that the above named Thomas Green and Jonathan Noble are persons who may be depended on for truth and veracity in my opinion and that they both are creditable witnesses.
Peter Hay } Justice of the Peace.
Page 30

39 State St. Boston.
May 7, 1853
Sir,
Enclosed herewith I send the application of Lydia Emerson widow of William Emerson dec'd [deceased]  formerly a pensioner under the law of 7th June 1832 at the rate of $40.45 per annum, for a pension under the second section of the Act of Feb. 3d. 1853.
I am, Sir, Most respectfully
Your Obdt. Servt.
Franklin Hall.
Page 31

Lydia Emerson
Wid. of 
William Emerson
$40.45

Died 23 day 1848

Franklin Hall
39 State Street
Boston Mass
Page 32

Brief in the case of Lydia Emerson Wid, Wm Emerson
of Middlesex County and State of Massachusetts.
under the act of 3rd Feby 1853
____________________________________________________
Claim, ("original," or "for increase."
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls?  If either, state the substance.

William Emerson was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States, under the Act 7. June 1832, at the rate of $40.45 and who died 23 July 1848.
Lydia Emerson his widow in the Probate Court of the County & State aforesaid filed her application for a pension under the Act 3d Feby 1853-  .......
(Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim?  If so, what?.....)
From the evidence on file it appears that She was lawfully married to the said Wm Emerson, that he died as aforesaid, that She is the Widow of the identical Wm Emerson who was a Pensioner of the United States- and that She has continued to remain his Widow__ Her name is inscribed on the Pension Roll of the United States at the rate of $40.45 cents per Annum from the 3rd Feby 1853_
July 30th 1853

Name and residence of Agent}
Franklin Hale Esq}               Daniel McCook
39 State Street}                      Examining Clerk.
Boston Mass}
Page 33

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
________________________________________________
Secretary's Office, Boston, May 7th 1853,
I hereby Certify, That at the dates of the annexed attestations Saml P.P. Fay was Judge of Probate & B. G. Hill and Jonathan Cochrane were Justices of the Peace for the county of Middlesex in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to their acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be give, in and out of Court.

In Testimony  Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.

E M Wright 
Secretary of the Commonwealth