Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15520, James Alger, Mass.
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Mass.
Alger, James
Alger, Mary
Number 15520
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[illegible] R. Alger Pension
[illegible] Feb. 25th 1841.
Certificate made payable to John Alger, P. Alger and
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I John Alger of Douglas in the County of Worcester in the State of Massachusetts late being sworn in the City of Providence on oath do testify & say that I am now sixty nine years of age upwards that I was born March 13, 1771 that I have a brother ten years older than myself who has been dead about 15 years his name was James Alger. The said James was the father of myself the deponent.

James Alger & Mary his wife lately of Burrillville in the County of Providence & State of Rhode Island. My father the said James departed this life on August 1836 & my mother the said Mary on the fourth day of February 1838. At the time of my mother’s death there were three children living to wit myself & Richard Alger of said Burrillville & Preserved Alger of Moretown in said County of Washington State of Vermont.

I further testify & say that since the act of Congress passed 1832 when the said James Alger he was entitled to a pension & made an effort to obtain it but he could not find any evidence. I twice myself [endeavored] to obtain him but could not find any who could testify to the fact of his service in the Revolution. I [have often heard] my father say that he served eight months in
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the year 1775 near Boston he served to maintain the cause of America. He served with him but they were dead — I cannot remember when my father returned from the Army altho not more than four or five years old. My father then lived in Rehoboth in that part of said Town now called Seekonk in said State of Massachusetts. He married my mother whose maiden name was Mary Parker. She then lived with her Aunt who brought her up. Her mother having died when she was only eighteen months old.

My father lived in said Rehoboth during all the war of the Revolution & then enlisted to serve the eight months before mentioned whether he served any more or not I do not remember but this I know I have often heard him speak of when the act of Congress before mentioned was passed granting pensions to old soldiers he tried to get a pension for that he could find any writing he gave it up. He never applied to any one to make out his declaration for the reason aforesaid. I state that I thoroughly it enough for me he was unable to find some one who …
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served with him eight months I thought so too.

My mother lost her recollection six years before she died & therefore could not as I supposed make any application for the benefit of the act of July 4, 1836. For did I then know that an application could be made for him after the war of the Revolution, when I was about ten years old we removed from said Rehoboth to Attleborough & from thence to said Burrillville when he lived fifty years and upwards. I have a record of my own age but I know of no record of my father or mother marriage. There was a record of it in an old bible and I think I have it but it is now lost but it appears according to my best recollection they were married about the year 1761. For I have always understood they had been married about two years when my eldest brother James was born.

My mother was in the 79th year of her age when she died & she was one year older than my father James Alger.

Municipal Court of the City of Providence
October 13th 1840
Appeared and made oath to the above before me
Alvah Potter, Clerk
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I Joshua Alger of Burrillville in the County of Providence & State of Rhode Island do testify & say that I am now 43 years of age — that Mary Alger late of said Burrillville the widow of James Alger was my grand-mother. She departed this life on the fourth day of February 1838. She was ninety eight years of age when she died. At the time she left three children by said James to wit John Alger of Douglas in Massachusetts now nearly 70 years of age & my father Preserved Alger & Preserved is the youngest of the three & now resides in Moretown in Washington County State of Vermont & now upwards of fifty years old.

I have often heard my grand-father speak of his services during the war of the Revolution & I know that a year or two before his death he made some effort to get a pension but could not find any witness. My father died August 15, 1836 leaving six children to wit myself Joshua Alger, Isabella Baker, Calvin Alger, Asahel Alger, Abner Collins, wife of Stephen Collins & Olive Alger, all now living & all upwards of one year of age.

Joshua F. Alger

Thomas Burgess [witness]
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Municipal Court of the City of Providence

October 13th 1840

The within declaration of Joshua Alger is by him duly sworn to and subscribed before me.

Alvah Potter
Clerk
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I Joseph Wheaton of Rehoboth in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts do testify & say that I am now nearly seventy years of age & was well acquainted with & knew James Alger formerly of said Rehoboth who was a Schoolmaster by trade. He was about ten years older than myself. I have known that during one eight month service in the year 1775 he taught School during the said James Alger Regiment under Col. Walker. Regiment Service performed in Massachusetts. I was then about fourteen years of age & know him well.

Joseph Wheaton

State of Massachusetts
Bristol County ss. Rehoboth Nov. 19th 1840

Subscribed and sworn to by the above named Joseph Wheaton who I certify from personal knowledge to be a credible witness in this behalf.

Before me
[Name unclear], Justice of the Peace
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I Richard Parker of Seekonk in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts do testify and say that I am sixty four years of age and upwards, that I was once acquainted with James Alger formerly of Rehoboth; that he was a Schoolmaster by trade and always lived a man of good repute. I lived a neighbor to him some years after the Revolutionary War, he was married about four years before the birth of his children. I know of his children James, John & Richard were of the ages of sixteen, fourteen and twelve years old at the commencement of the War.

He married a woman by the name of Mary Parker. I am acquainted with their family and lived with them after said James Alger removed to Seekonk. They were respectable people and were honest and industrious. I was intimate with said James Alger and was frequently at his house.

Richard Parker

State of Massachusetts
Bristol County ss. Seekonk Nov. 12, 1840

Subscribed & sworn to by the above named Richard Parker, from whom I certify to be a credible witness from personal acquaintance in this behalf.

Before me
[Name unclear], Justice of the Peace
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I Peter Whitaker of Seekonk in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts do testify and say that I am now sixty seven years of age and upwards, that I was once acquainted with James Alger formerly of Rehoboth; he lived in that part of Rehoboth now called Seekonk and in the neighborhood with me at the commencement of the war. I knew him and my early acquaintance with the said James Alger was from the year 1775 for eight months. The said James Alger was a Company & [non-]Commissioned Officer and was stationed at or near Boston and was honorably discharged. I also distinctly recollect that James Alger was at that time a married man and had children.

I also recollect that James Alger was married about four years previous to the commencement of the war and had children at the time the war commenced. He married a woman by the name of Mary Parker. I was acquainted with the family and lived with them after said James Alger removed to Seekonk.

I also know that James Alger was a blacksmith by trade and I have known him to go from his shop to Boston and frequently saw his wife & family & found them to be honest and respectable.

Peter X Whitaker
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State of Massachusetts
Bristol County ss. Seekonk Nov. 12, 1840

Subscribed and sworn to by the within named Peter Whitaker who made his mark instead of writing his name, for the reason that he is blind and cannot see. And I hereby certify from personal acquaintance that the within named Peter Whitaker is a credible witness.

Alvin [or Albin] Wood
Justice of the Peace
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I John Hammond of Seekonk in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts do testify & say that I am seventy years of age and upwards, that I was once well acquainted with James Alger who lived in the town of Rehoboth near Seekonk and I well remember his family especially his wife and sons James & John & Richard who were children when I knew them. James Alger was married before any recollection according to the best of my recollection his wife’s maiden name was Mary Parker.

I have always understood that he was a schoolmaster and also a blacksmith & that he was often at work in the town of Rehoboth but resided outside.

John Hammond

State of Massachusetts
Bristol County ss. Seekonk Nov. 12, 1840

Subscribed and sworn to by the above named John Hammond before me, who I certify from personal acquaintance to be a credible witness.

Alvin [or Albin] Wood
Justice of the Peace
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WIDOW, &c.

File No. 5320

Mary Alger
Widow of
James Alger
of the Rhode Island Line

Act: July 8, 1836

Index — Vol. 2 Page 9

(Arrangement of 1803)
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4 Feby "38
John Alger
Preserved Alger
& the admr. of
Richard Alger
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Providence Dec 23 1840

Sir

I herewith enclose the application of the children of Mary Alger widow of James Alger for the arrears of Pension due up to the time of her death.

I am respectfully
your obt servt

Jas. L. T.
Bywater

J. L. Edwards, Esq.
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5274
Mary Alger widow
(children)

R.I.
act of July 8th

No. 16,12 mths 75 No. 18
Amount

No. 18 pr
$25 pr yr

Due widow Alger
to John Alger, Richard Alger, Preserved Alger
(acct for arrears to Feby 1838)

Benj. Cowell
Providence
R.I.
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State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

Providence S.S.

Municipal Court of the City of Providence
sitting in the County of Providence and State aforesaid on the third Saturday of December A.D. 1840.

Be it remembered that satisfactory testimony has been this day produced before this Court that James Alger, late of Burrillville in said County of Providence, died in August A.D. 1836, having a widow Mary Alger who was then continued his lawful widow to the time of her death in the year A.D. 1838; that at the time of her death the said Mary Alger died leaving children by the said James Alger now being residents of the State of Massachusetts, to wit John Alger of Douglas and Richard Alger of Worcester in the County of Worcester in the State of Massachusetts, and Preserved Alger of Burrillville; that said Richard Alger has since died; that he died on the fifteenth day of August A.D. 1836, leaving his children to wit Joshua Alger, Isabella Baker, Calvin Alger, Asahel Alger, Abner Collins, wife of Stephen Collins, and Olive Alger, all now living and over twenty one years of age; that the widow and parents of said Mary Parker Alger now live in said State of Massachusetts.

And be it further certified that the witnesses who have signed the foregoing affidavits to wit Peter Whitaker, Richard Parker, Joseph Wheaton, John Hammond, and Joshua F. Alger, are all credible witnesses.

I, Albert Green, Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of the children of the said Mary Alger, widow of James Alger.
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children and grandchildren of James Alger and Mary Alger deceased to have a pension.

Be it further certified that my hand and seal of said Court this 15th day of December A.D. 1840.

Albert Greene
Clerk
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

By His Excellency MARCUS MORTON,
Governor and Commander in Chief in and over said Commonwealth.

To all whom it may concern:

Know ye, That Benjamin Burgess is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Worcester, and Alvin Wood and Albert Greene are Justices of the Peace for the County of Bristol; that they were duly appointed and commissioned, and that to their 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 caused the Public Seal of the Commonwealth to be hereunto affixed, this twentieth day of November, A.D. 1840, and in the sixty-fifth year of the Independence of the United States of America.

By His Excellency the Governor,

[signature]

Secretary of the Commonwealth
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I Joseph L. Bliss of Rehoboth in the County of Bristol & State of Massachusetts hereby certify that I have by virtue of my office the custody of the records of said town of Rehoboth, and I further certify that I have examined the records between the years 1760 & 1790 but cannot find any record of the marriage of James Alger to Mary Parker, and it is my belief there has been many marriages which have never been recorded in said town.

Joseph L. Bliss
Town Clerk

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss. December 28th 1840.

Personally appeared before me the above named Joseph L. Bliss, and made oath that he is Town Clerk of Rehoboth & is acquainted to make oath to the preceding certificate by him signed.

Cyrus M. Wharton
Justice of the Peace
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Abel Ide of Seekonk in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts do testify and say, that I am now nearly eighty years of age and was acquainted with James Alger formerly living in that part of Rehoboth now called Seekonk. He was a great neighbor of mine and I have been intimately acquainted with him. He was married some years before the Revolutionary war and had a family of children. I have a distinct recollection of James Alger from the commencement of the war and he was a very respectable man. I think that he was thirty years old at the commencement.

Abel Ide

State of Massachusetts
Bristol County ss. Seekonk November 13th 1840

Then personally appeared Abel Ide and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed before me, and I certify that I am personally acquainted with said Abel Ide and that he is a credible witness.

Alvin Wood
Justice of the Peace
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Douglas Ms. Oct. 19th 1840

I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with John Alger & Joshua Alger – that the statements as made characterize as to their veracity, and that they are worthy of the confidence to this testimony.

He is likewise about seventy years of age.

David Robinson
Minister of the Gospel, Church of Douglas
formerly in said town

State of Massachusetts
Worcester Co. ss.
Oct. 19th 1840

Personally appeared before me the Rev. David Robinson, and made oath that he believes the foregoing statements to be true; that he has been acquainted with John Alger & Joshua Alger for many years, and that he is a credible witness.

Benjamin Burgess, Justice of the Peace