Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7121, for William Merryfield, New York
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
New York
Merryfield, William
Deed
NUMBER
R. 7121.
CONTENTS
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28215 
In the matter of William Merryfield applicant for a pension 

Please address Martin Van Deusen Chatham 4 Corners Col [Columbia] Co. N. York
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State of New York Columbia County SS 
On this second day of August 1833 personally appeared before me one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas in and for the County of Columbia William Merryfield a resident of Ghent County aforesaid and an inmate of the Columbia County Alms house aged Eighty one years who being first duly Sworn doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, - In the fall of the year 1776 in the month of September this applicant was drafted as a private for three months under the command to Captain Van Luven and was kept on duty in the Counties of Dutchess and Columbia during the time for which he was drafted for the purpose of defending the inhabitants against the incursions and depredations of the tories. This duty was very arduous and toilsome being a great part of the time on duty in the night when the tories were most troublesome  this applicant served his time and was discharged 
In the fall of the year 1777 month of August, this applicant was drafted to go to Saratoga to oppose General Burgoyne, marched from Taghkannuck [Taghkanic] the place of rendezvous to Albany thence up Hudsons River to Stillwater but was not in the principal engagement was there during the last fight with Burgoyne - after the Surrender of his army was ordered home and discharged. Drafted as a private for three months and Served out his time 
The officers were Harry Livingston Colonell  Samuel Ten Broeck Major  Adam Hysradt Captain Henry Irvin Lieutenant
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In the month of November the year 1777 and soon after he was discharged from his tour to Saratoga this applicant was again drafted as a private for three months and was kept on duty in the South part of the County of Columbia for the purpose and as a guard of defence against the incursions of the Tories and after taking a great many of them and killing others was discharged from duty after serving two months of his time  this campaign was called a patrolling expedition and was a finishing of the tories for several years. The officers who commanded on this tour were Colonell Livingston, Captain Hysradt Henry Irwin first Lieutenant. John Snyder 2d Lieutenant 

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 
Answers to the interrogatories 
1st was born in the year 1752 in the State of Rhode Island 
2d has no record of his age 
3d lived in the above County when called into service and has lived there ever since 
4th was drafted on the several Expeditions 
5th does not recollect the names of any other officers
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except those above stated to wit Captain Van Luven Major Ten Broeck - Colonell Livingston and the others as above set forth-- does not remember the names of any Regiments except the Manor Regiment in said County called - the manor regiment 
6th never receive a discharge –
7th persons to whom he is known in his present neighborhood and who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution are Jacob J. Simmons and Jacob Simmons 
This applicant cannot obtain the certificate of a Clergyman as required by the said pension act for the reason that there is none who can make such certificate – 
This applicant has no documentary Evidence of his revolutionary service and knows of no person who can testify to such services 
On account of loss of memory and debility this applicant cannot give dates and the names officers more specific than as above set forth 
he hereby sets forth that the time to which he is entitled to a pension is 8 months 
He hereby constitutes Martin Vandeusen agent for him in this matter to receive papers &c &c
[signed] William Merryfield  X his ark
Subscribed and Sworn before his me this second day of 1833
[signed] Medad Butler a Judge &c
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We Jacob J. Simmons, and Jacob Simmons do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the within named applicant who has subscribed and Sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be Eighty-one years of age that it is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides that said applicant was a Soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that Opinion
[signed] Jacob J Simmons  Jacob Simmons
Subscribed and Sworn before me this Second day of August 1883 
[signed] Medad Butler a Judge &c
And I the said Medad Butler Judge as aforesaid do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Soldier of the Revolution and served as he states, and I do further certify that it appears to me that Jacob J. Simmons and Jacob Simmons who have signed the preceeding certificate are residents of the County of Columbia are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit and I do further certify that on account of bodily infirmity this applicant is not able to attend Court 
[signed] Medad Butter a Judge &c
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State of New York 
Columbia County }  I Joseph D Morrell Clerk of the said County do certify that Medad Butler Esq before whom the preceeding affidavit purports to have been sworn and by whom the above certificate is subscribed, was at the dates of the same a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County. And that I am acquainted with the hand writing of said Judge and verily believe his name subscribed to the said Affidavits and Certificate to be his proper hand writing and signature
Witness my hand and seal of Office this 10th day of August 1833 
[signed] J. D. Morell Clk
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May 4, 1939. 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
BA-J/   copied E E. Luke’s hist 3/27/33.
William Merryfield 
R. 7121 
Mrs. Fred H. Beattie 
Penn Yan 
New York 
Dear Madam: 
The data contained herein were obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, R. 7121, based upon the military service of William Merryfield in that war. 
William Merryfield was born in 1752, day and month not stated, in Rhode Island. The names of his parents are not shown. 
While residing in Ghent, Columbia County, New York, William Merryfield applied for pension on August 2, 1833, and stated that he enlisted in September 1776 while residing in Columbia County, New York, and served three months as private in Captain Van Leuven's New York Company, and was engaged in defending the frontiers of Dutchess and Columbia Counties: that he enlisted in August 1777, served three months in Captain Adam Huysradt's Company, Colonel Harry Livingston's New York Regiment , and was at Saratoga when Burgoyne surrendered: that he again enlisted in November 1777, shortly after the expiration of the last named tour of service, and served two months in Captain Huysradt's Company, Colonel Livingston's New York Regiment. 
His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of six months military service as was required by the pension laws. 
There are no family data. 
Very truly yours 
A. D. HILLER 
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator
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[left side]
1933 – Mar 27 – Hist to Mrs. H. T. Jeffery [illegible]
1939 May 4. Hist to Mrs. Fred H. Beattie, Letter in clm. W.26589, Martin Oakie copied E. E. Luke.

[right side]
7121
P.O. William Merryfield
Service:
[stamped] REJECTED
Enlisted:  , 18
Discharged:  , 18
Application filed: 1, 8 
Printed list of 1852 shows cause of suspension: - “He did not serve: six months" 
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney 
P.O. 
Recognized.   Contract.
Cert. of Dis.    Searched for , 18
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142 Stafford St. 
Palmyra, N. Y. 
Mar. 10, 1933. 
Pension Bureau 
Washington, D.C. 
Dear Si:
Have you a pension record for Rev. War service for William Merrifield b. about 1755-6 (I do not know where) He died in the township of Macedon, Wayne Co. N.Y. His P.O. address may have been West Walworth or Penfield, N.Y. His farm was near the town line road so address is confusing 
He had sons Albert b. 1785, Levi b. 1786, Joseph b. ?, Thomas b. 1814, Artemus or Artemon b. 1819, and a dau. Alice and others whose names I do not have. 
I realize this isn’t much to go upon and he mite have served from Conn. Mass. N. H., Vermont or Penna or R.I. I can find no county record of him. 
I hope you can find some trace of this man 
Very truly yours, 
Mrs. H. T. Jeffery
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March 27, 1933.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/EEL
William Merryfield R. 7121

Mrs. H.T. Jeffery
142 Stafford Street
Palmyra, New York

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to William Merrifield, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
You are herewith furnished the history of William Merryfield, the only soldier of that name found on the Revolutionary War records
of this office.
The data given below were obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 7121, based upon the military service of the above named William Merryfield in that war.  [Note] Did not find sol. on NY book
William Merryfield was born in 1752, in Rhode Island.
While residing in Ghent, Columbia County, New York, he applied for pension on August 2, 1833, and stated that he enlisted in September 1776 while residing in Columbia County, New York, and served three months as private in Captain Van Leuven's New York Company, and was engaged in defending the frontiers of Dutchess and Columbia Counties: that he enlisted in August 1777, served three months in Captain Adam Huysradt's Company, Colonel Harry Livingston's New York Regiment , and was at Saratoga when Burgoyne surrendered: that he again enlisted in November 1777, shortly after the expiration of the last named tour of service, and served two months in Captain Huysradt's Company, Colonel Livingston's New York Regiment.  [Note] found Capt or Ensign Van Leuven & Capt Adam Huysradt
His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of six months military service as was required by the pension laws.
There are no data as to soldier's family.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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New York 
Rev 
Act 7 June 1832 
William Merryfield 
Suspended 7121
Letter to Martin Van Deusen 
Chatham Four Corners 
Columbia County
[crossed out, 18th Nov. 1833]
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War Dep 
P.C.
Nov 18. 1833 
Sir
Independent of the provisional objections which might be stated against the papers forwarded in support of the claim of William Merifield to a pension, such as the declaration not being made in open court, the best evidence not appearing to be produced &c, the defect in substance is such that the papers have not been returned for amendment.
Only three months military service in embodied corps appears to have been performed which does not bring the claim within the act. The terms during which he alleges he was engaged in pursuing & defending against the tories cannot be recognized as military service within the act upon the facts stated. The papers are placed on file. If the claimant can shew the services in question to have been performed in embodied corps called into service by the proper authority and kept in constant service in the field or garrison for a definite period, he will make a new declaration in open
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court. and support it by the best evidence in his power.

Martin Van Deusen Esq
 Chatham, Four Corners 
Columbia Co 
N York

M Van duesen
Chatham 4 Corners 
18 Nov ‘33
O.C

Rec’d vol 30 p. 157.
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES 
Form VAM-51
12-5-41 
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD* 
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives 
NAME Merryman, Josiah  GRADE Corporal  LINE Sheldon's Dragoons (Connecticut)
WARRANT NUMBER 6220   ACREAGE   100  ISSUED Jan. 11, 1790 to --- not shown – 

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.