Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S., for William Stevens, Massachusetts
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(3--1776)
SERVICE 
Mass. Sea Service Navy [star] Stevens, William

NUMBER S. ---- 

CONTENTS 
Margaret Stevens, widow of the above soldier, was pensioned as the former widow of Ebenezer Starboard, Mass., W.25149
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[printed form with written responses]

Maine 18.134
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William Stevens of Portland in the State of Maine who was a Seaman in the ship commanded by Captain Tucker [crossed out: of the commanded by in the line]  for 16 months and 28 days.
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Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 47 Dollars 65 Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
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Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of July 1833 and sent to J. Mussey Portland
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Arrears to the 4 day March '33 $135.30
Semi-annl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 1833  33.82
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$169.12
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{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.} 
Recorded by J M Sheffield Clerk,
Book E Vol. 1 Page 54
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Willm. Stevens.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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Secretary's Office, April 2 1833.
I 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 Stevens' name is borne on a Roll as a seaman on board of the armed Brig Harrard, fitted out by the State of Massachusetts, under the command of Simeon Sampson, where he served from the 22d. of September 1777 to the 20th. of May 1778, [inserted in right margin: ms. dys  7:28] Seven Months & twenty eight eight [crossed out] days, & was allowed Two pounds eight shillings Per. month.
Edward D Bumply
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No 5024
William Stevens
Application for a pension July 1832
L.S. July 24, 1832

Admd. 16 ms; 28ds  Seaman

J Mussey Esq Portland
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[printed form with written responses] 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
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MAINE DISTRICT SS.
At a Special District Court of the United States begun and holden at Portland, within and for said District, on the Sixteenth day of July A. D. eighteen hundred and thirty-two before the Honorable Ashur Ware, Judge of said Court. On this sixteenth day of July aforesaid, personally appeared in open Court before said District Judge William Stevens a resident of Portland in the county of Cumberland in said Maine District, aged  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 provision made by 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, viz: In the year 1778 or 1779, as near as I can recollect, but it was several years after the town of Falmouth was burnt I entered, on board of this armed Ship Boston, out of Boston, Commodore Tucker Commanding, and served on board same ship about nine months, in which time we took a number of prizes viz: the Ship Thora & Ship Packett which we carried into Falmouth,  and a Ship of War which came out of New York, (then in the possession of the enemy). after us which we carried into Philadelphia --

I afterward served on board the Brig Horace Capt. Sampson, a private armed vessel; in the State Service _  and went in said Brig on a privateering cruise, and was out six months _  we took on that cruise the ship Live Oak, with a cargo dry goods & carried her into Boston _ I afterwards entered as steward on board the Brig Gen. Amsted, Sir. Magee, commander -- She was a Cutter of marque, & commissioned by Gen. Washington.  I served twelve months on board said Cutter of Marque: and we took two prizes -- One Brig called Little John we carried into Gattenburgh -- and sold her just as she was __ the other was a Barque which we carried into Philadelphia _. There is no documentary evidence which he can produce,- The papers which would prove the first service he has above stated, he thinks must have been destroyed when the War Office was burnt -- and there is no person he knows of whose testimony he can produce who can testify to his other services which he has stated -- nor can he distinctly remember the precise years in which said services were performed & done. 

He was born in Falmouth Nov 18. 1756 & has a record of his age in an old family bible, and when he first entered the service he lived in Bertha and entered each service above stated as a volunteer __ and was discharged by the Commanders with the [illegible] but never had a written discharge __ He would mention the Rev. Dr. Nichols & Enoch Preble Esq: brother of the late Commodore Preble, as persons who can testify as to his character for truth & veracity.

he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on any pension roll of any agency in any State, [crossed out: or (if any) only on that of the agency in the State of] -- William Stevens [signature] 

Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid. Before John Barr [signature] {U. S. Judge for the District of Maine.
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We, Ichabod Nichols a Clergiman & Pastor of the first Congregational Society in Portland, Maine, resident in said Portland, and Enoch Preble brother of the late Commodore Edward Preble, residing in the same Portland, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Stevens who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be seventy five years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a mariner in the War of the Revolution as he has stated _ and that we concur in that opinion __ 
I Nichols [signature] Enoch Preble [signature] 

Subscribed sworn to the day year aforesaid Ashton Warr [signature] {U. States Judge for the Dist. of Maine

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatives prescribed by the War Department) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary mariner [soldier -- crossed out] and served as he states, and the Court further certify that Ichabod Nichols who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman & resident in said Portland __ & that Enoch Preble, who has signed the same is also a resident in said Portland _ & that he is a credible person __ & their statement is entitled to full credit. __ 

I, John Mufsey Clerk of the District Court of the United States for Maine District, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Stevens ---- for a pension. 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this seventeenth day of July A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two  John Mufsey [signature] {Clerk of the U. States District Court for Maine District.