Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 9475, Levin Handy, Md.
Page 1

SERVICE
Md.
Handy, Levin
Nancy
NUMBER
W. 9475
Page 2

Maryland 1851
==============================
Nancy Handy
widow of (begin handwritten) Levin Handy (end handwritten) 
who was a (begin handwritten) Captain (end handwritten) 
in the (begin handwritten) Revolution (end handwritten) 
==============================
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of (begin handwritten)
480 (end handwritten) Dollars ---
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.
==============================
Certificate of Pension issued the
(begin handwritten) 7th (end handwritten) day of (begin handwritten) Sept. 1843 (end handwritten) 
and sent to (begin handwritten) Pensioner
Princess Anne, Md. (end handwritten) 
==============================
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
recorded in Book (begin handwritten) A (end handwritten), Vol. (begin handwritten) 1 (end handwritten), Page (begin handwritten) 142.  (end handwritten)
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Maryland 1851
==============================
Nancy Handy
widow of (begin handwritten) Levin Handy (end handwritten) 
who was a (begin handwritten) Captain (end handwritten) 
in the (begin handwritten) Revolution (end handwritten) 
==============================
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of (begin handwritten)
480 (end handwritten) Dollars ---
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.
==============================
Certificate of Pension issued the
(begin handwritten) 7th (end handwritten) day of (begin handwritten) Sept. 1843 (end handwritten) 
and sent to (begin handwritten) Pensioner
Princess Anne, Md. (end handwritten) 
==============================
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
recorded in Book (begin handwritten) A (end handwritten), Vol. (begin handwritten) 1 (end handwritten), Page (begin handwritten) 142.  (end handwritten)
Page 4

State of Maryland
Worcester County Sct}  

In Worcester County  Court
May Term 1838

On this thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty-eight personally appeared before the subscriber an associate Judge of the fourth judicial district of Maryland, in open court sitting, Nancy Handy, a resident of Snowhill in the county of Worcester and state aforesaid, aged sixty-nine years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7. 1838. Entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows:" That she is the widow ^of Levin Handy deceased late a captain in the revolutionary war in the fifth Maryland regiment.

She further declares that she was married to the said Levin Handy on the twenty-fourth day of February seventeen hundred and eighty five; and that her husband the aforesaid Levin Handy died on the fifth day of June in the year seventeen hundred and ninety nine; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four. viz at the time above stated.

{signed} Nancy Handy

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before 
{signed} William Tingle
Page 5

State of Maryland, Worcester County Court

I hereby certify that it appears by the records and proceeding of Worcester County Court, that the Honorable William Tingle, before whom the within and aforegoing affidavit was made, and who appears to have signed the same, in open Court, was at the time of the making and signing thereof, and still is one of the associate Judges of the fourth judicial district of the State of Maryland, comprehending the counties of Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset and Worcester, and duly commissioned and sworn, and that to all acts done by him 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 Worcester County Court this fifteenth day of August Anno Domini 1838.

{signed}
Gordon M Handy Clk Worcester County Court
Page 6

Copy from A family Record in the possession of Mrs Nancy Handy

Levin Handy and Nancy Handy (crossed out) Wilson was joined together in holy matrimony on Thursday the 24th day of February in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and eighty five by the Rev Mr. Ker.

Elizabeth Martin Handy daughter of the aforesaid Levin and Nancy was born on Thursday the thirtieth day of November about 6 o'clock AM. 1781. and was baptized by the Rev Mr. McMasters on the 25th day of February 1787.

State of Maryland Worcester County

Be it remembered that on this sixteenth day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared before me the subscriber a justice of the peace of the State of Maryland for the County of Worcester. Mrs. Nancy Handy of said county and State, and being duly sworn according to law, doth say on her oath that the Bible from which the aforegoing extracts were made, has been in her possession for a great many years, and is that which has always been used for the purpose of recording the marriages, births and deaths of the members of her husband's family and her own.

Sworn to before 
{signed}
Cord Hazzard - Justice of the Peace
Page 7

I Samuel R Smith of Worcester County in the State of Maryland do on my oath declare that I have compared the writing on the preceding page, purporting to be A copy from a family record in the possession of Mrs. Nancy Handy, and with the entries made in the Bible which she on her oath says contains the family records and find that, that copy corresponds strictly with the original. I was well acquainted with the deceased husband Col. Levin Handy as with his hand-writing and I do fully believe that the entries have been made by him. The entry of the time of the marriage is upon the top of a blank leaf in the Bible and the letters L.E. and part of the V. of what I believe to have been originally the name Levin, seem to have been torn off by accident which might have been easily done the book being a very old one and the paper very thin. Following the Entry of the time of marriage are entries in the same hand-writing of the time of the births of several children, who are described each, as a daughter ^of the aforesaid Levin and Nancy then leaving no room for doubt that the names in the entry of the marriage, part of which has dissapeard [sic], was really Levin. I further declare that I believe that Mrs. Nancy Handy who now claims a pension under a late act of Congress is the person named and described as Nancy Wilson in the Entry of marriage. With Col Levin Handy I was well acquainted, as also with Mrs. Nancy Handy his reputed widow. and I knew them
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dwelling together as husband and wife and as such they were regarded by their neighbours and friends. Mrs. Nancy Handy has been known by me since the decease of her husband and is now known by me and residing near me and I have never heard of any subsequent marriage between her and any other person, and I believe that no such marriage has taken place.

Me which on my oath I do declare

{signed} Sam R Smith

State of Maryland Worcester County

Be it remembered that on this sixteenth day of August in the year eighteen hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared before me the Subscriber a justice of the peace of the State of Maryland for Worcester County duly commissioned and sworn, Samuel R Smith, Gentleman of Worcester County and state aforesaid and being duly sworn according to law did in my presence submit and subscribe the aforegoing declaration.

Sworn before Cord Hazzard - Justice of the Peace
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State of Maryland
Worcester County Seat

I hereby certify that Cord Hazzard before whom the aforegoing affidavits and declarations were made and who appears to have signed the claim was at the time of so doing and still is a Justice ^of the peace of the State of Maryland for the County of Worcester, duly commissioned and sworn, and that to all his acts by him done in that capacity full faith and credit ought to be given as such in courts of Justice or thereout.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this sixteenth day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty-eight

{signed)
Gordon M Handy - Clk
Page 10

January 15, 1932

BA-J/AWF/ILL
W. 9475

Mrs. John B. Lane
Jackson, Georgia

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter requesting information relative to Nancy Handy and Obediah Morris.

The papers on file in pension claim S.31871of Nathaniel Morris fail to afford any information in regard to his family, hence no reference to Obediah Morris.

The data furnished herein relative to Hancy Handy are obtained from the papers on file in pension claim W.9475 based upon the service of her husband, Levin Handy, in the Revolutionary War.

Levin Handy was appointed December 10, 1776, captain in the Fifth Maryland regiment, length of service not stated.

He died June 5, 1799 in Worcester County, Maryland.

The soldier married February 24, 1784, Nancy Wilson.

Nancy Handy was allowed pension on her application executed August 13, 1838 at which time she was residing in Snow Hill Worcester County Maryland; she was then sixty-nine years of age.

In 1839 she was referred to as the widow of Colonel Levin Handy. There is no explanation given regarding the use of this title. In 1843 she was living in Princess Anne, Somerset County Maryland.

She died in May 1843.

Their daughter, Elizabeth Martin Handy was born November 30, 1786. A daughter, Miss Esther W Handy was living in in 1846.

Very truly yours,

A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator
Page 11

February 9, 1931

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
AWF;MLB

Ruth N. Harlan
3207 N. Calvert Street
Baltimore, Maryland

Dear Madam:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 9475, that Levin Handy was appointed December 10, 1776, captain in the Fifth Maryland Regiment, length of service not stated.

He died June 5, 1799 in Worcester County, Maryland.

He married February 24, 1785, Nancy Wilson.

She was allowed pension on her application executed August 13, 1838, at which time she was residing in Snow Hill, Worcester County, Maryland and was aged sixty-nine years.

In 1839 she was referred to as the widow of Colonel Levin Handy. There is no explanation given as to the use of this title.

In 1843 she was living in Princess Anne, Somerset County, Maryland.

She died in May, 1845.

Their daughter, Elizabeth martin Handy, was born November 30, 1786. A daughter, Miss Esther W. Handy, was living in 1846.

Very truly yours

E.W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner
Page 12

Jackson, GA.,
Dec. 31, 1931 .

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

Will you please send me the record pertaining to (begin underlined) Nancy Handy of Worcester Co. Maryland (end underlined) ?

Also will you please look over the declaration of service of (begin underlined) Nathaniel Morris (end underlined) of Jones Co., Georgia to find out if there is any mention of family names? I think he was a brother of (begin underlined) Obadiah Morris (end underlined), my great-great grandfather, who, according to family tradition, was a Captain in the Revolution.
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Although his sword and epaulettes were preserved in the family, I have never been able to prove his service. Nathaniel Morris lived in Brunswick Co., Va., and I am hoping to establish through his declaration, my ancestor's Revolutionary service.

Any information will be gratefully received. Thanking you in advance for the data,

I remain

Yours very truly,

Mrs. John E Lane
Page 14

3207
3207 N. Calvert St.
Baltimore, Md
Jan. 24, 1931


Bureau of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Dear Sirs
the Maryland records are so incomplete, that I will have to appeal to you.

Col. Levin (begin underlined) Handy (end underlined) was in the Revolution, have you any information about him. I think he was from Somerset County.  He was the father of Samuel Handy and grandfather of Lieut. Levin Handy who died in China 1842.

Is he the same person as Lieut. Col. Levin Handy who died in Worcester Co. 1799?
I would like to find the maiden
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name of his wife, and the date of his birth and death and whose son he was, as there are several of that name in Mayland [sic].  Is he the Lieut. Handy in Caroline County 1776?

I would certainly appreciate it if you could straighten me out on this line.

One other thing, do your records mention the maiden name of Rachel, wife of Samuel Brashears of the Revolution.

Thanking you for any information you can give me, I am
Sincerely
Ruth N. Harlan
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Revy  WIDOW &c.

File No (begin handwritten) 9475
 Nancy Handy
  Wid. of
Levin Handy
Capt. Md. line (end handwritten) 

Act: (begin handwritten) July 7th/38, [Sec li?]  (end handwritten) 
Index-: Vol. (begin handwritten) A (end handwritten), Page (begin handwritten) 307 (end handwritten) 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 17

1931- Feb 9 - Hist to Ruth N Harlan (illegible)
1932- Jan 15 - Hist to Mrs. John E Lane (illegible)
Page 18

135.
Nancy Handy
Widow of Capt. Levin Handy

$480 per annum
Act of 7 July 1838.

Mary'd [Maryland] Roll
Send cert: to W. S Wilson, Eqr
Snow Hill
Mary'd [sic: Maryland]
Page 19

Maryland - 19.
==============================
Nancy Handy
widow of Levin Handy dec'd
who died on the 5th of June 1799. of Worcester co in the State of Maryland who was a Captain in the _______ commanded by Captain _______ of the _______ commanded by _______  in the Maryland line for 5th Regiment.
==============================
Inscribed on the roll of Maryland at the rate of 480 Dollars ______Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
==============================
Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of August 1838 and sent to W.S. Wilson, Esqr. Snowhill, Maryland
==============================
Arrears to the 4th of March 1838. $960.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept 1838 $240.00
Total $1200.00

Five Years Pension {Revolutionary Claim, Act July 7, 1838  Section the (crossed out) 1st section}

Recorded by S.A. Elliot, Clerk
Book A, Vol 2 Page 174
Page 20

Washington,
March 3, 1857.
John Gallagher Esqr.

Sir:
Will you please examine
the papers of my Grand-mother (deceased) viz
Nancy Handy, widow of Lt Col. Levin Handy,
of the Maryland Line.

She received pension under Act 1838,
of Captain, at $480 per annum
 
Very respectfully,
{signed} Cha. W. Handy
Page 21

My dear Sir:

The heirs of *the late Mrs. Priscilla Handy, late of Snow Hill, Md widow of Lieut. Col Levin Handy of the Revolutionary war are anxious to obtain the balance which they state is due and which the widow did not receive by some oversight in the Settlement made. They say that about $4,000 are still due. Will you, in view of this, be so kind as to cause an examination to be made and advise me accordingly.

Very faithfully yours 
R. T Queen.
25. Oct 1850.
Page 22

September 2nd

Dear Friend - 

About four weeks since I forwarded to your office the necessary declaration, to entitle me to the provision of the (begin underlined) pension act (end underlined) of last congress. That I have not received from you are this, the acknowledgment of the same, and the certificate or paper of presentation by my attorney to the (begin underlined) Bank (end underlined) of disbursement has been a matter of some little disappointment, as the time for payment is near at hand.

This is what I have had in expectation according to my present understanding of the necessary testimonials to be presented to the officers of the Bank. If I am right  - will we find be good enough to give it immediate attention, or inform me as to the mode of procedure? The family deserves to be affectionately remembered.

Yours sincerely

Nancy Handy
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Pension Office
 July 3. 1846

Sir,

In answer to your letter of the 28th. ult. relative to the payment of ^the pension due in the case of the late Mrs. Nancy Handy, I have to inform you that in every application for money due to a deceased Pensioner, the original pension certificate ^if in existence should be surrendered to the Agent as evidence of the identity of the person to whom the pension claimed was due, and in case of the loss or destruction of the certificate, other substantiated proof of identity must be produced. In the case of Mrs. Handy, proof must be produced to show that Miss Esther Handy is her daughter, say the joint affidavit of two credible witnesses; and the fact that no certificate was issued to Mrs. Handy under the act of the 17th of June 1844, as no certificate was required under the regulation, should be set forth in Miss Handy's oath of identity. Miss Esther will make call that she is the daughter of Mrs. Nancy Handy who was a Pensioner under the act of June 17. 1844; that her mother died on a particular day, as set forth in the certificate of the court and she will then state, as the form requires, where Mrs. Handy resided, &c. 

{signed}
WS. Wilson, Esq.
Snowhill, Maryland.
Page 24

Snowhill Md June 28th 1846

Sir

Some few weeks ago my brother wrote to you at the instance of Miss Esther Handy asking instructions as to the manner in which she should proceed to obtain the arrears of pension due to her deceased mother at the time of her death. By the form of the oath of identity, which you had sent, it seems to be required that a copy of the certificate of pension shall be inserted.

Miss Handy informs me that she has not the certificate in her possession but thinks it has been surrendered. I infer that this is the fact because among the printed instructions in and from your office which are in her possession, I find a report to yourself by Mr. Parris [illegible] dated June 25th 1844 in which he says "under the law of June 1844, the pensioner should be required to make oath that she is the identical person who drew a pension under the act of March 1843, but she (begin underlined) cannot set out a copy of the certificate (end underlined) granted under the latter act as the certificates were required to be surrendered &c. He accordingly annexed a form of affidavit which seems to have been adapted to Mrs. Handy's case, in which the copy of the certificate was not required to be inserted - Miss Handy not having the certificate in her possession I am at a loss to know how she can make the affidavit contemplated by the form you have sent -
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She has requested me to make known to you the difficulty and ask for further instructions which you will oblige her greatly by furnishing.

Very respectfully
Yours

W S Wilson
Page 26

Pension Office
May 30. 1846

Sir,

In compliance with your request, I enclose herewith printed instructions to enable the daughter of the late Mrs. Nancy Handy dec'd to obtain the arrears of pension due up to the day of her death. The money will be paid by the Pension Agent at Baltimore, on the production of the voucher required.

{signed} 
E.K. Wilson Esqr
Snow Hill Maryland.
Page 27

Snowhill, May 26th, 1846

Mr. Edwards

Dear Sir:

My cousin, Miss Esther W. Handy, has requested me to write to you, and solicit your assistance in enabling her to obtain a fraction of a pension, to which she is entitled as her Mother's heir, who you may recollect was a pensioner of the general government. Mrs. Handy died during the month of May of the last year, and Miss Esther thinks she is entitled to an amount proportionable to the time which elapsed from the 4th of March up to the time of her deceased. It is her request that you will be so kind as to inform her of the method she is to pursue, in order to obtain the amount due to her, as great precision seems to be required in drawing the necessary papers. Hoping you will good (crossed out) kindly let her hear from you soon,

I remain, yours, &c

{signed} E.K. Wilson

Mr. Edwards - 
I believe you know Miss Esther and her family, and therefore I did not mention the name of her mother, which is - Mrs. Nancy Handy, widow of Col. Levin Handy.
Page 28

To J.L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions

Snowhill, Oct 1st, 1844

Dr Sir,

I received a letter from Jno. D. Wilson, dated "Washington, June 28th,1844" with all the requisite forms enclosed, and stating, that, if in obedience to those directions I would forward to the pension Agent at Baltimore the proper papers on or after the 4th of Sept of the present year, I would get the first payment of my pension due under the law of June 17th, 1844.
This was done precisely as directed. My Attorney, Mr. Collins, presented the papers which were all in due form; but was met with the reply, that Congress had failed to make an appropriation in fulfilment [sic] of the law. Mr. Wilson's letter, in obedience to your direction, I suppose was written after Congress arose, and you could hardly have been ignorant, if the appropriation were omitted.
Will you be so kind as to write to me immediately, stating whether I am correctly informed in this matter?

I remain your obed Servant
Nancy Handy.
Page 29

Land Office, Annapolis, 7th August, 1838,

I hereby certify, that it appears by the Muster rolls of the Revolution remaining in this office, that Levin Handy was appointed a Captain, in the 5th Maryland Regiment on the 10th day of December, 1776 , and that the date of his resignation or time he left the services is blank on said roll, - And I further certify that by a pay roll kept by John Hamilton, Agent of the Maryland Line, Captain Levin Handy appears to have received $4.88 cts depreciation of substance, - and by a Depreciation Pay roll, also remaining in this office. That Capt Levin Handy appears to have received £410.17.4½ Depreciation money issued to the Maryland quarter of troops on Continental Establishment, on the 29th day of July 1782;

{signed}
George G Brewer
Reg'r Land Off to  U. S. Md
Page 30

State of Maryland Somerset County to wit

Be it remembered that on this fourteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight personally appears Mrs. Elizabeth Handy of Said County before me the subscriber a Justice of the peace of Said State and County, and deposeth and saith that she is well acquainted with Mrs. Nancy Handy now of Worcester County in Maryland, the widow of Col Levin Handy late of Worcester County, who was an officer of the American Revolutionary Army, - that she the deponent is a near relative of said Nancy and was well acquainted with said Levin in his life time and that she has a perfect recollection of the marriage of Said Levin & Nancy, the same having been solemnized by her father the late Rev'd Jacob Ker - that the marriage of said Levin Handy and Nancy Handy took place about the year 1785 and that said Nancy's maiden name was Wilson - She further deposeth that the said Levin Handy died about the year 1798. and that said Levin was never married but once and then to said Nancy and that said Nancy was never married but once and then to said Levin as afr. said Levin & Nancy were
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were married previously to the year 1794. This deponent also states that she is now in the seventieth year of her age.

The above deposition taken before me the subscriber a Justice of the peace as aforesaid - the deponent having been first sworn on the holy Evangels of Almighty God.

{signed}
Jno D Brower
Justice of the Peace
Somerset County

Maryland SS: I hereby certify that John D Brower, Gentleman the before whom the written and aforegoing affidavit was made and whose signature appears thereto, was at the time of making and signing the same a Justice of the peace of the State of Maryland, in and for Somerset County, Commissioned and Sworn according to Law.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and the seal of said County Court this fourteenth day of August 1838.

Geo Handy, Clk S, Coty Court
Page 32

Snowhill August 16 1838

Sir

Enclosed I send you such proof as I have been able to procure of the marriage of my Aunt Mrs. Handy, together with her declaration, which will I hope be found to correspond with the form prescribed by the rules of your office. I regret that the family record is defective the more because it is impossible to obtain any other documentary or record proof; parish registers being unusual in our State and there being no registration of marriage in any of the public offices. The explanation of Mr. Smith will I hope be sufficient to obviate any difficulty. Should any occur, I am instructed by my aunt to request you to inquire of Mrs. Henrietta Elgey of your city whether or not she was present at her marriage, and if she was to procure from her the necessary affidavit. At this distance of time there survives no one in the part of the country that has any knowledge of her marriage further than that derived from hearsay. Such being that of Mrs. Elizabeth Handy.

With sentiments of respect and gratefule [sic] for the kind feelings which you manifest to towards my Aunt.

I am Sir
Yours truly
W. Sydney Wilson

J.L. Edwards, Esqr
Page 33

State of Maryland Somerset County SS:

On this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty three personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace of the state of Maryland in and for Somerset County duly commissioned and sworn, Mrs. Nancy Handy, a resident of Princess Anne in the County of Somerset aged seventy-four 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 provision made by the act of Congress passed on the third of March 1843. granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War. That she is the widow of Levin Handy deceased who was a Captain in the fifth Regiment of Maryland Militia during the Revolutionary War, and that under the act of Congress of July 7, 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows", She received an annual pension of four hundred and eighty dollars. She further declares that she is still a widow.

{signed} Nancy Handy

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above written.

{signed} Edward M Wise J.P. 
SEAL (word handwritten and circled)
Page 34

State of Maryland Somerset County SS:

I Edward M Wise a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland in and for Somerset County duly commissioned and Sworn do hereby certify that Mrs. Nancy Handy, by whom the above declaration was made, is to me personally known.

Given under my hand and Seal the eighth day of August in the year eighteen hundred and forty three.

{signed} Edward M. Wise   
SEAL  (handwritten word, circled) 

Maryland SS: I Levin Handy Clerk of Somerset County Court within the State of Maryland do hereby certify, that Edward M Wise, gentleman before whom the annexed declaration and by whom the above certificate was made was at the time of the making and Subscribing the Same, a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland in and for Somerset County commissioned and qualified according to law.

In Testimony whereof I hereto subscribe my name and affix the seal of Somerset County Court this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three,

Levin Handy - Clk S.C. Court.