Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 17129, for George Merriman, Connecticut
Page 1

Service
Conn.

Merriman, George
Catharine

Number
W.17129
Page 2

573
Connecticut
George Merriman
of Wallingford in the State of Connecticut
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Cook of the Regt commanded
by Col. Wardo in the Connecticut
line for 3 months. also from May 1776 to 25
December 1776. Col Douglass's Regt and from
1777 he served seven months in Col Enos's Regt
Total length of Service 16 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 53 dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of September 1832 and Sent to the Hon.
S. A. Foot Cheshire Ct
Arrears to 4th of March 1832 $53.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending to Sep. 26.66
$79.99

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Benj Lloyd Beall Clerk,
Book C Vol. 3 Page 55
Page 3

[left side of page]
A new certificate was issued
in this case under the opinion
of the Att. General of the 2nd
Sep. 1842, which was given
in consequence of the Resolution
of Congress of the 11th
August. 1842.

Reported see letter to Agent
Dec. 23. 1842.

[right side of page]
Connecticut 2928
Catharine Merriman dec
widow of George Merriman dec
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832
and who died on the 27 June 1836
of New Haven in the State of Connt
who was a Pri in the Compy
commanded by Captain Cook of the Regt commanded by Conn Ward in
Connt line for 16 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
at the rate of 53 Dollars 33
Cents per annum, to commence o the 4th day
of March, 1836 & ending 27 July 1836
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of
Dec. 1842, and sent to Benj
Cotton Hartford
Arrears to the 4th of
Semi-annual allowance ending

{[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by Theo. L Moody Clerk
Book A Vol. 1 Page 195
Payt to Patty Allen & Polly
Dudley surviving children
Page 4

State of Connecticut }
County of New Haven } Ss Wallingford 12th December A.D. 1842

On this 12th day of Dec 1842 personally appeared before me Randall Cooke a Justice of the Peace in & for said County Patty Allen who being sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain arrears of pension allowed to Catharine Merriman her deceased Mother
That she is the lawful child of the said Catharine who died in the aforesaid town on the 8th day of July in the year A.D. 1842 and left the following named children who now survive her viz Patty Allen, and Polly Dudley -
That their mother the said Catharine was pensioned under the Act of the 7th of July 1838 and her pension commenced on the 28th of July 1836 the day of the death of her husband George Merriman and she now claims in behalf of herself and the above named lawful heir of the said Catharine arrears of pension from the 4th of March to the 28th of July 1836 at the rate of 53 33/100 per annum
Patty Allen

The above declaration was signed in presence of Randall Cooke } 
Leverett Tuttle

Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year first above written and I certify that the declarant is the lawful child of Catharine Merriman decd and the above named persons are the only lawful heirs of the said Catharine & that the deponent is a respectible & credible person -
Randall Cooke Jutice of the Peace
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State of Connecticut ss
Office of Secretary of State
Dec. 14. 1842
I do hereby certify that Randall Cooke Esq whose signature is attached to the within Certificate, is and since the 20th day of June last part, has been, a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of New Haven in said State duly appointed & commissioned, as appears of record in this office. I further certify that I believe his said signature is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said State the day & year first above written.
Noah A. Phelps
Secretary of State

[written vertically at bottom]
[check mark]
Catharine Merriman
Con.
Act 7. July 38
certificate
53.33 from
4 March 36 to 27
July 36 - to Patty Allen
& Polly Dudley

Benjn Colton
Hartford
Con
Page 6

Merriman
Ct
Act 7 July 38

M 80 d 36
admd
16 mo. pri
$53.33/100
Died 27. July 36
Pen Com. 28 July 36.
Benjamin Adams
Meriden
Conn

[vertically at left] 
State of Connecticut New Haven County Ss
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State of Connecticut }
New Haven County }
I Ebenezer H. Ives, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Wallingford, in the County & State aforesaid, hereby certify that Elisha M. Pomeroy Esq is Judge of the Court of Probate for said District of Wallingford, duly qualified and sworn; and that he is a Justice of the Peace for the County of New Haven duly appointed & sworn, and that his signatures to the deposition of Erastus Allen as Judge of Probate, and to the deposition of Samuel Cook, as Justice of the Peace, are in his original genuine hand writing. And I further certify that the foregoing are the original proceedings of the probate Court held this day.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the seal of this Court, this Twenty first day of November, A.D. 1838.
Ebenezer H. Ives Clerk of Wallingford Probate Court

[seal affixed at left]
Page 8

State of Connecticut }
New Haven County } SS Wallingford
On this 21st day of November AD 1838 at a Probate Court held at Wallingford in and for the Probate District of Wallingford being a Court of Record present Elisha M. Pomeroy Esq Judge of said Court; Personally appeared before said Court Catherine Merriman a resident of said Wallingford in the County of New Haven aforesaid, aged Eighty years, who being first duly sworn, according to Law, did on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7, 1838 Entitled "an Act providing half pay and pensions to certain Widows" That she is the widow of George Merriman who was a soldier in the Army of the Revolution (the service performed by my deceased Husband I am unable to specify) She further declares that she was married to the said George Merriman on the 17th day of February in the year Seventeen Hundred and Eighty and that her husband the aforesaid George Merriman died at said Wallingford on the twenty first day of May Eighteen hundred and Thirty six; 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 and that her said Husband was a Pensioner at the time of his decease -
Catherine X her mark Merriman
Signed in presence of -
Elisha M Pomeroy
Benjamin Andrews

Sworn to & subscribed, on the day and year above written before
Elisha M. Pomeroy, Judge of the Court of Probate
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On this twenty first day of November, 1838 personally appears Samuel Cook, above named, and made oath to the facts in the foregoing attestation by him Subscribed; and I hereby certify that he, the said Samuel Cook, is personally known to me to be a man of truth and veracity, & that he is Clerk of the town of Wallingford. Before me
Elisha M Pomery Justice of the Peace
Page 10

"George Merriman married Katharine Johnson, February Seventeen, Seventeen hundred Eighty."

State of Connecticut }
New Haven County } Ss Wallingford
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the records of the Town of Wallingford, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures, as follows, "February 17 (Seventeen) 1780 (Seventeen hundred Eighty.")
Samuel Cook Town Clerk

I, Samuel Cook, above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the County, Town and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy from the records of said Town, with the exception above named, as certified by me.
Samuel Cook Town Clerk
State of Connecticut, New Haven County Ss-
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I Erastus Allen of Wallingford in the County of New Haven in the State of Connecticut aged Fifty nine years, depose & say that George Merriman late a Pensioner of the United States died at said Wallingford on the Twenty first day of May Eighteen hundred and Thirty six. That Catherine Merriman the Widow of the said Georg Merriman, now resides in my family; that the said Catherine is the widow of the said George Merriman and ever since his decease, has been & still is the Widow of the said George Merriman - and further I say not -
Erastus Allen

New Haven County Ss Wallingford -
On this 21st day of November AD 1838 Personally appeared Erastus Allen and made solemn oath to the truth of the facts in the above Deposition by him subscribed and I certify that the said Erastus Allen is a credible person -
Before me - Elisha M Pomeroy Justice of the Peace

[written vertically in left margin] 3334
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832 -
State of Connecticut }
County of New Haven Probate } 
District of Wallingford } SS Town of Wallingford

On the 4th day of August AD 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the court of Probate for the District of Wallingford - said Court being a Court of record and having by the laws of this state a clerk & seal and now sitting - George Merriman a resident of the Town of Wallingford County of New Haven State of Connecticut aged Seventy three years the 26th day of August 1832 - 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 - In the year 1775 last of December or first of January 1776 - He enlisted into a Company of troops & he thinks they were State troops - the term of service, He is rather uncertain about, whether it was two or three months - the company was commanded by Captain Isaac Cook. Lieutenant Hawkins Hart Ensign - Divan Berry - Col Ward Commanded the Regiment- Douglass Major soon after we were enlisted we were marched down below Fairfield and then were marched back home - when we had been at home a few days we again received orders to proceed to New York - we immediately commenced our march - and proceeded on by land as far
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as Greenwich There we embarked on ship bound for New York and we did not remain in the City more than one day and night - when we went over to Brooklyn here our men were employed in building a fort upon the eminence opposite the City of New York - Cutting Foshines - ditching &c. and while we were employed on this fort we quartered at the house of George Rempson - a Quaker - And the Asia a British Ship lay off most of the time we were there. We here served out the full term of our enlistment - and were discharged - he cannot say whether the first of March or April 1776 - on Long Island - Applicant returned home immediately and again enlisted in the month of May 1776 into the Company of State Troops commanded by Captain Bunnel of Cheshire - Hawkins Hart of Wallingford first Lieut. 2do. Hull of Cheshire Hitchcock of Cheshire Ensign - Rufus Hitchcock orderly Sergeant - and into the Regiment commanded by Col William Douglass. Lieut Col Arnold, Major Porter - soon after his enlistment he thinks the last of May. His company embarked from New Haven for the City of New York - We remained in the City principally thro the summer and we were on sentry & fatigue & c. through the summer. When we heard of the declaration of Independence we were in New York. The Kings Statue was demolished and the letters of King Street were likewise defaced - Lieutenant Harts waiter Jonathan Bartholomew being sick as well as the Lieut himself I was called on by Hart to take care of him at the Hospital - and was nursing him when our Regiment crossed over to
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Long Island - I was uneasy to join the Regiment and in a very few days I received permission to cross over to Long Island which I did and joined my Regiment - this he thinks was about August as green corn was just then ripe - he did not remain on the Island more than two days before he was brought off with all the American Army on the Island, in great haste and confusion in the night - while he was on the Island there was constant rain and the troops suffered much from this cause - He was not in the battle of Long Island which was fought principally by the Southern Troops after we had been brot over from the Island which was in the night - The Regiment returned to their old quarters - staid there but a short time and whole the Regiment was marched up to protect Stores at Turtle Bay - Here we were engaged in rolling out flour from the Kings Store - and getting it to the army - But when the shipping came up there being a few barrels only left - them we rolled out and destroyed - He was on guard the night before the battle of Turtle Bay and the British were so near in their vessels that they could be distinctly heard in all their conversation - Major Porter of our Regiment had the charge of those who came off guard that night and we were with him - and just as we began to cook our victuals, the fire from the vessels commenced. I swallowed a piece of broiled shad which gave me an insatiable thirst thro the day - I had hardly done this when we were fired
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on by the evening who had landed - we retreated from the store at Major Porter's order to the road Genl Spencer was just passing down He reprimanded Porter - ordered us to go out in small parties and find whether there was any enemy - Porter obeyed his order and advancing towards a body of men dressed unlike the British in blue coats & light coloured breeches who beckoned to him - he advanced to them against the wishes of the Sergeant Hitchcock and they seized him and bore him off. Applicant thinks the body who took Porter were Hessians - & Porter mistook them for our men - The enemy soon formed a line from East to North river for the purpose of shutting in our men who were in New York - He heard it said at the time that Genl Putnam was shut in but that he broke out - from here we marched to Harlem Heights - next day we had a battle with the enemy & repulsed them - Bil Merriams of Cheshire & John Beach and Mix of Waterbury were killed. We staied on this ground some weeks and here a man was sentenced to be shot for disobedience to his superior officer & cocking & snapping his musket at him - a breastwork was thrown up and a cap drawn over his face and guard ready to fire when he was reprieved - from Harlem we moved to White Plains, across Kingsbridge - Here we staied some time, fought the battle of White Plains - were worsted and the enemy pressing upon us we retreated in
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the night from our Camp leaving fires burning - we went from here to winter hills - and at last we went to North Castle where we were discharged on Christmas day 25th of December - In the year 1777 Applicant again entered the Company commanded by Capt James Peck Aner Bradley 1st Lieut Francis Ensign - & the Regiment commanded by Col Eno. Sometime in the month of June he joined the company at East Haven - he thinks sometime after it had entered upon duty - He remained at South end of East Haven with a portion of the company for a considerable time he thinks untill the fall for he whipped flax before he went away to put out to rot. In September or October we were ordered to March for North River - The men when they came to the border of the State refused to go. The officers who had commissions went on without them and the men at last yielded & went on and overtook them - The reason of the mens conduct was that they were told they should not be taken out of the State - We struck the river at Fishkill there he was taken sick & went into a shop with ten others & these drew hospital stores - He did not again see his Regiment untill they had arrived at Marineck - this was about the first of December - from thence we came to Horseneck & staied sometime & was there discharged - on the first day of January 1778 Applicant was out on this tour about seven months - He was also out on another tour being drafted for one month - but he cannot surely mention time or give proof & he only
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claims for the three first tours - The term of sixteen months - In reply to questions from the Department - Applicant states first that he was born in said Wallingford on the 26th of Augt 1759 - 2nd He has it in his family Bible taken from his father 3rd He has ever lived in said Wallingford only when in the service 4th This question he has answered in the body of his declaration 5th He has fully answered this in the body of his declaration - 6th He never received any thing more than than a verbal discharge & never had a commission - 7th Rev. James Noyes - Amos Dutton Esq Hon John D. Reynolds Doctor Lyman Parker. Dr. John Andrews James Carrington Esq - Applicant names as persons to whom reference can be made as to his veracity and reputation as a Revolutionary soldier. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declairs that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State - 
George Merriman
Sworn to & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid }

We Sedgwick Rice a Clergiman residing in the town of Wallingford and John Andrews a Physician residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with George Merriman who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration - that we believe him to be seventy three years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
Sedgwick Rice
John Andrews
Page 18

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he stated.
And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Sedgwick Rice, who has signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the town of Wallingford, and that John Andrews MD who has also signed the same is a resident in said town of Wallingford, and is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit, and the Court further certify that the declaration of said George Merriman is sustained by the testimony of the following witnesses verbally given in court under oath, to wit, by Jonathan Bartholomew and Ichabod Ives who served in each and every of the tours detailed in said Declaration by George Merriman.
Jno D Reynolds Judge of Probate for the District of Wallingford

I Randall Cook Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Wallingford do hereby certify that the foregoing contained the original proceedings of the said Court in the Matter of the application of George Merriman for a pension -
(over)
Page 19

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of said Office this 4th day of August AD 1832 -
Randall Cook, Clerk
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J. L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir -
Enclosed is the application of Catharine Merriman for a Pension - I have not been able to ascertain under what Act of Congress George Merriman her deceased Husband obtained his Pension; but I hazard the presumption that it was under the Act of 7 June 1832. This may readily be ascertained by reference to documents within War Department
Please inform me of the result of the application of Huldah Johnson, Rebecca Hall & Jerusha Boure for Pensions.
Your Obt & Humble Servt
Benajah Andrews
Meriden 21. Nov. 1838
Page 21

I Jonathan Bartholomew of Wallingford, County of New Haven of the age of seventy seven years depose and say that in January 1776 I enlisted with George Merriman now living in said Wallingford, with whom I was then, and am now well acquainted - into Capt Isaac Cooks Company. Col Wards Regiment and Service for the term of two or three months I think three certain - on Long Island - very soon after my return from this town either in the month of May or June 1776 I enlisted with said Merriman into Capt Bunnels Company of Cheshire for the term of seven months and into Col Douglass Regiment and we served out said tour together in the City of New York and said Merriman was discharged with the Company at the expiration of the term of service. And in the month of May 1777 said Merriman and myself again enlisted for a seven months tour into Capt James Pecks Company Col Eno's Regiment and we were discharged together at the end of our tour on the last of the Dec following - for a more particular description of these tours I here refer to my declaration for a pension at the War Office Washington City - and further Deponent saith not.
Jonathan Bartholomew
New Haven County SS Wallingford Sept 17. 1832
Personally appeared Jonathan Bartholomew a credible person and made solemn oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed
Before me Jno A. Foot Just Peace
Page 22

I Ichabod Ives of Wallingford County of New Haven of the age of seventy three years depose and say that I was enlisted into the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War in each and every tour specified in this deposition of Jonathan Bartholomew and I was during every one of said tours a member of the same Regiment with George Merriman named in said Deposition and now living in said Wallingford & said Jonathan Bartholomew and in the same company with them on every tour except one to wit the tour under Col Douglas where I belonged to Capt [illegible] they to Capt Bunnels Company and I served out the full term of said tours - the first two or three months & the two last seven months each for a more particular description I refer to my declaration for a pension at the War Office Washington City - said George Merriman to my personal knowledge served out the full terms of those tours - to wit sixteen or seventeen months - and further Deponent saith not
Ichabod Ives
New Haven County SS Wallingford Feb 18 1832
Personally appeared Ichabod Ives a credible person and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed
Before me Jno A Foot Jus Peace

I Randall Cook Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of Wallingford hereby certify that John A Foot is a Justice of the Peace and that the accompanying Depositions of Jonathan Bartholomew & Ichabod Ives, to prove the service of George Merriman & purporting to have been sworn to before said Justice Foot each & all bear his genuine signature, and that said Foot is qualified to administer oaths -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of this Probate Office this 19th day of September AD 1832 -
Randall Cook Clerk
Page 23

Geo. Merriman Con: act 7 June 32 when last pd?
GW

May 21. 39
Died 27 July 1836 p % that period
JH
Page 24

Rev
Widow, &c.
File No. 17129
Catharine Merriman
Widow of
George Merriman
Pri Rev War
Act: July 7th 38
Index: -Vol. M, Page 43

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 25

Connecticut 2.928
Catharine Merriman,
widow of George Merriman
who was a pensioner under the Act of 7 June '32
and who died on the 27th July 1836
Haven in the State of Connecticut
who was a Pri in the compy commanded
Captain Cook of the Regt commanded
Ward in the Cont
for 16 mos
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut
the rate of 53 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
commence on the 28th July 36
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of May
and sent to Benajah Adams
Meriden, Con
Arrears to the 4th of March $138.17
Semi-annual allowance ending 26.66
$164.83

{Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by R Burdine Clerk,
Book A Vol. 1 - Page 195
Page 26

George Merriman
Depositions
Signatures of Magistrates
genuine
Saml A. Foot
16 mos
$53.33 per ann
Page 27

13913
Invalid.
Rev War
File No. 13.913
George Merriman
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 1832
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 254

[Arrangement of 1870.}