Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 20577, Ambrose Allen, Mass. Sea Service Privateer
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(8-1776)
Service
Massachusetts Sea Service
Privateer
Allen, Ambrose 
Mary
Number
W. 20577
CONTENTS
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Massachusetts 31.257
Ambrose Allen
Essex Co. in the state of Masstts was a Seaman in the Tyrannicide commanded Captain J. Harraden of the Commanded in Massachusetts service for 7 mos. 8 days Seaman.
scribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
the rate of 29 Dollars 6 Cents per annum,
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
of Pension issued the 9th day of November, 1837 and sent to Peter Rix, Marblehead, Massts.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1837 = $188.89
Semi-annual. allowance ending 4 M. 1838 = 14.53
$203.42
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by S. A. Elliot Clerk,
Book E, Volume 2, Page 3.
Letter to Pensioner October 14, 1839
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34,192
Ambrose Allen
Massachusetts.
Act 7 June 1832
Volume 39.
1.85. advanced pay
94.1 September 77 to 15 March 78
105. 1 September 77 to 8 May 78.
8 months 8 days
"Seaman" shipped "1 Oct 1777
Admitted
7 months 8 days Seaman
$29.06
Peter Rix Esquire
Marblehead
Massachusetts
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex County ss } Marblehead
 
On this twenty ninth day of August, 1837, Personally appeared in open Court, being the Court of probate holden at Salem, in and for
the County of Essex, Ambrose Allen, a resident of Marblehead in the County of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy six years, who being first duly sworn according to
Laws 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 7, 1832, That he enlisted in the Navy of the United States in the year 1777 on board of the Massachusetts State Sloop of War Tyrannicide of 14 guns commanded by Captain Jonathan Harraden 1st Lieut, John Bray, 2nd Lieutenant  he thinks was Joseph Dolliver, Sailing Master [illegible] Baddin Bradden and he served in said Vessel as Seaman and sailed in company with the armed Brigantine Hazard of said state of Massachusetts
on a cruise in the month of October 1777, and returned the following May during said cruise they captured three prizes and carried them into Martinique and on their return they Captured another prize and brought her into Marblehead,
thence into Salem, He received as prize money one share.
That previous to Sailing in said Sloop of War
Tyrannicide He said Ambrose Allen made several Cruises on board of Various Privateers, viz [namely] The True Blue, Captain Stiles, Bowdoin, Captain Stevens, Freemason, CaptainJohn Connoway or Conway,
Terrible, Capt John Connoway or Conway, Fox, Captain Dorrison, Tyger, Captain Nathaniel Brookhouse, and various others "off and on" during the whole war excepting what time I was in prison. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that
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his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State 
Ambrose Allen
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, Before D A White 
Judge of Probate
and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Seaman and served as he states D A White, Judge of Probate
I, Nathaniel Lord Jr. Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex in the said State of Massachusetts - do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of the above named Ambrose Allen for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my
hand and seal of office this fourth day of October,
A.D. 1837
Nathaniel Lord, Junior {Register of the said Court of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Essex ss. Marblehead October 4th 1837
Then personally appeared Ambrose Allen, above named and a credible person, and made oath that the only reason he has for not enforcing his claim for a pension before the date of these presents, is simply and for no other reason, than the fact that he did not know that the service which he
performed, as above specified, entitled him to a
pension under the existing laws, before me
James Gregory, Justice of the Peace
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3460
Massachusetts
Mary Allen
widow of Ambrose Allen
who was a seaman
in the Massachusetts service

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
29 Dollars 06 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the
8th day of December 1843
and sent to
James Gregory
Marblehead
Massachusetts
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A
Volume 1
Page 35
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8906
Mary Allen
Massachusetts
Act 7 July 1838
Admitted
7 months 8 days
Seaman
---
$29, 6 per Annum.
James Gregory
Marblehead
Massachusetts
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State of Massachusetts,
County of Essex} SS. Marblehead
On this fifth day of April A.D. 1843, personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate in and for said County of Essex, Mary Allen, a resident of said Marblehead, aged nearly seventy seven 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 July 7th, 1838 and sixteenth of August, 1842, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War.
That she is the widow of Ambrose Allen
who was a Seaman on board the Massachusetts State Brig Tyrannicide of 14 guns, Jonathan Harraden Esquire
commander, in the War of the Revolution; that her said husband joined said Brig as a Seaman and volunteer at said Marblehead some time in the month of October 1777, for a six months cruise; that he sailed from Salem in said Brig in the month of November following and returned to the Port of Boston in the month of May having captured four prizes on the cruise, one of which they carried into the Island of Martinique, in
the West Indies
She further declares that her said husband was a pensioner under the law of June 7th 1832, having been pensioned under said law to the amount of 29 Dollars and 6 cents per annum, on the 9th day of November 1837. And she begs to refer to the evidence filed with his declaration in proof of the service herein set forth. She further declares that she was married to the said Ambrose Allen on the twenty eighth day of February in the year seventeen hundred  ninety-two; that her husband, the aforesaid Ambrose Allen, died of age and infirmity at his home in said Marblehead in the twenty eighth day of October, A.D.1842; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving
the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz:[namely] at the time above stated, as will appear by the proof hereto annexed.
Her mark
Mary Allen
Witnessed by
James A. Rix
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year first above written -
Before me, D A White Judge of said Court
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Essex, SS. Probate office
I Nathaniel Lord junior, register of probate for said county, hereby certify, that the honorable Daniel A. White, before whom the foregoing declaration purports to have been
taken, is the judge of Probate for said county; and his name, subscribed to the certificate thereon, is his genuine hand writing; the same being done in open probate court.
Given under my hand and seal of office this  fifth day of April, A.D. 1843.
Nathaniel Lord Jr.
I, William A. Richardson of Marblehead the County of Essex do on my oath testify & declare, that I am in the forty eighth year of my age; that I was well acquainted with Ambrose Allen, late of said Marblehead, Revolutionary Pensioner, who died in this
town on the 28th, day of October, A.D. 1842, and the identical person whose widow, Mary Allen, is understood to have signed her Declaration hereon. And I do further testify that I am also well acquainted with said Mary Allen; that I well know that she is now living a widow in said Marblehead and has not intermarried since
the decease of her said husband, Ambrose Allen, aforesaid.
William A Richardson

Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
County of Essex.} ss. Marblehead, April 13th. 1843
Then the above named William A. Richardson, who is personally well known to me as a credible witness
personally appeared and made oath in due form of law to the above affidavit by him subscribed.
In witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand & affixed my Notarial
Seal, the day & year hereon written
James Gregory, Notary Public and Justice of the Peace
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Extract from the Record of Marriages in the Town of Marblehead, County of Essex, State of Massachusetts.
Seventeen hundred ninety two, February Twenty eighth
Mr Ambrose Allen and Miss Mary Christie
I certify that the above is a true extract from the Record, with the
exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair, legible,figures as follows, viz. [namely] 1792 February 28 Richard Homan
I Richard Homan, above named, depose and say, that I am Clerk
of the Town of Marblehead, County and State aforesaid, and that the above
is a true extract from the Record with the exception above named
as certified by me.
Richard Homan Clerk of the Town of Marblehead.
Essex ss. Marblehead April 14th 1843.
Then personally appeared, Richard Homan, a credible witness, and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit.
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notarial Seal, the day and year
herein written.
James Gregory, Notary Public and Justice of the Peace.
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WIDOW, etc.
File Number 20577
Mary Allen
Widow of
Ambose Allen
Seaman Revolutionary War
Act: March 3, 1843 Index: --Volume A, Page 10
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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See letter to J. Gregory 5 Sept. 43
Reported
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7280
Massachusetts
Mary Allen
widow of Ambrose Allen
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832
and who died on the 28th October 1842
of Essex County in the State of Massachusetts
who was a Seaman in the [blank], commanded by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded by
[blank] in the Massachusetts service for 7 months and 8 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 29. Dollars and 6 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd day of
May 1843 and sent to Joseph Gregory
Marblehead, Massachusetts
Total amount, $145.30
Act July 7, 1838.
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, 
Book A,  Volume 1, Page 68
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Marblehead, April 15th 1843
Honored Sir:
I have the honor to forward herewith the Declaration of Mary Allen widow of Ambrose Allen, late of this town and a Revolutionary
Pensioner, deceased - who claims the
benefit of the act of July 7th 1838, & 16th of August, 1842
with very great respect, I remain Your Honor's
humble servant, James Gregory
James L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
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Marblehead October 5th 1837
Herewith enclosed I return the papers relative to the
case of Ambrose Allen, I have endeavoured to comply with the instructions contained in your note to me on the subject, as also the regulations from the War department relative to the same, and hope that they will prove satisfactory, if not, please to give me further instructions.
Have the honor to be, sir,
Very respectfully your Obedient Servant
Peter Rix
J. L. Edwards, Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington City
D. C.
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Marblehead, June 20, 1843.
Honored Sir, 
Your favor of 10th
ultimo, returning the papers in the
case of Mrs. Ruth Emerson, for arrears of Pension and the benefit of the act of March 3rd 1843, was duly
received. It was with very great regret that I received these papers with the assigned reason of their return; for although the attestation purported to be
signed by a Notary, yet it also purported and was also signed by a Justice of
the Peace, the commission of both vesting in one and the same person.
Mrs. Emerson's papers are now forwarded again herewith with the authentication of the Secretary of the Commonwealth attached to each. Also the applications of Sarah Hill Rebecca Widger, Mary Allen and Sally Kitfield, for the benefit of the act of March 3 1843, respectively.
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In conclusion I earnestly hope and trust that the reasons assigned in my letter of May 21st 1840, in answer
to your Honor's of 1st of same month, relative to
authentication of affidavit of Thomas Kimball
in the case of Nana Fowler, Law of July 4th 1836, will be deemed sufficient to pass any document that the undersigned may forward in future, without the expense and trouble of such authentications as accompany the six now forwarded; the same as they have
been uniformly passed for the three years
which have now elapsed since the date of
my said letter, by which a heavy expense
has been saved for those in whose behalf
I have been called to act.
I am, with very great respect, your Honor's humble servant.
James Gregory
James L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
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Marblehead, October 8th, 1839
Honored Sir:
I, the undersigned, am now in the Seventy-ninth year of my age.
I have served my country both in the War of the Revolution and in the late war with Great Britain, in both Public and Private service. According to the best of my recollection I was in various vessels in the Privateering service of the Old War for not less than ten cruises, beside one cruise in the State Brig
Tyrannicide. I was also three cruises in the Privateer services of the Last War- beside nearly two years service in the United States
Brig Rattlesnake and in Prison, after her capture.aI am now grown old and unable
to labor for my subsistence, and the Pension which I have received of $29.06 per annum, for my Revolutionary service in the said Brig Tyrannicide, although very beneficial to me is nevertheless, as your Honor well knows but a slender means for my comfortable
support. Under these circumstances, if I am entitled to the smallest additional pay it would give me sensible relief at the
present time and especially so as I am obliged to bear the loss of a large portion of my back pay
through the insolvency of the Commonwealth Bank in the Notes of which Institution the Government paid me but a few weeks previous to its failure.
At the same time I am fully aware that
I cannot hope for additional pay, as the
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the laws now stand, unless there has been a mistake in the amount of the Pension allowed me, and I have thought that an error might have been made in the computation of my Pension, from the fact that my old
friend and Shipmate William Laskey, and also the widow of my old friend Peter Standly, both of whom - Laskey & Standly- were seaman like myself in the said Brig Tyranicide, & according to the best of my recollection neither
of them served any longer than myself in the same vessel and at the same there with myself-- to wit, from October 1777, to May, 1778. yet Laskey is allowed four dollars and one cent the widow of Standly three dollars and twenty-two cents more than I am allowed. It is under these circumstances, therefore,
that I herewith venture to forward to your Honor my Pension Certificate,
and respectfully solicit the favor of an examination of the Roll of the
Tyranicide, with the view of ascertaining whether
I am not entitled to as much as my old
Shipmates for my said services on the same cruise.
Confident that your Honor will grant this favor to an old veteran worn down in his country' service, and will inform me of the result of the examination, I remain, with very great respect,
your Honors obedient servant
Ambrose Allen
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Deposition of W. Hooper
relative to the claim of
Ambrose Allen for a
Pension
---
Pounds 39.85, additional pay
9th September to 15 Mar 78
105 rationale from 1 September
1777 to May 8-1778
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I, William Hooper, of Marblehead, in
the County of Essex & Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, do on oath testify & declare that I am in the eightieth year of my age, that I took an active part in the War of the Revolution; that I am now in the receipt of a Pension for part of the services I then [illegible] and performed. I went one cruise
in the Massachusetts sloop of War called the Tyranicide, belonging to and in the service of the said State of Massachusetts Captain Jonathan Harraden of Salem was our commander. I myself was a seaman on board and Mr Ambrose Allen of this town was also a Seaman in said Brig and accompanied us on said cruise. We sailed in company with the Hazard, also of the State of Massachusetts on said cruise in the Autumn of 1777 and returned in the Spring of 1778 having captured on said cruise
four prizes -- three brigs and one schooner. We were absent on said cruise about six months, but we were in the service, from
the time of our enlistment to the time of our discharge, about seven months.
William Hooper
Witnessed by
Elizabeth B Day
James Gregory
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex Ss Aug. 19th 1837
Then the above named William Hooper an undoubted credible witness, personally appeared
and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed, Before me
James Gregory, Justice of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, ss.

John Prince Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in said County certify that James Gregory Esquir was on the 19th of August last  and now is a Justice of the Peace in said County that his signature hereon is genuine
Witness my seal of said Court October 5
1837
John Prince Clerk
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2093 
Mary Allen
$29: 6 per annum
James Gregory
Marblehead
Massachusetts
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State of Massachusetts
County of Essex.
Marblehead
On this ninth day of June A.D. 1843, personally
appeared before me James Gregory, Notary Public and
Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Essex, Mary Allen, a resident of said Marblehead, aged nearly
Seventy seven 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 March 3d 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons who served "during the
Revolutionary War." That she is the widow of Ambrose Allen, who was a
Seaman in the Massachusetts State Brig Tyrannicide Jonathan Harraden Esquire Commander, in the War of the
Revolution.
She further declares that her said late husband was a Pensioner under the law of June 7th 1832 to the amount of twenty nine dollars and six cents per
annum, and that after his decease, to wit, on the twenty second day of May, 1843, she herself was pensioned under the law of July 7th, 1838, to the like amount of twenty nine dollars and six cents per annum, and that she is still a widow.
Witnessed by
William A Richardson
her mark Mary Allen

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written before me the subscriber, and I certify that said declarent is personally well known to me. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notarial Seal
James Gregory, Notary Public Justice of the Peace
authentication next page
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston June 15th 1843.
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the
annexed attestation James Gregory was a
Notary Public and a Justice of the Peace
for the County of Essex in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his 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 hereunto affixed the
Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John A. Bolles
Secretary of the Commonwealth