Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 905, Nathaniel Blackmer, Mass.
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SERVICE
Mass

Blackmer, Nathaniel

NUMBER
R. 905
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35501
Application of
Nathaniel Blackmer
a Revolutionary Soldier for
a Pension ~
Michigan
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United States of America
State of Michigan
County of Genesee Ss:
On this tenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three, before me Syman Stow one of the associate Judges of the Circuit Court in and for the said County of Genesee personally appeared Nathaniel Blackmer; a resident of the Town of Flint in the said County of Genesee, well known to me, who being by me first duly sworn, did depose and say:  That he was aged seventy nine years on the first day of August last past: that he was born in the town of Weston in the County of Wooster in the State of Massachusetts and that he has resided for the last five years in the said County of Genesee and State of Michigan And the said Nathaniel Blackmer did further depose, that his Father's name was Solomon Blackmer and that he was a soldier in the Revolutionary War; and was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and served throughout the whole war: and that two of the brothers of him the said Nathaniel, viz: John Blackmer and Solomon Blackmer Junior were also soldiers in the said War, as Volunteers, and served at different times during nearly the whole of the same: that the said Solomon Blackmer Junior has received from the United States a pension for his said service as such Volunteer Soldier in the War.  And the said Nathaniel Blackmer did further depose and say, that during the first of the said War, on account of his
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youth, and of the absence from home of his Father and two older brothers as before stated, the said Nathaniel was kept at home, and did not go into the service until the year 1781.  to the best of his recollection and belief _ that in that year, while his brothers were in the service near New York, there was alarm raised that British rebels of War, were at the Mouth of the Connecticut River, and even coming up to burn the towns, and he the said Nathaniel was draughted to go to the mouth of the said River and defend the Country against any attacks from the said rebels_ that he did accordingly go upon such service: that Captain Joseph Cutler Commanded this Company in which he served: that the Regiment was commanded by Colonel Stone, (whose first name the said Nathaniel cannot nor recollect, but that on account of his age colonel Stone did not go out on this occasion - the Regiment was under the Command of Major Ruben Reed_  that the Regiment was marched to the mouth of Connecticut River and there encamped, and remained there three months and a half~ that he left home upon this service in the summer, and he thinks in July, and that it was within month of October following when he returned_ that no fighting took place_ the British upon
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lay off-and-on, at the mouth of this River, sometimes threatening an attack, and then for a time disappearing, and finally went off without venturing an attack
And the said Nathaniel did further depose and say, that after the Regiment was encamped as aforesaid Major Reed the Commander, detailed him to act his servant, to wait upon him, and take charge of his horse and that he the said Nathaniel was dept in employ in that capacity during the whole tome the said Regiment was out at that time
And the said Nathaniel Blackmer did further depose and say, that during the winter before the peace was declared some malignant disease broke out and prevailed in the Army, and many of the soldiers were sent into the Country to be taken care of, that six of said Soldiers who were very ill, were sent to the Town of Weston where he resided, to be cured, and that he the said Nathaniel was employed about four months in charge of said men, personally attending upon them - that said men belonged to a Company commanded by Captain Talman as he was called, that Talman came for the men in the spring, and paid for taking care of them in Continental money as it was called ) which was of no value whatever to him the said Nathaniel
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and that in fact he never received any valuable compensation whatever for his said services as such attendant and nurse
and the said Nathaniel Blackmer did further depose and say, that he is the only surviving member of his Father's family, and that the remainder have been dead for some years, that being under age at the time of rendering all of said services, his father received his wages in the kind of pay before mentioned, and that he is ignorant whether any certificate of his services as a soldier, or any discharge was ever made out for him - that he the said Nathaniel never received any such certificate or discharge himself but that his name was on the Company Muster Roll of Captain Cutler's Company, and that he was regularly called and paraded daily while in the service as before stated ~ that he has for several years past been endeavering to find some of the persons who were acquainted with the services rendered by him as before stated, but all with whom he was then acquainted, and who knew the facts are, as he is informed and only believes now dead - that he has frequently written to the State
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of Massachusetts to obtain some further evidence of his services, but could obtain no information of any living person whose testimony would aid him_ that about four years ago, he made a journey to the State of Ohio expressly to obtain the testimony of Colonel Thomas Brown, who resided not far from Columbus in said State, and who knew all of the facts detailed by the said Nathaniel herein before _ but had the misfortune to learn that said Thomas Brown had died the year before _ And the said Nathaniel did further depose that since he first thought of applying for a pension, he has delayed making his application with hope and expectation of obtaining the testimony of some person who was acquainted with the services so rendered by him, and that the want of such evidence, has induced him to delay said application until this time ~ And the said Nathaniel further deposed that he is now a poor man in shaigtened circumstances, and qualty in need of such pension as his services may entitle him to receive from the United States
[signed on right] Nathaniel Blackmer
Taken and Subscribed by and
before me this 10th day of April
A.D. 1843 [signed] Lyman Stow
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State of Michigan
County of Genesee Ss.
I Thomas R Cummings, Clerk of said County do hereby certify that Lyman Stow, before whom the with affidavit was taken and subscribed was at the time of taking such affidavit an associate Judge in & for said county duly authorized to take the same.  And further that I am well acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe the signature to within [illegible] to be genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this 11.th day of April 1843
[signed on right] T R Cumings Clerk
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Town of Flint, Genesee County Michigan
April 10th 1843.
We the undersigned Citizens of said Town and County do hereby certify, that we have known the within named Nathaniel Blackmer for several years and some of us since he has resided in said County- that he is a man of good moral character & that his reputation for truth and veracity is above all suspician; that we fully believe he has been a Revolutionary Soldier as stated in his deposition and that he is justly entitled to a pension for his services as such soldier ~
[signatures on right]
Lyman Stow
H C Walker
J R Cumings
J C Griswold
Jer R smith Associate Judge
R Bishop
John Barton
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State of Michigan Genesee County 

I hereby certify that the annexed then pieces of paper are the original deposition of the persons whose names in the are there so subscribed. taken in open Court. March 11. 1845 
Chas E. Deney Clerk 
By Geo. Sprague Deputy Clerk

In the matter of Nathaniel Blackmer Petition for a Pension
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State of Michigan
County of Genesee Ss
On this 11th day of march 1845 personally appeared in open court before the court of said County now in session entitled "The circuit Court for the County of Genesee Nathaniel Blackmer a resident of Flint in the county of Genesee and State of Michigan aged Eighty one years on the first day of August 1844 who being first duly sworn according to law, 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.
That he entered said service as a volunteer under Captain Joseph Cutler at the town of Weston in Worcester County, Massachusetts, about the last of August on first of September the precise day this deponent cannot now state but is confident that the time did not vary five days from the last day of August of the year next before the capture of Cornwallis or the surrender of Cornwallis which this deponent believes was on the 19th day of October 1781, and he therefore fully believes that the time he entered the service was about the last day of August 1780 - That Major Reuben Reed had the command of the Volunteers of which this deponent was one, that said Captain & Major both resided in the said town of Weston. that Col. Stone whose first name this deponent does not now recollect was at the time Colonel of the Militia Regiment in Weston aforesaid & vicinity but was too old & inform to take the command of said Volunteers & the said Major Reed therefore had command of the same.  That Lieutenant
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Joseph Bachelder was an officer in the company of volunteers to which this deponent belonged was attached, & that a Mr. Hodges was orderly Sergeant of said company whose first name this deponent believes was Daniel but is not certain as to such first name that this deponent immediately after he volunteered as aforesaid marched with about five hundred other soldiers some of whom were drafted & some of whom were volunteers, from Weston aforesaid & the neighboring towns down to the mouth of the Connecticut River & to New London, that British vessels were lying off in sight, & the forces under Major Reed's command were marched about from place to place to prevent the landing of the British forces & to deter them by a display of Military force from attempting to land.  That the British had previously burned & destroyed a great deal near the mouth of the River & the people in that region were apprehensive of further attacks of the like nature which was the reason of this deponents volunteering as aforesaid.  That this deponent so continued in service under the officers aforesaid about four months, but this deponent cannot state the exact time & verily believes that the time he so served under the above named officers would not vary a week from four months, that this deponent was their transferred from the service aforesaid with his consent to under the command of Captain Tallman whose first name this deponent cannot now state who then had charge of the Hospital as Brimfield where thirty or forty sick soldiers were taken care of, which soldiers had been sent there from near the City of New York, for fear of an attack upon the posts where they had been questioned by the British forces then in possession of the City of New York.  that this deponent continued in service under said Captain tillman who was a regular Continental officer for the further time of four months or a little over making over Eight months of actual & continued [last line on page cut off]
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York.  That this deponent continued in Service under said Captain in Tallman who was a regular Continental officer for the further time of four months or a little over making over Eight months of actual & continued service rendered by this deponent to the United States as a common soldier.  that this deponent was then discharged by the said Captain Tallman by a written discharge & under a special authority sets do from some higher officer whose name this deponent & cannot now state, which discharge was an honorable acquitted from further military service under said officer from whom this deponent then received his pay in continental paper money.  that this deponent did faithfully to the best of his ability & to the Entire satisfaction of the officers under whom he acted served the United States during the War of the Revolution a little over eight months by actual & continued service in manner aforesaid, and this deponent further says that his discharge herein before named has been for many years lost, that this deponent di not suppose the same could ever be of any special use or consequence to him & he therefore did not preserve it with the care tht he otherwise would, that since the giving thereof, this deponent has removed from place to place a number of times & all his old papers including his said discharge have been left, lost, or destroyed & this deponent has now no means of knowing or ascertaining where said discharge can now be found if it is in existence And this deponent further says that Nathan Samson, Joseph Woods Gideon Shaw, Reuben Patrick, Jerome Partrie, Joseph Gould, Abner Blackmer, & Joseph Reed a son of the said Major Reed were in the service aforesaid with the deponent while he was under Major Reed  that the said joseph Gould & one Franklin Huchinson and Edward Witherly were with this deponent in the service under Captain Tallman ~
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That this deponent has made careful & dilligent Efforts to obtain the testimony of some of the said persons with whom he served as to the facts herein before set forth, but some of said persons are not dead & the present residence of the others if yet alive unknown to this deponent.  That Samuel Anders who knew all about this deponent said service who resided in Canandaigea New York is dead as this deponent is informed & many there in Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio to whom letters have been addressed by or in behalf of this deponent & have been Either unanswered or answered by the surviving friends of such persons, announcing their deaths.  That this deponent wrote to Urstem aforesaid to ascertain if any roll record, or list of said Volunteers could be found, & received for answer that after diligent search & inquiry it could not there be found, the persons supposed to have posession thereof having moved away as this deponent is informed & believe
That this deponent has no documentary Evidence of his said service & knows of no person by whom he can now prove the same.  That this deponent hereby releases & relinquishes any 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 or Territory to the best of his knowledge, & that this deponent has never received any pension whatever from the United States And this deponent further says that he is not aware of any record of his age being preserved but thinks that it may exist among the descedants of some of deponents brothers or sisters & this deponent has not the least doubt as to his being Eighty one years of age on the said first day of August last as from year to year he has together with the members of his family kept his age correctly, and
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this deponent has always understood and verily believes that he was born on the first day of August 1763.  And this deponent further says that he is acquainted with Daniel E Brown, William Theiger, Anson Law and Rexford Wittum and that they can certify to this deponents character.  And aurther saith not
Sworn & Subscribed this
11.th day of march 1815
Geo. R Sprague
Deputy Clerk
[signed on right] Nathaniel X his mark Blackmer
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County of Genesee ⎬  

Mr Daniel E. Brown a clergyman, residing in the Town of Flint County & State aforesaid, and William Thayer Anson Law & Robert I Starke, residing in the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nathaniel Blackmer, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be Eighty one years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution; and that we concur in that opinion. 

Sworn &Subscribed this Eleventh day of March to 
Daniel E Brown .
William Rogers 
Anson Law
R.B. Page 
Geo. R. Sprague Deputy Clerk 

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, & served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them, that Daniel E Brown who has signed the preceeding certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the Town of Flint County of Genesee & State of Michigan, and that William Thayer Anson Law Robert Page are credible persons; & that their Statements are entitled to credit. 

I Charles E Deney, Clerk of the Circuit Court for the County of Genesee, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Blackmer for a pension
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In the matter of Nathaniel Blackmer 
Petition for a Pension

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 11th day of March 1815
Chas E. Deney Clerk 
By Geo. Sprague Deputy

State of Michigan Geneses County
I hereby certify that the annexed pieces of paper before are the original depositions taken of the persons of this court. 
E. Court March 16 1845. 
Chas E. Deney Clerk 
By Geo. Sprague Deputy
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No. 35,506
Nathaniel Blackmer
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Ex'r. INVALID. 
REJECTED

Nathaniel Blackmer
P.O. __________
Enlisted:  __________, 18
Discharged __________, 18
Service:  __________
Application filed:  __________, 18
Alleges:  __________
Re-enlisted:  __________
Attorney:  __________
P.O.  __________
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J. L. Edwards Esqr 
Pension Agent 
Washington I
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Flint November the 11th 1844 
Mr. J. L. Edwards sir Mr Blackmer has come to me as I am a presenter to write to your honor concerning his pension & tell him that if he had been out six months ther wood be no truble Mr Nathaniel Blackmer testafies and says their has been a mistake in the first written that I sent but Mr. Barte has sent you a letter to the Contrery and he says he has been out in the serves of the revelation war nearly  eight mones he is very old in his eighty  secent year and he is pore and it is the belief of the people that it is his just due. 

By request I hereby certify that Papers above alluded to, have heretofore been executed and attested to before me and forwarded 

Genesee County Nov 11th Leftow Associate Judge

if this is not write pleas sent me a letter and  please direct me what Cors shall pursue I have rote to your honor a number of times and have always had returns as soldier and a pensioner I am your most obedient servent 
Rexford Witten 

Micigan Genesee County town of Flint
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Flint, Michigan, April 11th 1843 
Hon. J. L. Edwards Com Pension

Sir
Enclosed I send you the Deposition of Mr Nathaniel Blackener of this place, who claims to be a soldier of the Revolution and to be entitled to a pension for his Services. Without having the law of Congress upon the subject to refer to, I have drawn up his statement, either in the hope then expectation that it may prove sufficient whether the circumstance that he is obliged to rely wholly upon his own evidence, and his good character, will be a bar to his obtaining a pension; I must leave you to decide. 

If any thing missing to be done, which can be done by him, he will promptly comply with any information from you to that effect
Very Repectfully Yr Obt Svt 
John Barton
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Flint Genesee County Mich March 14th 1845 
Hon J L Edwards Com of Pensions
Dr. Sir
Enclosed herewith is the application of Nathaniel Blackmer for a pension under the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. I have endeavored to have the papers good in form, & according to the directions given by your department for the Class of cases now presented Should there be any defect in the papers please apprise me of its nature, in order that it may be remedied if it is matter of form, as on the merits I am entirely certain that Mr Blackmer is entitled to a pension & should much right to have him defeated for want of sufficient skill in presenting his case to the department 
Very Resp Your Obt Servt
J K Rugg
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Flint September 4th 1844 
Hon James L. Edwards 
Com Pensions

Sir In behalf of Mr Nathaniel Blackmer of Genesee County Michigan, whose application for a Pension is now on file in your office, I beg leave to state that according to his account, the seven months service rendered by him in the war of the Revolution was one continued service with under two Captains-- viz Capts Cutter & Tallman, He states that he was regularly detailed with others to perform hospital service, and was a regularly in the army, while taking care of the sick, as when in the open field in the confident belief of all persons acquainted with Mr Blackmer, is that he was a meritorious soldier of his country that dark hour, and ought in justice now . in his old age to receive his pension, and in his behalf I repectfully request that you will review his case, and if possible place his name upon the Roll - His ignorance of the passage of the several Laws of Congress on the subject of Pensions has been, as he has before states, the reason that he has not made an earlier application for his pension 

I am Sir Very Respectfully 
Your Obt. Svt
John Barton