Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 23955, for Ezekiel Meritt, Massachusetts
Page 1

SERVICE
Mass.

Meritt, Ezekiel
or Merrit
Sarah

NUMBER
W. 23988
B.L.Wt. 826-100
Page 2

14.070
New York

Ezekiel Merrit
[illegible] in the state of New York
who was a fifer---in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Sprout of the Massachusetts
line, for the term of two years 1701

Inscribed on the Roll of New York
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 15th of April 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 20 of August 18[illegible]
and sent to Hon. F. H. Hubbard
Hamilton N.Y.

Arrears to 4th of March 1819            83.29
semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept 1819   48.
                     10 mo 16/30  4/31      $131.29


Continued
Page 3

984
New York Albany.
Sarah Merrit
widow of Ezekiel Merrit.
who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a  private.

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
60 Dollars -------Cents
per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1848.

Certificate of Pension issued the
28 day of July 1848.
and sent to
Hon Henry [illegible]
[illegible]

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 2, 1848,  Page 126  Vol. 4
Page 4

826
Ezekiel Merritt
priv
2nd Regt. Mass. line



Warrant issued Nov. 5th 1819



Seth Hyatt---atty.
Page 5

KNOW ALL MEN BY THSES PRESENTS,
That I Ezekiel Merritt of Lebanon County of
Madison & State of New York, yeoman, late a fifer
in the Second Regiment of the Massachusetts Line
of the American Army of the Revolution.
have constituted, ordained and made, and in my stead and place put, and by these presents do constitute, ordain and make, and in my stead and place put Seth Hyatt of Washington, District of Columbia to be my true, sufficient and lawful attorney of me and in my name and stead, to my use to ask for and to receive of the Government of
the United States, a Warrant for One Hundred acres
of Land, granted to me for enlisting to  service, and
for serving, the term of During the War of the 
Revolution, in the Second Regiment of the Massachusetts
Line of the American Army.  Commanded by Col. Sprout.

Giving and hereby granting unto my said attorney full power and authority in and about the premises; and to use all due means, course and process in the law for the full, effectual and complete execution and for the premises to appear, and the person of me the constituent to represent before any governor, judges, justices, officers and ministers of the law whatsoever, in any court or courts of judicature, and relating to the premises.  Also to submit any matter in dispute, respecting the premises, to arbitration under my said attorney and the same again at pleasure to revoke.  And generally to say, do, act, transact, determine, accomplish, and finish all matters and things whatsoever, relating to the premises, us fully, personally, although the matter should require more special authority than is herein comprised I the said constituent ratifying , allowing and holding firm and valid all and whatsoever my said attorney or his substitutes shall lawfully do, or cause to be done, in and about the premises, by virtue of these presents. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty ninth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen.
(signature of Ezekiel Meritt)
W. Stevenson
Jonathon Snow

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Be it know, That on the twenty ninth Day of July One thousand eight hundred and nineteen before me, WILLIAM STEVENSON.  Notary Public, by legal Authority admitted and sworn, and dwelling in Boston aforesaid, and a Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk, personally came Ezekiel Meritt above named, and acknowledged the above Letter of Attorney to be his Act and Deed.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed my Notarial Seal the Day and Year last aforesaid.
William Stevenson Notary Public and Just. of Peace
Page 6

Ezekiel Merritt
Massachusetts Line

I Ezekiel Merritt of Lebanon, County of Madison
and State of New York, the signer of the within Power
of Attorney.  Do testify and declare, That I enlisted
in the month of December, 1781, for the
term of During the War, in the Second Regiment
of the Massachusetts Line of the American
Army of the revolution; and  served as a Soldier
and fifer in said Regiment until the 11th day
of June 1783, when I received an Honorable
discharge from General Washington--and 
that I left the Certificate of my discharge
in the State of Massachusetts--which Certificate
I have never been able to get since, it
being stated to me, an application therefor
that it was lost and destroyed---I also [illegible]
then declare, that I have never sod or disposed
of the Bounty of one hundred acres of Land
which was granted by the Congress of the United
States for my services.
(signature of Ezekiel Meritt)
Suffolk Ss. Boston July 29, 1819
Sworn to before me
William Stevenson [illegible] & Justice

I Jonathan Snow of Bridgewater, in the County of
Plymouth  & State of Massachusetts, testify & declare
that I have been acquainted with Ezekiel Meritt
signer of the within Power, between thirty  & forty
years, and know him to be the identical person
therein represented
 Jonathan Snow

SuffolkS.s. Boston July 29, 1819 Personally appeared
Jonathan Snow Esquire, a respectable witness, and
made oath to the truth of the above affidavit, by him
subscribed. before me
William Stevenson
Page 7

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Secretary's Office, Boston 
September 6' 1847
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the
annexed attestation Philo Leach
was a justice of the Peace for the
County of Plymouth, 
[initials]

in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted;
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 G. [illegible]
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Page 8

State of Massachusetts
Town of Bridgewater 
County of Plymouth S.s.      I Lewis Holmes
do hereby certify that I find in the town records of the aforesaid
town of Bridgewater the following certify 1788 April 20th
Ezekiel Merrit and Sarah Snow were married
by the Rev. John Porter.
Recapitulation..  Seventeen Hundred and Eighty
eight April Twentieth -- Ezekiel Merrit
and Sarah Snow were married by the
Rev. John Porter

"That it is above copy of the record with the exception of the date
which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows"
1788 April 20 Ezekiel Merrit and Sarah
Snow were married by the Rev. John Porter

I Lewis Holmes----above named,
depose and say, that I hold the office of town clerk
of the town of Bridgewater, in the county of
Plymouth and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract
from the records of the said  town with the exception above named as
certified by me.
(signature of Lewis Holmes) Town Clerk
Sworn before me the 20th day of August 1841
(Philo Leach signature)
Justice of the Peace
Page 9

Hon. Jas. E Heath
Com. of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Page 10

Ovid April 4th 1851

Sir
I inclose my agency in the care of Ezekiel
Meritt--- He was a pensioner of New York
at $96. and was pensioned as a Fifer-- I ask
if there is not an increase from $96 to $120
from 4 March '31 to the day of his death
April 1847.  I suppose there is
Respectfully
Your Most Obt. Servt
 Arad Joy

Hon Jas. E. Heath
Com. of Pensions
Page 11

To the Com. of Pensions Sir I a child of Ezekiel Meritt & 
his widow both late pensioners of  N. Y. have appointed  Arad
Joy my agent to investigate my claim to more pension
March 20, 1851
Betsey A Mills
Page 13

State of New York
Madison County S.s.
Ezekiel Merrit being duly sworn
deposeth and saith, that he resides, & for some years has
resided, in the town of Lebanon in the County of Madison
& State of New York-- that he served in the war of
the Revolution form some time in December in the year
1781, until the end of the war--- that for about the first
six months of this period he bore arms as a private soldier,
& the rest of the time served as a fifer---that he entered the
service in December aforesaid by enlisting as a private
soldier during the war---this was done at the town of
Scituate in the State of Massachusetts, about twenty five
miles from Boston where deponent at that time lived.
That he was first mustered at the town of Penbrook in
the State aforesaid--- next at Plymouth in the same---
then at Boston--- & from there he marched to West
Point on the river Hudson in the State of New York.
That he belonged to a Company commanded by Captain
Adam Bailey, in the second Regiment of the
Massachusetts line under command of Colonel 
Ebenezer Sprout.  That having served until the end
of the war in the year 1783, he received an honorable
discharge dated the tenth of June in that year, as he thinks.
That he was then with his company at New Winsor [illegible]
on the river aforesaid When he received his discharge,
& therefore he left the service.  That his discharge
stated that he had served faithfully one year & six months.
That he does not think this discharge is now in existence,
as it is above thirty years since deponent has seen it.
That deponent something more than thirty years ago
Page 14

put it in the drawer of a desk in the house of Job
Turner in the said Town of Scituate, where deponent
then lived & laboured--& has not seen it since altho'
he has twice enquired after it, & was told by said Turner
that he had looked for it & could not find it.  That deponent
now lives about three hundred miles from that town, &
does not know of any person in this quarter whose oath
he can take to corroborate his own.  That this deponent
has no land, & no Contract for any-- & no personal property
of any consequence resides a Cow -- & he is truely, by reason
of his reduced circumstances, in need of assistance from
his Country for support.
(signature of Ezekiel Meritt)
Sworn this fifteenth day of April
1818 before me
(signature of Nathl. King)
a judge of the Court of 
Common pleas in said County of Madison.

I Nathaniel King one of the Judges of the Court
of Common pleas in & for the County of Madison aforesaid
do certify that it appears to my satisfaction
that the said Ezekiel Merrit did serve in the
revolutionary war for nine months & more, on the
Continental establishment, as stated in the preceding
declaration, against the Common Enemy--- and I now
transmit the proceeding & testimony taken & had before
me to the Secretary for the department of wars, pursuant
to the directions of the act of Congress in such
Page 15

case provided--From my own knowledge of the Circumstances
of the said Ezekiel Merrit & further certify that
he is very poor--- that he no real estate & very little
personal-- that he is truely in the reduced circumstances
above sworn to, & by reason thereof stands in need of the
assistance of his Country for support--To preclude
all mistake & be confirmed in my acquaintance
with the circumstances of the said Ezekiel, I have
been to his place of residence, examined his situation
& enquired of his neighbors.  Dated April 17th 1818
(signature of Nathl. King)
Judge as aforesaid

State of New York
Madison County Clerks Office S.s.
I certify that it appears of
Records in this office that Nathaniel King Esq.
was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
in & for the County of Madison on the day that
each of the foregoing instruments appears to have been taken
and Executed duly authorised to take the same &
that his signatures thereto are in his hand writing
In testimony whereof I have hereunto put my name
and affixed the Seal of Said Court the 21st day of
September 1818--
(signature of Wm. Jarvis, Hough)
Dep. Clk
Page 16

State of New York
Madison County S.s.
On this 22d day of June 1820 personally appeared
in open Court being a Court of Record for said County
Ezekiel Merrit aged fifty three years resident in the
Town of Lebanon in said County who being first
duly sworn according to the Law doth on his oath
declare that he served in the Revolutionary War
as follows:  That he enlisted in Col. Ebenezer
Sprouts Regiment in Capt. Adam Bailey's Company
and that he served eighteen months and that my
original declaration bears date the 18th day of March
1815 and the number of my pension Certificate
is 14,070-- and I do solemnly swear  that I was
a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th
day of March 1818 and that I have not since that
 time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my
property or any part thereof with intent thereby so
to diminish it-- as to bring myself within the provisions
of an act of Congress entitled an act to provide for 
Certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval---
service of the United States in the revolutionary War
passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have 
not nor has any person in trust for me any property
or securities Contracts or debts due to me: nor have I 
any incoming other than what is contained in the 
schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.

Schedule of Property
One Cow & three Hogs----
My occupation a farmer not able to Labour more
than one half of the time.  My family consists
of a wife and four Children my wife not able to
bavour more than one half of the time aged fifty
two years on Daughter aged 17 years able to labour
Page 17

One son aged 14 years able to Labour
another son aged 12 years able to Labour & Daughter
aged 19 years.
(signature of Ezekiel Merrit)
Sworn to and declared in the 22 day of
June 1820 in open court
(signature of J. N. U. Hurd) Clk

I J. N. M. Hurd Clerk of the County of Madison
hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the
schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the
record of the said Court, and i further certify that
it is the opinion of the said Court that the total
amount in value of Property exhibited in the
afforesaid schedule is twenty Dollars and---
cents in testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal of the said
Court; on this 22nd day of June--- 1820.
J. N. M. Hurd clk
Page 18

Declaration of widow
Sarah Meritt for a
pension--


Ad 44 524
No 13459
Sarah Merritt
and of Ezekiel
Ny
act 7 July 1838
Married 1788
husband died 23 April '47

Adm 18 mo [illegible]
$60.00 per ann
from 23 April 1847

E. Holmes
Mirnsville
Page 19

Declaration  In order to obtain the benefit of the act  of
Congress of the 7th July 1835 entitled "An act granting half pay
and pensions to certain widows".

State of New York
Madison County S.s.:  On this twenty fifth day of
August--- in the year 1847 personally appeared
before the subscriber county, judge of the aforesaid county of
Madison in the state of New York.

Sarah Meritt a resident of the town of Eaten in the
said county of Madison aged seventy 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 7th 1835 entitled an act granting
half pay and pensions to certain widows. That she is the widow of
Ezekiel Merritt late of the town of Easton aforesaid deceased
who was at the time of his death a pensioner of the United States.

She further declares that she was married to the said Ezekiel Merrit, 
as well as she remembers on or about the third day of April--in the
year seventeen hundred and eighty eight in the town of Bridgewater
North Parish in the county of Plymouth-- in the State of
Massachusetts by the Rev. John Porter.  That she has no record
evidence of her marriage but hopes to find A recorded in said Bridgewater
That her husband the aforesaid Ezekiel Merrit died on the
(23) twenty third day of April  in the year one thousand eight
hundred and forty seven in the town of Eaton aforesaid;
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.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before
me & I certify that the said declarant is not able to appear before the court on
Page 20

account of bodily infirmity
The word "not" between was & married 
[illegible......] before being signed & sworn to.
(signature of James W. Nye)
County Judge of Madison
County New York,

Clerks Office
Madison County ss   I A. Scott Sloan Clerk of the County
of Madison & Clerk of the County Courts of said County do
hereby certify that James W. Nye before whom the fore
going Declaration was subscribed & sworn to  was at the
time of the date thereof the judge of Madison County
Courts duly sworn & authorised to act as such & that I am
well acquainted with the hand writing of such Judge
and verily believe the signature above of the said Judge
is genuine--- and also to the affidavit following---
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my Hand to affixed the official seal
of said County this 13th day of September 1847---
(signature of H. Scott Sloan) Clk.
Page 21

State of New York
Madison County S.s.      Valentine Meritt of the town of Eaton
in the county of Madison aforesaid of lawful age being duly sworn
deposes and says that he resides in the town of Eaton in the County
of Madison aforesaid and that Sarah Meritt widow of Ezekiel
Meritt tate of the town of Eaton in the aforesaid county is his mother
that she now is and has continued to be the widow of  Ezekiel
Merrit late of the town of Eaton in the county aforesaid [illegible] ever
[illegible] his death; that he died on the 23d-- day of April,
in the year 1847
(signature of Valentine Meritt)
Subscribed and sworn to by the said Valentine Meritt before
me the 25th day of August 1847 and i certify that I am
acquainted with the said Valentine and that he is a credible witness
James W Ayl
County Judge of 
Madison County N.Y.
Page 22

State of New York
Madison County S.s.  At a Surrogate Court held in & for said County
of Madison at the Surrogates office in Morriscuth in said county on the
18th day of February 1852 before Sidney T. Holmes county Judge of
said county, it was satisfactorily proved to said court, that Sarah
Merrit died in the town of Eaton in said county on the first day of November
1848:  that at the time of her death she was a revolutionary Pensioner of the
United States at the rate of sixty dollars per annum & was a resident of
said county & state, that Ezekiel Merrit, the husband of the said Sarah
Merrit, died on the 23d day of April 1846 & was at the time of 
his death a revolutionary pensioner of the United States at the
rate of Ninety six dollars per annum.  That the following  named persons
are the only surviving children of the said Sarah Merrit to wit Azel Merrit
Barnabas Merrit, [illegible] Merrit, Stephen Merrit, Salathial Merrit &
Betsey Ann Mills, who were living at the time of her death.  And I 
further certify, that the said Stephen Merrit has been this day duly appointed by me administrator of the estate of the said Sarah Merrit  deceased.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal of office at Morris[illegible] aforesaid the day & year first aforesaid.
(signature of Sidney T. Holmes)
County Judge of Madison County
Page 25

Revy
WIDOW, &c.

File No.. 23955
Sarah Merrit
wid of 
Ezekiel Merrit
Priv.  Rev. War.

Act: Feb. 2d    /48
Index  Wol. M, Pate 44
Page 26

433  Albany
New York

Sarah Merrit
widow of Ezekiel Merrit
who was a Private
in the Revolution
Husband died 23 April 1847

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
60 Dollars ----- Cents
per annum, to commence on the 23 April, 1847.

Certificate of Pension issued the
13th day of Oct. 1847
and sent to
E. Holmes,
Morrisville
Madison Co
New York

Recorded in Book A
Vol. 2   Page 80.
Page 27

Ezekiel Merritt
Merritt
Revolutioner
Pensioner of N.Y.
Law of 1818
Widow Pension [illegible]
law of 1848

Ex from 
Arad joy
Page 28

Morrisville:  Oct, 6th,, 1857,,

Dear Sir.
As six, months have elapsed since I received
your last.. April 4th, 57.  I thought it best to write you
again to ascertain what the prospects are with regard to that
pension,, as I suppose you must have Investigated the matter
by this time,,  I have some Intention of going west this fall
&  I should like to have the affair closed up before I go., so as not
to have any farther trouble with it.
Yours &c.  John. A. Mills
Men. Avad Joy Esqr.
,,ovid,, N. Y,, ,
Page 29

Ezekiel Merritt N.Y. act 18 March 1818.  $96.00 per ann.
To what time was he last paid &
G.C.A.

Pension office     Paid to 4th Sept. 1846.
Oct 11 1847                       BLB
Page 30

Morrisville Madison Co. N.Y. Feby 19. 1852

Sir
Enclosed I send you the application of Stephen
Merrit adm of Sarah Merrit decd, to obtain the difference
in the Pension what she ($60 per year) & that what her
husband Ezekiel Merrit  ($96 per year)
Respectfully yours
Otis P Granger

J D Heath [illegible]
[illegible] of Pensions
Page 31

DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of 2d February, 1848, entitled "An Act making further provision for surviving widows of the soldiers of the Revolution.

STATE OF New York
Madison COUNTY. ss.
On this eighth day of July 1848,
personally appeared before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said county, duly authorized by law to administer oaths, Mrs. Sarah Merrit, a
resident of Eaton in the county of Madison.
State of New York, aged eighty years, who
being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, make the following declaration, in order 
to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed the 2d February, 1848, granting pensions to the widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war; that she is the widow of Ezekiel Merrit who was a 
Fifer, in the Massachusetts Continental Line
in the war of the Revolution, and that she has drawn a pension at the rate of sixty
($60.)  dollars ---------------------  cents,  per annum, under the 
Act of 17th June, 1841.  She further declares that she is still a widow.
(mark of Sarah Meritt)

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED on the day and year above written, before (signature of Daniel Bennett).
Justice of the Peace.

I certify that the declarant is personally know to me, and that she is the same individual she represents herself to be in the foregoing affidavit.
(signature of Daniel Bennett ) Justice of the Peace.

Mrs. Meritt makes her mark not being able to write.
D. Bennett