Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16,045, for Dudley Merrill, New Hampshire
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N H 
Merrill, Dudley
Merrill, Mary
W16045
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4263
New Hampshire
Mary Merrill, (widow of Dudley Merrill who died on the _______ of April 1807)
of Grafton in the state of N.H. - 

who was a private in the comp'y (company) commanded by Captain Dow - of the ______ commanded by N.H. in the N. Hampshire line for 10 months & 7 days
=======================
Inscribed on the Roll of Concord at the rate of 34 dollars 10 cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
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Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of August 1845 and sent to J. W. Kelly, Concord N. H.
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Arrears to the 4th of March, 1845 -      $477.40
Semi-annual allowance ending 3 Sept: -$17.05
total $ 494.45
Revolutionary Claim - Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3d
Recorded by Will Stewart - clerk
book C Vol. 1 page 30
date of detach recs xx 6.13
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 4th July 1836,
State of New Hampshire Grafton County ss.
On this thirteenth day of June, eighteen hundred and forty three, personally appeared before me N. L. Berry a judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Grafton aforesaid, Mary Merrill a resident of Alexandria in said County of Grafton, aged eighty eight years, who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on (hir) her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 entitled an act -
that she is the widow of Dudley Merrill who she believes was a private in a company commanded by Captain Richard Dowe. That in 1776 he served under Quimby. That in 1777 he was out again in the company commanded by Captain Kimball as she believes that she is certain he was out the next year after they were married - She further declares that she was married to the said Dudley Merrill in the month of May 1776 in the Town of Chester N. H. by the Rev. Mr .Flagg who was then the minister of that town. That she lived with him in Poplin N.H. - That her husband the aforesaid 
Dudley Merrill died in April 1807 and left her his widow that she still continues his widow - She has no dockumentary evidence to prove
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her marriage or the service of her husband in the Revolutionary War, but must rely upon such proof as she may obtain hereafter.
Witness
Nancy A Dirkerson
N L Berry
Mary  Merrill "X" (her mark)
Sworn and subscribed to on the day and year above written        N. L. Berry 
Justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Grafton N. H.
I certify that by reason of old age and elderly infirmity the applicant is not able to attend court and for that reason her declaration is taken at her place of residence in Alexandria N.H. 
N. L. Berry (Justice of the court of common pleas for the county of Grafton N.H.
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I Nancy Cass of Alexandria County of Grafton N.H. depose and say that I am one of the children of Dudley Merrill formerly of Poplin , N.H., deceased, that my father the aforesaid Dudley Merrill died in the month of April 1807 and left my mother his widow, that she has continued his widow ever since, and resided in our family for the last eight years. Her name before she married was Mary McLellan, her place of residence was Chester N. H. - They never kept any record of their marriage, but I will recollect of having my father and mother say that she was twenty one years old when she was married to him and that he was out in the army of the Revolutionary War next year after they were married - the words resided - mother - were interlined, and the word - are - before years was added to before the above affidavit was subscribed and sworn to -
Nancy Cass
Grafton ss June 18, 1843 
Sworn & subscribed to before me N.L. Berry Just. Peace
I John Cass of Alexandria abo, depose and say that the affidavit above named is my wife, that we have lived together thirty seven years and know that what is stated by my said wife, has been the common report in  family conversations,  was since I have been connected with the family -
John Cass 
State of New Hampshire
Grafton County, ss
June 13th 1843
Personally appeared the above named Nancy Cass and John Cass (who are well known to me and are reliable witnesses) and made oath in the form of law that the above affidavits by them severally subscribed were true.
Before me N. L. Berry Justice Peace
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I Benjamin Page of London New Hampshire aged eighty six years and over, depose and say that I was well acquainted with Dudley Merrill, formerly of Poplin N.H., deceased, and know that he served two months as a private in 1775 in the war of the Revolution at Great Island, Portsmouth N.H. in a company commanded by Capt. Richard Dowe in Col. Wingate's Regiment. I served as drummer in Capt. Hobbs company in the same Regt. at the same time and know that the said Dudley Merrill served as above stated - 
The word war xxxxxxx before signed and sworn to 
Benjamin Page 
State of New Hampshire Merrimack County ss. 
Feb 25, 1845
Personally Appeared Benjamin Paige (who is a credible witness) and made oath in due form of law that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true - 
Before me 
Jacob A Potter Justice Peace
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March 28, 1932
BA-J/AWF
Mrs. Ben S. Goble
6402 North Damen Avenue
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your request for information in regard to Dudley Merrill, a soldier of the War of the Revolution.
The data contained herein are obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, W. 16045, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Dudley Merrill.
He enlisted in 1775 and served two months as a private in Captain Richard Dowe's company in Colonel Wingate's New Hampshire regiment. He enlisted sometime in July 1776 and served five months in Captain Quinby's New Hampshire company, He enlisted in 1777, and served three months and seven days in Captain Porter Kimball's New Hampshire company, and marched to Stillwater.
It is stated that he also served in Captain Nathan Brown's company, no further details of this service given.
He married sometime in May 1776 in Chester New Hampshire, Mary or Polly McLellan, then of said Chester. After they were married they lived for a while in Poplin, New Hampshire, at the house of his father, whose name is not given.
The soldier Dudley Merrill, died sometime in April 1807 in Corinth, Vermont. 
His widow, Mary or Polly, was allowed pension on her
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application executed June 13, 1843, then a resident of Alexandria, Grafton County, New Hampshire, and was eighty-eight years of age.
Their children referred to, only name given being Nancy, who married John Cass, and were both living in 1843 in Alexandria, New Hampshire. Nancy stated that her mother had then been living in their family about eight years.
John Cass stated in 1843 that he and his wife Nancy, had lived together about thirty-seven years.
Nancy Cass referred in 1845 to a brother and sister as living in the state of New York. 
There are no further data as to children.
Very truly yours, 
A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator
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Rev. Widow, & c.
file no. 16045
Mary Merrill, wid. of Dudley Merrill, Pvt. Rev. War
Act July 4th, '36
Index: Vol. M
Page: 43 
[arrangement of 1870]

1932- Mch 28
hist. to Mrs. Ben S. Goble (Aug)
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6135
Mary Merrill, N.H. 
suspended
Lit. G Israel W. Kelly
Sept, 24, 1844


Act 4th July '36
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State of New Hampshire
Merrimack ss. 
I Stephen C Badger clerk of the Superior Court of Judication of the county and state aforesaid do hereby certify that Jacob A. Potter is a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and qualified that his commission was dated on the 13th day of June 1840 and expires on the 13th day of June 1845, and that his signature to the paper hereto annexed is genuine - That Israel W. Kelly is a Justice of the Peace throughout the State of New Hampshire duly commissioned and qualified, that his commission was dated on the 9th day  of January 1843 and will expire on the 9th day of January 1848 and that the signatures hereto annexed are genuine.
Sworn under my hand and the seal of the said court this fourteenth day of July, Anno Domini 1845.
S.L. Badger, Clerk
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I William H. Brown depose and say that I am clerk of the Town of Poplin New Hampshire and hold in my possession the books of record belonging to said town, 
that I have made a diligent search thereon for the marriage of Dudley Merrill to Mary McLellan but do not find such record nor do I find any record of the births of any of their children, 
nor do I find any said records, any of the marriages of his fathers family or of the birth of any of their children. 
William H. Brown
Town Clerk of Poplin
State of New Hampshire
Rockingham ss.
July 9th 1845 Personally appeared the above named William H. Brown, Town Clerk of Poplin N. H. and made oath in 
due form of law, that the foregoing certificate by him subscribed was true.
Before me
Israel  W. Kelly, Justice Peace
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I Mary Merrill of Poplin N.H. aged sixty nine last month depose and say that I am the daughter of Nathan Merrill, late of this town, deceased, my father was the brother of Dudley Merrill formerly of this town, who married Mary McLellan -
I was well acquainted in my grandfathers Merrill's family and never knew of record of his marriage record of his family, marriages, births, or deaths nor of uncles, or any of the Merrill's family were kept any family record to my knowledge or belief
Mary Merrill
State of New Hampshire
Rockingham ss. July 9th 1845
Personally appeared the above named Mary Merrill (who is a credible witness) and made oath under form of law, that the above affidavit by her subscribed was true -
Before me Israel W. Kelly Justice Peace
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I Nancy Cass of Alexandria depose and say that I am one of the children of Dudley & Mary Merrill formerly of Poplin N.H.. The said Dudley long since deceased, That my father and mother nor either of them were kept any record of their marriage or the births or deaths of their children to my knowledge or belief, nor do I know or believe that any such record was ever kept by any of my brothers or sisters or any of the family connections, 
I have one brother and one sister living only, and they both live in the state of New York a distance from here of about four hundred miles
Nancy Cass
State of New Hampshire
Grafton County ss. 
January 9th 1845
Personally appeared Nancy Cass (who is a credible witness)m and made oath in due form  of law that the above affidavit by her subscribed was true - 
Israel W. Kelly
Justice of the Peace throughout the state
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John Waldleigh
Afft.


33.33 + .77 = 34.10
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I John Waldleigh of Canterbury, County of Merrimack & State of New Hampshire aged eighty seven years and over depose  and say that I enlisted in July 1776 into the U.S. service and served as a private in a company commanded by Captain Quimby until December making five months service - 
There was a considerable number of men raised for the Canada service at that time who served the same length of time who to wit - five months, among whom was Dudley Merrill of Poplin.
John Wadleigh
State of New Hampshire
Merrimack ss. November 20th 1844
Personally appeared John Wadleigh above named (who is a credible witness) and made affirmation in due form of law that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true. 
Before me
Israel W. Kelly Jus. Peace
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Concord N. H. July 14 1845
Sir, 
I now forward you the result of my enquiries to obtain record evidence of the marriage of Dudley Merrill to Mary McLellan, which is that no such evidence has been found. 
The only person that  supposed to be living who attended her wedding was her brother Andrew McLellan of Glover Vermont - on applying for his testimony through the P.M. at that place it will be  seen by his reply that the said Andrew and his wife were dead.
The affidavit John Wadleigh, here the duration of Dudley Merrill's service in Capt. Quimby's Company was five months, that of  Benjamin Page trust the service in Capt. Dowe's Company to have been two months- 
The service of Dudley Merrill will stand thus - 
2 - months in Capt. Dow
5 - months in Capt. Quimby
3-7 months and 7 days in Capt. Kimball
______________
months 10 - 7 days - All of which is most respectfully submitted by your obedient servant (obt. servt)
Hon. J.L. Edwards
Comm. Pensions
Washington D.C. Israel W. Kelly
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Glov VT
Nov 24 
E.B. Simmons Post Master

Israel W. Kelly Esq. 
Concord NH
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Glover Nov 24, 1843
Dr. Sir, Yours of Nov 21 is xxxx and will say in answer that then was a man in this who probably is the man you enquire for, he died last Feby (February)  as also did his wife. He has a number of daughters living in town and also a number of grandchildren but none of them probably know anything about this enquiry you make. 
Respectfully yours
E.B. Simmons Post.
The above is in answer to s letter addressed to P.M. of Glover Vermont where a brother of Mary Merrill resided, who attended & was present at her marriage to Dudley Merrill.
This is put in with her papers to show the department that nothing has been omitted on the part of the affidavit to furnish the best evidence of her marriage at the time she  states it to have taken place.
Yours truly
I. W. Kelly
Hon. Comm. of Pensions
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6135
Mary Merrill
N H 
Act 4 July '36
75 Dow      - 2
76 Quimby - 5 
77 Kimball  - 3.7
rolls            -
__________________
a****
10 mo. 7 ds. pri (10 mon 7 days private)
34.10
I. W. Kelly C. P. (Commissioner of Pensions)
Concord 
N. H.
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Concord N. H. 
March 1844
Sir,
With this you will receive the declaration and proofs in the application of Mary Merrill, widow of Dudley Merrill, for a pension under the act of July 4th, 1836.
1. She declares the marriage to have taken place in May 1776 before the Rev. Mr. Flagg of Chester.
The certificate of Isaac Lampkins town clerk of Chester, and Jonathan Clement,  , pastor of the Church, formerly under the charge of the Rev. Mr. Flagg, show that no record of the marriage is found on or  (witnessed?).
The affidavit of Nancy Cass, shows that no record was kept by her father and mother, but that it was always said that he was out in the army the next year after they were married. 
The affidavit of Theophilus Leavering states that they had one child when he was at home from the army on furlough in the fall of 1777.
Timothy March said they lived together or as husband and wife at his father's before he went as a soldier to Stillwater in 1777.
The evidence of his service is found on Captain Richard Dows roll at Great Island in 1775;
On Captain David Quimby's roll in 1776;
or joined the Londonderry company - on Captain Porter Kimball's roll in 1777 at Stillwater.
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All this service will probably amount to 2 mos. in 1775 - 5 mos. in 1776 - 3 mos. 7 days in 1777.
with great respect, I am your obt. (obedient) Srvt (servant)
Israel W Kelly
Hon J L  Edwards
Comm. Pensions
Washington D C
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6135
Town Clerk of Chester & Rev. Mr. Clements, affidavits
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I Isaac Tompkins of Chester, County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, do hereby certify that I am Clerk of the town of Chester and the records of said town are in my  office - and that I have searched said records to find the marriage of Dudley Merrill and Mary McLellan - but after careful examinations, cannot find any records of said marriage, and do not believe that any such records can be found in this office as said records prior to 1800 are very imperfect.
Chester, Sept. 17. 1843
Isaac Tompkins
State of New Hampshire, Rockingham ss. 
September 20, 1843
Sworn to before me and I hereby certify that Isaac Tompkins above named is a person of credibility.
David Currier Justice Peace
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I Jonathan Clement of Chester, County of Rockingham and state of New Hampshire do hereby certify that I am pastor of the Congregational Church in Chester, that the records of said church are in my possession and that I have examined said records but do not find the marriage of Dudley Merrill and Mary McLellan on said records, and do not believe that said marriage is recorded on said records.
Jonathan Clement
State of New Hampshire
Rockingham ss. September 20, 1843
Sworn to before me and I hereby certify that Jonathan Clement above named is a person of credibility - 
David Currier, Justice Peace
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State of New Hampshire
Secretary of States Office
I Thomas P. Treadwell, Secretary of State of aforesaid, do hereby certify that Nathaniel S. Berry is an acting Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the County of Grafton, duly commissioned & qualified, that his Commission was dated July 2, 1841 and will expire on the first day of Septer. 1866. I further certify that Nathaniel S. Berry is an acting Justice of the Peace in & for the State of New Hampshire duly commissioned & qualified; this his commission was dated on the 21st day of May 1839 and will expire on the 21st day of May 1844 - I also certify that Israel W. Kelly is an acting Justice of the Peace in & for the State of New Hampshire duly commissioned and qualified; that his commission was dated on the 9th day of Jan'y. 1843 and will expire on the 9th day of Jan'y. 1848 - And I further certify that David Currier is an acting Justice of the Peace in & for the State of New Hampshire duly commissioned & qualified; that his commission was dated on the 9th day of Jan'y 1843 and will expire on the 9th day of Jan'y 1848 and that the signatures of Nathaniel S Berry, Israel W Kelly & David Currier to the annexed instruments are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said State  this 11th day of March A . D. 1844
Thomas P Treadwell
Secretary of State
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I Theophilous Leavering, of Raymond,  County of Rockingham, State of New Hampshire, aged eighty four years, depose and say that Dudley Merrill formerly of Poplin N.H. was a near neighbor of mine in time of the Revolutionary War, he married Mary or Polly McLellan of Chester N.H.. I will recollect that I came home on furlough from the Continental Army in the fall of 1777, that they then had one child and lived together as husband and wife at his father's in said Poplin. 
Theophilus Leavering (X) his mark
Witness: Mary Brown
Susan D Brown
State of New Hampshire Rockingham County ss.  August 30th 1843
Personally appeared the above named Theophilus Leavering (who is a credible witness) and under oath in due form   of law that the above affidavit by herein subscribed was true.
Before me
Israel W Kelly Just. Peace throughout  State of N H
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I Timothy Marsh of Poplin, County of Rockingham, State of New Hampshire aged ninety three years and over depose and say that I was a near neighbor of Dudley Merrill formerly of said Poplin and lived in the same School district with him in time of the Revolutionary War,  and until he removed from here to Corinth Vermont where he died many years ago and left a widow named Mary, (whose name before married was Mary McLellan) 
They were married and lived together at his father's before he went into the army at Stillwater in 1777 - I well know that the said Dudley Merrill was a soldier at Portsmouth in 1775 in Capt. Richard Dow's company - 
that in 1776 he was out again in Capt. Quimby's company -
that in 1777 he was again at Stillwater in Capt. Porter Kimball's company - 
he was also out at another time in Capt. Nathan Brauer's company but how long or where he served I do not remember -
Timothy Marsh (X) his mark 
the word "was" - was interlined before signed and sworn to 
Witness
John Marsh
Polly Marsh
State of New Hampshire
Rockingham County ss.
August 30th 1843
Personally appeared the above named Timothy Marsh (who is a credible witness) and made oath in due form of law, that the above affidavit by him subscribed was true
Before me
Israel W Kelly
Justice of the Peace throughout the State of N.H.
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640 2 North Damen Ave
Chicago, Ill. 
February 24, 1932

Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C. 
Gentlemen:
I should like to know whether you have any records of Revolutionary War service of Dudley Merrill, born December 12, 1751, in Salisbury, South Hampton or Brentwood, New Hampshire.
He was the son of James Merrill and Mary (Osgood) Merrill. He lived in Raymond New Hampshire and Corinth Vermont.
A reply will be greatly appreciated.
Very truly yours,
Jeannett Merrill Goble
(Mrs. Ben S Goble)