Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14300, for Ralph Pope, Massachusetts
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
Mass.

Pope, Ralph
Bird, Abigail
Former widow

NUMBER
 W. 14300

CONTENTS
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5578
Massachusetts
Abigail Bird formerly
widow of Ralph Pope 
Massachusetts
who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a private and Corporal
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
26. Dollars 97
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1848
certificate of Pension issued the 
17th day of Febry 1837
and sent to 
Dickins  and Coombs
Present
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 2, 1848, page 8  Volume 2
3 certificates
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14030
Abigail Bird
widow of Ralph Pope
Mass
? July 1838
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk County SS--     On the twelfth day of 
December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty nine__
Personally appears before the Honorable Herman LeLand Judge of the Court of Probate within
and for the County of Norfolk  in the Commonwealth aforesaid, the same being a Court of Record, Abigail Bird a resident of Stoughton in the County and State aforesaid aged eighty nine years, who first being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the acts of Congress issued July 7th 1838, March 3d 1840, June 17h 1846 and February 2nd 1848__And this declarant states that she was formerly the wife of Ralph Pope of Stoughton aforesaid, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army and served under his father Frederick Pope in the eight months service of 1775 and she believes that he served two years or more in the latter part of the war of which she has no documentary proof.  That she and her husband were members of the Town of Stoughton aforesaid, that her maiden nam was Abigail Irwin, that she was married to said Ralph Pope by Rev. Jebediah Adams in
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the seventh day of August 1780. That her 
said husband Ralph Pope died on the twenty second day of April AD 1797  that after his death she was married to Samuel Bird of said Stoughton and that said Samuel Bird died on the twenty ninth day of October 1827. That she has not intermarried since the death of her late
husband, but is now the widow of said Ralph 
Pope and said Lemuel Brid all of which will appear from the documents accompanying this declaration 
Attest
Abigail Bird 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk SS
subscribed and sworn before me, the day and year 
from above written 
S. Leland Judge of said Court 

County of Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
Norfolk, ss. I Jonathan H Cobb Register of Probate 
for the County of Norfolk hereby certify that Sherman Leland is Judge of the Court of Probate for said County of Norfolk, and that his signature above is genuine there.  In Testimony whereof I have 
hereunto set my hand and the seal of said 
Court of Probate this thirteenth day of December in the year Eighteen Hundred and Forty Nine
Jonathan H Cobb
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston
November 15. 1849
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Ralph Pope is borne on a Muster roll of Capt Peter Talbots Co in Col Robinson's Regt. marched from Stoughton Apr. 19, 1775. as a corporal, 6 days Service & 38 miles travel. – On rolls of 8 mos. Service in 1775, in Capt Frederick Popes Co Col. Paul D. Sargents Regt. as a private of Stoughton. On Coat roll dated Nov 11, 1775. On a muster roll of Capt. Simeon Leach Co. Col. Benj Gill. Regt marched from Stoughton to Dorchester March 4. 1776 as a private, 3 days & 31 miles travel.
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And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth the date above written
W W Tufts
Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth
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To the Secretary of State Massachusetts Silence Weeman in behalf of her mother Abigail
Bird formerly wife of Ralph Pope, a soldier in the Revolutionary Army request evidence of her father's service therein. This applicant believes that her father at the time of the Revolutionary war was an inhabitant of Staunton Massachusetts and that he entered the service from that place. She believes that he served in the army, more than two years and that he was in the Regiment under his father Colonel Frederic Pope of said Stoughton, but in what Company he was enrolled she is unable to state.  She therefore respectfully requests the Secretary of State to ensure the rolls and Revolutionary documents in the office to be examined and a certificate granted of all the service of Ralph Pope of Stoughton aforesaid and also the grade of his service
Silence Weeman
State of Maine, Cumberland County SS
Subscribed in my presence
Jacob Herrick, Justice Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, December 15" 1849
I hereby Certify, That at the dates of the
annexed attestations Lemuel Gay was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Norfolk, VA
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and qualified;
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.
W.B. Calhoun
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
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I James D Swan of Staughton in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Mass Aged Seventy eight years on oath depose and say that I am brother of Abigail Bird of the
place. My sister whose maiden name was Abigal Swan was married to Ralph Pope Son of Frederic Pope of this place who was reported a soldier of the Revolutionary Army.
said Ralph Pope died many years ago. After his his death my sister was married to Lemuel Bird. Said Bird died some twenty or twenty five years ago. My sister has not intermarried since the death of her last named Husband but is the widow of said Ralph Pope and said Lemuel Bird.
James D. Swen
Stoughton Mass
Dec 8, 1849
Commonwealth Mass
Norfolk S.S. 
The above was subscribed and Sworn to [blank] before me Lemuel Gay Justice
of the Peace
December 8 1849


I Lemuel Gay a Magistrate of said County of Norfolk
hereby certify that James D Swan who hear sign
and made oath to the above affidavit is personally
known to me as a witness of Respectability and
that his statement under oath are entitled
to full credit.
Lemuel Gay
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Norfolk 
Town of Stoughton
Ralph Pope & Abigail Swan both of Stoughton were married by Rev. Jedediah Adams August seventh seventeen hundred & eighty.
The above is a true copy from the Records of Marriages in the Town of Stoughton, with the exception of the date which in the record is expressed in fair legible figures as follows
August 7 1780
Attest Jabez Talbot Jr. Town Clerk of Stoughton 
I, Jabez Talbot Jr. above named depose and say
that I hold the office of Clerk of the Town of Stoughton
aforesaid in the County & State aforesaid, and that the
above is a true extract from the records of said Town of
Stoughton with the exception above named as
certified by me
Jabez Talbot Jr Town Clerk
Norfolk ss Dec. 1849
Herein personally appeared the above named Jabez Talbot Jr and made oath that the above certificate by him subscribed
is true.
Before me Lemuel Gay
Justice of the Peace
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Norfolk & Town of Stoughton
Married by Rev Edward Richmond
Mr Lemuel Bird to Mrs Abigail Pope both
of Stoughton March fifth eighteen hundred and twelve.
The above is a true copy from the Records of Marriages in the town of Stoughton with the exception of the date which in the Record is expressed in fair legible figures
as follows "March 5, 1812 "
Attest I Lemuel Talbot Jr Town Clerk of Stoughton Lemuel Bird died October
twenty ninth Eighteen hundred & twenty seven aged Eighty two years.
"Oct. 29, 1827 82 yrs."
I Jabez Talbot Jr above named depose and
say that I hold the office of Clerk of the town of Stoughton aforesaid in the County & State aforesaid. I am that the above are true extracts from the records of said town of Stoughton with the exceptions above named as certified by me
Jabez Talbott Jr Clerk of the Town of Stoughton
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, March 25th 1850.
I hereby Certify, That at the dates of the
annexed attestations Lemuel Gay was a
Justice of the Peace for the County of Norfolk
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and qualified;
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.
W.B. Calhoun
Secretary of the Commonwealth
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State of Massachusetts
County of Norfolk & Town of Stoughton
Town Clerks Office March 8th 1850
In an ancient Book of Records belonging to said Town
page 36 the following Birth is recorded
Abigail Swan Daughter of Robert Swan & Rachel his
wife born November 18th 1761
November the eighteenth one Thousand seven hundred and Sixty one.
I find no Record of Birth of Ralph Son of Frederick Pope.
Attest Jabez Talbot Jr. Town Clerk of Stoughton.
I Jabez Talbot Jr on oath depose and say that I am Town
Clerk of Stoughton above named, duly chosen and sworn
that the Records of said town are in my Custody and
that the above certificate is a true Copy from said Records.
I further depose and say that the above Record appears to
have been made many years ago. Certainly before the
Book came into my possession.
Jabez Talbot Jr
State of Massachusetts Norfolk S.S. March 8th 1850
Personally appeared Jabez Talbot Jr Clerk of the Town
Stoughton and made oath to the truth of the above certificate and affidavit by him signed
 Before me
Lemuel Gay Justice of the Peace
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I Samuel Glover of Stoughton County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Mass aged Eighty Seven years on oath depose and say
that I am a native of said Stoughton and have lived in the place all my days. That I was well acquainted with Ralph Pope son of Frederic Pope of this place, said Frederic Pope was an officer in the Revolutionary war and was afterwards called Colonel Pope. The son Ralph Pope served under his father in the
Revolutionary war in the commencement of the same at which time said Ralph was about seventeen years old. The said Ralph Pope married Abigail Swan daughter
of Captain Robert Swan. The said Abigail's husband Ralph Pope died some fifty years ago.  After his death she married Lemuel Bird. Said Bird died about twenty years ago. The widow has not intermarred since the death of her last
husband Bird, but is now living a widow with his daughter Mrs Atherton in this Town. I also depose and say that there was not any other Ralph Pope then the one I have described who was a Revolutionary soldier from this or any other place of whom I have knowledge.
Samuel Glover
Commonwealth of Massachuetts Norfolk ss March 21 1850
Subscribed and sworn to before me Lemuel Gay Justice of the Peace
I Lemuel Gay hereby certify that the within named Samuel Glover is personally known to me as a witness of Respectability and veracity and in the full enjoyment of his mental faculties.
Lemuel Gay Justice of
the Peace
Stoughton March 21 1850
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I Isaac Talbot of Stoughton County of Norfolk and
State of Mass aged Seventy nine years on oath depose
and say, that I am a native of said Stoughton and have
lived in this place the most of my Days. That I was
well acquainted with Ralph Pope Son of Fredric Pope
of this place. Said Fredric Pope was an officer in the
Revolutionary war and was afterwards called Colonel
Pope, The Son Ralph Pope served under his father in the
Revolutionary war (as I understand during the war) in the
commencement of the same as which time said Ralph
was about Seventeen years old. The said Ralph Pope
married Abigail Swan Daughter of Capt Robert Swan.
The said Abigail's husband Ralph Pope died some fifty
years ago. After his death she married Lemuel Bird.
Said Bird died about twenty years ago. The widow has
not intermarred since the death of her last husband
Bird, but is now living a widow with her Daughter
Mrs Atherton in this Town. I also depose and say that
there was not any other Ralph Pope then the one
I have described who was a Revolutionary soldier from
this or any other place, of whom I have any knowledge
Isaac Talbot
Stoughton March 19 1850
Commonwealth of Masscharth Norfolk ss March 19 1850
Subscribed and sworn to before me Leml Gay Justice of the Peace.
I Leml Gay hereby certify that the witness named Isaac Talbot is personally known to me as a
witness of Respectability and verasity and in full
in engagement of his mental faculties.  Leml Gay Justice of the Peace
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STATE OF MAINE
CUMBERLAND, SS.
Clerk's Office, Judicial Courts,
PORTLAND, March 28 A.D. 1850
I, Charles C. Harmon,
Clerk of all judicial courts,
In and for said County of Cumberland, certify that William Garcelon is an Acting Justice of the Peace, within and for the County of Lincoln as appears by the paper hereto annexed; that
he is duly qualified to act as such; that the
Commission of the said Garcelon is dated May 8th A. D. 1849 and will expire May 8th
A. D. 1856 and that the following signature, purporting to be his, are genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court, for said State, the day and year
first above written.
Charles C. Harmon CLERK
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I, Silence Weeman of Lisbon, County of Lincoln
and State of Maine aged sixty years, on oath
depose and say, that I am a native of Stoughton, Massachusetts, and daughter of Mrs. Abigail Bird by her first husband Ralph Pope. I have been in the habit of visiting my mother annually for many years. During my visits to her I have frequently asked her why she did not draw a pension. I, well knowing that my father Ralph Pope was a
Revolutionary soldier,  My Mother's Answer
has invariably been that her second marriage cut her off from a claim for a pension, that all
her friends and neighbours told her so, and I
supposed it was the case. When Mr. Herrick obtained a pension last summer for Widow Rhoda Green formerly the wife of Abel Nutting, who lives a neighbour to me in Lisbon - I was led to enquire why my Mother could not draw a pension as well as the Widow Greene, the two cases being similar.
My husband went immediately to Mr. Herrick
and he undertook to prosecute the claim for me in behalf of my Mother, for which purpose he went to Massachusetts, to take her declaration as I understood him to say.
I also depose and say that my Father Ralph Pope was a Revolutionary soldier, and it has always been traditionary in our
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family that he served under his father 
Col Fredrick Pope more than three times as long as has been proved by the rolls. I understand only eight months, has been proved, whereas I always supposed my father served more than two years 
Lisbon March 26th 1850
Silence Weeman
Witness
Jesse Weeman
State of Maine
Lincoln SS.
March 26th 1850
Subscribed and Sworn before me
William Garcelon on Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that Mrs. Silence Weeman
wife of Jesse Weeman, who has signed and made oath to the foregoing affidavit is a woman of respectability, and that her statements under oath are entitled to full credit and belief.
William Garcelon
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11.038
Massachusetts
Abigail Bird formerly Widow of Ralph Pope
who was a pensioner under the Act of
and who died on the 22d April 1797
of Stoughton in the State of Mass.
who was a pri & Corp in the company
commanded by Captain Leach of the
Regt commanded by Col Yell
in the Mass line for 6 days Corporal
5 months 8 days private
Inscribed on the Roll of Boston at the rate of 26 Dollars 97 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of
Feby 1831 and sent to
Dickens & Coombs
Present
Total amount $ [blank]
Act July 7, 1838.
Recorded by H. R. Weightman Clerk
Book D Vol. 1 Page 67
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8935
Massachusetts
Abigail Bird formerly widow of Ralph Pope
who was a pri & corpl
in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate
of 26, Dollars 97 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of Febry 1831 and sent to
Dickins & Coombs
Present
Acts of March 3, 1843 & June
17, 1844
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 2.
Page 26
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11038
Mass Roll
Abigail Bird
formerly widow of
Ralph Pope
who was a private and
Corporal Mass troops
Admitted acts July 7, 1838
March 3d 1843.
June 17, 1844
Feb 2. 1848.
for 6 days service as Corporal
and 8 mo 5 days as private
$26.97 pr sun
To Dickins & Coombs
Present
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Recy
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 14300
Abigail Bird 
Widow 
Ralph Pope
Corp. Rev. War 
Act: Feb 2, 1848
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 63
(Arrangement of 1870.]
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No 14030

Abigail Bird
Map
Set J. Herrick July 21, 50
Let to J. D. Herrick Sept. 16.50

Act of July 1835
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston.
March 18 1850.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the
Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Benjamin Bisbe of
Stoughton is borne on the rolls of the same Co. with Ralph Pope of Stoughton, in 8 mos. service in 1775.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W. B. Calhoun Secretary of the Commonwealth
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Lewiston Falls (Maine) March 15th 1850
To the Secretary of State Massachusetts
Sir,
In endeavoring to obtain first whereby I might
establish the identity of Ralph Pope the first husband of Mrs Abigail Bird, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Pensions, Mrs Bird, who is now living in Stoughton (Mass.) at the advanced age of almost 90 years
with her mental powers as bright as a woman of 20 informed me, that her first husband Ralph Pope and Benjamin Bisbie of said Stoughton were out in the Revolution together. Said Benjamin died last summer, in Stoughton. According to your Certificate of Nov. 15th 1849 - Ralph Pope served in his father Frederic Pope's Company in 1775 in the 8th service. I would ask whether or not Mrs Bird's statement is correct. If Mr Bisbie were alive I could avail myself of his testimony. He being dead no injury to him or his can come by answering the question and attesting the same to this paper. Very respectfully, your obedient servant
Jacob Herrick
Goffs Corner, ME
Secretary of State
Massachusetts
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Dickins & Coombs
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, October 25th 1850.
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Lemuel Gay was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Norfolk
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and qualified; 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.
W. B. Calhoun
Secretary of the Commonwealth
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I Samuel Glover of Stoughton County of Norfolk and commonwealth of Massachusetts
aged Eighty Eight years on oath depose and say that I was well acquainted with Ralph
Pope the first husband of Mrs Abigail
Bird who died fifty years ago. Said
Ralph Pope was always named in
connection with the soldiers of the
Revolutionary Army from this place.
It is traditionary among Mrs Birds
neighbors and friends and through the
Town generally that Ralph Pope son
of Col Frederic Pope, Mrs Bird former husband
and was a Revolutionary soldier.
Samuel Glover
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk SS
subscribed and sworn before me
October 21, 1850
Lemuel Gay
Justice of the Peace
I Lemuel Gay hereby certify that
Samuel Glaven who has made the
above affidavit is a person of respectability
and verasity and that his statements under oath are entitled to full credit and belief.
Lem Gay
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I Isaac Talbot of Stoughton County of
Norfolk and Commonweath of
Massachusetts aged Seventy Eight years on oath depose and say that I was well acquainted with Ralph Pope the first husband of
Mrs Abigail Bird who died fifty years
ago. Said Ralph Pope was always
named in connection with the soldiers
of the Revolutionary Army from this
place. It is traditionary among Mrs Bird
neighbors and friends and through the
Town generally that Ralph Pope son
of Col Frederic Pope, Mrs Birds former
husband and was a Revolutionary soldier
Isaac Talbot
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Norfolk SS
subscribed and sworn before me
October 21st 1850
Lemuel Gay
Justice of the Peace
I Lemuel Gay hereby certify that Isaac Talbot who has made the above affidavit
is a person of respectability and veracity
and that his statements under oath are entitled to full credit and belief.
Lem Gay
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Washington, Nov. 16th 1850
Sir:
We herewith enclose additional evidence in support of the claim of Abigail
Bird, formerly widow of Ralph Pope, for
a revolutionary pension under the Act
of 1838. Mrs. Bird resides in Norfolk
County Massachusetts.

The additional evidence which we now enclose answers the requirement of your letter to J. Herrick Esq of Goff's Corner, Maine of the 16th of
September last, and we trust the certificate will now issue.
Very respectfully
Your Obt. Servt
Dickins & Coombs
J.L. Edwards Esq
Commr of Pensions
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J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Present
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[illegible] [illegible] Maine April 1st 1837
Commissioner of Pensions 
Sir,
Enclosed with this an affidavit of [illegible] inhabitants of Topsham Maine Mrs. Wiemans affidavit and certificate from the secretary of state, [illegible] also a certificate from the Town Clerk of Houghton which I respectfully ask [illegible] ask might be [illegible] in the pension claim of said Abigail Bird -and taken into consideration for her claim shall [illegible] [illegible] be examined, which I trust will be at the soonest day feasible—Mrs. Bird’s claim was transmitted to Washington DC December 1849. 
I am very respectfully your obedient servant
Jacob Herrick
Goff’s Corner Maine 
J.L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
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J.L. Edwards Esq.
Commissr. of Pensions
Washington D.C.
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Lewiston Falls, ME Dec. 20th 1849
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
I herewith transmit to your office the
papers in the claim for a pension of Mrs
Abigail Bird formerly wife of Ralph Pope under the act of 1838, and the several acst of Congress
passed subsequent thereto- I respectfully request that they may be filed and taken up in
their regular course. Very respectfully, your
obedient Servant,
Jacob Herrick
Goff's Corner, Maine

J.L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.