Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 27871, for John Morse, Massachusetts
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
Mass. Morse, John W. 27871
Leonice B. L. Wt. 17856-160-55
CONTENTS
Page 2

141.249 Act March 3/55
May 21/55
Leonice Morse wid of
John Morse.
Private
Col Phinney
Mass. Troops
Revolutionary War
Pensioner under Act Feb/ 53
me Leby 53-2598
AD 160 ac's Feb 27/86
Dodge
Z. K. Harmon
Vol M2. page 93.
Portland.
Me.
No 17856 css Man
Page 3

Maine
2,598 P
Leonice Morse,
widow of John Morse
[illegible]
who served in the Revolutionary War, as a Private

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 26. Dollars 66.
Cents per annum, to commence on the 3d February, 1853. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 22d day of Oct. 1853 and sent to Freeman Bradford Portland Me.

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 3, 1853, Page 6. 
Vol. a
Page 4

Freeman Bradford
Portland
Maine
Page 5

STATE OF MAINE.
CUMBERLAND, SS.
Clerk's Office, Supreme Judicial Court,}
PORTLAND Sept. 28th A.D. 1853}
I Charles C. Harmon,
CLERK OF THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT,
for said COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, being a Court of Record, do here-
by certify that said Supreme Judicial Court is the Supreme
Court of Probate and that Hon Josiah Pierce, is Judge of Probate
within and for said County of Cumberland, as appears by
the paper hereto annexed, to which his genuine signature
is affixed, and that William G. Orne Esq.
is, and at the date of his certificates to the papers hereto annexed, was an
Acting Justice of the Peace,
within and for the county of Cumberland
as appears by the papers hereto annexed; that he is ULY COMMISSIONED and qualified
to administer oaths and take acknowledgements of deeds and other instruments in
writing, in the County aforesaid-and that the following SIGNATURES purporting to be his 
are GENUINE.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the
Seal of the said Supreme Judicial Court, for said State, the day and
year first above written.  
C. C. Harman, Clerk.
Page 6

State of Maine
Cumberland ss.
On this 26th day of April AD 1853
personally appeared before the Hon Josiah Pierce
Judge of the Court of probate in & for the county 
and State aforesaid. Leonice Morse a resi-
dent of Gray in said County aged 86 years
who on oath makes the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions
of the act of Congress passed on the third of
February 1853.
And your declarant states that she is the widow
of John Morse deceased who was a soldier in
the War of the Revolution and who served as 
she beleives in Capt Merrill's Company in Col
Phinney's Regt in the 8 months service in 1775
as will appear by the certificate of the Sec-
retary of State Mass hereto annexed
She further states that she was married to
the said John Morse on the 13th day of
April A. D 1806 and that her said hus-
band died on the 22nd day of June 1826
that she was not married to him prior to the first of January 1800 but at the time
above stated.  She further declares she is now
a widow. Leonice Morse
Sworn and subscribed on the day & year above written
Josiah Pierce Judge
Page 7

I further Certify that the said Leonice Morse
is in my opinion unable to attend Court
by reason of bodily infirmity.  I therefore
administered the oath to her on the foregoing
declaration at the residence in Gray
aforesaid.  Josiah Pierce Judge
Page 8

To the Secretary of State Massachusetts
The application of Leonice Morse widow
of John Morse who was a soldier in
Revolution
And your applicant states that her
late husband John Morse was a res
ident of Gray Me. in the time of
the Revolution and she has heard him
say that he served in Cambridge. in
some part of the War and she has heard
him speak of being in the service when
our troops were stationed near on 
on "plowed Hill".  She has heard 
her husband say that he was Eight
months in the service near the
commencement of the Revolution
and three months in a subsequent
period of the war.  She says that her
husband John Morse was a native 
of Falmouth but resided in Gray
aforesaid at the time he went into 
the service.  She is unable to state pos-
itivily the names of his officer but she
him speak of Capt. Wordity and of 
Col March.
She requests a certificate of all
Page 9

the service performed by the said
John Morse.  And for the purpose
of this application I appoint Free
man Bradford of Portland my 
Attorney her
Leonice X Morse
mark
Attest Benjamin Morse
Cumberland ss. February 22 1853
Signed before me
William G. Orne Jus Peace
Page 10

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston:
March 3 1853.
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 John Morse is vorne on rolls
of 8 mot. service in 1775.  as private in Capt. Moss 
Mervills c. Col Phinneys Regt. from New 
Boston
(now Gray) from May 15.  signed Coatroll Oct.
26
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal 
of the Commonwealth, the date above written
E M Wright
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Page 11

I William H. Morse of Gray in the County
of Cumberland and State of Maine aged
twenty three years on oath say that Leonice
Morse now living in the family of my
father Benjamin Morse is the widow
of John Morse who was respected to
have been a soldier in the Revolution
and who was said to have served in the war of the Revolution in Cambridge
and in New York.  John Morse the 
husband of Leonice Morse died before
I was born.  The annexed paper Marked
A. is a true copy of the family record
of Births Marriages and deaths in
the Bible of my Grandmother Leonice
Morse.  Leonice Morse is now living
and a widow and has not been
married since the death of my grand
father John Morse
William H. Morse
Cumberland ss. Gray June 30, 1853.  Then
personally appeared the above named 
William H Morse a person of truth
and Veracity and made oath to the
truth of the above affidavit by him
signed
Before me William G. Orne Just Peace
Page 12

A
The following is a true copy of the
marriages, births and deaths of the
family of John Morse late of Gray
deceased as taken from the family
Bible now in posession of Leonice Morse
widow of the said John Morse.
John Morse was married to Leonicea Riggs
on the 13 day of April 1806
Births 
John Morse was Born August 13, 1746
John Morse Junier was Born June 25, 1770
Enoch Morse was born July 3, 1772
Sarah Sanders Consort of John Morse was born
Leonicea Riggs the Second consort of John
Morse was Born on the 20. of September 1767
Benjamin Morse born October 8 1791
Deaths
Sarah Morse Consort of John Morse depart
this life on the sixth day of December in the year 1805
John Morse Died June 22, 1826
John Morse Son of John Morse Died April 21, 1837
aged 67 years
Page 13

I Reuben Sawyer of Gray in the County
of Cumberland and State of Maine on oath say that
I am 75 years old last March and have
resided in Gray and a neighbour to the
widow Leonicea Morse for about forty years
past.  She is now the widow of John Morse
who was reputed to have ben a soldier of
the revolution, and who died according to
my best recolection about 27 years ago.  
Leonica Morse is now living in Gray and is
now the widow of John Morse.
I have heared John Morse say that he had
served in the revolutionary war and
I have no doubt of the fact
Reuben Sawyer
Cumberland ss. Gray June 30, 1853 Then personally 
appeared the above named Reuben Sawyer
a person of truth and veracity and
made oath to the truth of the above
affidavit by him signed
Before me William G. Orne Justice of the 
Peace
Page 14

C
Gray June 30, 1853
I Mary Orne of Gray in the County
of Cumberland and State of Maine
on oath say that I shall be 68 years
old the 24 day of July next and have
resided in Gray ever since my birth, and
a neighbor to John Morse late of Gray deceased
Who was no doubt a soldier in the revolutionary war.  I have heared [heard] him relate in my fathers house, many anecdotes
of the revolution, and in connection with one of his stories he said Yarmouth
was the password for the day.
I have lived a neighbor to Leconica Morse
widow of the above named John Morse
and who is now the widow of the said 
Morse for about 40 years.
I was at the funeral of the above named 
John Morse and have no doubt that
he was in the revolutionary war while living
he died about 27 years ago
Mary Orne
Cumberland ss. Gray June 30,1853
Then personally appeared the above named 
Mary Orne a person of truth and veracity and
made oath to the above affidavit before
me  William. G. Orne Justice of 
the Peace
Page 15

141.249
Claim of Leonice Morse
To Bounty Land.
Act of March 3, 1855.
WAR OF the Rev.
Z. K. Harmon
PORTLAND,
Maine
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State of Maine.
CUMBERLAND, ss.
Clerk's Office, Supreme Judicial Court,
PORTLAND, May 17th 1855
I, OBADIAH G. COOK,
Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court,
for said County of Cumberland, being a Court of Record, do hereby certify that
Daniel Hall Esq
is, and at the date of his Certificates to the papers hereto annexed was, an
ACTING JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, 
within and for the County of Cumberland
as appears by the papers hereto annexed; that he is DULY COMMISSIONED and qualified to
administer Oaths and take Acknowledgements of Deeds and other instruments in writing, 
in the County aforesaid, and that the following Signatures, purporting to be his 
are GENUINE.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto sat my hand, and affixed the Seal
of the said Supreme Judicial Court, for said State, the day and
year first above written.  
O. M. Cook CLERK.
Page 17

State of Maine.
County of Cumberland ss.
On this sixteenth day of May A.D. 1855,
personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County
and State aforesaid, Leonice Morse a resident of
Gray in said County and State, aged 89
years, who being duly sworn, doth on oath make the following declaration, in order to
obtain Bounty Land, under the Act of Congress passed March 3d, A. D. 1855.
And your declarant further states that she is
the widow of John Morse late of Gray
in the State of Maine that her said husband
John
Morse was a soldier of the Revolution, in the com-
pany of Capt. Moses Merrill Col.
Phinney's Regt. in 1775, and that 
her said husband died in Gray
June 22nd 1826, and that she has 
not received Bounty Land un-
der this or any other Act. of Con-
gress nor made any other applica-
tion therefor; and she believes
her said husband never applied
for or received Bounty Land
in his life time.
Page 18

YOUR DECLARANT FURTHER STATES, that she was married to the said
John Morse on the 13th day
of April A. D. 1806, at Windham in said
State, and that her name before marriage was Leonice Riggs.
And your declarant further states, that after the passage of the Act of Congress of
Feby. 3d 1853 she made application for a Pension, on which
application a pension was granted her at the rate of twenty six dollars and 
twenty six cents per annum, as will appear by her Pension Certificate, dated on the 22nd
day of October A. D. 153 No. 2598.
For proof of marriage, her husband's service in the Revolutionary War, and his death, 
and of your declarant's identity, she refers to her declaration and proof for a Pension, 
now on file in the Department of the Interior, at Washington.
She therefore claims Bounty Land under the act aforesaid, and states that she is still
a widow.
And for the purpose of this application, I hereby appoint Z. N. Harmon of Portland my true and lawful attorney in the premises.
attest,
her
Leonice X Morse
John T. Merrill mark
Benjamin Morse
Sworn to and subscribed, before me, the day and year first above written, and in my presence acknowledged
the Power of Attorney thereto subjoined, for the purposes above mentioned.  And I hereby certify that
the said Leonice Morse is the person she
represents herself to be and that I have no 
interest in this claim.
Daniel Hall Justice of the Peace.
Page 19

We John T. Merrill and Benjamin Morse of
Gray in the County of Cumberland
and State of Maine on oath depose 
and say that we are well acquaint-
ed with Leonice Morse of this town
she is the widow of John Morse
deceased and is now a pen-
sioner of the United States and
is the identical person she rep-
resents herself to be in her dec-
laration for Bounty Land which
declaration she has signed and
ackowledged this day in our
presence.  We have no interest in
her claim to Bounty Land.
John T. Merrill
Benjamin Morse
Cumberland ss: May 15, 1855 Then
personally appeared the above nam-
ed John T. Merrill and Benjamin Morse
who are persons of truth and ve-
racity and credible respecta-
ble witnesses & made oath to the
truth of the foregoing affidavit by
them signed
Before me Daniel Hall Justice of the Peace
Page 20

RECORD DIVISION 3-525
REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION
MMH DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C. , , 19
In reply to your request of , received
for a statement of the military history of John Morse
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in (his widow's) application for pen-
sion on file in this Bureau.  W. 27871
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENEDERED. CAPTAIN. COLONEL. STATE.
May 15, 1775 8 mos. Pvt Moses Merrill Phinney Mass
no date 3 mos. 
subsequent service not stated not stated
Battles engaged in none stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, New Boston, Now Gray, Cumberland Co. Maine
Date of application for pension Apr. 26, 1853.  Her claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Gray, Maine
Age at date of application, Widow Leonice, Born Sept. 20, 1767.
Remarks: Soldier Born Aug. 13, 1746; he died June 22, 1826 in Gray, Me.
Soldier married Sarah Sanders (first wife) who died Dec. 6, 1805. On Apr. 13,
1806 in Windham Me. soldier married Leonice Riggs who was still living in 1855.  Children of John and
Sarah Morse were: John Jr. born June 25, 1770, died Apr. 21, 1837 aged 67 yrs. Enoch born July 3. 1772; Benjamin born Oct. 8, 1791.  Living in Gray, Me in 1853 aged 
23 yrs. was Wm. H. son of Benjamin and grandson of John Morse, the soldier.
Respectfully,
There is no further family data.
5-3356 Commissioner.
Page 21

Brief in the case of Leonice Morse widow of John
Cumberland County and State of Maine
act of Feb 3, 1853
Claim ("original, " or "for increase.")
Proof exhibited, (if original.) Report of Sec. of State of Mass. 8 mos.
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls?  If either, state the substance.
Private is shown upon state rolls
Allowed $26 66/100 per annum to commence Feb 3, 1853
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim?  If so, what?
Marriage proved by family record duly 
attested. 
Death by credible witnesses
Identity & widowhood by credible witnesses
Name and residence of Agent
Freeman Bradford Esqr. Examining Clerk.
Portland Maine T. S. Gray
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17.856
(illegible)
Page 23

1922-July 18-Hist. to Mrs. Wm.
A. Bridges. MMH
Revy WIDOW, &c.
File No. 27871
Leonice Morse
widow of John Morse
Private
Revy war
Act
Index: Vol , Page
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 24

2C Postage Stamped & add'd fm rec'd F. N. E. 
Amos D. Bridge's Sons, Inc.
LUMBER AND BUILDERS SUPPLIES
CONTRACTORS AND ROAD BUILDERS
Hazardville, Conn. 19
John Morse Falmouth or Gray Maine
Died June 20. 1829 age 83
Was he a Rev. Soldier?
data of:
James Chadbourne private
Cap't Samuel Sayer's co. York County
discharged Sept. 6, 1779.
Please answer of this side of page and
if there is a charge let me know.
Am getting information for D. A. R.
membership.
Cora Heulit Bridge
Mrs. William A. Bridge
Hazardville Conn.
PENSION
JUN
U 7 S.
1922
OFFICE
Page 25

Amos D. Bridge's sons, Inc
LUMBER AND BUILDERS SUPPLIES
CONTRATORS AND ROAD BULIDERS
Hazardville, Conn. June 4, 1922
Bureau of Pensions
Dept. Interior Washington D. C.
Can you give me 
data on the following?
Names of children, residence,
date of death and rank in
army and when discharged.
John Merrill of Gray
Cumberland Co. Maine
He had a pension granted in 1840
when 81 years of age.  this I
found in Rev. of Pensions of Me. (Flagg)
page 65
PENSION 
JUN
U 7 S.
1922
OFFICE