Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 26839, for Peter Parker, Massachusetts
Page 1

[doc is printed and written]

[upper left corner]
(3-1776)

SERVICE                                  NUMBER
Continental    Parker, Peter     W. 26839
Mass.              Brigget
                       or Bridget
[double underline]
CONTENTS
Page 2

[doc is folded, soiled, printed & written]

[left fold]
Ref
22Dec
1843

[right fold]
2239
Massachusetts
[double underline]
Bridget Parker
widow of Peter Parker
who was a Private
in the Massachusetts line
[double underline]
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
66 Dollars 66
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843
[double underline]
Certificate of Pension issued the
21st day of December 1843
and sent to John Tenny
Metheun Massachusetts
[double underline]
'[Act of March 3, 1843]'
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 1    Page 50.
Page 3

[doc is written; appears to be written on both sides; page 1 of multi-page doc]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
County of Middlesex "ss"
On this seventh [underlined; different handwriting] Day of December [underlined] on thousand eight
hundred and forty one [number underlined] Personally appeared before the
Hon. S. P. P. Fay, Judge of Probate in and for the
County of Middlesex and State aforesaid,
Brigget Parker, a resident of Dunstable in said county
eighty five years of age. 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 seventh A.D. 1838: Entitled and Act
granting half pay and Pensions to certain Widows.
That she is the widow of Peter Parker who rendered
service in the Revolutionary War as follows.. viz
Twelve Months service as a private in the year 1776
in a Company Commanded by Capt. James Varnum [last name underlined]
of Dracut in the Regiment Commanded by Col. James
M. Varnum [initial and last name underlined] of Rhode Island, and that while he was 
in this service he was at New York and was in the
engagement at White Plains.
Also Light Mounted service as a private at West Point.
and in that vicinity in a Company Commanded by
Capt Asa Lawrence of Grotten in the Regiment
of Col Poors. This service was rendered
for in[illegible] as a fatigue service fortifying & repairing
West Point and other forts in that vicinity commensing
near the last of May 1778 and ending near the last of
Page 4

[doc is written; appears to be written on both sides; page 2 of multi-page doc]
January 1779, and at the time her said husband
engaged in the above named services he resided in
the Town Dracut aforesaid,
She further Declares that she was Married to the
said Peter Parker, on Thanksgiving Day, it being
the last Thursday in November in the year one thousand
seven hundred and eighty five. That the ceremony was
performed by the Revd Mr. Moody Pastor of a Church
and Society in Pelham, an adjoining town to Dracut
aforesaid as there was no setted Minister in the town of
Dracut at that time. That her Husband the
said Peter Parker Died at his residence where
she now resides on the eight Day of August one thousand
eight hundred and nine. That she was not Married 
to him prior to his leaving the service, But that the
Marriage took place previous to the first of January
seventeen hundred and ninety four "Viz" at the
time above stated, and that she remains the 
widow of the said Peter Parker.
Brigget Parker [different handwriting]

Subscribed & sworn to by said Brigget Parker
in open Court, the day & year first above written
before me
S.P.P. Fay [underlined] Judge of Prob
for the County of
Middlesex [preceding paragraph in different handwriting]
Page 5

[doc is written; remnant of a seal visible]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex County ss
I Isaac Fiske [illegible] of the Court of
Probate in & for the County of Middlesex aforesaid
hereby certify that the Hon S.P.P. Fay is the judge of
said Court of Probate & that the signature written on
the foregoing taken is his genuine signature.
In witness whereof I have hereto set 
my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this
seventh day of December in the year of our
Lord Eighteen hundred & forty one
Isaac Fiske [illegible]

80180 [illegible] [written vertically bottom-to-top in lower left margin]
Page 6

[doc is written; appears to be written on both sides]
Extract from the Records of the Town of Dracutt in
the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Mr Peter Parker Entered with me his Intention
of Marriage with Miss Brigget Coburn both of
Dracutt, Dated at Dracut July 8th 1785--
I Fisher A Hildreth, Town Clerk of Dracutt aforesaid,
hereby certify, That the above is a true extract
from the original records of intention of marriages;
and that I am not able to find any
record of Marriages from Feb. 2d, 1773 to July
3d, 1788; and I find records of Births in said
town, the following:--
S.P.  Samuel Parker, the Son of Peter Parker
and Briggit his wife was born July 21--1787
E.P.  Elsy Parker the Daughter of Peter Parker
and Briggit his wife was born September 29-1789
I also find the following order..To Majr Joseph
Varnum Treasurer of the Town of Dracutt or successor
in office, pleas to pay to Peter Parker, Thirty
Pounds for Money due to him for his service in
1778 to North River ---      [pound symbol] 30-0-0 [underlined]
Dracutt 9th Febry 1779   Thomas Hovey 
      Parker Varnum
      J. B. Varnum [names enclosed in right bracket] 
Select men of Dracutt [written in right margin to right of bracket]
Entered By me William Hildreth Town Clerk [line underlined]
A true copy attent F.A.Hildreth, Town Clerk.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Middlesex Co, Dracutt Sept 17--1841
Then personally appeared the above named F.A.Hildreth, Town Clerk,
and made oath that the [word inserted] above Certificate by him subscribed is
true, 
Before me  Israel Hildreth Justice Peace [name & title in different handwriting]
Page 7

[doc is written; appears to be written on both sides]
I Jonathan Griffin of Methuen in the County of Essex and
Commonwealth of Massachusetts an adjoining to to Dracutt
in the County of Middlesex and State aforesaid, seventy two years
of age, on oath do testify and say that I have always resided in
that part of Methuen near the former residence of Peter Parker
of Dracutt aforesaid. I well recollect the time when said Peter Parker
and Bridget Coburn went off in company with others to be married,
and heard it stated in various ways that they were married. Immediately
after the said Peter Parker and the said Bridget his
wife made their residence in the neighborhood and there resided
as lawful and worthy partners in life and so continued until the
death of said Peter Parker which took place nearly thirty years ago.
Bridget Parker, the widow of said Peter Parker, is now living in
the neighborhood with me and is a woman worthy of full confidence.
I have formerly heard said Peter Parker speak of
being out in the Revolution and also of being at White Plains Battle
and have formerly understood that Simeon Flint of Dracutt
was in the same company and was wounded and that Robert
Ford was also in the same company with said Parker and that
said Parker was in various other services.
Jonathan Griffin [different handwriting]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex Co. September 18. 1841. Then personally appeared
the above named Jonathan Griffin, whom I believe to be a person
worthy of confidence and made oath that the above certificate
by him subscribed is true  Before me
Israel Hildreth Justice Peace
Page 8

[doc is written]
I William Adams of Chelmsford in the County of Middlesex
and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Seventy nine
years of age, on oath do Testify and say that I am a
Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States; that
in the first part of June 1778 I engaged in Capt Asa
Lawrences Company in Col Poors Regt and went
to West Point--and rendered eight Months service
our company was commanded principally by the first
Lieuteant--John Flint of Tewkesbury; while in this
service we were engaged in erecting the Forts at
West Point--I further testify that - I well
recollect- Peter Parker of Dracutt, who was
in the same company with me, and served all
the time that I did, I have since that
service seen the said Peter Parker and previous
to his death had conversation with him
respecting that service     Wm Adams

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss Chelmsford  Sept 22d 1841
Then Personally appeared the above named
William Adams who is personally known
to me to be a person worthy of full confidence
and made oath that the above affidavit 
by him subscribed is true
Before Me Benj Adams [right bracket]  Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss  I Isaac Fiske Register of the Court of Probate in &
for the said County of Middlesex, hereby certify that
Israel Hildreth & Benjamin Adams Esquire are
[illegible] Justices of the Peace within and for said
County duly commissioned & qualified & that their
[illegible] signatures written on the foregoing
certificate are their genuine signatures.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand
& affixed the seal of said Court this sixth day of 
December in the year Eighteen hundred & forty one
Isaac Fiske Reg [remnants of a seal appear in the lower left corner]
Page 9

[doc is typed & written; page 1 of multi-page doc]
April 16, 1912.
Moses Greeley Parker, M.D.
President General, S.A.R
# 11 First Street,
Lowell, Mass.
Sir:
In response to your personal request of the 15th instant,
you are advised that from the papers in the claim [illegible], File No.
26,839, Rev. War, it appears that Peter Parker was a resident
of Dracut, Massachusetts, when he enlisted and served twelve
months in 1776, as a Private in Captain James Varnum's company,
Colonel James M. Varnum's (9th Continental) regiment, and
was in the battle of White Plains; that he also enlisted about
the last of May, 1778, served eight months as a Private in
Captain Asa Lawrence's company, Colonel Poor's (Massachusetts)
regiment, and was engaged principally, in fortifying West Point
and other forts in that vicinity.
He was married on Thanksgiving Day, the last Thursday in
November, 1785, to Miss Brigget Coburn of Dracut, Mass. by the
Rev. Mr. Moody of the adjoining town of Pelham, there being no
settled minister in Dracut at that time.
Peter Parker died August 8, 1809 at Dracut, Mass. where hs
his widow resided and was allowed a pension for his services, at [written]
$66.66 per annum from March 4, 1836 on her application executed
December 7, 1841, While eighty-five years of age
cuted [rubbed out]
Page 10

[doc is typed & written; page 2 of multi-page doc]
Wid. File # 26839.   (2)
Samuel Parker born July 21, 1787, and Elsy Parker born
September 29, 1789, are the only children referred to.
Very respectfully,
J.L. Davenport
Commissioner.
Page 11

[doc is folded & written]
Brigget Parker
Wid of Peter
Mass
Act July 7 1838
Married 785
died Aug 1809
Allow 20 mos  fm $66.66
per ann Cap Lawrence Co
Ezra Wood [last name underlined] Mass
Militia

Hon W. Parmenter
H.R.
Page 12

[doc is written in ink & pencil]
Joshua Reed's dec
76  12  Capt Joshua Reed  Col Varnum  Jat Varnum Lt till Aug
77   9   --   --
was a drummer in 1776

William Adams dec
1778  8 mos  Asa Lawrence Groton Jno Flint Lt
   Col Poor.  Capt Neva  joined co
brishe rem [illegible] awsu [illegible] at 2 words illegible]
Peter Hunt Sept

Peter Parker [in pencil]
Page 13

[doc is written]
Dracut
Peter Parker d 1809
Brigget  m 1785 s
76.  12 mo  J. Varnum. Col JM Varnum
RS
78   8 Asa Lawre   Poor

Oh sell Lt Jno Flint
Page 14

[doc is written]
I, Joshua Reed of Woburn in the county
of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
seventy nine years of age, on oath
do testify and say, that I am a revolutionary
pensioner of the United States, that I
was in the year's service of 1776 in a
company commanded by Capt. James
Varnum of Dracut in said county in
the Regiment of Col. James M. Varnum
of Rhode Island. I further testify and
say that I well recollect that there was
a Peter Parker of Dracut who was in the
same service, and in the same Regiment.
I well recollect seeing the said Perter Parker
while in that year's service but I am not
fully certain that he was in the same
Company     Joshua Reed [different handwriting]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss   Woburn September 24th 1841
Then personally appeared the above named
Joshua Reed who is personally known to me
and whom I believe to be a person worthy
of confidence, and made oath that the
above affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before me    Cyrus Bancroft [right bracket] Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
M[partially covered by a seal]ex County ss    I Isaac Fiske Register of the Court of Probate
in and for said County of Middlesex hereby certify that
Cyrus Bancroft Esqr is a Justice of the Peach within & for
said County (hereby certify that Cyrus Bancroft Esqr
is a Justice of the Peach within & for said County) [material enclosed in parentheses crossed out] duly 
commissioned & qualified, & that his signature above
written is his genuine signature.
In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand & affixed
the seal of said Court this tenth day of December in the
year Eighteen hundred & forty one   Isaac Fiske Reg
Page 15

[doc is printed, written, folded & soiled]
[left fold]
Revy [in pencil] WIDOW, &c
[underline]
File No. 2, [illegible] 26,839
Bridget Parker
Wid. of
Peter Parker
Pvt Mass Line
[underline]
Act: March 3d 43
Index:-Vol. P, Page 115
'[Arrangement of 1870]'

[right fold]
Nov. 14. 1904, His
Dr. Moses G. Parker
Lowell Mass.
[underline]
1912 Apl.16. Hist to Moses
Greeley Parker M.D. Pres [illegible] SAR
Page 16

[doc is printed, written, folded, damaged & soiled]
1479 [check mark]
Massachusetts
[double underline]
Brigget Parker
widow of
Peter Parker decd
who was a pensioner under the Act of [line crossed out]
and who died on the 8th August 1809.
of Middlesex in the State of Mass:
who was a private in the comp commanded
by Captain Lawrence of the regt commanded
by Col Wood in the Mass
line for [preceding 2 words crossed out] Militia 20 Months
[double underline]
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass
at the rate of 66 Dollars 66 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1836.
[double underline]
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of Dec
1841 ---- and sent to Hon. W
Parmenter, H Representatives
[double underline]
Arrears to the 4th of March. 41. $333.30
Semi-annual allowance ending [line crossed out] 
[double line]
$333.30
[double line] 
{Act July 7, }
{1838}
Recorded by Theo L. Moody Clerk
Book A, Vol 1   Page 121

[right fold]
Agent notified Dec. 16. 41
Page 17

[doc is written & folded]
4093
Br. Parker
$66.66 per an
John Tenney
Methuen
Mass
Page 18

[doc is written & damaged]
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex County [preceding 2 lines enclosed in right bracket] ss
Be it known that on this sixth day of
September one thousand eight hundred and forty three
personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice
of the Peace in and for the county of Essex and Commonwealth
of Massachusetts Bridget Parker a
resident of Dracutt in the county of Middlesex and
Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged Eighty Eight 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 provisions of
the act of Congress passed on the third day of
of March 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons
who served during the Revolutionary War. That
she is the widow of Peter Parker who was a
private in the Revolutionary War and served
as she verily believes, as stated by her in her original
declaration for a pension under the law of the 7th of
July 1838 to which declaration and the papers accompanying
the same now on file in the War Department she
would refer for a more particular statement of his services,
for the proof of her marriage, identity, and the time
of her husband's death. She further declares that she
was pensioned under said act at the rate of sixty six
dollars and sixty six cents per annum which amount
she received from the 4th of March 1836 to the 4th of March
1841 at the agency in Boston Massachusetts and at
the time of receiving her last payment surrendered
the pension certificate granted to her under said act to
the Pension agent at the said city of Boston, agreeably
to the rules of the Department.
and this Declarant further alledges that she has not
intermarried since the decease of her said husband, but
is now and ever since has been the widow of
said Peter Parker deceased, as will more fully appear
by the proof hereto annexed.  Bridget Parker [an 'X' and the words 'her mark' are written over the name]
Witness Theodour Parker
Page 19

[doc is written, damaged & appears to be written on both sides]
The within declaration was sworn to and subscribed
this sixth day of September A.D. 1843 and I
certify that the applicant is personally known to
me to be the person within described.
Before me John Tenney Justice of the Peace

 I Jonathan Griffin of Methuen in the county
of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts
of lawful age on oath testify and say that I am
well acquainted with Bridget Parker the applicant
within named and have been for many years last
past: I know that she was the wife and is now the [word inserted] widow
of Peter Parker deceased and that she was a pensioner
under the law of 1838
Jonathan Griffin [different handwriting]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex County [preceding 2 lines enclosed in a right bracket] ss
Methuen September 6th 1843
Then personally appeared Jonathan Griffin above named
who is well known to me to be a credible witness
and under [word inserted] oath to the truth of the above affidavit by
him subscribed
Before me   John Tenney Justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss  I Ebenezer Shillaber Clerk of the Supreme
Judicial Court in & for the County of Essex do certify
that John Tenney Esqr is a Justice of the Peace
in & for said County & that his signature hereon is
genuine. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand [word partially covered by a seal] & the seal of said Court Sept. 12. 1843
E. Shillaber  Clerk
Page 20

[doc is written and stamped]
Dr Parker requests that in addressing letters you use
middle name in full & title as there is another Dr. P in
Lowell.
Moses Greeley Parker M.D. P.G.S.A.R.
Lowell Mass. [preceding 2 lines in different handwriting]
#11. First St         and Joseph Greeley S 23239
wants record of Peter Parker, Cont. W.26839 [line in different handwriting]
APR 13 1912 [stamped ]
(and [ditto marks] 15, 1912) [preceding 2 lines in lower right corner]
Page 21

[doc is written & stamped]
#11.First.St.
Lowell. Oct 26.1904
Dept. of Interior
Commissioner of Patents
[stamped as follows:
+Mailroom+
U.S. Patent Office
Oct
28
1904]
Dear Sir:
Bridget Parker;
Widow of Peter Parker, 1754-1809, a Revolutry
Soldier, from Dracutt, drew a pension, did
her husband, Peter draw a pension also?
if he did, will you kindly give me
the pension record of Peter & Bridget Paker. [each word of the preceding line is underlined]
Peter 1754-1809 was in the Rev. War 3 ys.
1776-1779 serving in different companies
He was in the Second Dracutt Co. doing duty
in N.Y. 1776 Was a private in Capt.
Zoechius Wrights Co. Col. Linu Spalding's Reg.
at White Plains N.Y. also in Capt. J.B. Varnums Co. Col. Spaulding's Reg. 1779.
Thanking you in advance I am
Very Truly Yours
Moses Greeley Parker M.D.
Formerly Asst [underlined] Stry L.U.S.C.C.
Page 22

[doc is typed]
In order to obtain the date of the last payment of pension,
and name of the person to whom it was paid, application
should be made to the Auditor for the Interior Department,
U.S. Treasury Department, giving all of the following data:

"Bridget Parker, widow of Peter Parker, Certificate # 2239,
issued December 21, 1843, under the Act of March 3, 1843, at
the Massachusetts Agency."

"Joseph Greeley, Certificate # 21,894, issued November
20, 1833, under the Act of June 7, 1832, at the New Hampshire
Agency."