Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24952, for Alexander Shirley, New Hampshire
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
N.H.

Shirley, Alexander
................Mary

NUMBER
W. 24952

CONTENTS
Page 2

[left side of page]

1547
New Hampshire Concord
==========================
Mary Shirley
widow of Alexander Shirley
NH
who was a Private
in the Revolution
==========================
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
36 Dollars 66 Cents
per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.
==========================
Certificate of Pension issued the
25 day of August 1843
and sent to W.W. Russell
Plymouth, N.H.
==========================
[Act of March 3, 1843.]

Recorded in Book A.
Vol. 1.  Page 21.

[right side of page]

Rep'd.
Page 3

V   6377 [underlined]

Declaration of
Widow Mary Shirley
widow of Alexander
N.H.

Act of July 1838
Page 4

State of New Hampshire
Grafton  fs.

On this first day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Thirty nine personally appeared before me Walter Blair one of the justices of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Grafton aforesaid Mary Shirley, a resident of Peeling in the County of Grafton aforesaid aged seventy six years & upwards who first being 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 Congrefs pafsed July 7 A.D. 1838 entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows"   That she is the widow of Alexander Shirley who was a soldier in the war of the revolution and served according to the best information she can obtain as follows--He enlisted in the town of Chester in said State of New Hampshire in Capt Daniel Runnells company and Colo Tashs Regiment for three months and marched through Worcester, Mafsachusetts and Hartford, New Haven & Horse Neck in Connecticut, and Peeks Kill & Fish Kill in New York and served out his term and was discharged.  After that she believes that he enlisted in the year 1777 in the Continental Army, but don't know in what company or regiment he served, or what was the length of his service if any in this year.  He also enlisted in May or June in the year 1778 for nine months in the continental service.  He enlisted this time also at Chester aforesaid; and in company with Moses Yamen of Candia, in the County of Rockingham in this State who is a revolutionary soldier and a pensioner, and served the whole nine months, and for the particulars of this service, she refers to the affidavit of the said Moses Yamen, who was her said husbands fellow soldier and she understands he testified in support of his claim; although she knows not the amount of the testimony.  She has supposed that her said husband served two years & upwards in the whole, in the revolutionary war; but as all the other witnefses are dead, and her memory now  poor, she must refer for other proof of his said service to the record of the "War Department   She believes he was also out in 1775 & at the battle of Bunker Hill.  

She further declares that she was married to the said Alexander Shirley on the twelfth day of October in the year seventeen hundred and eighty seven, and that her husband the aforesaid Alexander Shirley died on the fifteenth of May in the year eighteen hundred & fourteen
Page 5

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
========================
I JOSIAH STEVENS, JR.  Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Walter Blair is an acting Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Grafton duly Commissioned and qualified:  that his Commission was dated on the twelfth day of December 1836 and will expire on the first day of October 1866 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.

Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this twentieth day of Nov 1839
Josiah Stevens Jr.  Secretary of State.

[illegible seal affixed to the left of the above paragraph]
Page 6

State of New Hampshire
Grafton fs.

On this first day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Thirty nine personally appeared before me Walter Blair one of the justices of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Grafton aforesaid Mary Shirley, a resident of Peeling in the County of Grafton aforesaid aged seventy six years & upwards who first being 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 Congrefs pafsed July 7 A.D. 1838 entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows" That she is the widow of Alexander Shirley who was a soldier in the war of the revolution and served according to the best information she can obtain as follows--He enlisted in the town of Chester in said State of New Hampshire in Capt Daniel Runnells company and Colo Tashs Regiment for three months and marched through Worcester, Mafsachusetts and Hartford, New Haven & Horse Neck in Connecticut, and Peeks Kill & Fish Kill in New York and served out his term and was discharged. After that she believes that he enlisted in the year 1777 in the Continental Army, but don't know in what company or regiment he served, or what was the length of his service if any in this year. He also enlisted in May or June in the year 1778 for nine months in the continental service. He enlisted this time also at Chester aforesaid; and in company with Moses Yamen of Candia, in the County of Rockingham in this State who is a revolutionary soldier and a pensioner, and served the whole nine months, and for the particulars of this service, she refers to the affidavit of the said Moses Yamen, who was her said husbands fellow soldier and she understands he testified in support of his claim; although she knows not the amount of the testimony. She has supposed that her said husband served two years & upwards in the whole, in the revolutionary war; but as all the other witnefses are dead, and her memory now poor, she must refer for other proof of his said service to the record of the "War Department She believes he was also out in 1775 & at the battle of Bunker Hill.

She further declares that she was married to the said Alexander Shirley on the twelfth day of October in the year seventeen hundred and eighty seven, and that her husband the aforesaid Alexander Shirley died on the fifteenth of May in the year eighteen hundred & fourteen
Page 7

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.--
Mary Shirley

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written, before
Walter Blair  Justice of the Court of common pleas

State of New Hampshire
Grafton fs.     February 1, 1839

I hereby certify that I have administered the proper oath to the above named Mary Shirley & taken her declaration which she at the same time subscribed at her residence in Peeling aforesaid she being unable on account of bodily infirmity to attend the Court
Walter Blair  Justice of the Court of Common Pleas

The word "January" in the third line from the top of the first page erased and the word "February" was inserted before the said Mary Shirley the claimant subscribed or made oath to the foregoing declaration.
Walter Blair  Justice of the Court of Common Pleas
Page 8

Philip Carrigains
Afidavit
Page 9

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
=====================
I JOSIAH STEVENS, JR.  Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Asa Fowler is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Merrimack duly Commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the fourth day of January 1837 and will expire on the fourth day of January 1842 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.

Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this 26 day of November 1839

Josiah Stevens Jr.  Secretary of State.

[illegible seal affixed to the left of the above paragraph]
Page 10

I Philip Carrigain of Concord in the State of New Hampshire aged sixty five years & upwards do testify and declare that the annexed Bible leaf which contains a record of the births of the children of Alexander & Mary Shirley was given to me by one of their sons namely Thomas Shirley to have sent to the Pension Office of the War Department as some evidence of their marriage--And I do further testify they were without doubt married at Chester by the Reverend Isaac Flagg on the 19th of October 1787.  I do most sincerely believe it.  But although I have made diligent search and ongoing through said Town I have not been able to find any person living who attended their wedding.  Their Son Thomas has also has failed to find any witnefs living to their marriage though he has made long and persevering enquiries through Chester and the neighbouring Town.  He gave me an affidavit of this fact which during my sicknefs has been unaccountably lost.  The said Alexander Shirley, whose revolutionary services entitle the said Mary as she conceives to claim a pension, died in Bow the Town adjoining in May 1814 and his widow continues & is living unmarried.  The first fact is within my knowlege, and the Postmaster at Peeling authorizes me to state the other.
Page 11

And I do further declare that the annexed manuscript leaf is the same which the same Thomas swore to me he cut from their family Bible now in his house in Peeling in the County of Grafton in this State, and is mostly in his ["father's" stricken out] said Fathers hand writing & partly I believe in his own.  This is according to best my best recollection being hardly able by reason of sicknefs to write this Affidavit
Philip Carrigain

State of New Hampshire.
Merrimack SS.   Nov. 26, 1839.

Personally appearing the above named Philip Carrigain, whom I hereby certify to be a credible witness, made solemn oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is just and true.
Before me,
Asa Fowler, Justice Peace.
Page 12

1
FAMILY RECORD.

[Left Column of Page]

BIRTHS.

["Alexand" stricken out]

Alexander Shirley was Born_______________1749

Mary Shirley was Born November 13  1762

John Shirley was Born january 18  1788Mary Shirley was Born January 5 1789

Thomas Shirley was Born May 3 1791

James Hunter Shirley was Born November 29  1793

Peggy Shirley was Born August 1 1795

Caty Shirley was Born February 20  1797

Alexand Shirley " 1799

Samuel Shirley was Born  July 23 1802

Silas Shirley was Born  Aprile 23 1804

Lydia Shirley was Born August 8  1801

[Right Column of Page]

DEATHS.

Alexander Shirley Died  May 15 1819  Aged 66

Silas Shirley Died  October 26 1825

Samuel Shirley died  May   1837
Page 13

2
FAMILY RECORD.

MARRIAGES.

Alexander Shirley was married oct 12 1787

Thomas Shirley was Married october 15 1838 to Lydia McDuffee
Page 14

Rev  WIDOW, &c.

Revy  Awn

File No.  24952

Mary Shirley
widow of
Alexander Shirley
Pri  Rev  War

Act  March 3d.  43

Index:  Vol S,  Page 209

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 15

[left side of page]

New Hampshire
5430
===========================
Mary Shirley
widow of Alexander Shirley  dec'd
who was a pensioner under the Act of_______
and who died on the 15 May 1814
of Grafton Co in the State of N. Hamp.
who was a private in the Compy commanded
by Captain Kinsman of the regt commanded
by Col. Stark in the N.H. militia
line for three months.
===========================
Inscribed on the Roll of Concord
at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
===========================
Certificate of Pension ifsued the 22d day of May 1840, & sent to Philip Carrigain,
Esq. Concord, N.H.
============================
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1840.................$146.66
Semi=annual allowance ending 4 Sep
'40.............................................................................18.33
...............................................................................=====
..............................................................................$164.99
..............................................................................=====
(Act July 7,  )
(  1838.       )

Recorded by D. McCurdy, Clerk,
Book A.  Vol. 1.   Page 55.

[right side of page]

P. Carrigain 15 Aug 1840
Page 16

V

6377--act 1838--N.H.

Mary Shirley, widow
of Alexander  susp'd

Let. to Hon F. Pierce
7 Dec 1839--

[checkmark] Philip Carrigain  Mar. 10, 1840--
Page 17

6377
Ent'd.

Mary Shirley
wid of Alexander
NH

Married   78/
died  1814

Act  July 7 1838

Allow 11 mo pri.
$36.66 per ann

N.H. militia
Capt Kinsman  Col
Stark--

Philip Carrigain Esq
Concord
N.H.
Page 18

Mary Shirley  M 1787 Chester

Alexander  d 1814

1776  3.  Runnells.  Tash.
1777       No off's
1778  9.   Neeney.  h  on roll
1775  8.   No off's  cert. of Secretary of State--
____________
...........11

+on roll  Sept 26  1776
Page 19

Concord New Hampshire   August 6th 1840.

I received sometime past a certificate in favour of Mary Shirley the Widow of Alexander Shirley a private in the Revolution for $36.66 payable at the pension Agency in this Town on the 4th of March and 4th of September.

This payment is to be made exactly as she wished, as this town is about 40 miles nigher than Portsmouth and besides there is a very easy and bad road from this place to peeling, which name was changed by an Act of our last Legislature to Woodstock; But Peeling viz. Woodstock where said Claimant resides is in the County of Grafton, in which County Claimants are I understand paid in Portsmouth when not prefering payment in another place.

The Certificate is now in accordance to the Said Claimants wishes, and Governor Hill the pension Agent in this place expects to make the payment in September next and as She can draw but once more She would prefer also to draw the whole at this agency which She can do with less expense & more convenience than at Portsmouth:  but if the Department should deem it necessary that She should make any additional request to draw here, I should feel greatly obliged to the Department to sendd me a form of
Page 20

petition for that purpose that I may send it to her for her signature.

As she or her son Thomas Shirley, or both will be here in September next after the proceeds of her certificate it would be a disappointment almost inconceivable by their accustomed to disburse large sums for the poor Widow not to get her long expected allowance  Will the Hon. Commissioner excuse me for suggesting a wish that her Certificate may have a reasonable order for payment:  and for often trying his patience with letters which nothing but a sense of duty to these aged Claimants and a perfect reliance on his honour and humanity oblige and encourage me to write.

I continue with perfect respect & sincerity
Sir
Your very obedient Serv't.
Philip Carrigain
Agent for Mary Shirley

Hon J.L. Edwards Esq'r.
Commifsioner of Pensions
War Department
City of Washington
Page 21

[stamp]
CONCORD
[illegible]
N.H.

Free

Hon'l J.L. Edwards Esq.
Commifsioner of Pensions
War Department
City of Washington

[written vertically on left side of page]

Apl. 1. 1840
[illegible]
Alex'r Shirley
Page 22

Concord, New Hampshire.  March 25th 1840--

Sir

Your favour of the 10th instant is received and it affords me great pleasure to hear again from your honour.  I had anticipated the demand of the Department to prove the service of Alexander Shirley in 1775 by the New Hampshire records which tend to show the correctnefs of Capt James Orrs Affidavit, which though not much of itself, amounts to something when considered in connection with the enclosed extract.

As I had previously sent on our Secretarys Certificate of the [second "of the" stricken out] official authority of the Justice appended to the affidavit of Moses Turner, and as Capt Orr is sworn by the same Justice, in the same case, and for the same claimant, I supposed on their certificate for the same Justice might be dispensed with.  And this requirement of the Department leads me to fear that the Deposition of Moses Turner (the most important in the case) sent on
Page 23

on or about the time that Capt Ors was, has miscarried and is not on your files.  May I ask the favour to be inform'd by Mail, if such is the fact or not?

In compliance with your direction, I have written to our Secretary of State to affix his certificate of the official qualification of John Lane Esquire attached to the Affidavit of James Orr (return'd to me for this requisite) & for him to retransmit the same to your Department.  I have also written to him to examine the records, and see if he can find any evidence the length of Alexander Shirleys service in 1775.  (Our State records are frequently deficient in giving the time of service.)  The feeble state of my health prevents my travelling to the Office, or making the examination myself.  Thomas Shirley a respectable man & son of the Claimant tells me that his Father the said Alexander Shirley always afsured him that he served with a little intermifsion six months in 1775--The whole family were soldiers, & fond of the service.  I have the honour to remain with perfect respect, Sir, your very obed't serv't
Philip Carrigain

Hon'l J.L. Edwards
Commifsioner of Pensions
City of Washington
Page 24

Moses Turners

Affidavit
Page 25

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
_____________________________________
I JOSIAH STEVENS, JR.  Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that John Lane is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Rockingham duly Commifsioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the fifth day of December 1835 and will expire on the fifth day of December 1840 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.

Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this twentieth day of Nov--1839
Josiah Stevens Jr.  Secretary of State.

[illegible seal affixed to the left of the above paragraph]
Page 26

I Moses Turner Candia in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, a revolutionary soldier and a pensioner aged eighty four years, do testify and declare that I was formerly acquainted with Alexander Shirley who formerly lived in Chester in said county and State, and know that he served as a soldier in the war of the Revolution and served in the same company with me--He enlisted in the month of September in the year 1776 in Captain Daniel Runnels' Company and Col. Tash's New Hampshire Regiment, for three months and served the whole time.  I was well acquainted with said Shirley during the whole three months--

We marched from Derry/thenGroton and Worcester in Massachusetts, thence to Hartford, thence to New Haven and to a place called Horse neck in Connecticut--Thence to Kings ferry--thence to Peeks kill thence to Fish kill in N. York and after remaining at Fish kill three days we returned to Peeks kill and there remained untill three months had expired--

I further testify and declare that the said Alexander Shirley and myself enlisted in the last of May or first of June in the year 1778 into the Continental service for nine months and that he
Page 27

the said Alexander Shirley served the whole time--The military officers name was Foster of Salem Mass.  We marched from said Chester to Worcester and Springfield Mass.--Thence to Fish kill where we mustered--Thence we marched to West point--and after remaining at West Point about three weeks, we went to White Plains and joined the Continental army--I served in Col. Michael Jackson's Regiment and Capt. Heith's company--Said Shirley joined another Regiment.  I think it was Col Bailey's of this I am not certain, but I know that he served the whole nine months for which he enlisted--
Moses  x his mark   Turner

Nov. 14. 1838.
Attest  John Lane--

State of New Hampshire
Rockingham SS   November 14, 1838--
Subscribed and sworn to before me.
John Lane  Justice of the Peace

I hereby certify that Moses Turner above named is a man of credit and a competent witnefs
John Lane   Justice of the Peace
Page 28

Certificate of
Iaac Tompkins

Town Clerk of Chester
New Hampshire
Page 29

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
___________________________________
I JOSIAH STEVENS, JR.  Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that David Curren Jr is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Rockingham duly Commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the tenth day of January 1837 and will expire on the tenth day of January 1842 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.

Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this 26th day of November 1839
Josiah Stevens Jr.   Secretary of State.

[illegible seal affixed to the left of the above paragraph]
Page 30

I Isaac Tompkins of Chester county of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire do testify and say that I am town clerk of said Chester and that the records of said town are in my office and that I have searched said records to find the marriage of Alexander Shirley and Mary hunter--but after the most diligent search--I have not been able to find any record of their marriage, and do not believe that there is any such records--
March 4--1839--
Isaac Tompkins 

State of New Hampshire
Rockingham fs.    March 4. 1839

Sworn to before me and I hereby certify that Isaac Tompkins above names is a credible witness
David Currin Jr.   Jus. Peace
Page 31

Extract of the Lofs sustained by the officers and Soldiers of two New Hampshire Regiments at the Battle at Charlestown  June 17. 1775

Col John Starks Regiment
Capt Aaron Kinsmans Company

Aaron Kinsman  L 3.0.0
Nathaniel Fox.........0.15.0
William Willis..........2.8.0
John Shirley.............2.8.0
Alexander Shirley. 2.11.0

State of New Hampshire
Office of Sec'y of State

Feb'y 27--1840

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true extract from the original now in this office.

In testimony of the foregoing I have hereunto affixed the Seal of said State
Josiah Stevens Jr
Sec'y of State

[illegible seal affixed to the left of the above paragraph]
Page 32

1833
Declaration
Mary Shirley--

$36:66 per ann

W.W. Rufsell
Plymouth
N.H.
Page 33

Declaration.  [underlined]
In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of the 3d March, 1843, granting pensions for one year to certain Widows, who have receive pensions under the Act of July 7, 1838.

State of New Hampshire
Grafton fs.

On this the Twenty fourth day of March 1843, Personally appeared before the subscriber a Magistrate in and for the County and State aforesaid, Mary Shirley a resident of Woodstock in the County of Grafton and State aforesaid, aged Eighty years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed on the 3d day of March, 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War.

That she is the widow of Alexander Shirley who was a private in the Revolution in the New Hampshire line

That she was a pensioner under the act of 7th July, 1838, which she received at a rate of thirty six dollars and sixty six cents per annum.

She further declares that she is still a widow.
Mary Shirley

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written, before me.
Benjamin Fox  Justice Peace.

I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the above Mary Shirley who has signed & sworn to the above declaration and know that she is the widow of Alexander Shirley above named
Benjamin Fox   Justice Peace
Page 34

State of New Hampshire.
Office of Secretary of State.
______________________________
I, Josiah Stevens Jr Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Benjamin Fox is an acting Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Grafton duly Commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the 17th day of May 1841 and will expire on the 17th day of May 1846 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.

Given under my hand and the seal of said State this 18th day of May 1843.
Josiah Stevens Jr  Secretary of State.

[illegible seal affixed in lower left corner of page]
Page 35

Hon'l J.L. Edwards
Commifsioner of Pensions
War Department
City of Washington
Page 36

Concord   November 1839

Sir

I sent to the Department some time past the Declaration of Mary Shirley and some time after the Evidence to support it namely the Affidavit of Moses Turner

I accompany this with the residue of her case namely some evidence in relation to her marriage.  Sicknefs is my only apology for sending the case in such detached parcels & I hope the Hon'l Comifsioner in consideration of my ill health, will excuse me and by ordering these detach'd pieces to be joined on the files, will give them due consideration--I expect the Hon'l Franklin Pierce will attend to this case & the case of Sally Piper, lately sent to the Department.

I remain very respectfully
Your very obed't Serv't
Philip Carrigain

Hon'l J.L. Edwards
Commifsioner of Pensions
War Department
City of Washington
Page 37

Mary Shirley
NH

Free

Honb J.L. Edwards
Commifsioner of Pensions
War Department
City of Washington

[written vertically on left side of page]

Apl. 14. 1840

add'l proofs
Mary Shirley
Page 38

New Hampshire  Concord   April 4th 1840

Sir

The enclosed Certificate from our N.H. Secretary contains some additional proof to that contained in my letter of (I believe) the 20th ulta of the services of Alexander Shirley and alo the required proof of the right of the Justice to administer the oath to the Deponent Capt James Orr, and that said Magistrate is still within his appointment, & duly qualified.  That Alexander Shirley and his brother John were in the battle of Bunker Hill is I think proven, and I have always understood that Alexander ["service" stricken out] serv'd several months after at Winter Hill, and after that continued in the service in the State of New York, but our imperfect State Records seldom give the length of revolutionary services--I have understood there were three brothers of the Shirley family all revolutionary soldiers & fond of soldiers life--  from Chester--N.H.   Being confident from statements made by respectable inhabitents of that Town, that the claim of Mary Shirley is just, I shall just live to gain a little more strength send on some more testimony in its support either to your Honours Department, or to the care of my illustrious Friend Hon'l Franklin Pierce our Senator in Congrefs.  I have the honour to continue Dear Sir,
most respectfully your very obedient Serv't
Philip Carrigain

Honb. J.L. Edwards  Comifsioner of Pensions.
War Department,  City of Washington.
Page 39

[stamp]
CONCORD
DEC
20
N.H.

Free   [stamp also]  FREE

Hon'l J.L. Edwards.
Commifsioner of Pensions
War Department
City of Washington.

[written vertically on left side of page]

Dec. 26
N.H.
Add proof
Mary Shirley.
Page 40

Concord (New Hampshire)  December 10th 1839.

Sir

Herewith enclosed is an Affidavit of Capt James Orr of Chester in this State in proof of some revolutionary services of Alexander Shirley, whose widow Mary Shirley of Peeling NH is a Claimant for a pension and her papers are in the Department.  The Secretary of this States certificate is annexed to Moses Turners Affidavit, in this same case, in proof that John Lane Esquire before whom this was taken is a Justice of Peace for the County of Rockingham &c &c   I expect that my respected Friend the Hon'b Franklin pierce Senator in Congrefs will attend to this case for me and have the goodnefs also to attend to the claim of Sally Piper, whose papers are in the Department.

I have the honour to remain most respectfully
your obedient serv't.
Philip Carrigain

Hon'l J.L. Edwards
Commifsioner of Pensions
Washington City.
Page 41

[illegible seal affixed in upper left corner of page]

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
____________________________________
I JOSIAH STEVENS, JR.  Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that John Lane is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Rockingham duly Commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the fifth day of December 1835 and will expire on the fifth day of December 1840 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.

Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this 27th day of March 1840
Josiah Stevens Jr.  Secretary of State.
Page 42

I James Orr of Chester in the county of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, aged seventy nine do testify and say that I was well acquainted with Alexander Shirley formerly of said Chester.  I lived within the distance of half a mile of said Shirley from my birth, until I was more than thirty years of age--Said Shirley was a soldier of the Revolution--

He entered the services as a private soldier immediately after the Lexington battle, and was, as I have always understood by himself and others, in the battle of "Bunker's hill."--He returned home a few days after the Bunker hill battle, was at home only a few days and then returned and joined the army at Winter Hill and staid as I always understood, the remainder of the season or so long as the army remained there, and he remained in the army afterwards, but to wat place he next marched after leaving Winter hill, I do not recollect--
James  x his mark  Orr

Rockingham ss.   State of New Hampshire
December 3, 1839

Subscribed and Sworn to before me and I hereby certify that the deponent James Orr is a credible witness
John Lane.  Justice of the Peace
Page 43

Colony of New Hampshire
June 22 1776  To Nick Gilman Esqr.  h G.

Pursuant to a vote of the Council--
Specialty pay to john Shirley two Pounds Eight Shillings --Alexander Shirley two Pounds Eleven Shillings for their lofs at Bunker Hill.
= 2--8
   2--11
____________
 4 - -19
M.  Ware President

Received the contents of the within order in full for myself & Brother
Alexander Shirley

State of New Hampshire
Office of Secretary of State   March 27--1840

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true Copy of the original now in this office

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of said State
Josiah Stevens Jr.
Sec'y of State

[written vertically on right side of page]

Capt James Orr's Affidavit
in proof Service of Alexander
Shirley in the case
of
Mary Shirley
Page 44

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
____________________________________
I JOSIAH STEVENS, JR.  Secretary of the State aforesaid, do hereby B. Demeritt is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Grafton duly Commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the nineteenth day of May 1836 and will expire on the nineteenth day of May 1841 and that his signature to the annexed instrument is genuine.

Given under my hand and the Seal of said State this 26th day of November 1839
Josiah Stevens Jr.  Secretary of State.

[illegible seal affixed to the left of the above paragraph]
Page 45

I Mary Shirley of Peeling in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire aged Seventy Six years and upwards, Widow of Alexander Shirley formerly of Chester by virtue of whose services in the War of the Revolution I am a claimant for a Pension, do testify and declare that I was Married to the said Alexander Shirley in Chester in the County of Rockingham in said State of Newhampshire by the Rev'd Isaac Flagg of said Chester on the Twelfth day of October in the year 1787.  We were married in Said Flagg's House in said Chester, and before Marriage my name was Mary Hunter and I lived with my said husband till his death which took place in the Town of Bow, in the County of Merrimack in this said State on the 15th day of May 1814.  And I the said Mary Shirley do further depose and say that in our said marriage we were blefsed with several children.  Their names and ages corresponding to the Record on the accompanying leaf, taken from our Family Bible, and which my son Thomas gave to my Agent Philip Carrigain Esq'r of Concord N.H.  And I the said Mary Shirley do further testify and say that I have not intermarried with any other person since my said Husband Alexander Shirley's decease, but have continued and still continue his widow, and Sole and unmarried
Mary Shirley

State of Newhampshire
Grafton fs   Peeling  May 7 1839

Personally appearing the said Mary Shirley and made Oath to the truth of this Deposition before me
J.B Demeritt  Justice of Peace

I hereby certify that the said Mary Shirley is a woman of truth and integrity and is a credible witnefs
J.B. Demeritt  Justice of The Peace
Page 46

I Thomas Shirley of Peeling in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire aged forty eight years and son of Alexander Shirley the Revolutionary Soldier and of Mary Shirley the widow of said Alexander Shirley:  which Mary Shirley is now a claimant for a Pension, do testify and say that my said father Alexander Shirley died in Bow in the County of Merrimack in this State on the 15th day of May in the year 1814 and that I after attended his funeral, and to the best of my recollection he was buried the day following his death and The widow the said Mary Shirley my Mother, has never since ["married" stricken out] intermarried with any other person, but has ever since remained single and unmarried and so still continues
Thomas Shirley

State of Newhampshire
Grafton fs   Peeling  May 7th 1839

Personally appeared the said Thomas Shirley and made Oath to the truth of this Deposition before me
JB Demeritt  Just of The Peace

I hereby certify that the said Thomas Shirley is a man of truth and integrity and is a credible witnefs
JB Demeritt  Just Peace