Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15,375, for Increase Stearns, Massachusetts
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Mass.

Stearns, Increase
Mercy

NUMBER
W. 15,375
===
CONTENTS
Page 2

[left side]
4090
Massachusetts
===
Mercy Stearnes
widow of Increase Stearnes
who was a Private
in the Massachusetts [interlined: Mass] line
===
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
80 Dollars ---
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.
===
Certificate of Pension issued the
29th day of December 1843
and sent to C. G. Prentiss
Worcester Massachusetts
===
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A 1. Page 53.
Mar'd at Northbridge Mass Dec 10 1783
to Mercy Bassett

[right side]
Let Bacon & Aldrich
July 18, 1857
1890 Same Sept 19. 1857
Feby 25 H P Stearns M. history Prior
Rep 30
Dec. 1843
Page 3

[left side, written downward]
Notification sent to Abijah Bigelow Esq
19 Sep 1820 Worcester Mass

[right side]
[missing]19 12119
at Hold[missing]
Died [missing] 16 1830
Massachusetts
===
Increase Stearns
of Holden in the State of Massachusetts
who was a Private in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Bigelow of the Massachusetts
line, for the term of three years
===
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 9th of April 1818
===
Certificate of Pension issued the 22nd of June 1819
and sent to Hon. Solomon Strong
Worcester Massachusetts
===
Arrears to 4th of Mar. 1819 86.89
Semi-anl. all'ce ending Sep 1819 48.00
[total] $134.89
{ Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued
Page 4

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
WORCESTER, ss.

I, ABIJAH BIGELOW, Clerk of the Judicial Courts holden within and for said County of Worcester, certify, that Isaac Goodwin & Alexander Dustin, Esquire before whom the annexed affidavits have been made, are Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly qualified for the purpose, acting under the authority of this Commonwealth, and that their names subscribed thereto are their own proper signatures.

IN testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the County seal, this ninth day of December, A.D. 1818. [circled]

[signed] Abijah Bigelow, Clerk

Application of Increase Stearns.
Page 5

To the Honourable, the Secretary of the War Department I Increase Stearns of Holden in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, late a soldier in the Army of Revolution, do respectfully represent,

That in the year A.D. 1778 I entered the Army of United States on the Continental Establishment as a private soldier and substitute for my Father, Increase Stearns late of Holden, Deceased, who was duly inlisted on the 14th of March A.D. 1777, by Lieu. Daniel Grant for three years and joined the fifteenth Massachusetts Regiment commanded by Col Timothy Biglow [Bigelow], then lying in the State of Rhode Island, in which I did duty to the intire satisfaction of my officers (as I was never censured) untill the first of January 1780 without intermission or absence. On the morning of the first day of January 1780, I with about 80 others belonging to s'd Regiment being stationed near West point in the State New York having made unsuccessfull application for our discharges & made known our determination to leave the army. Did on the morning of that day openly & publicly leave it, with a view to return to the government of Massachusetts, where we belonged.

We were all then convinced we had a right so to do, as we conceived our respective terms of Inlistment had terminated & as the Officers in command refused to discharge us, We knew of no other course so propper to pursue as to appeal from them to the state government of Massachusetts.

We accordingly, proceeded on our way to Boston untill we arrived at a place twelve miles east of Danbury in Connecticut where we were over taken by detachment of troops and conducted back to Danbury, where by reason of a deep snow and the intense severity of the weather we remained about two weeks but were never [4 words inserted:] put under guard or treated in any manner ^different from unoffending soldiers. We then returned to our former Quarters near West Point conducted by a single Leutenant by the name of Pratt. Our return was voluntary and unaccompanied by any other soldier or person except the above named Leutenant. After our arrival a court martial was ordered to investigate our conduct and four of the Youngest were first put on trial who were then promised by the Court if they would inform

[In left margin, written upward]
[pointing hand] See the papers in Israel Mannings case
Page 6

who started & headed the desertion they should not be punished, but they considering that none of them had done any more then they had a right to do utterly refused to give that information, they were accordingly sentenced to be publicly whipped one hundred lashes which sentence was immeately [immediately] executed. I was so unfortunate as to be the youngest in the whole and one of the four last mentioned and did by the sentence of the Court receive the above punishment the remainder were afterwards tried and sentenced the same but were generally pardoned. Immediately after my Punishment I returned to duty and served untill the fourteenth of March 1780 & was then regular discharged but have since lost my discharge.

It now remains for me to set forth more fully the reasons which induced me to leave the Army as above mentioned & to remove the disgracefull imputation that now rests on my character from being recorded as a deserter.

Before I joined the army I went with my Father who was then on furlough to see Col Biglow [Bigelow] who was then at his dwelling House in Worcester He Col Biglow [Bigelow] accepted me in the room of my Father and directed me to join the Regiment then at Providence in the state of Rhodisland [Rhode Island] I was then informed that my time would be out on the first day of January A.D. 1780, which was afterwards confirmed by several Officers in Camp. I never entertained a doubt of the validity of the above agreement or had the remotest as superstition [?] on the part of the Officers to evade it until I applied for my discharge a little before the first of January 1780 and this application proved unsuccessfull. I was then informed that I must serve untill the fourteenth of March and that no regard would be paid to Col Biglow [Bigelow] contract. Being much dissatisfied with the failure of this application and with a refusal to recognize a positive agreement (for the whole 80 Claimed the like promise) we resolved to seek redress from the Government of Massachusetts where we belonged
Page 7

and accordingly left the Camp at the time & in the manner allready described with a view to proceed immiately [immediately] to Boston and spread our case before the state authority and out in pursuance of such advice and direction as we should receive from that authority. we did not arrive at Massachusetts for the reasons above stated but returned voluntary to Camp.

Under these circumstances & for these reasons I left the camp openly & publicly and for no other reasons, under an impression that I had right to appeal to my own government when my time of engagement had terminated & my discharge was withheld.

For this Offence of it can be called an Offence I have received an ignominious punishment & have faithfully served out the residue of my time & been regularly discharged. I hereby solemnly declare that the foregoing state of facts contain the truth & nothing but the truth and this is the only desertion [underlined] & Offence which I have ever been guilty during the nearly two years hard service.

I will only add that I have performed hard & perilous duty and often exposed my life in the service of my country I was during the summer & autumn of the year 1779 in a scouting party on the enemy's lines & in several severe skirmishes, In all of which and uppon all other occasions I have cheerfully devoted my life & strenght to my Country.

As a charity to those who have ^been instrumental in procuring this great & glorious event Congress have bestowed a pension on those who are indigent and I am one of that class. I am nearly fifty seven years of age & have a large family to support some of which are quite young and wholly dependent on my labour for their support. I have attempted to avail myself of the benevolence of Government but my application
Page 8

has been rejected because I am recorded as a deserter [2 words underlined]. I must therefore throw myself upon the humanity of the Honourable seretary & will only add that if my application shall now proove successfull that it relieve me from many pecuniary embarrasments and contribute to the relief of the Widdow of my Hon Father who is wholly dependent on me for support and composes a part of my family. It does appear to me that the punishment was more than commensurate with the offence considering my age at that time & that I ought not to be excluded from the benefit of the act of Congress.

Holden December 1. 1818
Increas Stearns

[inverted:]
Increase Stearns
Memorial

I Joel Pratt of Sterling in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, do testify and say that I was the Lieutenant who marched back said soldiers from Danbury as above described, and have no doubt that the said Increase Stearns served out his time honorably [lined out? discharged], after his said punishment. -- And I further say that according to my best recollection all said men who left the army as aforesaid were considered good & faithful soldiers.

[signed] Joel Pratt.

Worcester ss. Dec'r 9. 1818.

Joel Pratt above named, made oath to the truth of this before me-- and I certify the said Pratt is a man of truth and veracity.

Isaac Goodwin, Jus. of peace.
Page 9

Increase Stearns
Holden
Private
77 to 80
Bigelow Mass'tts
Reg't

Admitted on the affidavit of Lt. Joel Pratt -- see Israel Manning's papers

[The above is written over fainter (erased?) writing:]
Mass lines
Bigelows Regmt
3 yrs
Deserted
1 Jany 80
Inadmissible
Page 10

State of Massachusetts.

I Increase Stearns a Citizen of the United States, now resident at Holden in the County of Worcester in the State aforesaid, do on oath testify and declare, that in the War of the Revolution, on, or about the first of January in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight I entered and was engaged in the land service of the United States on the continental establishment, and served accordingly from that time to the fourteenth day of March in the year seventeen hundred and eighty as a private against the common enemy, without any interruption or absence; that I belonged to the Company commanded by Capt. John Pierce, in the fifteenth Massachusetts Regiment under the command of Colo. Timothy Bigelow in General Glover's Brigade and that I left the service on the fourteenth day of March in the year seventeen hundred and eighty. and that, by reason of my reduced circumstances in life and poverty, I stand in need of assistance from my country for support, being now of the age of fifty six years, having had twelve children. My discharge was given me at West Point; I lost it more than fifteen years since, And is not now in existance.

And I hereby relinquish all claims to every pension heretofore allowed me by the laws of the United States, if any may be or hath been so allowed.

[signed] Increase Stearns

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen pursuant to a law of the United States, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War," made and passed on the 18th of March, A. D. 1818, personally appeareth before me, Isaac Parker Esquire Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts the abovenamed Increase Stearns and after due examination and caution to testify and declare the whole truth, he maketh oath [hidden by seal] declaration aforesaid, and subscribes the same in my presence; and, on examination du- [hidden] by me the said Judge, it appeareth to my satisfaction that the said declaration is true.

Witness my hand & the seal of said Court, the day & year aforesaid

Isaac Parker C S S C
Page 11

Increase Stearns.-
12.119
June 1819
Conw [?] 18 Sep
1820
Page 12

Schedule of the Estate of Increas Stearns of Holden in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts applicant for the Pension under the Act of Congress of May 1, 1820.

1 Cart & 1 Yoke ... $5.00
1 Plough 1 Chain and horse chains ... 3.50
1 axe ... 1.25
3 swine ... 9.50
1 chest of drawers 18/. 1  chest 5/. ... 4.--
2 tables 9/. 8 chairs 12/. 1 Iron Kettle 15/. ... 6.--
2 pots 12/. 1 Tea Kettle and 1 stew do 9/ ... 3.50
1 pr Handirons, shovel & tongs ... 2.50
2 Wheels 18/. 2 Barrels 5/. 1 do 4/. ... 4.67
1 Looking Glass 6/. 2 kegs 70 ... 1.70
Brown Earthern ... .91
Crockery ... 2.00
Tea pot and Coffee pot ... 1.17
Tin Ware ... .68
Glass Ware ... .62
1 stone Jar ... .33
2 Bushel Corn ... 1.50
1 string Bells 6/. 2 pails 2/. ... 1.33
Knives & forks & spoons ... .75
[total] $30.91

I have no property ^other than that mentioned in the schedule hereunto annexed; and I am a labourer have a wife aged 55 in a bad state of health and two children resident in my family & dependent on me for support viz Zilpha Stearns aged 13 & Samuel Stearns aged 10.

Increas Stearns
Page 13

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COUNTY OF WORCESTER, ss.

On this tenth day of July 1820, personally appeared in open Court, before the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, being a Court of Record, within and for said County of Worcester, established as such by the laws of said Commonwealth, Increas Stearns aged fifty eight years, resident in Holden in said County, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: I entered the service in Jan. 1778, and belonged to Captain Pierce's Comp'y Col. Bigelow's Reg't in the Mass. Line, and served until Mar. 14, 1780, when I was discharged, as will appear from my original declaration dated April 9. 1818, my certificate is numbered 12,119

and I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War,” passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts, due to me, nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.

[signed] Increas Stearns.

Sworn to and declared, on the tenth day of July, 1820 before the said Court.

Attest, [signed] Abijah Bigelow, Cler.

I, ABIJAH BIGELOW, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, holden within and for the County of Worcester, do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the Record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule, is fifty dollars and ninety one cents.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this Ninth day of July 1820.

[signed] Abijah Bigelow { Clerk of the Court for the County of Worcester.
Page 14

234
Mercy Stearns.
widow of Increase
Mass.
Act 7 July 38
3 years
Married De'r 1783
adm'd
2 years pri
80$
no deduction
C. G. Prentiss
Worcester
Mass.
Page 15

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester, ss.

I, Charles G. Prentiss. Register of the Court of Probate for said County of Worcester do certify that Ira Barton is the Judge of said Court of Probate for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and that his signatures to the papers hereto annexed are his own genuine Signatures.

I further certify that Samuel Danon and John Taylor are Justices of the Peace within and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and that their signatures to the papers hereto annexed are their own genuine signatures.

In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court this eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and thirty eight.

Cha's. G. Prentiss, Register.
Page 16

Mercy Stearns
Page 17

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester County ss

On this twenty seventh day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared before Ira Barton Judge of the Court of Probate for said County of Worcester Mercy Stearns a resident of West Boylston in said County aged seventy three 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 act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pension to certain widows".

That she is the widow of Increase Stearns late of Holden in said County, deceased who was a private soldier in the War of the Revolution, and a pensioner of the United States under the law of 1818

Her said husband
Page 18

belonged to the town of Holden aforesaid when he went into the service, but she belonged to the town of Northbridge in the same County, and she did not become acquainted with him till he came out of the service. She cannot therefore state particularly as to his services. She has heard him tell much about them, but for the particulars and evidence of them she must refer to the evidence and papers pled in his case and now in the pension office

She further declares that she was married to the said Increase Stearns at said Northbridge, on the tenth day of December in the year seventeen hundred and eighty three; that her husband the aforesaid Increase Stearns died at said Holden in November in the year eighteen hundred and thirty, and that she has remained his widow ever since. That she was not married to him prior
Page 19

to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety nine, to wit, at the time above stated.

Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year above written

Mercy Stearns X her mark

Ira Barton Judge of the Court of Probate for said County of Worcester

And hereupon the Court do declare it as their opinion after a full investigation of the matter, that the said Increase Stearns was a soldier of the Revolution; that he married to the said applicant, that he hath since deceased, and that she has ever since remained his widow as she [illegible] oath declares. She being reputed to be a person of truth

Ira Barton Judge &c
Page 20

I Wm P. Paine Minister of the first religious Society in the Town of Holden -- Do testify and say that I have in my possession the Book which purports to Contain the Church Records of said s'd Society & also the Records of all the Deaths in the Town of Holden from the first January 1824 untill the present time and in that Book it is recorded that Mr Increase Stearns died in November 1830 --

Holden July 27th 1838 -- Wm P. Paine

Worcester July 27th 1838 --

Then personally appeared before me Samuel Duman a Justice of the Peace for the County of Worcester, The above named Wm P. Paine and made oath the the facts stated in the above Deposition by him subscribed, and I further Certify that the said Paine is a man of truth and veracity and that he is entitled to full confidence

Samuel Duman Justice of the Peace
Page 21

I Perez Stearns of West Boylston in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, being forty three years of age do on oath depose and say that I am a son of Increase Stearns late of Holden deceased, and his widow Mercy Stearns. My said father was a pensioner of the United States. He died about eight years since and his widow my said mother who resides with me, has never since been married. Upon the decease of my father she received the balance of the pension due her as his widow, and she has also drawn the bounty land due three years men, from the State of Massachusetts.

Peres Stearns

We Amos Stearns and Asa Stearns other sons of the said Increase Stearns and Mercy Stearns do testify and say that the facts testified of in the above deposition are true.

Amos Stearns
Asa Stearns

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester ss July 27, 1838 Then personally appeared Peres Stearns, Amos Stearns and Asa Stearns above named who are known to me as men of truth, and made oath that the above depositions by them respectively subscribed are true -- before me

Ira Barton Judge of Probate for said County
Page 22

Northbridge December 10, 1783

This may Certify that Marriage was Solemnised between Increase Stearns Jr. of Holden & Mercy Bassett of Northbridge by me John Crane

I Adolphus Batcheller of Northridge do hereby say that I am Clerk of the Town of Northbridge and that the above is a True Coppy from the records of said Town

July 26, 1838.
Adolphus Batcheller Clerk of Northbridge

Northbridge July the 26 1838 then Personally appeared before me Adolphus Batcheller Town Clerk and took oath to the above copy of the town record that it is true and accurate

John Taylor Justice of the Peace
Page 23

I Annis Kies of West Boylston in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, being first duly sworn do testify and say that I am seventy years of age. I formerly knew Increase Stearns of Holden who was a Revolutionary pensioner and Soldier, and who died about eight years ago. I also am well acquainted with Mercy Stearns his widow she has never been married since his death. I always understood that she was a Bassett and that she came from Northbury in this County.

[signed] Anise Keyes

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester ss. July 27, 1838. Then personally appeared Anise Keyes above named & made oath that the above deposition by her subscribed is true. I further Certify that she is a person of truth.

Before me
Ira Barton Judge of Probate of the said County
Page 24

Increase Stearns

In Dec 1818 of Holden Worcester Co Mass aged nearly 57 years Mar'd at Northbridge Worcester Co Dec 10, 1783 to Mercy Bassett & he died Nov 16, 1830 & the widow in July 1838 resided in West Boylston aged 7 3years. They had 12 children. widow stated her age on Sept 1843 as 77 years.

Perez Stearns of West Boylston aged 43 years testified in July 1838 he was a son

His father Increas Stearns of Holden had enlisted on Jan'y 1, 1777 under Capt Gates in Col'o Tim'o Bigelow Mass regiment for 3 years but was not mustered in until March 14 1777 & in Jan'y 1778 was home on a furlow His Son Increase became his substitute under a promise in the presence of his father by Col'o Bigelow (Confirmed by other officer) that he shold be discharged in Jany 1780 & joined his regiment in R. I. where he was in the company of Capt John Pierce, Capt Gates having left his Co in July 1778. He give no other particular of his service than "I have performed hard & perilous duty & often exposed my life in the Service & was during the Summer & autumn of 1779 in a Scouting party on the Enemy's lines & in Several Severe Skirmishes." Before the 1st Jany 1780 while the Regiment was at Wespoint [West Point] he with about 80 others who claimed that their enlistment terminated Jany 1 1780, made an application for their discharge which being refused, openly & publicly declared their intention to leave the army & submit their grievance to the government authorities of Mass'ts In pursuance of that determination the dissatisfied soldiers convened on the morning of said date to proceed together on their way to Boston and 12 miles east of Danbury Con't [Connecticut] were overtaken by a detachment of Troop, conducted back to
Page 25

Danbury where by reason of the deep Snow & severity of the weather, they remained two weeks, then they voluntarily returned unaccompanied by any other soldier or officer but a Lt, to West Point where they were tried by a Court Martial & convicted for punishment but the most of them were generally pardoned. Stearns was the youngest one in the lot.

In July 1820 he Stated his age as 58 years & that his family consisted of his wife aged 55 yrs & children named Zilpha aged 13 and Samuel aged 10 years
Page 26

Worcester, Mass. Sept. 14. 1857.

Dear Sir

We addressed to your office a letter under date of June 19 /57 making enquiry whether Increase Stearns and Mercy Stearns his widow were ever pensioned & if so where and under what acts & for how much to which you replied under date of July 18 1857 saying that "Increase Stearns was pensioned under the acts of 1818 and 1820 at $96 per annum and his widow Mercy Stearns was pensioned at $80 under the acts of 1838 and 1843 which carried [?] her pension up to 4th of March 1844" We are now requested to enquire by the heirs of the widow now deceased whether the 80$ [?] the sum at which the
Page 27

widow was pensioned was not a mistake & whether it should not have been $96, the sum allowed the husband & whether if a mistake has occurred in the amount of the widows pension it can not be corrected by an application to the Department or to the Court of Claims

A reply to these Enquiries would much oblige our Clients And.

Yours very Respectfully
Bacon & Aldrich

George C. Whiting, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D. C.
Page 28

[stamp] FREE

Hon. James L. Edwards
Com'r of Pensions
War Department
Washington City

[written upward]
4132 July 11, 1843
Cls. March 3d /43.
[crossed out: NY] Mass

[fainter]
Mercy Stearns
Relief Harrington

[postmark] WORCESTER MA SEP 8
Page 29

Worcester Sept. 8. 1843.

I send the Declarations of Relief Harrington & Mercy Stearns.

Please send their Certificates to
Your obedient servant,
Cha's G Prentiss

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Page 30

Worcester Mass. Oct. 30. 1838.

Sir,

I return the enclosed for the purpose of having it corrected. The name of the applicant is Mercy [underlined] Stearns.

Yours respectfully
Cha's G. Prentiss.

Hon. J. L. Edwards.
Page 31

Worcester, June 17 1857

Sir,

We write to ascertain whether Mary or Marcy [underlined] Stearns, late, we believe, of West Boylston in the County of Worcester & State of Massachusetts, deceased, widow of Increase Stearns late of said West Boylston or of Holden ^in said county received a pension of Eighty dollars granted her about September A.D. 1838 & whether her said husband received a pension as a private [lined out: in the] [inserted: in and] during the Revolutionary war & if so what was the amount per annum of said Pension. If said widow received a Pension we suppose it must have been under the act of July 7th 1836 & the acts in addition thereto. A. reply would much oblige Yours Respectfully
Bacon & Aldrich
Attys & Counsellors at Law

Gen'l Whiting Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC.

(over)
Page 32

P. S. Said Increase died November 24 1830 and Marcy Mercy or Mary Stearns May 9 1845
Page 33

Worcester August 8, 1838.

Sir,

I enclose the Papers in the case of Mercy Stearns, Submit Rowe Lydia Plimpton and Rhoda Lesure, applicants for Pension under the Act of July 7, 1838.

Please to transmit the Pension Certificates to me, when granted.

I am, Sir, with respect,
Your obedient Servant,
Cha's G. Prentiss.

Hon. J. L. Edwards,
Comm'r of Pensions.
Page 34

4132
Mercy Stearns
$80
C. G. Prentiss
Worcester
Mass
Page 35

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
WORCESTER COUNTY, ss. On this fourth day of September A. D. 1843 personally appeared before the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace, within and for the County of Worcester, Mercy Stearnes a resident of West Boylston in said County, aged seventy seven 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 of March, 1843, granting pensions to Widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war.

That she is the widow of Increase Stearnes who was a private in the army of the Revolution and served as stated by her in her declaration made in order to obtain the pension under the act of Congress of July 7th 1838 now filed in the office of the war department.

and that she received a pension under the act of July 7, 1838, of $Eighty dollars per annum. She further declares that she is still a Widow. Mercy Stearnes X her mark

Sworn to an subscribed on the day and year above written, before me; -- and I certify that the said Mercy Stearnes is personally known to me.

[signed] Henry Snow Justice of the Peace.

[The remaining 11 lines completely lined out:]
Know all men by these presents that I Mercy Stearnes of West Boylston (the person named above,) do hereby constitute & appoint Caleb H Warren of Shrewsbury, in the County of Worcester, and State of Mass. to be my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to receive from the agent of the United States for paying [?] pensions in Massachusetts, pension due to the [illegible] Witness my hand and seal this fourth day of September A.D. 1843
Mary Stearnes X her mark
Signed, sealed & delivered in presence of Henry Snow [illegible] Stearnes
Page 36

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
WORCESTER COUNTY, ss.

I, Joseph G. Kendall, Clerk of the Judicial Courts for the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, do hereby certify, That Henry Snow, Esquire, is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified; and that his signature to the certificate, on the [lined out: deposition] Declaration of Mercy Stearnes hereunto annexed, is genuine, and said Snow was such Justice, on the fourth Day of September last.

Given under my hand, and the Seal of said County, this twenty fifth day of December in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty three.

[signed] J G Kendall Cler.
Page 37

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
WORCESTER, ss.

I, CHARLES G. PRENTISS, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester, do certify that Henry Snow is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and that his signature to the foregoing certificate is genuine.

In testimony whereof, I do hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court, this sixth day of September one thousand eight hundred and forty-three.

[signed] Cha's G. Prentiss, Register.
Page 38

[left side]
Massachusetts 187.
===
[crossed out: Mary] Mercy Stearns
widow of Increase Stearns
who was a pensioner under the Act of 18th Mar 1818
and who died on the November 1830
of Holden in the State of Massach'ts
who was a Pri. in the Compy commanded
by Captain -- of the Reg't commanded
by Col Bigelow in the Mass'ts
line for 2 years.
===
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 80 Dollars -- Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836
===
Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of Sep'r
'38, and sent to C. G. Prentiss,
Worcester Mass
===
Arrears to the 4th of Sep'r $200.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4th Mar 40.00
[total] $240.00
{ Act July 7, 1838. }
Recorded by R. B[illegible] Clerk,
Book A Vol. 1 Page 129.

[right side]
Pension Certificate altered from Mary to Mercy [underlined], Nov 3, 1838 & ret'd to Mr Prentiss

[written upward]
Decl'n ret'd to C. G. Prentiss --
Page 39

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 15375
Mercy Stearns
Widow of
Increase Stearns
Pri Rev War

Act: March 3d. 43

Index:-- Vol. M, Page 245
[Arrangement of 1870.]

July 1838 of East Royalton Mass 732 yrs [?]