Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 7217, for John L Mersereau, New Jersey
Page 1

(3-1776)                                           NUMBER

Continental (N. J. N. Y.)  Mersereau, John L.S 7217

Sol. died May, 1841
CONTENTS

Son of Joshua, Sr.
brother of Joshua S7224
Page 2

Pennsylvania. {33,423.
John L. Mersereau, Died
of Tioga Co. in the State of Pennsylvania who was an [ {in the _______commanded by Captain _________ of the __________ commanded by ___________ in the line for} crossed out]  Assistant Commissary of Prisoners in the Revolution.

Inscribed on the Roll of Philadelphia at the rate of 400 Dollars  ________________ Cents  per annum, to commence on the 4 day of March 1831 and end on the 18. May 1841.

Certificate of Pension issued 1 day of April 1862 and sent to W. E. Kannaugh, Present

Payable to surviving children.

{Revolutionary Claim, }
{Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by W. E. Gapen Clerk, 
Vol. 1  Page 73
Page 3

State of New York}
                                fa
Steuben County}          [Looks like an "A" with a vertical line in the middle]

Personally came before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace of the town of Lindsley [now Lindley] in Steuben /county State of New York Joshua Mersereraua a resident of the same town, to me well known who on his solemn oath by me to him in due form administered doth depose and say, that he is the brother of John L. Merserreau of Tioga township in Tioga County, State of Pennsylvania.  That his father Joshua Merserreau, his said brother  & himself were all in the Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War.  His father resided o Staten Island in the early part of July 1776 when the the British took possession of the Island. and destroyed a large amount of his property & among other things several valuable buildings, a sloop & a Brig new & ready for sea except rigging.  His whole loss in property destroyed or taken by the British was estimated at upwards of thirty thousand dollars.  My father was before this time engaged in the American Service- principally in raiding troops.  We fled to New Jersey and soon after my brother was engaged in transporting provisions for the American Army from Newark to Bergen Neck, and Powlis Hooke [Paulus Hook].  He was next called to Superintend the building of twelve large Flats or Scows which were intend to cross over troops from the Jersey side to Staten Island and were used for that purpose in general Sullivan's expedition to the island.
When the British troops was advancing upon New [illegible] own Army retreated as far as Brunswick & there made a short stand.  My father, brother and myself was with the army at this time.  About this time my father had been requested by General Washington to procure information from within the British lines.  I had been
Page 4

employed in this Service; also a young man of the name of Parker, my father's appointed to that business of shipbuilding, who afterwards incurred the suspicion of the British asa spy and was by then imprisoned and  (as was said) starved to death.  While the American Army was at Brunswick my father consulted with General Washington on the propriety of employing my brother John in the same service & it was agreed that he should remain at Brunswick until it should be included in the British lines.  He accordingly remained at afterwards went to Staten Island & New York & spent according the best of my knowledge about two years there in one or the other of those places in the Service before mentioned.  I was not present at the consultation between Gen. Washington and my father but saw them both there 9at Brunswick) & was informed of the consultation & arrangement very soon after by my father.  After this my father & I continued with the Army until long after the battle of Princeton & consequently I know nothing of the particular Services of my brother at Staten Island and New York except what I learned from him & my father.  From them I have learned at an early day at & soon after the time he was engaged as aforesaid.  I have frequently heard my brother relate his adventures at that time, and among others his fortunate escape when returning form the Jersey shore to Staten Island, after having crossed to New Jersey to communicate with my father.
About the beginning the year 1778 my brother beame suspected of being an American Spy as I learned at that time, & was for that reason recalled from that Service & sent immediately to Rutland in the State of Massachusetts to take charge of the British prisoners of Burgoynes Army (& others) that remained at Rutland Barracks.  In this situation he remained as near as deponent can recollect, about two years, with the exception of a short time which he spent in the Service hereafter.
Page 5

mentioned._____  He was ordered to Morristown N. J. this then Headquarters of the American Army & there commissioned by Gen. Washington to go to New York & settle a cartel fro the exchange of prisoners etc.  On his way to New York he was detained sometime at Fort Richmond on Staten Island and was there when the fort was attacked by the americans un Lord Stirling.  Deponent was in the army under Lord Stirling at that time as a volunteer my brother afterwards went to New York & completed the arrangement of the cartel, In this business he spent about five or six weeks & the returned to his old station at Rutland which was that Assistant Deputy Commissary of Provisions.  Deponent never knew or heard of his brother receiving any compensation for this service from the United States.
According to the best of Deponent's recollection, his brother's Services at New York & Staten Island commenced in December 1776 & continued till January 1778.  So that he was in war in stating as aforesaid that he (JOhn) aforesaid remained there two years.  Yet, Deponent can not positively state the time.
Deponent is now in this seventy ninth year.  His father deceased in the year 1804.  His brother John is in  eighty four years ofl according to the best of Deponent's recollection.
John Mersereau
Sworn and subscribed}
before me the second}
day of March 1840 at}
Lindsley Steuben County}
State of New York}

A. C. Smith Justice of the Peace
Page 6

I certify that I have been personally acquainted with Joshua Mersereau the within named deponent during more than six years last part, having resided during that time in his neighborhood and that he is a person of good repute for truth and veracity and entitled to full credence as a witness under both.
Lindsley Steuben C0. New York
March 2nd 1840
A.C. Smith Justice of Peace

Affidavit of Joshua Mersereau

"A"
This is the paper containing the deposition of March 2nd 1840 referred to by Joshua Mersereau in his deposition of this date to which this paper is attached.
October 25th 1856
Wm Garritson Justice of the Peace
Page 7

To the Honorable The Senate and House of Representatives of the United States

The memorial of the undersigned a citizen of Tioga County State of Pennsylvania respectfully the wish that your memorialist was in the Service of the United States in the war of the revolution for a period of something more than three years.  That during about eighteen months he acted as a spy for the Americans while the British held possession of New York & Staten Island & for the remainder of said periods was at Rutland in Massachusetts acting in the capacity of Assistant Deputy Commisary of prisoner  quartered at that station.
When the British took possession of New York & Staten Island, my father with his family (including) myself my brother Joshua and others resided in the north side of Staten Island.  A large amount of his property was taken or destroyed by the British about this time was moved to New York & your petitioner was for some time afterwards engaged in transporting provisions for the American Army to Bergen Neck & Pousld Hook [Paulus Hook] the then outposts.  I also superintended the building of twelve large flat boats which were used by the American troops under Gen Sullivan to cross to Staten Island for the purpose of attacking the British forces there.
These boats were built as I understood by the orders of Gen. Washington.  After this er went to New Brunswick landing about the time that Washington retreated through New Jersey.  Before Gen. Washington left New Brunswick it was arranged between him and my father Joshua Mersereau (as I was informed at that time by my father) that I should remain
Page 8

at New Brunswick until it should be included within the British line s, and afterwards go to New York & Staten Island & continue at onf or the other of those places (or other places within the enemy;s lines) for the purpose of obtaining intelligence that might be useful to the Americans & converging the same to the Headquarters of the American Army.  Explicit instructions came for this purpose to me through my father, according the best of my recollection, about eighteen months.  It was arranged that intelligence should be conveyed beyond the British lines by a young man of the name of John Parker an apprentice to my father to the business of shipbuilding after this young man had made them or  move journeying from Staten Island to New Jersey or Pennsylvania on this business, he became suspected by the British, was captured by them at Amboy and imprisoned in New York until his death.  Your memorialist visited him in the prison about two hours before his death & offered to supply him with clothing & food.  His answer was that "it was of no use for he should not live long," "they kept the prisoner several days without food & then supplied him with poisoned bread--that numbers had been killed in that way & that he without being aware of it had eaten of the bread & felt sick then." I went to the door of his room the next morning.  He was not there--and the guards informed me he had died & was taken out the night previous.  After the arrest of Parker, I went in the night to Jersey shore.  I saw my father at the house of my uncle John LaGrange in Elizabethtown, where we concocted another mode of communicating intelligence which was practised as long as I remained in this Service.  The information was committed to paper & enclosed in a bottle secured by a thread passing out by the side of the cork, this was conveyed in the dead of night & generally means of a small temporary raft to Shooter's Islands, between Staten Island & the Jersey
Page 9

Shore, where it was deposited under the side of a large rock, where it was found by the proper person from the Jersey side, & an answer if necessary was deposited in the same bottle.  When intelligence was left at the plan aforesaid the person depositing it there notified his correspondent by a light glow previously fix upon , (at a certain hour of the night, visible from the opposite shores.  the reception of communications was acknowledged by a similar signal.
Your memorialist sometimes carried intelligence to the Jersey shores in person.  At one time, learning that my father was at  Elizabethtown & having important intelligence to communicate, & further instructions to receive, I repaired in the night an old skiff which lay among the grass on a part of the Island not then guarded by the British, & passed over & had an interview with my father but when my business was concluded it was too late to return that night & I remained on the Jersey side the next day concealed in a barn.  During my absence the british had noticed the absence of the old skiff, & placed a sentry near the place where I had embarked & expected to land on my return.  I landed there without knowing the place was guarded, the sentry hailed, & I fled on my hands & feet to a ditch, along which I could run without being much exposed to his fire.  He fired his musket just at I got into the ditch & his ball struck a post just over my head.  I them jumped out of the ditch & ran directly to my lodgings.  The sentinel with others pursued me & reached the our-door just as I entered my room.  Had they persevered I must have been discovered & taken, It happened however that a British "May Tenpenny " (so called) quartered at the same house & being drunk at the time countermanded further search swearing "there was no rebell in the house where he lodged or words to that effect.
Your memorialist has no writing by which he can fix the time when he left the service aforesaid
Page 10

but believed it was near the end of 178 or the beginning of 1779.  The reason of my leaving the spy service was that my friends had learned that I was suspected by the British.  From this I went immediately to the Rutland Barracks and took charge of the Commissary department there and remained there in that service about eighteen or twenty months except that during a part of this time I went to New York with a flag of truce to procure clothing & money for the prisoners of Burgoyne's army stationed at Rutland Barracks and at another time I went to Philadelphia to deliver up one Chapman to the governor of Penna [Pennsylvania} (Governor Miflin I think) Chapman was supposed to be guilty of burning an American soldier in a stack of hay, somewhere in Pennsylvania.  A loud sequence of weakness in his right arm your Memorialist never was qualified to carry or use a musket or other arms which was the reason that he was employed in the services aforesaid while his father & brother entered into a more active & regular service in which the former continued till the end of the was & until he was taken a prisoner by the British.  My father was one of the confidential friends of General WAshington. * was frequently employed by him in important business.  He was the same Mr. Mersereau who removed the boats on the Delaware & this prevented the British from crossing to Trenton.
The services rendered by your memorialist were as he verily believed important and useful to the American cause, Much of it & the most important & dangerous was from its nature known to very few persons & I know of not living witness.
Page 11

except my brother Joshua Mersereau my father having deceased in the year 1804 or about that time.  I have no written memoranda or memorials of my service as a spy--- and none, of my service in the Commissary deportment at Rutland except the letters & orders received by me relative to the duties of that service all of which are appended to this memorial & marked A. B.C. D. E. F.  The letter of Col. Beatty I think is a copy but am not certain.
Your memorialist has been in comfortable circumstances until within a four years past, but is now entirely unable to procure a livelyhood by his own existing & is destitute of all other means except the generosity of friends.  One cause of my bodily weakness was I have no doubt personal exposure while engaged in  the aforesaid service as a spy.  I am now in my eighty fourth year.  I have never received any compensation from the U.S.
Your memorialist is advised that his aforesaid services are of such a nature that he cannot receive a pension existing acts of congress.  He therefor prays relief. Bc *& as in duty &c.
Tioga Tioga County Penna
March 19th 1840.
J. L. Mersereau

Tioga County JS Personally came before the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for said county John L. Mersereau a citizen of Tioga township in said county to me personally known, and on his solemn oath by me duly administered doth say that the facts stated in the above memorial written on five pages are true as he verily believed.  Sworn & subscribed before me this 20th day March  AD 1840.}

J. L. Mersereau
C. H. Place J. Peace
Page 12

(Will)

Be it remembered, that I. John S. Mersereau of Covington Tioga County Pennsylvania, farmer, being of sound mind & memory, do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament, in manner & form following, that is to say, as for and concerning all my temporal estate, I do hereby dispose of the same as followeth, to wit:  First, I will that my just debts & funeral expenses be paid & discharged.  Item, I give & bequeath to my daughter Sophia A. Wright & Josiah N. Wright her husband & to their heirs, on third part of all my worldly goods, real, personal & mixed, in possession, expectancy, remainder & recession all & singular of amy kind of estates interests claims & demands choses in action ye that I have any interest in or title to by purchase descent or otherwise forever, to use, occupy & dispose of at their pleasure, after which & on the setting apart of the aforesaid bequest, to the said Sophia A. & Josiah N. Wright.  I give, will and bequeath to the said Sophia A. & Josiah N. Wright.  Fanny C. Kelsey, also a daughter & Henry Mersereau, my son equally as tenants in common all of the remainder & residue of my estate, interest etc as aforesaid to them & their heirs respectively forever.  * I do hereby order & direct, authorize & empower my executors herein after named or such of them as Shall take letters testamentary as soon as they in their discretion shall think proper to being suit to recover all or any portion of my said estate to rent or otherwise dispose of the same to the best advantage for the mutual benefit of the whole & all persons interested in the same under this my last will & generally to do all such things as are requisite  & necessary for the recovery & enjoyment of all or any portion of said estate interest etc.  And Lastly I do hereby nominate constitute & appoint my sone in law Josiah N. Wright & my son Henry D. Mersereau executors of this my last will & testament hereby revoking all former will & testaments & declare this only to be my last will and testament.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 8th day of May A.D. one thousand eight-hundred & forty one.  J. L. Mersereau {seal}.  the words "her husband" on the first-page in 12th line from top.  Interlined before signing.  Signed, sealed delivered & published by John L. Mersereau the testator as & for his last will & testament in the presence of us, who in his presence & at his request & in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.  Benj. Kress Ephm (Ephraim") B. Gerould.
Page 13

Tioga county. js.

This fifteenth day of June A.D. 1841 Before me Leeman Wilson, Register for the probate of Wills & granting letters of Administration in & for [{said county} crossed out] the county of Tioga, personally came Benjamin Kress & Ephrain B. Gerould, the two subscribing witnesses to the within will and being sworn according to law did depose & say that they were personally present & saw & heard J. L. Mersereau, the testator, sign, seal, publish, pronounce & declare the within instrument of writing as & for his last will & testament & that at the time of so doing he was of perfect & sound mind, memory & understanding to the best of our knowledge observation & belief.
Benj {Benjamin} Kress
Ephm {Ephraim B. Gerould

Sworn & subscribed before me}
this day and date above.}
Leeman Wilson, Register}

State of Pennsylvania}
Tioga County. ss:}

I Henry S. Archer, Register for the probate of wills & granting Sitters of Administration in & for said county do certify that the foregoing is a true copy of last will & testament & probate thereof, as recorded in  the Registers office of said county of John S. Mersereau late of said county, deceased.  Witness my hand & seal of office this 19th day of June A.D. 1862

H.S. Archer, Register
Page 14

Tioga county ss;

By the tenor of these presents, I. Henry S. Archer, Register for the probate of wills & granting letters of administration in & for said county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do make known unto all men that on the 15th day of June AD 1841, before Leeman Wilson late Register of said county was proved & approved the last will & testament of J. L. Mersereau late of said county, deceased, a true copy whereof is to these presents annexed, having whilst he lived & at the time of his death divies goods chattels, right and credits within the said commonwealth, b reason whereof, the approbation & insinuation of the said last will & testament, & the committing the administration of all & singular the good, chattels, rights & credits, which were of the said deceased, & also the auditing the accounts, calculations & reckonings of the said administration, & a final dismission from the same, to me are, manifestly known to belong, & that administration of all & singular the goods, chattel rights and credits of the said deceased any way concerning his last will and testament, was committed to Josiah N Wright & Henry D. Mersereau in the said testament named, (& said Josiah N. Wright-not appearing to take letters) the said Henry D. Mersereau having first been duly sworn will & truly to administer the goods, chattels rights & credit of the said deceased, & make a true & perfect inventory thereof, & exhibit the same into the Registers office at Wellsborough aforesaid, on or before the 19th day of July next, & to render a true & just account, calculation & reckoning of the said administration on or before the 19th of June AD 1863 or when thereto lawfully required.  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & caused the seal of said office to be hereunto affixed.  Dated at Wellsborough the 19th day of June AD 1862.
H. S. Archer, Register

I further certify that a bond with sufficient security to the amount of four thousand dollars ($4000) has been filed in this office by the said Henry D. Mersereau.  Administrator of John S. Mersereau, deceased.
July 10th 1862
H. S. Archer Register
Page 15

[Ribbon at top]

State of Pennsylvania}
 County of Tioga}       js

On this twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, before the undersigned and of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, being a Court of Record,) sitting in Chambers.) in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Josiah N. Wright, a resident of Covington, in the County of Tioga, and State aforesaid, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress of 7th June, 1832:  That he is the Administrator of the estate of John Mersereau, or John L. Mersereau, deceased, who declarant has been informed, and verily believes entered the Army during the Revolutionary War, and served as is hereinafter set forth.  In the year, 1776, (as deponent has been informed) the said John Mersereau or John L. Mersereau, became a spy for the American Army, and served as such till some time in the years 1778 or 1779;- thence, as declarant has been informed, he went immediately into the Commissary service under his Father, Joshua Mersereau. Sr. who was at that time Assistant Commissary General of Prisoners for the Northern Department of the Army and who constituted and appointed the said John Mersereau, or John L Mersereau, his Deputy Commissary of Prisoners, in which capacity her served, as declarant has been informed twenty months.  In evidence of the service of the said John Mersereau, or John L. Mersereau, this declarant files herewith the original memorial and accompanying papers, pre-
Page 16

pared and presented by the said John L. Mersereau to the Congress of the United States, in the year 1840. and also the original documents filed with the memorial marked, it A. B. C. D. E.  &F. which said memorial and accompanying papers were lately withdrawn from the files of the Senate of the United States, in the month of April 1856.  And this declarant doth further state, that he is under the impression that the said John or John L. Mersereau, never, during his life-time, applied to the Pension Office for any pension, he either being under the impression, as his memorial will show, that his services were not provided for by existing laws, or apprehending from the failure of his brother Joshua Mersereau, who had rendered similar services, as a Deputy Commissary of Prisoners, that he could not properly establish a claim.  Upon the death of the said John Mersereau, or John L. Mersereau, which took place [to the best of deponents recollection] on the eighteenth day of May, 1841, this declarant became possessed of all the correspondence and original orders and account, receipts, etc doubtless connected with the service rendered by the said John or John L. Mersereau as Deputy Commissary of Prisoner during the Revolutionary War; but as they were voluminous, and supposed to be of no value, this declarant destroyed them.  Declarant has always understood in the family (a member of which he is having married a daughter of the said John or John L. Mersereau) that the intestate was known during the Revolutionary War, and for same years after the war, simply as John Mersereau; but having received the appointment of Clerk of the Court of Richmond County in the State of New York and his Uncle, also named John Mersereau, residing in the same neighborhood to prevent the con-
Page 17

fusion thence arising, the intestate assumed as a middle name the family name of his grandfather "Lagrange," by which he was afterwards known.  In confirmation of this, declarant files herewith the two certificates of appointment issued by the State of New York to the intestate, one as Surrogate and the other as Clerk of the Court of Richmond county, in one of which said appointments he is called "John Mersereau," and in the other of a later date, he is called "John L. Mersereau,-which said commissions bear the signature of the said John or John L. Mersereau, and have remained in the possession of the said declarant since the death of the said intestate and will indicate the date in which the change was made in the manner of signing his name.  And declarant further says that the said John or John L Mersereau was residing with declarant in Covington, Tioga Co. Pennsylvania in the month of May, 1841, and that on the 18th day May, 1841 [to the best of deponents recollection[ the said John L. Mersereau died, leaving no widow him surviving, but the following named children, who are believed to be still living:  Joshua B. Mersereau, who when last heard from was engaged in the Fur Trade, on the Columbia River.  Henry D. Mersereau, when last heard from was a resident of Athens, East Tennessee; and Fanny C. Kelsy, formerly Fanny C. Mersereau, and now residing in the City of Cincinnati, and State of Ohio, and who has been heard from with the past month.  And the said John or John L. Mersereau died on the 18th day of May, 1841, [to the best of deponents recollection] leaving no widow him surviving, and that the above named Joshua B. Mersereau, Henry D. Mersereau and Fanny C. Kelsy, formerly
Page 18

Fanny C. Mersereau, constitute the only heirs of the said John L. Mersereau, deceased.  J. N. Wright
Sworn and subscribed to the day and year above [The foregoing interlineations were made prior to signing the same.]  above written.

Edwin Dyer
Associate Judge

Also at the same time and place, personally appeared before me, in open Court, (sitting in Chambers) David Caldwell, a resident of Covington, in the County of Tioga, in the State of Pennsylvania, and to me personally known, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth depose and state:  That he has a distinct recollection of the late John L. Mersereau, who resided with his son-in-law Josiah N. Wright, in Covington, in the County of Tioga and State of Pennsylvania.  That the said John L Mersereau was a very aged man, and was reputed in the neighborhood to have served in the Revolutionary War.  That deponent was at that  time a resident of the County and State aforesaid, and has since continued to reside in the same place.  That some time in the month of May, in the year 1841, deponent was called upon by the said Josiah N. Wright to officiate at the funeral obsequies of the said John L. Mersereau, as Undertaker, which is deponent's profession and regular calling:  that upon reference to deponent's account book, for the month of May, 1841, deponent finds the charges and entries against the said Josiah N. Wright, for the furnishing and burial of the said John L. Mersereau, to be between the 13th & 20th of May, 1841.  Deponent is certain that the said John L. Mersereau died
Page 19

in the month of May, in the year 1841, leaving no widow at his decease; and deponent is equally certain, (because confirmed in his belief by reference to his Account Book) that the said John L. Mersereau died between the 13th & 20th of May, 1841, though he cannot name the precise date.  As far as deponent has any knowledge, the said John L. Mersereau left no widow him surviving.  And farther this deponent saith not.
David Caldwell
Sworn and subscribed to this twentieth day of October 1856. before me
Edwin Dyer
Associate Judge

Also, at the same time and place, personally appeared before me in open court, (sitting in Chambers.) Samuel S. Cleaver, a resident of Covington, in the County of Tioga, and State of Pennsylvania, and to me personally known, who being duly sworn, according to law, doth depose and state:  That he has a distinct recollection of the intestate in this case, the late John L. Mersereau, who prior to his decease resided with his son-in-law Josiah N. Wright, in Covington, Tioga County, Pennsylvania.  That deponent was a resident at that time, and has since continued to reside in Covington, in the County and State aforesaid.  That at the time of his acquaintance with the said John L. Mersereau he was a very aged man, and was reputed and believed in the neighborhood, to have served in the Revolutionary War.  That in the month of May, 1841, (deponent cannot state the precise date.) deponent was called upon by the said
Page 20

Josiah N. Wright, with a request that deponent would assist in the funeral ceremonies of the said deceased.  Deponent immediately repaired to the residence of the said Josiah N. Wright, and assisted and was present at the funeral ceremonies of the said deceased, which took place some time in the month of May, 1841.  The said John L. Mersereau was buried in Covington, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, and, so far as deponent has any knowledge, the said deceased left no widow.  And further deponent saith not.
Saml [Samuel] S Cleaver
Sworn and subscribed to this twentieth day of October, 1856. before me
Edwin Dyer
Associate Judge

Tioga County, js

I John F. Donaldson, prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas of Tioga County Pennsylvania do certify that Edwin Dyer, Esq is and was at the above date an associate judges in and for said county, duly authorized by law to administer oaths and that the foregoing signatures, purporting to be his, is genuine.  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office the 21st day of October 1856.
J. F. Donaldson Prothonotary
Page 21

August 30, 1934
XXXXXXAXXXXX
BA-J/Mos
John LaGrange Mersereau
S. 7217

Miss Emily J. Roberson
1342 Milvia Street
Berkeley
California

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your request for information in regard to John LaGrange Mersereau who served in the Revolutionary War.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S. 7217, based upon the military service of John
LaGrange Mersereau who was the eldest son of Joshua Mersereau. The date and place of birth of John LaGrange Mersereau were not given.
In 1776 said Joshua Mersereau was living on the north side of Staten Island and was engaged in the American service, principally
in raising troops. When the British took possession of Staten Island he moved with his family (only names given are those of his sons, John LaGrange and Joshua ) to Newark, New Jersey, and from there to New Brunswick, reaching the latter place about the time that General Washington was retreating through New Jersey. It was stated that Joshua
Mersereau (the father) removed the boats in which the American Army crossed the Delaware River, thus preventing the British from crossing into Pennsylvania. He later became deputy commissary general of prisoners. and in 1780 was referred to as Major Joshua Mersereau. After the close of
the Revolution he returned to his old residence on Staten Island. He died
in 1804,
While General Washington was at New Brunswick on the retreat through New Jersey, he arranged with Joshua Mersereau to have his son, John LaGrange Mersereau, remain at New Brunswick until it should be included within the British lines and then serve as spy engaged in obtaining information of the intended movements of the enemy and
conveying the same to the headquarters of the American army. This

See back of fill jacket attached for list of papers sent to War Dept.
Page 22

service of John LaGrange Mersereau as spy commenced in December, 1776, and he continued to serve as such for a period of over eighteen months when he learned that his activities as spy were being suspected by the British and he immediately went to the
barracks at Rutland, Massachusetts, and served about eighteen or twenty months as deputy commissary of prisoners quartered there.  It was stated that in consequence of weakness in his right arm he was not qualified to use a musket or other arms, which was the reason for his serving as above-noted.

After the close of the Revolution, John LaGrange Mersereau
returned to his old residence on Staten Island and was appointed county clerk of Richmond County, Staten Island. In 1791 he was
appointed surrogate for Tioga County, New York, and in 1798 he was appointed surrogate for Chenango County, New York.

On March 19, 1840, while living in Tioga Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, aged eighty-three years, John LaGrange Mer-
sereau applied for pension on account of his service in the Revolutionary War. The claim was allowed.

He died May 18, 1841, in Covington, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, at the residence of his son-in-law, Josiah N. Wright, and he was
buried in Covington. His wife did not survive him. The name of his wife and the date and place of his marriage were not given.

He was survived by the following children: Joshua B., Henry D. Fanny C. Kelsey and Sophia A. who was the wife of Josiah N. Wright.  In 1856, Josiah N. Wright was living in Covington, Pennsylvania. In 1856 the following were referred to as the only surviving children of John LaGrange Mersereau: Joshua B. who when last heard from was engaged in the fur trade on the Columbia River, Henry D. who when last
heard from was living at Athens, Tennesse, Fanny C. Kelsey who was then living at 155 Fifth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio.

In 1840 Joshua Mersereau, brother of John LaGrange Mersereau, was living at Lindley, Steuben County, New York, and stated that he
was in the seventy-ninth year of his age. In 1856 he was living in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, and he then stated that he was in the ninety-seventh year of his age.
Page 23

John LaGrange Mersereau had an uncle, John Mersereau, who are married Barbara Van Pelt in 1771 and during the Revolutiontion they lived in
New Jersey but after the close of the war moved to Staten Island near the residence of John LaGrange Mersereau and from there moved to
Broome County, New York, where he died and was survived by his widow, Barbara Mersereau. John LaGrange Mersereau, to distinguish himself
from his uncle, adopted the middle name of LaGrange after his grandfather, -----LaGrange, whose given name was not stated. John LaGrange Mersereau also had an uncle, John LaGrange, who lived in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, during the Revolutionary War.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
Page 24

State of Pennsylvania
County of Tioga

On this twenty-fifth day of October, 1856, personally appeared before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Tioga and State of Pennsylvania, Joshua Mersereau, to me well known, and now in his ninety=seventh year, who being duly sworn, doth depose and say:  That concerning his knowledge of the services rendered by John L. Mersereau as a Deputy Commissary of Prisoners, during the Revolutionary War, he makes the following statement.  That the said John L. Mersereau was a Brother of deponents, and eldest son of Joshua Mersereau, Sr. who prior to the commencement of the Revolutionary War, resided on Staten Island, in the State of New York.  That the said John L. Mersereau was employed during the early part of the War in obtaining information of the intended movements of the enemy, and in communicating the same to the Headquarters of the American Army.  That in the year 1778, the said John L. Mersereau became suspected by the enemy of being an American Spy, and in consequence of which it was deemed advisable to recall him from that service, he then set out for Rutland Barracks, in the State of Massachusetts, to assist his (and deponents) father Joshua Mersereau Sr. then Deputy Commissary General of Prisoners, in taking charge of the British Prisoners of Burgoyne's Army.  And deponent further states that he was residing in Rutland , in the State of Massachusetts, in the year 1778, and part of the year 1779, and was engaged in the Commissary Branch of the Army as a Deputy Commissary of Prisoners.  That he was in service, in the foregoing capacity, when his Brother the said
Page 25

John L. Mersereau arrived at Rutland, and that soon after he entered upon the duties of his office, that of Deputy Commissary of Prisoners, having received his appointment from Joshua Mersereau Sen., then Dep. Commissary General of Prisoners  And deponent further states that the said John L. Mersereau, who prior to his decease, resided in the County of Tioga, in the State of Pennsylvania, and who died some time in the year 1841, was was the identical John Mersereau who was known and designated at Rutland barracks as Deputy Commissary of Prisoners.  The deponent saw him in that capacity, was with him in the same department of the Army, and continued to serve with him in the same office, until after deponent left Rutland Barracks, which took place in the year 1779.  That the said John L. Mersereau remained at Rutland Barrack for some time after 1779, discharging the duties of his office.  That he was known and designated throughout the whole period, of the war, and for many years thereafter, as John Mersereau.  That in all letters addressed to him by his Father during the continuance of the War, and in all written instructions, orders, and Army accounts, which deponent remembers to have seen throughout the whole of that period, his name appeared as John Mersereau.  And deponent further states, that some years after the close of the War, and when the said John L. Mersereau had returned again to his residence on Staten Island, he received the appointment of County Clerk, for Richmond County, Staten
Page 26

Island, in the State of New York.  That there was an Uncle of the said John L Mersereau at that time residing in the county of Richmond, and whose name was also John Mersereau, and in order to prevent the frequent recurrence of mistakes, and to distinguish between the two names, deponents Brother, (the said John L. Mersereau,) adopted the middle letter "L", after his grandfather, Lagrange.  Deponent is positive that his Brother John never signed his name with the initial letter "L" until after the close of the war.  Deponent distinctly remembers his Uncle John Mersereau, the husband of Barbara Mersereau, formerly Barbara Van Pelt.  He was formerly of New Jersey, but after the close of the war of the Revolution, he removed to Staten Island, near deponents Fathers' residence, where he continued to reside till he removed to Boone County, New York where he died, leaving a widow, Barbara Mersereau, him surviving.  Deponents Uncle, (the said John Mersereau, ) rendered essential service to the American cause, and was employed during the war, principally in the New Jersey, in furnishing wagons, and teams for the Army; but the aforesaid John Mersereau, (Uncle to deponent and John L. Mersereau,) was never under the orders of Joshua Mersereau, Sen. as Deputy Commissary of Prisoners at Rutland Barrack, nor was he at any time at Rutland
Page 27

Barracks during the whole period of time that deponent was engaged there as a Deputy Commissary of Prisoners.  Deponent never knew any other John Mersereau, at Rutland Barracks, than his Brother, he being the only one of that name who rendered service as a Deputy Commissary of Prisoners, in the year 1778-1779.  And deponent doth further state, that his Brother (the aforesaid John L. Mersereau,) resided in Tioga County in the State of Pennsylvania, in the year 1840; and that in the spring of 1841, in the month of May, (deponent does not remember the precise date,) the said John L. Mersereau died, leaving no widow, but the following named children, viz"  Joshua B. Mersereau, Henry D. Mersereau, and Fanny C. Kelsey, who deponent believes are still living.  These are all the children of the said John L. Mersereau.
In addition to what is here stated, the deponent reaffirmed the deposition which he made in the 2d March, 1840, before A. C. Smith, Just. Peace, to be used in the application of his said Brother then about to be made to Congress and which is all attached hereto marked A.

Joshua Mersereau

Sworn to and Subscribed this 25th October AD 1856 Before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Tioga State of Pennsylvania, the deponent being of Sound mind & to me well known.  Witness my hand & seal at Tioga in Said County

Seal  Wm Garretson Just Peace
Page 28

missary [Commissary] of Prisoners  In specie
                                                 Dr.

To Joshua Mersereau late Deputy Comry [Commissary] ac his afc of ditto

x    x     x    x    x    x    x   
For his pay from June 1, 1779, to March 1781, is 21 mo. at $50. per month, as per statement, $1050

For the pay of his assistant from 1 June , 1779, to 23d December, 1780, at $40. per month as per statement $750.60"

No action by Congress appears to have been had on the petition of John L. Mersereau, presented in March 1840, except to refer it to the Committee on Revolutionary claims who made no report.  But a committee to whom it was afterwards referred, in May, 1860 reported a Bill in favor of allowing the claim for 20 months' service as an assistant Commissary of Prisoners.  But no action by Congress was had, and the papers
Page 29

have been recently referred to the Pension Office for the first time, for action, and under the proofs above indicated the claim would seem to be a proper one for adjustment under the act of 7th June, 1832.

It is to be observed, however, that this identical service had been appropriated and a pension has been granted to the widow of another man by the same name, who was the brother of Joshua and, of course, the uncle of the present applicant.

Barbara Mersereau, the widow of John, to whom she was married in the year 1771. asserted that her husband served first as a spy, in the early part of the war, and then as an assistant Commissary of Prisoners, under his brother Joshua at Rutland Barracks in Massachusetts, and she adduced, in support of the claim, the testimony of two witnesses, John L. Lagrange and Benjamin Eaton, who testified to their personal knowledge of the service of her husband John.  She also cited the identical account from the Treasury Department, of Joshua
Page 30

Mersereau Dep. Comy [Commissary] Genl. of Prisoners, in which the United states is charged for the services of his assistant from 1 June, 1779. to the 23d of December 1780, and she was allowed a pension for 20 months' service as an assistant Commissary of Prisoners.
There might be difficulty in determining which of these claims was the genuine and which was spurious, but for the petition of Joshua Mersereau himself, a copy of which is filed in the case of John L., though one original certificate filed by her would seem to have been enough to condemn her claim altogether for this service.  It is a certificate dated 1st Novr 1792, signed Samuel Crowe, Lt. Col. of the 1st Regiment of militia of Middlesex Co., N. J., who certified that he had been a Field Officer in said Regiment form the year 1778 to the present time and that he remembered John Mersereau's being employed in guiding and providing guides for our Army and getting intelligence from the enemies lines from April 1778 to April 1782."  The petition of Joshua Mersereau settles
Page 31

the question as to who the individual was who rendered this service, for he says the assistant was his son John.  If it was his son John who rendered the service there can be no doubt that the widow of his brother John had no right to a pension for that service. 
 
All the original orders, receipts, and letters and the original account of Joshua Mersereau, made by him the 31st March, 1780, were filed in the case of John S. when his petition to Congress was presented.  These would ordinarily be sufficient evidence of identity, if another claim for the same service had not successfully been asserted.  But the petition of Joshua Mersereau himself, which was, of course, not exhibited by Barbary Mersereau when her evidence was filed, settles beyond a doubt that it was not her husband,  but the son of Joshua who performed the service.  

Under this state of facts, I have no hesitation in reporting in favor of the allowance of the claim, for twenty months' service as an assistant Commissary of Prisoners.

L. M. Drury
Examiner
W. E. Kennaugh, Esq.,}
Agent.
Copied, April 1. 1862
Geo. P. Smith
Page 32

Brief in the claim of the Heirs of J. L. Mersereau
Page 33

Brief, in the memorial and evidence submitted, in the application of the Heirs of John L. Mersereau, dec. for the benefits of the Act of Congress of 7th June, 1832.

The claimant, John L. Mersereau, states that in 1776, he resided on Staten Island, N. Y. and was employed, during that years, in obtaining secret intelligence of the intended movements of the enemy, and communicating the same to the Headquarters of the Army.  This service, he states, was of the most dangerous character, and frequently performed at the risk of his life.  Being at length suspicioned by the enemy he was recalled from this service, and in 1777, became connected with the Commissary branch of the American Army at Rutland, Mass. as an Assistant or Deputy Commissary of Prisoners, under his Father Joshua Mersereau. Sen.  the Dep. Com. General of Prisoners, in which capacity he served till 1780.
The claimants services, in a military capacity, are fully shown in original evidences, marked A. B. C. D. & E.  Also marked 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. consisting of Army accounts of the Commissary Department, orders, payments made to the claimant monthly as Deputy Commissary in the years 1778, 1779, & 1780.
The claimant states in his memorial, that in consequences of the failure of his Brother to obtain a pension for similar services, he conceived the impression that his claim was not embraced with the provisions of the Act of Congress of 7th June, 1832, granting pensions to all officers and
Page 34

soldiers who had been engaged during the Revolutionary War.  The claimant made his application direct to Congress, in 1840. where it was referred to the Senate Committee, but no report made in the case.
Evidence is offered showing the claimant, Mersereau, to have died in Tioga Co. Penn. in May, 1841, leaving children, who now claim, that the amount of pension to which their Father was entitled to under the Act of 7th June 1832, as a Deputy Commissary, may be paid them.
In the construction which this law has hitherto received, the uniform practice has been at the Pension Office, that in all cases where it was satisfactorily ascertained that a claimant was entitled to a pension during his life time, and had not received the same, the amount found due up to the date of his death has been invariably paid to widow and children.
But a recent decision by the Attorney General has changed the practice of the Pension Bureau, and the present claimants have no remedy except by direct appeal to Congress.
Evidence is also introduced, showing the respectable character of the claimant, Mersereau, --one is his commission as "Surrogate for Tioga Co. N. Y. " dated 21st Feb. 1791; the other his commission as "Surrogate for Chenango Co. N.Y." dated 22d March 1798.
W. E. Kennaugh
For the Heirs.
Page 35

26th Cong}
1 Sep}

Memorial of John L. Mersereau praying denunciation for his services during the Revolutionary War.

1840 April 9. Referred to the Com: on Revolutionary claims.

1860 May 18 Bill 737

April 11. 1860.
Referred to the Committee on Rev Pensions

Mr. Potter

[{Mr. Sturgeon} crossed out]
Page 36

The undersigned citizens of Tioga township Tioga County & State of Pennsylvania do certify that we have been acquainted with John L. Mersereau the within memorialist for the last five  or six years during which time he has resided in this township.  That he sustains a good character for truth and in needy circumstances: and that from our knowledges of his character we believe the statements made in his memorial to Congress and entitled to full evidence.

Tioga March 1840

B. B. Wickham            Joseph. W. Guernsey
Jacob Johnston          John W. Guernsey
H. L. Johnstone           Butler Smith
A. M. Place                  Elyah DeTuy
Ambrose Millard         John Prutsman
Carpenter H. Place      T L Baldwin
Henry H Potter            J. Strong Bush
Barnabas Roberts         Joseph Ackin
Lyman N Adams           James Goodrich
Thomas Hollis               A. C. Burke
                                      Wm Garretson

[written on left vertically]

Memorial of John L. Mersereau of Tioga Co. Pa asking payment for services during the Revolutionary War
Page 37

36th  CONGRESS,} 
1st Session}
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
{Report
{No.546

JOHN L. MERSEREAU -- HEIRS OF.
[To accompany Bill H.R.No. 737.]

MAY 18, 1860.

Mr. DELANO, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, made
the following
REPORT.

The Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, to whom was referred the memorial of John L. Mersereau, praying for a pension in consideration of his services as a soldier of the revolution, report:

That the original petitioner in this case, John L. Mersereau, sometimes called John Mersereau, first made his application for a pension and filed his proofs in the year 1840, being then eighty-three years of age. He died on or about the 18th of May, 1841, leaving several children, and the claim for the pay to which he was by the pension laws entitled is now renewed by the husband of his daughter, who is also his administrator, and who seeks the relief prayed for on behalf of all the surviving children of the said John L. Mersereau.
The only ground taken at the Pension office for rejecting this claim is understood to be that the original memorialist having deceased
before any decision granting the pension prayed for, the department, under the construction of the law given by the present Attorney General, cannot award the pension to his surviving children. The committee, however, in their adjudications upon cases similar to this,have not felt constrained to follow this rigid construction of the revolutionary pension laws. It is well known to differ essentially from the construction given by former Attorney General to the same acts,
and they believe that the rule which they propose to follow, while it is more liberal than that rigidly adhered to by the department, is at the same time more just as applied to the great majority of cases coming before Congress. That rule is this, viz: that wherever the service of the soldier entitling him to a pension is duly and fully proved, and the soldier in his lifetime has made formal application to the proper department or to Congress for his pension, but pending the
delays incident to the progress of his application has died in such case the mere fact of his decease shall not be taken advantage of by the government or by Congress to withhold the bounty which otherwise under the pension laws would belong to him.
Page 38

2           JOHN L. MERSEREAU -- HEIRS OF

To adopt a different rule would be to subject the government and Congress to the suspicion of intentionally suspending the examination and decision of these ancient claims for no better purpose than to defeat
them; in other words, of contriving delays which shall outlast the waning lives of these relics of our revolutionary epoch. A just
government will be unwilling to incur even the suspicion of such a motive, however ill founded.
The committee therefore propose in a case of the above description to let in the surviving children to receive that which the deceased
soldier was himself taking steps to realize, and the present application falls within this class of cases.
This soldier, John L. Mersereau, in virtue of whose services the claim is now revived, died in 1841, having made his application in
1840. The formal proofs of his service and duration of service are ample. He was at first employed some two years prior to 1778 as a
spy, while the British troops held possession of Long Island, and conducted himself in this delicate branch of volunteer duty to the satisfaction of his commanding officer and the advantage of the American cause. Having become an object of suspicion to the enemy, he was transferred to the barracks at Rutland, Massachusetts, where he served as deputy commissary of prisoners, under his father, Joshua Mersereau, who was assistant commissary general; also with his brother, Joshua Mersereau, jr., who was likewise a deputy. Numerous letters are furnished, written at the date of his service at the barracks, addressed to him officially by his military associates, and having reference to the business of his office. He continued acting in the capacity of deputy commissary for not less than twenty ( 20 ) months.  [The appointment of 1791 was transferred to Library of Congress by order of A. R. Garfield Secty Int. Feb. 9. 1909 see receipt for same.   aw]  After the close of the war he was appointed, in 1791, a surrogate for the county of Tioga, State of New York, by Governor George Clinton, [The appointment of 1798 is worked up in miscellaneous drawer Re. War Section aw] and again, in 1798, by Governor John Jay, a surrogate of the county of Chenango, New York.
Had this application been promptly granted in his lifetime he would have received at least five-sixths of the full pay of an officer of the
grade above mentioned from the 4th of March, 1831; and the committee, in conformity to the principles and results above indicated, recommend the passage of the accompanying bill.
Page 39

passed the Secretary's Office}
the 31st day of March 1798.}
at 9th line word "State" Interlined}

Jasper Hopper D Secrety

John L. Mersereau
Cont. N. J. & N. Y.
S.7217

of March 1798

[illegible] S. Mersereau Esq.
County of Chenango
1821
1798
_____          23
23

[Written upside down {John Jay}]
Page 40

 People of the State of New York by the grace of God, free and independent To John L. Mersereau, Esquire, Greeting:  WE,  reposing especial trust and confidence in your knowledge integrity and ability Have nominated constituted and appointed, an DO by these presents nominate constitute and appoint you the said John L. Mersereau to be Surrogate of our County of Chenango, and do hereby give and grant unto you the said office of Surrogate of our said County, with all and singular the powers, jurisdictions, authorities, privileges and appurtenances, to the said office of Surrogate by law belonging or appertaining To have and to hold the said office of Surrogate of our County of Chenango, Together with the fees, profits and advantages to the same belonging or appertaining, for and do ring our good pleasure, to be signified, and the great seal of our said state to be hereunto affixed:  Witness our trusty and well beloved John Jay, Esquire, Governor of our said State, General and Commander in Chief of all the Militia, and Admiral of the Navy of the same, by and with the advise and consent of our said Council of Appointment, at our city of Albany the twenty second day of March in the year of our Lord, One thousand seven hundred and ninety eight and in the twenty second year of our Independence.
Page 41

Brief in the case of John L. Mersereau An Assistant Commissary of Prisoners in the revolution
Tioga County and State of Pennsylvania}
act 7th June 1832}

Claim, ("original" or "for increase.")

Proof exhibited, (if original.)

Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls?  If either, state the substance.

La Brief

(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim?  If so, what?

Allowed for 20 months service as an Assistant Commissary of Prisoners.

This service under act of 7th June 1832 gives a pension at the rate of $400. per ann. to begin on the 4th of March 1831.  and to terminate on the 18th day of May 1841. When John L. Mersereau died.  Payable to Joshua B. Mersereau.  Henry D. Mersereau and Fanny C Kelsey, and surviving children.
Name and residence of Agent
[{Examining Clerk} crossed out]
LM. Drury
Ex. Clerk
Certificate to W. E. Kenneaugh Esq.
Present.
Page 42

This Brief was made on the 1st of April inst.
L.M. Drury.
Page 43

H. R. 737.

A BILL

For the relief of the heirs-at-law of John L. Mersereau, a revolutionary soldier.

May 18, 1860.-Read twice, committed to a Committee of the Whole House, and ordered to be printed.
Page 44

36 CONGRESS,
IST SESSION.

H. R. 737.
[Report No. 546.]
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 18, 1860.
Read twice, committed to a Committee of the Whole House, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. DELANO, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, reported
the following bill:

A BILL

For the relief of the heris-at-law of John L. Mersereau, a revolutionary soldier.

1Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
3. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby,
4 directed to place the name of John L. Mersereau on the pen-
5 sion roll, under the act of the seventh of June, eighteen hun-
6 dred and thirty-two, for twenty months' service as a deputy
7 commissary in the revolutionary war, and to pay the amount
8 found due at his death to his surviving children.
Page 45

Barbara the widow of John Mersereau N. File 17137. was erroneously allowed the pension for the service of Deputy Commissary of Prisoners, which belongs to John L. his nephew.
compare clauis, whenever called up much mixed up & much valuable data on them
Page 46

Tioga County, Js

I, John R. Donaldson, prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, do certify that William Garretson Esq. is and was at the date of the certificate to the annexed affidavit an acting justice of the peace in and for said county, duly authorized by law to administer oaths to and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his, is genuine.  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office the 28th day of October 1856.

J. F. Donaldson, Prothy.
Page 47

Endorsed
NO. 80

The memorial of 
Joshua Mersereau
Read 8 April 1786.
Referred to the board 
of  [{war] crossed out] treasury to report
Acted on Sept. 4th 1786.
Page 48

Brief in the case of John L. Mersereau

John L, Mersereau, in his memorial to Congress, dated March 19th 1840, in giving an elaborate narrative of his revolutionary services, asserted that he served eighteen months as a spy upon the movements of the British Army, and was in the employment of General Washington.  Service was rendered in the State of New Jersey, and on Staten Island, N. Y. , and terminated at the end of the year 1778, or the beginning of the year 1779, in consequence of the suspicion having arisen by the enemy that he was acting in the capacity of a spy.
Immediately on leaving this service he went to Rutland Barracks, Massachusetts, to take charge of the Commissary Department of Prisoners under his father, Joseph Mersereau, who was Deputy Commissary General of Prisoners.  Does not state how long he served in the capacity, but refers to the testimony of his brother, Joseph Mersereau, Junior, who served with him, and refers to original orders and letters.
Page 49

received by him relative to the duties of his service.
The credibility of the memorialist is vouched for by a large number of the citizens of the town in which he resided.  
Joshua Mersereau, in one affidavit, dated March 2d 1840, and in another, dated October 25th 1856, gives a minute narrative of the services of his brother, John L. as a spy in the early part of the war, and as an assistant Commissary of Prisoners under his father Joshua, after the year 1778.  That deponent was himself serving at Rutland Barracks, Massachusetts, in the years 1778 and 1779, as an Assistant Commissary of Prisoners under his father Joshua, Senior, who was Deputy Commissary General of Prisoners when his brother, John L. arrived at that place and entered at once upon the discharge of duties in the same capacity in which he was acting, and they continued to serve together until deponent left the Rutland Barracks, which was in 1779; that his brother remarried there for some time after the year 1779, discharging the duties of his office.  He is positive that the applicant, John L. Mersereau, is the identical John Mersereau who served with him at Rutland,
Page 50

as an Assistant Commissary of Prisoners; that he was there designated as John Mersereau, and in the original orders and accounts, and was known as such subsequent to the war; that the letter L. in his name was assumed several years after the war to distinguish him from an uncle of the same name.
Several original orders, letters an receipts running from July 30th 1779, to October 2d, 1780, are filed, in which it appears that John Mersereau was at Rutland, in service as an Assistant Commissary of Prisoners
An original account is filed, made and signed by Joshua Mersereau, and headed as follows: "Joshua Mersereau, Dep. Comy [Commissary] Genl Pris.  [{for the United States, in which} crossed out]  acct current with John Betty Esq. Comy Genl Pris. for the United States," in which is the following entry." To John Mersereau's wages, 10 months 24 days at 60 dols [{L} crossed out} 195.9.4."  The Account is dated March 31st 1780.A certified copy from the office of the Department of State, dated March 31, 1862, of a
Page 51

memorial to Congress by Joshua Mersereau, dated 3d. March, 1784, asking for an allowance for travelling expenses and for the pay of his son John whom he employed as Assistant when Deputy Commissary General of Prisoners, "jc.
On this paper is endorsed the words"  The memorial of Joshua Mersereau-Read 3d. April 1786, Referred to the board of treasury to report acted on Sept 4, 1786."
On the 4th of September, 1786, Congress resolved " that the comptroller in settling the accounts of Joshua Mersereau be directed to pass to his credit all such necessary sums of money as may appear to have been disbursed by him in the hire of John Mersereau as an assistant while acting as Deputy Commissary of Prisoners," Vol. 4. page 697.
A certificate from the Treasury Department, Registers Office, dated Aug. 18, 1842, sets forth a copy of an original account on file, headed as follows:
"Register's office New York 31 July 1790. Salaries and expenses of land and naval Vom.
Page 52

[Left side stamp]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
MAR 16 1862
[illegible] office

Wm E. Kennaugh 
March 14, 1862

Asks that the case of the children of John  L. Mersereau-Revolutionary Act 1832. May be called from Mr. [illegible] of Reps and acted upon by my Dept.

Respectfully referred to the Comm. of Pensions for report.

Watt J. Smith
Clerk

Dept Int.}
Mch 15/62.}
M. Whiting
Page 53

Hon. Caleb B. Smith
Sec. of the Interior

Sir:  As Attorney for the heirs of John L.  Merseau, a Revolutionary officer, I have to request that the papers now on file in the Clerk's office of the House of Representatives, may be withdrawn from the same, and referred to the Commissioner of Pensions for examination and decision
Mr. Mersereau, during his lifetime made application for pension, per act of 7th June, 1832, as an Assistant Commissary.  The evidence of his service is now on file in the Pension Bureau.  He died in 1841, without receiving the benefits of of this act.  His children renewed  the application, but were debarred by the decision of Attorney-General Black.  Upon application to Congress, a favorable report was made in the case, from the Com. on Rev. Pensions, 2d sess. 36th Congress.
Very respectfully
Wm. E. Kennaugh
Attorney for Heirs
Page 54

Copies of original papers now on file in the U.S. Senate, in application of John L. Mersereau, for pension for services during the Revolutionary War.  26th Cong.1st sess.

"Boston, May 1, 1780.
"Sir: You'll be so good as to purchase what grain and hay Major Mersereau may order from time to time for the use of his Department; and if you find you can purchase more than to supply his department, you will forward it down to me, and charge it to this Post.  Draw for what monies may be necessary for the above purposes, for which  this your sufficient authority.

the signed) " John Gooch,
                                 "D.C.G.F.

"Forage Office}
Boston} 
"To John Mersereau"

 "Rutland, Aug. 10th 1780.
"Sir:  Please to deliver for the use of my Guard, all the ammunition and flints delivered into your care by John Price. Esq;  Town Major at Boston, as by his order is requested, for which this shall be your security.
" And you'll oblige
"Your humble servant
"Thomas Whipple, Captain
"John Mersereau, A. G. of Prisoners
"Present."
Page 55

"Prov'd, March 23, 1780.
"Sir:  You will permit Capt. Bartten and Ensign Rynd to come into Town tomorrow, and take delivery of the clothing.  You will apply to Mr. Dummer, the Deputy Commissary of Prisoners here, who will assist in delivering the goods, and dispatching the Sergeants that are to return to New York.  You will apply Col. Bowen, D. Qu. Master General, for Teams to transport the clothing as far as you may think they can get on.  (signed) " Jr Bowen , D. Gov'r.
"You will carry up the Baggage of the Prisoners that were lately sent to Rutland. "J. B.

"J. Mersereau.
"A. G. of Prisoners, Rutland."

"Boston, June 13, 1780.
" Sir: Sergeant Bickford will deliver you this.  He has charge of six Prisoners of War, who are, by the advice of Major Mersereau, Deputy Com. General of Prisoners, sent to your care.
"Please to receive them of the Sergeant, and give him a receipt for the number he delivers; as he is, upon drawing three days provision at Rutland, for himself and party, to return immediately to Boston.
"I am, Sir, Your most obt srvt [obedient servant]
"John Rice Town Major
[{Conn} circled and crossed out]
"Mr. John Mersereau:."
Page 56

"Boston, May 31, 1780.

"Sir:  Upon the application of the Captain of the Rutland Guards, I have forwarded on five hundred and twenty-eight flints, which I  have addressed to you care.
"I wish you to take charge of the said cartridges and flints, to deliver them out to Capt. Whipple, as the demands of the service may make it necessary ; and upon each delivery, to take his receipt for the number delivered
"Please to forward his receipts to me, as you take them, by safe conveyances.
"I am, Sir, 
"Your most obt servt
"John Rice Town Major
"Conn;et"
"Mr. John Mersereau.
"Rutland."

Washington, June 28th 1856

Hon. J. Minot
Com. of Pensions:

Sir:  The above are true copies from the original now on file in the Senate, Clerk's Office.  I am informed that the Secretary of the Senate has no authority to furnish certified copies of evidence on the files of his office, which is the reason why the above
Page 57

is not certified to.  If any doubt should exist, I have to refer you to the original papers on file in the Secretary's office, from which the foregoing copies were made.  

I am, Sir;
Very Respectfully 
Your obt servt
W E Kennaugh
Atty for Josh. Mersereau.
Page 58

[Left side]

7217

RevWar   INVALID

No. 217

John L. Mersereau
Asst. Commissary Rev. War


Act: June 7th 32
Index:--Vol.  1 ef,    Page 253

[Arrangement of 1870.]

[Right side]

1909 Feb. 9. The appointment of John Mersereau Surrogate of Tioga N.Y. signed by [illegible] Clinton dated [illegible] 17, 179 has been sent to the Library of Congress.

His appt as Surrogate [illegible] 1798 is on file in Pension Bureau & is worked up -law May 19, 1914.

Aug 30. list to [illegible] Emily J. Roberson
rucs
Page 59

John Mersereau S. File 7, 217

To War Dept.

√ √ order dated August 10, 1780;
√ √ Receipt dated Jany, 15, 1779;
√ √ Receipt dated July 30, 1779;
√ √ Order dated Prov d Mch 23, 1780;
 √ √ Order by John Gooch May 1, 1780;
√ √ Two letters from John Rice
May 31, and June 13, 1780;
√ √Order dated Rutland Oct. 2, 1780;
Letter to Board of War from 
√ √ John Beatty Nov. 11, 1780.
Page 60

Department of State
Washington, March 31, 1862.

Joseph M. Barrett, Esq.,
Commissioner of Pensions.


Sir:

The paper enclosed in your letter of this date has been compared with the original in this Department and found to be a faithful copy, the only variation being in the orthography of two or three of the words, which variation in nowise changes their meaning.  A certificate with seal had therefore been attached, and the paper is herewith returned to you under the presumption that this will meet your wishes.  
I am, sir, your obedient servant,

F. W. Seward, 
Assistant Secretary.
Page 61

1342 Milvia Street
Berkely, California
July 4th, 1934.
N. S. Pension Department
Washington

Dear Sirs,

May I please refer you to Report No. 546. 36th Congress- 1st Session House of Representatives
John L. Mersereau, Heirs of

[Stamp]

RECEIVED 
JUL 9 1934
Mail Sub VIV
Reader 12
VETS ADM
Page 62

proofs in the year 1840, being then eighty-three years of age."

It is in regard to the above statement that I am writing.  Could you kindly furnish me with the data or proofs given by John LaGrange Mersereau in that first petition referred to in the year 1840.  Dates of first marriage, to whom. etc
Page 63

                                                                      2
To accompany Bill. H. R. No 737. May 18, 1860.

The foregoing petition on Revolutionary pensions makes reference as follows: "the original petition is this case John L. Mersereau, first made ihs application for a pension and filed his
Page 64

names of children, as much as you conveniently or customarily furnish.

I shall be greatly obliged for this information:

I am
Very Truly yours
Miss) Emily Jo. Roberson
Page 65

                                         36th Congress
The Congressional Globe} 1st Sess.   
                                            Report No. 546

[John L. Mersereau-Heirs of 
To accompany Bill. H. R. no 737
May 18-1860. ]        

[Stamp]

RECEIVED
AUG 20 1934
[illegible]

This petition referred to a previous petition filed by John L. Mersereau in 1840, and it is concerning the data contained in the first application that I am interested.  His dates of birth & marriage; to whom -his services.     

I am anxious for a reply and disappointed no to have heard before this;

I am, Truly yours.
Emily Jo. Roberson
Page 66

[Stamp]

REC'D

AUG 20 1934
[illegible]

1342 Milvia Street
Berkeley*California

August 15th-1934.

Director of U. S. Pension's Office
Washington. D. C.


Rev. War Section.

Dear Sir

On the 4th of July last, I wrote to yo concerning some information about the Pension of John LaGrange Mersereau, a Revolutionary War Officer  I referred you to, the following citation in