Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24944, for Lewis Shepherd, Massachusetts
Page 1

(3-1776)
[This is the cover page which is a pre-printed form in tabular format.]
[Column 1] SERVICE
Mass
[Column 2 no header] Shepherd, Lewis (negro)
Elizabeth
[Column 3] NUMBER
W.24944

[The rest of the form is empty.]
Page 2

[The image is of two pages. Left page]
576:8
Maine
Lewis Shepherd
Private
Massachusetts Line
in the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.

Inscribed on the Roll of Maine
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 25 of April 1818.

Certificate of Pension issued the 25th of June:1819
and sent to Albion K. Parris
Paris Oxford County Maine

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1818 [illegible] 7/30 = 33.86
Semi-anl. all'ce [semi-annual allowance] ending 4th Mar 1819  48.
[Total] $81.86

Died Apr 28, 1832  
{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.}

Continue

[Right page]
Let. [illegible] Nov 5 '34

[2 lines illegible]

The following is written vertically upward against the left edge of the page]
Notification sent to The Hon. E. Whitman 
23 of January 1821 [illegible]
Page 3

[This is atwo page document. Left page]
Maine 328
Elizabeth Shepherd
of Portland in the State of Maine
who was a [blank] in the [blank] commanded
by Captain [blank] of [blank] commanded
by [blank] in the [blank]
line for [The two words are crossed out and replaced with] widow of Lewis Shepherd
des. late a Private in the Revolution.

Inscribed on the Roll of Maine
at the rate of 80 Dollars per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831 [illegible] to 28 Nov 1832 to be [illegible]

Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of [illegible]
1836 and sent to Samuel Staples Portland Maine.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1836  $440.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar '37 40.00
[Total] $480.00 

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832} [crossed out and replaced with]
Act July 4, 1836

Recorded by D. D. Addison,  Clerk
Book A  Vol.1  Page 18

[Right page]

Date of death
not see aB
Page 4

152 Lewis Shepherd

5768

March 1829

Lusp [crossed out]

Con

Sent to W. Whitman
Esq. [illegible]
Jany 25, 1821
Page 5

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
DISTRICT OF MAINE, ss.
At a District Court of the United States begun and holden at Portland within and for the District of Maine, on the first Tuesday, being the ninth day of June and by adjournment from day to day, on the fourteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty, before the Honorable ALBION K. PARRIS, Judge of said Court.
ON this fourteenth day of June, in the year above written, personally appeared in open Court, the same having "the power of fine and imprisonment," and being a Court of Record for said Maine District, Lewis Shepherd, aged about seventy years, resident in Portland, in said District, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows, viz. as a private in the company commanded by Capt. John Skillins in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Francis in the line of the State of Massachusetts on the Continental Establishment, as is more particularly mentioned and described in his original declaration, made of the twenty eighth day of April, A.D. 1818 and on which said declaration his Certificate of Pension, numbered 5760 was granted. 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 to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed; that my occupation and ability to pursue the same, together with the number and other particulars of my family, are in fact and in truth as is particularly described on the back hereof, also subscribed by me.

Witness  [signed with "his mark" and "X"]  Lewis Shepherd
J. P. Boyd

Sworn to and declared on the fourteenth
day of June, A.D. 1820 }

Before [signed] Albion K. Parris  U.S. District Judge for the District of Maine
Page 6

SCHEDULE of the real and personal estate, (necessary clothing and bedding excepted belong to me the subscriber, viz:
Real estate - a small piece of land, forty beet by fifty feet, and a house thereon
Personal estate - a few articles of necessary household furniture and a wood saw
Witness
J. P. Boyd  [signed with "his mark" and an "X"] Lewis Shepherd

Sworn to 
June 14, 1820
Before [signed] Albion K. Parris
U.S. District Judge

SCHEDULE of the family residing with me Lewis Shepherd who by occupation am a Laborer which I am not able to pursue generally by reason of old age and rheumatic complaints.

[A table is presented to list family members.]
[Column 1 ] NAMES.
Elizabeth Shepherd Wife
[Column 2] AGES.
(almost 69)
[Column 3] Capacity of each to contribute to their support.
Unable to work being a cripple and infirm

Witness
J. P. Boyd    [signed with "his mark" and an "X"] Lewis Shepherd

Sworn to
Before [signed] Albion K. Parris
U.S. District Judge
Page 7

MAINE DISTRICT, ss.
I, John Mussey, Junr. Clerk of the District Court of the United States for Maine District, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedules thereunto 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 one hundred & three.. dollars and eighty .. cents, and no more.
In TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this fourteenth day of June .. A.D. one thousand eight hundred and twenty.

[signed] John Mussey Junr. } Clerk of the U. States District Court of Maine District.

[A the bottom of the document is the noted} $103.80
Page 8

Lewis Shepherd
Private
Tupper [illegible] Regt.
Jany 20, 1777
Jany 20, 1780

April 28, 1818

W. Miller
Page 9

To the Honorable Albion K. Parris, District Judge of the United States for Maine District.

Lewis Shepherd at Scarborough RESPECTFULLY SHOWS.... that he served as a soldier in the war of the revolution three years on the Continental Establishment, that he yet is a resident citizen of the United States at Scarborough aforesaid, and that by reason of your applicants reduced circumstances in life, he is in need of assistance from his country for support.
And your applicant further represents, that in the service aforesaid, he belonged in his said capacity of a to all [illegible] Company of Col. Tupper Regiment, of the Massachusetts Line, that he entered said service on or about the 20th day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven and that he left said service on or about the 20th day of January one thousand seven hundred and eighty was discharged at West Point by Maj Knap & that he is Eighty years of age. A part of the discharge hereunto accompanies this officiant.
Wherefore inasmuch as your applicant, as he verily believes, comes under the provisions of the Acts entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," he prays your honor to institute an enquiry into the circumstances of his case, and that such further proceedings maybe had touching the premises as are prescribed by law, in order that your supplicant may be placed on the Pension List of the United States.
[signed] Lewis Shepherd.

____________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
MAINE DISTRICT, ss.
[A seal has been added below this heading and to the left of the following text.]
Be it known, that on the twenty eighth day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, personally came before me, ALBION K. PARRIS, District Judge of the United States for the Maine District, Lewis Shepherd the above named applicant, and made oath that the several statements by him made in the foregoing application by him signed are true. And the said Lewis Shepherd further offered in evidence the affidavit of William Hasty, an officer of the revolutionary army, sworn to before me, and also a part of his original discharge.
Witness it does appear to the satisfaction of me the said Judge, that the said Lewis Shepherd served in the revolutionary war as alledged in his application, against the common enemy  and that by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he is in need of the assistance of his country for support.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I the said Judge, have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the District Court of the United States for the Maine District, to be hereunto affixed, this twenty eighth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States the forty-second.
[signed] Albion K. Parris
Page 10

Personally appeared William Hasty & made oath that he was well acquainted with Lewis Shepherd in the Revolutionary Army & well know that the affidavit by him subscribed is [illegible] & true in all its parts having served in the same company with which said Hasty was a Lieutenant.
[signed] Wm. Hasty
Page 11

248.  [illegible]

Elizabeth Shepherd
widow of Lewis.
[illegible]

adm.
2 years pri
80$
deduct - died 28 Nov 1832 & paid to that day.

Saml. Staples
Portland
Me.
Page 12

Lewis Shephed negro servant of Mr. Enoch Libbee and Betty Lewis were married July 21, 1774 by Rev. Thos. Pierce.
A true copy from the records of the first Church in Scarborough.
Attest Thomas Jameson Pastor.

Scarborough Sept 12, 1836

State of Maine Cumberland ss. On this twenty fourth day of September A.D. 1836 personally appeared the above mentioned Thomas Jameson and makes oath that the above certificate is a true extract from the records of the first Church in Scarborough in said County. Before me David Quimby Justice of the Peace.
Page 13

Lewis Shepherd negro servant of Mr. Enoch Libby and Betty Lewis were married July 21, 1774 by Rev. Thomas Pierce.
A true copy from the records of the first Church in Scarborough.

Attest [signed] Thomas Jameson

Scarborough November 24th 1836.
I, David Quimby, a Justice of the Peace of the Quorum hereby certify that I have this day travelled to Scarborough in the county of Cumberland & State of Maine, and have examined a part of the records of the first Church in said Scarborough, now kept by the Reverend Thomas Jameson the present ordained Pastor of said Church; and testify that the above copy is a true extract from said records, and it appears that the same was recorded in due from among others of the like kind. I further certify that the said Thomas Jameson, is a clergyman in good standing, and of good reputation.
[signed] David Quimby Justice of the Peace for the County of Cumberland and State of Maine.
Page 14

I, Samuel Fitts of Portland in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, aged seventy four years, on oath testify and declare, that for more than fifty years I was well acquainted with the within named Lewis Shepherd and Elizabeth Shepherd his wife, both being people of colour [sic], until the time of his decease about four years since; and that I know the said Elizabeth Shepherd since his decease, as his widow, and that she has been and still remains a widow ever since the decease of her said husband; and I have no doubt but that they were legally married as she has declared.

[signed] Samuel Fitts

United States of America
District of Maine, ss.   November 11th, 1836.
Then the above named Samuel Fitts, a person of good reputation for truth and veracity, personally appeared, and subscribed and made oath to the foregoing deposition.
Before me, [signed] Ashur Ware
Justice of the United States for the District of Maine

State of Maine }
Cumberland ss. } I Charles Cobb Clerk of Judicial Court certify that Ashur Ware is Judge of the United States Court for the District of Maine, and that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine, and that David Quimby is a magistrate & that the foregoing signature purporting to be his genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court & subscribed my name the twenty fourth day of November A.D. one thousand eight hundred & thirty six.

[A seal is to the left of the signature] [signed] Charles Cobb, Clerk
Page 15

United States of America District of Maine
County of Cumberland ss. [The county name has been crossed out, but is referenced in the document.]
On this eleventh day of November in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty six, personally appeared before me Asher Ware, Judge of the United States Court for the District of Maine, Elizabeth Shepherd, a woman of colour [sic] and a resident of Portland in said county, aged eighty six years, who being first sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July 4th 1836. That she is the Widow of Lewis Shepherd, a coloured [sic] man who was a revolutionary Soldier and enlisted as a private, in the Massachusetts line, for three years in Col. Tupper's regiment, according to her best knowledge and beliefs that the served the full term of three years and was regularly discharged, and was placed on the pension Roll January 19, 1819, received a regular annual pension until his decease, Nov 18, 1832, that after his decease she received the residue of his pension for about three months as his widow. She has also as his widow received the benefit of a Resolve of the Legislature of the State of Maine, passed March 17, 1835, for the benefit of certain Officers and Soldiers of the Revolutionary war, and thus widows, granting 200 acres of land.
She further declares that she was call Betty Lewis, before her marriage and the she was lawfully married to the said Lewis Shepherd on the twenty first day of July 4, 1774, by the Rev. Thomas Pierce, the ordained Minister of Scarborough, now deceased, at the dwelling house of Mr. Enoch Libby in said Scarborough. The her said husband Lewis Shepherd died on the 18th day of November 1832 aged eighty two years, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
[signed with "her mark" and an "X"] Elizabeth Shepherd
Attest [signed] Asher Ware Judge [illegible]

Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written.
Before [signed] Asher Ware
I certify that from being infirmity the above mentioned applicant is unable to attend before any Court in the County & that she is a person of good reputation for truth.
[signed] Asher Ware  Judge of a United States Court District of Maine
Page 16

January 27, 1933

BA-J/EEL
Lewis Shepherd-W.24944

The data given herein are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, W.24944, based on the military service of Lewis Shepherd in that war.

Lewis Shepherd, a black man, was the servant of Mr. Enoch Libbee or Libby, of Scarborough, Massachusetts (Maine). The date and place of his birth are not stated.

He enlisted, place not stated, January 20, 1777, served as a private in Captain John Skillings' Company and in Captain Tomb's (probably meant for Thomas) Company, Colonel Francis' and Tupper's Eleventh Massachusetts Regiment, and was discharged January 20, 1780.

[There is a hand-written note linked to the Captain Tombs reference ] I found Capt Thomas in Mass book, in Francis' & Tupper's regiment [illegible] has it Thomas.

He was allowed pension on his application executed April 28, 1818, while residing in Scarborough, Massachusetts (Maine). In 1820, he as aged about seventy years and resided in Portland, Maine.

He died November 18, 1832, as stated by the widow, or November 28, 1832, as shown by the records of this office.

The soldier married July 21, 1774, Elizabeth (commonly called Betty) Lewis. They were married at the house of Mr. Enoch Libby in Scarborough, Massachusetts (Maine), and their marriage was recorded on the records of the First Church of said Scarborough.

Soldier's widow, Elizabeth, was allowed pension on her application executed November 11, 1836, at which time she was aged eighty-six years and resided in Portland, Maine.
[There is a handwritten note added to the left of the paragraph] Dates of her death not av. [available?] AB

There is no reference to children.

* * * * * *
This history to be sent
if ever called for.
It was written just to have
a record of negroes.
Page 17

Revy [Revolutionary] WIDOW, &c.

File No. 24.944
Elizabeth Shepherd
wid of
Lewis Shepherd
Pri. Rev War
Act June 7, 1832
Index: Vol. L, Page 209
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 18

710
Con.
Report to Hon. Ezekiel 
Whitman, H.R. [House of Representatives]
Page 19

[This is the back of another document which can be found in the next image.]

Shepherd, Lewis
Mass.
W24944
Page 20

West Point, January 20th, 1780.
Lewis Shepherd late of the Eleventh Massachusetts Regiment in the service of the United States, term of Enlistment is expired (he being a good Soldier while in said Regt. and service) therefore is discharged from said Regt. and service and has liberty to return home to Scarborough, Massachusetts State.
Page 21

Lewis Shepherd  Mc. pri: 8$ per mo. act 1818
when last paid.  Geo. C
[illegible] 17 1836
Page 22

Washington Jan. 8, 1821

Dr. Sir
Enclosed is a letter which I have [illegible] from Judge Parris. I know the Act [illegible] alluded to in it. If the only question which labors in his case is as to his indigence I am quite sure he must be entitled. I have [illegible] him an honest worthy black man. He is now old and infirm and I have no doubt he must need assistance from some quarter to make him in anywise comfortable.
Your obd hble [humble] servant
[signed] Ezekiel Whitman
Page 23

[This is the face of an envelope.]
FREE
J.L. Edwards Esq.
Com of Pensions
Washington
[The stamped postmark is]
PORTLAND
NOV 26
ME

[There are vertical handwritten notes on the left]
Nov 30 [next to the postmark]

[Illegible]
[Crossed out entry]
4 July 36
Lewis Shepherd
Page 24

Portland Nov 25th 1836

Sir

I enclose the declaration of Elizabeth Shepherd with accompanying evidence. I believe I have prepared them according to your instructions of the 5th.

Very Respectfully
Your Obdt Serv
[signed] Samuel Sitzman

James L. Edwards Esq.