Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 37270, for Luke Nickelson, Massachusetts
Page 1

(8-1776)
Service
Mass.

Nickelson, Luke
or 
Nickerson

NUMBER
S.37270
Page 2

[Printed form filled in by hand]
13.607 R
[written] District of Maine
Luke Nickelson
Brunswick in the ["state of" crossed out] Dist Maine
ho was a Private in the regiment commanded by
olonel Alden of the Massachusetts
ne, for the term of Three Years
nscribed on the Roll of Dis Maine
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 25 of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 of July 1819
and sent to Josiah Stebbins Esqr
Bath Dis Maine
Arrears to 4th of Mar 1819
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Dep. 1819
10 Ma. 6/30 4/31
[Sum] 82.63
48.00
$130.63
Dead May 4, 1829
{Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818.}
Continued on the roll
under the law of the
1 of May 1820
[Right side of page:]
Notification sent to John
Musse Jr Esqr. 28 June
1090. Portland
Maine
Page 3

[faint] Nickerson
Luke Ni[blank]lson.
Private Col. Aldens Regt
Mass Line 1777 - 3 years
dec. 25th Apl 1818
Roll

[faint] Is this man's name
Nickleson or Nickerson

The name of Luke Nickerson
is found on the Roll! Let the
applicant fully prove his
identity.

Admitted

Apr. 25
Page 4

[Printed form filled out by hand]
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS
Lincoln County, ss. }
To the Hon. Josiah Stebbins one of the
Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, (called the
Second eastern circuit) which is a
Court of record in the State of Massachusetts.
The Declaration under oath of Luke Nickelson
formerly a Private Soldier engaged in the Service of the United States
during the Revolutionary War, now a Citizen of the United States and resident of the
town of Brunswick county of Cumberland and State of Massachusetts,
respectfully sheweth,
THAT the said [written] Luke Nickelson enlisted
into Capt John Need Company in
Colonel Alden's Regiment Mass[achusetts] line
in January 1777 for three years and
continued to serve in the same
Company and Regiment [un tils?]
until the month of January 1780
at which time he was honorably
discharged at West Point, which
discharge was lost soon after
and has not been able [since to find it?] [3.5 lines blank and crossed out]
[Printed] And the declaration further sheweth, that the said [written] Luke Nickelson [/written]
[printed] is now a citizen of the United States, resides in the town of Brunswick, county
of Cumberland and State of Massachusetts, and is by reason of his
reduced circumstances in life, in need of assistance from his country for support
[written] He is Seventy three years of age,
and was at ^the Surrender of Genr Burguyne
Army and their [sic] received a wound in
his thigh by a Musket Ball - [/written]
[printed] Therefore the said [written] Luke Nickelson [/written]
[printed] conceives himself entitled to the benefit of the Act of Congress 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," approved 18th March, 1818, and requests
your Honor will examine into the the [sic] truth of the matter aforesaid, certify and transmit
Page 5

[Printed form filled in by hand]
[Printed] the testimony in the case, and the proceedings had thereon, to the Honorable the Secre-
try of the Department of War, to the end that such relief may be had in the premises,
as is by law in such case made and provided. [/printed]
[written] Luke Nicklson [/written]
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS,
Lincoln County, ss. } [written] Personally appeared Luke Nickelson [/written]
of the town of Brunswick, county of Cumberland and State of Massachusetts,
being duly sworn, saith, that the matters by him set forth in the foregoing
Declaration, are in all respects just and true.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this
25th day of [April?] 1818,} [written] Josiah Stebbins,
a Judge of the C.C.C.P.2.E.C.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS
Lincoln County, ss.}
Personally appeared John McMannus and Amos Lunt
and being duly sworn according to law, do depose and say that they are - 
 - personally acquainted with - 
[written] Luke Nickelson the aforesaid Declarant, that
they belonged to the same regiment with him,
and know that he served the same three
years as heh has declared.
[Signed] John McMannus
Amos Lunt
Sworn and subscribed before me this
25th day of April 1818,}
Josiah Stebbins
a Judge of the C.C.C.P.2d.E.C.
July 6. 1819. I am satisfied that the above John McMannus +
Amos Lunt are disinterested and credible. Lunt was a
serjeant [sic] in the revolutionary army. Josiah Stebbins.
Page 6

[Printed form filled in by hand]
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS
Lincoln County, ss.}
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this Twenty fifth
day of April - in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighteen before me
Josiah Stebbins a Judge
of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, called the second
Eastern council of Massachusetts,
which is a Court of record, personally appeared the aforesaid
Luke Nickelson
who being by me duly sworn to - the truth of the facts stated
in the foregoing Declaration and [written] having duly subscribed the
same, hath before me testified and declared
as therein expressed - and on examination and
[?] it appears to me that by reason
of his reduced circumstances in life he is
in need of assistance from his country for
support [/written]
[printed] WHEREUPON I being satisfied that the said Luke Nickelson
did serve in the Infantry of the United States as a Privaate Soldier
in the Revolutionary War, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months and 
longer, to wit: for the term and the manner stated in the Declaration of the said appli=
cant; and that the said applicant is fairly and justly entitled to the benefit of the Act
aforesaid. THEREFORE I DO HEREBY CERTIFY and transmit the testimony
in the case, and the proceedings had thereon, as before set forth, to the Honorable the
Secretary of the Department of War.
GIVEN under my Hand and Seal of the said Court, [unclear]
this Twenty fifth day
of April - in the Year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
[Signed] Josiah Stebbins
a Judge of the C.C.C.P.2d.E.C.
[written faintly]
Lincoln
I, Nathl Coffin Clerk of the [unclear]
courts within and for the county of Lincoln
hereby certify that Josiah Stebbins
is a Judge of the circuit court of
[?] pleas for the [following paragraph illegible]
of said court this 25th day of April 1818.
[Signed] Nathl Coffin
Page 7

N188 Luke Nickerson

Continur
No. 13, 607
19 July '19
Page 8

[Printed form filled in by hand]
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 sixth day of June
and by adjournment from day to day, on the fifteenth
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 the fifteenth..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, Luke Nickerson...aged
seventy four..years, resident in Brunswick in said District,
who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revo=
lutionary War as follows, viz. as a Private.. in the company commanded by Capt. Reed...
in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Brooks..
in the line of the State of Massachusetts on the Continental Establishment, as is
more particularly mentioned and described in his original declaration, made on the 25th...
day of April...A.D. 1818, and on which said declaration his Certificate of Pension
numbered 13.607... 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 due 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. [/printed]
[Written] Luke Nickerson [/written]
Sworn to and declared, on the fifteenth
day of June.. A.D. 1820}
Before Albion K. Parris } U.S. District Judge for the District of Maine.
Page 9

[Printed form filled out by hand]
[Printed] SCHEDULE of the real and personal estate (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) belonging to me the subscriber, viz:
[Written] Real estate - none - 
Personal estate - one cow - I live in a small log house - I have no income
Luke Nickerson
Sworn to 
June 15, 1820
Before
Albion K Parris
U.S. Dist: Judge [/written]
[Printed] SCHEDULE of the family residing with me Luke Nickerson.. who, by occupation am a Laborer... which I am not able to pursue ["by reason of" crossed out] constantly
[Table] Names	  Ages	Capacity of each to contribute to their support.
[Written] Wife. Hagar. 66 has rheumatism_ able to work some_
John. 8 a small boy
I have no other family
Luke Nickerson
Sworn to Before
Albion K. Parris
U.S. Dist: Judge [/written]
Page 10

[Printed form filled in by hand]
[Printed] 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 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 fifteen...
dollars and no more...["cents" crossed out]
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of
the said Court, on this fifteenth...day of June..
A.D. one thousand eight hundred and twenty.
[Signed] John Mussey Junr {Clerk of the U. States District Court for Maine District
[Written in pencil] $15+
Page 11

[Typed letter]
Miss Mary Pelham Hill
Box 68,
Topsham, Maine
Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in
the Revolutionary War pension claim, s. 37270, that Luke
Nickelson (the name also appears as Nickerson), a man of
color, enlisted at Harpswell, Massachusetts (Maine), in
January, 1777, served as a private in Captain John Reed's
Company, Colonels Alden and Brooks Massachusetts Regi-
ment, was at the surrender or Burgoyne, where he was 
wounded in his thigh by a musket ball, and was discharged
in January, 1780.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
April 25, 1818, at which time he was aged seventy-three
years and resided in Brunswick, Cumberland County, Massa-
chusetts (Maine).
In 1820, he stated that his family residing with him
consisted of his wife, Hagar, aged sixty-six years and
John, a small boy, aged eight years. There are no further family data.
The soldier died May 4, 1829.
Very truly yours
E.W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner. [/printed]
[Written on the left side] Fiour AB
Page 12

[Typed letter on stationary]
MISS MARY PELHAM HILL
Box 68, TOPSHAM, MAINE
PRESIDENT OF THE MAINE SOCIETY
CHAPTER FOUNDERS OF THE D.A.R.
To the Department of Pensions;-
Dear Sirs;-
I am writing to ask if you will be so
kind as to send me a complete list of the data
on file regarding one, [handwritten check mark]
Luke Nicholson, Mass. Line, Private,
Cumberland County,
Died May 4 ["m" crossed out] 1829,
and greatly oblige, (an EARLY REPLY WILL BE APPRECIATED)
Yours very truly,
[Signed] Mary Pelham Hill
Page 13

[Printed form filled out by hand]
37270
Revy INVALID
File No. 37,270
Luke Nickelson
Pri Rev War
Act: 18th March 18[00?]
Index:-Vol. 2, Page 302
[Arrangement of 1870.]
[Right side of page, handwritten]
1930 - Nov 11 - Hist. to
Miss Mary Pelham Hill EES
1931 - Jan 29 - Hist to
Adj. [Gen? Hill?] - See carbon
copy of letter in
Misc. File under
C.H. Bridges EES
Page 14

[Handwritten document]
County of Cumberland
State of Massachusetts} Be it known that 
on this 5th day of
July 1819 before me Philip Owen Sr
of the Justices of the Peace for said County
personally appeared Amos Lunt
+ John McMannus and made oath
in [due?] form of Law, that Luke
Nickerson ^now living in ["of" crossed out] the town of Brunswick
in said County was the only Nickerson
belonging to [?] L. John Reed Compy [Company]
in the Rev War, and that they never
knew any other Nickerson belonging
to Col Aldens Regiment; That said
Nickerson is man of colour and of [very?]
small education_ and they [verrily?]
believe him to be an man of [truth?]
and know him to be the same man
that served with them in [said Reed?]
Compy + Col Aldens Regiment
having both served in said Regt three years - 
Sworn + subscribed before me this 5th day of July 1819
Philip Owen Justice Peace
Amos Lunt
John McMannus
Page 15

[Handwritten document]
Philip Owen Esq is regularly [having business?]
as a Justice of the peace for the County of
Cumberland. [Signed] Josiah Stebbins a Justice of
New C.C.C.P 2d. E. Circuit
N.B. The within witnesses are the same who
testified to Nickerson's service. J. Stebbins.
Page 16

[Handwritten document]
I, Marlborough Sylvester of Harpswell
now
in my sixty seventh year of age - do testify
and say I lived in the town of Harpswell, where
Luke Nickerson a Man of Couler now present
inlisted in the revolutionary Army of the U.S.
under Capt John Reed, I further certyfy and say
the said Nickerson did service in said Army of the 
U.S. ^three years & then returned to town of Harpsville - again
So Help me God
Marlborough Sylvester
Cumberland ss.
Brunswick June 25. A.D. 1819
Then the above named Marlborough Sylvester
now a Justice of the Peace for the County of Cumberland
living in the Town of Harpswell personally
appeared and made solemn Oath to the above
by him subscribed before me
Jotham Stone Justice Peace
[Flourish]
[Written vertically along left margin]
[the ? unclear] three years inlisten'd
[afore?] signed
Page 17

I David Sparks now in my seventy fourth
year of my Age, do testify and say that I
was a Soldier in the Revolutionary Army of the
United States. I was in Cambridge Massachusetts
When Luke Nickerson a Man of Couler [sic] now
Present was in said Army. Where we were both
sick with the Small Pox from Cambridge I march
to Peekskill thence to Albany thence to Stillwater
Said Nickerson was in my mess during said March
+ in the Taking General Burgoyne. And I further
say that said Nickerson was with me during three
years service. accepting While he was in the Hospital
occasioned by a wound he received in the Battle of
Taking Burgoine. further saith not. so help me God. 
David Sparks [signed with an X and "his mark"]
Witness Jotham Stone
Ephraim Brown
Comberland ss. June 26 1819 [then?] the above
David Sparks a man of honest reputation personally
appeared and made solemn Oath to the above by him
subscribed to be the truth the whole truth nothing but the truth before me - - 
Jm. Stone Justice Peace
[Flourish]
Page 18

I Martin Grant Now in my Sixty fifth year
of My Age, do testify and say that I was in the
Army of the U.S. being Sergent of the General us
little Cambridge, When Luke Nickerson a Man
of Couler [sic] now Present Joined the Army of the
US under the command of Capt John Reed - 
Myself + said Nickerson Marched from there and 
were in the Army of Still water where we
Messed together, + I further testify and say that
said Nickerson did serve as a Soldier in the
Army of the U.S. under the Command of General
Nickson [several words crossed out] three whole years so help me God - 
Attest
Jotham Stone
John Eaton
Martin Grant [signed with a W and "his mark"]
Cumberland ss. June 25, 1819
Him the above named Martin Grant am
[^honur mean?] personally appeared and made solemn Oath to
the above by him subscribed before me
Jotham Stone Justice Peace
[Flourish]
Page 19

[Handwritten document]
July 6. 1819 I hereby certify that Jotham
Stone Esquire is a Justice of the Peace
for the County of Cumberland, as pur
ported in the three foregoing affidavits. 
Luke Nickerson is ignorant of letters.
I recollect that I had in taking his
declaration, written in his name, Nickerson, 
but his companions in common
parlance pronounce it Nickelson, and
prompted him that so was his name.
There is no doubt of his identity.
Josiah Stebbins