Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 19228, Nathaniel Ellery, Mass Privateer

Page 1

Service
Mass 
Privateer

Ellery, Nathaniel
           Sarah

Number
W19228

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1240.
Massachusetts

Nathaniel Ellery
Essye in the State of Mass
who was a Pri & Serg in the company commanded
y Captain Warner of the regt commanded
y Col Foster in the Mass
ne for 6 Mos Pt of Infantry from 1775
9 " Gunner Art
6 " Sert Infy

Inscribed on the Roll of Mass
at the rate of 89 Dollars - Cents per annum,
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 30th day of October
1832 and sent William
Ferson Gloucester Mass

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 $133.50
Semi=anl. allowance ending 21 Mar 33 44.50
$178.00

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J H McBlair Clerk,
Book D, Vol. 2, [illegible] Page 48.

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Massachusetts 90
Sarah Ellery
widow of Nathaniel Ellery dec.d
Mass
who died on the 2d February 1833
of Essex Co in the State of MS.
who was a Pri. Gunr. & Sgt. in the Company commanded
by Captain Warner of the Rgt. commanded
by Col. Foster in the MS.
line for 21 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Massa.
at the rate of 89 Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836

Certificate of Pension issued the 28th day of Oct.
1838 and sent Wm
Ferson Gloucester MS.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1838 $178.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. " 44.50
$222.50
Revolutionary Claim,
Act July 4, 1838,
[crossed out text]
Recorded by D. D. Addison Clerk
Book A Vol. 1st. Page 85

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Nathaniel Ellery
2289

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, Gs
On this eleventh day of August, 1832, personally appeared before
the Hon. Daniel A. White, Judge of Probate of Wills, &c for the County
of Essex in the State of Massachusetts, Nathaniel Ellery, a resident of Gloucester
in said County and State (being unable to appear in Court by reason
of bodily infirmity) aged seventy nine years, who being first duly sworn
according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed on
the 7th June, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following
named officers and served as herein stated
That he enlisted as a private on or about 19th July, 1775 in Capt.
Daniel Warner's company in Col. Joseph Fosters Regt. of Masst. militia
stationed at Gloucester, for the defence of the Sea Coast, & served therein
six months untill 19th January, 1776 when his time expired,
having received no written discharge
That he again enlisted as a Quarter Gunner in Capt. Wm Ellerys
company of Artillery, stationed at Gloucester aforesaid for
the term of nine months, he believes in June 1776 and served
therein untill March 1777, when he was discharged, not
receiving any written document
That he was drafted and served ^as an orderly Sergeant in Capt. Mark Pools company
in Col. Gerrish's Regt. six months, commencing as soon as Burgoyne's
troops arrived near Boston, believes in November, 1777
was stationed at Winter Hill to guard said troops and continued
in said service untill May, 1778, and was then permitted to return
home, having received a written discharge, which is lost.
Naval Service
That he shipped as Steward on board the Private armed
Schooner ^Speedwell of 8 guns, commanded by Capt. Philemon Haskell,
belonging to Gloucester in the year 1778, day & month not
recollected and served on board the same three months
when the cruise was up.
That he shipped as a Steward on board the Private armed
ship Genl. Arnold of 18 guns, commanded by Capt. Moses Brown
in the year 1779 and after cruising four months, was captured
by the British ship Experiment, commanded by Sir James Wallace
and detained a prisoner on board different ships one year
when he was exchanged
That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension
or an annuity, except the present, and declares that his name
is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any State
That he was born in said Gloucester on 13th, February, 1753 and
the same is recorded on the Towns Records. That he lived in said
Gloucester when called into the service; has lived there since the
Revolutionary war; and now lives there
That he entered the service in Warner & Ellery's companies by
voluntary enlistment; and in Pool's by a draft; and that he has
no documentary evidence of service as required by the War Department.

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That George Sayward who was 2d Lieut. in Capt. William Ellery's
company of Artillery will testify to his service in 1776-7.  That
Nathaniel Warner, son of Capt. Daniel Warner, will testify to his service
in S. Daniel Warners company 1775. That he has no positive proof
of his service in Pools company in 1777
That Col. William Pearce, Mr John Lowe, Mr Thomas Baker
and the Revd. Hosea Hildreth, will testify as to his character for
veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier in the Revolution
[handwritten signature] Nath Ellery

Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
D A White Judge of Probate

We, Nathaniel Warner ^& James Millet of Gloucester, State of Massachusetts, aged 71
years on oath testify, that [crossed out text] we are well acquainted with Nathaniel
Ellery, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration;
and to my certain knowledge he served in Capt. Daniel Warners
company in 1775 as he has stated, having [crossed out text] ourselves served
in the same company, at the same time and place with
the applicant; and that Nathaniel Ellery, now present,
is the identical person who served as above.
[handwritten signature] Nath Warner
[handwritten signature] James Millett

We Hosea Hildreth a Clergyman, residing in said Gloucester and
John Low -residing the same Gloucester
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Nathaniel Ellery
who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration;
that we believe him to be 79 years of age; that he is reputed
and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have
been a Soldier of the Revolution; and that we concur
in that opinion.
[handwritten signature] Hosea Hildreth
[handwritten signature] John Low

sworn to & subscribed, the day and year aforesaid by the
said Warner & Hildreth, before D A White J. P.

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the
investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed
by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies,
that it appears to them that Hosea Hildreth who has signed the preceding
certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in sd. Gloucester; and that Nathl.
Warner, James Millett, and John Low who have signed the
same are residents in said Gloucester; George Sayward is a resident Thomaston,
Me.  that they are credible persons; & their statement entitled to credit.
And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them, that
the above named applicant is unable to appear in Court by
reason of bodily infirmity.
D A White Judge of Probate

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I Thomas Baker of Gloucester, in the County of Essex & State
of Massachusetts, aged 71 years, on oath testify, that I am well acquainted
with Nathaniel Ellery, who has subscribed and sworn to the
foregoing declaration; and to my certain knowledge he served as a
Steward on board the private armed Schooner, Speedwell, Capt. P.
Haskell, three months in the year 1778, as he has declared,
having myself served as a Seaman on board the same vessel
at the same time.   [handwritten signature] Thomas Baker

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, Gs,
On this eleventh day of August, 1832, before me William
Ferson, Notary Public in said County, personally came the
before named James Millett, John Low and Thomas Baker, who
subscribed and made oath to the afore written statement
and I certify that said Millett, Low and Baker are known
to me as credible persons and their statement entitled to credit

[faint diamond-shaped imprint on left side of page]
Witness my hand and Notarial Seal
at Gloucester, the day & year aforesaid
William Ferson, Noty Public

I Nathaniel Lord, junior, Register of the Court of Probate
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings
of the [obscured by diamond-shaped seal] id Court in the matter of the application of Nathaniel
Ell [obscured by same seal] for a Pension
[remainder of seal is visible on the left]
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal of Office this fourteenth
day of August, one thousand eight
hundred and thirty two
Nathl. Lord jr.

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192
Sarah Ellery
Wid of Nathaniel
Mass.
Married 1798
died 1833
Act 7. July 1838
5 years
$89 per ann.
Mass. Militia

Wm Ferson Esq.
Gloucester
Mass.

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State of Massachus
County of Essex, Gs.
On this 3rd day of August, 1838, personally appeared before
the Hon. Daniel A. White, Judge of Probate for the County of Essex
Sarah Ellery, a resident of Gloucester in the County of Essex and State
of Massachusetts, aged 74 years, who, being first duly sworn, according
to law, doth, on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain
the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7, 1838
entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows": That
she is the widow of Nathaniel Ellery, who was a pensioner under the
act of Congress of June 7, 1832; pension certificate dated October 30. 1832
No. 1240.
She further declares that she was married to the said Nathaniel Ellery
on the eleventh day of December in the year seventeen hundred and eighty
eight; that her husband the aforesaid Nathaniel Ellery died on the twenty
second day of February, 1833; that she was ^not married to him prior to his
leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first
of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz. at the time above
stated
her mark [hand drawn X] Sarah Ellery

Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written
before me D A White Judge of Probate
[filled-in black circle at lower left]

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"Mr. Nathaniel Ellery and Sarah Kinnicum were married by the
Reverend Mr. Eli Forbes December eleventh One thousand seven
hundred and eighty eight."

I William Saville, Town Clerk of Gloucester, in the County of
Essex, and State of Massachusetts, certify that the above is true
of the Record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed in the
Record in fair legible figures as follows.  "December 11." 1788."
Willm. Saville Town Clerk of Gloucester.

I William Saville, above named, depose and say, that I hold
the Office of Clerk, in the County, Town, and State aforesaid, and that
the above is a true extract from the records of said Town as certified
by me, with the exception above named.
Willm. Saville Clerk of the Town of Gloucester

We William Ellery and Daniel Wheeler 3d. both of Gloucester
in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts of lawful age
on oath testify, that Nathaniel Ellery within named died on
the 22nd day of February, 1833, leaving a widow named Sarah
who has remained a widow ever since the death of her said
husband, Nathaniel Ellery; and has not intermarried since that
period
[handwritten signature] William Ellery
[handwritten signature] Daniel Wheeler 3d.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, Gs. On this eighth day of August, 1838, before me, William
Ferson, Notary Public, by legal [illegible] admitted & sworn, personally came William 
Ellery and Daniel Wheeler 3d. well known to me as credible
witnesses, and William Saville, who severally made oath to the
truth of the above deposition and certificate by them subscribed

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and affixed my Notarial seal at Gloucester on the
day and year above written
William Ferson, Noty Public

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No. 2289,
Nathl. Ellery of Gloucester
Mass,

P[illegible] of Infantry 6 mos
Qr [Quarter]Gunner " Artillery 9
Sergt Infy - 6
21 Mos

Admd
JLE
.
$89.

Wm Ferson E [spelled "Fearson," "a" is crossed out]
Gloucester
Mass

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BRIEF in the case of [handwritten] Nathaniel Ellery of the County [end handwritten]
of [handwritten] Essex [end handwritten] in the State of [handwritten] Massachusetts [end handwritten]
(Act 7 June, 1832.)

[all answers to questions 1 through 8 are handwritten, except where noted]
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Judge

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
bodily infirmity

3. How old is he? 79 years

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[Columns (titles not handwritten): Period. Duration of Service (Years, Months, Days). Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.]

In 1775 July 19th.  - 6 -.  Private. Col. Jos. Foster, Capt Dl. Warner.
1776 June.  - 9 -.  ditto artillery.  Capt. Wm. Ellery' Compy of Arty.
1777 Novr.  - 6 drafted as private & served as Orderly Sergeant  Col. Gerrish & Capt Mark Pool.
not proved for 1778.  - 3.  shipped as Steward on board the Schooner Speedwell, Capt. Philn. Haskell. 
1779. shipped for Steward on board the ship Genl. Arnold & in 4 months was captured by the British ship Experiment and detained a prisoner one year and was exchanged.

[end of table]

5. In what battles was he engaged? with the British Ship Experiment

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Gloucester

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence,
by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? by living witness, in all his
statements- got but one written discharge & that is lost.

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Regular

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case
above mentioned.
[handwritten signature] Levin Bell
Examining Clerk.

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Rev
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 19228
[vertical handwritten word at right side, illegible]
Sarah Ellery
Widow of
Nathaniel Ellery
Sergt. Rev. War
Act: July 7" 1838
Index: Vol. A, Page 218 -
(Arrangement of 1870.)

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Nathl. Ellery Mass. Act '32 when paid?
Died 22d Feb 1833 paid to that period
J H

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ps.

I John Prince jr. Clerk of the Court
of Common Pleas being a Court of
Record in said County do hereby certify
that Henry Phelps is a Justice of the
Peace within & for said County & that
I believe his signature within is genuine.
Witness my hand & the seal of
said Court at Salem this 14th
day of August 1832.
[handwritten signature] John Prince jr Clk
[faint imprint of diamond shape with circular seal inside is visible to the left]

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Essex, ss: July 5. 1832. Then George Sayward
personally appeared & made solemn
oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit
at deposition by him subscribed
Cer. Henry Phelps, Jus. Pais.

I also certify that the deponent aforesaid,
is said to be a person of unappeachable
credibility.
Henry Phelps, Jus. Pais.

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I George Sayward of Thomaston
State of Maine (now at Gloucester State
of Massachusetts) of the age of seventy
nine years, depose & say that I was 2d
Lieutenant of the Artillery company commanded
by William Ellery, in the Regiment
of Col. Joseph Foster, & that Nathaniel
Ellery of Gloucester aforesaid, was an
orderly Sargent in the said Company, &
did duty in the Fort in said Town of Gloucester,
in the service of the State of Massachusetts,
in the Revolutionary War, from
the organisation of said Company in June
1776 for the space of nine or ten months,
& until the said company was disbanded
in the latter part of April 1777.
George Sayward

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COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
ESSEX, ss.

I, JOHN PRINCE, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within and
for the County of Essex, do certify, that
[handwritten] Hon. D. A. White is Judge of Probate [end handwritten]
within and for said County, and that [handwritten] his [end handwritten]
signature hereon [handwritten] is [end handwritten] genuine.
WITNESS MY HAND, and the Seal of said Court of Common Pleas,
[handwritten] August 4, [end handwritten] A. D. 183 [handwritten] 8 [end handwritten],
[handwritten signature] John Prince [end handwritten] Clerk.

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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
[handwritten] Nathaniel Ellery [end handwritten] which require further
proof or explanation.

[all answers given for the following questions are handwritten]

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes

V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he
served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension
he is entitled? yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832? yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes.

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

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2

[all answers given to the following questions are handwritten]
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary
service? yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining
it? it is produced

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least
one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
[crossed out text]

XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who
administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? yes
yes

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an
age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes -  all of them

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes all of them

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? yes

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection
he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:  For _
year _ months,  and _ days, I served as a _  For _ months
and _ days, I served as a _; and for such service I claim a pension."

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3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served,
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of
the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase [italicized] about three or four months [end italicized] is too
indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he
must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits
the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as
well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer
the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the affidavits must be properly authenticated,
as above directed.

QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the
certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly
attached to the certificate.

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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

NAME Ellery, William GRADE Drummer LINE Massachusetts

WARRANT NUMBER 4087 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED June 4, 1789
[handwritten addendum under date] to - not shown - [end handwritten addendum]

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are
registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent
dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.