Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24090, Benjamin Dyer, Mass.

Page 1

(3—1776)

SERVICE
Mass.

Dyer, Benjamin
Hannah

NUMBER
W. 24090.

CONTENTS

Page 2

Maine - 3,238.

Hannah Dyer, widow of Benjamin Dyer, Mass who was a pensioner under the Act of [blank] and who died in the year 1795 of Lincoln in the State of Maine who was a Pri in the compy commanded by Captain Burbank of the Regt. commanded by Brewer in the Mass line for 3 years

Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 19" day of June 39, and sent to Geo W. Morton, Augusta, Maine

Arrears to the 4th of March - | $240.00
Semi=annual allowance ending | 40.00
$280.00

Act July 7, 1838.

Recorded by R Burdin Clerk,
Book A Vol. 1 Page 7.

Page 3

"I purpose of marriage between Mr Benjamin Dyer and Miss Hannah Higgins both of Cape Elizabeth was entered August twenty ninth seventeen hundred eighty three"

"Recorded by David Shout Town Clerk"

I certify that the above is a true copy of record with the exception of the date, which is expressed in the record in fair legible figures, as follows August 29th 1783,

[crossed out: West] James Dyer Town Clerk,

I James Dyer above named, depose and say that I hold the office of Town Clerk of Cape Elizabeth in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine, that the above is a true contract from the records of said town, with the exception above named, and I further testify & say that I have examined the records of said town and there is no record of the marriage of Benjamin Dyer and Hannah Higgins recorded,

James Dyer Town Clerk,

State of Maine
Cumberland ss:

August. 11. 1838 - Then the said James Dyer who I certify is a credible & respectable witness made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed-

Before me, Joseph Pope, Jus of the Peace

Jos. Pope Esqr is a [justice of the Law?] Nathan Weston

Page 4

V1215
Hannah Dyer
Widow of Benj'n Dyer

-7-
Me 3238
Act 7 July 38

married in 1783
Died in 1795

On Rolls - Beaver

admd
2 yrs [fire?]

80$

no deduction

Geo W Morton
Augusta
Maine

Page 5

DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, of the 7th
July, 1838, entitled "An Act granting half pay 
and pensions to certain widows."

STATE OF MAINE.
Lincoln County, ss.
On this twenty ninth day of August A.D., 1838,
personally appeared before the Hon. Nathan Weston Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of said State.
Hannah Dyer
a resident of Lisbon in the County of Lincoln and 
State of Maine, aged seventy five 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 7th, 1838, enti-
tled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows;" That she is the
widow of Benjamin Dyer who entered in the year 1777
for three years into Capt Burbank cmy and colonel
Brewer's regiment, and was discharged after having faithfully
performed his duty in the year 1780. She refers to the roll
of the above mentioned regiment which was in the mass
line, and to the accompanying proof in support of her 
claim.

She further declares, that she was married to the said Benjamin Dyer
on the [illegible] day of November in the year seventeen
hundred and eighty three; that her husband, the aforesaid
Benjamin Dyer died in the year 1795 on his [crossed out text: day of]
passage from the West Indies as she fully believes ; 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; that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully
appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed, that her name before
marriage was Hannah Higgins ^ that she was married in Cape Elizabeth
by David Strout Esq.
Hannah Dyer

Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before me (the applicant
being from age and infirmity unable to appear 
in [illegible] court)

Nathan Weston C.J.
S.J.C.

Page 6

State of Maine
On the twenty ninth day of August 1839, Hannah
Dyer, the applicant within named was examined
and sworn, as within stated. I am satisfied
that she was married to Benjamin Dyer, late
a revolutionary soldier of the United States,
in the month of November, 1783, and that the 
said Benjamin Dyer died in 1795, and that
the applicant has ever since remained his 
widow. 

Nathan Weston C.J.
[illegible]

STATE OF MAINE.
Kennebec SS.
I the subscriber [illegible] of the Court for [illegible] County hereby CERTIFY,
That the [illegible] Nathan Weston before whom the proceedings
were had, is Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of [illegible]
I also CERTIFY, That the foregoing [illegible] contains the original proceedings of the said Chief Justice in the matter of the application of
Hannah Dyer for a pension.

Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal 
of the said Court, this first day 
of September, A.D. 1838

Tho Swan

[On lower left corner, there is a circular embossed seal that is illegible.]

Page 7

I Silvanus Dyer of Lisbon in the County of
Lincoln aged forty five years do testify and do
declare upon oath that Hannah Dyer who
made the forgoing  declaration is the widow
of Benjamin Dyer deceased and that she has
remained unmarried ever since the death
of the said Benjamin Dyer.

Sylvanus Dyer

State of Maine
County of Lincoln [illegible] August 29, 1838
Subscribed and sworn to I certify
the deponent a credible witness. 
Before me
Nathan Weston C.J.
S.J.C

Page 8

[handwritten] Rev
[typed] WIDOW, &c.
File No. 24090
Hannah Dyer
Wid of 
Benjamin Dyer
[illegible] Mass line
Act July 7th 1838
Index: Vol. A, Page 405

[Arrangement of 1870.]

[handwritten text]
sept. 26 '99
E E Small
Biddeford 
Me

Page 9

V

[Just?] Geo W Morton
March 12" 38

Page 10

I, William Dyer of Cape Elizabeth
in the County of Cumberland and State
of Maine aged 71 years _ Do testify and
that I was well acquainted with Benjamin
Dyer of said Cape Elizabeth deceased and
am also acquainted with Hannah Dyer
his widow, whose name was Hannah
Higgins before she was married. They
were married by David Strout Esq. of
Cape Elizabeth in November of the 
year Seventeen hundred and Eighty
three but I cannot now tell what day
of the month. I was present at the
time and saw them married.
Said Benjamin Dyer died on his
passage home from the West Indies
in the month of June seventeen hundred
and ninety five in the Sloop ------
of Portland commanded by Capt James
Coseman-as I have always understood
and as I verily believe - said Hannah
Dyer has lived in my neighborhood for
forty years-and has not again married
but continues the widow of said Benjamin 
Dyer deceased. ___ William Dyer

State of Maine
Cumberland County ss} August 11 1838 Then the
said William Dyer who I certify is a credible and 
respectable witness made oath to the truth of the
foregoing deposition by him subscribed.
Before me Joseph Pope, Jus. of Peace

Jos. Pope Esq is a 
justice of the peace
Nathan Weston

Page 11

I, Thankful Dyer of Cape Elizabeth
County of Cumberland State of Maine
aged seventy three years, Do testify & say
that I was present at the marriage of
Benjamin Dyer and Hannah Higgins
in Cape Elizabeth some time in the
month of November of the year seventeen
hundred and eighty three. They
were married by David Strout Esq.
a Justice of the Peace then living in 
said Cape Elizabeth. I was well
acquainted with them before they
were married and since that time.
I cannot be positive as to the day of the
month on which they were married, but
I am certain that it was in the month 
of November as above stated. The said
Benjamin Dyer died on his passage
from the West Indies in June 1795 as
I have always understood. I believe 
the said Hannah Dyer has lived in
my neighborhood more than forty years
and has not married since the death
of said Benjamin Dyer but still con-
tinues his widower.

Thankful Dyer

State of Maine-
Cumberland County SS August 11, 1838 - Then the
said Thankful Dyer who I certify is a credible
and respectable witness, made oath to the truth
of the foregoing deposition by her subscribed-
Before me Joseph Pope, Jus. of the Peace

Jos. Pope Esq is a
justice of the peace
Nathan Weston

Page 12

On the twenty ninth day of August, 
1839, I received, by request, the
declaration of Hannah Dyer for 
a pension at her widow [illegible].
She was seventy five years of
age. I found her very [illegible]
and infirm, and unable to
repair to a court town.
Nathan Weston
C. J. State of Maine.

Page 13

I Vinson Fickett of [illegible] County of 
Lincoln, state of Maine, Aged Eighty two years
do testify and say that Benjamin Dyer and
myself formerly both of Cape Elizabeth
enlisted in the United States service in the
year seventeen hundred seventy seven and served
three years together we received our discharges
both in one day and returned home together.
all the time that we were in the service
the said Dyer and myself [illegible] together.
We both belonged to the eleventh regiment comm-
anded by Col Samuel Brewer the Company to which 
we belonged was commanded by Silas Burbank
[illegible] James Weymouth.

his
Vinson X Fickett
mark

State of Maine August 13th 
Lincoln 
When the said Vinson Fickett
who who [sic] I certify is a reliable and respectable
witness made oath to the truth of the foregoing
Deposition by him subscribed
Before me James Weymouth Justice of the Peace
James Weymouth Esq is a justice
*swearing to the best of my recollection of the [illegible]

Page 14

[handwritten check mark]
[top right rectangular stamp]
O. W. & N. DIVISION
AUG 10 1899
RECEIVED.

Biddeford Me. Aug 4-1899.
Pension Bureau, Washington D. C.
Dear Sir-
Will you
kindly send me the Record of
Benjamin Dyer, Revolutionary soldier,
of Cape Elizabeth, then called Falmouth
whose Wife, Hannah Dyer, born Higgins
was a pensioner of the Revolution?
and oblige Yours Respectfully
Ella E. Small
29 Graham St.
Biddeford
Maine

[circular stamp]
PENSION
AUG
U. 8 S.
1899
OFFICE.

Page 15

[top left printed text]
This Bureau can furnish the military 
record of only such Revolutionary soldiers
as were pensioned or whose widows were 
pensioned for their services.

Such of the original muster and pay
rolls of the Revolutionary War and the 
War of 1812 as are now in the possession 
of the Government are on file in the
Record and Pension Office, War Depart-
ment. Original rolls and other records
pertaining to service in the Revolution-
ary War may also be found on file in the
archives of many of the original States.

O.W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.

[top center]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C., 

September 26, 1899.

[top right]

L. W. B.
W. 34090.
[handwritten underline] 
[handwritten illegible text]

Madam:-
In response to your recent communication you are advised that
Hannah, widow of Benjamin Dyer, made an application for pension on
August 29, 1839, at which time she was 75 years of age and residing
at Lisbon, Maine, and her pension was allowed for the actual service
of her husband as a private in the Mass., troops, Revolutionary war, 
for a period of two years. Place of his enlistment not stated. He 
served under Capt. Burbank and Col. Brewer.

Very respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.

Miss Ella E. Small
29 Graham Street
Biddeford, Maine.