Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 26,634, Nathaniel Bliss, Mass.

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Service
Mass.
Bliss, Nathaniel
Susan
Number
W. 26,634.

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Massachusetts 3705
Susan Bliss
widow of Nathaniel Bliss
who was a Lieut Corporal
in the Revolution. 
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 39 Dollars 54 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of Dec. 1863 and sent to Hon. R.C. Winthrop House of Representatives
[Act of march 3, 1843]
Recorded in Book A.
Vol. 1. Page 37

Rep.
Date of death not on A. B.
ILL.

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

Berkshire: On this ninth day of July in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty nine personally appeared before me William P. Walker Judge of Probate within for the County afore Susan Bliss a resident of of Cheshire in the County afore aged seventy seven 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 Act of Congress passed July 7 1838 entitled an "Act granting half pay and pension to certain widows"; That she is the widow of Nathaniel Bliss who was a prime, a corporal & a Lieut in the Army of the Revolution, that the knowledge of her husband, service is driven not from personal knowledge, but from his own account of it during his life & the testimony of others who knew of his service, since his death, that her husband as she believes from information described as afore [cross out] for some time a minute mann in the county of Bristol & town of Rehoboth & Corultt[?] of Mass, that he went to Roseburg [cross out] Boston or [illegible] in 1775. When he entered service for eight months as a corporal in the company of Capt Samuel Bliss & in Col Wm Walker's Reg't, in the United States Service, and that afterwards as she thinks is 1777 he was appointed Lieut and served about one month in that capacity under Captain Ichabod Wade in Gen'l Spencer's expedition at Trenton in the [illegible] of Rhothland. She send herwith the commission under the signature of Maj Gen'l J Spencer under which her [illegible' husband is appointed Lieut & respectfully to the accompanying affidavit as further proof of service.

She further declares that she is as married to Nathaniel Bliss at Lamboro County of Berkshire &  Couplet[?} of Mass on the fifth day of May seventeen hundred and eighty two, She is confident she was married on fifth of May, though the record of the marriage states it was to have taken place on the tenth day of that month.

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that her husband the afore Nathaniel Bliss died at Cheshire on the twenty seven day of June eighteen hundred & eighteen; that she was not married to him prior to his having the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four as at the time above stated.

Susan Bliss [signature]

Subscribed & sworn to this day & year aforesaid
Before me W.P Walker Judge of Probate

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I Nathaniel Bliss of Cheshire Mass depose and say that I am the son of Nathaniel Bliss Susan Bliss mentioned in the accompanying declaration of Susan Bliss, that my father Nathaniel Bliss died at Cheshire afore on the twenty second day of June 1818 and that my mother Susan Bliss has been since that time remained his widow & unmarried.

Nathaniel Bliss [signature]

Com'th of Mass
Berkshire July 9 1839. Subscribed & sworn to before me, by the said Nath'l Bliss to me well known & who I certify is a credible witness

W.P. Walker Judge of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
Berkshire County
I Henry W Bishop Register of the Court of Probate within and for the County of Berkshire do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said [illegible] in this matter

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of the application of Susan Bliss for a pension that the Honorable William P. Walker is the Judge of said Court of Probate that the signatures subscribed to the foregoing declaration of said Susan Bliss and the deposition of Nathaniel Bliss are his genuine signatures and I further certify that Richard Whitney Esq before whom the annexed Deposition of Nathl B Willaims was taken was at the time of the taking thereof one of the Justices of the peace for said County of Berkshire duly commissioned and qualified and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have set my hand & the seal of said Court this ninth day of July AD 1839
Henry W Bishop Register Probate

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May tenth one thousand seven hundred and eighty two
Nathaniel Bliss married to Susan Mason
I certify that the above is a true copy of the Record with exception of the date which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures as follows May 10th 1782

Lanesborough July 9th 1839
Nathl B Williams
Town Clerk of Lanesborough

I Nathel B Williams above Named depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk in the Town of Lanesborough County of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Mass and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said town with the exception above named as certifed by me

Nathl B Williams

Berkshire Lanesboro July 9th 1839
B. sworn to this ninth day of July A.D. 1839 before me.
Richard Whitney Justice of the Peace

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BA-J/ILL
Nathaniel Bliss
W. 26634

Miss Fern Bishop
R.R.D. #2
Adams, New York.

Dear Madam:

The record of Nathaniel Bliss is given herein as found in the papers on file in pension claim W. 26634.

Nathaniel Bliss, 3rd, while a resident of Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, belonged to a company of minute men in April 1775, commanded by Captain Samuel Bliss, and on April 20, marched to Roxbury, Massachusetts, where he enlisted, served as corporal in Captain Samuel Bliss' company, Cology Timothy Waler's Massachusetts regiment for eight months; no relationship between Nathaniel Bliss and this Captain Bliss stated. He enlisted in the fall of 1777, served as orderly sergeant in Captain Sylvanus Martin's company, Colonel George Williams' Massachusetts regiment, marched to Tiverton, Rhode Island, where on October 7, 1777, he was commissioned 1" Lieutenant, Captain Ichabod Wade's company in that same regiment, and served until the expiration of service of one month; this service was on General Spencer's Expedition to Rhode Island.

After his service, he returned to Rehoboth and moved from there to Lanesboro, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

The soldier died June 22, 1818, in Cheshire, Berkshire County, Massachusetts; his age, and the names of his parents are not shown.

He married on May 5 or 10, 1782 in Lanesboro, Massachusetts, Susan Mason; the date and place of her birth and names of her parents are not shown.

Susan Bliss, the soldier's widow, was allowed pension on

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account of his service in the Revolutionary War on her application executed July 9, 1839; she was then a resident of Cheshire, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, aged seventy-seven years.

In 1839, Nathaniel Bliss, the son of Nathaniel Bliss and Susan, his wife, was a resident of Cheshire, Massachusetts.

Very truly yours,

A.D. Hiller
Assistant Executive to the Administrator

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By the Honourable Joseph Spencer Esq
Major General and Command in Chief of the Troops Based in the United States, now Acting in the State of Rhode Island

To Nathaniel Bliss [illegible] Gentleman Greeting
You are hereby commissioned and appointed a First Lieut of the Company whereof Ichabod Wade is Captain to take charge of and command the Independent Company based by the said Ichabod Wade to act in the Regiment commanded by Col George Williams or otherwise as you shall receive orders. He is therefore to be respected and obeyed as such in this Army during this present Expedition.

Given under my Hand at Head [illegible] Riverton this 7th Day of October 1777

Jos Spencer M.G.

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4175

Massachusetts
Susan Bliss
widow of Nathaniel Bliss ded.

and who died on the 22nd June 1878
of Berkshire in the State of MS
who was a Lt & Clerk in the Comp G commanded by Captain Wade of the Regt commanded by [blank] in the MS line for 23 days 8 months

Lieutenant
Corporal

Inscribed on the Roll of Mass. at the rate of 30 Dollars 54 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of Sept 1839 and sent Hon G N Briggs Lanesborog, MS

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1839 $138.39
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar 40 1977
$158.16

Act July 7, 1838

Recorded by D D Addison Clerk,
Book A Vol. 1st Page 73

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1921 June 21. To Miss Emma J.
Redway letter in S. File 22,774
Elijah Fox 
1911 May 5 - Miss E.J. Redway
[illegible]
1925-Jan 25-Hist. to Miss Fern Bishop J.C.C.

Widow, &c.
File No 26,634
Susan Bliss
Widow of
Nathaniel Bliss
Lt. Rev. War

Act: Mar 3rd 1843
Index:-Vol.............., Page.............

[Arrangement of 1870.]

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3807
Susan Bliss
$39.54 [illegible]

Hon R. C. Winthrop
[illegible]

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State of Massachusetts 
Berkshire County

On this fourth day of May, one thousand eight hundred & forty three personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for & in said County Susan Bliss a resident of Cheshire in the County of Brookshire aged eighty years who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed on the 3rd day of March 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War. That she is the widow, Nathaniel Bliss who was a Lieutenant & Corporal in the revolution and the regiment corps or vessel in which he served is unknown, And the annual amount of the pension which she received under the act of July in 1838 was thirty nine dollars & fifty four cents.

She further declares that she is still a widow.

Susan Bliss [signature]

Signed sealed and delivered
in presence

R.C. Brown
R.R. Briggs

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year [illegible] above matter and I certify that the declarant is the widow of said Nathaniel Bliss and she say also a pensioner as above stated and is a respectable & credible person.

R.R. Briggs
Justice of the Peace

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Berkshire, Co.

I, Charles Sedgwick, Clerk of the Judicial Courts of the Commonwealth for the County of Berkshire, do certify that Robert R. Briggs Esquire, whose signature is affixed to the certificate on the paper hereto annexed, was, at the date thereof, one of the Justices of the Peace, within and for said County, duly commissioned and acting under the authority of  this Commonwealth : and that full faith and credit are and ought to be given to his acts and attestations done in that capacity; and that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the said Briggs and believe his signature to said certificate is genuine.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas for said Commonwealth, this seventeenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three.

Charles Sedgwick [signature]
Clerk

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5820
5321

July 22
Mass
July 7 1838

Hon J.S. Edwards
Corps of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Page 17

Lansboro
15 July 1839

Dr Sir

Enclosed herein you the papers in the case of Susan Bliss & Sally B Barker.

Will you be so good as to apprise me of the results as soon as you have examined them. 

Reply
Yours
G N Briggs

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5820

Mass.
Act 7 July 38

M 82 J18

voe 14 41 Corps GMU
24 46 Lieut - 23

aomo
8 mo Corpl
23 ds Lieut

No deduction

Hon G.N. Briggs
Lansboro
Mass.

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I, Jonathan Nash of Rehoboth in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, aged eighty five years, do depose and say that I belonged to a company of minute men in said town of Rehoboth, and about the Twentieth day of April Seventeen hundred and seventy five I marched toRoxburg near Boston, and after I had been there about a fortnight I enlisted into the United States service for eight months. I served as a private in the Company of Capt Samuel Bliss in Colonel Timothy Wickler's Regiment for the term of eight months, and then returned home. I was personally acquainted with Nathaniel Bliss 3rd now deceased, who then belonged to said town of Rehoboth, he afterwards removed from Rehoboth, and I understood he went to that part of Lanesborough which is now Cheshire in the County of Berkshire in said State of Massachusetts. He, the said Bliss belonged to the same company of minute men and marched with us to Roxburg , and enlisted into the United States service at the same time that I enlisted, and served eight months as a Corporal in the company of the said Capt. Samuel Bliss and Col. Timothy Walkers' Regiment, and after we were discharged, we returned to Rehoboth and further the deponent saith not.

Jonathan Nash [signature]

Rehoboth March 18, 1839
Witness Susan Nash
State of Massachusetts
County of Bristol
March 18, 1939

Personally appeared before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, the above named Jonathan Nash, who is a credible witness, and made oath that the above declaration by him subscribed is true.
Before me 
Lem'l Morse
Justice of the Peace

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I, Joseph Wheaton of Rehoboth in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, aged eighty six years, do testify and say that I was intimately acquainted with Nathaniel Bliss 3rd now deceased, formerly of Rehoboth. That I belonged to a company of minute men in said Rehoboth, and was called out at the alarm of the fight at Lexington and marched immediately to Roxburg, about the Twentieth of April Seventeen hundred and seventy five, and after I had been about thirteen days I enlisted into the service of the United States, and served eight months in Capt. John Perry's company and Col. Timothy Walker's Regiment. Said Nathaniel Bill 3rd belonged in Capt Samuel Bliss's Company of Minutemen, and went to Roxburg with me, and enlisted at the same time into the service of the United States and served eight months as a Corporal in the said Capt Samuel Bliss' Company and Col. Timothy Walker's Regiment. We were then disenified [?] and returned  home.

I further testify and say that I was afterwards in the service of the United States in the war of the revolution in Major General Spencer's expedition at Riverton in the State of Rhode Island in the fall of the year Seventeen hundred and seventy seven, and served one month in Capt. Sylvanus Martin's company as orderly sergeant. The said Nathaniel Bliss 3rd was in that expedition and on our arrival at Riverton was orderly Sergeant in said Capt Martin's company, so after I think the day after our arrival the said Bliss was removed to Capt. Ichabod Wade's company and promoted to the Office of First Lieutenant (and I took his place as orderly Sergeant) in which capacity he the said Bliss served during the expedition, which was one month.

Joseph Wheaton [signature]
Witness Noah Pierce [signature]

Rehoboth March 18 1839
State of Massachusetts
County of Bristol
March 18, 1839 Personally appeared before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County; the above named, Joseph Wheaton who is a credible witness, and made oath that the above declaration by him subscribed is true.
Before me.
Lem'l Morse
Justice of the Peace

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I, Manassah Short of Rehoboth County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, aged Eighty four years, do depose and say that, In the Fall of the year Seventeen hundred and seventy seven, I was drafted into the service of the United States in the War of the Revolution, to Rhode Island for one month. On my arrival Riverton in that State I joined the Company of Captain Sylvanus Martin, the Commanding Officer, name I think was Spencer. It was called Spencer's expedition. I remained in the service of said Riverton about a fortnight in said Capt. Martin's Company when my pace was supplied by a substitute, and I returned home. I was well acquainted with Nathanial Bliss 3rd now deceased, who then lived in said Rehoboth; a near neighbor to me. On my arrival at Riverton I saw the said Bliss, who was then orderly Sergeant in the said Capt. Martin's Company, he the said Bliss was soon after removed to Capt Ichabod Wade's Company and appointed to some office, I do not now recollect what office, where hee the said Bliss remained while I was in the service, and I always understood and verily believed that the the said Bliss remained in the service during the expedition, which was one month.

Manassah Short
his X mark

Witness Lethbridge Short [signature]

Rehoboth March 21 1839
State of Massachusetts
County of Bristol
March 21 1839 Personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, the above-named, Manasseh Short, who is a credible witness and made oath that the above declaration by him subscribed it true.

Lem. Morse
Justice Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
Bristol [illegible] Amself Barrett Register of the Court of Probate in for said County, do hereby certify that Lemuel Morse is a Justice of the Peace in aforesaid County and that the signature to the foregoing certificates purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court. This 22nd day of March 1839
A Barrett

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May 5, 1911

Mrs. Emma J. Redway,
Adams,
Jefferson County, N.Y.

Madam:

In response to your letter dated the 2" and received the 4" instant, you are advised that the Revolutionary War pension records fail to afford information in regard to any soldier named Nathaniel Bliss, other than Wid. File No. 26,634, whose history was furnished you on June 21, 1910, in which it is stated that he died June 22, 1818, and his widow Susan applied for pension July 9, 1839, when she was seventy-seven year of age.

Very respectfully,

Commissioner.

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R.F.D. 2
Adams, New York
January 5, 1935

The Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:

Can you send me any information about Nathaniel Bliss of Rehoboth, Mass., who served as Lieutenant and Corporal in the Revolutionary War.

I also want to obtain information about Ebenezer Burpee of Connecticut (I believe) who served in the Revolution in Captain Stillwell's Co., 20th Regiment, Conn. militia, under Col. Jedediah Huntington, 1775 and in Capt. Selah Benton's Company, 5th Regiment, Conn. line under Lieut. Colonel Isaac Sherman, 1781-1783.

Very truly yours
(Miss) Fern Bishop

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stamp returned

Miss W Adams
New York
Jefferson Co.

May 2 1911

Dear Sirs

Will you please give me the record of service for Nathaniel Bliss in the Revolutionary War. You sent me a record of his services a while ago but you state that the application was made

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July 9, 1839 at the age of seventy seven years also that he died June 22 1818 which seems to be wrong.

Yours respectfully 
Emma J Redway

P.S. The one I refer to was born 1702 & was 73 when he enlisted and served through the war.

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3-871
Record Division.
Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions

Briefed by A.O.I. June 21, 1910
Claim No.
Certificate No.
Claimant
Soldier Nathaniel Bliss
Service [crossed out] Act June 21, 1910
Additional Service Rer

No claim, State records, 190
No, combination records, 190

REMARKS:
No claims other than W.F. 26634 
Corpl, Sgt., 1st Lieut.

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In reply of your request of [text cut off] for a statement of the military history of Nathaniel Bliss, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information contained in his widow's application for pension on file in this Bureau.

W. File 26,634

Dates of Enlistment of Appointment - April 1775
Length of Service - 8 months
Rank - Corpl
Officers under Whom Service was Rendered - Captain Samuel Bliss & Colonel Timothy Walker
State - Mass.

Dates of Enlistment of Appointment - Fall 1977
Length of Service - 1 month
Rank - Orderly Serge.
Officers under Whom Service was Rendered - Captain Martin & Colonel George Williams
State - Mass.

Dates of Enlistment of Appointment - Oct 1777
Length of Service - 1 months
Rank - Lieut
Officers under Whom Service was Rendered - Captain Ichabod Wade & Colonel George Williams
State - Mass.

[illegible]

Battles engaged in, 1
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Rehoboth, Bristol, Mass.
Date of application for pension, July 9, 1839
Residence at date of application, Cheshire, Bershire Co., Mass.
Age at date of application, 77 yrs.
Remarks: Soldier's age is not stated. He mar. at Lanesboro, Mass. May 5, 1782 Susan Mason. He d. Cheshire, Mass. June 22, 1818 and her claim was allowed.

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January 25, 1935.
BA-J/ILL

Miss Fern Bishop
R.F.D. #2
Adams, New York.

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Nathaniel Bliss of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, Ebenezer Burpee of Connecticut, and Ebenezer Brown, also of Connecticut.

A search of Revolutionary War records has been made and there is no claim for pension or bounty land on file based upon service in that war of an Ebenezer Burpee of Connecticut. The records of Nathaniel Bliss and Ebenezer Brown are furnished you herewith as gound in pension claims based on service in that war.

Very truly yours,

A.D. Hiller,
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.