Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 6775, for Nathaniel May, Massachusetts

 SERVICE 
NUMBER _____
Mass.
May, Nathaniel Petsy
N 6775— B.L.Nt. 19785-160-55—
CONTENTS

5.220-
Massachusetts-
Betsy May - widow of
Mah Nathaniel May who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a Private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 96- dollars 50- cents per annum, to commence on the 3d February, 1853.
Certificate of Pension issued 12 day of June 1855- and sent to
Franklin Hall.
No 39 State St.
Boston Mass:
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 3, 1853, Page 13- Vol. 16.
(18)-

155707 act 3 March June 1/55
Betsey May mfm Nathaniel May and Pension - Mass
Map: Dept line
1855 Revolutionary War Ad: H. O. A. m. Apr. 2/56 Mass. Feb 5/56
Franklin Hall 39 State St Boston
Vol M. page 14

9202 R
Massachusetts.
Nathaniel May, th of Wrentham, in the state of Massach: who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel H. Jackson , of the Massach. th line, for the term of two years . Mar
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 1 st of April, 1818 .
Certificate of Pension issued the 9. of April 19, and sent to Gaius Ware, judge Wrentham, Norfolk co. Mass. th
  Arrears to 4th of March, 1819 . . .  89.03.    Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4. Sept. 1819.  48 "    11 mo: \frac{4}{31}  $: 137.03.  
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued
Notification sent Oct. 20 th 1820 to James Ware Wrentham Mass.

I Nathaniel May a citizen of the United States residing at Wrentham in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts on oath declare that sometime in the year Seventeen Hundred and eighty I served in the war of the revolution against the common enemy upon the continental establishment for the term of six months as a private soldier in Captain Witt  Witt Company and Col. Marshals Regiment it being the tenth of the Massachusetts Line and was regularly discharged without ever having any certificate there of in writing — On the first day of January AD 1780 I again enlisted into the same service for three years and served first in Captain Thomas Lums Company in Col. Henry Jackson's Regiment it being the ninth of the Massachusetts Line from which I was transferred to Capt Ebenezer Smiths Company in Col Ebenezer Sproats Regiment it being the second of the Massachusetts Line wherein I served to the end of the war and received a regular discharge of which the following is a true copy viz:
"By Major General Knox commanding the Garrison of West Point and its Dependencies —
Nathaniel May Corporal in the second Massachusetts Regiment being enlisted for three years is hereby honorably discharged the service of the United States
Given at West Point the twenty eighth

day of October in the year of our Lord Seventeen Hundred and eighty three.
H Knox AM Generals
By the Generals command
John Lillie Aide de camp
Registered in the Books of the Regiment
J Suffer Adjutant
I further declare that by reason of infirmities and the reduced circumstances of my life I stand in need of the assistance of my Country for support —
Walter May

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Norfolk ss.
On this first day of April 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, for the Southern Circuit, personally appeared Nathaniel May aged _____ years, resident in the said Circuit, who being by me first duly cautioned according to law, on his oath made the following declaration, by him signed, in order to obtain the provision made by the late 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."

And I, the said Judge, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said Nathaniel May did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months, on the continental establishment; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress. with the said May's original Discharge
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
ss.
1818.
WHEREBY CERTIFY, That is one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Southern Circuit, consisting of the Counties of Plymouth, Norfolk, Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket in said Commonwealth—that the same Circuit Court of Common Pleas is a Court of record—that the signature to the above certificate is the true signature of the said Judge, and that the seal thereunto affixed is the seal of the said Court.
} Clerk of the Judicial Court for the County of

All the Amos Acheson and Josiah I. Liske both of West- ham in the County of Norfolk do testify and say that we are acquainted with Nathaniel May & believe him to be in reduced circumstances and to stand in need of assistance from his Country for support. Amos Acheson Josiah I. Liske
Norfolk ss April 1. 1818 Then the above named Amos Acheson & Josiah I. Liske well known to me as credible witnesses, made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by them submitted & The same I believe is true James Ware Vp. Judge

Copy Schwartz & Co of Nathaniel May-
9202
April 19

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
NORFOLK, ss.—CIRCUIT COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, SPECIAL SESSION, JULY 17, 1820.
On this 17th day of July 182 0 personally appeared, in open Court, being a Court of Record for said County, proceeding according to the course of the Common Law, with a jurisdiction un- limited in point of amount, keeping a Record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Nathaniel May aged fifty eight years, resident in Wrentham in said County, Commonwealth aforesaid , who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows: more than three years as a private in Capt. Kings Company and Col. Marshalls Regiment in Capt. Turners Company and Col. Jacksons Regiment in Capt. Smiths Company and Col. Spralls Regiment all of the Massachusetts line, as is more particularly set forth in his original declaration dated the first day of April 1818. His pension Certificate is dated the ninth day of April 1819 and numbered 9202.
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.
Nath. May
Sworn to and declared, on the A. D. 182 0 before
17th day of July
James Ware Judge A. C. C. Pleas for No. Circuit
I, Horatio Townsend Clerk of the said Court do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule hereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of 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 thirty three dollars and eighty cents.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this nineteenth day of July 182 0
Horatio Townsend Clerk.

  One maple Desk $1.75  one round table $1.00  $2.75    One square pine do  one small maple do $1.25  1.25    One candle stand $1.25  eight old kitchen chairs 2.40  2.65    Six fan back chairs $4.50  small looking glass 0.25  4.75    Two common chest 2.00  Tea table 0.50  Andiron 0.75  3.25    Shovel and tongs 0.65  one skillet 0.06  0.71    Two spiders  one basin 0.50  Dish kettle 50  1.00    Two iron pots 1.00  one flat 0.20  Brass kettle 5.00  6.20    Salvages 0.17  Mortar & pestle 0.12  Crockery & glass ware 1.00  1.29    Cutter, rake & vase 0.40  meat tub 1.00  wash tub 0.10  1.50    Churn 0.20  Cider Barrel 0.25   0.45      $25.80     One hog   8.00       $33.80   
The declarant further states that his occupation is Labourer, but from infirmity of body he is unable to work, except at intervals, being sometimes laid up whole months together by reason of humors & rheumatism that his family consists of himself his wife aged 51 years who is sick and unable to support herself and one daughter Ruth Billay aged 9 years - not of sufficient ability to support herself and that the declarant is considerably in debt
Nath. May

STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.
COUNTY OF Norfolk. } ss.
On this Sixteenth day of May one thousand eight hundred and fifty- five personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Betsy May aged 85 years, a resident of Wrentham in the County and State aforesaid, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of Nathaniel May who was a private in the war of the Revolution, and continued in actual service in said war for the term of at least fourteen days, and was honorably discharged from said service; for proof of which facts, she refers to the evidence on file in the Pension Office, upon which a Pension was granted her said husband under the Act of March 18, 1818
She further declares that she was married to the said Nathaniel May on the fifteenth day of January one thousand, eight hundred and seventeen ; that her name, before her said marriage, was Betsy Lawrence ; that her said husband died on the twenty fifth day of February one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven at Oxford and that she is still a widow; and for proof thereof she refers to the evidence on file with her application for a pension under the 2 o section of the Act of February 8, 1853 Not Pension Certificate included
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty Land to which she may be entitled under the Act approved March 3, 1855, and has appointed Franklin Hall, of Boston, her true and lawful attorney for her and in her name to prosecute her claim.
SIGNED AND SEALED IN PRESENCE OF
TWO WITNESSES.
J. D. Cobb Elijah Cobb
Betsy May

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, May 23, 1855.
I Hereby Certify , That at the date of the attestation hereunto annexed,
Calvin Fisher Jr was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Norfolk
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
William Wright Secretary of the Commonwealth.

AFFIDAVIT OF TWO WITNESSES.
We, Jeremiah D. Cobb and Elijah Cobb residents of Wrentham in the County and State aforesaid, upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by the above named Betsy May in our presence, and that we believe, from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be.
We further declare that we were well acquainted with the said Nathaniel May and Betsy May his wife (now his widow) during the life time of the former, and knew them to live together as husband and wife and to have been so generally reputed. That her said husband, the said Nathaniel May died at Corporal, Mass on or about the twenty fifth day of February 1837, and that she is still a widow, and that they have no interest in this claim.
J D Cobb
L. S.
Elijah Cobb
L. S.
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.
Calvin D. Dinsmore
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, May 23. 1855.
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestations Horatio Byington was a justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and Calvin Fisher Jr and William W. Russell were Justices of the Peace for the County of Norfolk, and Charles S. Bowman justice of the Peace for the County of Worcester in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and constituted; and that to their acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W. M. Knight Secretary of the Commonwealth.

State of Massachusetts, } County of Norfolk, } ss.
On this tenth day of May eighteen hundred and fifty five, personally appeared, in open Court, before the subscriber, Honorable Byington one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas within the said State the same being a Court of Record. Betsy May , a resident of Wrentham in said County, aged 85 or years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions of the 2 d section of the Act of February 3, 1853.
That she is the widow of Nathaniel May who was a pensioner of the United States under the Act of March 18, 1818, at the rate of ninety six dollars per annum, on account of his services in the war of the Revolution, and was paid at the Boston Agency, & for proof thereof she refers to the evidence on file in the Pension Office, with his declaration under said law.
She further declares that she was married to said Nathaniel May on the fifteenth day of January, eighteen hundred & seventeen, by Rev. Elisha Fiske , a Clergyman; that her name previous to her said marriage was Betsy Lawrence ; that her said husband

died on the twenty fifth day of February, eight hundred and thirty seven, at Oxford in the County of Worcester; that she was not married to him prior to the second day of January, eighteen hundred, but at the time above stated. She further declares that she is now and was a widow on the third day of February, 1853 and that she has appointed Franklin Hoale, of Boston, her true and lawful attorney, for her & in her name to prosecute prosecute her claim to a pension under the above named act.
Betsy Hoag
In presence of
Wm Gaston Eldredge
Sworn to, subscribed and acknowledged, the day and year above written, before me, and I certify that I have no interest in the claim of the declarant to a pension and am not concerned in its prosecution. The said Betsy Hoag made a mistake in making the name "Moag," being her aged person & it was corrected at the time when explaining the affidavit to me. Horatio H. H. H. Just 66 place,

We Jeremiah D Cobb and Elijah Cobb, both of Wrentham in the County of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, aged respectively 57 and 48 years on oath testify, and say that we are well acquainted with Mrs Betsy May, the within applicant for a pension, as widow of Nathaniel May and have been for 40 years, and during her life time were well acquainted with said Nathaniel May. That said Nathaniel May was the husband of said Bet- sy May. That said Betsy May, who was then named Betsy Lawrence lived in the family of our Father at the time she was married to said Nathaniel May, and we well recollect the circumstances of their courtship and marriage & that they were married by Rev Elisha Fiske, then a minister of Wrentham; that said Nathaniel May was always respected and beloved by his neighbors to have been a Soldier in the War of the Revolution, and we know that he was a pensioner of the United States, and received his pension in Duxbury. That he had a daughter in Thompson Conn., by a former wife, with whom he at one time went to live; that he lived in Wrentham six or eight years after his marriage, when he left and lived in several places afterwards, and finally in Oxford, Worcester County, where he died in the latter part of the year  month 1837 as we have al-

ways kind. That said Betsey May is now and was a minor on the third day of February, 1853, and that she is the only natural Nathaniel May's minor. Said Nathaniel May was a Revolutionary soldier and a pensioner as aforesaid. How we know where that W m May lived after he left Wrentham, is that he always used to stop at Wrentham on his way to Boston to get his pension money, and we used to see him at those times and talk with him.
H D Cobb Elizah Cobb
In full of May 16 th 1855. Then personally appeared the above named Jeremiah D Cobb and Elizah Cobb and made oath that the foregoing af- fidavit by them subscribed is true, & I certi- fy that said affiants are personally known to be highly respectable citizens of Wrentham and true and credible witnesses, & that I have no interest in the claim of Betsey May to a pension, and am not concerned in its prosecution.
Before me Calvin Dake, Justice of the Peace

I, Samuel C. Paine, of Oxford in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Physician, do hereby certify and make oath That I am now, and for the last twenty four years, have been a physician practising in said Town of Oxford; That in the month of February, A. D. 1837 I attended upon Mr. Nathaniel May, then and for some time previous a resident of said Oxford; That it was his last sickness, and that the said Nathaniel May died at Oxford near the last part of the month of February in the year eighteen hundred and thirty seven; That I remember the fact of his death, and find charges on my book for medical attendance upon said May as late as Feby: 11-1837. S. C. Paine M. D.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Worcester, ss. Oxford, April 21-1855. } Then personally appeared the above named Samuel C. Paine, and made oath that the above certificate, by him subscribed, is true and correct: Before me. Chas. D. Bowman , Jus Pacis.

I further certify that the within named Samuel C. Paine is personally known to me: that he is a practising physician and a resident of Oxford and a credible witness & that I have no interest in the claim of Betsy May and am not concerned in its prosecution.
Chas. D. Bowman
"Justice of the Peace."

State of Massachusetts, County of Norfolk, Town of Wrentham Return of marriages by the Rev. Elisha Fiske minister of the gospel in Wrentham from April 30 th 1816 to April 30 th 1817.
Eighteen hundred and seventeen, January fifteenth Nathaniel May of Thompson Conn te and Mrs Betsey Lawrence residing in Wrentham.
I certify that the above is a true copy of the record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed, on the record in fair legible figures as follows: "1817. January 15 th "
B.S. Fanning Town Clerk
I Bradford S. Fanning, above named depose and say, that I hold the office of Town Clerk, in the Town, County, and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true copy from records of said Town, with the exception above named, as certified by me
B.S. Fanning, T. Clerk
Subscribed and duly sworn to before me this eleventh day of April A.D. 1855, and I certify that I am not interested as agent, or otherwise, in the prosecution of the above claim
William Morrell
Justice of the Peace

Pay WIDOW, &c.
File No.
6745
Betsy May
Widow
Nathaniel May
Print Rec War
Act:
Chas. B.
1855
Index:—Vol.
66
Page
4
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Produce Off. May 29 th 1855,
Sir: Please Certify the time to which the within named penditure was paid on the date of his death. 10/56
Very Respectfully,
Isaac Vandermeulen
Rev. Mr. [?]
Rev. Mr. [?] The Rev. Mr. [?] The Rev. Mr. [?]

Nathaniel May paid to 4 Sept 1836, Rev John Miner
Auditor

Ph. 100/153. Maf.
B. B. B.

India Office, 27 th March, 1856.
Sir,
Your letter of the 14 th inst. is before H. H. H.

Howard May No. 375 Smith 2nd Floor
Butte,

19,785
S Memoranda

Betsy May, no 5734 Winthrop Nathanial.
Norfolk Co; Mass;
Alt 153 $96. Per An; Acc: Feb: 3: 1853.
Rev.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
Pension Office, Official Business.
Franklin Hall, 39 State St; Boston. Mass.

rief in the case of
By Mary Ann of Bathaniel, Mass;
Norfolk
County and State of act
Claim, ("original," or "for increase")
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditional, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
This claim was presented under the Act of 18 th March, 1818 (cont.) for the rate of $96. per An. Marriage, for which the amount thereof. has been due in February, 1837 for the Affidavit of three witnesses, report of the Hous. Auditor.
Uncontroverted testimony is established by the affidavits of three credible Affiants.
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Franklin Hall, Esq. 39 State Street, Boston, Mass;
Name and residence of Agent
H. B. Blyth Examining Clerk

map May wid. Botsey
Nathaniel
419 Boynton
L P Waldo Esq.
Commission of Pensions.
Washington. D.C.

29 State St. Boston May 23 rd 1855.
Sir,
Enclosed herewith I send the application of Betsy May, widow of Namanil May de d late a pensioner of the U. S. under the Act 18 March 1818. - for a pension under the 2 nd section of the Act of February 3. 1853.
I am, Sir, most respectfully,
Your obed t serv t
Franklin Hall
L. H. Walav, Esq r Comm r of Pensions, Washington. D.C.

By Major General Knox commanding the Garrison of West Point, and its Dependencies.
Nathaniel May corporal in the second Massachusetts Regiment being in listed for three years , is hereby honorably Discharged the service of the United States.
Given at West Point the 28 th day of October 1783
By the Generals Command H. Knox M c General J t Lillie Aide de Camp.
Registered in the books of the Regiment A. Tupper Adjutant