Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 8234, for Elijah Jones, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Jones, Elijah Pierce, Deborah
P 8234
(Former widow)
CONTENTS
born in Tuina, Dorchester Co. Me. res. at sub. Wellfleet, Barnstable Co. Mass + drowned in the harbor at Wellfleet Jan. 13, 1791

No Deborah Pierce Mays
July 7/1838
Disallowed Did not run 6 months.

State of Massachusetts, } ss. County of Barnstable, }
On this second day of November, A. D. 1854, personally appeared before me Nymphas Marston , Esquire Judge of the Court of Probate in and for the said County of Barnstable, Deborah Pierce , a resident of Wellfleet in said County, aged nearly ninety-one years , who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath and from the best of her knowledge and belief make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th, 1838, entitled "an act granting half-pay and pensions to certain widows," - and the acts supplemental thereto.
That she was formerly the widow of Elijah Jones , who was a native of Vienna in the County of Dorchester and State of Maryland and came to Wellfleet in his boyhood, and at the age of fourteen was there apprenticed to Declarant's late father: that soon after he became 21 years of age - in the year 1775, she thinks - he proceeded to Cambridge and entered the Army there, as a private and volunteer, she believes, for the term of three months and faithfully served out the term of his enlistment at said Cambridge and other places in the vicinity of Boston; but what the name of the Captain of the Company was in which this three months term of his service was performed she is at present unable to state.
She further declares that her said husband soon after his discharge from the last described term of his service, sometime in the beginning of the year 1776 again entered it as a private and volunteer she believes - for the term of one year; but although in consequence of his having served his apprenticeship with her said father she was thus very familiar in the family, she is enabled to swear positively to the length of his service, by the length of time he was absent from home in the Army - and from often hearing him tell of his services, yet, as he lost his life more than sixty-three years ago , she is unable

- to recollect the particulars of the names of the Officers under whom he served. But as there was at the time no person of the name of Elijah Jones belonging to said Wellfleet but her said husband , she declares on her oath and from the best of her knowledge and belief that her said husband was the identical person named in the Certificate of the Hon. Secretary of Massachusetts hereto annexed, as having performed service in the Company of Capt. Winslow Lewis and that of Capt. Elisha May; and she also declares that he served during the whole of the year 1776, part of the time at Second broga and part of the time at other places, and finally came home by the way of and through New Jersey, - having been detained on his way by a fit of sickness at Elizabethtown in that State - as set forth in her application for a search of the records annexed hereto , - she having been married to him in little more than a year after his said return.
She further declares that as she believes all those who served with her said husband are now dead and she knows of no person whose testimony she can procure in proof of his services, and as the Department must be satisfied of at least six months' service performed by him before she can obtain any relief - though blind, infirm and dependent as she now is in this her extreme old age, - under these circumstances her only hope for the allowance of her claim rests on the possibility that the Department has full rolls of the said two named companies to verify the balance of her husband's services throughout the whole of the said year of 1776, - her husband being with the Army at New York at the time the Instalment Pay Roll was made up in November of that year - as named on the aforesaid Certificate.
She therefore begs to refer to the rolls and records of the War Department, Washington, in proof of the services of her said husband herein alleged and declared; and she further declares that not knowing of any witness, nor of any

- agent hitherto to take charge of her claim, is the only cause - of her not before presenting it.
She further declares that she was married to the said Elijah Jones on the twenty-third day of July in the year seventeen hundred and seventy-eight: that her husband the aforesaid Elijah Jones was accidentally drowned in the harbor of said Wellfleet on the twelfth day of January in the year seventeen hundred and ninety-one: that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz: at the time above stated.
She further declares that after the death of her husband aforesaid she was married to Isaac Pierce on the sixth eleventh day of May, A. D. 1872, and he died on the eleventh day of August, eighteen hundred and forty-four, and that she is still a widow.
Witnessed by
Diana H. Baker      Deborah her X Pierce mark
Benjamin J. Rider
Barnstable Feb. November 2 d 1854.
Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid before me; - the said applicant being unable by reason of infirmity to appear in Court - the same was done at her residence where I attended for that purpose.
Nymphas Marston Judge of said Court.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Barnstable ss: I George Marston Register of the Court of Probate in the said Court hereby certify that Hon. Nymphas Marston is Judge of said Court, & that the signature above is his genuine signature.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court this second day of March, A.D. eighteen hundred & fifty four. Geo. Marston, Reg. Probate.

Extract from the Record of Marriages in the town of Wellfleet, County of Barnstable and State of Massachusetts. Elijah Jones and Deborah Sweet both of Wellfleet were married seventeen hundred seventy-eight July twenty-third Isaac Pierce and Deborah Jones both of Wellfleet were married eighteen hundred and twenty May eleventh .
I certify that the above are true extracts from the record with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible letters and figures as follows:— "July 23 d 1778" "May 11 th 1820"
John W. Davis Town Clerk
I, John W. Davis above named, depose and say that I hold the Office of Clerk of the said town of Wellfleet and that the above is a true extract from the record, with the exception above named, as certified by me—
John W. Davis Clerk of the town of Wellfleet
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County of Barnstable . . . . . } ss. Oct 28 th 1854. Then personally appeared John W. Davis above named, who is well known to me personally to be the Official Clerk of the above named town of Wellfleet and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed
Before me Eben r Freeman Justice of the Peace.

I, Benjamin J. Rider, of Wellfleet in the County of Barnstable do on my oath declare that I am well acquainted with Deborah Pierce, the identical person who was formerly the reputed widow of Elijah Jones and is now the widow of Isaac Pierce, and who is now an applicant for a Revolutionary Pension for and on account of the Revolutionary Services of her said first husband, Elijah Jones. I have always understood and believed that said Elijah Jones performed several terms of Public Service in said War, - having often heard it spoken of by others, - but I am unable to swear to the particulars of it from my own personal knowledge. And I do on my oath as aforesaid further testify and declare that I have often heard it stated that said Elijah Jones was drowned in the harbor of said Wellfleet many years ago; and I do further well know that after his decease said Deborah Pierce was married to Isaac Pierce, and that he the said Isaac Pierce died on the eleventh day of August A.D. eighteen hundred and forty-four, and that said Deborah Pierce is now a widow and has not intermarried since the decease of her husband, Isaac Pierce aforesaid.
Benjamin J. Rider
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County of Barnstable ... } ss Oct 28 th 1854.
Then the above named Benjamin J. Rider, a credible witness, made oath in due form of law to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed, before me -
Ebenezer Freeman Justice of the Peace.

1888 June 15 Mrs L H Higgins, why rejected & child not entitled to pension or to arrears of pension & also who were now entitled to Bounty land Prior
[Redacted]
82134 am
P. O. Deborah Pierce
Service: Former wid. of Elijah Jones
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: Claim filed too late to have cause of rejection
Re-enlisted: entered on printed list of 1852
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

No 15 265. Deborah Pierce formerly widow of Elijah Jones Mass
Rejected Did not serve 6 months.
La? Gregory July 20 1855 This letter cannot be found.
8234
July 7 1838

Oloyn

8234
To Boston June 9 th 1888
To the Secretary of War, Washington D.C.
Dear Sir
Can you give me any information concerning some papers that were sent to Washington in 1855; relating to a pension, and land grant, which belonged to one Elijah Jones who fought in the Revolutionary War. I think he was six  three months at Cambridge and twelve months at Picoaderoga and elsewhere.
Any information, or advice, that you can give, that will enable us, to procure what should have been paid to Mr Jones, will be very gratefully received by his heirs, some of whom are in very needy circumstances.
Very Respectfully Yours
Mrs Lewis H. Higgins
Great Granddaughter of Mr Jones
Address 58 Thomas Park
South Boston.
Mass.

Das. Gregory
Feb. 20/85,

Pension Office
Feby 20 1863-
Sir
The application of Deborah Pierce formerly widow of Elijah Jones of Mass has been filed under the act of July 7 1838 and disallowed.
This Office is not in possession of any Militia Rolls of Massachusetts Service, & if the service can not be shown by the Secretary of that State there is no means of procuring the Record evidence,
James Gregory Esq
Marblehead Mass

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, February 2 d 1855
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Ebenezer Freeman was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Barnstable.
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.
E. M. Wright Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Elijah. Danner.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston:
December 1 st 1853.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that The Name of Elijah Jones is borne on travel roll of Capt. Winston Lewis Camp to and from Camp at Saratoga. Dated July 13. 1776 from Wellsfield 218 Miles £0.18.2. Also on pay roll of Capt. Elisha May's Camp from Sept. to November 1776. 2 Mts. Campaign at New York.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W. M. D. Wright Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Affliction of Deborah. Praise, presented by James Gregson.
Essex

The following REGULATIONS, to be observed in the examination of the Revolutionary Rolls in this office, have been rendered necessary under the rules which are established in the Pension Department at Washington, viz :
1. Every application requiring search, or certificate, must be made to the Secretary, in writing, by the claimant, or by some person duly authorized by the claimant ; and the signature to the application must be attested by some magistrate.
2. The application must set forth, as fully as the circumstances of the case will allow, the residence and service of the soldier, and the names of the officers under whom he served ; and no search will be made until after the filing of such written application.
“Regulations to be observed in the examination of the Massachusetts Revolutionary Papers in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.”
“The application must be made to the Secretary in writing, by the claimant, or by some person duly authorized by the claimant, by a written power of attorney, attested by a magistrate. The signature of the claimant must in all cases be attested in like manner.
“The application must set forth, as fully as the circumstances of the case will allow, the residence of the soldier, &c., at the time of the service, and the names of the various officers under whom he served, as well as the nature of such service.
“The certificate of the Secretary must show that the search was made, after the filing of such application, by himself, or by one of his Clerks alone, and must be accompanied by the original application of the claimant, or of his attorney, and by a detailed statement, under the signature of the Secretary, and the seal of the State, of the circumstances which satisfied that officer of the identity of the party described in the application, with the individual who rendered the service.
J. L. EDWARDS, COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS.”

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF REVOLUTIONARY SERVICES, made by the widow of the party who rendered the service.
State of Massachusetts , county of Barnstable , town of Wellfleet .
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his office, of the service of my former husband, Elijah Jones , in the war of the Revolution.
He was a native of the town of Vienna in the county of Dorchester and State of Maryland
He enlisted from the town of Wellfleet in the county of Barnstable and State of Massachusetts in the year 1775 as a Private in the Company commanded by Captain in Regiment and he served as follows, * viz: —
I am now unable to state the particulars as to the names of the Officers under whom my said late husband served, as all I know about it is from my recollection of what he used to say in his lifetime, and he has now been dead more than sixty-two years , — having been drowned on the 12th. of January, 1791, in the harbor of Wellfleet.
But I recollect hearing him say that he enlisted into the Army of the Revolution in 1775, and served several months in that year at Cambridge and around Boston and until he was honorably discharged. He also stated that at the
* Here describe, as fully as may be, the length of service, the rank, &c. of the claimant, or the capacity in which he served, and all other particulars known.

in the following year of 1876 he again enlisted into the Army for the term of one year, and marched to and served at Ticonderoga and other places - not now remembered - and came home to Wellfleet by the way of on through New Jersey and had a fit of sickness while on his way home at Elizabethtown in said State, - having first served out the term of his enlistment and been again honorably discharged.
My said late husband might have performed other service by Land or Sea, but being now myself 90 years old I am unable to recollect or state any more particulars of it
Deborah Pierce
I am now ninety years old, and my memory does not enable me to state the services of said Eliza Jones more fully than above stated.
WITNESS my hand, this Tenth day of August A. D. 18 8 3.
Signed by said Deborah Pierce in my presence, Deborah Pierce Ebenezer Freeman JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
The above is a true copy of the original as shown to the undersigned before the said Justice of the Peace, and the witness hereto the rather line on the right. If unable to write her name then she can make her mark therefor. Deborah K. Pierce mark

Marblehead, February 13th, 1855.
Hon. Loren N. Waldo, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C. —
Sir:
I have the honor to forward herewith the Declaration and papers of Mrs. Deborah Pierce of Wellfleet, in this State — a worthy old School mistress, but now blind, dependent and over ninety years old, — claiming the benefit of the act of 1838 for the services of Elijah Jones, her first husband, in the War of the Revolution.
A perusal of her Declaration will show all the contingencies bearing upon her case; and although no one entertains a doubt of the truthfulness and genuine character of her claim, yet as the rolls in our State Archives do not give anything more than Instalments of the service performed under Cpts. Lewis and May, therefore the only hope of the old widow rests on the possibility that those of the Department will verify the full length of the two terms declared for.
I am, with great respect, Your Honor's humble servt.
James Gregory.