Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 26,248, for Abraham Mace, Massachusetts

SERVICE
Mass.
Mace, Abraham Reuel
NUMBER _____
W. 26. 248.
CONTENTS

4.216
Massachusetts
Reuel Macd,
widow of Abraham Macd,
who died on the 12 Novem 1810, of Norf'k in the State of Mass a who was a Pri in the Line commanded by Captain Warner, of the commanded by in the Mass a line for 2 years
reported
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass a at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cent per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of May 1831 5 and sent to Reuben Baldwin,
Arrears to the 4th of Boston Semi-annual allowance ending Mass a
Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 d
Recorded by C. C. Swan Clerk Book Vol. Page 60

6445 Mrs Ruth Mace Widow of Abraham Mace and a d 14 May 1836 St Asaph 1. 1845.
M 90 C 10

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston March 29 th 1843.
I hereby Certify, That at the date of the annexed attestation Sherman Leland was judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Norfolk, and William Benson was a justice of the Peace for all the Counties.
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.
John G. Sawyer; Secretary of the Commonwealth.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, of the 4th July, 1836 entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows," to widows, Orphans
3 d Section of said Act State of Massachusetts, } ss. County of Norfolk.
On this Eighteenth day of January in the year Eighteen Hundred & Forty-five; Personally appeared before the subscriber, judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Norfolk in said State Reuel Mace a resident of Brookline in the county of Norfolk aged Ninety 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 4, 1836 entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows;" That she is the widow of Abraham Mace , late of the Town of Gloucester, County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, deceased; That said Abraham Mace , her late Husband served both in the Land & Naval Service during the Revolutionary War. First in the year 1775, said Abraham served several months at Gloucester under Captain Warner during the year 1775. In the year 1776 He enlisted for one year and marched away with the Troops to New Quarters. Ebenezer Cleaveland of Sandy Bay, was one of his Officers. Said Abraham eventually marched to the Northward, to Syconduaga and other places in the vicinity, and during the year 1776 He wrote home to her two several letters, which letters are lost or destroyed; after his discharge from the service above described, and while on his way home, said Abraham was offered a Petty Officers birth on board of the United States Ship Alfred , Captain Hinman , which offer he accepted, and shipped as one of her crew, and sailed on a cruise, thence to France during the years 1777 & 1778, and during one of their cruises while off the coast of Africa the Alfred was taken by two of the Enemies Vessels, and part of her crew consisting of the Officers & Petty Officers, were taken to England and confined in Prison, where were many others of their unfortunate Countrymen. But at what particular time he was exchanged she has no means of knowing, only that he said Abraham returned home after the Peace in 1783, having been absent six years & nine months. She further declares that she was married to the said Abraham Mace in the Month of December in the year seventeen hundred and seventy; that her husband, the aforesaid Abraham Mace died on the Twelfth day of November one thousand eight hundred & ten that she was not married to him prior to his going into the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz: at the time above stated.
Sworn to, and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before me, Reuel Mace
And I hereby certify that the said Applicant by reason of bodily infirmity is unable to attend Court to make her declaration J Leland Judge of Probate

"A purpose of Marriage between Abraham Mace a sojourner & Revd. Survey of this town was entered December thirteenth. one thousand seven hundred & seventy."
I hereby certify, that the foregoing is a true copy of the Record of the Town of Gloucester, County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, excepting the date which is expressed on the Record in fair legible figures thus "December 13. 1770"
William Saville Town Clerk of Gloucester.
I William Saville above named depose & say that I hold the office of Town Clerk, in the Town, County & State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of said Town, with the exception above as certified by me.
William Saville Town Clerk of Gloucester.
Essex, Js.
February 5, 1845.
Sworn before me
William Ferson, Justice of Peace
I certify that the records of marriages solemnized by the Rev. John Rogers, who it is asserted, married the above named persons, are believed by his heirs to have been lost or destroyed
William Ferson, Justice of Peace.

Gloucester, February 5. 1845
Reuben Baldwin, Esq.
Dear Sir,
I received by Mr Winchester your letter of yesterday in which I have to acknowledge your kindness in promptly answering mine. I am much gratified in receiving the Resolve of 23d January and the instructions to applicants.
I send the extract from the records of Gloucester of the intention of marriage of Abraham Mace and Ruel Survey. The Rev. John Rogers did not make his return of marriages to the Town Clerk towards the close of his life; and his grand children believe his Church papers and records are lost.
I am with due respect
Your obedt. servt.
William Ferson

11/1/50
Ruel Mace Moow of Abraham Map
ad 4 July 1836
adm c 2 years Marine $80. piram-
Reuben Racorn Boston Map

WIDOW, &c.
File No. 26248
Renel Mace Wid of Abraham Mace Prin Rev. M.
Act July 4 th 1836
Index: Vol M , Page 13
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Boston, Massachusetts March 29 th 1845.
Sir.
I transmit herewith the papers of application for a life Pension, under the Act 4 th July 1836, by Mrs Reuel Mace, widow of Abraham Mace deceased. The duration of the service of said Abraham Mace during the year 1776 will more readily appear by reference to the Original Declaration of Ebenezer Cleaveland, who was a Lieutenant and in the service of that year, & who was the recruiting Officer under whom said Abraham marched away from Gloucester. Said Ebenezer Cleaveland was a Prisoner of Essex County, under the act of Congress of the 18 th March 1818: and as to the alleged service of said Abraham on board of the Alfred - the grade he held on board of said Vessel - its duration, or the duration of his captivity, all is uncertainty, with the exception of the light communicated by the accompanying testimony. It is to be hoped that the Department may be in possession of evidence of the service of said Abraham on board of the Ship Alfred Captain Hinman &c. and the time of her capture.
I presume that the aged applicant would be content - to to receive seaman's pay for his service referred to, on board of the Alfred, as the Grade & Rank he held cannot now be satisfactorily established.
It is believed that the applicant is entitled to a Pension, amounting to the full pay of a Seaman in the Revolutionary Navy, without any reference to previous service.
The above mentioned case was informally transmitted to the Department, and replied to in your letter dated April 9 th 1842. Be pleased to give this case the usual course of investigation & transmit to me the result. Very Respectfully Sir I am James L. Edwards, Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington
Your Obedient Servant
Reuben Baldwin.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston;
Jan y . 14 1845.
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 Abraham Mace is borne as a private upon a Muster Roll of the 1 st Comp y . stationed at Gloucester for the defence of the sea Coast, and Commanded by Capt n Daniel Haines from the time of enlistment to the 1 st of Nov r 1775, enlisted July 19 th . time in service, 3 months, 21 days; and upon another roll of the same, "made up from the 1 st day of Nov r to the last day of Dec r 1775, "7 months, 5 days;" this roll was sworn to, examined and certified as correct, and ordered in Council to be paid in full. There are no Rolls of Capt n or M c leaverty or of the Alfred in this office.
3 21 2 5 5 20

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John G. Sawyer, Secretary of the Commonwealth.

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF REVOLUTIONARY SERVICES, MADE BY THE WIDOW OF THE PARTY WHO RENDERED THE SERVICE.
State of Massachusetts County of Norfolk Town of Brookline
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby requested to furnish evidence from the Rolls in his office, of my late husband's service in the war of the Revolution. Viz. Abraham Mace
He enlisted from the town of Gloucester in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts in the year 1776. 1778 as a Lieutenant in the Company commanded by Captain Cleaveland in Regiment and he served as follows,* viz:—
That my late Husband, Abraham Mace aforesaid, performed service in the Army & also in the Navy of the Revolutionary War; The particulars of which I can give but an imperfect description. First he served as a Soldier for the town of Gloucester, and marched away from thence with the troops and went to the Northeast to Tyenderoga & vicinity, and as near as I can remember he served all thro the year 1776, in the Land service After which said Abraham shipped as one of the crew of the United States Ship Alfred Capt Elisha Hinman and sailed on a cruise, and was finally taken by the Enemy and carried to England and confined in Prison with others of the crew, at what time he was exchanged I have no means of knowing. said Abraham Mace was a Petty Officer as I have always understood. He was absent from Home from the forefront
*Here describe as fully as may be, the length of service, the rank &c. of the soldier, or the capacity in which he served, and all other particulars known.
of 1776 untill after the Peace in 1783. — Six years and 9 months, from the time of his first entering on board of the Alfred . On further reflection I am of opinion that said Abraham Mace was in the service in 1775 during which he was in the Battle of Bunker Hill

I am now Ninetyfive years old, and my memory does not enable me to state my husband's services more fully than above stated.
WITNESS my hand, this Eleventh day of January
A. D. 1845.
Rachel Mace Her mark
Signed by said Rachel Mace in my presence, by making her mark William Newell
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

We William Parkhurst, aged seventy five years and Philip Preastly aged seventy four years, both of Gloucester in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on oath testify and say, That we were born and brought up in said Gloucester. That we were formerly acquainted with Abraham Mace, his wife Ruel and their family; they resided in a neighborhood about two miles north of the village, popularly called Dog-Town, where they lived as man and wife and had several children. Said Abraham Mace was married to Ruel Survey before our memory, the legality of their marriage was never called in question by any body to our knowledge. It was always reported and believed that said Abraham performed several years service in the time of the Revolutionary War, part of which was on the land and part in the Naval service. We have always understood from common report that said Abraham Mace served as a soldier in the Fort at this Harbour and that afterwards he marched from Gloucester with the recruits raised in this vicinity, under Captain of Lieutenant Ebenezer Cleaveland. After this last mentioned service terminated, the said Abraham shipped on board of an armed vessel and sailed on a cruise, during which he was captured and carried to Fortune prison in England, where, after remaining in captivity nearly two years, said Abraham and others made their escape by digging out; and after the peace he returned home to his family in said Gloucester. In process of time said Abraham together with his family removed to Newbury- =port where it was commonly reported he died upwards of thirty years since and left his wife Ruel a widow, who, we understand is still living and resides with her children in the vicinity of Boston. We have never heard that she has been since the death of her late husband Abraham Mace aforesaid
William Parkhurst
Philip Priestly
Essex, Jr. March 7, 1845. Then William Parkhurst and Philip Preastly, well known to me as credible witness, made oath to the truth of the above deposition by them signed before me William Ferson, Justice of Peace

I Vanny Grimes of Rockport, late Gloucester in the County of Essex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventythree Years, Being sworn, do an Oath testify Depose and say that, I was formerly well acquainted with Abraham Mace and his wife Rachel, whose family name was Lurvey; said Rachel was an own Aunt of mine. Said Abraham Mace, his wife Rachel & their family lived in a neighbourhood commonly called Dogtown, within the bounds of the Town of Gloucester, about the distance of four miles from the main Village at Gloucester Harbour & three miles from this Town of Rockport formerly called Sandy Bay and about the same distance from Squam Bay & Village. This said Abraham Mace was married to my Aunt Rachel before my memory and were living together as Man & wife & had several Children when the Revolutionary War began, at which time my said Uncle was called into the service of his Country which I always understood from his own mouth & that of others, that he served both in the Land & Naval Service, during the War, first in the Fort at the Harbour in the first Year of the War, & in the Year 1776 said Abraham & my Father James Priestly & others enlisted to serve as soldiers, & marched from home to Cambridge near Boston under Colonel Cleveland (of Sandy Bay) & from thence to the state of New York, and during the continuance of the War my said Father James Priestly died. After the Campaign of 1776 closed, said Abraham Mace on his way home shipped on board of a public Armed Vessel & sailed on a cruise during which he was taken prisoner by an Enemies Vessel & carried to a Prison in Old England where himself and many others were confined nearly two Years, but he finally effected his escape by digging out, and eventually returned home to his family after the Peace. I have often heard said Abraham

relate some of the circumstances of his escape, and in particular I remember one expression of his wife, that he dug out with his finger mails; and further that he was in the public service nearly seven years. After the return of Mr. Abraham to this country he with his wife Rachel and their family removed to Wembury Point where he died upwards of thirty years since, and left said Rachel a widow, who is still living with her daughter a Mrs. Manscutt at Brookline, near Boston and has never to my knowledge intermarried since the death of her husband - said Abraham Mace.
her Nanny J. Grimes Mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts)
Essex County
ss.
Rockport March 6 th 1845
Then personally appeared Nanny Grimes, subscribed to the foregoing affidavit and made solemn oath to the truth of the same, and I hereby certify that I am well acquainted with said Nanny, & know her to be a respectable inhabitant of the town of Rockport, whose testimony is entitled to full credit & belief.
James H. Wheeler Justice of the Peace.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Essex ss.
I Ebenezer Shillaber Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in said County do certify that William Ferson & James Haskell Esqrs. are Justices of the Peace in & for said County In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court March 28. 1845.
E. Shillaber Clerk