Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6885, for William Mansfield, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass-
Mansfield, William
R 6885
CONTENTS

Marblehead, Nov. 15 th , 1850.
Honored Sir:
At the request of Joseph Bancroft Esq. of Savannah, Georgia, I have the Honor to forward herewith the Declaration and papers of his lady, Martha Mansfield Bancroft, only Daughter & child of Col. William Mansfield, late of the adjoining City of Salem, Esq., deceased — claiming the benefit of the law of June 7 th , 1832, and the Acts amendatory or explanatory thereto, for what time her said late father lived within the period embraced by said law.
Col. Mansfield was one of the most esteemed and respectable citizens of Salem; and undoubtedly it was through the sturdy Spirit of Independence which he always maintained throughout his long life that he did not trouble himself about applying for the benefit of said law in his lifetime; and the great distance which his daughter resided from her native State, and the

- consequent difficulty of getting up the necessary papers, has been the leading cause why she has not prosecuted her claim ere this.
As it is impossible to find living witnesses who actually served with the applicants' late father, the proof now forwarded with the Declaration - traditional and positive - will be found in the two affidavits accompanying it, and is the only proof the case is susceptible of at this late day.
I am with very great respect, Your Honors' humble servt. James Gregory
James L. Edwards Esq. Commission of Revenue, Washington, D. C.

38,086
William Mansfield esq
M.P.
June 7. 1832.
Jas. Gregory, Barkhead, M.P.

United States of America } Southern District of Georgia } Js.
On this sixth day of March A.D. 1850 personally appeared in chambers before me John C. Nicoll District Judge of the United States for the District aforesaid Martha Mansfield Bancroft a resident of the City of Savannah, Georgia, aged forty eight 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 act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 which enured and accrued under the provisions of said act to her late father William Mansfield late of Salem in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts deceased for Military Services performed by him in the War of the Revolution.
That her said Father left no Widow and but one Child only, the Declarant, at the time of his decease which happened on the twenty eighth day of August A.D. 1840 as will appear by the Court Certificate to be annexed hereto.
That some time in the month of July 1775 her said Father while a resident of the Town of Lynn in the before named County of Essex entered the Military Service of the State of Massachusetts and served as a fifer in a company of Sea Coast Guards commanded by Capt Samuel King, stationed partly at Salem and partly at Lynn for the purpose of guarding the Sea Coast in and about those towns and the vicinity of them, and continued to serve therein for the period of about six months and until he was honorably

discharged.
The further declares that after the discharge of her said father from the last named corps, in the month of July 1780, he again entered the service as a corporal, and served at West Point in the State of New York in that capacity in the company of Capt Addison Richardson of Colonel Nathaniel Wade's Regiment, between three and four months when he was again honorably discharged.
The further declares that she has reason to think and believe that her said late father performed other service in the War of the Revolution besides that herein stated and declared but that at present she is unable to describe the particulars of it.
And she hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that the name of her said Father is not on the pension roll of any Agency in any State.
Martha Mansfield Bancroft.
Sworn and subscribed on the 18th day and year above written.
Before me
Isaac Kiell District Judge for the District of Georgia.

United States of America } Southern District of Georgia }
I, George Glen Clerk of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of Georgia do hereby certify that John C. Nicoll whose name is signed to the foregoing Instrument is the Judge District Judge of the United States for the Southern District of Georgia & that said attestation is in his own hand writing.
In Witness Whereof I have hereto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Court at Savannah the sixth day of March 1850 Geo. Glen Clerk
I, Daniel R. Witt, of Lynn in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, do on my oath testify and declare that I am in the eighty-third year of my age; that I have resided in the said town of Lynn more than eighty years; that I well knew William Mansfield, late of Salem in the said County of Essex, deceased. Said William Mansfield was - as I have always understood - born in the said town of Lynn; and I was well acquainted with him from my boyhood. His Daughter, Mrs. Bancroft, who is understood to have signed the Declaration hereon, is now understood to be a resident of the State of Georgia. And I do on my oath as aforesaid further testify and declare that I well knew that said William Mansfield was entered the War of the Revolution as a fifer - for part of the time at least - and I have heard him tell about his services in the War and think I have heard him speak of his being at West Point, but the particulars of this I have now forgotten.
Danl R Witt
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ss October 26th. 1850. County of Essex . . . . .
Then personally appeared Daniel R. Witt, a very respectable and credible witness, and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed -
Before me, James Gregory, Justice of the Peace.
(Another affidavit over)

I, Elizabeth Nourse, of Lynn in the County of Essex, widow of James Nourse, and a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States, do on my oath testify and declare that I am in the eighty-seventh year of my age: that I was born in said Lynn and always lived there; that I well knew the late William Mansfield, whose daughter, Martha M. Mansfield, is understood to have signed the Declaration hereon. Said Mansfield was a cousin of mine and I was therefore familiar with him and also of part, at least, of his services in the Revolutionary War; and I well recollect that he served in the Companies of a Capt King and also a Capt Richardson in said War. And I well recollect after he came from the War of hearing him tell of his services at West Point in the State of New York. And I also know that he signed part of the time as a rater, in how long he served I am unable to state. Elizabeth X Nourse mark
Massachusetts
Commonwealth - Massachusetts } 33. October 2, A. D. 1880. County of Essex }
Then personally appeared Elizabeth Nourse, above named, and a credible witness, and made oath in due form of law to the truth of the above affidavit by her subscribed -
Before me, James Gregory, Justice of the Peace.

38,086
William Mansfield, ad
Prof
St. W. Gregory, Dec 15/57.
6885-
June 7, 1882

no 38086
November 19 1850
Deed
Col. Mrs. Mansfield de
Col
Mass.
act 7 June 1832
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
[Faint, mirrored bleed-through text from the reverse side of the paper]

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
6885
P. O.
William Mansfield
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, October 31 st 1850.
I hereby C ertify, That at the dates of the annexed attestations Nath l Lord h was Register of Probate, and James Gregory was a Justice of the Peace, both for the County of Essex,
in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and qualified; 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.
R. H. Calkins
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Essex, ss. Probate Office.
I Nathaniel Lord junior , register of probate for said county, hereby certify, that William Mansfield , late of Salem in said county, esquire, deceased, testate, was an applicant for a revolutionary pension of the United States; that he died on the twenty eighth day of August, A. D. 1840; that he left no widow; that he left one child, and no more, viz. Martha Mansfield Bancroft ; and that she is still living, and is of full age;
as appears by the records in said office.
Given under my hand and seal of office, this day of April ,
A. D. 1840.
third
Nath. Lord Jr.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston:
June 3 rd 1848.
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 William Mansfield is borne upon a Pay Roll of Capt Samuel Kings Company, "stationed at Salem and Lynn, for defence of the Sea Coast," as a Suficr. from July 14 1775. 6 Months & 2 days.
Upon a Pay Roll of Capt Addison Richardson's Company in Col Wades Regt, from the County of Essex, as a Corporal from July 12 to October 10 1778, including allowance of 12 days, for 340 Miles travel, 3 Months and 11 days.
Large decorative flourish or signature at the bottom of the page.

And I further Certify, That, before search made for evidence. The roll of said facts, the application hereto annexed was filed in this of Capt. Office, in the form in which the same now appears; that the Sam (Sturgis) search was made by myself and my clerks alone; and that said Company for application, and the certificate above set forth, contain all the facts 1775, was and circumstances within my knowledge, pertaining to the case. dated at Lynn.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W. H. Calhoun,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is requested to furnish from the Military Records in his Office evidence of the services of my late Father William Mansfield in the war of the Revolution
He entered from Lynn in the county of Essex & State of Massachusetts as a piper, I think in Col d John Mansfields Regiment and I believe he afterwards served as a Non Commissioned Officer, but for what term, or under what Officer I am unable to state
De Kalb County Geo: November 1 st 1847
Martha Mansfield Bancroft.
Signed in presence of John N. Bellinger a Justice of the Superior Court of De Kalb County Geo: