Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24,148, for Abner Merrill, Massachusetts

6
SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Merrill, Abner
No. 24,148
Betsey
CONTENTS

Levi Merrill, Benjamin, Jacob, Abner, John & Joseph Merrill, only children.
Rp.?
(71114) Maine.
Betsey Merrill, dec d . Widow of Abner Merrill who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the year 1783 of Cam d . in the State of Maine who was a sergeant in the company commanded by Captain Rogers of the Reg t commanded by Col t Rogers in the Mass. line for 9 mo. & 19 1 mo. & 19 days.
Inscribed on the Roll of Portland at the rate of 3 3 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836, & until 11 th in March 1840, when she died.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 th day of Octo. 1840 and sent to H. Bradford, Portland, Me.
Total amount, $
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by D. Hayward Clerk Book 6, Vol. 1, Page 11.
Payable to Children.

Rec Feb 7 40? 42,513
Betsy Merrill dec Maine.
m o 82 h u b d D. 111
Act y th Aug 1838 ending 11 March 1840
Rec d 9 - no s $30
Corporal 1 mo 3.66
$33.66
Admitted
also 3 mo 1843 19 June 1844
F. Bradford
Portland
Surviving children Maine Luis Merrill, Benjamin Merrill, Jacob Merrill Abner Merrill, John Mer- rill, Joseph Merrill.

United States of America
District of Maine ss
I Asahel Wares Judge of the United States for the District aforesaid hereby certify that it has been satisfactorily proved to me that Betsey Merrill widow of Almon Merrill late of Green died on the 11th of March 1840 and that her husband Almon Merrill died on the 4th of May 1814. & that the said Betsey remained a widow from the time of the death of her husband to the time of her death aforesaid. & that Levi Merrill Benjamin Merrill Jacob Merrill Almon Merrill John Merrill & Joseph Merrill are the children & only surviving children of said Almon & Betsey Merrill deceased.
Asahel Wares

I Samuel Sweetser Clerk of the town of North Yarmouth in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine on oath depose and say that I am town clerk of said North Yarmouth and have in my possession and custody the ancient Books of Records belonging to said town. In one of these Books purporting to contain a record of the Marriages solemnized in said town I find the following to wit: Seventeen hundred eighty two Decr twenty seventh Abner Merrill and Elizabeth Royall. Married by the Revd. Gristian Gilman.
Recorded By David Mitchell Town Clerk North Yarmouth copy of Record Jan 27 1846 Attest Samuel Sweetser Town Clerk.
I further depose and say that the foregoing is a true transcript with the exception of the date which is expressed in fair legible figures, "1782 Decr 27 Abner Merrill & Elizabeth Royall" Samuel Sweetser Town Clerk
State of Maine Cumberland ss Jan 27 1846 Subscribed and sworn to Before me Barnabas Freeman Justice of the Peace

United States Maine District Circuit Court Clerk's Office
I hereby certify that the Honorable Ashur Ware before whom the foregoing proceedings were had is Judge of the United States in and for Maine District and that the several signatures thereto purporting to be his are his genuine signatures
In testimony of which I have hereto set my hand and affixed Seal this thirtieth day of January A.D. one thousand eight hundred and forty six Ann Russell Clerk U.S. Cir. Court

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston;
January 16. 1846.
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 Abner Merrill, is borne upon a List of men drafted for 9 months service, from the time of their arrival at Fish Kill, as a private, of North Yarmouth, - arrived at Fish Kill, June, 13. 1778. - Upon a Muster Roll of Capt. Geo. Rogers's Company, in Col. Nathan Rogers's regt. at Wal- mouth, as a Corporal, from September 23 to October 23. 1779. 1 month. The above facts were given in a Certificate issued from this office the 13 th inst. - and is all the evidence of service of any one of the name, shown by the Military Records in this office.

16/10
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. Pierpont,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

To the Secretary of State of Massachusetts.
The undersigned Jacob Merrill, requests the Secretary of State of Massachusetts to furnish from the Rolls and other documents relating to military service in the war of the Revolution, the evidence of the service of Abner Merrill his father, who was a Soldier in the revolutionary war.
And this applicant states that his father, the said Abner Merrill was a resident of Falmouth or New Casco as it was some time called in the time of the revolutionary war. He is unable to state in what company he served or the length of his service; He therefore requests the Secretary to give such evidence of service as may be found upon his rolls. Jacob Merrill Lewiston October 24-1845.
Lincoln ss. October 24 th 1845. Personally appeared the above named Jacob Merrill and signed the above request in my presence.
William Garcelon Justice of the Peace

100554-00105 United States of America
On this 26th day of January in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred & forty six personally appeared before the Hon. Asahel Wadsworth judge of the U. States for the District of Maine Jacob Merrill a resident of Lewiston within said District of Maine who for himself & for Levi Merrill Benjamin Merrill Almon Merrill John Merrill & Joseph Merrill makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed July 7 1838 -
And this applicant states that his father was a resident of New Canaan in the time of the Revolutionary war and a Blacksmith by trade and I have frequently heard my father speak of his revolutionary services I have heard my father say that he served in the whole four or five years in the war of the revolution This applicant believes that his father was in the last three years of the war in addition to that time in the annexed Certificate of the Secretary of State Maine. This applicant believes that his father was born in North Yarmouth and if now living would be about 90 years of age. I have no doubt that my father served in the 9 months Campaign as is set forth in the annexed Certificate and also on month under Capt Rogers.
And this applicant states that his father the said Almon Merrill died in Green on the 4th May 1814. & that his mother Betsey survived him and died on the 11th of March 1840. That her death

was occasioned by being thrown from a sleigh while riding with me from Green to Lewiston. That the said Betsey my mother intermarried with my father as his name month & day not known on the th day of 1783 , and that the children and only surviving children are those named in the first part of this declaration. He also states that the said Betsey remained a widow from the death of his father till the time of her own death.
Jacob Merrill
Signed & sworn to this 26 th of February 1840 before me
Asahel Merrill
Judge of the Superior Court for the Dist. of Maine

Reg
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 24148
Betsey Merrill
Widow of
Abner Merrill
Copfl Mass line
Act: July 7th 1838
Index:—Vol. M , Page 12
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Nov 26, 04 to Roger Merrill-Boston Mass.

Portland February 4. 1846
Sir
I herewith enclose the declaration of the children of Betsey Merrill who make application for the benefit of the act of July 7 1838.
I am
Very Respectfully Your Obt Servt: Freeman Bradford
J. L. Edwards Esq Commr of Pensions Washington D.C.

Chubb of Betsey Merrill Dea Maine Letter to Furman Bradford 29 th April 1840. —
Act 7 July 1838

Portland Oct 10th 1846
Sir
On the 25th of September last I forwarded to your Department the affidavits of Dan Rees Samuel Cummings Porer Drinkwater and Com True in the case of Betsy Merrill widow of Abner Merrill deceased. I now forward to you the certificate of the Town Clerk of Green showing the date of Abner Merrill & Betsy Merrill his widow, also an additional affidavit of Aaron Mann. The certificate of the Town Clerk was not required in your letter of April 29th 1846, but understanding that the rule of your Department, made since that time, requiring evidence of this nature to show the date of the death, will apply to cases filed before the adoption of the rule, as well as to those since, I have furnished the enclosed. Will you file the same, so that it may be considered with the affidavits forwarded on the 25th of September last.
I am Very Respectfully
Your Obt: Servt:
H. Bradford
J. L. Edwards Esq Commr of Pensions Washington D.C.

To be filed with the papers in the case of Betsey Merrill widow of Abner Merrill agreeably to requisition con- tained in your letter of April 29 th 1846—
Heeman Bradford Portland Maine

100351_00157 STATE OF MAINE.
CUMBERLAND, ss....
I — Charles Cobb — Clerk of all the Judicial Courts in said County, certify that
William Garcelon and Freeman Bradford Esquires, are Magistrates. _____
as appears by the papers hereto annexed; that they are _____ duly qualified to act as such; that said Garcelon's Commission bears date March 10, A.D. 1842, and will expire March 10, 1849, and said Bradford's Commission bears date May 28, A.D. 1846 and will expire May 28, A.D. 1853. _____
and that the — following — signatures purporting to be theirs — are genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court for said State, this twenty fifth day of September Anno Domini 1846
Charles Cobb CLERK.

I Dan Read of Lewiston in the County of Lincoln and State of Maine. Aged eighty years last February, on oath depose and say that I removed from the town of Falmouth in the County of Cumberland to the town of Lewiston where I now reside in December A.D. 1837.
After I came to Lewiston to live I kept the Ferry on one of the public roads leading across the Androscoggin River for twenty years or more. I further depose & say that I was well acquainted with Mr. Abner Merrill who removed from the town of North Yarmouth, adjoining the town of Falmouth, to the town of Greene where he lived and raised a family, and died about the year 1815 - as near as I can recollect. I knew him well, he was a Blacksmith by trade, he used to pass my ferry in traveling from Greene to North Yarmouth. I further depose and say that North Yarmouth & Falmouth used to be called New Casco, by many people who had formerly lived in Falmouth & North Yarmouth, for many years after those towns were incorporated, and it was not uncommon for persons in passing my ferry to say they were coming or going to New-Casco. When they had been to Falmouth or North Yarmouth, and the term New Casco has always been familiar to me, as applying to those places. Lewiston August 25 th 1846.
Dan Read.
Signed and Sworn to before me
William Ganelon Justice of the Peace.

State of Maine, Lincoln So. Swanton August 25 th 1846
I hereby certify That the within named deponent. Dan Reuel is well known to me and he is a person of Truth & Veracity to be depended on William Gannell Justice of the P
XX

I Samuel Cummings of Greene aged Seventy Seven on oath before and say that in the year 1775. my father removed from New Casco now the Town of North Yarmouth in the County of Cumberland M.E. to what is now Lewiston where we resided ten years, I then removed with my father to the town of Greene where I now reside, & have lived there ever since, at about the time my father removed to Greene Mr Abner Merrill removed in to Greene from North Yarmouth. or as it was commonly called at that time New Casco . said Merrill was a Blacksmith by trade, I knew him well, he raised a family of six boys. viz Benjamin Levi. Jacob, Abner, John & Joseph & one daughter which has deceased. - said Merrill died in Greene about the year 1814 or 15. I understood that said Merrill was in the revolutionary war. I further say on oath that North Yarmouth was formerly called New Casco . by old people and at the time my father removed from there it was called New Casco - by many. Samuel Cummings.
State of Maine Lincoln ss. Lewiston May 19 th 1846. Personally appeared the above named Samuel Cummings and made oath to the above affidavit by him subscribed
Before me William Garcolon Justice of the Peace.

I Peter Drinkwater of North Yarmouth in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine on oath depose and say that I am eighty five years of age and was born and brought up in said Town and have always resided there. I knew Abner Merrill when he was a young man, He was several years older than myself and resided in the Town of North Yarmouth in the time of the war of the revolution and after the war removed from North Yarmouth into the town of Greene or Lewiston as I always understood. The mother of said Merrill married after the death of his father Edmund Chandler who was a Blacksmith by trade. That part of North Yarmouth where said Merrill lived was frequently called New Base in the time of the Revolution, and even for many years after the Town was incorporated it was so called by the old inhabitants.
Peter Drinkwater
Cumberland ss. September 23 d 1846 Then appeared the above named Peter Drinkwater known to me as a person of truth and veracity and made oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before me Freeman Bradford Justice of The Peace

100551_00155 I William True of Auburn in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine on oath depose and say that I am eighty six years of age and resided with my father in North Yarmouth from the time I was three years of age as I have been told till I was fifteen years of age. I knew Abner Merrill when he was a boy. Said Merrill was older than myself and when I knew him lived in North Yarmouth. His mother lived at my father's house when he resided in North Yarmouth at which time she was a widow. She afterwards married Edmund Chandler who I believe was a Blacksmith. Said Merrill married Betsey Royall I believe and removed to the town of Green where he died. I heard several years ago that his widow came to her death by being thrown out of a sleigh. I have no knowledge of said Merrill's services in the war of the Revolution. I never knew or heard of any other Abner Merrill than the one above alluded to. The towns on Casco Bay which were Falmouth Portland & North Yarmouth were formerly designated by the names Casco Bay, Casco, and New Casco, but I do not know what particular part came under those several designations. I never heard of any of any incorporated place, called

New bases
William True
State of Maine
Cumberland Co. September 24 th 1846 Then personally appeared William True known to me as a person of truth and veracity and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed.
Before me Freeman Bradford Justice of the Peace

Payment to be made at Portland by W m Woodbury Agent for paying Pension- ers in the Agency of
Maine Payable on the 4th March, and 4th September in each year.
Recorded in the Pension Office in Book I. Vol. 1.
Page by _____
J. G. Mark Clerk.
Duplicate.

WAR DEPARTMENT.
WIDOW'S PENSION.
I certify that in conformity with the act of July 7, 1838, Betsey Merrill, dec d late of Maine widow of Abner Merrill who was a Pri t & cooper in the Mass. Line and died on the  day of  1833 is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of Thirty Three dollars and Sixty Six cents per annum, commencing on the 4 th March 1836, and terminating on the 4 th of March,  1841, unless the Pensioner married or died before the above mentioned  date; in which case the pension is not payable after the time of such  marriage or death. 11 th March 1840, when she died, payable to Levi, Benjamin, Given at the War Office of the United Jacob, Abner, John & States, this 16 th day of Joseph Merrill, only October one thousand children. eight hundred and Forty Six.
Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned.
Commissioner of Pensions.
Duplicate.

So be filed with testimony forwarded to the Pension Dept: on the 25th of Sept last & to be used in the claim for a pension due Betsey Merrill widow of Hona Merrill
H. Bradford Portland Maine

I Lora B. Stevens Clerk of the Town of Greene in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine on oath say that I have in my possession the books of Record belonging to said Town, In one of said Books which contains the Records of Births & deaths I find the following entries viz.
“Abner Merrill departed this life May fourth eighteen hundred and fourteen” The above is a true extract from the records with the exception of the date, which is in plain legible figures thus “May 4 th 1814.”
I also find upon said records the following to wit.
“Betsey, Consort of Abner Merrill departed this life March Eleventh eighteen hundred and forty.” The above is a true extract from the records with the exception of the date, which is expressed in fair legible figures thus. “March 11 th 1840.” Lora B. Stevens Greene October 2 nd - 1846
State of Maine Lincoln County Ss. October th 5 1846. Then personally appeared before me the Subscriber Lora B. Stevens Town Clerk of Greene, who having subscribed the above at Lewiston in the County of Lincoln made oath that the same is true
Before me William Garelou Justice of the Peace

I Andrew Mann of Bath County of Lincoln and State of Maine now in Portland County of Cumberland aged eighty five years do on oath say, that I was born & brought up in North Yarmouth where I resided till twenty four years ago or thereabouts & have since my removal from said North Yarmouth resided in said Bath. While I was a resident of North Yarmouth and during the time of the Revolution I was well acquainted with Abner Merrill who then resided there. Said Merrill was several years older than myself and I know that he was out in the service in the time of the Revolution and was in the service at Pekskeel or some other place in New York, for I recollect that his mother sent him at one time when he was in the service some articles of clothing by a person who was at that time called Post Wescott, a man who used to ride back & forth to the army and carried letters to & from the Army. Abner Merrill I know to have been in the service in Portland in 1779 the year of the Penobscot Expedition. I am unable to state the length of either of those services. Said Merrill lived while in North Yarmouth about two miles & a half from me. He was a Blacksmith by trade and learnt it from Mr

Edmond Chandler his father in law, Abner Merrill married Betsey Royal a cousin of mine and after his marriage he removed to the town of Greene where he died thirty one or two years ago. The widow of Abner Merrill lived many years after his death, I do not know when she died. The towns on Casco Bay used to be designated by the name of New Casco, but I never knew of any incorporated town called New Casco.
And also of Arrows
Wumberland Gs. September 25th 1846 Then personally appeared before me the above named Andrew Mann a person of truth and a credible witness, and subscribed the above affidavit and made solemn oath that the same is true according to his best recollection and belief.
Freeman Bradford
Justice of the Peace.