Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 27443, for Abijah Lucas, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Luce, Abijah Mary
W 27443
CONTENTS
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2068 Rhode Island
Mary Luce
widow of Abijah Luce decd?
who died on the 17 October 1821 of Bristol in the State of R. I. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Smith of the Regt. commanded by Col. in the R. I. line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of R. I. at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents, per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30th day of May 1838 and sent Hon. J. Reed Hoo of Reps.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1838 $ 560.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep., 40.00
$ 600.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3. }
Recorded by H. H. Addison Clerk, Book A Vol. 2 o Page 93

3461 Mary Luce Widow of Thomas de Mass. Married 1782 died 1821
Adm d 2 nd per sonal $80 per ann. no deduction
Mass. Centre
Hon. J n ° Reed HN
Captain Matthew Smith, was commander of

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the act of Congress of the 4 th July A.D. 1836 -
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
County of Bristol ss
On this 7 th day of May A.D. 1838, personally appeared before the Court of Probate now in session, at Bristol for the town of Bristol, in said County, Mary Luce, a resident now and for the last six years a resident of said town of Bristol, aged seventy eight 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 th , A.D. 1836; — That she is the widow of Abijah Luce late of Martha's Vineyard in the State of Massachusetts, who was a private soldier in the second Massachusetts Regiment, raised at an early period of the Revolutionary war for the defence of the country, that he entered said service by enlistment for three years and served the same out and was discharged, at West Point, in March 1780; That soon after this discharge he enlisted into the same service again, but in what particular Regiment she can not state, and as she has always understood, his second enlistment was for three years more or during the war; That he continued in said service untill March 1781, when he was again discharged on account of ill health; and returned home to Fobury on the said Martha's Vineyard, with a body enfeebled by the hardships of the camp; that, at this time, the Island of Martha's Vineyard, which in the former part of the war, had been a kind of neutral ground, was often infested by English cruisers, landing men at convenient places about the shores to plunder the inhabitants & commit other depredations; that at this time Captain Nathan Smith, was commander of

the militia of Martha's Vineyard and kept up guard of the Militia at the most exposed points of that Island, one of which was stationed at Holmes' Hole, that they threw up breastworks and such fortifications, as the means and opportunity of the inhabitants afforded; that in spite of all their efforts, an Ameri- can vessel just arrived in Holmes' Hole with a cargo of Rum and other articles was cut out by a British Brig of force, she believes a King's Cutter, plundered and destroyed; that her husband the said Abijah Luce, was employed as a soldier, on the said Island after his return and discharge from the Western Army, in the Militia company of the said Smith and under him, in the Fall of 1781 and as late as the Spring of 1782, that in the month of February 1782, a British Man of war lay several days so near the West Point of Holmes' Hole that she has often heard her husband say in his lifetime that while he was keeping guard on the shore, he could hear the watch for the night on board the enemies ship say all is well ; that her said husband served on this guard at Holmes' Hole a number of weeks after his marriage to her; this guard was kept both night day, the guard taking turns, for the night; and that he served at various other stations as one of said com- pany of Militia, about the shores of said Vineyard; She further declares that she was married to said Abijah Luce, on the first day of January A.D. Seventeen hun- dred and eighty two, that her husband, the aforesaid Abijah Luce, died on the seventeenth day of October in A.D. Eighteen hundred and twenty one, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, and more fully appears by reference to the proof heretofore and this affidavit had filed on a day of the previous month of December for the solemnization of their said marriage but just before the proposed time arrived

the said Luce was called upon to march with said Smith's company to another part of the Vineyard where he was detained in the service at least ten days, before he returned to his home station which occasioned a delay of her said marriage for sometime; And she further declares that her husband, the aforesaid Abijah Luce died on the seventeenth day of October A.D. Eighteen hundred and twenty one, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Mary Luce
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written, before said Court of Probate
Attest, Wm. Shroop Probate Clerk
I, Wm. Shroop, Clerk of the Court of Probate for said Town of Bristol, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Mary Luce, widow of Abijah Luce deceased, for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 7th day of May A. D. 1838.
Wm. Shroop Prob. Clerk.

I, Abijah Luce of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island, do testify and say that I am forty seven years of age, that I am the son of Mary Luce, of said Bristol, who is the widow of Abijah Luce, late of Martha's Vineyard, deceased, that at the request of my said mother I went to said Vineyard to procure record evidence of her marriage, in the month of April last past, the Vineyard having been the place where she was married to my said father, and the place of her residence as well as of myself till about six years since; that I called on the descendants of the late Shubael Gottle formerly of that place but long since deceased, for the record of marriages celebrated by him, who had solemnized that between my said father and mother, and was informed that no record of these marriages were to be found; and I further testify that I could not find any record of the births of the children of the said marriage of my said Parents; He was informed no record of Births had been kept by the town clerk of Tisbury, the town of the Vineyard where said marriage took place and where my said Parents belonged; that the Congregational clergyman of one Parish had kept a record of the births and marriages which were had by his own Parishioners and of those only; that his said Parents belonged to the Baptist Parish in another part of Tisbury in which no record of Births had ever been kept; And I further testify that I found in the possession of an aged Aunt, the ancient family Bible of her mother, who was my said Father's mother, and there found an entry believed to be in the hand writing of my said Grandmother, stating that Abijah Luce was married to Mary Lumbert, my said mother's maiden name, January first A.D. 1782. And I further testify that I am the fourth child of said marriage, that my oldest Mother who

was the first issue of said marriage & who died at sea before the death of my said father would have been now fifty five years of age; and I further testify that my said father had formerly a Bible record of the Births of his children, which I have often seen in his lifetime but the Bible became by use and want of care mutilated and torn and finally broken to pieces and lost so that there has not been for many years past any record of the Births of our family to be found within my knowledge or within the knowledge of any of the family, and I further testify that I used often to hear my said father speak of his revolutionary campaigns, and of his standing guard about the shores of the Vineyard and been with him when he has pointed out the places where he stood guard during the last of the war in that quarter.
Abijah Luce D H
State of Rhode Island &c } County of Bristol }
Sc. At Bristol in the County and State aforesaid May 5 th A.D. 1838
Personally came Abijah Luce and made solemn oath to the truth of his foregoing deposition and subscribed the same before me — And I further certify that I have been for several years last past personally acquainted with said Deponent and that he sustains a good character for truth and veracity.
Wm Shroop Justice of the Peace.

State of Rhode Island & Clerk's Office Supreme Judicial Court Bristol County ss. May 5 th A.D. 1838
I Greenwood Reynolds Clerk of said Court for said County of Bristol do hereby certify, that William Throop before whom the deposition of Abijah Suce, purports to have been taken, is a Justice of the Peace, for said County of Bristol, and that the signature of his name at the bottom of the certificate is his genuine signature.
Freshkill March 4. 1781
Sir,
Please to pay Roger Magroth or order the certificates due to me for my services as a soldier in the 2 d Massachu- setts Regiment, and his receipt shall be your sufficient discharge
Abijah Suce
Text
To Eben r Sorer Agent to the 2 d Mass ts Reg t
Boston May 8. 1788 Received of John Avery junior twenty one dollars & \frac{4}{90} in full of the balance due to Abijah Suce on the final settlement of his account with the United States.
Joshua Thomas
True Copies, Attest John Avery jun d

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
Sir
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Abijah Luce , a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you will please find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1777 3yrs priv Nathan Smith 2 Mass Regt                                                   
Battles engaged in, None Residence of soldier at enlistment, Disbury Martha Vir. Date of application for pension, by wid May 7 1828 Residence at date of application, Bristol R.I. Age at date of application, of wid 78 years. Remarks: Sold. married Mary Lambert Jan 1782 and died Oct 17 1821.
Capt Chase 4 WARTY % Aaspunee Chng Bost.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Mary Sue B.L.

House of Representatives May 12. 1838
Sir
I have received certain Papers from Mrs. Lucu & requesting me to hand them to you & obtain a Pension -
I herewith enclose to you the Papers & request you to examine them & grant a Pension if in conformity with the law -
With Respect Yours & John Reed

Dukes County ss { Commonwealth of Massachusetts I Eunice Lewis of Tisbury in the county of Dukes County State of Massachusetts aged seventy years do give evidence testify and say That I was well acquainted with Abijah Luce and Mary Lambert before their marriage which was in the latter part of the year 1781 or the first part of the year 1782 I was present and saw them married I have known the said Abijah Luce and Mary Luce during the whole lifetime of Abijah Luce he was in the Continental Army of the Revolution three years or more I have heard said Abijah Luce relate many of his adventures while in the Continental Army and it is believed in this Town that he was a soldier of the Revolution Eunice Lewis
Dukes County ss { Commonwealth of Massachusetts at Tisbury County aforesaid in the eleventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight personally appeared the above named Eunice Lewis and made solemn oaths to the truths of the of above deposition and I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Eunice Lewis and she is a person of truth and of sound memory
Thomas Dunham (Justice of the Peace)
Dukes County ss { Commonwealth of Massachusetts I Cornelius Marchant, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Dukes County (being a Court of Record) do hereby certify that Thomas Dunham is a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Dukes County and the above signature is his hand writing in Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Court thereunto this twelfth day of April A. D 1838
Cornelius Marchant { Clerk of C. C. Pleas

Dukes County ss { Commonwealth of Massachusetts I Thomas Luce of Tisbury County of Dukes County in the State of Massachusetts aged eighty years of age do give evidence testify and say That I was well acquainted with Abijah Luce formerly dwelling in Tisbury in the County and State aforesaid he was in the Continental Army three years or more he was married about the year 1781 or 1782 to Mary Lambert now Mary Luce said marriage was solemnized by one Shubal Little then a Justice of the Peace dwelling in Tisbury aforesaid I know the said Abijah Luce to act as a volunteer (after his marriage with Mary Luce aforesaid) under one Capt Nathan Smith who was a captain in the State Troops of Massachusetts said Nathan Smith was frequently in expeditions against the Enemy which he casually undertook during the whole war of the Revolution I have frequently known the said Abijah Luce to be on guard under said Nathan Smith where I was myself by day and by Night Thomas Luce
Dukes County ss { Commonwealth of Massachusetts at Tisbury on the eleventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight personally appeared the above named Thomas Luce and made solemn oaths to the truth of the above deposition and I further certify that I am personally acquainted with the above named Thomas Luce and he is a person of truth and sound memory Thomas Dunham ) Justice of the Peace
Dukes County ss { Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I Cornelius Marchant Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Dukes County (being a Court of Record) do hereby certify that Thomas Dunham is a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Dukes County and the above signature is his handwriting in Testimony whereof I have set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court thereunto this twelfth day of April A.D 1838 Cornelius Marchant { Clerk of C.C. Pleas

Abijah Luce, Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard, Mass.
Widow Mary Luce, nee Lambart, drew a pension until 1854, date of her death. Lived at Bristol, R.I. Discharge said to have been filed in Penn. Off. Would like commin. of to Lucia's service & if pos- sible would like the discharge
Constantine Chase Capt H. Artly. Send copy of Mr. Aspentall Chief Board Review

Feb 8 - Shift to Chase of Adams B.R.
Key
WIDOW, &c.
1894 Copy
File No. 27448
Mary Luce Widow of Isaac Luce Priv. Res. War.
Act July 4 th 1856
Index: Vol. 28 , Page 447
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Abijah Luce Soldier in the 2 d Mass ts Regiment Having served the full term of three years for which he engaged, and has Discharged every part of his duty as a Soldier with fidelity, Is hereby Discharged the service
Given under my Hand at West Point This Twentyfourth day of March 1780
Rob t Bradford Capt
By Richard Luce, Col t Comm d On _____

Washington Barracks Washington D.C. February 1 st , 1894.
The U.S. Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D.C. -
Sir: -
I write you on the suggestion of Gen. Breckenridge, Insp. Genl., U.S. Army, to ask if you can give me information for use in applying for membership in the "Sons of the American Revolution", as follows -
Does the name of Mary Luce nee Lambert, relict of Abijah Luce , a Revolutionary soldier , appear on the rolls of your Dept.?
If so, I have the honor to ask your certificate as to what organization he served in and for how long: also, if possible, where?
Abijah Luce was from Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts , and enlisted at Boston, Mass. in 1775 or 76. It is understood that his widow, above named, drew a pension until 1854, when she died at Bristol R. I. It is also believed that the discharge of Abijah Luce is, or was, on file in your office -
I shall be my thank free for speedy reply -
Very Respectfully - Constance Chase Captain 4 th U.S. Artillery -