Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 8449, for Moses Merrill, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Merrill, Moses or Merril
W. 8449
B.L.Ht. 3955-160-55
Elizabeth
CONTENTS
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for writing.

Me July 52 - No 316
34,973 April 2 o 53 Act March 3 o "
Elizabeth Merrill Widow of Moses Merrill
Moses Merrill was a Soldier of the Revolutionary Continental Establishment & Pension Act 1818 Applicant is a Pensioner under Act July 3 o 1853 76.00 per annum
Col: Sam l Brewer, Mass: Cont l line
Ad: H. Brown, Aug. 20/55 : B D Fulton
Vol. M 2, page 1.
3955 ip Aug 22/53 Freeman Bradford Portland

316 Maine Elizabeth Merrill widow of Moses Merrill M ch who served in the Revolutionary war, as a private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 96 Dollars 00
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
3 rd February 1853 Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of May 1853 and sent to
H. Bradford Portland Me.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act July 29, 1848, Page 6 Vol. A
1848
440.

Let to Hon. F. O. J. Smith H.R. May 21. 1836.
Information sent November 16. 1820 to Hon. Moses Merrill Portland, Maine
0409 1 Maine 1
Moses Merrill
of Portland in the District of Maine who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Brewer of the Massachusetts line, for the term of 3 years -
Inscribed on the Roll of the Dist. of Maine at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 27 th of April 1818 -
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 th of March 1819 and sent to Wm. Wragg, Esq. Portland - Maine.
Arrears to 4th of March 1819 - 10 mo / 3  3 / 4  1 / 2 $2.09 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Sept. 1819 40.00
63/20 $130.09
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Chamberlain

Let to Hon. J. O. J. Smith H.R. May 21. 1836.
Information sent November 16. 1820 to Hon. Moses Merrill Portland, Maine
0409 1 Maine 1
Moses Merrill
of Portland in the District of Maine who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Brewer of the Massachusetts line, for the term of 3 years -
Inscribed on the Roll of the Dist. of Maine at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 27 th of April 1818 -
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 th of March 1819 and sent to Hon. W. D. Langley, Esq. Portland - Maine.
Arrears to 4th of March 1819 - 10 4 / 5  1 / 3 $2.09 Semi-annual all'ce ending 4 Sept. 1819 40.00
63/20
$130.09
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Granted

Me July 53 - No 316
34,973 April 2 o 53 Act March 3 o "
Elizabeth Merrill Widow of Moses Merrill
Moses Merrill was a Soldier of the Revolution Continental Establishment & Pension Act 1818 Applicant is a Pensioner under Act July 3 o 1833 76.9 per annum
Col: Saml. Brewer,
Mass: Contl. line.
Ad: 16 B o B o Aug: 20/55
: B o Fulton
Vol. M 2, page 1.
3955 ip Aug 22/53
Freeman Bradford Portland

316 Maine Elizabeth Merrill widow of Moses Merrill Meh who served in the Revolutionary war, as a private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 96 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848. 3 rd February 1853 Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of May 1853 and sent to J. Bradford Portland Me
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act of July 29, 1848, Page 6 Vol. A
1848
Ms.

Moses Merrill Private 12 th Regt Mass s Line 1777-3 years
dec. 27 th April 1818
cor.
Admitted.
1818

This may certify that Moses Merrill enlisted in the service of the United States on the first day of January, one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven and served three years, as a soldier in Capt. BLUNT Hunt - Bank - anke company, in the 12 th Massachusetts Regiment as appears by the Muster Rolls of said Company
James Mearns who was a clerk in 1 st B
W. Col d Samuel Brewer commanded the Regiment until such time in 1778

To the Honorable WILLIAM WIDGERY , one of the Associate Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the first Eastern Circuit of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
RESPECTFULLY SHOWS....
Moses Merrill of Portland in the Maine District, that he served as a private soldier in the war of the revolution for the term of three years on the Continental Establishment, that he yet is a resident citizen of the United States at Portland aforesaid, and that by reason of your applicants reduced circumstances in life, he is in need of assistance from his country for support. being now fifty eight years of age
AND your applicant farther represents, that in the service aforesaid, he belonged in his said capacity of a Private soldier to the Portland Company of the Light Regiment, of the Massachusetts Line, that he entered said service on or about the first day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven and that he left said service on or about the first day of January one thousand seven hundred and
that he has not been in said service since the whole intermediate time
WHEREFORE, inasmuch as your applicant, as he verily believes, comes under the provisions of the Act, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," he prays your honor to institute an enquiry into the circumstances of his case, and that such farther proceedings may be had touching the premises as are prescribed by law, in order that your applicant may be placed on the Pension List of the United States.
Dated at PORTLAND, this twenty seven day of March 1818.
Moses Merrill
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
MAINE DISTRICT, ss.
BE IT KNOWN , that on the twenty seven day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, personally came before me, WILLIAM WIDGERY , one of the Associate Judges of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the first Eastern Circuit of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, resident at Portland, within the County of Cumberland, in said Maine District—the said Court being a Court of record of said State, Moses Merrill the above named applicant, and made oath that the several statements by him made in the foregoing application by him signed are true. And the said Moses
Merrill farther offered in evidence
the deposition of Paul Sanborn hereunto subjoined and the certificate of James Merrill annexed.
WHEREUPON it does appear to the satisfaction of me the said Judge, that the said Moses Merrill served in the revolutionary war as alledged in his application, against the common enemy, not in any other circumstance and under assistance of his country for the war
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I the said Judge, have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the said Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the County of Cumberland, to be hereunto affixed, this twenty seven day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States the forty-second, all of which is hereby certified and returned into the
William Widgery { Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the first Eastern Circuit of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
CUMBERLAND, ss. I the subscriber, Clerk of the Courts in said county, certify that Hon. WILLIAM WIDGERY , is an Associate Justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, as stated in the annexed Certificate, and that his signature to the same is his own proper signature.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I do hereto subscribe my name, and affix the Seal of said Court, this 27 day of June A. D. 1818.
Geo. Bradbury

I Paul Sanborn aged sixty five years testify and say that I know Moses  now present. I knew him in 1778 - he was then a soldier in the army belonging to the same Regiment to which I belonged to wit Col Brewster's Paul Sanborn
Subscribed & sworn to this 27 day of April 1818
Before me
Wm Widgeon Judge etc

STATE OF MAINE.
CUMBERLAND, ss.
Clerk's Office, Supreme Judicial Court,
PORTLAND, February 8th A. D. 1853. }
I, Charles C. Harmon,
CLERK OF THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT,
In and for said COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, certify that
Freeman Bradford Esq. is an
Acting Justice of the Peace,
within and for
the County of Cumberland as appears by
the papers hereto annexed; that he is DULY QUALIFIED TO ACT as such; that his COM-
MISSION is dated
May 28th
A. D. 1846 and will expire
May 28th
A. D. 1853.
and that the following SIGNATURE, purporting to be his
is
GENUINE.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court, for said State, the day and year first above written.
C. C. Harmon,
Clerk.

State of Maine
On this eighth day of February in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty three personally appeared before the Hon. Josiah Pierce Judge of Probate in and for the County of Cumberland Elizabeth Merrill a resident of Portland in the County aforesaid aged seventy one years who on oath makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions of the act of Congress passed January 29 th and approved February 3 rd 1853.
And your declarant states that she is the widow of Moses Merrill late of Portland in said County deceased. States that her husband was a soldier of the Revolution on continental establishment and a pensioner of the United States under the act of 1818 at the rate of $96 per annum Her said husband died as she believes on the 27 th of October 1832 and that she drew the balance of Pension that was due him at the time of his death.
She further states that she was married to the said Moses Merrill on Long Island Portland on the twelfth day of August 1824 by Jonathan Morgan Esquire

Justice of the Peace and that her name before marriage was Elizabeth Billings and that she has not been married since the death of her said husband Moses Merrill and is now a widow.
She therefore claims the benefit of the act aforesaid, and adduces the follow- ing proof in support of her claim, attest. Josiah Pierce Elizabeth by Merrill
Signed and sworn to before me on the day and year first above written before me Josiah Pierce Judge.

I, Joseph D. Shute of Portland in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine aged fifty three years on oath state that I have been acquainted with Elizabeth Merrill widow of Moses Merrill for more than thirty years last past. I know that she was married to Moses Merrill about the year 1824 as she states in her declaration this day made for a pension, that she continued after said marriage to live with said Moses Merrill to the time of his death which was about twenty years ago and that he was a Pensioner of the United States at the time of his death, and Elizabeth Merrill, is now the widow of Moses Merrill aforesaid deceased.
Joseph D Shute
Cumberland ss. Feby 8 1853. Signed and sworn to before by Joseph D Shute whom I believe to be a credible and disinterested witness.
before me Josiah Pierce Judge.

STATE OF MAINE.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, ss.
OFFICE OF THE COURT OF PROBATE.
I, Freeman Bradford Register of Probate for said County, hereby certify, that Hon. Josiah Pierce whose name is signed to the foregoing Certificate is JUDGE OF PROBATE, in and for said County and State, duly commissioned and qualified agreeably to the Constitution and Laws of said State, that the annexed signature purporting to be his, are genuine, and that full faith and credit are and ought to be given, to his official acts and attestations.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Official Seal of said Court, and subscribed my name, this Eighth day of February A. D. 185 3
Freeman Bradford Regr

State of Maine. City of Portland
"Eighteen hundred and twenty four. August twelfth"
"Moses Merrill to Elizabeth Littlejohn, both of Portland."
I certify that the above is a true extract from the records of Marriages, as returned by Jonathan Morgan Esquire, Justice of the Peace, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the record in fair legible figures, as follows: — "1824 Augt. 12."
Wm. Boyd City Clerk of Portland
I William Boyd above named depose and say, that I hold the office of City Clerk in said City, and that the above is a true extract from the Records of Marri- ages, of said City, with the exception above named as certified by me —
Wm. Boyd. City Clerk of Portland
Subscribed and duly sworn to before me this eighth day of February A.D. 1853
Freeman Bradford Justice of the Peace

No 365- Elizabeth Merrill, widow of Moses
Me Act 3 Feb 1833
for her annual Comg 3 Feb 1833
Freeman Bradford Portland Maine

34,973
CLAIM OF
Elizabeth Merrill To Bounty Land.
—————♦————— Act of March 3, 1855. —————♦—————
WAR OF the Revolution
Freeman Bradford
PORTLAND,
Maine.

State of Maine.
CUMBERLAND, ss.
Clerk's Office, Supreme Judicial Court,
PORTLAND, March 30 185 3 }
I, OBADIAH G. COOK,
Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court,
for said County of Cumberland , being a Court of Record, do hereby certify that
J. H. Harmon Esq
is, and at the date of his Certificate to the paper hereto annexed was, an
ACTING JUSTICE OF THE PEACE,
within and for _____ the County of Cumberland
as appears by the paper hereto annexed; that he is DULY COMMISSIONED and qualified to administer Oaths and take Acknowledgments of Deeds and other instruments in writing, in the County aforesaid, — and that the following Signatures purporting to be his
are _____ GENUINE.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said Supreme Judicial Court, for said State, the day and year first above written.
O. Cook
CLERK.

State of Maine.
County of Cumberland ss.
On this thirteenth day of March A. D. 185 5 personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, Elizabeth Merrill a resident of Portland in said County and State, aged 76 years, who being duly sworn, doth on oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain Bounty Land, under the Act of Congress passed March 3 d, A. D. 1855.
And your declarant further states that she is the widow of Moses Merrill late of Portland in the State of Maine that her said husband Moses Merrill was a Soldier of the Revolution, on Continental Establishment , and a Pensioner of the United States at the rate of Ninety six dollars per annum , under the act of 1818. That her said husband died as she believes on the 27th day of October 18 32 ,

YOUR DECLARANT FURTHER STATES , that she was married to the said Moses Merrill on the twelfth day of August A. D. 1824, at Long Island, Portland , in said State, and that her name before marriage was Elizabeth Littlejohn
And your declarant further states, that after the passage of the Act of Congress of Feby. 3, 1853 she made application for a Pension, on which application a pension was granted her at the rate of Ninety Six dollars per annum, as will appear by her Pension Certificate, dated the tenth day of May A. D. 1853 No. 316 . She further states that she never has received Bounty Land, under any act of Congress heretofore passed, and believes her said husband never received Bounty Land in his life time, on the part of the United States.
For proof of marriage, her husband's service in the Revolutionary War, and his death, and of your declarant's identity, she refers to her declaration and proof for a Pension, now on file in the Department of the Interior, at Washington.
She therefore claims Bounty Land under the act aforesaid, and states that she is still a widow.
And for the purpose of this application, I hereby appoint Freeman Bradford of Portland my true and lawful Attorney in the premises.
Attest,
Anne Littlejohn Elizabeth her Merrill mark Z. H. Harmon
Sworn to and subscribed, before me, the day and year first above written, and in my presence acknowledged
the Power of Attorney thereto subjoined, for the purposes above mentioned. And I hereby certify that I believe the said  Elizabeth Merrill  widow of the to be the person who performed the military service aforesaid, and to be of the age above stated.  she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.
Z. H. Harmon
Justice of the Peace.

I Asa Littlejohn a resident of Cape Elizabeth in the County of Cumberland, and State of Maine, aged thirty five years on oath depose and say that Elizabeth Merrill who has this day made application for Bounty Land, is the widow of Moses Merrill and she is now a widow Pensioner of the United States under the act of Feby 3 d 1853, and is residing on Long Island, Portland Harbor. Said Elizabeth Merrill has not been married since the death of said Moses Merrill and she is now a widow. I was present when she made application for Bounty Land this 13 th March 1853, and know she is the person she represents herself to be. I have no interest direct or indirect in the claim of Elizabeth Merrill for Bounty Land. Asa Littlejohn
State of Maine County of Cumberland ss. March 13 th . 1853. Then personally appeared the above named Asa Littlejohn known to me as a credible witness, and to whom the foregoing affidavit was read as the same is written, who understanding the same, subscribed their names thereto, and made oath that the same is true. Before me. J. K. Hearn my Just. Peace.

I John A. Garabee of Portland in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine aged thirty nine years on oath depose and say that I have known Elizabeth Merrill the widow of Moses Merrill late of Long Island Portland Harbor for more than twenty years last past, and I know said Elizabeth as the wife of Moses Merrill before his death - Elizabeth Merrill is now a pensioner of the United States under the act of 1853 as I believe, and I be- lieve she is the widow of Moses Merrill - I have never heard of her marriage since the death of Moses Merrill - I saw Elizabeth Merrill about six days ago - John A. Garabee
Cumberland s: March 14 th 1855. Then personally appeared the above named John A. Garabee who is a person of truth and veracity and made oath to the truth of the

foregoing affidavit by him signed.
Before me J. H. Harmon Just of Peace.

N 276. Moses Merrill
Copy
8609 P orkan
27 March 19
Long
...and support in ratio of the property of interest in the interest property is... ...of the said Court and I do hereby certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the... ...property of said and the foregoing copy and the schedule thereto annexed are true copies from the... ...I have the honor to be, Sir, of the District Court of the Province of New Brunswick.
Court for Plains District Clerk of the District Court

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
DISTRICT OF MAINE, ss.
At a Special District Court of the United States begun and holden at Portland within and for the District of Maine, on the Tuesday, being the  day of  fourth  fourth day of September  September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty, before the Honorable ALBION K. PARRIS , Judge of said Court.
ON this fourth . . . day of September in the year above written, personally appeared in open Court, the same having "the power of fine and imprisonment," and being a Court of Record for said Maine District, Moses Merrill . . . aged sixty three . . . years, resident in Portland in said District, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows, viz. as a private . . . in the company commanded by Capt. Burbank in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Brewer . . . in the line of the State of Massachusetts on the Continental Establishment, as is more particularly mentioned and described in his original declaration, made on the 27 th day of April . . . A. D. 1818 ; and on which said declaration his Certificate of Pension, numbered 8409 . . . was granted. And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 ; and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818 : and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts due to me ; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed ; that my occupation and ability to pursue the same, together with the number and other particulars of my family, are in fact and in truth as is particularly described on the back hereof, also subscribed by me.
Moses Merrill
Sworn to and declared, on the fourth } day of September A. D. 1820. }
BEFORE
Albion K. Parris
{ U. S. District Judge for the District of Maine.

SCHEDULE of the real and personal estate, (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) belonging to me the subscriber, viz:
Real estate — I have none of any description Personal estate — 3 or 4 old carpenters tools and a few necessary things but poor ones, for cooking and keeping house. I have no income — nor any other property
Moses Merrill
Sworn to
Sept. 4. 1820
Before
Albion H. Barris U. S. Dist. Judge
SCHEDULE of the family residing with me Moses Merrill who, by occupation am a laborer . . . which I am not able to pursue by reason of rheumatism & asthma, with which I am very often severely afflicted
   NAMES. AGES. Capacity of each to contribute to their support.     Wife, Margery — 33 in comfortable health & able to do housework   Thomas . . . 5 not able to contribute to his support Moses Merrill  
Sworn to
Before
Albion H. Barris U. S. Dist. Judge

all small assets MAINE DISTRICT, ss.
I, JOHN MUSSEY, Junr. Clerk of the District Court of the United States for Maine District, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedules thereto annexed, are truly copied from the Record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is 8 five dollars and twenty seven cents. and no more
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this fourth . . day of September A. D. one thousand eight hundred and twenty.
John Mussey Junr
{ Clerk of the U. States District Court for Maine District.
$5.27

O. W. and N. Division.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C., Nov 7, 1893
Sir
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Moses Merrill, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will please find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.
Table with 5 columns: DATES OF ENLISTMENT, LENGTH OF SERVICE, RANK, OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED (subdivided into CAPTAIN and COLONEL), STATE. Row 1: Jan'y 1777, 3 years, Pvt, Burbank, Samuel Brewer, Mass. Note: He may have performed other military duties if so, he did not state it as it was not necessary for his pension.
Battles engaged in, None stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Portland Maine
Date of application for pension, April 1818
Residence at date of application, Portland Maine
Age at date of application, stated Sept 1820, to be 63 years & he died Sept 27. 1832
Remark His wife Margery was alive Sept 1820 aged 33 years - His second marriage was Aug 12, 1824 to Elizabeth Littlejohn at Long Island Portland Maine
Very respectfully,
Mr. S. H. Merrill
Commissioner.
669 Laurel Ave
St Paul Minn.

No. 34. 973
ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855.
Received April 2 nd 55, 1855
Elizabeth Merrill wid. of Moses Merrill Col. Saml. Brewer Maj. Court. here Rev. Thar
Warrant 3955-160-55
Freeman Bradford Portland Maine.

M St Paul Nov 12, 1893.
Hon Wm Lockman Comr of Pensions Washington. D.C.
Dear Sir
Will you please furnish me with whatever may be on record in the Pension office relating to the Military history of my great uncle - Moses Merrill of Falmouth Maine. a private & Lieut in the Massachusetts Continental line. He was placed on the roll of pensioners by virtue of the act of Congress of June 7-1832
Respectfully Yours
G.W. Merrill No 669 Laurel ave St Paul Minn.

Wor. Sh. May 18-36-
Hon. C. Z. Edwards-
I hope - Will you be good enough to send me a copy of the papers sent by the enclosed letter - if a charge is customary therefore to afford me of it - & oblige me respectfully
Yours etc etc Francis G Smith

Brief in the case of Elizabeth Merril, widow of Isaac, Cumberland County and State of Maine act 3 Feb 1853
Claim, ("original," or "for increase." )
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Husband was a pensioner under the act of 18 th March 1818, at $96 per annum, Marriage proved by certified copy of Town Records.
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Name and residence of Agent
J. H. Bradford, Portland Me
J. C. C. Examining Clerk.

Dec. 6/93 Mil. Hist. Co. G. W. Merrill 669 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, Minn.
Rey WIDOW, & Co.
File No. 8449
Elizabeth Merrill
Wid
Moses Merrill
First Rev. War
Act: July 29 th  1848.
Index:—Vol. 16 , Page 42
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Rev. A. A. 1853, Me; D. G. W. H.

✓ 3.955
S 103
Mac Am